Contents Unit Topic 1 People and O relationships 2 Health 3 Education 4 Adventure 5 Gadgets 6 Cities

Vocabulary S kill Sub-skills Exam practice Page num ber Nouns for people and relationships; adjectives to
describe character Listening Recognizing adjectives from their endings; working out the meaning of
words from listening context Listening Section 4 - MCQs 6 Nouns for symptoms; verbs for treatments
Reading Recognizing synonyms and collocations Reading - T/F/NG 10 Nouns for academic subjects; verbs
for academic study Writing Choosing the right part of speech; writing in an academic style Writing Task 2
14 Verbs and nouns for travelling; adjectives to describe experiences Speaking Expressing finer shades of
meaning; using common and less common vocabulary; word stress Speaking Part 2 18 Nouns to describe
dimensions; verbs to describe processes Listening Collocations; words with different senses Listening
Sections 1 and 2 - labelling a diagram - classifying 22 Nouns associated with human geography;
adjectives to describe places Reading Recognizing superordinate term s; recognizing positive and
negative connotation Reading - matching headings 26 Exam Page Unit Topic Vocabulary S kill S ub-skills
practice num ber 7 The art of Reporting verbs; Writing Expressing Writing 30 persuasion nouns
associated with persuasion different points of view; presenting an argument Task 2 8 Getting involved
Nouns for form s Speaking Expressing Speaking 34 o*1 1* of entertainm ent; likes and Part 1 verbs
associated with involvement dislikes; using phrasal verbs; pronouncing the letter 's’ 9 Global warming
Verbs to describe Listening Recognizing Listening 38 o*1 I* natural processes; antonyms; Section 4 -
nouns associated with climate prefixes completing notes 10 Revision 1 Selection of words A ll skills
Selection of sub- 42 Q from units 1-9 skills from units 1-9 11 Words for Nouns for types of W riting
Describing and Writing 46 describing graphics and their summarizing Task 1 graphs and components
visual data diagrams 12 Words for Nouns and verbs Speaking Positive and Speaking 50 describing for
describing negative Part 3 ■■ r change change; time expressions connotation; pronouncing consonants
13 Words Words for Listening Collocation; Listening 54 (^ expressing comparison and parts of speech
Section 3 - •• r similarity and contrast completing a difference summary u Words Verbs and nouns
Reading Recognizing Reading - 58 describing indicating cause synonyms, MCQs cause and effect and
effect antonyms, superordinates and examples Exam Unit Topic Vocabulary Skill Sub-skills practice 15
Signposting Words for Writing Linking Writing expressions for ordering, addition, sentences; Task 2
writing concession, generalizations, and conclusions (written register) signposting an essay 16 Adverbs
Adverbs for Speaking Adding interest Speaking O expressing to spoken Part 1 - attitude and adding detail
answers; pronouncing schwa introduction and interview 17 Words for Nouns for Listening Recognizing
Listening - problems and different collocations; short-answer ■i i1 solutions problems; verbs for solving
problems spelling questions 18 Words for Nouns associated Reading Recognizing Reading - talking about
with ideas; finer shades completing ideas adjectives for evaluating ideas of meaning; positive and
negative connotation a summary; matching sentence endings 19 Emphasis and Words describing
Writing Recognizing Writing understatement quantity, degree and degree of certainty strength of claim;
more collocations Task 1 - summarizing visual information 20 Revision 2 Selection of words All skills
Selection of o from units 11-19 sub-skills from units 11-19 Audio script Answer key Collocations IELTS
information Page num ber 62 66 70 74 78 82 86 104 111 124 Introduction Who is this book for?
Vocabulary for IELTS helps you improve your vocabulary when preparing for the IELTS examination. You
can use the book to study on your own or as supplementary material for IELTS preparation classes. It is
suitable for learners at level 5.0 to 5.5 aiming for band score 6.0 or higher. Summary The Vocabulary for
IELTS book and CD cover vocabulary items and skills which are relevant to all four exam papers:
Listening, Reading, W riting and Speaking. In each unit, you work towards an exam practice exercise
which is modelled on the actual IELTS exam. Each unit contains activities that help you develop, step-by-
step, the vocabulary knowledge and skills to help you tackle the exam. Exam tips throughout the book
highlight essential vocabulary-related learning strategies and exam techniques. Content Units Each unit
is divided into three parts. Part 1: Vocabulary introduces vocabulary related to the topic or function of
the unit. Definitions for this vocabulary are presented using Collins COBUILD full-sentence definitions,
and IELTSstyle example sentences show how the words are used in context. Parts of speech and the
different form s of the words are also listed. Part 2: Practice exercises provide a structured set of
exercises which help you develop the skills to successfully apply vocabulary knowledge to the exam.
Each unit focuses on developing vocabulary and skills for a particular paper, and the practice exercises
provide practice for the particular paper. Part 3: Exam practice provides exam practice exercises in a
format that follows the actual exam giving you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the kinds of
questions you w ill encounter in the exam. This section focuses on a particular exam paper and is
highlighted in grey for easy reference. Exam tips There are exam tips and strategies in each unit. These
are in boxes for easy reference. Audio script All audio for the Listening and Speaking paper has been
recorded on the CD using native speakers of English. A fu ll audio script is provided at the back of the
book so that you can check the language used in the listening and speaking exercises, if needed. Answer
key A comprehensive answer key is provided for all sections of the book including model answers for
more open-ended w riting and speaking tasks. Collocations At the back of the book, you can further
develop your vocabulary by studying the list of the most common collocations for the vocabulary
presented in the units. Howto use this book The book is divided into 20 units. Units 1 -9 cover
vocabulary for topics that frequently appear in the exam, such as health and education. Units 11-19
cover words for general functions, such as describing problems and solutions. Units 10 and 20 provide
revision exercises. Unit 10 revises the vocabulary and skills covered in Units 1-9, and Unit 20 revises the
vocabulary and skills covered in Units 11 -19. All 20 units help you develop skills such as paraphrasing
and working out the meaning of unfam iliar words from context. Each unit is self-contained so that you
can study the units in any order. You can choose the unit you want to study either by selecting the topic
you want to study, or by selecting which exam paper you want to practise. Only the units with practice
on the Speaking and Listening papers contain audio. The contents pages at the beginning of the book
provide an overview of what is in each unit so you can use this to choose which units you would like to
study first. These pages also give you information on which units contain audio. You w ill probably find it
helpful to begin each unit by reading the vocabulary items in part 1, then working through the exercises
in preparation for the exam practice exercise at the end. Try to do the exam exercises within the time
lim it to give yourself realistic exam practice. In order to learn a new word, it is usually necessary to
revisit it several times. The revision units help you to do this. However, it is also a good idea to avoid w
riting your answers in the book so that you can do the exercises again at a later date. It is also advisable
to keep a vocabulary notebook. Knowing a word and how to use it involves understanding many aspects
of it. The more information you can record about the words you are learning, the more useful it w ill be.
Key definitions, partis] of speech, common collocations and example sentences are all very helpful.
Don’t forget to use the Collocations section at the back of the book to help with this. Getting well-inform
ed feedback on your writing and speaking exam practice exercises would also be an advantage.
