The Natural World
Table of Contents
The Natural World Flashcards - Vocabulary Practice for IELTS
These exercises focus on The Natural World Vocabulary
List of The Natural World Words for the IELTS
Word/Phrase |
Definition |
Example |
Include |
To contain as part of the whole. |
Marine ecosystems include various species of fish and plants. |
Indoors |
Inside a building or enclosed space. |
During the storm, we stayed indoors for safety. |
Last |
To continue or remain functional over time. |
The effects of the earthquake lasted for several weeks. |
Experience |
To encounter or undergo something. |
Visitors can experience the beauty of marine life at the aquarium. |
Explain |
To make something clear or understandable. |
The guide explained how oil rigs operate. |
Bathysphere |
A spherical deep-sea diving vessel. |
The bathysphere was used to explore underwater life at great depths. |
Allow |
To enable or permit something. |
Modern technology allows scientists to study marine creatures in detail. |
Explore |
To travel through an area for discovery. |
Divers explored the shallow waters for coral reefs. |
Submarine |
An underwater vessel used for exploration. |
The submarine descended to a depth of 2,000 meters. |
Oil Rig |
A structure for extracting oil from beneath the sea. |
Workers on the oil rig face challenging conditions. |
Shallow Water |
Areas of water that are not deep. |
Shallow waters are home to many small marine creatures. |
Aquaculture |
The farming of aquatic plants and animals. |
Aquaculture is essential for sustainable seafood production. |
Significantly |
In an important or notable way. |
Pollution has significantly affected marine ecosystems. |
Provide |
To supply or make available. |
Forests provide oxygen and habitats for wildlife. |
Descent |
A movement downward. |
The descent of the submarine was slow and controlled. |
Reveal |
To make something known or visible. |
Studies reveal the impacts of acid rain on soil quality. |
Existence |
The state of being or living. |
The existence of rare species depends on conservation efforts. |
Marine Creatures |
Animals that live in the sea. |
Jellyfish and barnacles are common marine creatures. |
Prawn |
A type of edible marine crustacean. |
Prawns are a popular ingredient in many stir-fry dishes. |
Earthquake |
A sudden shaking of the ground. |
The earthquake caused significant damage to buildings. |
Predict |
To forecast or estimate an event. |
Scientists are working to predict earthquakes more accurately. |
Availability |
The state of being accessible or usable. |
The availability of clean water is crucial for survival. |
Crane |
A machine used for lifting and moving heavy objects. |
The crane on the oil rig is used to transport equipment. |
Derrick |
A tower-like structure for drilling oil or gas. |
The derrick is the central structure of the oil rig. |
Helicopter Pad |
A flat area for helicopters to land on. |
The oil rig has a helicopter pad for emergency evacuations. |
Support Tower |
A structure that holds or stabilizes something. |
The support tower of the rig ensures safety during operations. |
Pollution |
Harmful substances introduced into the environment. |
Pollution from factories affects marine ecosystems. |
Is Stored |
Kept in a particular place for future use. |
The extracted oil is stored in large tanks. |
Acid Rain |
Rainfall containing harmful acids. |
Acid rain damages soil, plants, and aquatic systems. |
Liquid |
A substance that flows freely, like water. |
Oil is transported in its liquid form to refineries. |
Rise |
An upward movement or increase. |
The rise in greenhouse gas emissions is alarming. |
Damage |
Harm or injury caused to something. |
The hurricane caused severe damage to the coastline. |
Is Pumped Into |
Forced or moved into a space using a pump. |
The water is pumped into the tank for storage. |
Eruption |
A sudden explosion of a volcano. |
The eruption of the volcano produced an ash cloud. |
Ash Cloud |
A large cloud of volcanic ash. |
The ash cloud disrupted air travel for several days. |
Main Vent |
The primary opening of a volcano. |
Lava flowed from the main vent of the volcano. |
Flow |
To move steadily in a stream. |
The river’s flow has been altered by the dam. |
Packed Ice |
Ice that is compressed into a dense form. |
Packed ice is common in polar regions. |
Pick Up |
To collect or gather something. |
Winds can pick up ash from volcanic eruptions. |
Deposit |
To leave or lay down a substance. |
Rivers deposit sediment along their banks. |
Riverbed |
The bottom surface of a river. |
Fossils were found in the dried-up riverbed. |
Melt |
To change from solid to liquid due to heat. |
The ice caps are starting to melt due to global warming. |
Eventually |
After a period of time. |
The water eventually flows into the ocean. |
Scatter |
To spread out in different directions. |
The wind scattered the ash across nearby towns. |
Heat Radiation |
Energy emitted as heat. |
Heat radiation from the sun warms the Earth. |
Absorb |
To take in or soak up. |
Dark surfaces absorb more heat than light ones. |
Sun Heat |
