Video Lessons

ACADEMIC
VOCABULARY
F O R I E LT S

LESSON 8
ACADEMIC VOCABULARY FOR IELTS
• Nouns
• Verbs
• Adjectives
• Adverbs
• Definitions
• Extra language
PREDICTION
• Forecast; estimate of the future
• The prediction of experts that our planet’s population will exceed
nine billion by the year 2050 should raise concerns and make alarm
bells ring.
• The statistical information includes predictions for smartphone use
between now and 2020. It is estimated that the number of hours
spent on smartphones will rise exponentially over the next four
years before levelling out and possibly declining somewhat towards
the end of the period in question.
• Due to the complicated nature of human behavior, it is extremely
difficult to predict what will happen in the coming year.
PREDICTION
• The prediction of experts that our planet’s population will exceed
nine billion by the year 2050 should raise concerns and make alarm
bells ring.
• The statistical information includes predictions for smartphone use
between now and 2020. It is estimated that the number of hours
spent on smartphones will rise exponentially over the next four
years before levelling out and possibly declining somewhat towards
the end of the period in question.
• Due to the complicated nature of human behavior, it is extremely
difficult to predict what will happen in the coming year.
PREDICTION
• Some commentators claim that the economic crash which affected
Asia towards the end of the last millennium was entirely predictable.
• Weather tends to be extremely unpredictable; although climate
scientists can run computer models and produce forecasts, they are
very likely to be inaccurate.
• The unpredictability of hurricanes makes them even more
dangerous.
• Following elections, the political parties which have not done well
quite predictably claim that their losses are due to corruption and
vote-rigging.
• Financial markets sometimes behave unpredictably.
PREDICTION
• Some commentators claim that the economic crash which affected
Asia towards the end of the last millennium was entirely predictable.
• Weather tends to be extremely unpredictable; although climate
scientists can run computer models and produce forecasts, they are
very likely to be inaccurate.
• The unpredictability of hurricanes makes them even more
dangerous.
• Following elections, the political parties which have not done well
quite predictably claim that their losses are due to corruption and
vote-rigging.
• Financial markets sometimes behave unpredictably.
DEFINITION
• Full explanation of the meaning of something
• Agreeing on a definition of many psychological or emotional
illnesses is legendarily difficult; symptoms vary markedly from
person to person, making any condition hard to fully understand.
• We can define success in several different ways. For some, it refers to
becoming powerful or rich whilst others see it in terms of having
good health, loving friends or a caring family.
• It is hard to reach a definitive conclusion about whether legalising
some drugs would be beneficial. (complete; absolute)
• I feel I can definitively state that learning a language has only
positive effects on an individual. (completely; absolutely)
DEFINITION
• Agreeing on a definition of many psychological or emotional
illnesses is legendarily difficult; symptoms vary markedly from
person to person, making any condition hard to fully understand.
• We can define success in several different ways. For some, it refers to
becoming powerful or rich whilst others see it in terms of having
good health, loving friends or a caring family.
• It is hard to reach a definitive conclusion about whether legalising
some drugs would be beneficial.
• I feel I can definitively state that learning a language has only
positive effects on an individual.
ACRIMONIOUS
• Bitter; angry; heated; full of argument and disagreement
• There has been a lengthy and acrimonious debate about whether
homosexuals should have the same rights to marry and adopt
children as heterosexual couples.
• Discussions about whether the death penalty should be abolished
tend to be bitter and acrimonious.
• Historically, there has been a great deal of bitterness and acrimony
between environmentalists who want to preserve the natural world,
and oil companies which want to drill for petroleum and seem to
care far more about their profits than about nature and the wildlife
which inhabits it.
ACRIMONIOUS
• There has been a lengthy and acrimonious debate about whether
homosexuals should have the same rights to marry and adopt
children as heterosexual couples.
• Discussions about whether the death penalty should be abolished
tend to be bitter and acrimonious.
• Historically, there has been a great deal of bitterness and acrimony
between environmentalists who want to preserve the natural world,
and oil companies which want to drill for petroleum and seem to
care far more about their profits than about nature and the wildlife
which inhabits it.
DEMONSTRATE
• To show; to indicate; to make something clear
• A spate of recent terrorist attacks demonstrates how much anger, hatred and
disharmony there is in our world.
• Volcanic eruptions, and hurricanes demonstrate how forceful nature can be.
• It is quite difficult to demonstrate conclusively that temperature rises have caused
the extinction of several animal species.
• The figures provided demonstrate a clear relationship between the cost of public
transport and the number of passengers using it.
• Riots in deprived areas are a demonstration of the major social issues facing us.
• One effective way for members of the public to show their opposition to
government policies is through non-violent demonstrations and marches.
• There has been demonstrable progress in the area of genetic engineering.
• Society is demonstrably fairer than it used to be.
DEMONSTRATE
• A spate of recent terrorist attacks demonstrates how much anger, hatred and
disharmony there is in our world.
• Volcanic eruptions, and hurricanes demonstrate how forceful nature can be.
• It is quite difficult to demonstrate conclusively that temperature rises have caused
the extinction of several animal species.
• The figures provided demonstrate a clear relationship between the cost of public
transport and the number of passengers using it.
• Riots in deprived areas are a demonstration of the major social issues facing us.
• One effective way for members of the public to show their opposition to
government policies is through non-violent demonstrations and marches.
• There has been demonstrable progress in the area of genetic engineering.
• Society is demonstrably fairer than it used to be.
THREATEN
• To be likely to cause harm or problems; to inform somebody that
you will cause them problems if they do not act in the way you want
• The spread of communicative technology threatens the existence of
printed material such as books, magazines and newspapers.
• When one country threatens to invade its neighbor, the
international community should make huge diplomatic efforts to
avert conflict.
