IELTS academic words english lesson 4 pdf

Video Lessons


ACADEMIC
VOCABULARY
F O R I E LT S
LESSON 4


ACADEMIC VOCABULARY FOR IELTS
• Nouns
• Verbs
• Adjectives
• Adverbs/ prepositions
• Definitions
• Extra language


FOLLOW
• To go in the same direction; to go next
• The fact that the children of lawyers and doctors often follow in their parents’
foot-steps does not indicate that they have a gene for legal or medical matters. On
the contrary, this is almost undeniable evidence for the importance of
environmental factors in behavior.
• The following paragraphs contain compelling arguments for the abolition of all
nuclear weapons.
• Whales, dolphins and other cetaceans are highly developed socially and
emotionally. Following on from this finding, it seems barbaric to force them to live
solitary lives in confined spaces. I would advocate the closing of al aquatic parks.
• According to the bar chart, Chile was the world’s leading exporter of copper,
followed by Australia, Russia and China.

• Major celebrities tend to have millions of followers on social media. (supporters)


FOLLOW
• The fact that the children of lawyers and doctors often follow in their parents’
foot-steps does not indicate that they have a gene for legal or medical matters. On
the contrary, this is almost undeniable evidence for the importance of
environmental factors in behavior.
• The following paragraphs contain compelling arguments for the abolition of all
nuclear weapons.
• Whales, dolphins and other cetaceans are highly developed socially and
emotionally. Following on from this finding, it seems barbaric to force them to live
solitary lives in confined spaces. I would advocate the closing of al aquatic parks.
• According to the bar chart, Chile was the world’s leading exporter of copper,
followed by Australia, Russia and China.
• Major celebrities tend to have millions of followers on social media.


THESIS
• Theory; notion; idea
• I entirely disagree with the thesis that free-market capitalism is the most
successful economic approach. Although it undoubtedly creates wealth for some, it
also perpetuates inequality and results in a great deal of suffering for others.
• The thesis that harsh custodial sentences can act as a deterrent to would-be
offenders must be challenged.There seems to be no evidence to suggest that
potential criminals decide not to commit crimes simply because they worry about
being caught and imprisoned.
• The idea that our dreams can predict future events is an interesting thesis.
Although there is little scientific evidence to back up this idea, our understanding
of dreams is so limited that we should not fully discount this suggestion.

THESIS
• I entirely disagree with the thesis that free-market capitalism is the most
successful economic approach. Although it undoubtedly creates wealth for some, it
also perpetuates inequality and results in a great deal of suffering for others.
• The thesis that harsh custodial sentences can act as a deterrent to would-be
offenders must be challenged.There seems to be no evidence to suggest that
potential criminals decide not to commit crimes simply because they worry about
being caught and imprisoned.
• The idea that our dreams can predict future events is an interesting thesis.
Although there is little scientific evidence to back up this idea, our understanding
of dreams is so limited that we should not fully discount this suggestion.


ENABLE
• To make something possible
• Amazing breakthroughs in space technology have enabled us to understand far
more about our solar system than we could possibly have imagined just a couple of
generations ago.
• Some learners are able to learn new languages in an incredibly short space of time;
others are completely unable to grasp the basics of a second language. (can)
• It is my fervent hope that, in the future, we will be able to cure all the diseases
which humans currently suffer from. (can)
• Many of us appear to be unable to fully master a foreign language. (cannot)
• The ability to laugh seems to be a specifically human characteristic. (can)
• The inability to accurately read social signals means that some children struggle to
make friends and interact successfully with others. (cannot)

ENABLE
• Amazing breakthroughs in space technology have enabled us to understand far
more about our solar system than we could possibly have imagined just a couple of
generations ago.
• Some learners are able to learn new languages in an incredibly short space of time;
others are completely unable to grasp the basics of a second language.
• It is my fervent hope that, in the future, we will be able to cure all the diseases
which humans currently suffer from.
• Many of us appear to be unable to fully master a foreign language.
• The ability to laugh seems to be a specifically human characteristic.
• The inability to accurately read social signals means that some children struggle to
make friends and interact successfully with others.


SUMMARY
• To repeat the most important points
• In summary, I fervently believe that nobody should have to pay to
enter art galleries and museums.
• To sum up, having seriously considered the benefits and drawbacks of
banning cigarettes, I have come to the conclusion that the
disadvantages would actually outweigh the advantages.
• To summarise, it seems crystal clear to me that cars should be
banned from our roads. Whilst I recognize that this represents a
massive change to our daily lives and that it cannot be achieved
overnight, we should begin to take action straightaway which will
eventually allow us to reach this objective.


SUMMARY
• In summary, I fervently believe that nobody should have to pay to

enter art galleries and museums.
• To sum up, having seriously considered the benefits and drawbacks of
banning cigarettes, I have come to the conclusion that the
disadvantages would actually outweigh the advantages.
• To summarize, it seems crystal clear to me that cars should be
banned from our roads. Whilst I recognize that this represents a
massive change to our daily lives and that it cannot be achieved
overnight, we should begin to take action straightaway which will
eventually allow us to reach this objective.


