Master the Cambridge IELTS 21 Academic Reading Test 3 Part 3 vocabulary with our flashcard exercise.
(Related: https://engnovate.com/ielts-reading-tests/cambridge-ielts-21-academic-reading-test-3/)
Flashcards: Cambridge IELTS 21 Academic Reading Test 3 Part 3
Back To Set1 / 29
truism
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈtruːɪzəm/
a statement that is clearly true and does not add any new information
Example: It's a truism that exercise is good for you.
discern
Click to show definition
(v) /dɪˈsɜːrn/
to notice or understand something by looking at it carefully
Example: It's hard to discern the truth from all the rumors.
stand out
Click to show definition
(phr v) /staʊnd aʊt/
to be very noticeable or better than other similar things
Example: Her red dress stands out in the crowd.
patriarchal
Click to show definition
(adj) /ˌpeɪtriˈɑːrkəl/
relating to a system of society controlled by men, where the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through the male line
Example: In a patriarchal society, men often hold the most power and authority.
interlock
Click to show definition
(v) /ˌɪntərˈlɑːk/
to fit together or be connected securely
Example: The pieces of the puzzle interlock perfectly.
altitude
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈæl.tɪ.tuːd/
the height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level
Example: The plane is flying at a high altitude.
upend
Click to show definition
(v) /ʌpˈɛnd/
to turn something upside down; to cause something to be no longer true or valid
Example: The discovery upended the old theory about human evolution.
notion
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈnoʊʃən/
an idea or belief about something
Example: She had a notion that he was lying.
engrave
Click to show definition
(v) /ɪnˈɡreɪv/
to cut words, pictures, or patterns into a hard surface
Example: They engrave names on trophies.
contentious
Click to show definition
(adj) /kənˈtɛnʃəs/
causing or likely to cause disagreement or argument
Example: The contentious issue divided the group.
contemporary
Click to show definition
(n) /kənˈtɛmpəˌrɛri/
a person or thing living or occurring at the same time as another
Example: He was a contemporary of Shakespeare.
dogma
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈdoʊɡmə/
a belief or set of beliefs that is accepted without question, often by a group or religion
Example: The scientist challenged the dogma that the Earth was the center of the universe.
rudimentary
Click to show definition
(adj) /ˌruːdɪˈmɛntəri/
basic and not very advanced or developed
Example: The rudimentary computer system could only perform simple tasks.
etching
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈɛtʃɪŋ/
a picture or design made by cutting lines into a surface
Example: The artist made an etching of a tree.
understate
Click to show definition
(v) /ˌʌndərˈsteɪt/
to describe something as less important, serious, or large than it really is
Example: He understated his own abilities in the interview.
inadequate
Click to show definition
(adj) /ɪnˈædɪkwət/
not good enough or too low in quality
Example: Our budget is inadequate for the project.
fixate
Click to show definition
(v) /ˈfɪk.seɪt/
to give all your attention to one thing and think about nothing else
Example: Don't fixate on your mistakes.
incremental
Click to show definition
(adj) /ˌɪnkrəˈmentəl/
increasing gradually or by regular degrees
Example: The company made incremental improvements to the product.
inherent
Click to show definition
(adj) /ɪnˈhɪrənt/
existing as a natural or basic part of something
Example: The risks are inherent in the job.
tipping point
Click to show definition
(n) /ˈtɪpɪŋ ˌpɔɪnt/
the point at which a series of small changes or events becomes significant enough to cause a larger, more important change
Example: The company reached a tipping point and then became very successful.
runaway
Click to show definition
(adj) /ˈrʌnəˌweɪ/
having escaped or run away from a place or situation
Example: The runaway horse was finally caught by the farmer.
preconception
Click to show definition
(n) /ˌpriːkənˈsɛpʃən/
an idea or opinion formed before having enough information or experience
Example: The doctor's preconception about the patient's lifestyle was wrong.
unpick
Click to show definition
(v) /ʌnˈpɪk/
to remove the stitches from something, or to examine and separate the parts of something in order to understand it
Example: She had to unpick the seams to fix the dress.
demolition
Click to show definition
(n) /ˌdɛməˈlɪʃən/
the act of destroying something, especially a building
Example: The demolition of the old factory took two weeks.
forage
Click to show definition
(v) /ˈfɔːrɪdʒ/
to search for food or supplies
Example: The bears forage for berries in the forest.
projectile
Click to show definition
(n) /prəˈdʒɛktəl/
an object that is thrown or shot from a weapon
Example: The projectile from the cannon flew over the wall.
unify
Click to show definition
(v) /ˈjuːnəˌfaɪ/
to bring together or combine things to make them one
Example: The new policy aims to unify the two departments.
authoritarianism
Click to show definition
(n) /əˌθɔːrəˈteriənɪzəm/
a system of government that requires total obedience to a ruler or government without allowing freedom
Example: The country suffered under the authoritarianism of its leader.
inevitable
Click to show definition
(adj) /ɪnˈɛvɪtəbəl/
certain to happen and unable to be avoided
Example: The storm made delays inevitable.