artı language schools

IELTS
master
Guide to IELTS
Instructional Strategies & Quality Materials
Table Of Contents

1. Reading 0.4

2. Listening 0.12

3. Writing 0.23

4. Speaking 0.27

Author
Fatih Mehmet Şen
Cambridge Exams Manager
IELTS Instructor
1. IELTS Reading
The key strategy that works best in improving reading skills is learning some of the most
commonly used synonyms.

Here are the most common synonyms from the reading module of the past papers:

1. in advance beforehand, ahead of time Reading is the most

2. fortune richness, wealth
3. native to originated in, indigenous fundamental skill to help
4. attemp to hope to you score better in all
5. ask advice of consult four modules of IELTS.
6. current now, today
7. seek search for, look for
8. react response, reply The reading test is
9. life expectancy lifetime, life span actually a vocabulary
10. deal with overcome test. The paragraphs
11. promptly immediately, without delay
12. resemble look like and questions will use
13. significant remarkable synonyms and
14. witness observe paraphrase sentences
15. work out measure, calculate
16. novelty innovation to test the depth of your
17. halt stop vocabulary.
18. affect influence
19. transmit send, relay
20. replace change
21. acclaim praise, fame
22. shun despise, disdain
23. omit leave out, strip out
24. most majority
25. scheme initiative, plan
26. viable workable
27. urban areas towns and cities
28. annual yearly
29. drop reduction, decline, decrease
30. hurdle obstacle, barrier, challenge
31. various a range of
32. conquer challenges overcome problems
33. benefits advantages
34. graze feed, eat
35. amenity facility
36. possessions belongings, property
37. reputable well-known, renowned, acclaimed, celebrated
38. unforseen unexpected
39. carriageway roadway, highway
40. future further
41. disappear vanish, extinct
42. reproduce breed
43. pinpoint identify
44. mitigate diminish, decrease
45. encircle surround, ring
46. challenge difficult task
47. tedious boring; tiresome; monotonous
48. elicit generate
49. feeling emotion
50. energising stimulating
Rephrasing Exercise
Translation Exercise 1

1. The German government is planning to invest about 10 billion Euros in new solar power plants.

2. Today, having a university degree does not guarantee a well-paid job.

3. Applying for a UK visa to study can be a very complex and frustrating process for students.

4. Sometimes, artists paint primarily for their own enjoyment or self-expression, choosing their own subjects.

5. Acid rain forms when water vapor in the air reacts with certain chemical compounds.

6. Several large cities in the United States have subway systems.

7. Transportation is the act of moving people or goods from one place to another. There are three main kinds of
transportation: land, water, and air. Land transportation depends mainly on wheeled vehicles, especially including
automobiles, trains, and trucks. Ships and boats are the most important water vehicles. Air transport depends
almost entirely on airplanes.

8. Followers of the yoga school use yoga exercise to achieve their goal of isolation of the soul from the body and
mind.

9. Collecting is probably the most widespread kind of hobby, because almost anything can be collected.

10. Scientists group butterflies species into families, according to their common physical features.

11. In his famous book titled The Wealth of Nations, the Scottish economist Adam Smith lays the foundations of
Capitalism.

12. Inflation is a continual increase in the prices for goods and services, so it means that the purchasing power of
currency falls gradually.

13. The first step to a healthy lifestyle is to decrease the amount of salt in the diet and increase fiber intake.

14. About 1.5 billion people, namely one-fifth of humanity, live without electricity today.

15. Giraffes make no sound, not because they cannot but because they choose not to.

7
Rephrasing Exercise
Translation Exercise 2

1. Before the bridge was built, we could only get to the island by ferry.

2. It might be a number of months before the sports centre is back in operation.

3. The cabin staff must accept the new working conditions.

4. The negative attitude to sport must not be allowed to continue.

5. Parents do not need to be very interested in sport themselves.

6. We had to get on the train without a ticket, because we could not arrive at the station in time.

7. We are in a hurry, so we have to take a taxi.

8. The hotels on the island are able to accommodate hundreds of visitors.

9. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control very quickly.

10. The temperature in the mountains may fall below freezing even at this time of year.

11. Alex might have lost his way, as he does not know the city that well.

12. They say the new road will be ready in five years, but they should be able to build it faster.

13. You should not have shouted at the child; he might have broken the vase by mistake.

14. I had to borrow some money from a friend, because I had lost my wallet.

15. The forensic team should have finished examining the building by now.

16. I could not sleep a wink last night, as the weather was too hot.

17. Doctors must do something to save the patient as soon as possible.

18. We had better not go in the house until the police have finished their investigation.

19. Although he had no ID, the man was allowed to enter the building.

20. Most museums do not allow visitors to take photos of the items on display.

26
Reading 1

THE UNIVERSE
The Universe is the whole of existence — all of space,
matter, energy, and time. The Universe is so vast that
it seems unimaginable, but we do know that it has been
steadily expanding since the Big Bang, an explosive
event that occurred 13.8 billion years ago.

People used to think of the Universe as a giant sphere,

but we now know that things are not so simple. The Universe
probably has no center or outer edge. Only a fraction of it,
the observable Universe, is visible to us. The whole Universe
may be vastly bigger than this — perhaps it is infinite. Milky Way galaxy
The Milky Way Galaxy is our home galaxy in
the universe. It contains roughly 200 billion
Because light takes considerable time to travel, when we stars. Milky Way is just one of many galaxies,
look into space we are looking back in time. The most distant now estimated to number as many as 200
visible objects are galaxies photographed by Hubble Telescope. billion galaxies in the observable universe.
We see them as they were 13 billion years ago. The Universe
extends far beyond these, but it is impossible to see objects
much further because their light has not had time to reach us. PPO TIP FOR SMART READING
Spot the radical words or phrases and those
signaling contrast in the text.
The elements hydrogen and helium make up 98 percent of never always none unique however
the matter we can see in the Universe. But there does not majority most neither exclusive whereas
seem to be enough matter to explain the way stars and
galaxies are pulled by gravity. As a result, astronomers think
galaxies contain dark matter, which we cannot see. There is
also an unknown force making the Universe expand, known The Big Bang
as dark energy.
About 14 billion years ago, the
Universe materialized out of nothing
for unknown reasons. Initially smaller
One of the biggest questions in science is whether life is unique than an atom, the Universe expanded
to Earth or originated on other worlds. And if life has appeared to billions of miles across in under a
elsewhere, could intelligent beings have evolved? Scientists second, an event called the Big
have set up projects to watch for signals from extraterrestrials, Bang.
and messages have been sent to the stars to inform any aliens
Time came into existence when the
out there of our existence.
Adapted from Knowledge Encyclopedia Universe began, so the question “What
happened before?” has no meaning.
Space also came into existence. The
Big Bang was not an explosion of matter
through space, but it was an expansion
of space itself.

At first, the Universe consisted of pure

energy, but within a second, some of
this energy turned into matter. The
expansion that began with the Big Bang
continues to this day, and most
scientists think it will carry on forever.

46
 CONJUNCTION
CATEGORIES

In addition
Also
Besides
As well as
Apart from
On top of that
Furthermore
Not only... but also
Additionally

Because So Due to
Since Therefore Owing to
As Thus Because of
For Hence Thanks to
In that As a result Given Academic texts contain plenty of
Given that Consequently contrasting facts and ideas so be
Now that For this reason extra careful about such conjunctions.

In grammar, a conjunction is a part of speech that connects words, phrases, or clauses.

İki veya
That daha fazla
definition may cümleyi (veyawith
overlap kelimeyi)
that ofbirleştirmede
other parts kullanılan bağlaçlara
of speech. coordinating
In English, a given word
conjunctions
may (düzenleme
have several senses bağlaçları) denilmektedir.
and be either İngilizcede
a preposition or akılda kalmasını kolaylaştırmak
a conjunction, depending on içinthe
baş harflerinin diziliminden FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) kısaltması
syntax of the sentence. For example, after is a preposition in "he left after the fight"Her oluşturulmuştur. but
kategoride
is birçok farklı
a conjunction bağlaç
in "he left bulunmaktadır.
after they fought".Genel It
kural
may olarak
alsocümle ortasındato
be extended virgülden sonra
idiomatic
phrases that
kullanılırlar. behave
Pek as akitabında
çok gramer unit withbuthe same function,
bağlaçların e.g. "as
cümle başında well as", "provided
kullanılmaması gerektiğini that".
söylese
de, bu kuralın "tarihi veya dilbilgisel bir temeli yoktur" ve birçok edebi eserde cümle başında
Coordinating conjunctions
kullanılırlar. Ancak, join, orİngilizce
YDS gibi akademik coordinate, two or bu
sınavlarında, more itemsgenelde
bağlaçlar (such as words,
iki cümle main
arasında
clauses,
kullanılır. or sentences) of equal syntactic importance. In English, the mnemonic acronym
FANBOYS can be used to remember the coordinators

Here are some examples of coordinating conjunctions

 For – gerekçe veya sebep anlatır.
in English and what they do:
They do not eat pork, for they are Jewish.

 –And
For – zıtlık içermeyen
presents rationale cümleleri
"Theyveya dokelimeleri bağlar.orThey
not gamble drink alcohol,
smoke, for they andaretheyascetics."
smoke.
And – adds
 Nor – zıtlıknon-contrasting items
içermeyen negatif cümle or ideas "They
ekler. gamble,
They andalcohol,
do not drink they smoke."
nor do they smoke.
Nor – presents an alternative non-contrasting idea "They do not gamble, nor do they smoke."
 But – zıtlık içeren bir cümle veya istisna ekler. She drinks alcohol, but she does not smoke.
But – presents a contrast or exception "They gamble, but they don't smoke."
 – Or
Or – alternatifan
presents bir alternative non-contrasting
fikir veya cümle ekler. item "Every
Every daygothey
day they gamble,
to clubs, or they
or they watch smoke."
TV at home.
Yet
 –Yet
presents a strong
– zıtlık içeren contrast
bir cümle or ekler.
veya istisna exception "They gamble,
She drinks yet
alcohol, yetthey don't
she does notsmoke."
smoke.
So – presents a consequence "He gambled well last night, so he smoked a cigar to celebrate."
 So – sonuç anlatır. The team won last week, so they went to a club to celebrate.

68
KARŞILAŞTIRMA
MAKING KALIPLARI
COMPARISONS

Comparative adjectives

Tokyo is much larger than all other metropoles in the world.

Russian people are far more interested in music than sport.

BONUS
Home prices have risen slightly less than we expected.
I am not as tall as my father.
The town is a lot more crowded these days. (My father is taller than me.)

The older I get, the less I can tolerate noise.

The film was nearly as good as Matrix.
She earns considerably more in this job than in her last one. (Matrix was much better than this film.)

Whales are usually a great deal bigger than sharks.

He is nowhere near as patient as me.
(I am far more patient than him.)
Electric cars are getting more and more popular in Europe.
I'm not quite as fond of cats as I am of dogs.
A baby rabbit is no bigger than a mouse. (I am more fond of dogs.)

The interest rate is a little lower than it was the last month.
I can't speak Italian as fluently as English.
I have far fewer friends now than I used to. (I speak English more fluently than Italian.)

The exam results were better than predicted.

Istanbul is not so beautiful as Antalya.
(Antalya is more beautiful than Istanbul.)
We have been busier than ever at work.

My father drives more carefully than I do.

Superlative adjectives

Tokyo is by far the largest metropolis in the world.

Superlative adjectives
She is easily the best dancer in the group. may be categorized as
The most frightening film I have ever seen was The Ring. radical expressions.
Of all my relatives, I like my aunt Helen the most.
You should spot them
Peter is one of the worst drivers I know. in the text and expect
In our solar system, Pluto is the farthest planet from the sun. questions about them.
Birmingham is the second biggest city in England.

My worst score ever in an exam was zero.

This is quite the most irresponsible behaviour I have ever seen.

The Beatles were by far the most successful rock band of the 1960s.

South Africa is listed as the least expensive country to live in.

Harriett Thompson (aged 92) became the oldest woman to complete a marathon.

Titanic was, at the time, the largest ship ever to be used in a transatlantic voyage.

83
Rephrasing Exercise
Translation Exercise 3

1. Food and drink prices in New York are very high; besides, renting an apartment is also very expensive.

2. In hot climates, water evaporates quickly; therefore, the concentration of salt is greater.

3. I do not know where he is, so I cannot tell you; but even if I did, I would not tell you, either.

4. The roles of men and women are not the same in the Northern American Indian tribes. For example, men can be
both participants and spectators in hunting rituals. Women, on the other hand, are forbidden to participate.

5. A person can be US president only if he is a natural born US citizen, either by his father or by his mother.

6. Despite the pain in his leg, he completed the marathon.

7. Although he did not often write or speak about it, Tolkien advocated the dissolution of the British Empire.

8. Now that solar energy has become cheaper and more sustainable than fossil fuels, governments should increase
the amount of investment in this field.

9. In view of his youth, the police decided not to press charges.

10. “The good thing about science is that it is true whether or not you believe in it.” -Neil deGrasse Tyson

11. “The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant.”

12. Ever since the Industrial Revolution, investments in science and technology have proved to be reliable engines of
economic growth.

13. We should not look back unless we intend to derive useful lessons from our past errors.

14. Even though we have abolished human slavery in theory, we still continue to enslave other species that
experience parental love, pain, and the desire for freedom, just as we do.

15. “If I were again beginning my studies, I would follow the advice of Plato and start with mathematics.” - Galileo

16. You should always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

17. Just as climatologists have predicted, the man-made global warming is producing crazy weather extremes
throughout the globe.

18. Science communicators explain complex science topics in simple language so that general public can understand.

19. The moment Galileo was set at liberty, he looked up to the sky and said, “And yet it does move”.

20. Courage is of no value unless it is accompanied by justice; yet if all men became just, there would be no need for
courage.

106
TENSE EXERCISE (PAST, PRESENT OR FUTURE?)

1. Environmental health officers regularly inspect kitchens and other food preparation areas. ___________

2. Priceless paintings produced by artists such as Picasso should not be left to the hands of private collectors. _______

3. Applying for a US visa could be a long and frustrating process. ___________

4. Hospitals are so understaffed that they find it almost impossible to treat patients with minor injuries. ___________

5. Anatolia has been uninterruptedly inhabited for the last 15 thousand years. ___________

6. All international flights have been cancelled due to severe weather conditions that started last week. ________

7. In western societies, acupuncture and hypnosis are seen as complementary medicines. ___________

8. Do you usually feel exhausted after working long hours? ___________

9. We were going to hold a conference on how to cope with work-related stress, but it was cancelled. ___________

10. Despite a thorough advertising campaign, demand has only risen by 0.8% in the last two months. ___________

11. The world’s population is projected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030. ___________

12. Recent reports have revealed that half of the world’s population growth is expected to be concentrated in nine
countries in the second half of the century. ___________

13. In order to be granted a British work permit, applicants are required to meet the basic eligibility criteria. _________

14. The WHO, namely World Health Organization, held a conference to address the broad determinants of health such
as shelter, education, food and income. ___________

15. Before you make an appointment with the college doctor, you have to register your name at the clinic.___________

16. Books are exempt from government tax, as they are considered necessities rather than luxuries. ___________

17. Unless your attendance improves, the college will have no alternative but to ask you to leave the course. ________

18. Several lizard species move bipedally while running, usually to escape from threats. ___________

19. Once the government has completed the health reform, it should cover an three million people. ___________

20. If the Earth's magnetic field disappeared, the upper atmosphere would be exposed to the solar wind. __________

21. Lucy, the famous extinct hominid that lived 2.9 million years ago, may have walked erect on two feet. __________

22. Tomorrow's meeting has been brought forward. ___________

23. The democratic movement had better concentrate on the immediate issues of the economy. ___________

24. Some parents are criticized for the way in which they have brought up their children. ___________

25. Archaeology, which studies past human cultures through investigation of physical evidence, is thought of as a
branch of anthropology ___________

107
Reading 2

The Sun Inner planets

The Sun is a nearly perfect sphere of hot, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are the Solar
glowing gas. Its source of power lies buried System’s inner planets. On the face of it, they
deep in the central core, where a nuclear are worlds apart—but underneath the surface, it
furnace rages nonstop, turning matter into pure is a different story. The inner planets all formed
heat and light. Slightly bigger than a typical star, from the same material about 4.6 billion years
the Sun is large enough to swallow 1.3 million ago. All are a mix of rock and metal, with
Earths. It contains 99.8 percent of all the matter interiors that are roughly divided into layers. The
in the Solar System, and the force of gravity heavier metals are concentrated toward the
generated by this enormous mass keeps the center, while the lighter rock is on top. Each of
planets trapped in orbit around it. Seen from these planets was bombarded by asteroids and
Earth, the Sun is a life-sustaining source of light comets early in the Solar System’s history, and
and warmth that shines steadily on us. Closer each has been affected by volcanic activity too.
views, however, reveal a world of astonishing Mercury’s heavily cratered face still bears the
violence, its seething surface bursting with vast scars of the early bombardment, but the
eruptions that hurl fiery gases into space. surfaces of the other three worlds have changed
over time.

