The Daily Dose

Cambridge 14 (General Training) | Test 1 | Section 3Papyrus Libraries and archives are cultural crossroads of knowledge exchange, where the past transmits information to the present, and where the present has the opportunity to inform the future. Bureaucracies have become the backbone of civilizations, as governments try to keep track of populations, business transactions and taxes. At a personal level, our lives are governed by the documents we possess; we are certified on paper literally from birth to death. And written documentation carries enormous cultural importance: consider the consequences of signing the Foundation Document of the United Nations or the Convention on Biological Diversity.crossroads (noun) [countable]/ˈkrɑːs.roʊdz/an important or central placee.g., With funding coming up for review, the program is at a crossroads (= has reached an important but uncertain stage). backbone (noun) [uncountable]/ˈbæk.boʊn/the part of something that provides strength and supporte.g., She is the backbone of the family. keep track (of someone/something)to continue to be informed or know about someone or somethinge.g., My sister’s had so many jobs, I can’t keep track anymore.

Cambridge 16 (General Training) | Test 3 | Section 2Running a meeting Prior to the meeting, think about the seating and arrange it in an appropriate way. A circle can work well for informal meetings, but sometimes the furniture cannot be re-arranged or rows are more suitable. Consider the participants and decide what is best. Before people arrive, it’s a good idea to designate someone to stand at the entrance and greet everyone.prior to something (phrase)before a particular time or evente.g., I was trying to finish up my work prior to the trip. appropriate (adjective)/əˈproʊ.pri.ət/suitable or right for a particular situation or occasione.g., Is this film appropriate for small children? row (noun) [countable]/roʊ/a line of things, people, animals, etc. arranged next to each othere.g., Our seats are five rows from the front.

Cambridge 18 (General Training) | Test 2 | Section 3A home-sewing revival: the return of Clothkits “I can’t remember many of the clothes I wore before I was six, but I have a vivid memory of a certain skirt whose patterns I can still trace in my mind. It was wraparound, with a belt that threaded through itself, decorated with cats in two shades of green. I wore it with a knitted red jersey my mom bought in a jumble sale, and brown sandals with flowers cut into the toes. It was 1979, and I was not yet five. I forgot about that skirt for a long time, but when a girlfriend mentioned the name Clothkits while we were chatting, it was as if a door suddenly opened on a moment in the past that resonated with vivid significance for me.” The brand, founded in 1968, had by the late 1980s mostly vanished from people’s lives, but by a combination of determination and luck Kay Mawer brought it back.knitted (adjective)/ˈnɪtɪd/made using wool or thick cotton and two long needlese.g., hand-knitted gloves jumble sale (noun) [ C ] (British English)(also rummage sale North American English, British English)/ˈdʒʌmbl seɪl/a sale of old or used clothes, etc. to make money for a church, school or other organizatione.g., I bought it at a church jumble sale. resonate (verb) [intransitive]/ˈrez.ən.eɪt/if something such as an event or a message resonates, it seems important or good to people, or continues to do this

Cambridge 18 (General Training) | Test 3 | Section 3Roman Roads The long straight roads built by the Romans have, in many cases, become just as famous in history as their greatest emperors and generals. Building upon more ancient routes and creating a huge number of new ones, Roman engineers were fearless in their plans to join one point to another in as straight a line as possible, whatever the difficulties in geography and the costs in manpower. Consequently, roads required bridges, tunnels, viaducts and many other architectural and engineering features to create a series of breathtaking but highly useful monuments, which spread from Europe to eastern parts of the Roman empire.fearless (adjective)/ˈfɪr.ləs/not afraid, in a way that people admiree.g., These dogs are absolutely fearless. manpower (noun) [uncountable]/ˈmænpaʊər/the number of workers needed or available to do a particular jobe.g., We're a little short on manpower today, so we'll need you to do some extra tasks. breathtaking (adjective)/ˈbreθteɪkɪŋ/extremely exciting, beautiful, or surprisinge.g., The view from my bedroom window was absolutely breathtaking.

Cambridge 18 (General Training) | Test 2 | Section 2Encouraging Employees to be Healthy Recent reports have shown that ignoring mental health costs Australian companies at least $11 billion a year. We all have a responsibility to look out for one another. Some ways you can do this in the workplace include: running employee surveys to get valuable information on morale in the workplace; training managers on mental health strategies; offering rebatesso employees are compensated for counselling if required; and refusing to accept any bullying and unprofessional behavior in your workplace.look out for someone/something (phrasal verb)to pay attention to what is happening around you, so that you will notice a particular person or thing if you see theme.g., The police have warned shopkeepers to look out for forged notes. morale (noun) [uncountable]/məˈræl/the amount of confidence and enthusiasm, etc. that a person or a group has at a particular timee.g., Another win would be good for the team’s morale. rebate (noun) [countable]/ˈriː.beɪt/an amount of money that is returned to you, especially by the government, for example when you have paid too much taxe.g., The government plans to give small business owners a tax rebate.

literate (adjective)/ˈlɪtərət/able to read and writee.g., The job requires you to be computer literate. feather (noun) [countable]/ˈfeðər/one of the many soft light parts covering a bird’s bodye.g., Do you prefer a feather pillow or a foam pillow? annual (adjective)/ˈæn.ju.əl/happening once every yeare.g., The company charges an annual fee of $45. ownership (noun) [uncountable]/ˈəʊnərʃɪp/the fact that you own somethinge.g., The company is under private ownership. pretend (verb) [intransitive, transitive]/prɪˈtend/to behave as if something is true when you know that it is not,especially in order to deceive people or as a gamee.g., The children pretended (that) they were dinosaurs. constitution (noun) [countable]/ˌkɑːn.stəˈtuː.ʃən/the set of political principles by which a state or organization is governed, especially in relation to the rights of the people it governse.g., Britain has no written constitution. try your hand at something (idiom)to attempt something for the first timee.g., Mike decided to try his hand at tennis. temptation (noun) [countable, uncountable]/tempˈteɪʃn/the desire to do or have something that you know is bad or wronge.g., I couldn't resist the temptation to open the letter. invaluable (adjective)/ɪnˈvæl.jə.bəl/extremely usefule.g., The new job will provide you with invaluable experience. nest (noun) [countable]/nest/a structure built by birds or insects to leave their eggs in to develop, and by some other animals to give birth or live ine.g., Cuckoos are famous for laying their eggs in the nests of other birds.