However, if this is not possible it is still important to do the exercises in full. Studying model answers can
help you develop the ability to assess your own work. If possible, record yourself when speaking, and
listen carefully to your performance. Avoid memorising model answers. Remember that in the actual
exam, it is important to answer the question and not just speak or write about the topic As a final
preparation before the exam, you could re-read the exam tips in the boxes. This w ill remind you of the
strategies for success in the exam. 5 1 People and relationships D escribing people I Recognizing
adjectives I W orking out meaning from context Vocabulary People in relationship: • client (clients)
NOUN A client of a professional person or organization is a person that receives a service from them in
return for payment. ■ a solicitor and his client ■ The company requires clients to pay substantial fees in
advance. • colleague (colleagues) NOUN Your colleagues are the people you work with, especially in a
professional job. ■ Female academics are still paid less than their male colleagues. ■ In the corporate
world, the best sources of business are your form er colleagues. • employer (employers) NOUN Your
employer is the person or organization that you work for. ■ employers who hire illegal workers ■ The
telephone company is the country's largest employer. • parent (parents) NOUN Your parents are your m
other and father. ■ Children need their parents. ■ When you become a parent the things you once cared
about seem to have less value. • sibling (siblings) NOUN Your siblings are your brothers and sisters.
[FORMAL] ■ Some studies have found that children are more friendly to younger siblings of the same
sex. ■ Sibling rivalry often causes parents anxieties. • spouse (spouses) NOUN Someone’s spouse is the
person they are married to. Husbands and wives do not have to pay any inheritance tax when their
spouse dies. Describing people: • autonomous ADJECTIVE An autonomous person makes their own
decisions rather than being influenced by someone else ■ They proudly declared themselves part of a
new autonomous province. ■ the liberal idea of the autonomous individual • consistent ADJECTIVE
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. ■ Becker has never been the most consistent
of players anyway. ■ his consistent support of free trade ■ a consistent character with a major thematic
function • conventional ADJECTIVE Someone who is conventional has behaviour and opinions that are
ordinary and normal. ■ a respectable married woman with conventional opinions ■ this close, fairly
conventional English family • co-operative also cooperative ADJECTIVE If you say that someone is co-
operative, you mean that they do what you ask them without complaining or arguing. ■ The president
said the visit would develop friendly and co-operative relations between the two countries. ■ a
contented and co-operative workforce • efficient ADJECTIVE If something or someone is efficient, they
are able to do tasks Vocabulary for IELTS successfully, without wasting time or energy. ■ With today’s
more efficient contraception women can plan their families and careers. ■ Technological advances allow
more efficient use of labour. ■ an efficient way of testing thousands of compounds • flexible ADJECTIVE
Something or someone that is flexible is able to change easily and adapt to different conditions and
circumstances. ■ more flexible arrangements to allow access to services after normal working hours •
We encourage flexible working. • idealistic ADJECTIVE If you describe someone as idealistic, you mean
that they have ideals, and base their behaviour on these ideals, even if this may be impractical. ■
Idealistic young people died for the cause. ■ an over-simplistic and idealistic vision of family dynamics •
tolerant ADJECTIVE If you describe someone as tolerant, you approve of the fact that they allow other
people to say and do as they like, even if they do not agree with or like it. ■ [+of] They need to be
tolerant of different points of view. ■ Other changes include more tolerant attitudes to unmarried
couples having children. • vulnerable ADJECTIVE Someone who is vulnerable is weak and without
protection, with the result that they are easily hurt physically or emotionally. ■ Old people are
particularly vulnerable members of our society. Practice exercises Circle the words that you associate
with fam ily relationships. Underline the words you associate with professional relationships. a client d
colleague b parent e spouse c sibling f employer Listen to three speakers talking about people who have
been im portant to them. Indicate the person each speaker describes by w riting a lette r a -f from
Exercise 1 in each space. 1 2 3 j Exam tip: i • You can often recognize whether a word is a noun, verb,
adjective or adverb from its ending. : • Adjectives can have many different endings, but these are
common. -able/-ible vulnerable, flexible -ic idealistic -al conventional -ive co-operative -ant/-ent
tolerant, consistent, efficient -ous autonomous j • Learn to recognize these. People and relationships 5 i
3 Listen again to the three speakers and w rite down the adjectives from the table above 01 that you
hear. Listen fo r the word endings: -able, -ible, -al, -ant, -ent, -ic, -ive, -ous. 1 2 3 Exam tip: In Part 4 of
the IELTS Listening exam you have to listen to a talk on a topic of general academic interest. You do not
need to know all of the vocabulary. If you hear a word you don’t know, listen for expressions like: a i.e. b
in other words c that is d by ... I mean e that is to say The text that follows these expressions helps you
understand the word. Example: Employers value conscientious workers, that is workers who complete
tasks with care. Listen to the extract from a lecture about only children and notice the expression the 02
speaker uses to indicate she is defining the key expressions 1-6 below. Look back at the Exam tip and w
rite a lette r a-e in each space. 1 only children 2 parental resources 3 tolerant ...... 4 rn-nperative 5
autonomy 6 unconventional 0 5 Listen to the extract again and complete the definitions the speaker
gives fo r words 1 -6 02 above. W rite one word in each space. 1 only children - ‘children w ith o u
t____________ ’ 2 parental resources - ‘not just money, but a ls o ____________ a n d ____________ ’ 3
tolerant - ‘able to accept___________ ’ 4 co-operative - ‘able to w o rk ____________ w ith
--------------------- ’ 5 autonomy - ‘ability to ____________ their o w n --------------------- ’ 6 unconventional -
‘not q u ite ____________ in social term s’ 8 Vocabulary for IELTS Exam practice: Listening exam Section
4 Unit 1 O Listen to the lecture extract about birth order and personality and answer 03 questions 1-5 by
choosing the correct letter A, B or C. Exam tip: Listen for key adjectives and clues in the context for what
they mean. 1 What does the speaker discuss in relation to personality? A Family size B The relationship
between children and their parents C People’s position in the family 2 What does the speaker imply
about anxiety? A It is a positive trait. B It is a negative trait. C It is experienced by younger siblings. 3
What do some researchers say about youngest children? A They form relationships easily. B They agree
with the opinions of other people. C They like it if people agree with them. 4 Why are middle children
considered to be rebellious? A They don’t like to be told what to do. B They don’t know how to be
agreeable. C They like to be different from others. 5 What does the speaker say about the quality of
research on birth order? A Most research has been done correctly. B Most research has been done
incorrectly. C Most research has come to a clear conclusion. People and relationships 9 2 Health Naming
health problem s and treatm ents I Recognizing synonyms | Recognizing collocations Vocabulary Health
problems: • addiction (addictions) NOUN Addiction is the condition of taking harm ful drugs and being
unable to stop taking them. ■ long-term addiction to nicotine • allergy (allergies) NOUN If you have a
particular allergy, you become ill or get a rash when you eat, smell, or touch something that does not
normally make people ill. ■ Food allergies can result in an enormous variety of different symptoms. •
cancer (cancers) NOUN Cancer is a serious disease in which cells in a person’s body increase rapidly in an
uncontrolled way, producing abnormal growths. ■ a cancer research charity • dehydration
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN You are suffering from dehydration if you lose too much water from your body. ■
Cholera causes severe dehydration. • disease (diseases) NOUN A disease is an illness that affects people,
animals or plants, for example one which is caused by bacteria or infection. ■ the rapid spread of
disease in the area • infection (infections) NOUN An infection is a disease caused by germs or bacteria. ■
Ear infections are common in pre-school children. • obesity UNCOUNTABLE NOUN Someone suffering
from obesity is extremely fat. ■ The excessive consumption of sugar leads to obesity • stroke (strokes)
NOUN If someone has a stroke, a blood vessel in their brain bursts or becomes blocked, which may kill
them or make them unable to move one side of their body. ■ He had a minor stroke in 1987, which left
him partly paralyzed. Verbs associated with treatment: • administer (administers, administering,
administered) VERB If a doctor or nurse administers a drug, they give it to a patient. ■ Paramedics are
trained to administer certain drugs. • admit (admits, admitting, admitted) VERB If someone is admitted
to hospital they are taken into hospital for treatm ent and kept there until they are w ell enough to go
home. ■ She was admitted to hospital with a soaring temperature. • diagnose (diagnoses, diagnosing,
diagnosed) VERB If someone or something is diagnosed as having a particular illness or problem, their
illness or problem is identified. ■ Almost a million people are diagnosed with colon cancer each year. •
discharge (discharges, discharging, discharged) VERB When someone is discharged from hospital, they
are officially allowed to leave, or told they must leave. ■ He has a broken nose but may be discharged
today. • examine (examines, examining, examined) VERB If a doctor examines you, he or she looks at
your body, feels it, or does simple Vocabulary for IELTS Unit 2 tests in order to check how healthy you
are. ■ Another doctor examined her and could still find nothing wrong. • screen (screens, screening,
screened) VERB To screen for a disease means to examine people to make sure that they do not have it.