Living world The Moon

Third out from the Sun, Earth is the largest of The Moon is Earth’s closest neighbor in space
the inner planets. It’s the only planet with liquid and looms larger than any other object in the
water flowing freely on the surface, and it’s the night sky. Its cratered surface may be cold and
only planet in the Universe known to sustain life. lifeless, but deep inside the Moon is a gigantic
Earth’s surface consists of vast oceans (71%), ball of white-hot iron. Earth and Moon have
continents of land, and two polar ice caps. The existed together in space ever since the Moon
crust is broken into seven huge segments and formed as the result of a cosmic collision. It
many smaller ones. Called tectonic plates, orbits around our planet, keeping the same
these giant slabs of rock move slowly over face toward us at all times. As we observe its
Earth’s surface, pushed by movements in the sunlit surface, we look at a landscape that has
softer, hot rock that fills most of Earth’s interior. barely changed since 3.5 billion years ago.
As tectonic plates move, they bump into each Back then, the young Moon was bombarded
other and grind past one another, generating by asteroids. For millions of years they blasted
immense forces that thrust up mountain ranges, out surface material and formed craters. The
unleash volcanic eruptions, and trigger largest of these were then flooded with
earthquakes. These powerful forces continually volcanic lava, creating dark, flat plains that
change Earth’s appearance, as do the actions look like seas.
of wind and water and the planet’s 7 billion
human inhabitants.
How the Moon formed
Tilted planet Scientists think the Moon formed as a result of
Earth spins around once a day, but it is not a collision between Earth and a planet 4.5
perfectly upright. Its axis, the imaginary line billion years ago. The debris was pulled
from pole to pole around which it spins, is tilted together by gravity and became the Moon.
by 23.5°. So as Earth travels around the Sun,
one hemisphere and then the other is tilted
toward the Sun. This is what causes the
seasons.

135
Reading 3

Astronomy
People have been looking up at the night sky and
marveling at its beauty and mystery for
thousands of years. Today, a whole branch of
science, astronomy, is devoted to studying stars.

Professional astronomers investigate not only stars

but everything to do with space—from the meteors
that burn up spectacularly as shooting stars in Earth’s
atmosphere and the planets of the Solar System to
distant galaxies billions of light years away.
Astronomy makes a rewarding hobby too, and many
amateur stargazers enjoy observing the night sky
with backyard telescopes or binoculars. Whenever
astronomers observe the sky, they are looking back
in time. This is because light takes such a long time
to reach us from distant objects in space. We see the
Moon as it was one and a quarter seconds ago and
the stars as they were hundreds of years ago.

History of Astronomy
Many ancient cultures followed the Sun and stars in
order to keep track of the time of year, and by Ancient
Greek times, astronomers had already worked out
that Earth is round. Today, powerful telescopes allow
us to look so far into space that we can look back in
time almost to the birth of the Universe.

The sky at night

Ancient stargazers saw patterns in the stars and
named groups of stars after mythical beings and
animals. These star patterns, called constellations,
look little like the objects they are meant to represent,
but we still use the old names.

Telescope
The invention of the telescope revolutionized
astronomy. A telescope collects more light from an
object than a human eye can. It uses this light to form
a magnified image.

136
PLANET EARTH
Oceans of water, an oxygen-rich atmosphere, and the Earth formed about 4.5 billion years
existence of life make Earth a unique planet. Its surface ago, but it was a very different place
is continually changing as plates slowly shift and the then. Its surface was a hot inferno
relentless force of erosion reshapes the land. of mostly molten rock, with little or
no liquid water and no oxygen in
UNIQUE PLANET the atmosphere. Since then Earth
Earth is the only place in the Universe known to support has developed oceans, continents,
life. It is thought that life developed after water began to an oxygen-rich atmosphere and life.
collect on the Earth’s surface. Eventually, tiny life forms
evolved that could survive on water, sunlight, and chemicals
in the water. These microbes added oxygen to the atmosphere, Inside the Earth
an essential step for the development of plants and animals.
We cannot explore much of the Earth—our
deepest mines only travel about a mile into
the crust. However, there are scientific
THE CHANGING EARTH ways to find out what it is like inside.
Look at a map and it will show you the position of the continents, Geologists are able to study rocks from all
but in fact our world is always changing. Earth’s surface is split depths within the Earth’s crust, because
up into large slabs called tectonic plates. The plates steadily shift collisions between continents push up
around, carrying continents and oceans with them. When they rock that used to be below the surface,
collide, new mountain ranges are pushed up. Afterward, over forming mountains. In some areas,
millions of years, wind, water, and ice gradually wear the collisions have even unearthed vast layers
mountains down. of the mantle. Volcanoes also sometimes
erupt lumps of rock from the mantle.
Under the mantle is the core, which has
THE OCEANS never been seen at the surface. However,
Earth’s surface and atmosphere contain the equivalent of scientists have used the waves from
1.39 billion km³ of water. There are regions of deep ocean earthquakes to work out that the core is
as well as shallow seas that cover areas around the edges split into two layers: a liquid outer core and
of the continents—these are called continental shelves. Earth’s a solid inner core.
surface has not always been as dominated by liquid water. In
the past, during ice ages when the polar ice caps were much
thicker and more extensive, so much water became locked up
in them that sea level was at least 400 ft (120 m) lower than it
is today, exposing the continental shelves as dry land.

THE ATMOSPHERE
Earth’s atmosphere is made up of gases, which are held in place
by gravity. There is no clear boundary to the outer edge of the
atmosphere—it just fades into space. Outer space is generally
thought to begin about 100 km above the surface.

EARTH’S CLIMATE
Earth is the only planet in the Solar System that supports life. It
can do this because it has a unique atmosphere, and weather
that living organisms can survive in. Almost every part of our
planet is occupied by some form of life, from the deepest oceans
to the highest mountains. However, the different climates across the
world affect how many and what type of species live in each place.
Tropical regions are teeming with life while only extreme survivors
can live in polar wastes and deserts.

137
Reading 4

EARTH’S RESOURCES
Earth contains many useful and essential
natural resources, which have been used
heavily by humans in recent centuries.
These resources include water and food, fuel
and building materials, and the means to
make more complex things like metals and
plastics. Many resources have a limited
supply, and using them has an impact on the
environment.

SUSTAINABILITY
Earth’s natural resources are limited. If
demand for essential resources keeps
increasing, they will become rare and
expensive. To sustain life as we know it,
we must make sure that our resources do not
run out.

AGRICULTURE
Growing food plants and looking after
animals that will be eaten is called agriculture.
Today, the global population of around seven
billion people largely relies on a few cereal
crops to provide its essential foods. These
crops include corn, wheat, rice, potatoes,
soybeans, and sweet potatoes. Protein from
livestock such as fish, cattle, pigs, and poultry
makes up less than 20% of total global food.

FARMING
Farming began 10,000 years ago, in the Middle
East. The first farmers grew cereal crops, like
wheat, and tamed animals for their meat and
milk. Modern agriculture has moved on a lot
since then. New machine based techniques let
farmers produce much bigger yields from their
land. Other innovations include irrigation,
pesticides, new plants, new animal breeds, and
global transport; farmers can now send their
produce all over the world.

Human impact
Population growth means that we are using
up more and more of the Earth’s resources,
changing the landscape, and damaging the
environment around us. One way to reduce
the negative impact people have on the
environment is to make sure that as much
garbage as possible is recycled, instead of
being dumped in a landfill.

138
Reading 5

WEATHER

The constantly changing condition of Earth’s

atmosphere creates our weather—clear skies,
wind, cloud, rain, and snow. The amount of
sunshine we get and how strong it is determines
the temperature and pressure in atmosphere.
The amount of moisture it contains determines
how high up clouds form and whether they
produce mist, rain, or snow, as well as when
storms occur. When we study the weather, we
can see predictable seasonal patterns around
the world, known as climates.

Monsoons
Monsoon winds are massive seasonal winds that bring
heavy summer rain to subtropical regions, such as
Southeast Asia and India. In winter, they bring dry,
cooler weather. Monsoon winds are strongest in Asia,
but they also occur in West Africa, northern Australia,
and parts of North and South America. Monsoon
winds change direction between summer and winter.

Hurricanes
A hurricane is a huge, rotating tropical storm with high
winds and very heavy rain. These storms start from a
cluster of thunderstorms, which develop over warm
tropical seawater in late summer, then merge together
into a larger, spiral hurricane. Their intense low
pressure draws in warm, moist winds, which spiral
upward as they spin faster. The rapidly rising air then
cools, forming towering storm clouds and torrential
rains. When they reach land, hurricanes cause floods
and are highly destructive.

Tornadoes
Tornadoes are rotating columns of air that can be
violently destructive. Most have wind speeds of less
than 200 km per hour, but they can reach up to 480 km
per hour. Tornadoes are characterized by a central
spinning, funnel-shaped column of air, which extends from
the clouds to the ground. They have the power to destroy
crops and buildings. Tornado formation is associated with
summer storms, especially in the US.

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NATURE
Since the first living organisms appeared on Earth 3.8 billion Life has evolved into an
incredible variety of forms, with
years ago, millions of different species have evolved. Life now
almost 1.8 million known species
flourishes all over the planet, from the highest mountain peaks
and many more yet to be
to the depths of the ocean. discovered. Scientists classify
them in six kingdoms. These
How Life Began organisms have evolved
Billions of years ago, a chance combination of chemicals somewhere different ways of surviving in
on Earth’s surface created a substance that could soak up energy and their particular habitats, but
reproduce itself: the first living organism. This was the start of the amazing many find it harder and harder to
story of life on Earth. As soon as life began, it started to change. Living live in a changing world.
things thrive by making copies of themselves, but the copies are not exact.
Over time, the differences generate new forms of life. This process of
change, called evolution, has created the diversity of life on Earth.

Evolution
Every living thing is slightly different from its parents. If the
difference helps it to survive, it is likely to pass on the advantage
to its own young. This is the basis of evolution. Many years
later, it may lead to a change that is large enough for the result
to be called a different species.
We know that life has evolved over time because rocks contain
evidence of different life forms that thrived in the distant past.
These links with a vanished world are called fossils. Typical
fossils preserve the forms of bones, teeth, and shells. By
comparing them with those of familiar animals, scientists can
piece together the story of evolution. Every new fossil that is
discovered makes the picture clearer.

Natural selection
The main mechanism of evolution is called natural selection. Life in
the natural world is a competition, with losers and winners. Those
that survive and breed happen to have a combination of qualities
that helps them thrive in their habitat. But if conditions change,
the winners may turn into losers.

CHANGING PLANET
The history of life is not a story of steady progress.
Living things have faced many global disasters caused by
things like asteroid impacts and climate change. Some have
left very few survivors, which have had to live in an altered
world. This has changed the direction of evolution several
times, so new types of animals and plants have evolved while
others have become extinct.

Mass extinctions
Since life began there have been five mass extinctions,
catastrophic events that killed off a large proportion of life
on Earth. After each extinction, life recovered slowly, and
new types of creatures appeared. These extinctions were
caused by natural forces, but evidence suggests that we
are in the early stage of a sixth mass extinction, caused by
human activity.

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Reading 7

Habitats
Animals, plants, and all living things are adapted to life in their natural surroundings. These
different environments are called habitats. Every living species on Earth has its own favored
habitat, which it shares with others. These different species interact with each other and with
their natural environment, whether it is hot or cold, wet or dry, to create a web of life called an
ecosystem. Some ecosystems are very small, but others such as rainforests or deserts cover
huge areas. These vast wild habitats are called biomes.

Life on Land
Different climates create different types of habitats for life on land.
Warm, wet places grow forests, for example, while hot, dry regions
develop deserts. These are just two of the world’s principal habitat
divisions, or biomes. Each biome consists of many smaller habitats
and, in many areas, human activity such as farming has completely
changed their character.

Underwater life
The largest biome of all is the ocean, covering almost three-quarters
of the planet’s surface. It includes a wide variety of marine habitats,
ranging from tropical coral reefs to the polar seas and dark ocean
floor. Many animals and aquatic plants also live in freshwater
habitats, such as rivers, lakes, marshes, and swamps.

Habitat Loss
The greatest threat to the world’s wildlife is the loss of their natural
habitats. Most living things have evolved to live in a particular
ecosystem, and they cannot survive if this is destroyed. Habitat loss
is the main reason why many wild species are becoming rare.

Deforestation
Every day, a vast area of wild forest is destroyed for its lumber, or to
clear the land for agriculture.

Deserts
Deserts are the world’s driest places. Many are hot while others are
bitterly cold. Some may get no rain at all for many years, making
them almost lifeless. The climate of the North American deserts,
however, is not quite so extreme. The Sonoran Desert, for example,
gets regular rain, even if there is not much of it. The rainwater is
soaked up by cacti and other plants, which support plant-eating
animals such as kangaroo rats, squirrels, and jackrabbits. These in
turn provide prey for hunting rattlesnakes, owls, and coyotes.

Amazon rainforest
Hot, wet, and teeming with an amazing diversity of plant and animal
life, the Amazon rainforest is one of the richest habitats on the planet.
Named after the mighty Amazon River that flows through it, the
Amazon rainforest is a vast tropical forest covering an area almost as
big as Australia. Its warm, wet climate is ideal for plants, which never
have to cope with cold or dry seasons, so they grow fast all year round.
Huge evergreen trees soar high above the forest floor, creating an
almost continuous canopy of green foliage that is alive with insects, tree
frogs, snakes, birds, and monkeys.

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Reading 8

HUMAN BODY
The human body is made up of 206 bones, 650 muscles, and 75 trillion parts called cells. Scientists
have studied our body in greater detail than any object in history, yet many mysteries remain.

Our body is a fantastically complicated

machine made from millions of different
parts, all packed tightly together beneath
the skin. In order to understand how the
body works, we need to look inside and
see how the parts fit and work together to
make us living, breathing, thinking human
beings.

Just as a building is made of thousands of

bricks stacked carefully together, the
human body is constructed from simple
parts that fit together in an organized way.
Small, living units called cells are joined
together much like bricks to form larger
structures called tissues, which are used in
turn to build organs and organ systems.

Atoms and molecules

The smallest individual parts in the body
are atoms and molecules. The DNA
molecule stores the instructions needed to
build and maintain the body.

Cells
Every part of the body is made up of tiny
living units called cells. There are about
75 trillion cells in the human body. Most
are specialized to do specific jobs, from
storing fat to carrying nerve signals.

Tissue
Cells join in groups to form tissues. The
wall of the heart, for instance, is made of a
special kind of muscle tissue. Other
tissues include skin, fat, and bone.

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Reading 9

HISTORY
Human history includes terrible wars and disasters, but also amazing advances in culture and
technology. From the Stone Age to the Space Age, great civilizations have risen and fallen,
shaping the world we live in today.

THE ANCIENT WORLD

The story of humanity begins with our
earliest human ancestors, who appeared in
Africa around 7 million years ago. The first
modern humans only developed about
200,000 years ago. They spread throughout
the globe, starting out as isolated bands of
hunters, but eventually settling in farming
villages, and later founding small towns and
cities. Stone tools were replaced by metal,
and around 8,000 years ago, villages began
to grow into cities. By 500 BC, the Classical
period had begun, in which advanced
cultures across the globe created great
empires with cities full of magnificent
buildings, and made enormous strides in
human knowledge.

THE RISE OF THE EMPIRES

The first cities emerged around 4000 BC in
Mesopotamia and Egypt. The great rivers of
these areas made the land fertile and
prosperous, providing enough food to support
larger communities of people living together.
The rulers of some of these early cities
became wealthy and powerful, taking control
of surrounding lands to build the first
kingdoms. Some sent their armies to conquer
neighboring states, creating the first empires.

First cities
The first cities of Mesopotamia were built by a people called the Sumerians. They grew rich thanks to
new farming methods and more productive crops. This allowed them to build temples and palaces in
mini-kingdoms (or city-states) such as Ur and Nippur. They were soon followed by cities in other
regions such as Egypt. The invention of writing around 3100 BC made it easier for rulers to keep
records and for merchants to trade.

Agriculture
Farming began around 11,000 BC when communities in the Fertile Crescent, an area of the Middle
East, began to sow and harvest wild rye seeds. Gradually, farmers developed more productive crops,
and also tamed animals such as cattle and sheep. As the food supply became more reliable, larger
villages and small towns appeared.

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The first towns

During the late Stone Age, nomadic tribes of hunters began to settle down. They planted crops instead
of gathering food from the wild, and built farms and houses instead of living on the move. Farming
offered a more reliable food source than hunting and gathering. Farmers could grow the most fruitful
crops and breed the fattest and most peaceful livestock, so that they could produce more food every
year. Extra food could be stored in case of later famine, and permanent houses made of brick or
sometimes stone provided a base to store food and tools. Staying in one place made these settlers
vulnerable to raiders, who could steal livestock and stores. People in towns had to be able to defend
themselves, for example, by building walls around their homes. They also exchanged spare food and
goods with other tribes, sometimes over long distances, marking the beginnings of global trade.

Early empires Ancient Egypt

As early towns grew, they had to develop new For more than 3,000 years, Egypt was home to one
systems of government, new means to store and of the most advanced civilizations of the ancient
distribute food, as well as new ways to protect world. They left behind many clues about their way of
themselves. The strongest settlements expanded life, from religious texts to huge, mysterious
their territory by conquering their neighbours, pyramids. The Ancient Egyptians were ruled by kings
creating the first empires. One of the most called pharaohs, who were thought to be the children
powerful empires belonged to the Babylonians. In of the gods. Their complex society had strict layers,
the 18th century BC, they conquered a large area from priests, governors, and mayors to soldiers and
in what is now the Middle East, but were then peasants, and they developed a detailed system of
defeated by their rivals, the Hittites. They rose to writing to keep records of wealth and ownership.
power again in the 6th century BC, and their Egyptian life was full of ritual. They worshipped
capital city, Babylon, became one of the richest hundreds of gods and goddesses, and the pharaohs
and most magnificent in the ancient world. and priests performed complex rituals to ensure good
crops, keep away disease, and bring success in war.

Ancient Greece
From math masters to playwrights, great philosophers to military conquerors, Ancient Greece produced
some of the most famous figures in western civilization. Greek culture began on islands in the Eastern
Mediterranean around 2000 BC, with trading empires such as the Minoan civilization on Crete. As time went
on, power shifted to the mainland, in warlike city-states such as Mycenae. As these city-states grew more
sophisticated, they gave rise to great thinkers, builders, and writers, and the first democracy, in Athens.
They also defeated the armies of the powerful Persian Empire to the east. Greek power reached its peak
with Alexander the Great, a military genius whose empire stretched all the way to India.