Cambridge 19 (General Training) | Test 1 | Section 3White storks back in Britain after hundreds of years The last definitive record of a pair of white storks successfullybreeding in Britain was in 1416, from a nest on St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. No one knows why storks disappeared from our shores. They often featured on the menus of medieval banquets so we might, quite simply, have consumed them all. But there could be a more ominous reason. Storks are migrants arriving after the end of winter, nesting on rooftops and happily associating with humans, and because of this they have long been a symbol of hope and new life. Yet their association with rebirth also meant they became a symbol of rebellion. Shortly after the restoration of King Charles II in 1660, while storks were rare but surviving, parliament debated putting greater effort into destroying them entirely for fear they might inspire republicanism. Today, fortunately, that notion has disappeared and the stork retains its association with new life, appearing on cards given to celebrate the arrival of a new child, as a bird carrying a baby in a sling held in its beak.nest (noun) [countable]/nest/a structure built by birds or insects to leave their eggs in to develop, and by some other animals to give birth or live ine.g., Cuckoos are famous for laying their eggs in the nests of other birds. ominous (adjective)/ˈɑː.mə.nəs/making you think that something bad is going to happene.g., She picked up the phone but there was an ominous silence at the other end. rebellion (noun) [uncountable, countable]/rɪˈbeljən/an attempt by some of the people in a country to change their government, using violencee.g., The slaves rose up in rebellion.

Cambridge 19 (General Training) | Test 3 | Section 2What to do if you are made redundant Don’t rush into applying for any or every job that comes up. Take stock of what you have to offer, what you want to do, and carry out in-depth research to find out what employers are actually looking for. Talk to people in your target industry for career advice and information. This information will be invaluable in helping you identify potential employers.rush into something (phrasal verb)If you rush into something such as a job, you start doing it without having really decided if it is the right thing to do or having considered the best way to do it. e.g., I wouldn't rush into any deal like that with him, if I were you—you don't know this guy too well, so who's to say he won't screw you over? take stock (of something) (idiom)to examine a situation carefullye.g., After the storm homeowners came out to take stock of the damage. invaluable (adjective)/ɪnˈvæl.jə.bəl/extremely usefule.g., The new job will provide you with invaluable experience.

Cambridge 19 (General Training) | Test 1 | Section 2Resigning from a job in a professional manner When you take the decision to resign and move on to another job, you might really want to dance your way out of the door, or get your own back by criticizing your boss to the whole office. But you need to resist these temptations because in future you might find you’re working with your ex-line manager or other colleagues in a different company.resign (verb) [intransitive, transitive]/rɪˈzaɪn/to officially tell somebody that you are leaving your job, an organization, etc.e.g., He resigned as manager after eight years. get your own back (idiom) (British, informal)to do something unpleasant to someone because they have done something unpleasant to youe.g., I'll get my own back on her one day. temptation (noun) [countable, uncountable]/tempˈteɪʃn/the desire to do or have something that you know is bad or wronge.g., I couldn't resist the temptation to open the letter.

Cambridge 11 (General Training) | Test 2 | Section 2How to get a job in journalism You can get a good qualification in journalism, but whatemployers actually want is practical, rather than theoretical, knowledge. There’s no substitute for creating real stories that have to be handed in by strict deadlines. So, write for your school magazine, then maybe try your hand at editing. Once you’ve done that for a while, start requesting internships in newspapers in the area. These are generally short-term and unpaid, but they’re definitely worthwhile, since, instead of providing you with money, they’ll teach you the skills that every twenty-first century journalist has to have, like laying out articles, creating web pages, taking good digital pictures and so on.qualification (noun) [countable]/ˌkwɑː.lə.fəˈkeɪ.ʃən/an official record showing that you have finished a training course or have the necessary skills, etc.e.g., You'll never get a good job if you don't have any qualifications. substitute (noun) [countable]/ˈsʌb.stə.tuːt/a thing or person that is used instead of another thing or persone.g., Vitamins should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet. try your hand at something (idiom)to attempt something for the first timee.g., Mike decided to try his hand at tennis.

Cambridge 14 (General Training) | Test 4 | Section 3The Role of the Swiss Postbus There isn’t an inhabited place in Switzerland that cannot bereached by some sort of public transport. Federal law and the Swiss Constitution stipulate that every village with a population greater than 40 is entitled to regular bus services. The frequency of these services is directly related to population density. Timetables are put together four years in advance, and seldom change. If a new route is to be introduced, the population of the area affected is invited to vote in a referendum.inhabited (adjective)/ɪnˈhæbɪtɪd/An inhabited place or building has people living in ite.g., Is the island inhabited? constitution (noun) [countable]/ˌkɑːn.stəˈtuː.ʃən/the set of political principles by which a state or organization is governed, especially in relation to the rights of the people it governse.g., Britain has no written constitution. population density (noun)the number of people living in each unit of area (such as a square mile)e.g., This part of the country has a high population density.

Cambridge 15 (General Training) | Test 4 | Section 3Animals can tell right from wrong Wolves live in tight-knit social groups that are regulated bystrict rules. Wolves also demonstrate fairness. During play, dominant wolves will appear to exchange roles with lower-ranking wolves. They pretend to be submissive and go so far as to allow biting by the lower-ranking wolves, provided it is not too hard. Prof Bekoff argues that without a moral code governing their actions, this kind of behavior would not be possible. Astonishingly, if an animal becomes aggressive, it will perform a “play bow” to ask forgiveness before play resumes.tight-knit (adjective)/ˌtaɪt ˈnɪt/a tight-knit group of people are closely connected with each othere.g., The company is controlled by a tightly-knit group of investors. pretend (verb) [intransitive, transitive]/prɪˈtend/to behave as if something is true when you know that it is not,especially in order to deceive people or as a gamee.g., The children pretended (that) they were dinosaurs. bite (verb) [intransitive, transitive]/baɪt/to use your teeth to cut into something or someonee.g., Does your dog bite?

