Chapter: Our Neighbours
đ Vocabulary
English For Today Classes Nine and Ten
â Most Important Exam Words
charmingsublimescenictemperateinhabitantethnicpilgrimagecoexistenceheritageepitomemultilingualagricultureexportarchaeologicalindigenousazureabundantlagoonwildlifeatollsettlerconquersultanateabolishindependenceidyllicrecreationglobal warmingthreatresettleemissiondiversitysupremacylandlockedbiodiversityhappiness
đ Word Formation Rules
âē charm + -ing = charming; -ing forms an adjective meaning attractive or pleasing.
âē scene + -ic = scenic; -ic forms an adjective related to a noun.
âē temperate + -ure = temperature; some nouns are formed by changing the word ending.
âē inhabit + -ant = inhabitant; -ant can indicate a person who performs an action.
âē ethnic + -ity = ethnicity; -ity forms an abstract noun.
âē coexist + -ence = coexistence; -ence forms a noun expressing a state or condition.
âē heritage is a noun meaning tradition or inherited culture; hereditary is the related adjective.
âē agriculture is a noun; agricultural is its adjective form.
âē export is both a noun and a verb; the noun is pronounced /ËekspÉËt/ and the verb /ÉĒkËspÉËt/.
âē archaeology + -ical = archaeological; -ical forms an adjective from a field of study.
âē luxury + -ous = luxurious; -ous forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.
âē threaten + -ment = threatment is incorrect; the correct noun is threat. Avoid adding -ment mechanically.
âē recreate + -ion = recreation; -ion commonly forms nouns from verbs.
âē resettle = re- + settle; re- means again.
âē diverse + -ity = diversity; -ity forms an abstract noun.
âē happy + -ness = happiness; y changes to i before -ness.
âē biodiversity = bio- + diversity; bio- means life.
1. Nepal: Geography and Climate (9 words)
charming[/ËtĘÉËrmÉĒÅ/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻŽāĻ¨ā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āĻ§āĻāĻ°
Alt: āĻāĻāĻ°ā§āĻˇāĻŖā§āĻ¯āĻŧ
Example: Nepal is one of the most charming countries in Asia.
Syn: attractive, delightfulAnt: unpleasant
đĄ Exam tip: Use charming to describe a place or person that gives great pleasure.
sublime[/sÉËblaÉĒm/]adjhard
Meaning: āĻŽāĻšāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻŦāĻŋāĻ¤
Alt: āĻ
āĻ¤ā§āĻ¯āĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ āĻ¸ā§āĻ¨ā§āĻĻāĻ° āĻ āĻŽāĻšā§
Example: Nepal is a land of sublime beauty.
Syn: majestic, magnificentAnt: ordinary
đĄ Exam tip: Sublime is stronger than beautiful and often describes natural scenery.
scenic[/ËsiËnÉĒk/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻĻā§āĻļā§āĻ¯āĻļā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤
Alt: āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻžāĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ āĻĻā§āĻļā§āĻ¯āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āĻ§
Example: The country is famous for its scenic beauty.
Syn: picturesque, beautifulAnt: ugly
đĄ Exam tip: Scenic beauty means beauty created by natural views.
tropical[/ËtrÉpÉĒkÉl/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻā§āĻ°āĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ā§āĻ¯āĻŧ
Alt: āĻāĻˇā§āĻŖ āĻ āĻāĻ°ā§āĻĻā§āĻ° āĻāĻ˛āĻŦāĻžāĻ¯āĻŧā§āĻ°
Example: Southern Nepal is a tropical lowland.
Syn: equatorial, hotAnt: polar
đĄ Exam tip: Tropical is commonly used before climate, region, or forest.
lowland[/ËlÉĘlÉnd/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ¨āĻŋāĻŽā§āĻ¨āĻā§āĻŽāĻŋ
Alt: āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āĻ°āĻĒā§āĻˇā§āĻ ā§āĻ° āĻāĻžāĻāĻžāĻāĻžāĻāĻŋ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻā§ āĻāĻ˛āĻžāĻāĻž
Example: The Terai Plains are the tropical lowlands of Nepal.