■ Men over 50 are routinely screened for prostate abnormalities. • vaccinate (vaccinates, vaccinating,
vaccinated) VERB A vaccine is a harmless form of the germs that cause a particular disease. If a person or
animal is vaccinated, they are given a vaccine, usually by injection, to prevent them getting that disease.
■ Dogs must be vaccinated against distemper. Practice exercises The words below describe different
disorders. Circle the words that you associate with rich countries. Underline the words you associate
with poor countries. a infection e stroke b heart disease f dehydration c allergies g addiction d obesity
Read the passage below and compare your answers to Exercise 1 with the information in the passage.
Diseases of Affluence - Diseases of Poverty Health conditions associated with wealth are sometimes
referred to as diseases of affluence. These include diseases which are not communicable, such as Type 2
diabetes, cancer, and stroke as w ell as alcohol and drug addiction, obesity and some allergies. Risk
factors for these conditions are associated with the lifestyle of the economically prosperous, in
particular: physical inactivity, easy availability of meat, sugar, salt and processed foods, excessive
consumption of alcohol and tobacco, and lower exposure to infectious agents. The diseases of poverty,
in contrast, are predominantly infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and diarrhoeal
diseases. Risk factors for these conditions include: overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, m alnutrition,
and inadequate access to health care. Millions of lives could be saved every year by addressing these
underlying problems and by simple preventive measures such as immunizing the population against
common infectious agents. Exam tip: In the IELTS Reading exam you may have to indicate whether
statements about a passage are True, False or Not given (i.e. not mentioned). You can often recognize a
True statement if you can match it to a part of the passage that expresses the same idea in different
words. Recognizing synonyms (words with approximately the same meaning) can help you do this.
Example: Allergies are common in wealthy countries. Allergies are common in affluent countries. Health
11 3 Underline words in the passage fo r Exercise 2 which could be replaced by the words in bold below.
1 Minor skin disorders do not norm ally require hospital treatm ent. 2 Misuse of prescription drugs is a
growing problem. 3 Germs can cause stomach upsets. 4 Vaccinating children against measles has
reduced the prevalence of this disease. 4 The words below describe actions that medical staff may take
when a person enters hospital. Number the verbs from 1 to 5 to show the order in which they typically
occur. diagnose___ discharge___ a d m it___ tre a t____ examine Exam tip: In the IELTS Reading exam
you may have to complete gaps in sentences with words from a reading passage. Recognizing
collocations (i.e. words that commonly go together) can help you do this. If you look carefully at the
words on either side of the gap you may be able to use your knowledge of collocations to choose the
right word(s). Example: The patient was_______for cancer. The patient was treated for cancer.
Complete the sentences below with words a-e. Look carefully at the prepositions after the gaps to help
you choose the right word. a vaccinated b diagnosed c screened d administered e discharged 1 In poor
countries patients are som etim es___________________from hospital before they are fully cured. 2 If
all women over the age of 50 a re __________________ for breast cancer, many lives can be saved. 3
The patient w a s ___________________with heart disease. U A ll children should b e
___________________against infectious diseases such as measles. 5 The do cto ra drug to the patient to
help him sleep. Vocabulary for IELTS Unit 2 Exam practice: Reading - answering True/False/ Not given
questions - completing sentences QUESTIONS 1-4 Do the statements 7-4 below agree with the
information given in the following text? Write: TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN if the text confirms the
statement if the text confirms the opposite of the statement if it is impossible to know from the text Tip:
Look for synonyms for key terms. Scientists from the UK and USA have recently reported that over the
last 30 years the incidence of Type 2 diabetes has more than doubled. They estimate that nearly 350 m
illion 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
thirty per cent 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 lifespans 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. 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. QUESTIONS 5-7 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 _ 7 Most people with diabetes early, he or she can be cured. _ in
the low-calorie diet study made a good recovery. Health 1 3 3 Education Naming academic subjects I
Verbs, nouns and adjectives associated w ith academic study I Choosing the correct part of speech
Vocabulary Academic subjects: • archaeology also archeology UNCOUNTABLE NOUN Archaeology is the
study of the societies and peoples of the past by examining the remains of their buildings, tools, and
other objects. ■ an archaeology professor at Florida State University • astronomy UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Astronomy is the scientific study of the stars, planets, and other natural objects in space. ■ a 10-day
astronomy mission • economics UNCOUNTABLE NOUN Economics is the study of the way in which
money, industry, and trade are organized in a society. ■ He gained a first class Honours degree in
economics. ■ having previously studied economics and fine art • geology UNCOUNTABLE NOUN Geology
is the study of the Earth’s structure, surface, and origins. ■ He was visiting professor of geology at the
University of Jordan. • linguistics UNCOUNTABLE NOUN Linguistics is the study of the way in which
language works. ■ Modern linguistics emerged as a distinct field in the nineteenth century. • psychology
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and the reasons for people's
behaviour. ■ Professor of Psychology at Bedford College ■ research in educational psychology •
sociology UNCOUNTABLE NOUN Sociology is the study of society or of the way society is organized. ■ a
sociology professor at the University of North Carolina ■ a treatise on the sociology of religion Academic
activities: • analyse (analyses, analysing, analysed) VERB If you analyse something, you consider it
carefully or use statistical methods in order to fully understand it. [US analyze] ■ McCarthy was asked to
analyse the data from the first phase of trials of the vaccine. ■ [+ what] This book teaches you how to
analyse what is causing the stress in your life. • claim (claims, claiming, claimed) VERB If you say that
someone claims that something is true, you mean they say that it is true but you are not sure whether
or not they are telling the truth. ■ [+ that] He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him. ■ [+ to-inf]
A man claiming to be a journalist threatened to reveal details about her private life. ■ He claims a 70 to
80 per cent success rate. • define (defines, defining, defined) VERB If you define a word or expression,
you explain its meaning, for example in a dictionary. ■ [+ as] Collins English Dictionary defines a
workaholic as 'a person obsessively addicted to work'. • evaluate (evaluates, evaluating, evaluated)
VERB If you evaluate something or someone, you consider them in order to make a judgment about
them, for example about how good or bad they are. ■ They will Vocabulary for IELTS Unit 3 first send in
trained nurses to evaluate the needs of the individual situation. ■ The market situation is difficult to
evaluate. ■ [+ how] we evaluate how well we do something • investigate (investigates, investigating,
investigated) VERB If you investigate something, you study or examine it carefully to find out the truth
about it. ■ Research in Oxford is now investigating a possible link between endometriosis and the
immune system. ■ [+ how] Police are still investigating how the accident happened. Nouns associated
with research: • evidence UNCOUNTABLE NOUN Evidence is anything that you see, experience, read, or
are told that causes you to believe that something is true or has really happened. ■ [+ of/for] a report on
the scientific evidence for global warming ■ [+ that] There is a lot of evidence that stress is partly
responsible for disease. ■ [+ to-inf] To date there is no evidence to support this theory. • hypothesis
(hypotheses) NOUN A hypothesis is an idea which is suggested as a possible explanation for a particular
situation or condition, but which has not yet been proved to be correct. [FORMAL] ■ Work will now
begin to test the hypothesis in rats. ■ Different hypotheses have been put forward to explain why these
foods are more likely to cause problems. • theory (theories) NOUN A theory is a form al idea or set of
ideas that is intended to explain something. ■ [+ of] Einstein formulated the Theory of Relativity in 1905.