The Roman Empire

From its beginnings as a small village in central Italy, the city of Rome came to rule over one of the largest
and most prosperous empires in history. Its armies were seemingly unstoppable, conquering most of
Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Rome was founded in 753 BC, and at first was ruled by kings. In
509 BC, the kings were replaced by a republic and control of the city fell to consuls chosen by the Senate.
The Senate, and later the emperor, also appointed generals to lead Rome’s armies in wars of conquest.
They divided the captured regions into provinces controlled by Roman governors and guarded by Roman
soldiers. They built new cities and roads, and imposed Roman laws on their conquered subjects. Although
they could be cruel, especially to people who rebelled against them, the Romans spread wealth, stability,
and valuable new ideas all across their empire.

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World religions
Millions of people around the world worship a
greater power that gives meaning to their lives.
For many, religion is an intrinsic part of their
very existence. A religion is a set of beliefs that
deal with every aspect of life, from birth to death,
joy and sorrow, good and evil. Some people
worship a deity or deities, others follow a
religious teacher. Religion includes not just
beliefs, but also the religious rituals and
ceremonies that are the expression of those
beliefs. Religion can bind a small community,
or offer people membership of a huge global
organization. There are six major religions:
Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. These account for 85 percent of all the
world’s believers. Millions of others belong to religions old and new, making it a rich, diverse, and
sometimes controversial aspect of human history.

Islam Christianity Judaism

Followers of Islam are called Christians follow the teachings of The religion Judaism centers on the
Muslims. There are 1.5 billion Jesus Christ, believing he was the first Jew, Abraham, who taught Jews
Muslims in the world, divided into son of God. There are about 2.1 to worship one God. There are about
Sunni and Shi’a. Their faith is billion Christians worldwide, and they 14 million believers today, but there
based upon the Five Pillars: belief, are united in the belief in one God, exist different forms of Judaism. Jews
worship, fasting, almsgiving, and the Bible as a holy text, and the worship in synagogues, observe
pilgrimage. They follow a Holy use of prayer in worship. However, many rites of passage, and have a
Scripture known as the Qur’an, different branches of Christianity day of rest, called the Shabbat. The
believed to be the word of God as have different ideas about how holy book of Judaism is the Torah,
conveyed to the Prophet their faith should be practiced. which contains the rules for everyday
Muhammad. life.

The Ottoman Empire

For more than 600 years, the Muslim Ottoman Turks ruled one of the largest empires ever seen. It stretched
across the Middle East, central and southern Europe, and Africa. Powerful emperors called sultans ruled
this huge territory with the help of the janissaries, a personal army of slave-soldiers.

The Ottoman Empire began as a tiny state in the northwest of present-day Turkey. The Ottomans were
skillful warriors, and they quickly increased their territory. In 1453, they captured Constantinople, which had
been the capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire for 1,100 years. Renamed Istanbul, it became
the center of their Islamic empire, and its rulers, the sultans, were leaders of the Muslim world.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the empire became very powerful and wealthy. The sultans built grand
mosques and palaces, many of which can still be seen today. The different cities became famous for the
beautiful decorative arts practiced by their craftsmen: Iznik for ceramics, Bursa for silks and textiles, Cairo
for carpets, and Baghdad for calligraphy.

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Europe
The Silk Road Silk reached Europe from China
as early as the 1st century AD.
For more than a thousand years the great overland trading route However, few Europeans traveled the
known as the Silk Road carried precious goods between China and other way to China until the 13th
the Middle East and Europe. century, when the Venetian merchant
Marco Polo visited the court of the
When the Han dynasty of China conquered Central Asia around 200 Mongol ruler Kublai Khan.
BC, it became possible to travel safely all the way to the borders of
Persia and then westward to the Mediterranean Sea. Merchants who
transported goods, such as silk and gold, along this route could make The Arab world
large profits, and the places they stopped at along the way often In the 7th century, the Arabs
became rich cities. The Silk Road was at its height in the time of the conquered the entire area from the
Chinese Tang dynasty (618–907) and then under the Mongols. shore of the Mediterranean Sea to the
eastern borders of Persia. Damascus
and Baghdad, the capitals of the Arab
caliphs (rulers), grew prosperous from
Samurai warriors Silk Road trade.

Japan in the Middle Ages was ruled by an emperor but governed

by military generals called daimyo, who often fought among
themselves. At the head of their armies were some of the most Profitable exchange
fearsome warriors of all time: the samurai. Merchants on the Silk Road did not
just carry silk. Traders heading toward
The samurai lived at the top of a strictly layered society. While the the Arab world and Europe also
emperor and his family held the most respect, the samurai controlled brought other Chinese products, such
the wealth and political power. Rich and influential daimyo gave their as pottery, and bronze objects, which
samurai supporters gifts of land, and the samurai would fight for the were highly prized in the west. Trading
daimyo in exchange. Peasants working on the land paid taxes in food caravans heading toward China
and money to support their masters. carried gold (to pay for the silk) and
Although most famous for warfare, the samurai valued music, poetry, goods that were rare in China, such as
ivory and glass.
and art. Many were attracted to Zen Buddhism, which teaches that
perfect understanding of the universe lies through meditation and
escaping from the self, which can be achieved just as well through
China
painting as swordsmanship. Until the 6th century, the Chinese were
the only people who knew how to
manufacture silk. The Silk Road
THE AGE OF DISCOVERY flourished as China took control of the
oases of Central Asia, providing safe
The world experienced huge changes between 1450 and 1750. A
passage for traders to the west.
wave of new ideas swept across Europe as explorers founded new
colonies and trading networks all across the world. European
rivals often went to war with each other, and with the powerful
empires of Asia, in the scramble for new territory. Mongol raiders
For centuries, Mongol horsemen
In the medieval period, the Church controlled art and learning in raided Silk Road caravans. In 1206,
Europe. However, this changed when important works by Greek and led by Genghis Khan, they conquered
Roman authors were rediscovered. Scholars such as Erasmus created most of Central Asia and northern
a new movement called humanism, teaching that art and science China, taking control of the eastern
should be based on experiment and observation rather than old Silk Road.
traditions. A great deal of Roman art and architecture survived in Italy
around 1400. It inspired artists such as Leonardo da Vinci to produce
daring new works of their own. Their artistic movement is called the
Renaissance, and it soon spread across Europe.

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THE MODERN WORLD

The years since 1750 have seen huge turmoil

in every area of life. Globe-spanning empires
arose in the 19th century, and fell apart as the
balance of power shifted from nobles and
emperors to everyday citizens. Technology
transformed agriculture, industry, transport,
and warfare, and a digital revolution changed
communications and entertainment forever.

THE AGE OF REVOLUTION

From around 1750, new political movements
called for kings and governments to grant
more freedom to the people. At the same
time, colonies began to seek independence
from their ruling countries. When rulers and
colonial powers refused these demands, the
populace rose up in rebellion. The USA won
their independence from Britain by force in
1783, inspiring other revolutions.

The French Revolution

In 1789, the French people rebelled. King Louis was overthrown
and executed. The Revolution became a bloodbath, as the new
leaders turned on each other in an era of violence called the Terror.

The arrival of communism

In the 19th century, German philosopher Karl Marx proposed
a new theory of government called communism. It argued that
the wealth of a country should be shared equally among all its
citizens. In 1917, revolutionaries in Russia overthrew the emperor to
establish the world’s first communist state. It would go on to
become the USSR, one of the superpowers of the 20th century.

World War I
In 1914, the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in
Sarajevo caused a war between the German-led Central Powers
and the Allies, led by the French and British. Much of the fighting
happened in France and Belgium, where attempts to capture
heavily defended trench systems caused massive casualties. Only
in 1918 did the Allies break through and defeat Germany. Nearly
10 million soldiers died during the war, many of whom were buried
in graveyards near where they fell.

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A TRANSFORMED WORLD

While wars and revolutions brought political changes, The rise of industry
advances in science and technology transformed society. The Industrial Revolution brought great
Developments in medicine created cures for diseases new advances, but also new problems.
that had killed millions. The Industrial Revolution brought Goods and household items became
new machines that could do the work of dozens of workers. cheaper as they were mass-produced in
These new societies brought much greater equality, and the factories instead of being made by
hand. However, many workers were
old order was overturned, as women and nonwhite people
badly paid and lived in terrible poverty,
fought to win equal rights.
especially in cities.

Equal rights
Before the 20th century, women, African-Americans, and nonwhites
in European colonies were often denied basic freedoms. It took the
determination of many brave campaigners to ensure that basic rights,
such as voting and education, were available to all.

Science and medicines

"He who has never The 20th century saw scientific advances beyond anything
made a mistake in human history. Antibiotics cured untreatable diseases,
and cars and airplanes reduced journeys that would have
has never tried taken days or weeks to a few hours. Humans discovered
anything new." ever more about the universe, their history, and
themselves.
Albert Einstein

Environmental challenges
The 19th and 20th centuries saw a rapid rise in the world’s population, and a huge increase in the
resources human beings use. Supplies such as coal, oil, and even fresh water may become scarce.
Many natural habitats have been damaged by pollution or human exploitation. Rising global
temperatures threaten to disrupt vast areas of farmland and human living space across the world.

Natural disasters
The first years of the 21st century were plagued by natural
disasters and extreme weather. In 2003, more than 40,000
people died in heat waves across Europe. In 2004, a huge
tsunami caused devastation around the Indian Ocean,
killing almost 230,000 people in 14 countries. The next
year, a powerful storm, Hurricane Katrina, laid waste to the
city of New Orleans, A massive earthquake devastated the
island of Haiti in the Caribbean in 2010, killing more than
300,000 people and leaving millions homeless. In 2011, an
earthquake triggered a tsunami in Japan, destroying homes
and causing radioactive material to leak from Fukushima
nuclear power plant.

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The 21st century

At the end of the 20th century, the world got ready to party.
Digital revolution
Huge celebrations took place across the globe to greet the Digital revolution began in the
year 2000, the start of the new millennium. The century 1980s, when computers became
brought new challenges, but also amazing opportunities. affordable for people to buy and
use at home. At first, computers
were big metal boxes, but today
With the world’s population expanding, humanity’s demands they are hidden in common
on the planet are growing rapidly. As the 21st century goes on, objects, such as smartphones,
tablets, and cameras. The Internet
scientists have become increasingly concerned that we may
is rapidly evolving to play a central
run out of some natural resources, and that human activity is role in society, transforming
causing dangerous changes to environment. Many countries cultural, economic, and political
have also had to contend with devastating natural disasters. landscapes. There are thought to
Terrorist attacks brought fear and conflict to many cities, and be more than 2 billion Internet
a global financial collapse increased the hardship for millions. users worldwide, all of whom can
instantly exchange information.
At the same time, the 21st century has seen astonishing
new advances in technology. Smartphones and tablets have
transformed the way we communicate, and the Internet has Global financial crisis
expanded hugely to give voices to users across the globe.
In 2007, US banks realized that
they had lent money for home
mortgages to thousands of
The Arab Spring customers who could not afford to
In 2010, a Tunisian man set fire to himself in protest to poor pay them back. To make matters
treatment by the Tunisian police. His rebellion sparked a wave worse, the banks had tied up the
mortgages with other investments
of unrest that spread across the Arab world, in countries
worth billions of dollars. They
ruled by dictators or corrupt and oppressive governments. First,
suddenly lost value, threatening
the Tunisian leader, Ben Ali, was forced from power. Then financial systems. The value of
conflicts spread to Egypt, where President Mubarak resigned investments plummeted, and huge
after massive popular protests. In 2011, there were uprisings banks collapsed in the US and
in Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, and Syria. Libya’s leader, Colonel Europe. The crisis brought poverty
Muammar Gaddafi, was overthrown by rebel fighters. Free and unemployment to many
countries across the globe.
elections took place in some Arab countries, but others such
as Syria were thrown into civil war.

Life expectancy
Average life expectancy varies greatly around the
world and is correlated with wealth. In wealthy areas,
such as America and Europe, two-thirds of people
live into their 70s. In poor parts of the world like Africa
the average is much lower, partly because of a high
rate infant mortality. Children who survive the first few
hazardous years of life can expect to live much longer
than average.