Cambridge 15 (General Training) | Test 1 | Section 3The California Gold Rush of 1849 On January 24, 1848, James Wilson Marshall, a carpenter, found small flakes of gold in the American River near Coloma, California. At the time, Marshall was working to build a water-powered sawmill for businessman John Sutter. As it happens, just days after Marshall’s discovery, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, ending the Mexican-American War and transferring California, with its mineral deposits, into the ownership of the United States. At the time, the population of the territory consisted of 6,500 Californios (people of Spanish or Mexican descent); 700 foreigners (primarily Americans); and 150,000 Native Americans.carpenter (noun) [countable]/ˈkɑːrpəntər/someone whose job is making and repairing wooden objectse.g., A master carpenter was in charge of teaching the apprentices. as it happens (idiom)used to introduce something that is true by chancee.g., As it happens, I know his brother. ownership (noun) [uncountable]/ˈəʊnərʃɪp/the fact that you own somethinge.g., The company is under private ownership.

Cambridge 16 (General Training) | Test 4 | Section 3History of Women’s Football in Britain Women’s football in Britain has deeper roots than might beexpected. In one town in 18th-century Scotland, single women played an annual match against their married counterparts, though the motives behind the contest were not purely sporting. Some accounts say that the games were watched by a crowd of single men, who hoped to pick out a potential bride based on her footballing ability.roots (noun) [plural]/ruːts/originse.g., Flamenco may have its roots in Arabic music. annual (adjective)/ˈæn.ju.əl/happening once every yeare.g., The company charges an annual fee of $45. bride (noun) [countable]/braɪd/a woman who is about to get married or has just got marriede.g., You may now kiss the bride.

Cambridge 16 (General Training) | Test 3 | Section 3Feathers as Decoration in European History Today, we do not generally associate feathers with the militaryin Europe, yet history shows that in fact feathers have played an intriguing role in European military clothing. The Bersaglieri of the Italian Army, for example, still wear a bunch of long black feathers in their hats hanging down to one side, while British fusiliers have a clipped feather plume whose color varies according to their regiment. The Royalists in the English Civil War adorned their headgear with ostrich feathers. “Historically, feathers were an incredibly expressive accessory for men,” observes Cambridge historian, Professor Ulinka Rublack. “Nobody has really looked at why this was the case. That’s a story that I want to tell.”feather (noun) [countable]/ˈfeðər/one of the many soft light parts covering a bird’s bodye.g., Do you prefer a feather pillow or a foam pillow? adorn (verb) [transitive]/əˈdɔːrn/to make something/somebody look more attractive by decorating it or them with somethinge.g., The bride's hair was adorned with white flowers. ostrich (noun) [countable]/ˈɑːstrɪtʃ/a verylarge African bird with a long neck and long legs, that cannot fly but can run very faste.g., The ostrich is the fastest animal on two legs.

Cambridge 16 (General Training) | Test 2 | Section 3Jobs in Ancient Egypt In order to be engaged in the higher professions in ancientEgypt, a person had to be literate and so first had to become a scribe. The apprenticeship for this job lasted many years and was tough and challenging. It principally involved memorizing hieroglyphic symbols and practicing handwritten lettering. Scribes noted the everyday activities in ancient Egypt and wrote about everything from grain stocks to tax records. Therefore, most of our information on this rich culture comes from their records. Most scribes were men from privileged backgrounds. The occupation of scribe was among the most sought-after in ancient Egypt. Craftspeople endeavored to get their sons into the school for scribes, but they were rarely successful.profession (noun) [countable]/prəˈfeʃn/any type of work that needs special training or a particular skill, often one that is respected because it involves a high level of educatione.g., Most professions in the medical field require years of training. literate (adjective)/ˈlɪtərət/able to read and writee.g., The job requires you to be computer literate. apprenticeship (noun) [countable, uncountable]/əˈprentɪʃɪp/a period of time working as an apprentice; a job as an apprenticee.g., Apprenticeships were becoming more difficult to find.

notion (noun) [countable]/ˈnoʊ.ʃən/a belief or ideaHe didn’t have a clear notion of what he had to do. congested (adjective)/kənˈdʒestɪd/crowded; full of trafficThe roads to Bordeaux were heavily congested. deliberately (adverb)/dɪˈlɪbərətli/intentionallyI'm sure he says these things deliberately to annoy me. buzz (noun) [ C usually singular ] informal/bʌz/a feeling of excitement, energy, and pleasure that something gives youe.g., I get a buzz out of public speaking. hooked (adjective)/hʊkt/‌if you are hooked on something, you enjoy it very much and you want to do it as often as possiblee.g., Her friends talked her into playing golf, and now she's hooked. obstacle (noun) [countable]/ˈɑːb.stə.kəl/a situation, an event, etc. thatmakes it difficult for you to do or achieve somethinge.g., A lack of qualifications can be a major obstacle to finding a job. decline (verb) [intransitive]/dɪˈklaɪn/to gradually become less, worse, or lowere.g., The animal's numbers are declining rapidly. ulterior motivea secret reasone.g., He’s just being nice. I don’t think he has any ulterior motives. in excess of somethingmore than somethinge.g., Many of the doctors here are working in excess of fifty hours a week. prodigious (adjective)/prəˈdɪdʒ.əs/very large or powerful and causing surprise; impressivee.g., Americans are the world’s most prodigious consumers.

Cambridge 19 (General Training) | Test 1 | Section 3Emojis As a form of global communication, emojis only began their growth in 2011. Four years later, it wasestimated that they were being used by over 90 per cent of the online population.In excess of six billion were being sent every day. Their prevalence in the culture was such that Oxford Dictionaries recently chose one as their word of the year. “Words of the Year” are those judged to be reflective of the “ethos, mood, or preoccupations of that particular year.” They’re very much of their time. And often, once time has passed, theyfade from people’s consciousness almost as quickly as they arose.estimate (verb) [transitive] [often passive]/ˈes.tə.meɪt/to guess or calculate the cost, size, value, etc. of somethingIt was difficult to estimate how many trees had been destroyed. in excess of somethingmore than somethinge.g., Many of the doctors here are working in excess of fifty hours a week. fade (verb) [intransitive]/feɪd/to gradually disappeare.g., Hopes of reaching an agreement seem to be fading away.

