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Essential words for IELTS > Unit 1 > Flashcards

Unit 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Aquatic

A

relating to water.

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2
Q

array

A

Noun
1
an impressive display or range of a particular type of thing.
there is a vast array of literature on the topic
2
an ordered series or arrangement.
several arrays of solar panels will help provide power

Verb
1
display or arrange (things) in a particular way.
the forces arrayed against him

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3
Q

defense

A

Noun
1
the action of defending from or resisting attack.
she came to the defense of the eccentric professor

2
the case presented by or on behalf of the party being accused or sued in a lawsuit.
the farmer’s defense was that he intended only to wound the thief

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4
Q

deforestation

A

the action of clearing a wide area of trees.

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5
Q

environment

A

the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.
“survival in an often hostile environment”

the natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, especially as affected by human activity.
“the impact of pesticides on the environment”

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6
Q

erosion

A

the process of eroding or being eroded by wind, water, or other natural agents.
the problem of soil erosion

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7
Q

extend

A

verb

cause to cover a larger area; make longer or wider.
the Forest Service plans to extend a gravel road nearly a mile

2
hold (something) out toward someone.
I nod and extend my hand

3
exert or exercise oneself to the utmost.
you have to extend yourself to change rather than keep on doing the same thing

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8
Q

fell

A

verb

move downward, typically rapidly and freely without control, from a higher to a lower level.
five inches of snow fell through the night

(of a person) lose one’s balance and collapse.
he stumbled, tripped, and fell

noun

an act of falling or collapsing; a sudden uncontrollable descent.
his mother had a fall, hurting her leg as she alighted from a train

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9
Q

habitat

A

noun

the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.
wild chimps in their natural habitat

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10
Q

impact

A

noun

the action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another.
there was the sound of a third impact

verb

come into forcible contact with another object.
the shell impacted twenty yards away

have a strong effect on someone or something.
high interest rates have impacted on retail spending

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11
Q

inhibit

A

hinder, restrain, or prevent (an action or process).
cold inhibits plant growth

make (someone) self-conscious and unable to act in a relaxed and natural way.
his mother’s strictures would always inhibit him

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12
Q

intercept

A

v

obstruct (someone or something) so as to prevent them from continuing to a destination.
intelligence agencies intercepted a series of telephone calls

n

an act or instance of intercepting something.
he read the file of radio intercepts

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13
Q

logging

A

noun

the activity or business of felling trees and cutting and preparing the timber.
measures to counter illegal logging of the country’s tropical rainforests

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14
Q

myriad

A

LITERARY

noun

a countless or extremely great number.
networks connecting a myriad of computers

(chiefly in classical history) a unit of ten thousand.
the army was organized on a decimal system, up to divisions of 10,000 or myriads

adj

countless or extremely great in number.
the myriad lights of the city

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15
Q

nutrient

A

a substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.
fish is a source of many important nutrients, including protein, vitamins, and minerals

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16
Q

pollution

A

the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects.
the level of pollution in the air is rising

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17
Q

stabilise

A

make or become unlikely to give way or overturn.

the craft was stabilized by throwing out the remaining ballast

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18
Q

terrestrial

A

adj

of, on, or relating to the earth.
increased ultraviolet radiation may disrupt terrestrial ecosystems

Noun
1
an inhabitant of the earth.

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19
Q

vanish

A

disappear suddenly and completely.

Mary vanished without a trace

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20
Q

vegetation

A

n

plants considered collectively, especially those found in a particular area or habitat.
the chalk cliffs are mainly sheer with little vegetation

the action or process of vegetating.

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21
Q

aspect

A

n
a particular part or feature of something.
the financial aspect can be overstressed

the positioning of a building or thing in a specified direction.
a greenhouse with a southern aspect

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22
Q

breed

A

v
(of animals) mate and then produce offspring.
toads are said to return to the pond of their birth to breed

a stock of animals or plants within a species having a distinctive appearance and typically having been developed by deliberate selection.
the big continental breeds are eagerly being imported by British farmers

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23
Q

diurnal

A

adj

1
of or during the day.

daily; of each day.
diurnal rhythms

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24
Q

endure

A

v
suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently.
it seemed impossible that anyone could endure such pain

remain in existence; last.
these cities have endured through time

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25
Q

evolve

A

v
1
develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form.
the company has evolved into a major chemical manufacturer

CHEMISTRY
give off (gas or heat).
the energy evolved during this chemical change is transferred to water
26
Q

fascinate

A

draw irresistibly the attention and interest of (someone).

I’ve always been fascinated by other cultures

27
Q

feat

A

an achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength.
the new printing presses were considerable feats of engineering

28
Q

fuel

A

1
material such as coal, gas, or oil that is burned to produce heat or power.
one aircraft ran out of fuel and had to ditch

v

supply or power (an industrial plant, vehicle, or machine) with fuel.
the plan includes a hydroelectric plant to fuel a paper factory

29
Q

hemisphere

A

a half of a sphere.