Syn: plain, flatlandAnt: highland
đĄ Exam tip: Lowland is the opposite of highland.
temperate[/ËtempÉrÉt/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻ¨āĻžāĻ¤āĻŋāĻļā§āĻ¤ā§āĻˇā§āĻŖ
Alt: āĻŽāĻ§ā§āĻ¯āĻŽ āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ° āĻāĻ˛āĻŦāĻžāĻ¯āĻŧā§āĻŦāĻŋāĻļāĻŋāĻˇā§āĻ
Example: The central hill lands have a temperate climate.
Syn: moderate, mildAnt: extreme
đĄ Exam tip: Temperate climate means neither very hot nor very cold.
monsoon[/mÉnËsuËn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻŽā§āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāĻ¯āĻŧā§
Alt: āĻŦāĻ°ā§āĻˇāĻžāĻāĻžāĻ˛ā§āĻ¨ āĻŦā§āĻˇā§āĻāĻŋ
Example: The region is influenced by the monsoon.
Syn: rainy season, seasonal windAnt: drought
đĄ Exam tip: Monsoon can refer to both seasonal wind and heavy seasonal rain.
peak[/piËk/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻž
Alt: āĻĒāĻ°ā§āĻŦāĻ¤ā§āĻ° āĻ¸āĻ°ā§āĻŦā§āĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻŋāĻ¨ā§āĻĻā§
Example: Mount Everest is one of the highest peaks in the world.
Syn: summit, topAnt: base
đĄ Exam tip: Mountain peak and mountain summit are interchangeable in many questions.
inhabitant[/ÉĒnËhÃĻbÉĒtÉnt/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ
āĻ§āĻŋāĻŦāĻžāĻ¸ā§
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻ¨ā§ āĻŦāĻ¸āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸āĻāĻžāĻ°ā§ āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋ
Example: Kathmandu has less than one million inhabitants.
Syn: resident, dwellerAnt: visitor
đĄ Exam tip: Inhabitant means a person who lives permanently in a place.
2. Nepal: People, Religion and Culture (9 words)
demographic[/ËdemÉËÉĄrÃĻfÉĒk/]adjhard
Meaning: āĻāĻ¨āĻŽāĻŋāĻ¤āĻŋāĻ
Alt: āĻāĻ¨āĻ¸āĻāĻā§āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¸āĻāĻā§āĻ°āĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤
Example: Nepal has complicated demographic features.
Syn: population-relatedAnt: individual
đĄ Exam tip: Demographic is often used with population, features, or data.
ethnic[/ËeθnÉĒk/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻžāĻ¤āĻŋāĻāĻ¤
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻāĻžāĻ¤āĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āĻˇā§āĻ ā§āĻ¸āĻāĻā§āĻ°āĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤
Example: Nepal has dozens of ethnic groups.
Syn: racial, tribalAnt: universal
đĄ Exam tip: Ethnic group means a group sharing racial or cultural features.
caste[/kÉËst/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻžāĻ¤āĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻ°ā§āĻŖ
Alt: āĻ¸āĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻļā§āĻ°ā§āĻŖāĻŋ
Example: Different castes live in Nepal.
Syn: social class, groupAnt: equality
đĄ Exam tip: Caste is a social division traditionally based on birth.
pilgrimage[/ËpÉĒlÉĄrÉĒmÉĒdĘ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ¤ā§āĻ°ā§āĻĨāĻ¯āĻžāĻ¤ā§āĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻ§āĻ°ā§āĻŽā§āĻ¯āĻŧ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āĻ¯ā§ āĻĒāĻŦāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āĻ° āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻ¨ā§ āĻā§āĻ°āĻŽāĻŖ
Example: Lumbini is a sacred pilgrimage destination for Buddhists.