Cambridge 19 | Test 4 | Passage 3The Unselfish Gene There has long been a general assumption that human beings are essentiallyselfish. We’re apparently ruthless, with strong impulses to compete against each other for resources and to accumulate power andpossessions. If we are kind to one another, it’s usually because we haveulterior motives. If we are good, it’s only because we have managed to control and transcend our innate selfishness and brutality.selfish (adjective)/ˈsel.fɪʃ/Someone who is selfish only thinks of their own advantagee.g., Don't be so selfish! possession (noun) [countable]/pəˈzeʃ.ən/something that you own or that you are carrying with you at a particulartimee.g., Please remember to take all your personal possessions with you when you leave the aircraft. ulterior motivea secret reasone.g., He’s just being nice. I don’t think he has any ulterior motives.

Cambridge 19 | Test 4 | Passage 1The impact of climate change on butterflies in Britain According toconservationists, populations of around two thirds of butterflyspecies havedeclined in Britain over the past 40 years. If this trend continues, it might have unpredictable knock-on effects for other species in the ecosystem. Butterfly eggs develop into caterpillars and these insects, which are the second stage in a new butterfly’s lifecycle, consume vast quantities of plant material, and in turn act as prey for birds as well as bats and other small mammals. Only by arming themselves with an understanding of why butterfly numbers are down can conservationists hope to halt or reserve the decline.conservationist (noun) [countable]/ˌkɑːnsərˈveɪʃənɪst/someone who works to protect the environment from the damaging effects of human activitye.g., Conservationists are fighting to save the tiger. species (noun) [countable]/ˈspiːʃiːz//ˈspiː.siːz/a set of animals or plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each other and can breed with each othere.g., Mountain gorillas are an endangered species. decline (verb) [intransitive]/dɪˈklaɪn/to gradually become less, worse, or lowere.g., The animal's numbers are declining rapidly.

Cambridge 19 | Test 3 | Passage 3Is the era of artificial speech translation upon us? Noise, Alex Waibel tells me, is one of the major challenges thatartificial speech translation has to meet. A device may be able torecognizespeech in a laboratory, or a meeting room, but will struggle to cope with the kind of background noise I can hear in my office surrounding Professor Waibel as he speaks to me from Kyoto station in Japan. I’m struggling to follow him inEnglish, on ascratchy line that reminds me we are nearly 10,000 kilometers apart—and that distance is still anobstacle to communication even if you’re speaking the same language, as we are. We haven’t reached the future yet. If we had, Waibel would have been able to speak more comfortably in his native German and I would have been able to hear his words in English.recognize (verb) [transitive]/ˈrek.əɡ.naɪz/if a machine recognizes something, it is able to read it electronically and get informatione.g., The device recognises the bar code and records the price. scratchy (adjective)/ˈskrætʃ.i/A scratchy record, etc. has scratches on it so it makes unpleasant noises when it is playede.g., We spent the evening listening to her scratchy old jazz records. obstacle (noun) [countable]/ˈɑːb.stə.kəl/a situation, an event, etc. thatmakes it difficult for you to do or achieve somethinge.g., A lack of qualifications can be a major obstacle to finding a job.

Cambridge 19 | Test 2 | Passage 3An inquiry into the existence of the gifted child Let us start by looking at a modern “genius,” Maryam Mirzakhani, who died at the early age of 40. She was the only woman to win the Fields Medal—the mathematical equivalent of a Nobel Prize. It would be easy to assume that someone as special as Mirzakhani must have been one of those “gifted” children, those who have an extraordinary ability in a specific sphere of activity or knowledge. But look closer and a different story emerges. Mirzakhani was born in Tehran, Iran. She went to a highlyselective girls’ school but maths wasn’t her interest—reading was. She loved novels and would readanything she could lay her hands on. As for maths, she did rather poorly at it for the first couple of years in her middle school, but became interested when her elder brother told her about what he’d learned. He shared a famous maths problem from a magazine that fascinated her—and she washooked.selective (adjective)/sɪˈlek.tɪv/intentionally choosing some things and not otherse.g., The club is selective in choosing members.e.g., The college has a highly selective admissionsprocess. get/lay/put your hands on something (idiom)to find somethinge.g., I can never lay my hands on a stapler in this office. hooked (adjective)/hʊkt/‌if you are hooked on something, you enjoy it very much and you want to do it as often as possiblee.g., Her friends talked her into playing golf, and now she's hooked.

Cambridge 19 | Test 2 | Passage 2Athletes and Stress It isn’t easy being a professional athlete. Not only are the physical demands greater than most people could handle, athletes also face intense psychological pressure during competition. This is something that British tennis player Emma Raducanu wrote about on social media following herwithdrawalfrom the 2021 Wimbledon tournament. Though the young player had been doing well in the tournament, she began having difficultyregulating her breathing and heart rate during a match, which she later attributed to the “accumulation of the excitement and thebuzz.”withdrawal (noun) [ C/U ]/wɪðˈdrɑː.əl/an act of taking something back, removing something, or moving something backHer sudden withdrawal from the competition surprised everyone. regulate (verb) [transitive]/ˈreɡjuleɪt/to control something, especially by making it work in a particular wayHer mother strictly regulates how much TV she can watch. buzz (noun) [ C usually singular ] informal/bʌz/a feeling of excitement, energy, and pleasure that something gives youI get a buzz out of public speaking.

Cambridge 19 | Test 1 | Passage 3 The persistence and peril of misinformation   Misinformation—both deliberately promoted and accidentally shared—is perhaps an inevitable part of the world in which we live, but it is not a new problem. People likely have lied to one another for roughly as long as verbal communication has existed. Deceiving others can offer an apparent opportunity to gain strategic advantage, to motivate others to action, or even to protect interpersonal bonds. Moreover, people inadvertently have been sharing inaccurate information with one another for thousands of years. deliberately (adverb) /dɪˈlɪbərətli/ intentionally I'm sure he says these things deliberately to annoy me.   roughly (adverb) /ˈrʌf.li/ approximately Sales are up by roughly 10 per cent.   deceive (verb) [transitive] /dɪˈsiːv/ to make somebody believe something that is not true The company deceived customers by selling old computers as new ones.