Practice exercises Exam tip: Words for academic subjects can have many different endings, but these are
common. -ics: statistics -logy: biology -y: philosophy Learn to recognize these. Complete words 1-7
below with the ending -ics, -logy, or -y to form the names of subjects. Then match them to the topics of
study a-g. 1 archaeo a the human mind 2 astrnnnm b people of the past 3 eronnm c society U geo d
money, industry and trade 5 linguist e the Earth 6 psycho...... ............ ......... f how language works 7
socio....... g stars and planets Exam tip: Words for naming people by their occupations often end in -er.
Examples: teacher/farmer/miner Words for naming people who study academic subjects for a living
usually end in -ist. Examples: biologist/physicist Learn to recognize these. Education 1 5 Choose the
correct words fo r academic subjects and the people who study them to complete sentences 1-7. 1 A n
___________at the Royal Observatory has discovered a new moon in our solar system. 2 She wanted to
understand why people feel, think, and behave in certain ways, so she decided to do a degree in
___________ 3 ___________is the study of language in general, not any particular language such as
French or Mandarin. U The government’s predictions for economic growth and inflation were not
endorsed by leading___________ 5 Students from the department o f___________spent the weekend
studying rock formations off the coast of Scotland. 6 Graduates in ___________often take jobs which
involve analysing data and form ulating social policy. 7 ___________were called in to investigate the
Iron Age tools discovered on the building site. j Exam tip: When writing in the IELTS exam you need to
use not only the right words but j also the right parts of speech, for example: Thompson and her
colleagues analyse IverbJ the samples using the antibody test. The main results of the analysis [noun]
are summarized below. i I have an analytical Iadjective] approach to every survey. I When you learn a
new word, learn its associated parts of speech. 3 The words in the table are commonly linked to
academic study. Use your dictionary to complete the table. noun adjective claim x definition x evaluate
investigation X evidence hypothesis theoretical 4 Choose the correct part of speech from the words in
italics for sentences 1-6. 1 When giving a presentation, it is important to define/definition key terms. 2
An effective essay is not just descriptive but also evaluation/evaluative. 3 It is important to
investigate/investigation the causes of inequality. U It is now evidence/evident that stress contributes to
disease. 5 Most scientific research begins with a hypothesize/hypothesis. 6 There is no
theory/theoretical model to explain the impact of inflation on economic growth. verb Vocabulary for
IELTS Unit 3 5 Choose words from the table in Exercise 3 to complete the sentences 1-5. 1 In academic
discussions, it is important to ____________ arguments for their strengths and weaknesses. 2 It would
be difficult to design a scientific experiment to test th e ____________that multiple time dimensions
exist. 3 To date there is n o ____________ to support this theory. 4 After lengthy____________, they
were still unable to identify the source of the leak. 5 There is no general agreement on a
standard____________ of the term ‘intelligence’. Exam practice: Writing Task 2 Below is a student’s
answer to an IELTS Writing Task 2, in which candidates are required to write a 250 word essay on a given
topic. Complete the essay with words from the unit. There may be more than one correct answer. Hint:
make sure you choose the correct part of speech. WRITING TASK 2 W rite about the following topic: Is
there any value in studying academic subjects that are not 'useful' in terms of generating wealth for the
country? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience. W rite at least 250 words. Many people these days (1)__________that a useful education is
one that prepares graduates for occupations that create wealth. However, when we (2)__________ the
usefulness of an academic subject we should think carefully about how we (3)__________ the term
‘useful’. In this essay, I argue that many academic subjects that do not directly generate great wealth
can still be very useful. Some subjects can be useful because they create knowledge that can be applied
in related fields. (4) , for example, study the way language works. Their (5)__________can be used to
create more effective methods of language teaching. Improved international communication can result
in better trading relations, which can in turn generate wealth. (6)__________(7)__________ the lives of
people in the past through their artifacts. Many of these w ill be displayed in museums, which can
attract tourists who generate income for hoteliers, restaurants and so on. Many academic subjects can
also be ‘useful’ in term s of contributing to people’s quality of life. Some people pursue hobbies in fields
such as (8)__________in order to have a better understanding of the planet we live on. Others with an
interest in stars and planets may become amateur (9)__________ Curiosity is an important human trait,
and many academic subjects allow people to satisfy this need. In short, there is little
(10)__________that simply educating people to be efficient workers makes them happier or richer in
the broader sense. Human curiosity and the unpredictable nature of knowledge creation mean that a
variety of academic disciplines should be valued. Now complete the essay in your own words. Education
1 7 Verbs and nouns associated w ith tra ve l and adventure I Getting w ord stress rig h t I Choosing
vocabulary to express yo u rself precisely Vocabulary Verbs associated with travel and adventure: •
accompany (accompanies, accompanying, accompanied) VERB If you accompany someone, you go
somewhere with them. [FORMAL] ■ Ken agreed to accompany me on a trip to Africa. ■ The Prime
Minister, accompanied by the governor, led the President up to the house. • encounter (encounters,
encountering, encountered) VERB If you encounter problems or difficulties, you experience them. ■
Everyday of our lives we encounter stresses of one kind or another. • Environmental problems they
found in Poland were among the worst they encountered. • overcome (overcomes, overcoming,
overcame) VERB If you overcome a problem or a feeling, you successfully deal with it and control it. ■
Molly had fought and overcome her fear of flying. ■ One way of helping children to overcome shyness is
to boost their self-confidence. • reschedule (reschedules, rescheduling, rescheduled) VERB If someone
reschedules an event, they change the time at which it is supposed to happen. ■ Since I'll be away, I'd
like to reschedule the meeting. ■ [+ for] They've rescheduled the opening for February 14th. • seek
(seeks, seeking, sought) VERB If you seek something, you try to find it or obtain it. [FORMAL] ■ Four
people who sought refuge in the Italian embassy have left voluntarily. ■ [+ for] Candidates are urgently
sought for the post of Conservative Party chairman. • Always seek professional legal advice before
entering into any agreement. ■ [+ from] The couple have sought help from marriage guidance
counsellors. • venture (ventures, venturing, ventured) VERB If you venture somewhere, you go
somewhere that might be dangerous. [LITERARY] ■ People are afraid to venture out for fear of sniper
attacks. Nouns associated with travel and adventure: • challenge (challenges) NOUN A challenge is
something new and difficult which requires great effort and determination. ■ I like a big challenge and
they don’t come much bigger than this. ■ The new government’s first challenge is the economy. •
destination (destinations) NOUN The destination of someone or something is the place to which they
are going or being sent. ■ Spain is still our most popular holiday destination. ■ Only half of the
emergency supplies have reached their destination. • itinerary (itineraries) NOUN An itinerary is a plan
of a journey, including the route and the places that you w ill visit. ■ The next place on our itinerary was
Silistra. • journey (journeys) NOUN When you make a journey, you travel from one place to another. ■
[ + to ] There is an express service from Paris which completes the journey to Bordeaux in under 4 hours.