WHATSOEVER
• At all; entirely (with a negative)
• There is no reason whatsoever why news channels should avoid
broadcasting distressing images of death and destruction. Even
young children, who might find seeing such images upsetting, need to
be aware of the cruelty which happens in our world and to
understand its causes.
• Fortunately, most of us have had no experience whatsoever of
fighting in a war. We struggle to understand how traumatic and
psychologically damaging it must be for soldiers who have witnessed
death and participated in acts of brutality.
• Interestingly, the figures provided show that there were no sales of
motorbikes whatsoever during the first three months of 2003.


WHATSOEVER
• There is no reason whatsoever why news channels should avoid
broadcasting distressing images of death and destruction. Even
young children, who might find seeing such images upsetting, need to

be aware of the cruelty which happens in our world and to
understand its causes.
• Fortunately, most of us have had no experience whatsoever of
fighting in a war. We struggle to understand how traumatic and
psychologically damaging it must be for soldiers who have witnessed
death and participated in acts of brutality.
• Interestingly, the figures provided show that there were no sales of
motorbikes whatsoever during the first three months of 2003.


THROUGH
• As a result of; because of; owing to; due to
• Through hard work and commitment, it is possible for us to achieve many of our
goals in life.
• Scientists managed to map out the human genome through detailed, painstaking
experiment and observation.
• In the current economic climate, a significant number of older employees have
been made redundant through no fault of their own.
• Throughout the latter part of the twentieth century, the average number of
calories consumed by Europeans remained relatively high. (during)
• Throughout the last couple of decades, water has become increasingly scarce in
parts of The Middle East and Africa. (during)


THROUGH
• Through hard work and commitment, it is possible for us to achieve many of our
goals in life.
• Scientists managed to map out the human genome through detailed, painstaking
experiment and observation.
• In the current economic climate, a significant number of older employees have

been made redundant through no fault of their own.
• Throughout the latter part of the twentieth century, the average number of
calories consumed by Europeans remained relatively high.
• Throughout the last couple of decades, water has become increasingly scarce in
parts of The Middle East and Africa.


THUS
• in this way; with this result
• Motorists are encouraged to drive more slowly and thus to reduce
their consumption of petrol.
• By paying state benefits to poorer families, the government hopes to
alleviate poverty and thus make the country a happier and more
harmonious place.
• Farmers have been chopping down trees to create more agricultural
land.This reduces the natural habitat of elephants and thus conflicts
between humans and animals are more likely.
• Over thousands of years, waves crash against the rocks.Thus the
coastline is eroded.


THUS
• Motorists are encouraged to drive more slowly and thus to reduce
their consumption of petrol.
• By paying state benefits to poorer families, the government hopes to
alleviate poverty and thus make the country a happier and more
harmonious place.
• Farmers have been chopping down trees to create more agricultural
land.This reduces the natural habitat of elephants and thus conflicts
between humans and animals are more likely.

• Over thousands of years, waves crash against the rocks.Thus the
coastline is eroded.


OVERCOME
• To successfully deal with (a difficulty or problem)
• Many of the world’s most successful Paralympic athletes should be
admired for having overcome many obstacles and difficulties to
reach the top of their sport.
• Having the ability to deal with and overcome problems is one of the
characteristics most closely associated with success.
• Women who are successful in the world of business have often had
to overcome prejudice and sexism.


OVERCOME
• Many of the world’s most successful Paralympic athletes should be
admired for having overcome many obstacles and difficulties to
reach the top of their sport.
• Having the ability to deal with and overcome problems is one of the
characteristics most closely associated with success.
• Women who are successful in the world of business have often had
to overcome prejudice and sexism.


PARTICIPATE
• To take part in; to be a part of; to join
• It is debatable whether forcing voters to participate in elections
makes much sense.
• Participants is long-distance yacht races often give up the chance of

winning in order to rescue a fellow-competitor in distress.
• The table being discussed suggests that levels of participation in
sport have dropped rather dramatically since the 1980s.
• The United Nations has an aid programme. All participating
countries guarantee to spend 0.7% of GDP supporting countries in
the developing world.


PARTICIPATE
• It is debatable whether forcing voters to participate in elections
makes much sense.
• Participants is long-distance yacht races often give up the chance of
winning in order to rescue a fellow-competitor in distress.
• The table being discussed suggests that levels of participation in
sport have dropped rather dramatically since the 1980s.
• The United Nations has an aid programme. All participating
countries guarantee to spend 0.7% of GDP supporting countries in
the developing world.


COMPLEX
• Complicated; with many parts; difficult to understand
• We need to realize that poverty is a complex issue with a myriad of
causes.There is no ‘magic bullet’ or simple solution, but a series of
strategies can alleviate the situation.
• The legal system is incredibly complex, and only those with years of
training can hope to fully understand it.
• The complexity of transport systems in major cities means that they
can only be operated by sophisticated electronic systems. It would
be impossible for humans to accurately control them.

COMPLEX
• We need to realize that poverty is a complex issue with a myriad of
causes.There is no ‘magic bullet’ or simple solution, but a series of
strategies can alleviate the situation.
• The legal system is incredibly complex, and only those with years of
training can hope to fully understand it.
• The complexity of transport systems in major cities means that they
can only be operated by sophisticated electronic systems. It would
be impossible for humans to accurately control them.


WHAT SHALL I DO NOW?
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• Complete the quiz for this lesson
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