Cambridge 8 | Test 1 | Passage 2 Air Traffic Control in the USA   An accident that occurred in the skies over the Grand Canyon in 1956 resulted in the establishment of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to regulate and oversee the operation of aircraft in the skies over the United States, which were becoming quite congested. The resulting structure of air traffic control has greatly increased the safety of flight in the United States, and similar air traffic control procedures are also in place over much of the rest of the world. occur (verb) [intransitive] /əˈkɜːr/ to happen Three major events occurred in my life that year.   oversee (verb) [transitive] /ˌoʊvərˈsiː/ to watch somebody/something and make sure that a job or an activity is done correctly As marketing manager, her job is to oversee all the company's advertising.   congested (adjective) /kənˈdʒestɪd/ crowded; full of traffic The roads to Bordeaux were heavily congested.

Cambridge 18 | Test 4 | Passage 2 The Growth Mindset   Over the past century, a powerful idea has taken root in the educational landscape. The concept of intelligence as something innate has been supplanted by the idea that intelligence is not fixed, and that, with the right training, we can be the authors of our own cognitive capabilities. Psychologist Alfred Binet, the developer of the first intelligence tests, was one of many 19th-century scientists who held that earlier view and sought to quantify cognitive ability. Then, in the early 20th century, progressive thinkers revolted against the notion that inherent ability is destiny. Instead, educators such as John Dewey argued that every child’s intelligence could be developed, given the right environment. innate (adjective) /ɪˈneɪt/ An innate quality or ability is one that you were born with, not one you have learned Many children seem to have an innate sense of justice.   progressive (adjective) /prəˈɡres.ɪv/ Progressive ideas or systems are new and modern, encouraging change in society or in the way that things are done Are you in favor of progressive teaching methods?   notion (noun) [countable] /ˈnoʊ.ʃən/ a belief or idea He didn’t have a clear notion of what he had to do.

Cambridge 18 | Test 2 | Passage 2 Living with artificial intelligence   This has been the decade of AI, with one astonishing feat after another. A chess-playing AI that can defeat not only all human chess players, but also all previous human-programmed chess machines, after learning the game in just four hours? That’s yesterday’s news, what’s next? True, these prodigious accomplishments are all in so-called narrow AI, where machines perform highly specialized tasks. But many experts believe this restriction is very temporary. By mid-century, we may have artificial general intelligence (AGI)—machines that can achieve human-level performance on the full range of tasks that we ourselves can tackle. defeat (verb) [transitive] 1: to win against someone in a fight, war, or competition 2: to stop something from being successful Scientists from around the world are working to defeat the disease.   yesterday's news something or someone that was popular once, but is not popular now That actor is yesterday's news.   prodigious (adjective) /prəˈdɪdʒ.əs/ very large or powerful and causing surprise; impressive Americans are the world’s most prodigious consumers.

as though (phrase) as it would be if You look as though you've been running a marathon!   millennium (noun) [countable] /mɪˈlen.i.əm/ a period of 1,000 years, or the time when a period of 1,000 years ends Imagine what the world will be like at the end of the next millennium.   astonishing (adjective) /əˈstɑː.nɪ.ʃɪŋ/ very surprising Her writing shows astonishing depth.   prior (adjective) [before noun] existing or happening before something else, or before a particular time The course required no prior knowledge of Spanish.   derive from (phrasal verb) /dɪˈraɪv/ to obtain a substance from something The new drug is derived from fish oil.   hold someone/something back (phrasal verb) /hoʊld/ to stop someone or something developing or doing as well as they should She felt that having children would hold her back.   get your kicks (from) (idiom) to get enjoyment or pleasure He gets his kicks from embarrassing his teammates.   follow (something) through (phrasal verb) to do what needs to be done to complete something He didn't follow through with his promise to help.   on the cusp (idiom) at the point when something is about to change to something else She is on the cusp of being a star.   catastrophe (noun) [ C ] /kəˈtæs.trə.fi/ a sudden event that causes very great trouble or destruction The emigration of scientists is a catastrophe for the country.

Cambridge 18 | Test 2 | Passage 3 An Ideal City The Renaissance marked the transition from the 15th century to modernity and took place after the spread of the plague in the 14th century, which caused a global crisis resulting in some 200 million deaths across Europe and Asia. Today, the world is on the cusp of a climate crisis, which is predicted to cause widespread displacement, extinctions and death, if left unaddressed. Then, as now, radical solutions were called for to revolutionize the way people lived and safeguard humanity against catastrophe. on the cusp (idiom) at the point when something is about to change to something else She is on the cusp of being a star.   widespread (adjective) /ˌwaɪdˈspred/ existing or happening in many places or among many people The plan received widespread support throughout the country.   catastrophe (noun) [ C ] /kəˈtæs.trə.fi/ a sudden event that causes very great trouble or destruction The emigration of scientists is a catastrophe for the country.

Cambridge 18 | Test 1 | Passage 3 Conquering Earth’s space junk problem Last year, commercial companies, military and civil departments and amateurs sent more than 400 satellites into orbit, over four times the yearly average in the previous decade. Numbers could rise even more sharply if leading space companies follow through on plans to deploy hundreds to thousands of large constellations of satellites to space in the next few years. orbit (noun) [ C or U ] the curved path through which objects in space move around a planet or star The satellite is now in a stable orbit.   follow (something) through (phrasal verb) to do what needs to be done to complete something He didn't follow through with his promise to help.   deploy (verb) [transitive} to use something or someone, especially in an effective way Two scientists were deployed to study the problem.

Cambridge 17 | Test 4 | Passage 3 Timur Gareyev – blindfold chess champion Next month, a chess player named Timur Gareyev will take on nearly 50 opponents at once. But that is not the hard part. While his challengers will play the game as normal, Gareyev himself will be blindfolded. Even by world record standards, it sets a high bar for human performance. The 28-year-old alreadystands out in the rarefied world of blindfold chess. He has a fondness for bright clothes and unusual hairstyles, and he get his kicks from the adventure sport of BASE jumping. He has already proved himself a strong chess player, too. In a 10-hour chess marathon in 2013, Gareyev played 33 games in his headsimultaneously. He won 29 and lost none. The skill has become his brand: he calls himself the Blindfold King. opponent (noun) [countable] /əˈpoʊ.nənt/ a person who someone is competing against in a sports event He has knocked out 15 opponents in 20 fights.   blindfold (verb) [transitive] /ˈblaɪnd.foʊld/ to cover someone's eyes with a blindfold She was blindfolded and taken somewhere in the back of a van.   get your kicks (from) (idiom) to get enjoyment or pleasure He gets his kicks from embarrassing his teammates.