Vocabulary for IELTS Adjectives to describe experiences: • dreary ADJECTIVE If you describe something
as dreary, you mean that it is dull and depressing. ■ a dreary little town in the Midwest • intense
ADJECTIVE Intense is used to describe something that is very great or extreme in strength or degree. ■
He was sweating from the intense heat. ■ His threats become more intense, agitated, and frequent. •
pivotal ADJECTIVE A pivotal role, point, or figure in something is one that is very important and affects
the success of that thing. ■ The Court of Appeal has a pivotal role in the English legal system. ■ The
elections may prove to be pivotal in Colombia's political history. • profound ADJECTIVE You use
profound to emphasize that something is very great or intense. ■ discoveries which had a profound
effect on many areas of medicine ■ The overwhelming feeling is just deep, profound shock and anger. ■
Anna's patriotism was profound. • valuable ADJECTIVE If you describe something or someone as
valuable, you mean that they are very useful and helpful. ■ Many of our teachers also have valuable
academic links with Heidelberg University. • The experience was very valuable. Practice exercises Listen
to speakers 1-6 describing their adventures. Indicate which of the verbs a-g each speaker uses by w
riting a letter in the spaces below: a accompany Speaker 1 ............. b reschedule Speaker 2 ...... c venture
Speaker 3 d encounter Speaker L e overcome Speaker Fi f seek Speaker 6 ............... Exam tip: You can
improve your mark in the IELTS Speaking exam if you learn to pronounce words correctly. For m ulti-
syllable words it is important to get the stress pattern right. When you learn a new word, learn which
syllable is pronounced most strongly. Listen again to speakers 1-6 in Exercise 1. Underline the stressed
syllable of each key verb a-f. Practise saying the words out loud. Adventure Exam tip: In the IELTS
Speaking exam you need to show that you have a broad vocabulary. In English there are many words
that have the same general meaning; however, they may have subtly different definitions. Example:
challenge and obstacle can both refer to a difficulty. However, if you use the word challenge, you imply
that you may be able to overcome the difficulty. If you use obstacle, you imply that the difficulty is
harder to overcome. Learn to distinguish these subtle differences of meaning to express yourself
precisely. Look at these pairs of words with sim ila r meanings. Complete the sentence pairs 1-8 w ith
words from the table. itinerary journey encounter meet pivotal significant seek look for intense
profound dreary dull valuable priceless destination goal 1 a You can use the expression________if you
are trying to find something. b ________is a more form al word that you can use if you are trying to find
something that is quite important, a job fo r example. 2 a If something is ________ , it is boring and
depressing. b If something is ________ , it is not interesting or exciting. 3 a Y our________ is the place
that you hope to reach. b Your________ is something that you hope to achieve. U a If yo u ________
someone, you may come across them unexpectedly or because you have arranged to get together. b If
you________ someone, you come across them, usually unexpectedly. 5 a When you make a ________,
you travel from one place to another. b A n ________is the plan you make before you travel. 6 a If
something is ________, it is very meaningful and may affect the way you think and feel. b If something is
________ , it is extreme in strength or degree. 7 a A ________ role, point or figure in something is one
that is important. b A _________role, point or figure in something is one that is very important and
affects the success of that thing. 8 a If something is _________ it is very useful and/or worth a lot of
money. b If something is ________ , it is extremely useful and/or worth a great deal of money.
Vocabulary for IELTS Unit 4 3 Choose words from the table of pairs in Exercise 2 to complete the
sentences 1-8. 1 According to o u r________we should be in Zanzibar by 8.30 Tuesday evening. 2 Many
people travel to the tro p ics,________-ing sun and adventure. 3 T h e ir_______ through Africa was one
that they had been looking forward to for years. 4 If you travel without making reservations, you are
likely to ________problems. 5 Our trip to the coast was ra th e r________as it was overcast and the
beaches were dirty. 6 Retrieving my stolen passport was a ________moment - after that, everything
went smoothly. 7 After exploring the caves, we’re going to ________my cousin and his wife at the local
bar. 8 Seeing the poverty in that part of the word was a ve ry________experience - it made me sad and
thoughtful. Exam practice: Speaking Part 2 In Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking exam you have to speak for
one to two minutes about a topic you are given. You w ill receive a task card like the one below. You
have one minute to prepare what to say and to make a few w ritten notes if you wish. O For this practice
exercise, listen to the model answer and w rite down seven target words from 05 Unit 4 that the
speaker uses. Describe an adventure that you have had, either at home or abroad. You should say: what
you did why you did it how you felt about it and explain what you learned from the experience. When
you are ready, try the exercise yourself. Before you speak, note down four to eight key words. Tip: Make
sure you have studied the definitions and sample sentences for your key words carefully. Adventure 21
5 Gadgets Describing dim ensions, actions and processes I Recognizing w ords w ith several m eanings I
Using collocations and context to identify the righ t meaning Vocabulary Nouns to describe dimensions:
• angle (angles) NOUN An angle is the difference in direction between two lines or surfaces. Angles are
measured in degrees. ■ The boat is now teaning at a 30 degree angle. • circumference UNCOUNTABLE
NOUN The circumference of a circle, place, or round object is the distance around its edge. ■ a scientist
calculating the Earth's circumference ■ The island is 3.5 km in circumference. • diameter (diameters)
NOUN The diameter of a round object is the length of a straight line that can be drawn across it, passing
through the middle of it. ■ [+ of] a tube less than a fifth of the diameter of a human hair ■ a length of
22-mm diameter steel pipe • height (heights) NOUN The height of a person or thing is their size or
length from the bottom to the top. ■ Her weight is about normal for her height. ■ I am 5’6" in height. ■
[+ of] The tree can grow to a height of 20ft. ■ He was a man of medium height. • length (lengths) NOUN
The length of something is the amount that it measures from one end to the other along the longest
side. ■ It is about a metre in length.■ [+ of] the length of the field ■ [+ of] The plane had a wing span of
34ft and a length of 22ft. • radius (radii) NOUN The radius around a particular point is the distance from
it in any direction. ■ [+ around] Nigel has searched for work in a ten-mile radius around his home. ■ [+
of] within a fifty-mile radius of the town ■ Fragments of twisted metal were scattered across a wide
radius. • volume (volumes) NOUN The volume of something is the amount of it that there is. ■ [+ of]
Senior officials will be discussing how the volume of sales might be reduced. ■ [+ of] the sheer volume of
traffic and accidents • width (widths) NOUN The width of something is the distance it measures from
one side or edge to the other. ■ [+ of] Measure the full width of the window. ■ The road was reduced to
18ft in width by adding parking bays. ■ Saddles are made in a wide range of different widths. Actions: •
adjust (adjusts, adjusting, adjusted) VERB When you adjust to a new situation, you get used to it by
changing your behaviour or your ideas. ■ [+ to] We are preparing our fighters to adjust themselves to
civil society. ■ [+ to] I felt I had adjusted to the idea of being a mother very well. • convey (conveys,
conveying, conveyed) VERB To convey information or feelings means to cause them to be known or
understood by someone. ■ Semiological analysis sees a sign as any cultural symbol which conveys a
meaning. ■ In every one of her pictures she conveys a sense of immediacy. ■ He also conveyed his views
and the views of the bureaucracy. Vocabulary for IELTS Units • launch (launches, launching, launched)
VERB If a company launches a new product, it makes it available to the public. ■ Crabtree & Evelyn has
just launched a new jam, Worcesterberry Preserve. ■ Marks & Spencer recently hired model Linda
Evangelista to launch its new range. • reinforce (reinforces, reinforcing, reinforced) VERB If something
reinforces a feeling, situation, or process, it makes it stronger or more intense. ■ A stronger European
Parliament would, they fear, only reinforce the power of the larger countries. ■ This sense of privilege
tends to be reinforced by the outside world. • secure (secures, securing, secured) VERB If you secure
something that you want or need, you obtain it, often after a lot of effort. [FORMAL] ■ Federal leaders
continued their efforts to secure a ceasefire. ■ Graham’s achievements helped secure him the job. •
suspend (suspends, suspending, suspended) VERB If you suspend something, you delay it or stop it from
happening for a while or until a decision is made about it. ■ The union suspended strike action this
week. ■ [+ until] A U.N. official said aid programs will be suspended until there's adequate protection for
relief convoys. Practice exercises Match the words a-h to pictures 1-8. a angle c diameter e length g
volume b circumference d height f radius h width Gadgets 2 3 2 Listen to the description of the pinhole
camera and complete the diagram by w riting the correct dimensions in gaps 1-4. i Exam tip: Many
words in English have more than one meaning. I You need to pay attention to the context so that you
interpret words correctly, j Collocations (words that commonly go together) can help you recognize
which meaning j of a word is intended in that context. ! Example: If you convey goods from one place to
another you carry or transport them. If you convey a message you make it understood. I Learn to
recognize collocations and the m ultiple meanings of words. 3 Use the words from the box to complete
sentence pairs 1-5. adjust launch reinforce secure suspend 1 a We had to ____________the meeting
because the fire alarm went off unexpectedly. b If you____________the light directly above the object,
you w ill see it’s shape more clearly. 2 a When we noticed the bulge in the wall, we had to call in the
huilders tn b He produced some good data to . his argument. 3 a You’ll have tn that camera lens tn get a
rlea r image b It took me several years to to the climate in Nairobi. U a Few countries have the facilities
to a rocket into space. b The company are hoping to the new phone in time for Christmas. 5 a In order to
buy a house, you have to a Inan. b if you want the hnnkcase to stay in place, you should it to the wall.