149
ACADEMIC SUBLIST 1 SYNONYM TEST

1. CONSTITUTE 22. DEFINE

A. comprise B. inflict C. realize A. rough B. identify C. treasure

2. INDICATE 23. DETERIORATE

A. show B. increase C. decline / fall A. worsen B. restore C. specify

3. OCCUR 24. LABOUR

A. separate B. rely on C. happen A. decay B. work C. grind

4. DUE TO 25. PROCEED

A. in case B. because of C. in spite of A. transmit B. advance C. process

5. APPROACH 26. CONTROVERSY

A. wound B. come nearer C. depart from A. dispute B. excavation C. ceasefire

6. CONCEPT 27. AVAILABLE

A. situation B. notion C. district A. inexpensive B. considerate C. accessible

7. ESTIMATE 28. ATTRACT

A. calculate B. invest C. seek A. vicious B. allure C. baffle

8. INDIVIDUAL 29. LEGISLATE

A. person B. division C. society A. make laws B. enforce C. privatize

9. ABUNDANT 30. PROCESS

A. ample B. plentiful C. copious A. specialize B. procedure C. summon

10. EVIDENT 31. SPECIFIC

A. obvious B. apparent C. visible A. particular B. manual C. inclusive

11. INTERPRET 32. BENEFIT

A. intervene B. complicate C. translate / explain A. asset B. good C. eligible

12. PRECIPITATION 33. REQUIRE

A. rainfall B. take place C. preparation A. demand B. examine C. obtain

13. CONSIDER 34. STRUCTURE

A. landslide B. think C. avalanche A. undertake B. construction C. despise

14. ASSESS 35. VARY

A. transport B. evaluate C. access A. merge B. differ C. distort

15. INVOLVE 36. DECREASE

A. include B. import C. found A. shrink B. deplete C. plummet

16. SIGNIFICANT 37. THREAT

A. prominent B. irrelevant C. exception A. hazard B. cure C. detect

17. ASSUME 38. CONSIST (of)

A. urge B. consume C. suppose A. in spite of B. composed of C. set out

18. INCREASE 39. ENVIRONMENT

A. alleviate B. swell C. accurate A. crop yield B. harvest C. habitat

19. NEGLECT 40. RESPOND

A. abandon B. careless C. reckless A. reply B. abdicate C. apply

20. ISSUE 41. CREATE

A. affect B. attend C. matter A. diagnose B. fertile C. generate

21. SIMILAR to 43. INCOME

A. akin to B. identical to C. comparable to A. expenditure B. revenue C. receipt
171
ACADEMIC SUBLIST 2 SYNONYM TEST

1. ACHIEVE 21. IMPACT

A. vital B. accomplish C. hinder A. effect B. treaty C. numerous

2. ACQUIRE 22. INJURE

A. diminish B. loose C. obtain A. wound B. harm C. damage

3. ACCOMPLISH 23. INVEST (in)

A. attain B. hamper C. degrade A. deteriorate B. qualitative C. put money into

4. AFFECT 24. EFFICIENT

A. influence B. surge C. foster A. disease B. productive C. disorder

5. APPROPRIATE 25. MAINTAIN

A. opposite B. proper C. deserve A. preserve B. sustain C. assert

6. ASPECT 26. LACK (of)

A. respect B. angle C. regard A. deficient B. necessary C. negligent

7. INTERFERE (with) 27. OBTAIN

A. obstruct B. impatient C. enable A. annex B. lend C. gain

8. COMMUNITY 28. PARTICIPATE

A. wealth B. policy C. society A. revolve B. orbit C. take part

9. COMPUTE 29. PERCEIVE

A. seem B. calculate C. reckon A. outlaw B. recognize C. sum up

10. CONCLUDE 30. STARVATION

A. judge B. evidence C. initiate A. calamity B. drought C. extreme hunger

11. CONDUCT 31. PRIMARY

A. carry out B. planet C. deal with A. chief B. terminal C. relapse

12. CONSEQUENTLY 32. PURCHASE

A. thus B. contrarily C. as a result A. procure B. bargain C. property

13. CONSTRUCT 33. REGULATE

A. devastate B. build C. destroy A. grasp B. adjust C. attach

14. CONSUME 34. RELEVANT

A. deport B. valid C. ingest A. trivial B. accept C. related

15. DEPRIVED (of) 35. SEEK

A. short of B. blame for C. accuse of A. invite B. treat C. search for

16. STRIKE 36. EXTINCT

A. dawn B. collide C. resign A. vanished B. wiped out C. died out

17. DISTINCT (from) 37. SURVEY

A. separate B. extinct C. happen A. criticize B. summit C. research

18. EVALUATE 38. INFLUENCE

A. inflate B. appraise C. expand A. discredit B. impact C. defect

19. INTENTIONAL 39. TRADITIONAL

A. deliberate B. aimless C. unconscious A. honorary B. conventional C. unusual

20. CONVENIENT (for) 40. RESTRICTION

A. adept B. suitable C. recollect A. limitation B. exceeding C. distinction

172
ACADEMIC SUBLIST 3 SYNONYM TEST

1. NEGOTIATION 22. RELY ON

A. compromise B. discussion C. realization A. keep on B. depend on C. count on

2. ENSURE 23. CIRCUMSTANCE

A. secure B. futile C. shelter A. situation B. restoration C. specification

3. JUSTIFY 24. DWELL

A. legislate B. justice C. rationalize A. reside B. live C. debate

4. SOLELY 25. INITIALLY

A. only B. wholly C. merely A. vitally B. originally C. ultimately

5. EXCLUDE (from) 26. OUTCOME

A. export B. rule out C. include A. result B. cost C. outnumber

6. REFUGEE 27. VALIDATE

A. captive B. displaced C. restricted A. confirm B. endorse C. prove

7. PROPORTION 28. CONTRIBUTE (to)

A. measure B. ratio C. agreement A. accuse B. allege C. donate

8. SPECIFY 29. CONVENE

A. state B. divide C. instance A. suitable B. assemble C. engage

9. COMPENSATE (for) 30. EMPHASIZE

A. fruitful B. require C. make up A. specialize B. stress C. highlight

10. CONSTRAINT 31. INTERACT

A. evident B. embassy C. restriction A. communicate B. manipulate C. include

11. FUND 32. POINT OUT

A. finance B. establish C. explain A. assess B. indicate C. order

12. PERCEPTION 33. COMPONENT

A. consistence B. insight C. penetration A. element B. analysis C. capable

13. SUFFICIENT 34. CORRESPOND (to)

A. adequate B. dismiss C. naive A. gather B. resolution C. consistent

14. CONSENT 35. CONSTANT

A. demise B. approve C. collapse A. vocal B. manifest C. continuous

15. GRADUAL 36. DEMONSTRATE

A. dramatic B. progressive C. sharp A. protest B. reveal C. launch

16. ILLUSTRATE 37. IMPLY

A. magic B. planet C. elucidate A. deny B. suggest C. shout

17. NUTRITION 38. SHIFT

A. relevance B. nourishment C. supplement A. change B. halt C. storm

18. REGISTER 39. LOCATED

A. enroll B. voluntary C. justice A. situated B. exhausted C. descendant

19. CONSIDERABLE 40. UTTERLY

A. infamous B. genuine C. substantial A. absolutely B. totally C. thoroughly

20. DEDUCE 41. SCHEME

A. deflate B. infer C. deity A. diagnosis B. plan C. offspring

21. DECENT 43. DOMINATE

A. inferior B. proper C. successor A. rule B. govern C. surrender

173
ACADEMIC SUBLIST 4 SYNONYM TEST

1. PROMOTE 21. ATTITUDE

A. encourage B. commodity C. neglect A. interior B. approach C. elevation

2. ERROR 22. DEBATE

A. mistake B. discrete C. pleasure A. interest B. reliance C. dispute

3. BREATHING 23. OBVIUOS

A. growing B. whither C. respiration A. clear B. manifest C. evident

4. PHASE 24. PRIORITY

A. gossip B. stage C. dispute A. avoidance B. burden C. prime concern

5. RESOLVE 25. HERITAGE

A. settle B. remove C. relapse A. legacy B. equality C. guilty

6. INVESTIGATE 26. ATTRIBUTE (to)

A. allocate B. scrutinize C. retain A. credit B. confront C. comply

7. INVASION 27. DESPITE

A. disaster B. occupation C. consecutive A. given that B. in case C. in spite of

8. RETAIN 28. IMPLEMENT

A. arrest B. perish C. maintain A. administer B. execute C. apply

9. ANNUAL 29. OCCUPY

A. yearly B. memorial C. external A. density B. engage C. employ

10. GOAL 30. SUBSEQUENT

A. intention B. target C. purpose A. revolt B. following C. predecessor

11. ALLEGE 31. REPLICATE

A. turmoil B. accuse C. legend A. copy B. ransom C. reproduce

12. APPARENT 32. DIMENSION

A. evident B. detect C. conceal A. draft B. aspect C. size

13. GRANT 33. EMERGE (from)

A. award B. permit C. disclose A. appear B. arise C. attend

14. THRIVE 34. PATIENT

A. flourish B. realize C. subsidy A. expert B. famine C. tolerant

15. PREDICT 35. APPEAR

A. estimate B. procure C. foretell A. seem B. assign C. acquit

16. APPROXIMATELY 36. DOMESTIC

A. virtually B. universally C. roughly A. unique B. local C. foreign

17. CITIZEN 37. COMMITTED (to)

A. urban B. national C. resident A. dedicated B. abolish C. devoted

18. UNDERTAKE 38. CONCENTRATE (on)

A. uphold B. behave C. take responsibility A. focus B. crucial C. elaborate

19. CLAIM 39. PROJECTION

A. declare B. assert C. prohibit A. prediction B. smooth C. charity

20. IMPOSE 40. BASIC

A. apply B. urge C. force A. suspend B. fundamental C. mutual

174
Food Crops

Target Words
1.abandon 6.intensify
2.adversely 7.irrigation
3.aggregate 8.obtain
4.cultivation 9.photosynthesis
5.fertilize 10.precipitation

To save their lives, the sailors had to abandon the sinking ship.

Excessive rainfall early in the spring can adversely affect the planting of crops.
Adversely is often followed by affect.

It is impossible to judge last year’s performance without knowing the aggregate sales numbers.

With the development of land cultivation, hunters and gatherers were able to settle in one place.

This farm fertilizes tomatoes more than any other crop. fertilizer, fertilization, fertility, infertility

Jacob’s long absence intensified his certainty that he should marry Rose.

In dry areas of the country, you can see wells all over the farmland for irrigation.

After a series of difficult interviews, he finally was able to obtain the job.

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants make their own food by combining water, salts, and carbon
dioxide in the presence of light.

In the Pacific Northwest, the high level of precipitation ensures rich, green plant life.

Complete each sentence by filling in the blank with the best word from the list. Change the form of the word
if necessary.

abandoned precipitation cultivation fertilize photosynthesis

1. Through __________, green plants create organic materials with the help of chlorophyll.

2. The coastal city gets half of its __________ during the months of January, February, and March.

3. Farmers use various methods of land __________.

4. When they heard the hull crack, all but two of the sailors __________ship.

5. Inexperienced gardeners may not realize how important it is that they __________ their plants.

Find the word or phrase that is closest in meaning to the opposite of each word in the left-hand column.
Write the letter in the blank.

1. obtain (a) weaken

2. intensify (b) separate
3. irrigation (c) lose
4. aggregate (d) drainage
5. adversely (e) positively

175
In certain African countries like Niger and Mauritania, the cultivation of land has
changed little in the past several centuries. Additionally, these countries’
mono-modal rainfall pattern brings precipitation for only three months during
the year. As a result, food production does not nearly meet demand. Several
agencies and organizations have intensified their efforts to increase the productivity
of land in these countries. They have introduced new strains of seed, improved
irrigation techniques, and introduced new methods of fertilization and soil
management. With ample sunlight for photosynthesis and modern irrigation
techniques, sustainable farming techniques should allow farmers to boost
aggregate production in order to meet demand. Still, crop revitalization faces
an unexpected adversary: institutional incompetence. Where crop specialists
have convinced individual farmers to abandon old farming techniques in place
of new, they cannot readily obtain the governmental cooperation they need. The
biggest hindrances are political corruption, incompetence, and the absence of
a marketing infrastructure.

1.In this passage, the word adversary is closest in meaning to

a. friend b. helper c. enemy

d. leader e. assistant

2.In the last paragraph, the word they refers to

a. crop specialists b. farmers

c. farming techniques d. adversaries
e. governments

3. What is the reason for inadequate crop yield in Niger and Mauritania?

a. insufficient precipitation
b. bloody civil war
c. government subsidies

4. According to passage, what is the most important obstacle against the adoption of new farming
techniques?

a. irrigation techniques b. corruption

c. ample sunlight e. photosynthesis

5. The best title for this passage would be ----

a. Revolution of agriculture

b. Marketing strategies in Africa

c. Obstacles in improvement of farming

d. Corruption and bribery in Africa

176
1 People and relationships
• client

The company requires clients to pay substantial fees in advance.

• colleague

Female academics are still paid less than their male colleagues.

• employer

Employers who hire illegal workers will be severely punished by the IRS.

• sibling

Sibling rivalry often causes parents anxieties.

• spouse

Husbands and wives do not have to pay any inheritance tax when their spouse dies.

• autonomous

An autonomous person makes their own decisions rather than being influenced by someone else

They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.

• consistent (with)

Someone who is consistent always behaves in the same way, has the same attitudes towards people or things,
or achieves the same level of success in something.

• conventional

Someone who is conventional has behavior and opinions that are ordinary and normal.

• efficient

Technological advances allow more efficient use of labor.

• flexible

Something or someone that is flexible is able to change easily and adapt to different conditions and
circumstances.

• tolerant

They need to be tolerant of different points of view. Other changes include more tolerant attitudes to unmarried
couples having children.

• vulnerable

Old people are particularly vulnerable members of our society.

177
2 Health
• disease : illness,
sickness, pandemic; infection, ailment, malady, disorder, complaint, affliction, condition,
indisposition, upset, trouble, infirmity, disability, defect, abnormality; pestilence, epidemic

• stroke • epilepsy seizure • cardiac arrest • paralysis • arthritis • asthma

Contagious diseases

• malaria • polio • bubonic plague • chicken pox • avian flu • swine flu

• influenza • measles • mumps • small pox • avian flu • swine flu • rabies

Human Organ and Tissue Systems

 Circulatory system: pumping and channeling blood to and from the body and lungs with heart, blood
and blood vessels.

 Integumentary system: the organ system that protects the body from various kinds of damage, such
as loss of water or abrasion from outside. The system comprises the skin, hair, scales, feathers, and
nails.

 Reproductive system: ovaries, fluids, hormones

 Digestive system: digestion and processing food with salivary glands, stomach, liver, gallbladder,
pancreas, intestines.

 Urinary system: kidneys, bladder and urethra involved in fluid balance, electrolyte balance and
excretion of urine.

 Respiratory system: intake and exchange of oxygen, air-breathing, lungs, inhalation, exhalation;
ventilation.

 Muscular system: It allows for manipulation of the environment, provides locomotion, maintains
posture, and produces heat.

 Nervous system: collecting, transferring and processing information with brain, spinal cord and
peripheral nervous system.

• drug addiction

Addiction is the condition of taking harmful drugs and being unable to stop taking them.

• dehydration

Cholera causes severe dehydration.

• diagnose

Almost a million people are diagnosed with colon cancer each year.

• discharge

When someone is discharged from hospital, they are officially allowed to leave, or told they must leave.

• vaccine / immunization campaign

178
Scientists from the UK and USA have recently reported that over the last 30 years the incidence of diabetes
has more than doubled. They estimate that nearly 350 million adults worldwide now have the disease. In every
country studied, rates of diabetes had either remained the same or increased. The rise has been particularly
acute in the Pacific Islands, with up to 30% of women in some areas suffering from the condition.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic progressive condition which occurs when there is too much glucose in the blood,
either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or because cells have become resistant to
insulin. Complications resulting from diabetes include damage to kidneys, blindness, heart disease and
strokes. The condition is associated with obesity; however, nearly three-quarters of the rise has been
attributed to longer lifespan and better diagnosis. Having a close relative with the disease is also a risk factor.

Type 2 diabetes has also become a major burden on health care systems around the world. Expenditure on
treating the condition is projected to rise to over £30 billion annually within the next three years. However, a
recent study has shown that if the condition is diagnosed within four years of onset, it can be reversed by
following a low-calorie diet. Limiting food intake to 600 calories per day for eight weeks was shown to have a
lasting effect on the majority of subjects who took part in the trial. For many, Type 2 diabetes can be cured and
it need not cost the earth.

Do the statements 1-4 below agree with the information given in the following text.

1. More than twice as many adults have Type 2 diabetes as did thirty years ago.

2. Nearly a third of people in the Pacific Islands have diabetes.

3. Type 2 diabetes is a long-term illness which can be caused by insufficient insulin production.

4. The increase in Type 2 diabetes is partly due to greater life expectancy.

Complete the sentences 5-7 using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage above.

5. Treating diabetes places a significant _____________________ on health care budgets.

6. If a person _____________________ with diabetes early, he or she can be cured.

7. Most people____________________ in the low-calorie diet study made a good recovery.

8. Public spending on the diabetes is predicted to ______________ substantially in the coming years.

179
Algeria, a gateway between Africa and Europe, has been battered by violence over the past
50 years. More than a million Algerians were killed in the fight for independence from France
in 1962, and the country has recently emerged from a brutal internal conflict that followed
disputed elections in 1992. The Sahara desert covers more than four-fifths of the land. Oil
and gas reserves were discovered there in the 1950s, but most Algerians live along the
northern coast. The country supplies large amounts of natural gas to Europe and energy
exports are the backbone of the economy.

Algeria includes large areas of the Sahara desert

Algeria was originally inhabited by Berbers until the Arabs conquered North Africa in the 7th
century. Based mainly in the mountainous regions, the Berbers resisted the spread of Arab
influence, managing to preserve much of their language and culture. They make up some
30% of the population.

Politics: President Bouteflika led his country out of the civil war that broke out when
Islamists were denied an election victory; the Islamist insurgency continues in a new form.

Economy: Algeria is a key oil and gas supplier

International: Tension persists between Algeria and Morocco over the Western Sahara,
where nomadic Saharans are seeking self-determination

Part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire from the 16th century, Algeria was conquered by the
French in 1830 and was given the status of an overseas province. The struggle for
independence began in 1954 headed by the National Liberation Front, which came to power
on independence in 1962. In the 1990s, Algerian politics was dominated by the struggle
involving the military and Islamist militants. In 1992, a general election won by an Islamist
party was annulled, heralding a bloody civil war in which more than 150,000 people died. An
amnesty in 1999 led many rebels to lay down their arms. Although political violence in
Algeria has declined since the 1990s, the country has been shaken by a campaign of
bombings carried out by a group calling itself al-Qaeda. The group was formerly known as
the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, and has its roots in an Islamist militia involved in the
civil war in the 1990s. Similar but separate Islamist armed groups have emerged in recent
years throughout the Sahara region, reinforced by arms obtained during the Libyan civil war.

After years of political upheaval and violence, Algeria's economy has been given a lift by
frequent oil and gas finds. It has estimated oil reserves of nearly 12 billion barrels, attracting
strong interest from foreign oil firms. However, poverty remains widespread and
unemployment high, particularly among Algeria's youth. Endemic government corruption and
poor standards in public services are also chronic sources of popular dissatisfaction. Major
protests broke out in January 2011 over food prices and unemployment, with two people
being killed in clashes with security forces. The government responded by ordering cuts to
the price of basic foodstuffs, and abolished the 1992 state of emergency law. In 2001 the
government agreed to a series of demands by the minority Berbers, including official
recognition of their language, after months of unrest.

180
Egypt country profile – Overview

Long known for its pyramids and ancient civilization, Egypt is the largest Arab country
and has played a central role in Middle Eastern politics in modern times.

In the 1950s President Abdul Nasser pioneered Arab nationalism, while his successor Anwar
Sadat made peace with Israel and turned back to the West. The protests that ousted
President Hosni Mubarak in 2011 raised the hopes of those seeking democratic reform and
an end to decades of repressive rule. But it was the Islamists who initially benefited, before
they were themselves swept away by the military and secularist protesters, prompting
speculation about a return to authoritarianism.

Regional importance
Egypt's ancient past and the fact that it was one of the first Middle Eastern countries to open
up to the West following Napoleon's invasion have given it a claim to be the intellectual and
cultural leader in the region. However, the historic step by President Sadat to make peace
with Israel in the 1979 Camp David agreement led to Egypt being expelled from the Arab
League. In 1981, Mr. Sadat was assassinated by Islamic extremists angry at his moves to
clamp down on their activities.

President Hosni Mubarak took a more conciliatory approach, but Islamic groups continued
their campaigns sporadically. They have been responsible for deadly attacks that often
targeted tourists and resort areas, and began to harass Egypt's Christian community.

While providing stability and a measure of economic progress, Mubarak's rule was
repressive. Corruption was widespread. Encouraged by the protests that overthrew the long-
term leader of Tunisia, mounting anger burst to the surface in huge anti-government
demonstrations in January 2011, which eventually ended President Mubarak's long rule. The
protesters' hoped-for transition democracy proved elusive, however, as post-revolutionary
politics became polarized between the newly ascendant Islamists on the one hand and the
military as well as liberal and secular forces on the other. A growing Islamist militant
insurgency has also shaken Egypt's stability.

Following a year of interim military rule, the first presidential elections in half a century were
won by Mohammed Mursi in 2012. However, a year on, growing dismay at the government's
actions among many Egyptians, primarily secularists, liberals and Christians, boiled over in
another wave of protests. Siding with the demonstrators, the military ousted Mr. Mursi and
violently suppressed the protests held by the Brotherhood in response.

Geography and economy

Egypt's thriving cities - and almost all agricultural activity - are concentrated along the banks
of the Nile, and on the river's delta. Deserts occupy most of the country. The economy
depends heavily on agriculture, tourism and cash remittances from Egyptians working
abroad, mainly in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries. However, rapid population growth and
the limited amount of arable land are straining the country's resources and economy, and
continuing political turmoil has paralyzed government efforts to address the problems.

181
The rise of Singlish

Singapore's government has long insisted that everyone in the island nation should speak
English - it's the language used in schools, at work, and in government. But in practice many
people speak a hybrid language that can leave visitors completely baffled - Singlish.

Singapore is known for its efficiency and Singlish is no different - it's colorful and snappy.
You don't have a coffee - you "lim kopi". And if someone asks you to join them for a meal but
you've already had dinner, you simply say: "Eat already."

Singlish first emerged when Singapore gained independence 50 years ago, and decided that
English should be the common language for all its different races. That was the plan. It
worked out slightly differently though, as the various ethnic groups began infusing English
with other words and grammar. English became the official language, but Singlish became
the language of the street.

Repeated Speak Good English campaigns, drummed into Singaporeans in schools and in
the media, have had only limited success. Singlish has not only shrugged off these attacks, it
has thrived.

It's been documented in a dictionary and studied by linguists. And it has been immortalized in
popular culture. Over time, Speak Good English campaigns have evolved from trying to
stamp out Singlish, to accepting that properly spoken English and Singlish can peacefully co-
exist. The language has even come to be seen as part of Singaporean identity and heritage -
it appears in advertising campaigns for SG50, the big celebration of Singapore's Jubilee
Year, and will feature on floats in Saturday's National Day Parade.