Syn: holy journey, religious journeyAnt: departure
đĄ Exam tip: Pilgrimage destination means a sacred place visited for religious reasons.
coexistence[/ËkÉĘÉĒÉĄËzÉĒstÉns/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻ¸āĻšāĻžāĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻ¨
Alt: āĻļāĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤āĻŋāĻĒā§āĻ°ā§āĻŖāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻāĻ¸āĻā§āĻā§ āĻŦāĻ¸āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸
Example: Nepal is a land of religious coexistence.
Syn: harmony, peaceful livingAnt: conflict
đĄ Exam tip: Religious coexistence means different faiths living together peacefully.
sacred[/ËseÉĒkrÉĒd/]adjeasy
Meaning: āĻĒāĻŦāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āĻ°
Alt: āĻ§āĻ°ā§āĻŽā§āĻ¯āĻŧāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤
Example: Pashupatinath is a sacred Hindu shrine.
Syn: holy, blessedAnt: profane
đĄ Exam tip: Sacred place, sacred shrine, and sacred land are common collocations.
shrine[/ĘraÉĒn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ§āĻ°ā§āĻŽā§āĻ¯āĻŧ āĻāĻĒāĻžāĻ¸āĻ¨āĻžāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻ˛
Alt: āĻĒāĻŦāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āĻ° āĻ¸ā§āĻŽā§āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ¸ā§āĻ§ āĻŦāĻž āĻŽāĻ¨ā§āĻĻāĻŋāĻ°
Example: Many temples and shrines are shared by Hindus and Buddhists.
Syn: sanctuary, holy placeAnt: secular place
đĄ Exam tip: A shrine is a place connected with a holy person or religious event.
heritage[/ËherÉĒtÉĒdĘ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻāĻ¤āĻŋāĻšā§āĻ¯
Alt: āĻĒā§āĻ°ā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āĻ°ā§āĻˇāĻĻā§āĻ° āĻāĻžāĻ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻĒāĻžāĻāĻ¯āĻŧāĻž āĻ¸āĻžāĻāĻ¸ā§āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻĒāĻĻ
Example: Nepal is rich in cultural heritage.
Syn: tradition, legacyAnt: modernity
đĄ Exam tip: Cultural heritage includes monuments, traditions, art, and architecture.
epitome[/ÉĒËpÉĒtÉmi/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻ¤āĻŋāĻŽā§āĻ°ā§āĻ¤āĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āĻā§āĻˇā§āĻ āĻāĻĻāĻžāĻšāĻ°āĻŖ
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻā§āĻŖā§āĻ° āĻ¨āĻŋāĻā§āĻāĻ¤ āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻāĻžāĻļ
Example: The three cities represent an epitome of refined culture.
Syn: embodiment, perfect exampleAnt: opposite
đĄ Exam tip: The phrase an epitome of means a perfect example of something.
3. Sri Lanka: People and Economy (9 words)
traditional[/trÉËdÉĒĘÉnÉl/]adjeasy
Meaning: āĻāĻ¤āĻŋāĻšā§āĻ¯āĻŦāĻžāĻšā§
Alt: āĻĻā§āĻ°ā§āĻāĻĻāĻŋāĻ¨ā§āĻ° āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻĨāĻžāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ°ā§āĻāĻ°
Example: Sri Lanka's economy has traditionally been based on agriculture.
Syn: customary, conventionalAnt: modern
đĄ Exam tip: Traditionally is the adverb form of traditional.
modest[/ËmÉdÉĒst/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻŽāĻžāĻāĻžāĻ°āĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ¤
Alt: āĻŦāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ¯āĻŧā§
Example: Despite its modest size, Sri Lanka has a large population.
Syn: moderate, limitedAnt: huge
đĄ Exam tip: Here modest means not very large, not humble.
multilingual[/ËmĘltÉĒËlÉĒÅÉĄwÉl/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻŦāĻšā§āĻāĻžāĻˇā§
Alt: āĻ
āĻ¨ā§āĻ āĻāĻžāĻˇāĻžāĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āĻ§
Example: Sri Lanka is a multilingual country.