30
Q

imperative

A

adj

of vital importance; crucial.
immediate action was imperative

giving an authoritative command; peremptory.
the bell pealed again, a final imperative call

n

an essential or urgent thing.
free movement of labor was an economic imperative

31
Q

inhabit

A

Verb
1
(of a person, animal, or group) live in or occupy (a place or environment).
a bird that inhabits North America

32
Q

migration

A

Noun
1
seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.
this butterfly’s annual migration across North America

movement from one part of something to another.
there is virtually no cell migration in plants

33
Q

navigation

A

Noun
1
the process or activity of accurately ascertaining one’s position and planning and following a route.
Columbus corrected his westward course by celestial navigation

2
the passage of ships.
bridges to span rivers without hindering navigation

34
Q

nocturnal

A

Adjective
1
done, occurring, or active at night.
most owls are nocturnal

35
Q

observer

A

Noun
1
a person who watches or notices something.
to a casual observer, he was at peace

36
Q

obscure

A

Adjective
1
not discovered or known about; uncertain.
his origins and parentage are obscure

Verb
1
keep from being seen; conceal.
gray clouds obscure the sun

37
Q

optimal

A

Adjective
best or most favorable; optimum.
seeking the optimal solution

38
Q

species

A

n

1
BIOLOGY
a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. The species is the principal natural taxonomic unit, ranking below a genus and denoted by a Latin binomial, e.g. Homo sapiens.

2
a kind or sort.
a species of invective at once tough and suave

39
Q

stray

A

Verb
1
move away aimlessly from a group or from the right course or place.
dog owners are urged not to allow their dogs to stray

Adjective
1
not in the right place; separated from the group or target.
he pushed a few stray hairs from her face

Noun
1
a stray person or thing, especially a domestic animal.

40
Q

windswept

A

(of a place) exposed to strong winds.

the windswept moors

41
Q

accumulate

A

Verb
1
gather together or acquire an increasing number or quantity of.
investigators have yet to accumulate enough evidence

42
Q

adapt

A

Verb
1
make (something) suitable for a new use or purpose; modify.
hospitals have had to be adapted for modern medical practice

43
Q

determine

A

Verb
1
cause (something) to occur in a particular way; be the decisive factor in.
it will be her mental attitude that determines her future

2
ascertain or establish exactly, typically as a result of research or calculation.
the point of our study was to determine what is true, not what is practicable

3
firmly decide.
he determined on a withdrawal of his forces

44
Q

dilute

A

Verb
1
make (a liquid) thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent to it.
bleach can be diluted with cold water

Adjective
1
(of a liquid) made thinner or weaker by having had water or another solvent added to it.

45
Q

diverse

A

Adjective
1
showing a great deal of variety; very different.
subjects as diverse as architecture, language teaching, and the physical sciences
2
including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.
our company is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce

46
Q

evaporation

A

Noun
1
the process of turning from liquid into vapor.
snow cover prevents evaporation of water from the soil

47
Q

extreme

A

Adjective
1
reaching a high or the highest degree; very great.
extreme cold

2
furthest from the center or a given point; outermost.
the extreme northwest of Scotland

Noun
1
either of two abstract things that are as different from each other as possible.
unbridled talk at one extreme and total silence at the other

48
Q

fringe

A

Noun
1
the border or outer edges of an area or group.
the southern fringes of the city

Adjective
1
not part of the mainstream; unconventional, peripheral, or extreme.
fringe theater

Verb
1
decorate (clothing or material) with a fringe.
a rich robe of gold, fringed with black velvet

49
Q

mechanism

A

Noun
1
a system of parts working together in a machine; a piece of machinery.
the gunner injured his arm in the turret mechanism

2
a natural or established process by which something takes place or is brought about.
we have no mechanism for assessing the success of forwarded inquiries

50
Q

minimise

A

Verb
1
reduce (something, especially something unwanted or unpleasant) to the smallest possible amount or degree.
the aim is to minimize costs

51
Q

moisture

A

Noun
1
water or other liquid diffused in a small quantity as vapor, within a solid, or condensed on a surface.
the air was constantly heavy with moisture

52
Q

occupy

A

Verb
1
reside or have one’s place of business in (a building).
the apartment she occupies in Manhattan

2
fill or preoccupy (the mind or thoughts).
her mind was occupied with alarming questions

3
take control of (a place, especially a country) by military conquest or settlement.
the region was occupied by Britain during World War I

53
Q

prolific

A

Adjective
1
(of a plant, animal, or person) producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring.
in captivity tigers are prolific breeders

2
present in large numbers or quantities; plentiful.
mahogany was once prolific in the tropical forests

54
Q

resilient

A

Adjective
1
(of a person or animal) able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
babies are generally far more resilient than new parents realize

2
(of a substance or object) able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed.
a shoe with resilient cushioning

55
Q

sparse

A

Adjective
1
thinly dispersed or scattered.
areas of sparse population

56
Q

stressor

A

Noun
1
something that causes a state of strain or tension.
stressors can place a tremendous burden on relationships

57
Q

swing

A

Verb
1
move or cause to move back and forth or from side to side while suspended or on an axis.
her long black skirt swung about her legs

2
move by grasping a support from below and leaping.
we swung across like two trapeze artists

58
Q

thrive

A

Verb
1
(of a child, animal, or plant) grow or develop well or vigorously.
the new baby thrived

59
Q

transitional

A

Adjective
1
relating to or characteristic of a process or period of transition.

60
Q

violent

A

Adjective
1
using or involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.
a violent confrontation with riot police

Essential words for IELTS (10 decks)

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