Vocabulary for IELTS Units 1 In this sentence does adjust mean: a change something to make it more
effective? Or b get used to something? 2 In this sentence does launch mean: a send something into the
air? Or b make something available to the public? 3 In this sentence does reinforce mean: a make
something stronger? Or b give evidence to support an idea? U In this sentence does secure mean: a
obtain? Or b fasten? 5 In this sentence does suspend mean: a stop or delay an activity? Or b hang
something? Exam practice: Listening - labelling a diagram - classifying 08 You are going to hear three
students talking about a project for a course in product design. They have been instructed to create a
device which w ill convey a ping-pong ball between two tables positioned a metre apart. Listen and
match the suggestions with the person who makes them by writing the correct letter A, B or C next to
questions 1-6. Exam tip: Listen for collocations and context to recognize the meaning of key verbs. A Lisa
B Bill C Omar 1 project the ball into the a ir____________ 2 hang a paper bridge between the
tables____________ 3 fasten the strips of paper together with c lip s____________ 4 tie the bridge to
the ta b le ____________ 5 create a tube from the strips of paper____________ 6 make the structure
stro n g er____________ Gadgets 2 5 6 Cities W ords associated w ith human geography I Recognizing
positive and negative connotation I Recognizing superordinate te rm s Vocabulary Nouns: • amenity
(amenities) NOUN Amenities are things such as shopping centres or sports facilities that are provided for
people’s convenience, enjoyment, or comfort. ■ The hotel amenities include health clubs, conference
facilities, and banqueting rooms. • commuter (commuters) NOUN A commuter is a person who travels a
long distance to work every day. ■ The number of commuters to London has dropped by 100,000. •
congestion UNCOUNTABLE NOUN If there is congestion in a place, the place is extremely crowded and
blocked with traffic or people. ■ The problems of traffic congestion will not disappear in a hurry. ■
Energy consumption, congestion and pollution have increased. • housing UNCOUNTABLE NOUN You
refer to the buildings in which people live as housing when you are talking about their standard, price, or
availability. ■ a shortage of affordable housing • resident (residents) NOUN The residents of a house or
area are the people who live there. ■ The Archbishop called upon the government to build more low
cost homes for local residents. ■ More than 10 percent of Munich residents live below the poverty line.
• immigrant (immigrants) NOUN An immigrant is a person who has come to live in a country from some
other country. ■ industries that employ large numbers of illegal immigrants ■ Portugal, Spain and Italy
all have large immigrant populations from Africa. • infrastructure (infrastructures) NOUN The
infrastructure of a country, society, or organization consists of the basic facilities such as transport,
communications, power supplies, and buildings, which enable it to function. ■ investment in
infrastructure projects ■ a focus on improving existing infrastructure • inhabitant (inhabitants) NOUN
The inhabitants of a place are the people who live there. ■ [+ of] the inhabitants of Glasgow ■ Jamaica's
original inhabitants were the Arawak Indians. • neighbourhood (neighbourhoods) NOUN A
neighbourhood is one of the parts of a town where people live. [US neighborhood] * [+ to-inf] It seemed
like a good neighbourhood to raise my children. ■ [+ of] He was born and grew up in the Flatbush
neighbourhood of Brooklyn. Adjectives: • bustling ADJECTIVE A bustling place is fu ll of people who are
very busy or lively. ■ the bustling streets of Salzburg ■ Oxford was bustling with students and tourists
and shoppers. • pioneering ADJECTIVE Pioneering work or a pioneering individual does something that
has not been done before, for example by developing or using new methods or Vocabulary for IELTS
Unit 6 techniques. ■ The school has won awards for its pioneering work with the community. ■ a
pioneering Scottish surgeon and anatomist named John Hunter • historic ADJECTIVE Something that is
historic is important in history or is likely to be important. ■ The opening of the Scottish Parliament was
a historic moment. ■ a fourth historic election victory • rural ADJECTIVE Rural means relating to country
areas as opposed to large towns. ■ These plants have a tendency to grow in the more rural areas. ■ the
closure of rural schools • sprawling ADJECTIVE A place that is sprawling has been built over a large area
in an untidy or uncontrolled way ■ a sprawling suburb on the edge of a big city ■ The house was a
sprawling ranch-style building. • urban ADJECTIVE Urban means belonging to, or relating to, a town or
city. ■ Most of the population is an urban population. ■ Most urban areas are close to a park. ■ urban
planning Practice exercises Exam tip: In the IELTS Reading exam you may have to answer questions
about the w rite r’s attitude. W riters often convey their attitude by choosing words which have positive,
negative or neutral connotations, for example: If a w riter describes a solution as simple, they mean that
it is obvious and straightforward (positive connotation). If a w riter describes a solution as simplistic,
they are criticizing it for being sim pler than it should be (negative connotation). Learn to recognize
whether a word has a positive, negative or neutral connotation. Sentences 1 -5 contain pairs of words in
italics which are sim ilar in meaning. Underline the word in italics which has the more positive
connotation. 1 The shopping centre is normally crowded/bustling on a Saturday afternoon. 2 The roads
are busy/congested during rush hour. 3 That housing scheme has won awards for its novel/pioneering
design. U The city centre is surrounded by extensive/sprawling suburbs. 5 There are many old/historic
buildings in the town centre. Exam tip: In the IELTS Reading exam you may have to show that you can
identify the w rite r’s main ideas by matching headings to sections of text. The headings capture the
main ideas, and the sections contain detailed information and examples. Superordinates (words that
describe a group or category) can help you match headings. For example, in the word set: summer,
season, winter, and spring, the word season is the superordinate term because summer, winter and
spring are examples of seasons. Learn to recognize superordinate terms. Cities 2 7 For each set of words
or expressions 1-4, circle the superordinate term . 1 underground train 2 housing 3 library 4 power
supply public transport flat leisure centre roads tram bungalow park infrastructure com m uter rail
council house amenity communications Choose the correct superordinate term 1-3 fo r words a-h
below. W rite the correct num ber 1-3 next to words a-h. 1 people a com muter 2 places b im m igrant 3
events c suburb d region e street party f resident 9 inhabitant h neighbourhood 4 Read the paragraph
below. Which of the superordinate term s 1-4 matches the words in bold? 1 Quantity of food consumed
in New York 3 Origin of food consumed in New York 2 Quality of food consumed in New York 4 Types of
food consumed in New York As in many urban areas, seventy per cent of the food consumed in New
York is imported from overseas. Most of the remainder is produced in rural areas elsewhere in the
country. Only a tiny percentage of food is produced in the city itself - mainly soft fruit and vegetables
grown in patches of ground between buildings or on rooftop gardens. If New Yorkers used their green
spaces more efficiently, they could produce up to twenty per cent of the fruit and vegetables they eat.