Panama Canal to limit ship size due to drought

The Panama Canal Authority says it will temporarily cut the size of ships allowed through
because of drought caused by El Nino. From 8 September, the maximum draft of ships will
be cut to 39ft (11.89m), which may affect up to 20% of traffic.

A similar restriction was imposed for the same reason in 1998. The authorities say a further
cut in the draft could be imposed on 16 September if the situation does not improve. The
authority has taken the action because water levels in the Gatun and Alhajuela lakes have
reduced as a result of the El Nino weather phenomenon.

The current draft limit is 39.5ft, which will be cut to 39ft on 8 September and then potentially
to 38.5ft on 16 September. Shipping companies had been warned the cuts could be coming.

The Panama Canal celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, having seen more than a
million ships pass through. Panama took control of the canal from the US in 2000, and has
since been widely praised with the way it has handled the operation. Transit fees now bring
in about $1bn (£645m) a year for the government.

182
Why might women feel temperature differently from men?
There's been a great deal of coverage of a study this week that suggested that women feel
temperature differently in workplaces from men. Is there an explanation for why men and
women might feel comfortable at different room temperatures?

A study by two Dutch scientists has offered an answer to the longstanding question many
office workers ask come summer - why when some men in the office are reaching for the air
conditioning, are some women slipping on cardigans?

According to the paper, women feel the cold more readily - one small sample test the
researchers carried out suggests that women are comfortable at a temperature 2.5C warmer
than men - between 24 and 25C.

According to Prof Paul Thorn of Warwick Medical School, variation in average metabolic rate
and body heat production between men and women "may explain why there is a difference in
environmental temperature required for comfort between males and females".

The body's metabolism is responsible for growth and the production of energy, including
heat. Resting metabolic rate is the minimal rate of energy expenditure per unit of time while
we are at rest, calculated through a standard set of equations. On average, women have a
lower metabolic rate than men.

"A great determinant of resting metabolic rates is the fat free body mass in people's bodies,"
says Thorn - accounting for around 60% of the individual difference in men and women's
resting metabolic rates. Because men have more fat free body mass - all the components of
the body like skin, bones and muscle, but excluding fat - than women, they have a higher
resting metabolic rate.

Major body organs, including the liver, brain, skeletal muscle, kidneys and heart are where
most energy is consumed. Non-movement production of heat - where energy is expended
outside of active exercise - occurs in the body in "brown fat", according to Thorn. Humans
have two types of fat - white fat, a store of excess calories, and brown fat, which generates
heat.

Brown fat produces heat involuntarily through a process called thermogenesis. It is regulated
by the thyroid hormone and the nervous system, and may account for further variation of
resting metabolic rate, particularly in men. (Babies have higher levels of brown fat than adults
to stave off hypothermia while young.) This higher proportion of body mass which is able to
produce heat involuntarily means that on average men don't feel the cold as easily as women
- and, in sultry summer months, means they have a lower tolerance for hot weather because
their bodies produce more heat at a resting metabolic rate, getting warmer quicker.

However, as Thorn points out, not every person is the same. Some men have lower
metabolic rates than some women, and so in some cases it may be Dave on reception
reaching for a jumper more readily than Ellie in the boardroom. Some people also have
suggested less scientific reasons for the general gender divide over the air-con - while some
women wear light dresses in August, some men are stuck in stuffy suits.

183
GUESSING MEANING
BAĞLAMDAN KELİMENİN FROMÇIKARMA
ANLAMINI CONTEXT
Guessing meaning
Belli bir kelime from ulaştıktan
hazinesine context insonra,
the IELTS is an important
bilmediğimiz kelimelerintechnique that willgeri
anlamını cümlenin improve your
kalanını reading
çevirerek yaskills.
da
There will be many words that you do not understand and you
cümledeki bazı bağlam (context) ipuçlarını kullanarak çıkarabiliriz. cannot check. Therefore, guessing meaning from
context is necessary. This means work out what it means from the words that are around it and from the topic of
the paragraph. Here are the top strategies:
Önemli Bağlam İpuçları

1.
1. Look at yapan
Örnekleme words thatforprovide
kelimeler: example, forexamples: such
instance, such as, as, including, for instance
including

The adverse effects of this drug, including dizziness, bleeding,

and headaches, have caused it to be withdrawn from the market.

“Adverse” kelimesinin anlamı hangisidir?

A) artificial B) energetic C) harmful

Nocturnal creatures, such as bats and owls, have highly

developed senses that enable them to function in the dark.

A) feathery B) living C) active at night.

Mundane activities such as doing the laundry or dishes or going

food shopping or reading the newspaper all help me relax.

A) exciting B) painful C) ordinary

Scientists now think that brain surgery may alleviate the most common
symptoms of Parkinson's disease, including tremor of hands, stiff muscles
and achiness, limited movement, and difficulty with balance.

A) shaking B) vigor C) foster

2. Words
2. Eş signaling
anlamlı kelimeler synonyms
(synonyms): / in
“or, that is, definitions:
other words” ile or, that is, in other words
gösterilir.

• When I procrastinate, or put off a work until the last minute, it is usually not my best work.

• Claustrophobia, that is the fear of being enclosed, is more common than many people realize.

3. Antonyms
3. Zıt or(Antonyms)
anlamlı kelimeler words with opposite meaning
Instead of Kathryn being demoted as she had feared, she was promoted to a
new and more challenging job that paid more.

4. Relative
4. Sıfat cümleleri:clauses:
“which, who,who, which,
that, where” where,başlayan
gibi kelimelerle when,tanımlayıcı
whom,cümlecikler
whose
Mercury, which is the silver-colored metal used in thermometers, is usually in a liquid form.

Reduced
+ relative clauses
iki virgül arasındaki arecümle
tanımlayıcı often used to provide definition or further information.
• Pacemakers, small electrical devices that stimulate the heart muscle, have saved many lives.

5. Words
5. Zıtlık signaling contrast
bağlaçları

but in contrast despite in spite of unlike

yet instead whereas however while

• Parking on our side of the street is prohibited on weekdays between 4pm and 7pm, but allowed at all other times.

• Anti-corruption regulations require that all appointments should be based solely on merit, not on people's political
connections.

• I tried reading Lou’s notes but I found them illegible. However, your notes were easy to read.

184
Practice Test 1 11. Many corporations like to be seen as benevolent and will
actively seek publicity for their charitable donations.
1. Today, I had to deal with one mishap after another.
I couldn’t find my car keys, I dropped a bowl of soup at A) prevalent B) authoritative C) customary
lunchtime, and my computer crashed twice.

A) unlucky accident B) event C) question 12. Throughout history, the prevalent authority pattern in
families has been patriarchy, in which males are in control. In
2. Some mentally ill people have bizarre ideas. For instance, only a few societies has matriarchy been the customary
they may think the TV is talking to them or that others can authority pattern.
steal their thoughts.
A) man dominance / female dominance
A) limited B) ordinary C) odd B) democracy / monarchy
C) benevolence / maleficence
3. Some animals have remarkable longevity. For example,
the giant land tortoise can live several hundred years.
13. Many people have pointed out the harmful effects that a
A) appearances B) length of life C) habits working mother may have on the family, yet there are many
salutary effects as well.

4. Since my grandfather retired, he has adopted several new A) well-known B) beneficial C) hurtful
avocations, such as gardening and chat groups on the
Internet. 14. Trying to control everything your teens do can impede
their growth. To advance their development, allow them to
A) hobbies B) vacations C) jobs make some decisions on their own.

A) hinder B) predict C) improve

5. Children who move to a foreign country adapt much more
easily than their parents, soon picking up the language and 15. During their training, police officers must respond to
customs of their new home. simulated emergencies in preparation for dealing with real
ones.
A) adjust B) struggle C) become bored
A) actual B) mild C) made-up

6. The Chinese government provides incentives for married 16. Many politicians do not give succinct answers, whereas
couples to have only one child. For example, couples with one others prefer long ones that help them avoid the point.
child get financial help and free medical care.
A) brief B) accurate C) complete
A) warnings B) penalties C) encouragements

17. Although investments in the stock market can be

7. Changes in such abilities as learning, reasoning, thinking, lucrative, they can also result in great financial loss.
and language are aspects of cognitive development.
A) required B) profitable C) risky
A) physical B) mental C) spiritual

8. White-collar crime—for example, accepting a bribe from a 18. Altitude, or the height above sea level, is a factor that
customer or stealing from an employer—is more costly than determines climate.
“common” crime.
A) elevation B) behavior C) attempt
A) gang B) strangers C) office

19. To keep healthy, older people need to stay active.

9. When people are broke, they find that many things Remaining stagnant results in loss of strength and health.
which seem indispensable are not so necessary after all.
A) unhealthy B) lively C) inactive
A) pragmatic B) essential C) obstacle

10. Just as the arrival of mechanical equipment meant fewer 20. Being raised with conflicting values can be a detriment to
farm jobs, the advent of the computer has led to fewer boys’ and girls’ relationships with each other. In contrast,
manufacturing jobs. shared values can be a benefit.

A) departure B) omit C) arrival A) improvement B) drawback C) relationship

185
Practice Test 2 11. To avoid disease, many people drink only distilled water,
which has been boiled to evaporation and then cooled on a
1. While houses and antiques often increase in value, most cold surface.
things, such as cars, mobile phones and TVs, depreciate.
A) purified B) polluted C) emanated
A) remain useful B) lose value C) break
12. The spice merchants of the eastern markets charged top
prices to the Dutch and British sailors, who had come too far
2. Reliable scientific theories are based not upon careless to sail away without buying.
work, but rather upon diligent research and experimentation.
A) dealers B) traders C) vendors
A) hasty B) expensive C) meticulous

13. Charlie Chaplin had two legitimate children with his wife
3. In the early days of automobile sector, stringent laws Hannah and one illegitimate son with a woman whom he met
controlled motorists’ speed. In contrast, the laws designed to while traveling.
protect consumers from faulty products were extremely weak.
A) dishonest B) nameless C) bastard
A) informal B) not effective C) strict

14. Isaac Asimov is regarded one of the most prolific

4. A former employee, furious over having been fired, broke authors, with more than 500 published books and letters.
into the plant and deliberately wrecked several machines.
A) futile B) infertile C) productive
A) relieved B) very angry C) undecided

15. Despite laws restricting animal imports, thousands of

5. Despite the proximity of Ron’s house to his sister’s, he monkeys and lemurs and other wild animals are smuggled
rarely sees her. into the United States.

A) similarity B) nearness C) superiority A) convey illicitly B) export C) shelter

6. The car wash we organized to raise funds was a complete 16. Some environmentalists advocate removal of large dams
fiasco—it rained all day. from the region irrigated by the River Amazon.

A) great financial success A) sanction B) defend C) embrace

B) welcome surprise
C) utter disaster
17. Federal agents can seize private homes and other
property possibly used in the production or sale of illegal
7. The lizard was so lethargic that I was not sure if it was drugs.
alive or dead. It did not even blink.
A) immune B) harvest C) confiscate
A) colorful B) sluggish C) lively

18. Possession of a small quantity of marijuana is a minor

8. After the accident, I was angered when the other driver told offense, which is punishable by no more than 3 months
the police officer a complete fabrication about what imprisonment.
happened. He claimed that I was the person at fault.
A) crime B) malady C) sibling
A) lie B) description C) confession

19. The police apprehended the murder suspect just as he

9. My father is an experienced driver, but my mother is a was trying to get on a bus to London.
novice; She began taking lessons just last month.
A) rewarded B) arrested C) ascend
A) beginner B) expert C) clever

20. Low-income households pay relatively low federal taxes,

10. Dandruff is a common skin condition characterized by primarily because tax credits reduce or eliminate their income
dry white or grey flakes of dead skin appearing in the hair. tax liability.

A) kellik B) mide ekşimesi C) kepek A) grasp B) hijack C) obligation

186
Practice Test 3 11. Ten years of research culminated in a report explaining
the mysterious behavior of the praying mantis, which is a
1. Sweden is my ancestral homeland, from which my great large green or brownish insect.
grandfather emigrated in 1922.
A) failed B) cultivated C) concluded
A) annual B) familial C) genocide
12. Despite complaints from parents, educators, and
2. Non-lethal techniques, those that do not kill coyotes, are government officials, violence and sex on television seem to
being developed to protect sheep and other livestock. go on unabated.

A) fatal B) harmless C) polite A) merciless B) ceaseless C) reckless

3. The Empire State building, which has more than a hundred

stories, was once the world’s tallest edifice. 13. British government is trying to curtail its spending on
social welfare by cutting down on retirement benefits for
A) skyscraper B) summit C) zenith military retirees.

4. Students attending private schools pay tuition fee. In the A) reduce B) tackle C) sustain
public schools, however, there is no charge for education.

A) nurture B) upbringing C) education cost 14. Nepotism is commonplace where I work: the boss’
daughter is vice-president of the company, her husband runs
the order department, and their son has just started working in
5. The Spanish explorer Pizarro abducted the Inca King the warehouse.
Atahualpa in 1529. His men detained the king and demanded
a large sum of ransom in gold and silver in exchange for the A) good managerial practice
safe return of the king. B) favoritism to relatives
C) arguments among employees
A) fidye B) rüşvet C) haraç

15. Nature has endowed hummingbirds with the ability to fly

6. If someone dies without a will, the possessions usually go backward.
to the next of kin, or the person's closest living blood relative.
A) deceased B) destroyed C) granted
A) en yakın akraba B) miras C) varies

16. Opponents of the death penalty maintain that it has never

7. Whether or not there is life in outer space is an enigma. actually deterred anyone from committing murder.
We may never know for sure until we are capable of space
travel or aliens actually land on our planet. A) prevented B) betrayed C) embellished

A) reason B) certainty C) mystery

17. Around the age of two or three, small children like to
bother their parents with endless questions beginning with
8. Suicide rates tend to fluctuate with the seasons, with much the word “why.”
higher rates in the winter than in the summer.
A) please B) delight C) annoy
A) rise and fall B) disappear C) persist
18. Whereas it is often not feasible to work full-time while
going to school, it may be practical to get a part-time job.
9. Human beings are resilient creatures, in other words, they
can often bounce back from negative experiences and adjust A) viable B) worthless C) plausible
well to life.
19. Doctors should alleviate the pain of terminally ill patients
A) fallible B) dormant C) flexible so that their final days are as comfortable as possible.

A) give away B) ease off C) end up

10. A major accomplishment of sociology is dispelling the
myths, prejudices and misconceptions that groups of people 20. In certain parts of the world, probably those where the
have about each other. natural food supply was unreliable, people endeavored to
shape nature for their own purposes.
A) ignoring B) eliminating C) creating
A) attempted B) resigned C) neglected

187
Practice Test 4 Why did people begin to live in cities? To answer this
question, we must start by looking back some ten thousand
1. A person can be very intelligent and yet be deficient in years ago. In some parts of the world, most probably where
common sense. the food supply was scarce, people tried to tame nature for
their own benefit. They began uprooting weeds and watering
A) lacking B) well-supplied groups of edible plants, adding organic matter to help
C) overqualified D) picky fertilize the soil, and saving the seeds from the strongest,
most desirable plants to sow the next spring. At the same
time, they began protecting herds of small wild animals that
2. The store detective faced the dilemma of either having an were often hunted by larger animals. They would move them
elderly, needy man arrested or ignoring store rules about to pastures that are more plentiful during the dry months of
shoplifters. summer. During the harshest periods of winter, they would
supplement whatever fresh food was available with stored
A) memory B) difficult choice food. These changes, coupled with a few simple techniques
C) proof D) reason for storing grain and meat, enabled people to abandon a
wandering lifestyle in favor of settlement in small villages. ----

3. Every habitat in the world, from volcano tops to icebergs, Paragrafı en iyi tamamlayan cümleyi bulunuz.
can support some sort of life.
A) Fossils of humans found in a village in Çatalhöyük show
A) country B) environment C) source D) practice that average life span was about 25 to 38 years back then.

B) In the quest to explain human culture, anthropologists had

4. Airport security guards must observe people’s demeanor paid a great deal of attention to recent forager societies.
in order to notice any suspicious conduct.
C) When agriculture and animal domestication emerged in
A) attitude B) worry C) health D) harass southwest Asia, all peoples were hunters and gatherers.

D) Hunter-gatherers are one of the few contemporary

5. During the Middle Ages, everyone—from the rich African societies that live primarily by foraging.
landowner down to the most impoverished peasant—had a
clear place in society. E) These villages were the basic form of human social
organization for the next several thousand years.
A) weak B) common C) poor D) decent

6. Even if textbooks are standardized under a school system, Write synonyms

Aşağıdaki for the
kelimelerin İngilizce words below.
eş anlamlılarını yazınız.
methods of teaching with them may be greatly varied.