Cambridge 17 | Test 4 | Passage 2 Does education fuel economic growth? Early findings suggest that the potential benefits of education for the economy can be held back by other barriers, and this has implications for today. Huge amounts are spent improving education in developing countries, but this spending can fail to deliver economic growth if restrictions block people—especially women and the poor—from using their education in economically productive ways. If economic institutions are poorly set up, for instance, education can’t lead to growth. hold someone/something back (phrasal verb) /hoʊld/ to stop someone or something developing or doing as well as they should She felt that having children would hold her back.   barrier (noun) [countable] /ˈberiər/ anything used or acting to block someone from going somewhere or from doing something, or to block something from happening Cultural barriers have made it hard for women to enter many professions.   restriction (noun) [countable] /rɪˈstrɪk.ʃən/ something that limits someone's actions or movement, or limits the amount, size, etc., of something They placed restrictions on smoking indoors.

Cambridge 17 | Test 3 | Passage 2 Palm Oil Palm oil is an edible oil derived from the fruit of the African palm tree, and is currently the most consumed vegetable oil in the world. It’s almost certainly in the soap we wash with in the morning, the sandwich we have for lunch, and the biscuits we snack on during the day. Why is palm oil so attractive for manufacturers? Primarily because its unique properties—such as remaining solid at room temperature—make it an ideal ingredient for long-term preservation, allowing many packaged foods on supermarket shelves to have “best before” dates of months, even years, into the future. edible (adjective) /ˈed.ə.bəl/ suitable or safe for eating I like to decorate my salads with edible flowers.   derive from (phrasal verb) /dɪˈraɪv/ to obtain a substance from something The new drug is derived from fish oil.   consume (verb) [transitive] /kənˈsuːm/ to eat or drink something Red meat should be consumed in moderation.

Cambridge 17 | Test 2 | Passage 3 Insight or evolution?  Scientific discovery is popularly believed to result from the sheer genius of such intellectual stars as naturalist Charles Darwin and theoretical physicist Albert Einstein. Our view of such unique contributions to science often disregards the person’s prior experience and the efforts of their lesser-known predecessors. Conventional wisdom also places great weight on insight in promoting breakthrough scientific achievements, as if ideas spontaneously pop into someone’s head—fully formed and functional. disregard (verb) [transitive] /ˌdɪs.rɪˈɡɑːrd/ to ignore something He told us to disregard everything we'd learned so far and start again.   prior (adjective) [before noun] existing or happening before something else, or before a particular time The course required no prior knowledge of Spanish.   conventional wisdom (noun) the generally accepted belief, opinion, judgment, or prediction about a particular matter Conventional wisdom in Hollywood says that a movie can't succeed unless it stars a famous actor or actress.

Cambridge 17 | Test 1 | Passage 1 The development of the London underground railway In the first half of the 1800s, London’s population grew at an astonishing rate, and the central area became increasingly congested. In addition, the expansion of the overground railway network resulted in more and more passengers arriving in the capital. However, in 1846, a Royal Commission decided that the railways should not be allowed to enter the City, the capital’s historic and business center. The result was that the overground railway stations formed a ring around the City. The area within consisted of poorly built, overcrowded slums and the streets were full of horse-drawn traffic. Crossing the City became a nightmare. It could take an hour and a half to travel 8 km by horse-drawn carriage or bus. Numerous schemes were proposed to resolve these problems, but few succeeded. astonishing (adjective) /əˈstɑː.nɪ.ʃɪŋ/ very surprising Her writing shows astonishing depth.   congested (adjective) /kənˈdʒes.tɪd/ too blocked or crowded and causing difficulties   slum (noun) [countable] a very poor and crowded area, especially of a city She was brought up in the slums of Lima.

Cambridge 16 | Test 4 | Passage 1 Roman tunnels The Persians, who lived in present-day Iran, were one of the first civilizations to build tunnels that provided a reliable supply of water to human settlements in dry areas. In the early first millennium BCE, they introduced the qanat method of tunnel construction, which consisted of placing posts over a hill in a straight line, to ensure the tunnel kept to its route, and then digging vertical shafts down into the ground at regular intervals. Underground, workers removed the earth from between the ends of the shafts, creating a tunnel. The excavated soil was taken up to the surface using the shafts, which also provided ventilation during the work. Once the tunnel was completed, it allowed the water to flow from the top of a hillside down towards a canal, which supplied water for human use. Remarkably, some qanats built by Persians 2,700 years ago are still in use today. millennium (noun) [countable] /mɪˈlen.i.əm/ a period of 1,000 years, or the time when a period of 1,000 years ends Imagine what the world will be like at the end of the next millennium.   post (noun) [countable] a vertical stick or pole stuck into the ground, usually to support something or show a position She tied the dog to a post.   shaft (noun) [countable] a long, either vertical or sloping, passage through a building or through the ground a lift/elevator shaft

Cambridge 16 | Test 2 | Passage 3 How to make wise decisions  One of the most reliable ways to support wisdom in our own day-to-day decisions is to look at scenarios from a third-party perspective, as though giving advice to a friend. Research suggests that when adopting a first-person viewpoint, we focus on “the focal features of the environment” and when we adopt a third-person “observer” viewpoint, we reason more broadly and focus more on interpersonal and moral ideals such as justice and impartiality. Looking at problems from this more expansive viewpoint appears to foster cognitive processes related to wise decisions. as though (phrase) as it would be if You look as though you've been running a marathon!   reason (verb) /ˈriː.zən/ to think about and make a good judgment about He reasoned that both statements couldn't be true.   impartiality (noun) /ɪmˌpɑːr.ʃiˈæl.ə.t̬i/ the fact of not supporting any of the sides involved in an argument an impartial evaluation of the job applicant's qualifications that does not consider age, gender, or race

Cambridge 16 | Test 1 | Passage 3 The future of work   According to a leading business consultancy, 3-14% of the global workforce will need to switch to a different occupation within the next 10-15 years, and all workers will need to adapt as their occupations evolve alongside increasingly capable machines. Automation or “embodied artificial intelligence” (AI)—is one aspect of the disruptive effects of technology on the labor market. “Disembodied AI,” like the algorithms running in our smartphones, is another. leading (adjective) [ before noun ] /ˈliː.dɪŋ/ best, most important, or most successful e.g., Investors can buy shares in many of the world's leading companies in other parts of the world.   evolve (verb) /ɪˈvɑːlv/ to develop gradually, or to cause something or someone to develop gradually e.g., The company has evolved over the years into a multi-million-dollar organization.   disruptive (adjective) /dɪsˈrʌp.t̬ɪv/ changing the traditional way that an industry operates, especially in a new and effective way e.g., The start-up has always been a disruptive force in the market.

