Barron's IELTS Essential Words Fourth Edition Review

Comprehensive practice flashcards based on the IELTS Essential Words review material, covering topics including environmental science, history of leisure, transportation technology, cultural traditions, and healthcare research.

According to the transcript, what raw materials does the logging industry supply for various products?

Raw materials for items such as shipping crates and paper bags.

How does a dense canopy of branches and leaves benefit a rainforest floor?

It keeps the floor healthy and intact by intercepting heavy rainfall to prevent surface runoff and allowing water to drip onto porous earth.

What fraction of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions is attributed to deforestation?

Approximately $\frac{1}{5}$ of emissions worldwide.

How do nocturnal migratory birds find their way during night travel?

They take navigational cues from the stars, though they may become separated or return to earth if stars are obscured by clouds.

What is the recorded non-stop migration distance of a bar-tailed godwit?

A continuous flight of over $11,000$ miles from Alaska to New Zealand.

What is the approximate size and location of the Taklimakan Desert?

It occupies some $337,600\,km^2$ in northwestern China.

How do plants like Populus euphratica and Tamarix ramosissima manage evaporation in the desert?

They open and close their stomata, which are tiny pores on the leaf surface, in response to moisture levels.

What environmental factors in a sports setting contribute to an athlete's visual sharpness?

Adequate lighting, less off-court motion, contrasting backgrounds, and uniforms with non-confusing color combinations.

According to the text, what is the normal rate of blinking and its duration?

Usually $25$ blinks per minute, with each blink lasting one-tenth of a second.

What was the capacity of the Circus Maximus after it became a massive marble stadium?

It could seat more than $200,000$ spectators.

Who is credited with founding the first modern circus in England during the late 1700s?

An Englishman named Philip Astley.

What major business innovation did Joshua Brown introduce to the circus in $1825$?

The use of portable circus tents.

According to the text, which nationality reports the greatest satisfaction with their leisure time?

The British, who often divide their vacation sessions throughout the year and engage in outdoor activities in national-trust parks.

What are the two major drawbacks of the first electric headlamp developed in $1851$?

It required its own generator, which was not portable at the time, and its delicate parts broke easily on rough rails.

What is the difference between a Level 0 and a Level 5 autonomous car?

Level $0$ is entirely operated by a human driver, while Level $5$ operates without any human control and does not require a steering wheel.

In ancient mythology, who did the Egyptians credit as the creator of writing and speech?

The god Thoth.

When and where did the oldest known writing system, cuneiform, develop?

Among the ancient Sumerians in Mesopotamia around $3000\,B.C.$

What were the primary reasons King David Kalakaua was influential in Hawaiian culture?

He is credited with reviving hula dancing during his reign in the late nineteenth century to reestablish traditions.

Who were two superstars of the silent movie era who significantly influenced modern mime?

Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin.

What is the primary function of the protein known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)?

It stimulates the growth of brain cells and regulates the production of synapses between neurons.

What is measured and determined during Phase I of drug clinical trials?

The drug's safety and appropriate dose range are determined using fewer than $100$ healthy volunteers.

Who rediscovered the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu in $1911$?

Archeologist Hiram Bingham.