A) diversified B) unified C) consistent D) odd scarce:

tame:
7. It is widely believed that Columbus sailed westward to
validate the theory that the world is round. In fact, it was
edible:
already well known at that time that the world is round.
fertilize:
A) refute B) prove C) contradict D) foresee
desirable:

8. It would be a good idea for married couples to discuss their sow:

plans in case of each other’s demise. For example, do they
wish to be buried or cremated? herds:

A) death B) success C) divorce D) concern pastures:

harsh:
10. Toddlers are naturally inquisitive; since they are so
interested in their surroundings, they are eager to explore supplement:
everything.
store:
A) unreliable B) clumsy C) curious D) tired
wander:

188
COMMON ACADEMIC COLLOCATIONS

bear in mind fertilization of crops shrinking of tumor

general amnesty intensified dispute overconsumption of sugar

violate a treaty irrigation techniques underground reservoirs of oil

stick to the rules annual precipitation well-adjusted diet

abide by the law crop revitalization nutritious necessities

substantial effort anticipate a sudden raid high proportion of carbon

point of view eruption of a volcano accuracy of facts

broad range of products drastic food shortage adjacent to the ocean

come into prominence impact on economy infeasible project

striking feature plunge into ocean retain the original structure

cast considerable doubt relieve a pain marriage proposal

pose a high risk catastrophic destruction adoption of innovation

accuse somebody of theft tremendous contribution recurrent cancer

admire courage life-threatening disease settlement of disputes

apologize to someone predicting hurricanes promote general welfare

dependence on fossil fuels adapt to new environments detrimental to health

participate in competition linguistic diversity defy the resolutions of council

obtain informed consent evolve from common ancestor undertake a responsibility

take advantage of situation new generation of batteries reach a compromise

exploit natural resources inherent dangers compromise by arbitration

12 consecutive years physical barriers drug abuse

political instability time-consuming process child abuse

hotly debated issue characteristic attributes domestic violence

acquit the accused of homicide hostile environments knowledgeable person

sentence somebody to life monumental tomb inspired by nature

imprisonment
financial constraints take necessary precautions
execute death penalty
legal constraints behave inconsiderately
praise and reward
contamination EU negotiations
adversely affect
waste disposal instance of impoliteness
land cultivation
emission of pollutants nuclear disarmament

264
COMMON ACADEMIC COLLOCATIONS

unilateral declaration of war extinguish undesirable behaviors physical resemblance between

humans and apes
completely irrelevant archaeological remains
state-owned enterprise
obsession with hygiene go bankrupt
insistence on honesty
unprecedented in history laid off workers
burden of proof
deforestation You reap what you sow
mass destruction weapons
be of vital importance punctuation marks
dismiss an offer
attract public attention age-related wrinkling
widespread concern
attitude towards elderly mysterious circumstances
randomly divided groups
addicted to alcohol in accordance with law
claim million of innocent lives
an ambitious person longstanding tradition
seize the opportunity
scientific approach enthusiastic about new ideas
pay attention to details
survival of the fittest enthusiastic audience
high altitudes
natural selection behavioral pattern
baseless accusations
artificial fertilizer external stimulus
closely associated (with)
susceptibility to depression biological multitude of life
considerable progress
susceptible to corruption genetic sequencing
closer inspection
counterfeit money degradation of natural resources
commonly encountered
counterfeit drugs exposure to pollution
lack of adequate nourishment
a landscape devoid of life importation of foreign goods
demand & supply
deprivation of basic needs amendments of laws
comprehensive account
destitute people constitutional rights
inevitable consequence
perpetrator of crime constant reinforcement
conduct research
murder victim indispensible for climate
launch an initiative
notorious gangsters enhancement surgery
mentally challenged
ultimate goal disparities in wealth
hereditary factors
sustainable agriculture thriving business
consistent results
economic profitability eminent scientist
genetic predisposition
digestive system tyranny of the majority
right to vote
social gathering close proximity
undergo a surgery
meltdown of glaciers in the vicinity of London
contemporary society
equal distribution of wealth

265
COMMON ACADEMIC COLLOCATIONS

turn over fugitives mutual trust & confidence unintended consequences

convey a message economic prosperity coin a new term

neglected children effective implementation undergo radical transformation

gross negligence huge dilemma life expectancy at birth

coping strategy enormous amount of money reduced infant mortality

declare independence invaluable contribution severe carelessness

conventional wisdom ethical considerations below standards

convincing evidence experimental research cheque fraud

correct interpretation empirical evidence assault rifle

common characteristics follow the instructions false imprisonment

draw a conclusion gender equality emotional distress

cultural heritage surgical intervention trespass to personal property

stem-cell therapy government expenditure diminished responsibility

state-funded institute foreign currency boundary between sanity and

insanity
reliance on oil fundamental assumption
infectious diseases
dream interpretation lower expectations
perishable goods
inhabitants of an island high priority
economic upheaval
residence permit political representation
termination of contract
inevitable result illustrate a point
shed light on
first impression qualitative data
affordable prices
hunter-gatherer racial discrimination
forthcoming decade
nomadic life style present an argument
proponents of solar energy
deliberate attempt regional variation
gradual increase
easily accessible religious faith
noticeable difference
differ significantly spiritual leader
profound change
direct involvement in crime propose a legislation
alteration beyond recognition
accept bribe scarcity of resources
accelerating rate
human rights violation provide insight
explicit reference to
denial of basic human rights scholarly journal
controversy surrounding
economic inequality seem plausible
pose a challenge to
positive discrimination underlying cause of dementia

266
COMMON ACADEMIC COLLOCATIONS

contain inconsistencies exempt from taxation

tackle inflation keep a diary

address an issue animal husbandry

overcome a problem crossbreeding of animals

Greek debt crisis need for approval

resolutions of European Council diagnostic tools

trigger social disruption descendants of African slaves

account for (%15) invasion of privacy

give rise to controversy means of mass communication

generate revenue bound together by ideas

disprove a hypothesis loyalty to the king

embrace an idea apartheid regime in S. Africa

exhibition center fragments of artifact

redundancy payment successor & predecessor

cemetery (graveyard) sedentary lifestyle

crucial for life on Earth hand in resignation

long-distance racing give precedence

facial expressions conquest of Istanbul

sensible explanation invasion of Britain

outrageous act of bribery emergence of social classes

disrespecting elders ruins of ancient city

disgrace to mankind depletion of fish stocks

cognitive abilities overexploitation of resources

dialects of Turkish language increase mobility

reply without hesitation government interference

delicate equilibrium technological advances

Arabian peninsula disease eradication through

widespread vaccination
be about to disappear
acute respiratory infections
critically endangered
prevention of global warming
vulnerable species
free expression of ideas
conservation-dependent species

267
Büyük / önemli
WORDS anlamında sık kullanılanMEANING
/ COLLOCATIONS kelimeler BIG or IMPORTANT
important contribution contributed importantly
significant increase in petrol prices increase significantly
dramatic rise in heat waves rise dramatically
considerable decline in traffic decline considerably
drastic reduction in heart disease drop drastically
substantial amount of money improve substantially
immense amount of data benefit immensely
profound impact on affect profoundly
sharp fall in the stock market fall sharply
marked increase in temperature expand markedly
remarkable achievement remarkably talented
wide reputation widely utilized
exceptional talent exceptionally difficult
tremendous number of people tremendously fascinated
huge deficit in the budget hugely influenced
enormous costs differ enormously
crucial intervention crucially important
striking resemblance strikingly beautiful
appreciable distance grow appreciably
notable scientists most notably
serious damage damaged seriously
extraordinary talent extraordinarily talented
impressive presentation impressively presented
unusual amount of activity unusually heavy
extreme determination extremely favorable
particular concern particularly attractive
fair amount of time fairly easy
chief reasons consist chiefly [of women]
large amounts of gold largely immune from
principal cause principally concerned with
great influence greatly influenced
fundamental differences fundamentally different
main problem mainly used
prominent member of council appear prominently
vast distance vastly improved
thorough investigation investigate thoroughly
rapid increase increase rapidly
major improvement primarily
dominant part of system
eminent scholars
momentous change
monumental success
consequential modifications
outstanding performance
massive increase

268
COMMON ROOTS AND DERIVED PHRASES

longa long longitude, longevity, long, elongation, elongate, prolonged drought, prolonged use of
steroids, long-lasting effect

magna large, magnify, magnificent, magnitude, magnification, magnascope

great

pictura picture picture, picturesque, pictorial

nova new novice, novel, novelty, innovation, innovative ideas, innovator, novice, novilunar,
renovate, renovation

terra land, terrace, terrestrial, terrain, territory, Mediterranean, terra cotta, subterranean,
earth extraterrestrial life, interterritorial

prima first Prime minister, prime suspect, primary care, primitive people, primeval life style,
primarily, premier, primacy over law, prime time, primitiveness, pristine condition

sub under subway, subconscious, suburban, subsequent, subtitle, subculture, subatomic particles,
subaqueous, submerge, submarine, subcategory, subform, subfactor, subgroup,
subliminal message, sublunar, subtropical climate, subregion, subspecies, subsurface

bene, good Benefit, beneficial, benevolent, benefactor, benign tumor, benevolence, benediction
ben

fama fame fame, famous, infamous, familiar, familiarity, familiarize, famousness, infamy, fameless

multi many multitude, multiple, multinational company, multilingualism, multicellular organism,

multivitamin, multipolar, multicolored, multicultural, multilayered, multiply,
multiplication, multipurpose study, multiracial, multitasking, multimedia,
multidimensional

post later Postgraduate, post-operation, post-war, postindustrial era, postpone, postponable,

postmortem examination, post-editing, posterity, post-modern, postpartum syndrome

pre before Prehistoric, premature, preadolescence, preschooler, predate, prevent, predict,

prediction, preadmission, presumption, precede, predecessor, prewar, prejudice,
preliminary, preplanned, preprogrammed, prerequisite, previous, preventable,
prewashing

aqua water aquatics, aquarium, aqueduct, aquaculture, sub-aquatic, aquanaut, aqualung, aquafarming,
aquaphobia, aquaplane, aquapolis, aquatic animal, semi-aquatic

herba herb herbivorous, herbal tea, herbalist, herbarium, herbal therapy, herbless, herblike

botan plant Botanic, botanography, astrobotany, botanist, botanophobia, paleobotany, geobotanist

vege- edible Vegetable, vegetation, veganism, vegetarian, vegetate, vegetative state patient
plant

277
COMMON ROOTS AND DERIVED PHRASES

lingua language bilingual, linguistics, bilingualism, biolinguistics, interlinguality, lingua franca, linguacious,
monolingual, multilingual, psycholinguistic, sociolinguist, linguistically

schola school scholar, scholastic, homeschooling, schooling, schoolmate, unschooled, school children

amica friendly amicable, amicability, amiable, amiably, amity, unamiable

mare sea maritime law, aquamarine, submarine geology, marina, marine biologist, marine biocycle,
marine environment, marine traffic, mariner, transmarine, mermaid

graph write autograph, biography, graphology, radiography, cardiograph, geographical region,

seismograph

port carry deport, transport, teleportation, porter, deportation of aliens, import, export, portable,
portability, portmanteau, transporter

peri around pericentric, pericardiac, period, periodical, perihepatic, periodicity, perioptic nerves
near
cir- around circumstance, circumnavigate, circumspect, circumference of earth, electric circuit,
circumplanetary, circumvent the law, blood circulation, cash circulation

mal bad malpractice, maladministration, malnutrition, malign tumor, malady (disease), maleficent
person, malevolent people, malfunction, malicious, malignancy, malnourished children

cred believe incredible, credit, accredit, credence, credentials, credibility, credible, credibleness, more
credibly, creed, discredit, overcredulous

scrib write ascribe, describe, description, indescribable, inscription, Bible scribes, manuscript,
transcript, prescribe, prescription medicine, old scriptures, scribble, a film script,
subscribe

viv, vita live survive, survival, survivor, a vivacious person, viable, vitalizing effect, revive, revival,
vivid colors, vivificate, vivify, in vivo experiment, curriculum vitae (CV), devitalization
of tooth, revitalize, vital organs, vital statistics, vitality, vitalizer, vitamin

tele far telephone, television, teleport, telegraph, telecommunication, tele-diagnosis, telepathy

fore before foresee, foretell, forecast, forefather, forebrain, foreseeable future, foreground (opposite
background), forejudge, foreknowledge, forearm, foreleg, forename, foremost scientist,
forerunner, foreshadowing, forethought, foreteller, unforeseeable, unforeseen

mort death mortal, mortality rate, immortal, post-mortem, mortician, neomort, mortuary

vis/vid see visual, visible, invisible, visibility, video, visit, visualize, "Veni, Vidi, Vici!", tunnel vision,
vision disorders, envision, evidence, interview, preview, previse, revise, revision,
supervise, televise, visitor, visualization

dic/dict say predict, dictate, dictator, dictatorship, diction, abdicate the throne, internet addict, drug
addict, contradict, contradiction, contradictory statement, dedicate, dictation, dictionary,
edict of Sultan Suleiman, indicate, jurisdiction, malediction, predictable, prediction, jury
verdict
scope look, telescope, periscope, stethoscope, helioscope*, microscope, radioscopy, urinocryoscopy
view
*helio = sun heliocentric universe model: The Sun as the center of the universe, and the planets orbiting around it.

Fatih Mehmet SEN

278
IELTS READING 1 Pro tip for smart reading:
Spot the radical words or phrases and those
signaling contrast in the text.

never always none unique however

The Step Pyramid of Djoser majority most neither exclusive whereas
A
The pyramids are the most famous monuments of ancient Egypt and still hold enormous interest for
people in the present day. These grand, impressive tributes to the memory of the Egyptian kings
have become linked with the country even though other cultures, such as the Chinese and Mayan,
also built pyramids. The evolution of the pyramid form has been written and argued about for
centuries. However, there is no question that, as far as Egypt is concerned, it began with
one monument to one king designed by one brilliant architect: the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara.
B
Djoser was the first king of the Third Dynasty of Egypt and the first to build in stone. Prior to Djoser’s
reign, tombs were rectangular monuments made of dried clay brick, which covered underground
passages where the deceased person was buried. For reasons which remain unclear, Djoser’s main
official, whose name was Imhotep, conceived of building a taller, more impressive tomb for his king
by stacking stone slabs on top of one another, progressively making them smaller, to form the shape
now known as the Step Pyramid. Djoser is thought to have reigned for 19 years, but some historians
and scholars attribute a much longer time for his rule, owing to the number and size of the monuments
he built.
C
The Step Pyramid has been thoroughly examined and investigated over the last century, and it is now
known that the building process went through many different stages. Historian Marc Van de Mieroop
comments on this, writing ‘Much experimentation was involved, which is especially clear in
the construction of the pyramid in the center of the complex. It had several plans … before it became
the first Step Pyramid in history, piling six levels on top of one another … The weight of
the enormous mass was a challenge for the builders, who placed the stones at an inward incline in
order to prevent the monument breaking up.’
D
When finally completed, the Step Pyramid
rose 62 meters high and was the
tallest structure of its time. The complex in
which it was built was the size of a city
in ancient Egypt and included a temple,
courtyards, shrines, and living quarters
for the priests. It covered a region of 16
hectares and was surrounded by a wall
10.5 meters high. The wall had 13 false
doors cut into it with only one true entrance
cut into the south-east corner; the entire wall
was then ringed by a trench 750 meters long
and 40 meters wide. The false doors and the
trench were incorporated into the complex to
discourage unwanted visitors. If someone
wished to enter, he or she would have needed to know in advance how to find the location of the true
opening in the wall. Djoser was so proud of his accomplishment that he broke the tradition of having
only his own name on the monument and had Imhotep’s name carved on it as well.
IELTS READING 1

E
The burial chamber of the tomb, where the king’s body
was laid to rest, was dug beneath the base of the pyramid,
surrounded by a vast maze of long tunnels that had rooms
off them to discourage robbers. One of the most
mysterious discoveries found inside the pyramid was a
large number of stone vessels. Over 40,000 of these
vessels, of various forms and shapes, were discovered in
storerooms off the pyramid’s underground passages.
They are inscribed with the names of rulers from the First and Second Dynasties of Egypt and made
from different kinds of stone. There is no agreement among scholars and archaeologists on why the
vessels were placed in the tomb of Djoser or what they were supposed to represent. The archaeologist
Jean-Philippe Lauer, who excavated most of the pyramid and complex, believes they were originally
stored and then give a ‘proper burial’ by Djoser in his pyramid to honor his predecessors. There are
other historians, however, who claim the vessels were dumped into the shafts as yet another attempt
to prevent grave robbers from getting to the king’s burial chamber.
F
Unfortunately, all of the precautions and intricate design of the underground network did not prevent
ancient robbers from finding a way in. Djoser’s grave goods, and even his body, were stolen at some
point in the past and all archaeologists found were a small number of his valuables overlooked by
the thieves. There was enough left throughout the pyramid and its complex, however, to astonish
and amaze the archaeologists who excavated it.
G
Egyptologist Miroslav Verner writes, ‘Few monuments hold a place in human history as significant as
that of the Step Pyramid in Saqqara … It can be said without exaggeration that this pyramid complex
constitutes a milestone in the evolution of monumental stone architecture in Egypt and in the world as
a whole.’ The Step Pyramid was a revolutionary advance in architecture and became the archetype
which all the other great pyramid builders of Egypt would follow.

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

List of Headings

1. Paragraph A I The areas and artefacts within the pyramid itself

2. Paragraph B II A difficult task for those involved
3. Paragraph C III A king who saved his people
4. Paragraph D IV A single certainty among other less definite facts
5. Paragraph E V An overview of the external buildings and areas
6. Paragraph F VI A pyramid design that others copied
7. Paragraph G VII An idea for changing the design of burial structures
VIII An incredible experience despite the few remains
IX The answers to some unexpected questions
IELTS READING 1

Complete the notes below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

The Step Pyramid of Djoser

The complex that includes the Step Pyramid and its surroundings is considered to be as big as
an Egyptian (8) …………………….of the past. The area outside the pyramid included
accommodation that was occupied by (9) ………………………, along with many other buildings and
features. A wall ran around the outside of the complex and a number of false entrances were
built into this. In addition, a long (10) ………………………… encircled the wall. As a result, any
visitors who had not been invited were cleverly prevented from entering the pyramid grounds
unless they knew the (11) …………………. of the real entrance.

Questions 12 and 13. Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Which TWO of the following points does the writer make about King Djoser?

A Initially he had to be persuaded to build in stone rather than clay.

B There is disagreement concerning the length of his reign.
C He failed to appreciate Imhotep’s part in the design of the Step Pyramid.
D A few of his possessions were still in his tomb when archaeologists found it.
E He criticised the design and construction of other pyramids in Egypt.

Post-reading IELTS vocabulary exercise. Choose the closest word in meaning to the underlined words.

