CAMBRIDGE IELTS 20 - TEST 3 - PASSAGE 2

coral reefs

underwater rock made by corals

conservationist

environmentalist, eco-activist #polluter

put the final touches

finish up, finalize, complete

giant

very large, huge, enormous #small, tiny

artificial

man-made, synthetic, fabricated #natural, real

assemble

to come together in a single place or bring parts together in a single group #dismantle, take apart

world-renowned

famous, well-known, acclaimed #unknown

spectacular

very impressive, amazing, stunning

vivid

bright, colorful, intense

scroll

a type of coral whose shape is rolled or curled

ridge

a long, narrow raised part of a surface, especially a high edge along a mountain

thrive

do well, go strong, flourish

tang

surgeonfish, renowned for their vibrant colors

clownfish

a small type of fish

dedicated to

focused on, meant for, made for

minuscule

very small, tiny, microscopic #huge, giant

invertebrate

animal without a spine, spineless animal

diverse

varied, different, mixed #huge, giant

ecosystem

all the living things in an area and the way they affect each other and the environment

core

main part, center, heart

exhibition

very impressive, stunning, breathtaking

curator

collection manager, exhibition organizer #visitor

highlight

emphasize, stress, point out #ignore

carry out

do, perform, conduct

threat

danger, risk, menace

wonder

marvel, miracle, amazement

be composed of

consist of, be made up of, comprise

polyps

tiny sea animall

tentacle

one of the long, thin parts like arms of some sea animals, used for feeling, holding things or catching food

marine

oceanic, aquatic, sea-related #land, terrestrial

transparent

clear, see-through, crystal-clear #opaque

algae

very simple tiny plants that grow in or near water and do not have ordinary leaves or roots

in turn

as a result, in return, consequently

photosynthesis

the process by which a plant uses the energy from the light of the sun to make its own food

sun's ray

sunlight, sunbeam, solar ray #shade

nutrient

food, sustenance, nourishment, mineral #poison

symbiotic

living together for mutual benefit #parasitic, independent

ocean bed

sea bed, sea floor, ocean floor

mollusc

any animal that has a soft body, no spine, and is often covered with a shell

rainforest

tropical forest, jungle, dense forest #desert

comparison

contrast, evaluation, juxtaposition

dismiss

ignore, reject, refute

naturalist

nature expert, biologist, ecologist

wildlife

wild animals, creatures, fauna

mask

a covering for all or part of the face that protects, hides, or decorates the person wearing it

sight

view, scene, spectacle

mind-blowing

amazing, astonishing, breathtaking

majestic

beautiful, grand, magnificent

thermal stress

heat damage, temperature stress, heat damage

trigger

cause, start, activate #stop

bleaching

losing color, turning white, color loss

strip smt of smt

remove, take away, clear

eventually

in the end, finally, ultimately #immediately, at first

menace

threat, danger, hazard

acidification

the process of becoming an acid

deoxygenation

oxygen loss

current

stream, flow, tide

crisis

emergency, disaster, dilemma #stability, peace

chunk

piece, part, segment

urgent

immediate, critical, pressing #unimportant

tackle

deal with, handle, address

emission

release, discharge, exhaust

harsh

difficult, tough, severe

wave

a raised line of water that moves across the surface of an area of water, especially the sea

erosion

wearing away, washing away, degradation

react

respond, act, show a change #ignore

pinpoint

identify, locate, detect

hardy

tough, strong, resilient

overheated

too hot, scorching, boiling

laboratory

lab, research room, testing facility

acidic

containing acid

spawn

reproduce, lay eggs, breed

artificially

not naturally, man-made, synthetically #naturally

aquarium

fish tank, marine tank, water tank #ocean, river

assist

help, aid, support #hinder, block

restoration

recovery, repair, renewal #destruction, damage

extend

broaden, expand, apply to more #limit, restrict

blighted

damaged, ruined, destroyed

conduct

carry out, implement, perform

critically

seriously, gravely, acutely #slightly, barely

ecological

environmental, natural, environment-related