IELTS Vocabulary Topic: Fuels & Energy
biofuel – a fuel that is made from living things or their waste
crisis – a time of great disagreement, confusion, or suffering
fossil fuel – a fuel such as gas, coal, and oil that has been produced in the earth from plants and animals
hybrid – a vehicle with an engine that uses both petrol and another type of energy, usually electricity
petrol – a liquid obtained from petroleum, used especially as a fuel for cars and other vehicles
resource – something that can be used to help you
turbine – a type of machine through which liquid or gas flows and turns a special wheel with blades in order to produce power
disposable – intended to be thrown away after use
drastic – (of a change) severe and sudden; extreme
rechargeable – able to be recharged
unleaded – (of gasoline (= a fuel)) not containing lead (= a metal)
conserve – to keep and protect something from damage, change, or waste
counter – to do something in order to prevent something bad from happening or to reduce its bad effects
deplete – to reduce something in size or amount, especially supplies of energy, money, etc.
emit – to send out a beam, noise, smell, or gas
expend – to use or spend time, effort, or money
outweigh – to be greater or more important than something else
offset – counteract (something) by having an equal and opposite force or effect.
make up for something – to compensate for something bad with something good
tidy up – to clean and put things in a room in their proper place
forth – going out from a place or point, and moving forwards or outwards
clutter – a state of being untidy
needlessly – in a way that is not necessary
zap – to cook or heat something in a microwave
tumble dryer – a machine that uses hot air to dry clothes after they have been washed
round trip – a trip from one place to another and back to where you started
myth – a commonly believed but false idea
flick something on/off – to move a switch in order to make electrical equipment start/stop working
windmill – a structure with parts that turn around in the wind, used for producing electrical power or crushing grain
supplies – food and other ordinary goods needed by people every day
commonplace – ordinary; happening or seen frequently
diesel – a type of heavy oil used as fuel
lexical – relating to words
abuzz – filled with noise and activity
hurdle – a problem that you have to deal with before you can make progress
derivative – having qualities taken from something else
ponder – to think carefully about something
advocate – someone who publicly supports something
premise – to base an argument or theory on
appraisal – an act of assessing something or someone
derived – coming from or caused by something else
rapeseed – canola; a plant with yellow flowers from which oil and animal food are produced
burden – a load, typically a heavy one
disruption – an interruption in the usual way that a system, process, or event works
immense – extremely large in size or degree
sobering – making you feel serious
wean – (1) to accustom (a child or young animal) to food other than its mother’s milk. (2) to withdraw a person from some object or habit.
ongoing – continuing to exist, happen, or develop
destruction – the process of causing so much damage to something
conservationist – someone who works to protect animals, plants etc
dire – very serious or extreme
prospect – (1) possibility (2) a good view of a large land area
fleet – a number of buses, aircraft, etc. under the control of one person or organization
algae – very simple, usually small plants that grow in or near water and do not have ordinary leaves or roots
order of magnitude – the approximate size of something, especially a number
entrepreneur – someone who makes money by starting their own business
scheme – a plan or system for doing or organizing something
feat – achievement
dim – not bright, lacking light, being weak.
not go anywhere – to make no progress at all
IELTS Writing Task 2 Questions
- Some people prefer to use energy-saving modes of transportation like hybrid cars and bicycles. Others prefer the usual mode of transportation like buses and trains because it is fast and efficient.
Which mode of transportation do you prefer and why?
Use specific reasons and details to support your answer. - Low-price airlines lack most of the conveniences of normal air plane flights. However, the prices of the tickets are usually lower.
Discuss negative and positive aspects of having lower rates of air plane tickets for travellers.
Provide specific reasons and examples to support your response.