1. All players wore black armbands to pay tribute to 5. The growth in the market was impressive even
their late teammate. after the crisis.

A) honesty B) criticism C) respect A) mediocre B) partial C) splendid

2. People often refrain from speaking ill of the 6. When riding a bicycle, you should wear the
deceased, despite their misdeeds in life. proper headgear.

A) dead B) alive C) decline A) suitable B) opt out C) crop

3. Queen Victoria reigned over Britain from 1837 7. Organizational ability is an essential attribute
to 1901. for a good manager.

A) poured B) ruled C) rioted A) success B) quality C) idea

4. The books were stacked neatly in the middle of 8. The ground inclined steeply towards the ridge in
the room. the distance.

A) piled B) burned C) typed A) curved B) tolled C) sloped

IELTS READING 1

9. Women pray at Buddhist shrines in hopes of 20. The human heart consists of four chambers.
conceiving a child.
A) rooms B) muscles C) compartments
A) temples B) priests C) graves

21. Police have begun to investigate allegations of

10. A county usually consists of several towns and
corruption involving senior executives.
rural areas which surround them.

A) recover B) encircle C) expose A) charge B) probe C) hire

11. Avicenna was a renowned scholar and 22. People are stockpiling food as a precaution
physician of the pre-modern era. against supply shortages.

A) staff B) institute C) scientist A) purchase B) insurance C) acquire

12. The government has put tanks on the streets to 23. Mental health care is often overlooked,
discourage any protest. degraded, and generally neglected.
A) induce B) prevent C) refuse
A) ignored B) smeared C) viewed

13. The oldest wood carved artefact is estimated to

be about 12,000 years old. 24. The significance of space exploration may not
be understood for many years to come.
A) sculpted B) wounded C) evolved
A) discussion B) recession C) importance

14. New generations can accomplish a lot in a

25. For a country with so many wars, Israel still has
relatively short space of time thanks to technology.
an economy with the power to astonish us.
A) goal B) struggle C) achieve A) replenish B) extinct C) astound

15. If an avalanche strikes, skiers can be buried 26. A cure for cancer will be a huge milestone in
alive under snow. medical research.

A) engulfed B) blocked C) hindered A) breakthrough B) calamity C) curiosity

16. The old part of the town was a maze of narrow 27. A quarter of people believe that US media
passages. exaggerates the dangers of the COVID-19.

A) path B) labyrinth C) trail A) overplay B) shrink C) understate

17. The king inscribed his name on the walls of 28. The drug was thoroughly tested before being
every building in the country. put on the market.

A) selected B) required C) printed A) intensively B) purely C) utterly

18. Some Iron Age earthenware wine vessels were 29. The watch mechanism is extremely intricate
unearthed during the archeological dig. and very difficult to repair.

A) veins B) containers C) ships A) concise B) precise C) sophisticated

30. There is a shortage of cheap accommodation

19. Archaeologists are excavating a site near the
all over the world due to rising estate prices.
ancient cathedral.
A) habitat B) housing C) bargain
A) creating B) building C) digging
 READING PASSAGE 1
Case Study: Tourism New Zealand website
New Zealand is a small country of four million inhabitants, a long-haul flight from all the major tourist-
generating markets of the world. Tourism currently makes up 9% of the country’s gross domestic product
and is the country’s largest export sector. Unlike other export sectors, which make products and then sell
them overseas, tourism brings its customers to New Zealand. The product is the country itself – the people,
the places, and the experiences. In 1999, Tourism New Zealand launched a campaign to communicate a
new brand position to the world. The campaign focused on New Zealand’s scenic beauty, exhilarating
outdoor activities and authentic Maori culture, and it made New Zealand one of the strongest national brands
in the world.

A key feature of the campaign was the website www.newzealand.com, which provided potential visitors to
New Zealand with a single gateway to everything the destination had to offer. The heart of the website was
a database of tourism services operators, both those based in New Zealand and those based abroad which
offered tourism service to the country. Any tourism-related business could be listed by filling in a simple form.
This meant that even the smallest bed and breakfast address or specialist activity provider could gain a web
presence with access to an audience of long-haul visitors. In addition, because participating businesses
were able to update the details they gave on a regular basis, the information provided remained accurate.
And to maintain and improve standards, Tourism New Zealand organised a scheme whereby organisations
appearing on the website underwent an independent evaluation against a set of agreed national standards
of quality. As part of this, the effect of each business on the environment was considered.

To communicate the New Zealand experience, the site also carried features relating to famous people and
places. One of the most popular was an interview with former New Zealand All Blacks rugby captain Tana
Umaga. Another feature that attracted a lot of attention was an interactive journey through a number of the
locations chosen for blockbuster films which had made use of New Zealand’s stunning scenery as a
backdrop. As the site developed, additional features were added to help independent travellers devise their
own customised itineraries. To make it easier to plan motoring holidays, the site catalogued the most popular
driving routes in the country, highlighting different routes according to the season and indicating distances
and times.

Later, a Travel Planner feature was added, which allowed visitors to click and ‘bookmark’ places or
attractions they were interested in, and then view the results on a map. The Travel Planner offered suggested
routes and public transport options between the chosen locations. There were also links to accommodation
in the area. By registering with the website, users could save their Travel Plan and return to it later or print
it out to take on the visit. The website also had a ‘Your Words’ section where anyone could submit a blog of
their New Zealand travels for possible inclusion on the website.

The Tourism New Zealand website won two Webby awards for online achievement and innovation. More
importantly perhaps, the growth of tourism to New Zealand was impressive. Overall tourism expenditure
increased by an average of 6.9% per year between 1999 and 2004. From Britain, visits to New Zealand grew
at an average annual rate of 13% between 2002 and 2006, compared to a rate of 4% overall for British visits
abroad.

The website was set up to allow both individuals and travel organizations to create itineraries and travel
packages to suit their own needs and interests. On the website, visitors can search for activities not solely
by geographical location, but also by the particular nature of the activity. This is important as research shows
that activities are the key driver of visitor satisfaction, contributing 74% to visitor satisfaction, while transport
and accommodation account for the remaining 26%. The more activities that visitors undertake, the more
satisfied they will be. It has also been found that visitors enjoy cultural activities most when they are
interactive, such as visiting a marae (meeting ground) to learn about traditional Maori life. Many long-haul
travelers enjoy such learning experiences, which provide them with stories to take home to their friends and
family. In addition, it appears that visitors to New Zealand don’t want to be ‘one of the crowd’ and find
activities that involve only a few people more special and meaningful.

It could be argued that New Zealand is not a typical destination. New Zealand is a small country with a visitor
economy composed mainly of small businesses. It is generally perceived as a safe English-speaking country
with reliable transport infrastructure. Because of the long-haul flight, most visitors stay for longer (average
20 days) and want to see as much of the country as possible on what is often seen as a once-in-a-lifetime
visit. However, the underlying lessons apply anywhere – the effectiveness of a strong brand, a strategy
based on unique experiences and a comprehensive and user-friendly website.
Questions 1-7
Complete the table below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Section of website Comments

Database of tourism • easy for tourism-related businesses to get on the list
services
• allowed businesses to (1)……………………………
information regularly

• provided a country-wide evaluation of businesses,

including their impact on the (2)………………………..

Special features on • e.g. an interview with a former sports

local topics (3)……………………………., and an interactive tour of
various locations used in (4)……………………….

Information on driving • varied depending on the (5)……………………………

routes

Travel Planner • included a map showing selected places, details of

public transport and local (6)………………………….

‘Your Words’ • travelers could send a link to their

(7)…………………………

Questions 8-13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?
TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

8 The website www.newzealand.com aimed to provide ready-made itineraries and

packages for travel companies and individual tourists.

9 It was found that most visitors started searching on the website by geographical location.

10 According to research, 26% of visitor satisfaction is related to their accommodation.

11 Visitors to New Zealand like to become involved in the local culture.

12 Visitors like staying in small hotels in New Zealand rather than in larger ones.

13 Many visitors feel it is unlikely that they will return to New Zealand after their visit.
 Oxytocin
The positive and negative effects of the chemical known as the ‘love hormone’
A
Oxytocin is a chemical, a hormone produced in the pituitary gland in the brain. It was through various studies
focusing on animals that scientists first became aware of the influence of oxytocin. They discovered that it
helps reinforce the bonds between prairie voles, which mate for life, and triggers the motherly behavior that
sheep show towards their newborn lambs. It is also released by women in childbirth, strengthening the
attachment between mother and baby. Few chemicals have as positive a reputation as oxytocin, which is
sometimes referred to as the ‘love hormone’. One sniff of it can, it is claimed, make a person more trusting,
empathetic, generous, and cooperative. It is time, however, to revise this wholly optimistic view. A new wave
of studies has shown that its effects vary greatly depending on the person and the circumstances, and it can
impact on our social interactions for worse as well as for better.

B
Oxytocin’s role in human behavior first emerged in 2005. In ground-breaking experiments, Markus Heinrichs
and his colleagues at the University of Freiburg, Germany, asked volunteers to do an activity in which they
could invest money with an anonymous person who was not guaranteed to be honest. The team found the
participants who had sniffed oxytocin via a nasal spray beforehand invested more money than those who
received a placebo instead. The study was the start of research into the effects of oxytocin on human
interactions. ‘For eight years, it was quite a lonesome field,’ Heinrichs recalls. ‘Now, everyone is interested.’
These follow-up studies have shown that after a sniff of the hormone, people become more charitable, better
at reading emotions on others’ faces and at communicating constructively in arguments. Together, the
results fuelled the view that oxytocin universally enhanced the positive aspects of our social nature.

C
Then, after a few years, contrasting findings began to emerge. Simone Shamay-Tsoory at the at the
University of Haifa, Israel, found that when volunteers played a competitive game, those who inhaled the
hormone showed more pleasure when they beat other players, and felt more envy when others won. What’s
more, administering oxytocin also has sharply contrasting outcomes depending on a person’s disposition.
Jennifer Bartz from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, found that it improves people’s ability to read
emotions, but only if they are not very socially adept to begin with. Her research also shows that oxytocin in
fact reduces cooperation in subjects who are particularly anxious or sensitive to rejection.

D
Another discovery is that oxytocin’s effects vary depending on who we are interacting with. Studies
conducted by Carolyn DeClerck of the University of Antwerp, Belgium, revealed that people who had
received a dose of oxytocin actually became less cooperative when dealing with complete strangers.
Meanwhile, Carsten De Dreu at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands discovered that volunteers
given oxytocin showed favouritism: Dutch men became quicker to associate positive words with Dutch
names than with foreign ones, for example. According to De Dreu, oxytocin drives people to care for those
in their social circles and defend them from outside dangers. So, it appears that oxytocin strengthens biases,
rather than promoting general goodwill, as was previously thought.

E
There were signs of these subtleties from the start. Bartz has recently shown that in almost half of the existing
research results, oxytocin influenced only certain individuals or in certain circumstances. Where once
researchers took no notice of such findings, now a more nuanced understanding of oxytocin’s effects is
propelling investigations down new lines. To Bartz, the key to understanding what the hormone does lies in
pinpointing its core function rather than in cataloguing its seemingly endless effects. There are several
hypotheses which are not mutually exclusive. Oxytocin could help to reduce anxiety and fear. Or it could
simply motivate people to seek out social connections. She believes that oxytocin acts as a chemical
spotlight that shines on social clues – a shift in posture, a flicker of the eyes, a dip in the voice – making
people more attuned to their social environment. This would explain why it makes us more likely to look
others in the eye and improves our ability to identify emotions. But it could also make things worse for people
who are overly sensitive or prone to interpreting social cues in the worst light.

F
Perhaps we should not be surprised that the oxytocin story has become more perplexing. The hormone is
found in everything from octopuses to sheep, and its evolutionary roots stretch back half a billion years. ‘It’s
a very simple and ancient molecule that has been co-opted for many different functions,’ says Sue Carter at
the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA. ‘It affects primitive parts of the brain like the amygdala, so it’s going
to have many effects on just about everything.’ Bartz agrees. ‘Oxytocin probably does some very basic
things, but once you add our higher-order thinking and social situations, these basic processes could
manifest in different ways depending on individual differences and context.’
Questions 14-17
Which paragraph contains the following information?
You may use any letter more than once.

14 reference to research showing the beneficial effects of oxytocin on people

15 reasons why the effects of oxytocin are complex

16 mention of a period in which oxytocin attracted little scientific attention

17 reference to people ignoring certain aspects of their research data

Questions 18-20
List of Researchers
Match each research finding with the correct researcher, A-F.
A Markus Heinrichs
18 People are more trusting when affected by oxytocin. B Simone Shamay-Tsoory
C Jennifer Bartz
19 Oxytocin increases people’s feelings of jealousy. D Carolyn DeClerck
E Carsten De Dreu
20 The effect of oxytocin varies from one type of person to F Sue Carter
another.

Questions 21-26
Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each
answer.

Oxytocin research

The earliest findings about oxytocin and bonding came from research involving
(21)……………………….. . It was also discovered that humans produce oxytocin
during (22)………………………… . An experiment in 2005, in which participants were
given either oxytocin or a (23)…………………………, reinforced the belief that the
hormone had a positive effect.

However, later research suggests that this is not always the case. A study at the
University of Haifa where participants took part in a (24)……………………….. revealed
the negative emotions which oxytocin can trigger. A study at the University of Antwerp
showed people’s lack of willingness to help (25)………………………. while under the
influence of oxytocin. Meanwhile, research at the University of Amsterdam revealed
that people who have been given oxytocin consider (26)……………………….. that are
familiar to them in their own country to have more positive associations than those
from other cultures.
 Why zoos are good
Scientist David Hone makes the case for zoos

A In my view, it is perfectly possible for many species of animals living in zoos or wildlife parks to have a quality
of life as high as, or higher than, in the wild. Animals in good zoos get a varied and high-quality diet with all
the supplements required, and any illnesses they might have will be treated. Their movement might be
somewhat restricted, but they have a safe environment in which to live, and they are spared bullying and
social ostracism by others of their kind. They do not suffer from the threat or stress of predators, or the
irritation and pain of parasites or injuries. The average captive animal will have a greater life expectancy
compared with its wild counterpart, and will not die of drought, of starvation or in the jaws of a predator. A
lot of very nasty things happen to truly ‘wild’ animals that simply don’t happen in good zoos, and to view a
life that is ‘free’ as one that is automatically ‘good’ is, I think, an error. Furthermore, zoos serve several key
purposes.

B Firstly, zoos aid conservation. Colossal numbers of species are becoming extinct across the world, and
many more are increasingly threatened and therefore risk extinction. Moreover, some of these collapses
have been sudden, dramatic and unexpected, or were simply discovered very late in the day. A species
protected in captivity can be bred up to provide a reservoir population against a population crash or extinction
in the wild. A good number of species only exist in captivity, with many of these living in zoos. Still more only
exist in the wild because they have been reintroduced from zoos, or have wild populations that have been
boosted by captive bred animals. Without these efforts there would be fewer species alive today. Although
reintroduction successes are few and far between, the numbers are increasing, and the very fact that species
have been saved or reintroduced as a result of captive breeding proves the value of such initiatives.

C Zoos also provide education. Many children and adults, especially those in cities, will never see a wild animal
beyond a fox or pigeon. While it is true that television documentaries are becoming ever more detailed and
impressive, and many natural history specimens are on display in museums, there really is nothing to
compare with seeing a living creature in the flesh, hearing it, smelling it, watching what it does and having
the time to absorb details. That alone will bring a greater understanding and perspective to many, and
hopefully give them a greater appreciation for wildlife, conservation efforts and how they can contribute.

D In addition to this, there is also the education that can take place in zoos through signs, talks and
presentations which directly communicate information to visitors about the animals they are seeing and their
place in the world. This was an area where zoos used to be lacking, but they are now increasingly
sophisticated in their communication and outreach work. Many zoos also work directly to educate
conservation workers in other countries, or send their animal keepers abroad to contribute their knowledge
and skills to those working in zoos and reserves, thereby helping to improve conditions and reintroductions
all over the world.

E Zoos also play a key role in research. If we are to save wild species and restore and repair ecosystems we
need to know about how key species live, act and react. Being able to undertake research on animals in
zoos where there is less risk and fewer variables means real changes can be effected on wild populations.
Finding out about, for example, the oestrus cycle of an animal of its breeding rate helps us manage wild
populations. Procedures such as capturing and moving at-risk or dangerous individuals are bolstered by
knowledge gained in zoos about doses for anaesthetics, and by experience in handling and transporting
animals. This can make a real difference to conservation efforts and to the reduction of human-animal
conflicts, and can provide a knowledge base for helping with the increasing threats of habitat destruction
and other problems.

F In conclusion, considering the many ongoing global threats to the environment, it is hard for me to see zoos
as anything other than essential to the long-term survival of numerous species. They are vital not just in
terms of protecting animals, but as a means of learning about them to aid those still in the wild, as well as
educating and informing the general population about these animals and their world so that they can assist
or at least accept the need to be more environmentally conscious. Without them, the world would be, and
would increasingly become, a much poorer place.
Questions 27-30
Which paragraph contains the following information?

27 a reference to how quickly animal species can die out

28 reasons why it is preferable to study animals in captivity rather than in the wild
29 mention of two ways of learning about animals other than visiting them in zoos
30 reasons why animals in zoos may by healthier than those in the wild

Questions 31-35
TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

31 An animal is likely to live longer in a zoo than in the wild

32 There are some species in zoos which can no longer be found in the wild.

33 Improvements in the quality of TV wildlife documentaries have increased numbers of zoo visitors.

34 Zoos have always excelled at transmitting information about animals to the public.

35 The number of animal species reintroduced to their wildlife habitat is on the rise

36 Studying animals in zoos is less stressful for the animals than studying them in the wild.

Questions 37 and 38

Which TWO of the following are stated about zoo staff in the text?

