PTE Vocab

Question 1

Laborious

Answer 1

/ləˈbɔːriəs/
Taking a lot of time and effort
A laborious task and process.
E.g. Studying for IELTS is a laborious process.

Question 2

Strike a balance

Answer 2

To make or strive to make something equally proportioned midway between two or more conflicting or contrasting things.
E.g. I need to strike a better balance between my work life and my family.

Question 3

exemplify

Answer 3

/ɪɡˈzemplɪfaɪ/
= represent = illustrate = demonstrate
E.g. His food exemplifies Italian cooking at its best.

Question 4

Prevailing

Answer 4

/prɪˈveɪlɪŋ/
= current = existing at a particular time
E.g. The prevailing view seems to be that they will find her guilty.

Question 5

Prevail

Answer 5

(V) /prɪˈveɪl/
1. to exist or be very common at a particular time or in a particular place
E.g. prevail in something: We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons.
prevail among somebody: Those beliefs still prevail among certain social groups.

2. prevail (against/over something/sb) (of ideas, opinions, etc.) to be accepted, defeat the opponent especially after a struggle or an argument
   E.g. In a one-sided final, Spain prevailed against title-holder Croatia 40–34.

Question 6

picturesque

Answer 6

/ˌpɪktʃəˈresk/
= attractive= beautiful= pretty
There are many picturesque villages in Vietnam.

Question 7

The beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Answer 7

Means not everyone has the some opinions about what is attractive.

Question 8

This is founded on the assumptions

Answer 8

Collocation, not “ This is founded on the awareness”

Question 9

In contrast >< Conversely (= On the contrary)

Answer 9

In contrast: used to show the DIFFERENCE amongst things.

Conversely = On the contrary: show the OPPOSITES.

Question 10

Know no borders/ boundaries/ bounds = Knows few borders

Answer 10

Idioms

1. Means capable of affecting ppl everywhere
2. Means have no limits.

E.g Stress is a common emotion that knows few borders.

Question 11

Accumulate # Culminate

Accumulation # Culmination

Answer 11

Accumulate: gather/ combine together, building up by adding new materials.

Culminate: tends to emphasise the building towards a climatic moment. Culminate/ Culmination is more suitable if used to emphasise the path the actor’s career took to bring her to that point.

Question 12

Legal eagles

Answer 12

= Lawyer

Question 13

Decisiveness (n)

Decisive (adj) >< INdecisive

Answer 13

/dɪˈsaɪsɪvnəs/
The ability to decide sth clearly & quickly.

/dɪˈsaɪsɪv/
1. Able to decide quickly
2. Very important for the final results
E.g. He played a decisive role in the negotiation.

Question 14

Research

Answer 14

Research + ON/ INTO + sth

If is a noun, /rɪˈsɜːtʃ/ or /ˈriːsɜːtʃ/
If is a verb, /rɪˈsɜːtʃ/ ONLY

Question 15

Deceive

Answer 15

/dɪˈsiːv/
(V) to make sb believe sth that is not true.
E.g. She deceived him into handing over all his savings.
(V) deceive yourself: refuses to admit to yourself that somethings unpleasant is true.
E.g. You’re deceiving yourself if you think he’ll change his mind.

Question 16

Allure

Answer 16

(N) the quality of being attractive & exciting
E.g. Saigon has the allure of the big city.

(V) attract = tempt = entice
E.g. I had been fool enough to allow myself to be so quickly allure by his charms.

Question 17

Validity

Answer 17

/vəˈlɪdəti/
E.g. The recent study has thrown out the validity of the argument.
***Throw sth out: to say something in a way that suggests you have not given it a lot of thought
E.g. You can’t just throw out a suggestion. You need to think about it carefully.

Question 18

Ample

Answer 18

(Adj) /ˈæmpl/
= enough = abundant= plentiful=adequate
E.g. ample opportunity/evidence/space/proof
There was ample time to get to the airport.
Ample free parking is available.

Question 19

Dilemma

Answer 19

(N) /dɪˈlemə/
is a situation where there is no clear easy choice or answer. An example of a dilemma is when you only have two extra tickets to an event and three friends that want to go. Any situation in which one must choose between unpleasant alternatives.
E.g. This course will examine some of the profound ethical dilemmas.
* Profound= intense = extreme

Question 20

1. Bigotry

2. Bigot

Answer 20

1. /ˈbɪɡətri/ (N): the fact of having and expressing strong, unreasonable beliefs and disliking other people who have different beliefs or a different way of life.
   E.g. When religious people show bigotry and intolerance, they are in fact betraying the religion they uphold.
2. /ˈbɪɡət/: a person who has very strong, unreasonable beliefs or opinions about race, religion or politics and who will not listen to or accept the opinions of anyone who disagrees.
   E.g. a religious/racial bigot

Question 21

Inherent

Answer 21

(Adj) /ɪnˈherənt/ /ɪnˈherənt/
That is a basic or permanent part of sb/ sth & that cannot be removed
= intrinsic = fundamental = innate = essential

E.g. The inherent tension between these two features are remained to be addressed.
Violence is inherent in our society.

Question 22

Truancy

Answer 22

/ˈtruːənsi/

Missing out of school on purpose

Question 23

Multifaceted

Answer 23

/ˌmʌltiˈfæsɪtɪd/ (formal)
having many different aspects to be considered.
E.g. This problem has been diverse and multifaceted.

Question 24

Implicit # Explicit

Answer 24

Implicit /ɪmˈplɪsɪt/ = indirect = implied
E.g. These assumptions are implicit in your words.

Explicit /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/ = clear = obvious
E.g. I was very explicit on showing you the way to get there.

Question 25

Fierce

Answer 25

/fɪəs/ = aggressive & angry in a way that is very frightening.
E.g. He suddenly became fierce.

Question 26

Readily

Answer 26

/ˈredɪli/ Quickly and without difficulty = freely
E.g. Bubble tea is not readily available in my suburb.
Citizens readily accept the need for laws.

Question 27

Plant

Answer 27

Also means factory
E.g. Japanese car plant
a nuclear power plant

Question 28

Tillage

Answer 28

/ˈtɪlɪdʒ/: process of preparing & using land for growing crops.

Question 29

Millennia

Answer 29

/mɪˈleniə/: 1000 yrs
* Millennium: the time when one period of 1000 yrs ends and another begins.
E.g. How did you celebrate the millennium?

Question 30

Baby Boomer

Answer 30

People who were born after World War II (1946- 1964)

Question 31

Equilibrium

Answer 31

/ˌiːkwɪˈlɪbriəm/,
1. a state of balance, especially between different forces or influence
E.g. We have achieved an equilibrium in the economy.
2. calm state of mind and a balance of emotions
E.g. He sat down to try and recover his equilibrium.