The warmth provided by the sun. |
Solar panels capture sun heat to generate energy. |
Greenhouse Gas |
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. |
Carbon dioxide is a significant greenhouse gas. |
Trap Heat |
To retain heat in a particular area. |
Greenhouse gases trap heat, causing global warming. |
Factory Emissions |
Pollutants released from factories. |
Factory emissions contribute to air pollution. |
Jellyfish |
A soft-bodied marine creature with tentacles. |
Jellyfish are often seen in shallow coastal waters. |
Barnacle |
A marine crustacean that attaches to surfaces. |
Barnacles often grow on ships and rocks. |
Fossil |
Preserved remains of ancient organisms. |
The museum displays a large collection of fossils. |
Seashell |
The hard outer covering of a sea creature. |
Children collected seashells along the beach. |
Treasure Trove |
A valuable collection of items. |
The coral reef is a treasure trove of biodiversity. |
Spot |
To notice or identify something. |
Divers managed to spot rare marine creatures. |
Dig |
To break up or move earth. |
Archaeologists dug into the riverbed to find fossils. |
Tentacle |
A long, flexible appendage of a creature. |
The octopus used its tentacle to grab its prey. |
Attach |
To fasten or connect something. |
Barnacles attach themselves to ships and docks. |
Current |
A flow of water or air in a specific direction. |
Ocean currents influence global weather patterns. |
Rot Away |
To decay or decompose completely. |
The wooden ship rotted away after years underwater. |
Admire |
To look at with appreciation or pleasure. |
Tourists often admire the beauty of coral reefs. |
Soil |
The upper layer of earth where plants grow. |
Fertile soil is essential for agriculture. |
Erosion |
The gradual wearing away of land. |
Coastal erosion is a significant environmental concern. |
Despite the Fact |
Even though; in spite of. |
Despite the fact that it was raining, they went hiking. |
Tolerate |
To endure or withstand something. |
Some plants can tolerate high levels of salinity. |
Usage in IELTS Exam Formats
Reading Section
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Words like erosion, predict, and marine creatures often appear in passages about environmental or natural science topics.
Listening Section
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Terms such as bathysphere, greenhouse gas, and flow are common in audio about environmental concerns or marine exploration.
Writing Section
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Use words like despite the fact, significantly, trap heat, and pollution in essays about environmental or natural world issues.
Speaking Section
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Employ terms like existence, admire, shallow water, and erosion when discussing nature, conservation, or personal experiences with the natural world.
Common Mistakes
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Confusing "Melt" with "Dissolve":
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Mistake: "The sugar melted in the water."
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Correction: "The sugar dissolved in the water."
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Misusing "Trap Heat" Without Context:
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Mistake: "The greenhouse traps heat in the air."
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Correction: "Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming."
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Overgeneralizing "Marine Creatures":
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Mistake: "Marine creatures include birds like seagulls."
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Correction: "Marine creatures are animals that live in the sea, such as fish or jellyfish."
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Using "Admire" for Negative Contexts:
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Mistake: "I admire how pollution affects the ocean."
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Correction: "I acknowledge the effects of pollution on the ocean."
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Confusing "Pollution" and "Damage":
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Mistake: "The factory causes damage to the air."
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Correction: "The factory causes pollution, which leads to air damage."
FAQ
What’s the difference between "erosion" and "deposition"?
"Erosion" refers to the wearing away of land, while "deposition" is the process of sediment being laid down in a new location.
How is "trap heat" relevant to environmental discussions?
"Trap heat" describes how greenhouse gases retain heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
What does "despite the fact" add to IELTS essays?
It introduces contrasting ideas, e.g., "Despite the fact that measures were taken, pollution levels remained high."
Why is "greenhouse gas" significant in IELTS topics?
It’s central to discussions on climate change and environmental impact.