A Some take part in television documentaries about animals

B Some travel to overseas locations to join teams in zoos.

C Some get experience with species in the wild before taking up zoo jobs.

D Some teach people who are involved with conservation projects.

E Some specialise in caring for species that are under threat.

Questions 39 and 40

Which TWO of these beliefs about zoos does the writer mention in the text?

A They can help children overcome their fears of wild animals.

B They can increase public awareness of environmental issues.

C They can provide employment for a range of professional people.

D They can generate income to support wildlife conservation projects.

E They can raise animals which can later be released into the wild.
Cambridge IELTS Official Past Papers 15 Test 1 Reading Passage 1

Nutmeg - A Valuable Spice

The nutmeg tree, Myristica fragrans, is a large evergreen tree
native to Southeast Asia. Until the late 18th century, it only
grew in one place in the world: a small group of islands in the
Banda Sea, part of the Spice Islands in northeastern
Indonesia. The tree is thickly branched with dense foliage of
tough, dark green oval leaves, and produces small, yellow, bell-shaped flowers and
pale yellow pear-shaped fruits. The fruit is encased in a fleshy
flesh husk.
husk. When the fruit
is ripe, this husk splits into two halves along a ridge running the length of the fruit.
Inside is a purple-brown shiny seed, 2-3 cm long by about 2 cm across, surrounded
by a lacy red or crimson covering called an aril. These are the sources of the two
spices nutmeg and mace, the former being produced from the dried seed and the
latter from the aril.
Nutmeg was a highly prized and costly ingredient in European cuisine in the Middle
Ages and was used as a flavouring, medicinal, and preservative agent. Throughout
this period, the Arabs were the exclusive importers of the spice to Europe. They
sold nutmeg for high prices to merchants based in Venice, but they never revealed
the exact location of the source of this extremely valuable commodity. The Arab-
Venetian dominance of the trade finally ended in 1512, when the Portuguese
reached the Banda Islands and began exploiting its precious resources.

Always in danger of competition from neighbouring Spain, the Portuguese began

subcontracting their spice distribution to Dutch traders. Profits began to flow into
the Netherlands, and the Dutch commercial fleet swiftly grew into one of the largest
in the world. The Dutch quietly gained control of most of the shipping and trading
of spices in Northern Europe. Then, in 1580, Portugal fell under Spanish rule, and
by the end of the 16th century, the Dutch found themselves locked out of the
market. As prices for pepper, nutmeg, and other spices soared across Europe,
they decided to fight back.
In 1602, Dutch merchants founded the VOC, a trading corporation better known
as the Dutch East India Company. By 1617, the VOC was the richest commercial
operation in the world. The company had 50,000 employees worldwide, with a
private army of 30,000 men and a fleet of 200 ships. At the same time, thousands
of people across Europe were dying of the plague, a highly contagious and deadly
disease. Doctors were desperate for a way to stop the spread of this disease, and
they decided nutmeg held the cure. Everybody wanted nutmeg, and many were
willing to spare no expense to have it. Nutmeg bought for a few pennies in
Indonesia could be sold for 68,000 times its original cost on the streets of London.
The only problem was the short supply. And that is where the Dutch found their
opportunity.
The Banda Islands were ruled by local sultans who insisted on maintaining a
neutral trading policy towards foreign powers. This allowed them to avoid the
presence of Portuguese or Spanish troops on their soil, but it also left them
unprotected from other invaders. In 1621, the Dutch arrived and took over. Once
securely in control of the Bandas, the Dutch went to work protecting their new
investment. They concentrated all nutmeg production into a few easily guarded
areas, uprooting and destroying any trees outside the plantation zones. Anyone
caught growing a nutmeg seedling or carrying seeds without the proper authority
was severely punished. In addition, all exported nutmeg was covered with lime to
make sure there was no chance a fertile seed which could be grown elsewhere
would leave the islands. There was only one obstacle to Dutch domination. One
of the Banda Islands, a sliver of land called Run, only 3 km long by less than 1 km
wide, was under the control of the British.

After decades of fighting for control of this tiny island, the Dutch and British arrived
at a compromise settlement, the Treaty of Breda, in 1667. Intent on securing their
hold over every nutmeg-producing island, the Dutch offered a trade: if the British
would give them the island of Run, they would in turn give Britain a distant and
much less valuable island in North America. The British agreed. That other island
was Manhattan, which is how New Amsterdam became New York. The Dutch now
had a monopoly over the nutmeg trade which would last for another century.

Then, in 1770, a Frenchman named Pierre Poivre successfully smuggled nutmeg

plants to safety in Mauritius, an island off the coast of Africa. Some of these were
later exported to the Caribbean where they thrived, especially on the island of
Grenada. Next, in 1778, a volcanic eruption in the Banda region caused a tsunami
that wiped out half the nutmeg groves. Finally, in 1809, the British returned to
Indonesia and seized the Banda Islands by force. They returned the islands to the
Dutch in 1817, but not before transplanting hundreds of nutmeg seedlings to
plantations in several locations across southern Asia. The Dutch nutmeg
monopoly was over.

Today, nutmeg is grown in Indonesia, the Caribbean, India, Malaysia, Papua New
Guinea and Sri Lanka, and world nutmeg production is estimated to average
between 10,000 and 12,000 tonnes per year.
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from passage.
The nutmeg tree and fruit
The leaves of the tree are 1……………… in shape.
The 2……………… surrounds the fruit and breaks open when the fruit is ripe.
The 3……………… is used to produce the spice nutmeg.
The covering known as the aril is used to produce 4………………….
The tree has yellow flowers and fruit.

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading

Passage?
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

5. In the Middle Ages, most Europeans knew where nutmeg was grown.
6. The VOC was the world’s first major trading company.
7. Following the Treaty of Breda, the Dutch had control of all the islands where
nutmeg grew.
Complete the table below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Middle Ages Nutmeg was brought to Europe by the 8………………

16th century European nations took control of the nutmeg trade.

17th century Demand for nutmeg grew, as it was believed

to be effective against the disease known as the
9……………………..

The Dutch
– took control of the Banda Islands
– restricted nutmeg production to a few areas
– put 10………………… on nutmeg to avoid it being
cultivated outside the islands
– finally obtained the island of 11…………… from the
British.

Late 18th 1770 – nutmeg plants were secretly taken to

century
12………………….

1778 – half the Banda Islands’ nutmeg plantations

were destroyed by a 13……………………
Cambridge IELTS Official Past Papers 13 Test 4 Reading Passage 2

SAVING THE SOIL

More than a third of the Earth’s top layer is at risk. Is there hope for our planet’s most
precious resource?
A
More than a third of the world’s soil is endangered, according to a recent UN report. If
we don’t slow the decline, all farmable soil could be gone in 60 years. Since soil grows
95% of our food and sustains human life in other more surprising ways, that is a huge
problem.
B
Peter Groffman, from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in New York, points out
that soil scientists have been warning about the degradation of the world’s soil for
decades. At the same time, our understanding of its importance to humans has grown.
A single gram of healthy soil might contain 100 million bacteria, as well as other
microorganisms such as viruses and fungi, living amid decomposing plants and various
minerals.
That means soils do not just grow our food but are the source of nearly all our existing
antibiotics and could be our best hope in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Soil is also an ally against climate change: as microorganisms within soil digest dead
animals and plants, they lock in their carbon content, holding three times the amount of
carbon as does the entire atmosphere. Soils also store water, preventing flood damage:
in the UK, damage to buildings, roads, and bridges from floods caused by soil
degradation costs £233 million every year.
C
If the soil loses its ability to perform these functions, the human race could be in big
trouble. The danger is not that the soil will disappear completely, but that the
microorganisms that give it its special properties will be lost. And once this has
happened, it may take the soil thousands of years to recover.
Agriculture is by far the biggest problem. In the wild, when plants grow, they remove
nutrients from the soil, but then when the plants die and decay these nutrients are
returned directly to the soil. Humans tend not to return unused parts of harvested crops
directly to the soil to enrich it, meaning that the soil gradually becomes less fertile. In the
past, we developed strategies to get around the problem, such as regularly varying the
types of crops grown, or leaving fields uncultivated for a season.
D
But these practices became inconvenient as populations grew and agriculture had to be
run on more commercial lines. A solution came in the early 20th century with the Haber-
Bosch process for manufacturing ammonium nitrate. Farmers have been putting this
synthetic fertiliser on their fields ever since.
But over the past few decades, it has become clear this wasn’t such a bright idea.
Chemical fertilisers can release polluting nitrous oxide into the atmosphere and excess
is often washed away with the rain, releasing nitrogen into rivers. More recently, we have
found that indiscriminate use of fertilisers hurts the soil itself, turning it acidic and salty,
and degrading the soil they are supposed to nourish.
E
One of the people looking for a solution to his problem is Pius Floris, who started out
running a tree-care business in the Netherlands, and now advises some of the world’s
topsoil scientists. He came to realise that the best way to ensure his trees flourished was
to take care of the soil, and has developed a cocktail of beneficial bacteria, fungi, and
humus to do this. Researchers at the University of Valladolid in Spain recently used this
cocktail on soils destroyed by years of fertiliser overuse. When they applied Floris’s mix
to the desert-like test plots, a good crop of plants emerged that were not just healthy at
the surface but had roots strong enough to pierce dirt as hard as a rock. The few plants
that grew in the control plots, fed with traditional fertilisers, we're small and weak
F
However, measures like this are not enough to solve the global soil degradation problem.
To assess our options on a global scale we first need an accurate picture of what types
of soil are out there, and the problems they face. That’s not easy. For one thing, there is
no agreed international system for classifying soil. In an attempt to unify the different
approaches, the UN has created the Global Soil Map project. Researchers from nine
countries are working together to create a map linked to a database that can be fed
measurements from field surveys, drone surveys, satellite imagery, lad analyses, and so
on to provide real-time data on the state of the soil. Within the next four years, they aim
to have mapped soils worldwide to a depth of 100 meters, with the results freely
accessible to all.
G
But this is only a first step. We need ways of presenting the problem that brings it home
to governments and the wider public, says Pamela Chasek at the International Institute
for Sustainable Development, in Winnipeg, Canada. ‘Most scientists don’t speak the
language that policy-makers can understand, and vice versa.’ Chasek and her
colleagues have proposed a goal of ‘zero net land degradation’. Like the idea of carbon
neutrality, it is an easily understood target that can help shape expectations and
encourage action.
For soils on the brink, that may be too late. Several researchers are agitating for the
immediate creation of protected zones for endangered soils. One difficulty here is
defining what these areas should conserve: areas where the greatest soil diversity is
present? Or areas of unspoiled soils that could act as a future benchmark of quality?
Whatever we do, if we want our soils to survive, we need to take action now.
Write ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Why soil degradation could be a disaster for humans

Healthy soil contains a large variety of bacteria and other microorganisms, as well as
plant remains and 14 __________________ . It provides us with food and also with
antibiotics, and its function in storing 15 ________________ has a significant effect on
the climate. In addition, it prevents damage to property and infrastructure because it
holds 16 ____________ .

If these microorganisms are lost, the soil may lose its special properties. The main
factor contributing to soil degradation is the 17 __________________ carried out by
humans.

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-F, below.

18. Nutrients contained in the unused parts of harvested crops ----.
19. Synthetic fertilizers produced with Haber-Bosch process ----.
20. Addition of a mixture developed by Pius Floris to the soil ----.
21. The idea of zero net soil degradation ----.

A may improve the number and quality of plants growing there.

B may contain data from up to nine countries.
C may not be put back into the soil.
D may help governments to be more aware of soil-related issues.
E may cause damage to different aspects of the environment.
F may be better for use at a global level.

Which paragraph (A-G) contains the following information? You may use any letter more than
once.

22. A reference to one person’s motivation for a soil-improvement project

23. An explanation of how soil stayed healthy before the development of farming

24. Examples of different ways of collecting information on soil degradation

25. A suggestion for a way of keeping some types of soil safe in the near future

26. A reason why it is difficult to provide an overview of soil degradation

Cambridge IELTS Official Past Papers 16 Test 1 Reading Passage 1

The White Horse of Uffington

The cutting of huge figures or 'geoglyphs' into

the earth of English hillsides has taken place for
more than 3,000 years. There are 56 hill figures
scattered around England, with the vast
majority on the chalk downlands of the country's
southern counties. The figures include giants,
horses, crosses, and regimental badges.
Although the majority of these geoglyphs date
within the last 300 years or so, there are one or two that are much older.

The most famous of these figures is perhaps also the most mysterious - the Uffington White
Horse in Oxfordshire. The White Horse has recently been re-dated and shown to be even
older than its previously assigned ancient pre-Roman Iron Age1 date. More controversial is
the date of the enigmatic Long Man of Wilmington in Sussex. While many historians are
convinced the figure is prehistoric, others believe that it was the work of an artistic monk from
a nearby priory and was created between the 11th and 15th centuries.

The method of cutting these huge figures was simply to remove the overlying grass to reveal
the gleaming white chalk below. However, the grass would soon grow over the geoglyph again
unless it was regularly cleaned or scoured by a fairly large team of people. One reason that
the vast majority of hill figures have disappeared is that when the traditions associated with the
figures faded, people no longer bothered or remembered to clear away the grass to expose
the chalk outline. Furthermore, over hundreds of years the outlines would sometimes change
due to people not always cutting in exactly the same place, thus creating a different shape to
the original geoglyph. The fact that any ancient hill figures survive at all in England today is
testament to the strength and continuity of local customs and beliefs which, in one case at
least, must stretch back over millennia.

The Uffington White Horse is a unique, stylised representation of a horse consisting of a long,
sleek back, thin disjointed legs, a streaming tail, and a bird-like beaked head. The elegant
creature almost melts into the landscape. The horse is situated 2.5 km from Uffington village
on a steep slope close to the Late Bronze Age2 (c. 7th century BCE) hillfort of Uffington Castle
and below the Ridgeway, a long-distance Neolithic3 track.

The Uffington Horse is also surrounded by Bronze Age burial mounds. It is not far from the
Bronze Age cemetery of Lambourn Seven Barrows, which consists of more than 30 well-
preserved burial mounds. The carving has been placed in such a way as to make it extremely
difficult to see from close quarters, and like many geoglyphs is best appreciated from the air.
Nevertheless, there are certain areas of the Vale of the White Horse, the valley containing and
named after the enigmatic creature, from which an adequate impression may be gained.
Indeed, on a clear day the carving can be seen from up to 30 km away.

1Iron Age: a period (800 BCE - 43 CE) that is characterised by the use of iron tools
2Bronze Age: a period (c. 2,500 BCE - 800 BCE) that is characterised by the development of bronze tools
3Neolithic: a period (c. 4,000 BCE - c. 2,500 BCE) that is significant for the spread of agricultural practices,

and the use of stone tools

The earliest evidence of a horse at Uffington is from the 1070s CE when 'White Horse Hill' is
mentioned in documents from the nearby Abbey of Abingdon, and the first reference to the horse
itself is soon after, in 1190 CE. However, the carving is believed to date back much further than
that. Due to the similarity of the Uffington White Horse to the stylised depictions of horses on 1st
century BCE coins, it had been thought that the creature must also date to that period.

However, in 1995 Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) testing was carried out by the
Oxford Archaeological Unit on soil from two of the lower layers of the horse's body, and from
another cut near the base. The result was a date for the horse's construction somewhere
between 1400 and 600 BCE - in other words, it had a Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age origin.

The latter end of this date range would tie the carving of the horse in with occupation of the
nearby Uffington hillfort, indicating that it may represent a tribal emblem marking the land of the
inhabitants of the hillfort. Alternatively, the carving may have been carried out during a Bronze
or Iron Age ritual. Some researchers see the horse as representing the Celtic 4 horse goddess
Epona, who was worshipped as a protector of horses, and for her associations with fertility.
However, the cult of Epona was not imported from Gaul (France) until around the first century
CE. This date is at least six centuries after the Uffington Horse was probably carved.
Nevertheless, the horse had great ritual and economic significance during the Bronze and Iron
Ages, as attested by its depictions on jewellery and other metal objects. It is possible that the
carving represents a goddess in native mythology, such as Rhiannon, described in later Welsh
mythology as a beautiful woman dressed in gold and riding a white horse.

The fact that geoglyphs can disappear easily, along with their associated rituals and meaning,
indicates that they were never intended to be anything more than temporary gestures. But this
does not lessen their importance. These giant carvings are a fascinating glimpse into the minds
of their creators and how they viewed the landscape in which they lived.

4Celtic: an ancient people who migrated from Europe to Britain before the Romans

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

1. Most geoglyphs in England are located in a particular area of the country.

2. There are more geoglyphs in the shape of a horse than any other creature.
3. A recent dating of the Uffington White Horse indicates people were mistaken about its age.
4. Historians have come to an agreement about the origins of the Long Man of Wilmington.
5. Geoglyphs were created by people placing white chalk on the hillside.
6. Many geoglyphs in England are no longer visible.
7. The shape of some geoglyphs has been altered over time.
8. The fame of the Uffington White Horse is due to its size.
Complete the notes below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

The Uffington White Horse

The location of the Uffington White Horse:

• a distance of 2.5 km from Uffington village

• near an ancient road known as the 9 ...........................................

• close to an ancient cemetery that has a number of burial mounds

Dating the Uffington White Horse:

• first reference to White Horse Hill appears in 10 ...........................................

from the 1070s

• horses shown on coins from the period 100 BCE – 1 BCE are similar
in appearance

• according to analysis of the surrounding 11 ....................................... , the

Horse is Late Bronze Age / Early Iron Age

Possible reasons for creation of the Uffington White Horse:

• an emblem to indicate land ownership

• formed part of an ancient ritual • was a representation of goddess, Epona

associated with protection of horses and 12 ...........................................

• was a representation of a Welsh goddess called 13 ...........................................