Master the Cambridge IELTS 13 Academic Reading Test 2 Passage 2 vocabulary with our flashcard exercise.
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Cambridge IELTS 13 Academic Reading Test 2 Passage 2
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oxytocin
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(n) /ˌɒksɪˈtoʊsɪn/
a hormone produced in the brain that affects social relationships and emotions
Example: Oxytocin may help people feel more connected to each other.
pituitary
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(n) /pɪˈtjuː.ɪ.tɛr.i/
a gland in the brain that produces hormones
Example: The pituitary controls many important functions in the body.
reinforce
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(v) /ˌriːɪnˈfɔːrs/
to make something stronger or more effective
Example: The teacher wanted to reinforce the lesson with extra practice.
mate
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(v) /meɪt/
to come together for breeding or forming a pair
Example: The birds mate in the spring.
newborn
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(n) /ˈnuːˌbɔrn/
a baby that has just been born
Example: The mother is caring for her newborn.
attachment
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(n) /əˈtæʧmənt/
a strong emotional connection to someone or something
Example: The attachment between the child and the toy was very clear.
empathetic
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(adj) /ˌɛmpəˈθɛtɪk/
understanding and caring about other people's feelings
Example: She is very empathetic towards her friends.
generous
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(adj) /ˈdʒɛn.ər.əs/
willing to give and share more than is usual or expected
Example: She is very generous with her time and money.
cooperative
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(adj) /koʊˈɒpərətɪv/
involving working together with others
Example: The team was very cooperative during the project.
revise
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(v) /rɪˈvaɪz/
to change something in order to improve it
Example: She needs to revise her notes for the exam.
optimistic
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(adj) /ˌɒp.tɪˈmɪs.tɪk/
having a positive outlook about the future
Example: She is optimistic about her chances of winning the game.
vary
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(v) /ˈvɛəri/
to be different or to change
Example: The prices of toys vary during the holiday season.
circumstance
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(n) /ˈsɜrkəmˌstæns/
a situation or condition that affects something
Example: The circumstances made it difficult to go outside.
impact
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(v) /ˈɪmpækt/
to have a strong effect on something
Example: The weather can impact our mood.
interaction
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(n) /ˌɪn.təˈræk.ʃən/
the way people talk to and behave with each other
Example: The teacher encouraged interaction among the students.
emerge
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(v) /ɪˈmɜrdʒ/
to come out or appear from somewhere
Example: New ideas often emerge during discussions.
groundbreaking
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(adj) /ˈɡraʊndˌbreɪkɪŋ/
innovative or pioneering; introducing new ideas or methods
Example: The groundbreaking research changed how we understand human emotions.
experiment
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(n) /ɪkˈspɛr.ɪ.mənt/
a test done to study something or to find out if something works
Example: The students conducted an experiment to see how plants grow.
volunteer
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(n) /ˌvɒl.ənˈtɪr/
a person who offers to do something without being paid
Example: Many volunteers helped at the event.
invest
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(v) /ɪnˈvɛst/
to put money into something to make a profit
Example: I want to invest my savings in a new business.
anonymous
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(adj) /əˈnɒnɪməs/
not identified by name; unknown
Example: She received a letter from an anonymous person.
guaranteed
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(adj) /ˌɡærənˈtiːd/
certain to happen or be true
Example: He had a guaranteed chance to win the game.
placebo
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(n) /pləˈsiːboʊ/
a substance that has no physical effect but is given to a patient as if it were a medicine
Example: The doctor gave the patient a placebo to see if it would help his symptoms.
charitable
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(adj) /ˈtʃɛrɪtəbl/
generous and giving to help others
Example: She is very charitable and helps people in need.
communicate
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(v) /kəˈmjunɪˌkeɪt/
to share information or express feelings
Example: They need to communicate better to understand each other.
constructively
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(adv) /kənˈstrʌktɪvli/
in a way that helps to improve a situation
Example: They communicated constructively to solve the problem.
fuel
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(n) /fjul/
a material that is burned to provide energy
Example: The car runs on diesel fuel.
universally
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(adv) /ˌjunɪˈvɜr.sə.li/
in every part of the world or in all cases
Example: People universally seek love and acceptance.
enhance
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(v) /ɪnˈhæns/
to improve or make something better
Example: They want to enhance their skills in sports.
contrast
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(n) /ˈkɒn.træst/
a difference between two or more things that makes them stand out
Example: We can see the contrast between the two paintings.
competitive
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(adj) /kəmˈpɛtɪtɪv/
related to a contest or competition
Example: The competitive game made everyone excited.
inhale
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(v) /ɪnˈheɪl/
to breathe in air or smoke
Example: He likes to inhale deeply before he starts to speak.