• Some argue that one of the biggest threats to our continued
existence could be viruses which we cannot control with antibiotics.
• The threat of biological or chemical warfare is a very real one.
• Police officers regularly have to deal with threatening behavior from
members of the public.
THREATEN
• The spread of communicative technology threatens the existence of
printed material such as books, magazines and newspapers.
• When one country threatens to invade its neighbor, the
international community should make huge diplomatic efforts to
avert conflict.
• Some argue that one of the biggest threats to our continued
existence could be viruses which we cannot control with antibiotics.
• The threat of biological or chemical warfare is a very real one.
• Police officers regularly have to deal with threatening behavior from
members of the public.
CONTRADICT
• To say or show the opposite; to show that what is said or believed is
completely wrong; to describe two completely opposite things
• Although it used to be believed that none of the other planets in our
solar system contained water, recent evidence contradicts this.
• All the information available contradicts the misogynistic view that
men are better drivers than women.
• There is surely a contradiction in claiming to be a socialist but not
actually giving your wealth to the neediest in society.
• Students often receive contradictory advice from tutors: they are
told to work hard and revise, but also to relax and not become
overly stressed during the exam period.
CONTRADICT
• Although it used to be believed that none of the other planets in our
solar system contained water, recent evidence contradicts this.
• All the information available contradicts the misogynistic view that
men are better drivers than women.
• There is surely a contradiction in claiming to be a socialist but not
actually giving your wealth to the neediest in society.
• Students often receive contradictory advice from tutors: they are
told to work hard and revise, but also to relax and not become
overly stressed during the exam period.
ADVANCE
• An improvement; a step forward; some progress
• The development of plastics was one of the greatest advances of the twentieth
century.
• Although we have advanced our understanding of the causes of human behavior,
there is still a great deal which remains unexplained.
• Despite the advanced computer systems used by air-traffic controllers, accidents
can still occur as a result of human error.
• Some specialists in this area advance the theory that delinquents commit crime
entirely as a result of social signals and that genetic factors are not involved at all.
(suggest; put forward)
• Those who study English at an advanced level are statistically more likely to earn a
high salary. (high)
ADVANCE
• The development of plastics was one of the greatest advances of the twentieth
century.
• Although we have advanced our understanding of the causes of human behavior,
there is still a great deal which remains unexplained.
• Despite the advanced computer systems used by air-traffic controllers, accidents
can still occur as a result of human error.
• Some specialists in this area advance the theory that delinquents commit crime
entirely as a result of social signals and that genetic factors are not involved at all.
• Those who study English at an advanced level are statistically more likely to earn a
high salary.
THEREBY
• As a result; as a consequence
• Motorists who drive under the influence of drink and thereby put
themselves, their passengers and other road-users at risk should
receive lengthy custodial sentences.
• We should praise individuals who do voluntary work and thereby
make the world a better place.
• I am convinced that the authorities should oblige all adults to do
some form of physical exercise, thereby reducing the likelihood of
heart disease and strokes.
THEREBY
• Motorists who drive under the influence of drink and thereby put
themselves, their passengers and other road-users at risk should
receive lengthy custodial sentences.
• We should praise individuals who do voluntary work and thereby
make the world a better place.
• I am convinced that the authorities should oblige all adults to do
some form of physical exercise, thereby reducing the likelihood of
heart disease and strokes.
INFRASTRUCTURE
• Networks, systems and services which allow a country or city to function
• When the authorities invest in infrastructure, such as rail networks and hospitals,
there is likely to be a positive effect on employment and even a general economic
boost.
• Cities with good infrastructure- including efficient transport systems, good energy
supplies and advanced broadband connections- find it much easier to attract
inward investment.
• One of the major advantages of staging international sporting events such as The
Olympic Games is that a region gets the opportunity to modernize its
infrastructure. New airports may be built, there is likely to be significant
investment in public transport and the quality of roads and internet connections
may well be upgraded.
INFRASTRUCTURE
• When the authorities invest in infrastructure, such as rail networks and hospitals,
there is likely to be a positive effect on employment and even a general economic
boost.
• Cities with good infrastructure- including efficient transport systems, good energy
supplies and advanced broadband connections- find it much easier to attract
inward investment.
• One of the major advantages of staging international sporting events such as The
Olympic Games is that a region gets the opportunity to modernize its
infrastructure. New airports may be built, there is likely to be significant
investment in public transport and the quality of roads and internet connections
may well be upgraded.
ESTIMATE
• To guess or calculate; to use your skills and knowledge to work out an answer
(often a figure, level, quantity, size etc)
• Astronomers estimate that there are literally billions of stars in the universe.
• It is estimated that by the end of this century, thanks to advances in medical
technology, some humans will live to the age of at least a hundred and fifty.
• It is difficult to estimate what the price of petroleum will be five years from now.
• There are estimated to be more individuals living in urban than rural areas for the
first time in human history.
• An estimated ninety percent of all new businesses fail, yet entrepreneurs do not
seem to be discouraged from setting up companies
• In my estimation, unless we radically change the way we live, it is soon going to be
impossible for us to feed everyone on our planet. (belief; guess)
ESTIMATE
• Astronomers estimate that there are literally billions of stars in the universe.
• It is estimated that by the end of this century, thanks to advances in medical
technology, some humans will live to the age of at least a hundred and fifty.
• It is difficult to estimate what the price of petroleum will be five years from now.
• There are estimated to be more individuals living in urban than rural areas for the
first time in human history.
• An estimated ninety percent of all new businesses fail, yet entrepreneurs do not
seem to be discouraged from setting up companies
• In my estimation, unless we radically change the way we live, it is soon going to be
impossible for us to feed everyone on our planet.
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