Updated on January 03, 2025
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The Natural World

This vocabulary list focuses on terms related to the natural world, marine life, environmental issues, and human interactions with nature. These words are valuable for IELTS exam sections, especially in Reading and Listening (scientific and descriptive texts), and Writing and Speaking tasks involving environmental or ecological topics.

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.

Illustration of The Natural World

Usage in IELTS Exam Formats

Reading Section

  • Words like erosion, predict, and marine creatures often appear in passages about environmental or natural science topics.

Listening Section

  • Terms such as bathysphere, greenhouse gas, and flow are common in audio about environmental concerns or marine exploration.

Writing Section

  • Use words like despite the fact, significantly, trap heat, and pollution in essays about environmental or natural world issues.

Speaking Section

  • Employ terms like existence, admire, shallow water, and erosion when discussing nature, conservation, or personal experiences with the natural world.

Common Mistakes

  1. Confusing "Melt" with "Dissolve":

    • Mistake: "The sugar melted in the water."

    • Correction: "The sugar dissolved in the water."

  2. Misusing "Trap Heat" Without Context:

    • Mistake: "The greenhouse traps heat in the air."

    • Correction: "Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming."

  3. Overgeneralizing "Marine Creatures":

    • Mistake: "Marine creatures include birds like seagulls."

    • Correction: "Marine creatures are animals that live in the sea, such as fish or jellyfish."

  4. Using "Admire" for Negative Contexts:

    • Mistake: "I admire how pollution affects the ocean."

    • Correction: "I acknowledge the effects of pollution on the ocean."

  5. Confusing "Pollution" and "Damage":

    • Mistake: "The factory causes damage to the air."

    • 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.

How can "marine creatures" be used in Speaking tasks?

It’s useful for discussing marine life, e.g., "Marine creatures like jellyfish and prawns are fascinating to observe."
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