Exam practice: Reading - matching headings The reading passage opposite has 5 paragraphs, A-E.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E from the list of headings below. Write the correct
numbers i-viii in spaces 1-4 at the top of the page. NB There are more headings than paragraphs, so you
will not use them all. List of headings i The quality of urban housing ii Amenities in urban areas iii The
affordability of urban housing iv The amenities that people want v The urban-rural divide vi The quality
of rural infrastructure vii Rural neighbourhoods in the city viii Rural transport Vocabulary for IELTS Unit 6
Example: Paragraph A Answer: v 1 Paragraph B ____________ 2 Paragraph C ____________ 3 Paragraph
D ____________ U Paragraph E ____________ The lure of the urban village A Many people dream of
leaving the city and moving to the countryside, but in fact we are an overwhelmingly urban population.
Over 80 per cent of UK residents now live in urban areas. Globally, it’s much the same; according to the
United Nations, by 2012, w ell over half of the world's population w ill be living in towns and cities. B
Increasingly, people are living in towns, but what many really want is a piece of the countryside within
the town. Three years ago a survey of 1,000 homeowners in the UK found that many of those who were
planning to relocate wanted to live near gyms, shops and restaurants. Today, according to a more recent
report, the majority want a crim e-free neighbourhood, a back garden, and theatre or gallery within
reach. The report concludes that Britons are becoming more concerned about their quality of life and
are willing to prioritize tranquillity over status and salary. C However, what the report does not say is
that, for people without a high salary the chances of buying the ideal house, or indeed any house at all
in the city, are becoming increasingly slim. According to recent figures, even if we take inflation into
account, average urban house values are four times higher than they were 70 years ago. A comparison
of average house prices and average incomes is even less favourable. Since 1940, home price rises have
far exceeded rises in average salaries. D For those who can, moving to the countryside is an option. In
most developed countries, the roads, power supply and communication facilities are adequate for their
needs. Indeed, improvements in telecommunications make telecommuting an increasingly attractive
proposition. E Those forced to stay behind in urban life are increasingly yearning for neighbourhoods
that are village’ like in feel. Indeed those who market new homes are increasingly using such term s to
attract buyers. Interestingly, the idea of urban villages is not a new one. The term was coined 50 years
ago, by the American sociologist Herbert Gans in his study of the Italian-American communities of
Boston. According to Gans, the communities he studied refashioned urban space in an attempt to
recreate the intimate feel of the Southern Italian villages they came from. He argued that American
cities as a whole could be seen as a patchwork of different villages in which non-urban imm igrants
attempted to shape the city to resemble the places in the old country that they had left behind. His
findings may w ell resonate with today’s native urbanites yearning for village life. Cities 2 9 7 The art of
persuasion Using reporting verbs to present points of view I Recognizing synonym s Vocabulary
Reporting verbs: • advocate (advocates, advocating, advocated) VERB If you advocate a particular action
or plan, you recommend it publicly. [FORMAL] ■ a conservative who advocates fewer government
controls on business ■ the tax policy advocated by the Opposition • acknowledge (acknowledges,
acknowledging, acknowledged) VERB If you acknowledge a fact or a situation, you accept or admit that it
is true or that it exists. [FORMAL] ■ [+ that] It is widely acknowledged that transferring knowledge in a
classroom environment is very inefficient. ■ Belatedly, the government has acknowledged the problem.
• assert (asserts, asserting, asserted) VERB If someone asserts a fact or belief, they state it firm ly.
[FORMAL] ■ The senator plans to assert that the bill violates the First Amendment. ■ The defendants
continue to assert their innocence. • dispute (disputes, disputing, disputed) VERB If you dispute a fact,
statement, or theory, you say that it is incorrect or untrue. ■ He disputed the allegations. ■ [+ that] No
one disputes that vitamin C is of great value in the treatment of scurvy. • imply (implies, implying,
implied) VERB If you imply that something is the case, you say something which indicates that it is the
case in an indirect way. ■ ‘Are you implying that I had something to do with those attacks?' ■ She was
upset by the implied criticism. • justify (justifies, justifying, justified) VERB To justify a decision, action, or
idea means to show or prove that it is reasonable or necessary. ■ No argument can justify a war. ■
Ministers agreed that this decision was fully justified by economic conditions. • object (objects,
objecting, objected) VERB If you object to something, you express your dislike or disapproval of it. ■ [+
to] A lot of people will object to the book. ■ [+ that] Cullen objected that his small staff would be unable
to handle the added work. ■ We objected strongly but were outvoted. • outline (outlines, outlining,
outlined) VERB If you outline an idea or a plan, you explain it in a general way. ■ The mayor outlined his
plan to clean up the town’s image. • question (questions, questioning, questioned) VERB If you question
something, you have or express doubts about whether it is true, reasonable, or worthwhile. ■ Scientists
began questioning the validity of the research because they could not reproduce the experiments. ■ It
never occurs to them to question the doctor's decisions. Nouns associated with persuasion: • benefit
(benefits) NOUN The benefit of something is the help that you get from it or the advantage that results
from it. ■ [+ of] the benefits of this form of therapy ■ For maximum benefit, use your treatment every
day. • [+ to] I hope what I have written will be of benefit to someone else. • debate (debates) NOUN A
debate is a discussion about a subject on which people have different views. ■ An intense debate is
going on within Vocabulary for IELTS Unit? the Israeli government. ■ [+ about] There has been a lot of
debate among scholars about this. • discussion (discussions) NOUN If there is discussion about
something, people talk about it, often in order to reach a decision. ■ [+ about] There was a lot of
discussion about the wording of the report. ■ Council members are due to have informal discussions
later on today. • drawback (drawbacks) NOUN A drawback is an aspect of something or someone that
makes them less acceptable than they would otherwise be. ■ He felt the apartment’s only drawback was
that it was too small. Practice exercises • evidence UNCOUNTABLE NOUN Evidence is anything that you
see, experience, read, or are told that causes you to believe that something is true or has really
happened. ■ [+ of/for] the scientific evidence for global warming ■ [+ that] There is a lot of evidence
that stress is partly responsible for disease.' [+ to-inf] To date there is no evidence to support this
theory. • proof(proofs) NOUN Proof is a fact, argument, or piece of evidence which shows that
something is definitely true or definitely exists. ■ [+ of] You have to have proof of residence in the state
of Texas, such as a Texas ID card. ■ Economists have been concerned with establishing proofs for their
arguments. xam tip: In the IELTS Writing exam you can demonstrate that you have a broad ocabulary by
avoiding unnecessary repetition. vlany words commonly used in academic arguments have synonyms.
Example: The minister justified his position on arms control. He defended his position strongly when he
gave evidence of the proliferation of nuclear weapons. earn to use synonyms when presenting your
arguments. Match each word 1-4 with its closest synonym a-d. 1 benefit a disadvantage 2 debate b
discussion 3 drawback c evidence 4 proof d advantage 2 Find words in the text below which mean: 1
recommend publicly (verb) 4 explain in a general way (verb) 2 accept the existence or truth of (verb) 5
disapprove of (verb) 3 proven to be reasonable or necessary (adjective) There has been considerable
debate among politicians over whether the use of force to protect human rights can ever be justified.
Some advocate the use of arms as the only way of sending a clear message to oppressive regimes.