Syn: polyglotAnt: monolingual
đĄ Exam tip: Multi- means many; multilingual means having many languages.
agriculture[/ËÃĻÉĄrÉĒkĘltĘÉ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻā§āĻˇāĻŋ
Alt: āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āĻāĻžāĻˇ āĻ āĻĢāĻ¸āĻ˛ āĻā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻ¨
Example: Agriculture is a traditional economic activity in Sri Lanka.
Syn: farming, cultivationAnt: industry
đĄ Exam tip: Agriculture is an uncountable noun and usually takes a singular verb.
export[/ÉĒkËspÉËt/]verbeasy
Meaning: āĻ°āĻĒā§āĻ¤āĻžāĻ¨āĻŋ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻĻā§āĻļā§āĻ° āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻ°ā§ āĻĒāĻŖā§āĻ¯ āĻĒāĻžāĻ āĻžāĻ¨ā§
Example: Sri Lanka exports tea, rubber, and coconuts.
Syn: sell abroad, shipAnt: import
đĄ Exam tip: As a noun, export is pronounced /ËekspÉËt/; as a verb, /ÉĒkËspÉËt/.
spice[/spaÉĒs/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻŽāĻ¸āĻ˛āĻž
Alt: āĻāĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻ°ā§ āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻĻ āĻ āĻāĻ¨ā§āĻ§ āĻĻā§āĻāĻ¯āĻŧāĻžāĻ° āĻāĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻžāĻ¨
Example: Sri Lanka produces cinnamon and other spices.
Syn: seasoning, flavouringAnt: blandness
đĄ Exam tip: Common spices in the passage include cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, cloves, and nutmeg.
archaeological[/ËÉËkiÉËlÉdĘÉĒkÉl/]adjhard
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻ¤ā§āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžāĻ¤ā§āĻ¤ā§āĻŦāĻŋāĻ
Alt: āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻžāĻā§āĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻā§āĻ¯āĻ¤āĻž āĻ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻĻāĻ°ā§āĻļāĻ¨āĻ¸āĻāĻā§āĻ°āĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤
Example: Sri Lanka has many archaeological treasures.
Syn: ancient, historicalAnt: modern
đĄ Exam tip: Archaeological is the adjective; archaeology is the noun.
civilization[/ËsÉĒvÉlaÉĒËzeÉĒĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ¸āĻā§āĻ¯āĻ¤āĻž
Alt: āĻāĻ¨ā§āĻ¨āĻ¤ āĻ¸āĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻ āĻ¸āĻžāĻāĻ¸ā§āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: Sri Lanka's treasures can be compared with past civilizations.
Syn: culture, societyAnt: barbarism
đĄ Exam tip: Civilization is often used with ancient, great, or past.
indigenous[/ÉĒnËdÉĒdĘÉnÉs/]adjhard
Meaning: āĻāĻĻāĻŋāĻŦāĻžāĻ¸ā§ āĻŦāĻž āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¯āĻŧ
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻ
āĻā§āĻāĻ˛ā§āĻ° āĻāĻĻāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸āĻŋāĻ¨ā§āĻĻāĻž
Example: The Veddhas are the indigenous inhabitants of Sri Lanka.
Syn: native, originalAnt: foreign
đĄ Exam tip: Indigenous means native to a particular place.
4. Sri Lanka: Nature and Tourist Attractions (9 words)
azure[/ËÃĻĘÉ/]adjhard
Meaning: āĻāĻāĻžāĻļāĻŋ āĻ¨ā§āĻ˛
Alt: āĻāĻā§āĻā§āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ¨ā§āĻ˛ āĻ°āĻā§āĻ°
Example: The island is surrounded by azure seas.
Syn: sky-blue, blueAnt: colourless
đĄ Exam tip: Azure is a descriptive adjective frequently used for seas and skies.
coastline[/ËkÉĘstlaÉĒn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻĒāĻā§āĻ˛āĻ°ā§āĻāĻž
Alt: āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻ˛ āĻ āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āĻ°ā§āĻ° āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻž
Example: Sri Lanka has more than 1340 kilometres of coastline.
