IELTS Mock Test Vol 19 - Reading Test 1 - Passage 3: The persistence and peril of misinformation Vocabulary

A comprehensive list of vocabulary terms and definitions identified from the IELTS reading passage about misinformation.

peril of something

The danger or serious risk associated with a particular thing.

widespread

Found or distributed over a large area or among many people; common.

battle falsehoods

To fight against or oppose lies and incorrect information to maintain system integrity.

deliberately

In a way that is intentional or on purpose.

inevitable

Certain to happen; unavoidable.

deceive

To mislead or trick someone into believing something that is not true.

gain strategic advantage

To achieve a superior position or favorable condition through planned actions.

interpersonal bond

The connection or relationship between individuals.

inadvertently

Without intention; accidentally or by mistake.

distribute

To give out or share something among a group of people or over an area.

loom

To appear as a shadowy form, especially one that is large or threatening.

mass communication

The imparting or exchanging of information on a large scale to a wide range of people.

the facilitated spread of something

The process of making the distribution or expansion of something easier.

unduly

To an unwarranted degree; excessively or too much.

misperception

A wrong or incorrect understanding or interpretation of something.

downstream consequences

The secondary or subsequent effects that occur later in a process or as a result of an action.

political climate

The current mood, opinions, and situation of a particular group or nation regarding politics.

the contemporary mass-media environment

The modern setting or context in which news and information are disseminated to the public.

warrant

To justify or necessitate a certain course of action.

encounter

To unexpectedly be faced with or experience something.

counter

To speak or act in opposition to something.

initially

At the beginning or in the first stages.

experimental exposure

The state of being subjected to a specific condition or stimulus during a test or trial.

resource-intensive effort

A task or project that requires a high amount of time, money, or materials.

estimate

To roughly calculate or judge the value, number, or quantity of something.

garner

To gather or collect something, especially information or support.

dilemma

A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives.

information engagement

The act of interacting with, responding to, or consuming information.

empirically

In a way that is based on observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.

empirical evidence

Information acquired by means of observation or experimentation.

encode

To convert information into a particular form for storage or processing.

cognitive process

The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought and experience.

mental resources

The cognitive capacity or brainpower available for thinking and processing information.

skepticism/scepticism

A doubting or questioning attitude toward something; disbelief.

momentarily

For a very short time; briefly.

perceive

To become aware of or conscious of something; to interpret or look at something in a particular way.

preemptively

In a way that is intended to forestall or prevent something from happening.

regulatory structures

The systems of rules and agencies that manage and govern an industry or activity.

preemptive censoring

The act of suppressing or deleting information before it is published or broadcast.

post hoc

Occurring or done after the event.

monitoring

The act of observing and checking the progress or quality of something over a period of time.

oversee

To supervise a person or their work, especially in an official capacity.

direct-to-consumer

A business model where products or services are sold straight to the end-user without intermediaries.

violation

An act of breaking or failing to comply with a law, rule, or agreement.

laudable

Deserving praise and commendation.

keep something off the airwaves

To prevent a program or information from being broadcast on radio or television.

rhetorically compelling

Using language that is persuasive, powerful, and effective in influencing an audience.

comprehend

To understand or grasp the meaning of something.

media literacy

The ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in various forms.

scholar

A specialist in a particular branch of study; a highly educated person.

distinguish

To recognize or treat someone or something as different.

remedy

A way of solving a problem or or correcting a situation.

arduous

Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.

maintenance

The process of keeping something in good condition or preserving its functional state.

prominence

The state of being important, famous, or noticeable.

insufficiently

To an empty or inadequate degree; not enough.

simplify

To make something easier to do or understand.

scientific consensus

The collective judgment, position, and opinion of the community of scientists in a particular field.

human fallibility

The tendency of people to make mistakes or be wrong.

coordinated efforts

Organized and collaborative actions taken by multiple groups or individuals to achieve a common goal.

one-time panacea

A single solution that is expected to solve all problems at once.

fundamentally

In a basic or central way; fundamentally concerning the essential nature of something.

alter

To change or cause to change in character or composition.

outline

To give a summary of the main features or points of something.

regulatory body

A public organization or government agency that is set up to exercise a regulatory function.

philosopher

A person who seeks wisdom or enlightenment; a scholar of philosophy.

mental operation

An intellectual process or action performed by the mind.

dubious

Hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon; suspect.

exaggerate

To represent something as being larger, better, or worse than it really is.