Master the Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Reading Test 1 Passage 3 vocabulary with our flashcard exercise.
(Related: https://engnovate.com/ielts-reading-tests/cambridge-ielts-15-academic-reading-test-1/)
Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Reading Test 1 Passage 3
Back To Set1 / 52
exploration
Click to show definition
(n) /ˌɛk.spləˈreɪ.ʃən/
the act of traveling in or through an unknown area to learn about it
Example: Exploration helps us understand new places.
caveman
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈkeɪvˌmæn/
a prehistoric man who lived in caves
Example: The movie shows how the caveman hunted for food.
grunt
Click to show definition
(v) /ɡrʌnt/
to make a low sound, often like a pig
Example: He heard the pig grunt while eating.
wildebeest
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈwɪldəˌbist/
a type of large African antelope
Example: The wildebeest are known for their long migrations.
yonder
Click to show definition
(adv) /ˈjɑndər/
at some distance in the direction indicated
Example: The hills are visible yonder from the valley.
ancestor
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈæn.ses.tɚ/
a person from whom you are descended
Example: My ancestor came to this country many years ago.
scout
Click to show definition
(n) /skaʊt/
a person sent out to gather information or to look for something
Example: The scout found a safe path through the forest.
questing
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈkwɛstɪŋ/
the act of searching for something
Example: Questing can lead to many exciting adventures.
nomadic
Click to show definition
(adj) /nəˈmædɪk/
moving from place to place without a permanent home
Example: The nomadic tribe traveled with the changing seasons.
deplete
Click to show definition
(v) /dɪˈpliːt/
to use up a supply of something
Example: They need to find ways to stop deplete the resources.
negotiate
Click to show definition
(v) /nɪˈɡoʊʃieɪt/
to discuss something in order to reach an agreement
Example: They plan to negotiate a better deal.
peculiar
Click to show definition
(adj) /pɪˈkjuljər/
strange or unusual
Example: The house had a peculiar smell.
breed
Click to show definition
(n) /briːd/
a group of animals or plants with similar characteristics
Example: Dogs are a common breed that many people have as pets.
enquiring
Click to show definition
(v) /ɪnˈkwaɪərɪŋ/
asking for information about something
Example: I saw her enquiring about the train schedule.
instinct
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈɪn.stɪŋkt/
a natural ability to know something without needing to think about it
Example: She followed her instinct when choosing the right path.
marine
Click to show definition
(adj) /məˈrin/
related to the sea
Example: She wants to be a marine biologist when she grows up.
biologist
Click to show definition
(n) /baɪˈɑːlədʒɪst/
a person who studies living organisms
Example: A biologist studies plants and animals.
astronomer
Click to show definition
(n) /əˈstrɒn.ə.mər/
a person who studies stars and space
Example: An astronomer looks at the stars through a telescope.
uncultivated
Click to show definition
(adj) /ʌnˈkʌl.tɪ.veɪ.tɪd/
not farmed or improved
Example: The forest was full of uncultivated plants.
delve
Click to show definition
(v) /dɛlv/
to investigate or research deeply
Example: I want to delve into the history of my family.
humanity
Click to show definition
(n) /hjuːˈmænɪti/
the human race or human beings collectively
Example: We should take care of our humanity and help each other.
puny
Click to show definition
(adj) /ˈpjuːni/
very small or weak
Example: He felt puny compared to the strong athletes.
irrelevant
Click to show definition
(adj) /ɪˈrɛl.ə.vənt/
not important or related to the subject
Example: The details in the report were irrelevant to the main topic.
alien
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈeɪliən/
a person from another planet or a foreigner
Example: The movie showed an alien visiting Earth.
laboriously
Click to show definition
(adv) /ləˈbɔːriəsli/
in a way that takes a lot of time and effort
Example: The student worked laboriously to finish the project.
encounter
Click to show definition
(v) /ɪnˈkaʊn.t̬ɚ/
to meet someone or something unexpectedly
Example: I hope to encounter new friends at the party.