Syn: shoreline, coastAnt: inland
đĄ Exam tip: Coastline refers to the outline or boundary of a coast.
cascade[/kÃĻËskeÉĒd/]verbhard
Meaning: āĻ§āĻžāĻĒā§ āĻ§āĻžāĻĒā§ āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻšāĻāĻ¯āĻŧāĻž
Alt: āĻāĻ°āĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻŽāĻ¤ā§ āĻ¨ā§āĻŽā§ āĻāĻ¸āĻž
Example: Sri Lanka has green hills and cascading waterfalls.
Syn: flow, pourAnt: stop
đĄ Exam tip: Cascading is commonly used before waterfalls.
abundant[/ÉËbĘndÉnt/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻā§āĻ°
Alt: āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻ¯āĻŧā§āĻāĻ¨ā§āĻ° āĻā§āĻ¯āĻŧā§ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋ
Example: The island has abundant wildlife.
Syn: plentiful, ampleAnt: scarce
đĄ Exam tip: Abundant means available in large quantities.
lagoon[/lÉËÉĄuËn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻĒāĻšā§āĻ°āĻĻ
Alt: āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āĻ°ā§āĻ° āĻāĻžāĻāĻžāĻāĻžāĻāĻŋ āĻ
āĻāĻā§āĻ° āĻāĻ˛āĻāĻžāĻ
Example: A weary traveller can relax beside a palm-shaded lagoon.
Syn: inlet, water bodyAnt: desert
đĄ Exam tip: A lagoon is usually separated from the sea by sand or coral.
weary[/ËwÉĒÉri/]adjeasy
Meaning: āĻā§āĻ˛āĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤
Alt: āĻĻā§āĻ°ā§āĻ āĻā§āĻ°āĻŽāĻŖā§ āĻ
āĻŦāĻ¸āĻ¨ā§āĻ¨
Example: A weary traveller can spend a relaxing day by the lagoon.
Syn: tired, exhaustedAnt: energetic
đĄ Exam tip: Weary is a formal synonym of tired.
snorkel[/ËsnÉËkÉl/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻ¸ā§āĻ¨āĻ°āĻā§āĻ˛āĻŋāĻ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻāĻ˛ā§āĻ° āĻ¨āĻŋāĻā§ āĻļā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸āĻ¨āĻ˛ āĻĻāĻŋāĻ¯āĻŧā§ āĻ¸āĻžāĻāĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻāĻžāĻāĻž
Example: Visitors can snorkel, swim, fish, or sail in Sri Lanka.
Syn: dive, swim underwaterAnt: remain ashore
đĄ Exam tip: Snorkelling is a leisure activity associated with shallow seas and coral reefs.
wildlife[/ËwaÉĒldlaÉĒf/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻŦāĻ¨ā§āĻ¯āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻžāĻŖā§
Alt: āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻžāĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ āĻĒāĻ°āĻŋāĻŦā§āĻļā§ āĻŦāĻ¸āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸āĻāĻžāĻ°ā§ āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻžāĻŖā§
Example: Bundala National Park is home to abundant wildlife.
Syn: wild animals, faunaAnt: domestic animals
đĄ Exam tip: Wildlife is generally an uncountable noun.
coral[/ËkÉrÉl/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ˛
Alt: āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āĻ°ā§ āĻāĻ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻā§āĻ¨āĻ¯ā§āĻā§āĻ¤ āĻā§āĻŦāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻžāĻŽā§
Example: Hikkaduwa is famous for its coral reef.
Syn: reef materialAnt: sand
đĄ Exam tip: Coral reef is a common exam phrase related to marine tourism.
5. The Maldives: Islands and History (9 words)
atoll[/ËÃĻtÉl/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ˛āĻĻā§āĻŦā§āĻĒāĻŽāĻžāĻ˛āĻž
Alt: āĻŦā§āĻ¤ā§āĻ¤āĻžāĻāĻžāĻ° āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ˛āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻžāĻā§āĻ° āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ˛āĻĻā§āĻŦā§āĻĒā§āĻ° āĻ¸āĻžāĻ°āĻŋ
Example: The Maldives has islands clustered into 26 major atolls.
