Master the Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Reading Test 2 Passage 1 vocabulary with our flashcard exercise.
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Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Reading Test 2 Passage 1
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archaeologist
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(n) /ˌɑːrkiˈɑːlədʒɪst/
a person who studies ancient cultures and artifacts
Example: An archaeologist found ancient tools in the ground.
prehistoric
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(adj) /ˌpriːhɪˈstɔrɪk/
relating to the time before written records
Example: The prehistoric animals lived long before humans existed.
monument
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(n) /ˈmɑn.jə.mənt/
a structure built to remember a person or an event
Example: The monument honors the soldiers who fought in the war.
erect
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(v) /ɪˈrɛkt/
to build or set up something in a vertical position
Example: They will erect a new building in the town center.
comprise
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(v) /kəmˈpraɪz/
to consist of or be made up of
Example: The team comprises several skillful players.
iconic
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(adj) /aɪˈkɑnɪk/
widely known and recognized, often because of its importance or uniqueness
Example: The Eiffel Tower is an iconic symbol of Paris.
ruin
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(n) /ˈruː.ɪn/
the state of being destroyed or spoiled
Example: The old building fell into ruin after many years.
Neolithic
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(adj) /niˈɒlɪθɪk/
relating to the New Stone Age, a time when people first began to farm and make tools
Example: The Neolithic people built structures using large stones.
primitive
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(adj) /ˈprɪmɪtɪv/
simple and not advanced
Example: He used a primitive tool to cut the wood.
fashion
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(n) /ˈfæʃən/
a popular style or trend in clothing or behavior
Example: She loves to follow the latest fashion.
antler
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(n) /ˈæntlər/
one of the two horns that grow on the head of a deer
Example: The deer lost one antler in the autumn.
ditch
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(n) /dɪtʃ/
a long narrow hole that is dug in the ground
Example: They dug a ditch to collect rainwater.
henge
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(n) /hɛndʒ/
a circular area of land, often with a bank or ditch
Example: They dug a henge for the ancient ceremony.
pit
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(n) /pɪt/
a deep hole in the ground
Example: He fell into a pit while playing outside.
timber
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(n) /ˈtɪm.bɚ/
wood that has been cut and prepared for building
Example: The carpenter used timber to build the house.
scholar
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(n) /ˈskɒl.ər/
a person who studies a subject in great detail
Example: The scholar wrote a book about ancient history.
hoist
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(v) /hɔɪst/
to lift something heavy
Example: They need to hoist the flag up the pole.
bluestone
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(n) /ˈbluːstoʊn/
a type of hard stone used in building
Example: The ancient monument was built using many bluestones.
formation
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(n) /fɔːrˈmeɪʃən/
the way in which something is arranged or organized
Example: The birds flew in a V formation.
trace
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(v) /treɪs/
to find or follow the path of something
Example: The archaeologists trace the origin of the stones.
sophisticated
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(adj) /səˈfɪstəˌkeɪtɪd/
having a lot of knowledge or experience about the world and complicated subjects
Example: He has a sophisticated understanding of art.
haul
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(v) /hɔl/
to pull or carry with effort
Example: They haul heavy boxes to the truck.
boulder
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(n) /ˈboʊldər/
a large rounded stone
Example: They saw a boulder in the path.
sledge
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(n) /slɛdʒ/
a type of vehicle used for carrying heavy loads over snow or ice
Example: They used a sledge to move the heavy boxes across the snow.
roller
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(n) /ˈroʊlər/
a cylindrical object that rolls, often used to move heavy things
Example: They used a roller to move the heavy stone.
lug
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(v) /lʌɡ/
to carry something heavy
Example: They need to lug the boxes into the warehouse.
raft
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(n) /ræft/
a flat structure made of pieces of wood tied together, used for floating on water
Example: They built a raft to cross the river.
float
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(v) /floʊt/
to stay on the surface of a liquid without sinking
Example: The boat can float on the water.
alternatively
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(adv) /ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪvli/
in a different way or as another choice
Example: You can alternatively take the bus to school.
tow
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(v) /toʊ/
to pull a vehicle or boat along
Example: They will tow the car to the repair shop.
fleet
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(n) /fliːt/
a group of ships or vehicles operating together
Example: The fleet sailed across the ocean.
vessel
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(n) /ˈvɛsəl/
a container used to hold liquids
Example: The vase is a beautiful vessel for flowers.
hypothesis
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(n) /haɪˈpɑːθɪsɪs/
an idea that can be tested to see if it is true
Example: The scientist proposed a new hypothesis for the experiment.
wicker
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(n) /ˈwɪkər/
a type of material made from thin branches or twigs that are woven together
Example: The chair is made of wicker.
oxen
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(n) /ˈɒksən/
a male cow that is trained to work
Example: Farmers often use oxen to help pull heavy loads.
geologist
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(n) /dʒiˈɑlədʒɪst/
a scientist who studies the Earth and its structure
Example: The geologist studied the rocks and soil.
debate
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(n) /dɪˈbeɪt/
a discussion where people express different opinions about a topic
Example: The debate about the best way to build a fence was interesting.
