Cambridge IELTS 17 - Reading Vocabulary Review

Key vocabulary and terms extracted from Cambridge IELTS 17 Reading passages covering bats, education's impact on economics, and blindfold chess champions.

attack

(noun) An aggressive act against someone or something; noted that most animals will not perform this act unless provoked.

convert

(verb) To change something from one form or use to another, such as changing a hotel into a nursing home.

destruction

(noun) The act of causing so much damage to something that it no longer exists, like a tidal wave bringing death in its wake.

fuel

(verb) To stimulate or accelerate a process; for example, higher salaries can help to increase inflation.

cultivation

(noun) The act of growing crops or plants; for example, the ranch was used for growing strawberries.

staple

(adj) Main or essential; used to describe a primary crop like rice or a necessary part of a wardrobe like jeans.

crop

(noun) A plant that is grown in large quantities for food or other uses.

pest

(noun) An insect or animal that is harmful to plants or crops.

vast

(adj) Extremely large in area; for instance, areas of the Amazon rainforest that have been destroyed.

subsistence

(noun) A type of economy where people produce just enough to live on without any surplus for trade.

clear

(verb) To remove trees or vegetation from land to prepare it for cultivation.

paddy

(noun) A field used for growing rice, which turns a feathery yellow when ready.

insectivorous

(adj) A category of animals, such as frogs, that primarily feed on insects.

devastating

(adj) Causing great damage or destruction, such as the effect of oil spills on coral reefs.

species

(noun) A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals; for example, nearly $850$ types of birds identified within a country.

thrive

(verb) To grow or develop well and vigorously; noted that animals rarely do this in captivity.

vital

(adj) Absolutely necessary or important; for example, the role of reading in language learning.

plague

(noun) A contagious disease that causes high mortality; one instance in London alone caused $100\,000$ deaths in the $1600s$.

modification

(noun) A slight change made to something, such as a design, to improve it.

indigenous

(adj) Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.

swarm

(noun) A large group of insects; an average locust group can devour about $20\,000\text{ tons}$ of vegetation daily.

prey on

(verb) To hunt and kill for food; for instance, hawks hunting rodents and small birds.

identify

(verb) To recognize or find out what something is, such as scientists finding a specific gene responsible for a disease.

analyse

(verb) To examine something in detail to explain or interpret it, such as examining one's own feelings.

consume

(verb) To eat, drink, or use up something, such as the moderate intake of red meat.

consistent

(adj) Always behaving or happening in a similar way; for example, steady growth in an economy.

income

(noun) Money received for work or from investments; for instance, a combined annual amount of less than $35\,000$.

wealth

(noun) An abundance of valuable possessions or money; for example, a personal fortune estimated at $100\text{ million}$.

decade

(noun) A period of ten years, such as the nineties.

compile

(verb) To produce a list or book by assembling information from other sources.

ledger

(noun) A book or other collection of financial accounts.

reprimand

(verb) To express sharp disapproval or criticism of someone, especially officially in a court.

ordinance

(noun) A local law or regulation, such as a city rule requiring parks to close at $11\text{ p.m.}$

inventory

(noun) A complete list of items such as property, goods in stock, or rare objects.

descendant

(noun) A person that is descended from a particular ancestor; for example, the original settlers of a land.

demographic

(adj) Relating to the structure of populations; often used to describe a specific group of people like a young consumer base.

chastise

(verb) To rebuke or reprimand severely.

fine

(noun) A sum of money exacted as a penalty; for example, paying over $2\,000$ for an offense.

summon

(verb) To authoritatively or urgently call on someone to be present, especially in a court of law.

innovation

(noun) A new method, idea, or product.

critical

(adj) Having a decisive or crucial importance in the success or failure of something.

mediocre

(adj) Of only moderate quality; not very good.

industrialise

(verb) To develop industries in a country or region on a wide scale.

undermine

(verb) To lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of someone or something, especially gradually.

monopoly

(noun) The exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service.

the uninitiated

(noun) People without special knowledge or experience of a particular subject or activity.

simultaneous

(adj) Occurring, operating, or done at the same time.

accomplished

(adj) Highly skilled or expert at something.

exceptional

(adj) Unusually good or outstanding; having much greater than average ability.

taxing

(adj) Physically or mentally demanding.

exhaustion

(noun) A state of extreme physical or mental tiredness.

fragmented

(adj) Broken into separate parts; denoting efforts spread across multiple product lines.

piece

(noun) A figure used to play a board game, such as the $32$ figures in a standard chess set.

participant

(noun) A person who takes part in something, such as a study with an average age of $48\text{ years}$.

feat

(noun) An achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength, like a remarkable engineering project.

recall

(verb) The act of remembering something, such as a name or a sequence of numbers.

string

(noun) A sequence of similar items, such as a series of numbers or a series of successful hits in a decade.