envy
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(n) /ˈɛn.vi/
a feeling of wanting what someone else has
Example: He felt envy when he saw his friend win the prize.
administer
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(v) /ədˈmɪnɪstər/
to manage or give out something
Example: They administer the treatment to the patients.
disposition
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(n) /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/
a person's usual mood or attitude
Example: Her cheerful disposition makes everyone feel happy.
adept
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(adj) /əˈdɛpt/
skilled or proficient in a particular area
Example: She is adept at solving puzzles.
anxious
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(adj) /ˈæŋkʃəs/
feeling worried or nervous
Example: She felt anxious before the big test.
sensitive
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(adj) /ˈsɛnsɪtɪv/
easily affected by feelings or outside things
Example: She is sensitive to loud noises.
rejection
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(n) /rɪˈdʒɛkʃən/
the act of not accepting or refusing something
Example: The rejection of the proposal surprised everyone.
reveal
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(v) /rɪˈviːl/
to make something known that was previously hidden or secret
Example: The teacher will reveal the test answers tomorrow.
dose
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(n) /doʊs/
a specific amount of a medicine or drug
Example: The doctor gave me a dose of medicine for my cold.
favoritism
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(n) /ˈfeɪ.vər.ɪ.tɪ.zəm/
the unfair treatment of a person or group by giving them special benefits
Example: The manager showed favoritism towards some employees.
associate
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(v) /əˈsoʊ.si.eɪt/
to connect someone or something with something else in your mind
Example: He tends to associate summer with going to the beach.
bias
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(n) /ˈbaɪəs/
a tendency to favor one thing over another unfairly
Example: He showed a bias against people from different cultures.
goodwill
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(n) /ɡʊdˈwɪl/
friendly or helpful feelings towards others
Example: The charity was created to promote goodwill in the community.
subtlety
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(n) /ˈsʌtəlti/
the quality of being very delicate or precise
Example: The artist captured the subtlety of the sunset in her painting.
nuanced
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(adj) /ˈnjuː.ɑnst/
having subtle or complex differences
Example: His explanation was very nuanced and thoughtful.
propel
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(v) /prəˈpɛl/
to drive or push something forward
Example: The wind will propel the sailboat across the water.
investigation
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(n) /ɪnˌvɛs.tɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/
a careful and detailed inquiry or examination
Example: The investigation helped to find the truth.
pinpoint
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(v) /ˈpɪnˌpɔɪnt/
to find or identify something exactly
Example: It is important to pinpoint the main problem in the project.
hypothesis
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(n) /haɪˈpɒθəsɪs/
a proposed explanation for something that can be tested
Example: The scientist tested her hypothesis in a careful experiment.
mutually
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(adv) /ˈmjuːtʃuːəli/
in a way that involves two or more people or groups
Example: The two friends agreed to help each other mutually.
exclusive
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(adj) /ɪkˈskluːsɪv/
not shared with others; only for a particular person or group
Example: The club is exclusive and only allows members.
motivate
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(v) /ˈmoʊtɪˌveɪt/
to give someone a reason to do something or to encourage them
Example: Teachers motivate students to learn more.
attune
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(v) /əˈtun/
to make someone or something more aware or in harmony with something
Example: The training helped them attune to each other's needs.
posture
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(n) /ˈpɑːs.tʃɚ/
the way in which someone holds their body
Example: Her posture was straight and confident.
flicker
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(n) /ˈflɪkər/
a quick change in brightness
Example: The candle's light began to flicker in the wind.
prone
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(adj) /proʊn/
likely to do or experience something
Example: She is prone to getting sick in the winter.
perplexing
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(adj) /pərˈplɛksɪŋ/
causing confusion or difficulty to understand
Example: The instructions for the game were perplexing.
evolutionary
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(adj) /ˌiːvəˈluːʃənəri/
relating to the gradual development of something
Example: The scientist studied the evolutionary process of animals.
stretch
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(v) /strɛtʃ/
to make something longer or wider by pulling it
Example: I like to stretch my arms every morning.
ancient
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(adj) /ˈeɪnʃənt/
very old; from a long time ago
Example: The ancient ruins attracted many tourists.
co-opt
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(v) /koʊˈɑːpt/
to use something for a different purpose than it was originally intended
Example: The idea was co-opted by different groups.
primitive
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(adj) /ˈprɪmətɪv/
related to the very basic level of development or existence
Example: The tools from that time were very primitive.
amygdala
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(n) /əˈmɪɡ.də.lə/
a part of the brain that helps control emotions
Example: The amygdala is important for our reactions to fear.
manifest
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(v) /ˈmænɪfɛst/
to show or demonstrate something clearly
Example: Their happiness can manifest in many ways.