industrious
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(adj) /ɪnˈdʌstriəs/
hardworking and diligent
Example: The industrious students completed all their assignments on time.
glacier
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(n) /ˈɡleɪʃər/
a large mass of ice that moves slowly over land
Example: The glacier was huge and covered the mountains.
sceptical
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(adj) /ˈskɛp.tɪ.kəl/
having doubts about something
Example: The scientist was sceptical about the new theory.
sandstone
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(n) /ˈsændˌstoʊn/
a type of rock made of small grains of sand that have been cemented together
Example: The house is made of sandstone.
slab
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(n) /slæb/
a thick, flat piece of stone or other material
Example: The workers used a heavy slab to build the wall.
sarsen
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(n) /ˈsɑːrsən/
a type of large sandstone used in prehistoric buildings
Example: The sarsen stones are very heavy.
crescent
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(n) /ˈkrɛs.ənt/
a shape that is like a curved slice of the moon
Example: The moon looked like a crescent in the night sky.
trilithon
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(n) /ˈtrɪlɪˌθɒn/
a type of structure made of three large stones, two vertical and one horizontal
Example: The trilithon is an important feature of Stonehenge.
radiocarbon
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(n) /ˌreɪdiˈoʊˌkɑr.bən/
a radioactive form of carbon used to date ancient objects
Example: Scientists use radiocarbon to find the age of old bones.
druid
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(n) /ˈdruː.ɪd/
a member of an ancient group of priests in Celtic society
Example: The druid performed a ceremony in the forest.
judicial
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(adj) /dʒuˈdɪʃəl/
related to the law or the courts
Example: The judicial system ensures fair trials for everyone.
Celtic
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(adj) /ˈkɛl.tɪk/
relating to the Celts, an ancient group of people in Europe
Example: He enjoys reading about Celtic history.
antiquarian
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(n) /ˌæn.tɪˈkwɛə.ri.ən/
a person who studies or collects antiques or ancient objects
Example: The antiquarian visited the museum to learn more about ancient artifacts.
unearth
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(v) /ʌnˈɜrθ/
to discover something by digging or searching
Example: They will unearth new artifacts during the excavation.
solstice
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(n) /ˈsɒl.stɪs/
the time when the sun is farthest from the equator, resulting in the longest or shortest day
Example: Many people celebrate the summer solstice with festivals.
inhabit
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(v) /ɪnˈhæbɪt/
to live in or occupy a place
Example: Many different groups of people inhabit the area around Stonehenge.
tribe
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(n) /traɪb/
a group of people who share a culture or language
Example: The tribe lives in the forest.
artifact
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(n) /ˈɑːrtɪfækt/
an object made by a human being, usually of historical or cultural interest
Example: The museum displayed an ancient artifact from Egypt.
agrarian
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(adj) /əˈɡrɛəriən/
related to farming or the cultivation of land
Example: The agrarian society relied on crops for its survival.
indigenous
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(adj) /ɪnˈdɪdʒ.ɪ.nəs/
native to a place; originally from a particular region
Example: The indigenous people have lived in this area for thousands of years.
communal
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(adj) /kəˈmjunəl/
related to a group of people or community
Example: The members of the communal garden all worked together to grow vegetables.
immigrant
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(n) /ˈɪmɪɡrənt/
a person who comes to live in a different country
Example: The immigrant found a new job in the city.
architect
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(n) /ˈɑːrkɪtɛkt/
a person who designs buildings
Example: The architect created a beautiful new home.
shadowy
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(adj) /ˈʃædoʊ.i/
not clear or known
Example: The details of the event remain shadowy.
consensus
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(n) /kənˈsɛn.səs/
a general agreement
Example: The team reached a consensus about the project.
megalithic
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(adj) /ˌmɛɡəˈlɪθɪk/
relating to large stones used to build ancient structures
Example: The megalithic stones created a unique shape.
astronomical
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(adj) /ˌæstrəˈnɑːmɪkl/
relating to space or celestial bodies
Example: The astronomer studied the stars and other astronomical objects.
phenomenon
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(n) /fəˈnɒmɪnən/
something that can be seen or noticed, especially something unusual
Example: A rainbow is a beautiful phenomenon after the rain.
equinox
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(n) /ˈɛkwɪnɑːks/
a time in spring or autumn when day and night are of equal length
Example: The equinox marks the beginning of spring.
eclipse
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(n) /ɪˈklɪps/
an event when one object moves in front of another object, blocking it temporarily
Example: We saw a solar eclipse last summer.
dense
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(adj) /dɛns/
having a lot of things close together, thick
Example: The forest is dense with trees.
obscure
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(adj) /əbˈskjʊr/
not clear or hard to understand
Example: The sky was obscured by clouds.
speculate
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(v) /ˈspɛkjʊˌleɪt/
to think or guess about something without having all the facts
Example: They speculate about the reasons for the building's design.
curative
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(adj) /ˈkjʊərətɪv/
having the ability to heal or cure
Example: The doctor suggested a curative treatment for the illness.