1. self-evident (adjective) /ˌself ˈevɪdənt/ obvious and needing no further proof or explanation e.g., It is self-evident that childhood experiences influence our adult behavior.   2. latest (adjective) /ˈleɪtɪst/ newest or most recent or modern I’m interested in all the latest fashions.   3. obsession (noun) [C or U] something or someone that you think about all the time    e.g., The kids have an obsession with computer games.   4. life expectancy noun [ C usually singular or U ] /ˈlaɪf ɪkˌspek.tən.si/ the length of time that a living thing, especially a human being, is likely to live e.g., Life expectancy in Europe increased greatly in the 20th century.   5. former (noun) [S] /ˈfɔːrmər/ the first of two things or people mentioned e.g., He had to choose between giving up his job and giving up his principles. He chose the former.   6. latter (noun) [S] /ˈlætər/ the second of two things or people mentioned e.g., She offered me more money or a car and I chose the latter.   7. on the horizon (idiom) likely to happen or exist soon e.g., There is no new drug on the horizon that will make this disease easier to treat.     8. dispose of someone/something (phrasal verb) /dɪˈspoʊz/ to get rid of someone or something or deal with something so that the matter is finished e.g., He never uses that bike any more, but he's very reluctant to dispose of it.   9. get the better of someone (idiom) to defeat someone e.g., It would be hard to get the better of someone as experienced as she is. e.g., She knew she shouldn't open the package, but her curiosity finally got the better of her and she opened it.   10 .far-reaching (adjective) /ˌfɑːrˈriː.tʃɪŋ/ Something far-reaching has a great influence on many people or things e.g., The effect of the speech was far-reaching.

Cambridge 16 | Test 1 | Passage 1 Why we need to protect polar bears  Polar bears are being increasingly threatened by the effects of climate change, but their disappearance could have far-reaching consequences. They are uniquely adapted to the extreme conditions of the Arctic Circle, where temperatures can reach -40°C. One reason for this is that they have up to 11 centimeters of fat underneath their skin. Humans with comparative levels of adipose tissue would be considered obese and would be likely to suffer from diabetes and heart disease. Yet the polar bear experiences no such consequence. threaten (verb) [transitive] /ˈθret.ən/ to be likely to cause harm or damage to something or someone e.g., Overfishing threatens the survival of certain fish species.   far-reaching (adjective) /ˌfɑːrˈriː.tʃɪŋ/ Something far-reaching has a great influence on many people or things e.g., The effect of the speech was far-reaching.   underneath (preposition) under or below something else, especially when it is hidden or covered by the thing on top e.g., The coin rolled underneath the piano.

Cambridge 15 | Test 3 | Passage 3 Why fairy tales are really scary tales People of every culture tell each other fairy tales but the same story often takes a variety of forms in different parts of the world. In the story of Little Red Riding Hood that European children are familiar with, a young girl on the way to see her grandmother meets a wolf and tells him where she is going. The wolf runs on ahead and disposes of the grandmother, then gets into bed dressed in the grandmother’s clothes to wait for Little Red Riding Hood. You may think you know the story—but which version? In some versions, the wolf swallows up the grandmother, while in others it locks her in a cupboard. In some stories Red Riding Hood gets the better of the wolf on her own, while in others a hunter or a woodcutter hears her cries and comes to her rescue. dispose of someone/something (phrasal verb) /dɪˈspoʊz/ to get rid of someone or something or deal with something so that the matter is finished e.g., He never uses that bike any more, but he's very reluctant to dispose of it.   swallow up something/someone (phrasal verb) to take someone or something in so that it is destroyed or no longer independent e.g., I watched her walk down the road until she was swallowed by the darkness.   get the better of someone (idiom) to defeat someone e.g., It would be hard to get the better of someone as experienced as she is. e.g., She knew she shouldn't open the package, but her curiosity finally got the better of her and she opened it.

Cambridge 15 | Test 2 | Passage 3 Having a laugh Humans start developing a sense of humor as early as six weeks old, when babies begin to laugh and smile in response to stimuli. Laughter is universal across all human cultures and even exists in some form in rats, chimps, and bonobos. Like other human emotions and expressions, laughter and humor provide psychological scientists with rich resources for studying human psychology, ranging from the development of language to the neuroscience of social perception. sense of humor (noun phrase) a personality that gives someone the ability to say funny things and see the funny side of things e.g., Having a similar sense of humor is one of the pillars of friendship.   universal (adjective) /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːrsl/ involving everyone in the world or in a particular group e.g., These stories have universal appeal.   perception (noun) [uncountable] /pərˈsepʃn/ the way you notice things, especially with the senses e.g., Everyone's perception of reality is slightly different.

Cambridge 15 | Test 1 | Passage 2 Driverless Cars The automotive sector is well used to adapting to automation in manufacturing. The implementation of robotic car manufacture from the 1970s onwards led to significant cost savings and improvements in the reliability and flexibility of vehicle mass production. A new challenge to vehicle production is now on the horizon and, again, it comes from automation. However, this time it is not to do with the manufacturing process, but with the vehicles themselves. adapt (verb) [intransitive] /əˈdæpt/ e.g., to change your ideas or behavior to make them suitable for a new situation   on the horizon (idiom) likely to happen or exist soon e.g., There is no new drug on the horizon that will make this disease easier to treat.   be/have something to do with something (idiom) [informal] to be related to something or a cause of something but not in a way that you know about or understand exactly e.g., I'm not sure what he does exactly - it's something to do with finance. 