confine
Click to show definition
(v) /kənˈfaɪn/
to keep something within certain limits
Example: The teacher will confine the discussion to one topic.
era
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈɪərə/
a period of time marked by particular events or characteristics
Example: The 20th century was an important era for technology.
peak
Click to show definition
(n) /pik/
the highest point of something
Example: The mountain's peak was covered in snow.
decline
Click to show definition
(n/v) /dɪˈklaɪn/
to become smaller, weaker, or less; to refuse something
Example: The number of explorers seems to decline every year.
species
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈspiːʃiːz/
a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young
Example: There are many species of birds in the forest.
bacteria
Click to show definition
(n) /bækˈtɪr.i.ə/
a very small living thing that can only be seen with a microscope
Example: Bacteria can be found everywhere, even in the soil.
scarcely
Click to show definition
(adv) /ˈskɛr.sli/
only just; hardly
Example: He had scarcely enough money to buy lunch.
dub
Click to show definition
(v) /dʌb/
to give something a name or title
Example: He was dubbed the champion after winning the game.
mountaineer
Click to show definition
(n) /ˌmaʊntəˈnɪr/
a person who climbs mountains
Example: The mountaineer reached the top of the mountain.
campaigner
Click to show definition
(n) /kæmˈpeɪ.nɚ/
a person who works for a political party, campaign, or cause
Example: The campaigner spoke at the rally to gather support.
tribal
Click to show definition
(adj) /ˈtraɪ.bəl/
relating to a tribe or tribes
Example: The group studied tribal cultures around the world.
unmechanized
Click to show definition
(adj) /ʌnˈmɛkənʌɪzd/
not using machines; done by hand
Example: The farmer prefers unmechanized methods for his crops.
stunt
Click to show definition
(n) /stʌnt/
an action that is done to get attention or to impress people
Example: He performed a stunt in the movie that amazed everyone.
pioneer
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈpaɪəˌnɪr/
a person who is one of the first to do something or go somewhere new
Example: The pioneer traveled to places no one had ever seen before.
prominent
Click to show definition
(adj) /ˈprɑː.mɪ.nənt/
important or well-known
Example: She is a prominent figure in science.
cutting-edge
Click to show definition
(adj) /ˈkʌtɪŋ ˈɛdʒ/
extremely modern and advanced
Example: The company uses cutting-edge technology to improve its products.
criterion
Click to show definition
(n) /kraɪˈtɪəriən/
a standard or principle used to judge or decide something
Example: The teacher uses a clear criterion to grade the tests.
expedition
Click to show definition
(n) /ˌɛkspɪˈdɪʃən/
a journey or trip taken for a specific purpose, especially to explore
Example: The team went on an expedition to the Arctic.
uncontacted
Click to show definition
(adj) /ʌnˈkɒn.tæktɪd/
not having had contact with other people
Example: The researchers studied the uncontacted tribes in the jungle.
slant
Click to show definition
(n) /slænt/
a slope or sloping surface
Example: The hill has a gentle slant.
continental
Click to show definition
(adj) /ˌkɒn.tɪˈnen.təl/
related to or characteristic of a continent
Example: The team planned a continental trip across Europe.
microbe
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈmaɪ.kroʊb/
a very small living thing that can only be seen with a microscope
Example: Scientists study microbes to learn how they affect our health.
graze
Click to show definition
(v) /ɡreɪz/
to eat grass or other plants
Example: The cattle graze in the green fields.
convey
Click to show definition
(v) /kənˈveɪ/
to communicate or express something
Example: The teacher convey ideas to her students.
interpretation
Click to show definition
(n) /ɪnˌtɜːrprɪˈteɪʃən/
the way someone understands or explains something
Example: Her interpretation of the story was very interesting.
insight
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈɪn.saɪt/
a clear understanding of something
Example: She had a new insight about the story.