Others object to the use of force on humanitarian grounds, arguing that it inevitably results in the loss of
innocent lives. While it is important to acknowledge that there are compelling arguments on both sides,
I would The art of persuasion 31 suggest that a range of responses should be considered when there is
proof that human rights are under threat. In this essay I w ill outline three such responses. ! Exam tip: In
the IELTS Writing exam you should make sure that you use words correctly. : Some of the words in this
unit can be followed by: a preposition, for example: One of the benefits of the new phone is a larger
screen. ! whether + clause, for example: I doubt whether the new policy on care for the elderly I can
succeed. j that + clause, for example: We suggested that the working day should be reduced. I a noun or
noun phrase, for example: They cannot justify their actions. I Learn to use words correctly by studying
example sentences. 3 Match the beginning of each sentence 1-5 with the most appropriate ending a-e. 1
There has been some debate a to the new motorway. 2 The advertisers acknowledged b over whether
tuition fees should be increased. 3 Campaigners have objected c of the current system is that it rewards
excessive risk-taking. A One of the drawbacks d w hether the government's new policy on alcohol w ill
work. 5 Opposition politicians question e that they had misrepresented their product. 4 Report the
statements 1-5 using the verbs a-e. a acknowledge c object e imply b dispute d question f assert 1 ‘We
have some doubts about the new printer. W ill it really be more reliable than previous models?’ Consum
ers__________________________________________________________________ 2 ‘We are
completely against the sale of national treasures abroad.’ Many
people_________________________________________________________________ 3 ‘Yes, it is true
that the National Health Service has improved the nation’s health.’ Most
people__________________________________________________________________ U ‘We strongly
believe that new approaches to tackling youth crime should be explored.’ Some
politicians______________________________________________________________ 5 ‘These figures
are not correct.’
Experts______________________________________________________________________ 6 ‘In the
past, students who have achieved a mark of 70% or higher in the midterm test have always passed the
course. Susan has achieved a mark of 75%, so...’ The
teacher__________________________________________________________________ Vocabulary for
IELTS Exam practice: Writing - presenting an argument Unit 7 For the IELTS Writing Task 2 you are
required to write a 250-word essay on a given topic using your own knowledge and experience. First
study the text from Practice Exercise 2 as an example of how you might start your essay. Then read the
dialogue below about freedom of speech. Use the words and expressions that you have learned in this
unit in your response to the essay question below. Dialogue Peter: Of course there have to be lim its to
free speech! Even in the most democratic countries it is illegal to incite hatred - I mean to encourage
people to harm others, minority groups for example. Felicity: I disagree. Free speech is essential. The
ability to tolerate different points of view is the hallm ark of a civilized society. Karen: I think you're both
right to an extent. There may have to be some lim its, but only in extreme circumstance. Basically, I think
you have to let people speak freely because if you don’t they may take to the streets and express their
views in some possibly more destructive way - by rioting for example. Look at what happened in Eastern
Europe in the 1980s - and in the Middle East today. Peter: Well, yes, I suppose you have a point there...
Karen: Also, if you look at history, there are plenty of examples of people who have been silenced for
ideas that are now accepted as true. Felicity: That’s right! Take Galileo, for example, who said that the
earth revolves around the sun. He was punished by the authorities for his views. WRITING TASK 2 You
should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Is freedom of speech
necessary in a free society? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your
own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words. A model answer is provided in the Answer key
on page 105. The art of persuasion 3 3 8 Getting involved Naming fo rm s of cu ltu re and engagem ent I
Form al and in fo rm a l verbs Vocabulary Nouns: • current affairs PLURAL NOUN If you refer to current
affairs, you are referring to political events and problems in society which are discussed in newspapers,
and on television and radio. ■ people who take no interest in politics and current affairs ■ the BBC’s
current affairs programme ‘Panorama’ • recital (recitals) NOUN A recital is a performance of music or
poetry, usually given by one person. ■ a solo recital by the famous harpsichordist • drama (dramas)
NOUN A drama is a serious play for the theatre, television, or radio. ■ He acted in radio dramas.
Adjectives: • amateur ADJECTIVE Amateur sports or activities are done by people as a hobby and not as
a job. ■ the local amateur dramatics society • classical ADJECTIVE You use classical to describe
something that is traditional in form, style, or content. ■ Fokine did not change the steps of classical
ballet; instead he found new ways of using them. ■ the scientific attitude of Smith and earlier classical
economists • contemporary ADJECTIVE Contemporary things are modern and relate to the present time.
■ one of the finest collections of contemporary art in the country ■ Only the names are ancient; the
characters are modern and contemporary. Verbs associated with involvement: • assemble (assembles,
assembling, assembled) VERB When people assemble or when someone assembles them, they come
together in a group, usually for a particular purpose such as a meeting. ■ There wasn't even a
convenient place for students to assemble between classes. ■ [+ in] Thousands of people assembled in a
stadium in Thokoza. ■ He has assembled a team of experts. • attend (attends, attending, attended) VERB
If you attend a meeting or other event, you are present at it. ■ Thousands of people attended the
funeral. ■ The meeting will be attended by finance ministers from many countries. • broadcast
(broadcasts, broadcasting) VERB To broadcast a programme means to send it out by radio waves, so that
it can be heard on the radio or seen on television. ■ [+ on] The concert will be broadcast live on
television and radio. • establish (establishes, establishing, established) VERB If someone establishes
something such as an organization, a type of activity, or a set of rules, they create it or introduce it in
such a way that it is likely to last for a long time. ■ The U.N. has established detailed criteria for who
should be allowed to vote. ■ The school was established in 1989 by an Italian professor. • observe
(observes, observing, observed) VERB If you observe a person or thing, Vocabulary for IELTS Unit 8 you
watch them carefully, especially in order to learn something about them. ■ Stern atso studies and
observes the behaviour of babies. ■ [+ how] I got a chance to observe how a detective actually works. •
organize (organizes, organizing, organized) VERB If you organize an event or activity, you make sure that
the necessary arrangem ents are made, [in Brit, also use organise] ■ The Commission w ill organize a
conference on rural development. ■ a two-day meeting organized by the United Nations ■ The initial
mobilization was well organized. • participate (participates, participating, participated) VERB If you
participate in an activity, you take part in it. ■ [+ in] Hundreds of faithful Buddhists participated in the
annual ceremony. ■ [+ in] Over half the population of this country participate in sport. ■ [V-ing] lower
rates for participating corporations • resign (resigns, resigning, resigned) VERB If you resign from a job or
position, you formally announce that you are leaving it. ■ A hospital administrator has resigned over
claims he lied to get the job. ■ Mr Robb resigned his position last month. Practice exercises o Listen to
the radio programmes. Match the programmes with speakers 1-5 and write 09 Q 2 10 a-e in the spaces
below. Speaker 1 Speaker 2 Speaker 3 Speaker 4 Speaker 5 a Current affairs programme b sporting event
c classical music concert d poetry recital e radio drama Listen to another five speakers (1-5) describing
their interests. Indicate each speaker’s interest a-e and form of involvement i-iii in the table below.
interest a student magazine b contemporary art c debating society d classical music e radio broadcasting
Speaker 1 Speaker 2 Speaker 3 Speaker 4 Speaker 5 involvement i observer/spectator ii participant iii
organizer interest involvement Getting involved 3 5 Exam tip: Some words in English are more form al or
more appropriate for form al writing. Other words in English are less form al or more appropriate for
speaking. Avoid slang expressions, for example: Creative writing is really cool. Avoid very form al
expressions or words which are more appropriate for writing, for example: Mv aforementioned interest
in creative writing lasted for six months. 3 Match the more formal verbs a-e with their less formal
equivalents i-v. a attend i take part in b observe ii set up c participate iii put together d assemble iv go to
e establish V watch