Cambridge 15 | Test 1 | Passage 1 Nutmeg – a valuable spice The nutmeg tree is a large evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. Until the late 18th century, it only grew in one place in the world: a small group of islands in the Banda Sea. The tree is thickly branched with dense foliage of tough, dark green oval leaves, and produces small, yellow, bell-shaped flowers and pale yellow pear-shaped fruits. The fruit is encased in a fleshy husk. When the fruit is ripe, this husk splits into two halves along a ridge running the length of the fruit. Inside is a purple-brown shiny seed, 2-4 cm long by about 2 cm across, surrounded by a lacy red or crimson covering called an “aril.” These are the sources of the two spices nutmeg and mace, the former being produced from the dried seed and the latter from the aril. ripe (adjective) /raɪp/ (of fruit or crops) completely developed and ready to be collected or eaten e.g., Those bananas aren't ripe yet - they're still green.   former (noun) [S] /ˈfɔːrmər/ the first of two things or people mentioned e.g., He had to choose between giving up his job and giving up his principles. He chose the former.   latter (noun) [S] /ˈlætər/ the second of two things or people mentioned She offered me more money or a car and I chose the latter.

Cambridge 14 | Test 4 | Passage 2 Why zoos are good In my view, It is perfectly possible for many species of animals living in zoos or wildlife parks to have a quality of life as high as, or higher than, in the wild. Animals in good zoos get a varied and high-quality diet with all the supplements required, and any illnesses they might have will be treated. Their movement might be somewhat restricted, but they have a safe environment in which to live, and they are spared bullying and social ostracism by others of their kind. They do not suffer from the threat or stress of predators, or the irritation and pain of parasites or injuries. The average captive animal will have a greater life expectancy compared with its wild counterpart, and will not die of drought, or starvation or in the jaws of a predator. A lot of very nasty things happen to truly “wild” animals that simply don’t happen in good zoos, and to view a life that is “free” as one that is automatically “good” is, I think, an error. ostracism (noun) [uncountable] /ˈɑː.strə.sɪ.zəm/ the action of intentionally not including someone in a social group or activity   bullying (noun) [uncountable] the behaviour of a person who hurts or frightens someone smaller or less powerful, often forcing that person to do something they do not want to do   life expectancy noun [ C usually singular or U ] /ˈlaɪf ɪkˌspek.tən.si/ the length of time that a living thing, especially a human being, is likely to live

Cambridge 14 | Test 2 | Passage 3 Why companies should welcome disorder New research suggests that our obsession with efficiency is misguided. The problem is not necessarily the management theories or strategies we use to organize our work; it’s the basic assumption we hold in approaching how we work. Here it’s the assumption that order is a necessary condition for productivity. This assumption has also fostered the idea that disorder must be detrimental to organizational productivity. The result is that businesses and people spend time and money organizing themselves for the sake of organizing, rather than actually looking at the end goal and usefulness of such an effort. obsession (noun) [C or U] something or someone that you think about all the time      misguided (adjective) /ˌmɪsˈɡaɪ.dɪd/ wrong because you have understood or judged a situation badly   for the sake of because of, or for the purpose of something

Cambridge 14 | Test 1 | Passage 1 The Importance of Children’s Play Whitebeard’s recent research has involved developing a play-based approach to supporting children’s writing. “Many primary school children find writing difficult, but we showed in a previous study that a playful stimulus was far more effective than an instructional one.” Children wrote longer and better-structured stories when they first played with dolls representing characters in the story. In the latest study, children first created their story with Lego, with similar results. “Many teachers commented that they had always previously had children saying they didn’t know what to write about. With the Lego building, however, not a single child said this through the whole year of the project.” stimulus (noun) [countable] /ˈstɪm.jə.ləs/ something that causes growth or activity   represent (verb) [t] /ˌreprɪˈzent/ to be a sign or symbol of something   latest (adjective) /ˈleɪtɪst/ newest or most recent or modern

Cambridge 13 | Test 2 | Passage 3 Making the Most of Trends Many ignore trends in their innovation strategies or adopt a wait-and-see approach and let competitors take the lead. At a minimum, such responses mean missed profit opportunities. At the extreme, they can jeopardize a company by ceding to rivals the opportunity to transform the industry. The purpose of this article is twofold: to spur managers to think more expansively about how trends could engender new value propositions in their core markets, and to provide some high-level advice on how to make market research and product development personnel more adept at analyzing and exploiting trends. cede (verb) [ T ] formal /siːd/ to give somebody control of something or give them power, a right, etc., especially unwillingly   spur (verb) [ T ] /spər/ to encourage an activity or development or make it happen faster   engender (verb) formal /ɪnˈdʒendər/ to make people have a particular feeling or make a situation start to exist

Cambridge 13 | Test 2 | Passage 2 Oxytocin In almost half of the existing research results, oxytocin influenced only certain individuals or in certain circumstances. Where once researchers took no notice of such findings, now a more nuanced understanding of oxytocin’s effects is propelling investigations down new lines. The key to understanding what the hormone does lies in pinpointing its core function rather than in cataloguing its seemingly endless effects. There are several hypotheses which are not mutually exclusive. Oxytocin could help to reduce anxiety and fear. Or it could simply motivate people to seek out social connections. Oxytocin acts as a chemical spotlight that shines on social clues—a shift in posture, a flicker of the eyes, a dip in the voice—making people more attuned to their social environment. This would explain why it makes us more likely to look others in the eye and improves our ability to identify emotions. But it could also make things worse for people who are overly sensitive or prone to interpreting social cues in the worst light. nuanced (adjective) made slightly different in appearance, meaning, sound, etc.   pinpoint (verb) to discover or describe the exact facts about something   mutually exclusive (adjective) If two things are mutually exclusive, they cannot exist or happen together at the same time

Cambridge 13 | Test 1 | Passage 2 Why Being Bored is Useful  Psychologist Sandi Mann at the University of Central Lancashire, UK, believes that “all emotions are there for a reason, including boredom.” Mann has found that being bored makes us more creative. “We’re all afraid of being bored but in actual fact it can lead to all kinds of amazing things.” In experiments published last year, Mann found that people who had been made to feel bored by copying numbers out of the phone book for 15 minutes came up with more creative ideas about how to use a polystyrene cup than a control group. Mann concluded that a passive, boring activity is best for creativity because it allows the mind to wander. In fact, she goes so far as to suggest that we should seek out more boredom in our lives. boredom (noun) [ U ] the state of being bored   wander (verb) If your mind or your thoughts wander, you stop thinking about the subject that you should be giving your attention to and start thinking about other matters seek out (verb) to search for and find (someone or something)