Syn: coral ring, reef islandAnt: mainland
đĄ Exam tip: An atoll is ring-shaped and usually surrounds a lagoon.
cluster[/ËklĘstÉ/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻā§āĻā§āĻāĻžāĻāĻžāĻ°ā§ āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻž
Alt: āĻāĻāĻ¸āĻā§āĻā§ āĻāĻĄāĻŧā§ āĻšāĻāĻ¯āĻŧāĻž
Example: The islands are clustered into major atolls.
Syn: group, gatherAnt: scatter
đĄ Exam tip: Clustered into means arranged in groups.
reef[/riËf/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ˛āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻžāĻā§āĻ°
Alt: āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āĻ°ā§āĻ° āĻ¨āĻŋāĻā§ āĻĒāĻžāĻĨāĻ° āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ˛ā§āĻ° āĻāĻāĻā§ āĻāĻ āĻ¨
Example: The natural coral reefs are surrounded by the sea.
Syn: coral barrier, shoalAnt: deep sea
đĄ Exam tip: Coral reef is an important compound noun in environmental passages.
settler[/ËsetlÉ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻŦāĻ¸āĻ¤āĻŋ āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāĻ¨āĻāĻžāĻ°ā§
Alt: āĻ¨āĻ¤ā§āĻ¨ āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻ¨ā§ āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻ¯āĻŧā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦāĻ¸āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸āĻāĻžāĻ°ā§ āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋ
Example: The earliest settlers probably came from southern India and Sri Lanka.
Syn: colonist, inhabitantAnt: nomad
đĄ Exam tip: Settler comes from settle, meaning to establish a home.
convert[/kÉnËvÉËt/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻ§āĻ°ā§āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤āĻ°āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻāĻ°āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻšāĻāĻ¯āĻŧāĻž
Alt: āĻāĻ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸ āĻŦāĻž āĻ
āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻ¨ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻ
āĻ¨ā§āĻ¯āĻāĻŋāĻ¤ā§ āĻĒāĻ°āĻŋāĻŦāĻ°ā§āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻšāĻāĻ¯āĻŧāĻž
Example: The Maldivians were converted to Sunni Islam.
Syn: change, transformAnt: retain
đĄ Exam tip: Convert to is followed by the new religion or belief.
conquer[/ËkÉÅkÉ/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻ¯āĻŧ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻŦāĻ˛āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻ¯āĻŧā§āĻā§ āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻĻā§āĻļ āĻĻāĻāĻ˛ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Example: The Portuguese conquered the Maldives in the sixteenth century.
Syn: defeat, overrunAnt: surrender
đĄ Exam tip: The noun form is conquest and the person is conqueror.
sultanate[/ËsĘltÉnÉt/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻ¸ā§āĻ˛āĻ¤āĻžāĻ¨āĻ¤āĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ā§āĻ°
Alt: āĻ¸ā§āĻ˛āĻ¤āĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ° āĻļāĻžāĻ¸āĻ¨āĻžāĻ§ā§āĻ¨ āĻ°āĻžāĻˇā§āĻā§āĻ°
Example: The Islamic sultanate was abolished in 1968.
Syn: kingdom, realmAnt: republic
đĄ Exam tip: A sultanate is ruled by a sultan; a republic is ruled by elected representatives.
abolish[/ÉËbÉlÉĒĘ/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāĻ˛ā§āĻĒā§āĻ¤ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻāĻāĻ¨ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻž āĻāĻ¨ā§āĻˇā§āĻ āĻžāĻ¨āĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻļā§āĻˇ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Example: The sultanate was abolished and replaced by a republic.
Syn: eliminate, endAnt: establish
đĄ Exam tip: Abolish is used for systems, laws, customs, and institutions.
independence[/ËÉĒndÉĒËpendÉns/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ā§āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž
Alt: āĻŦāĻŋāĻĻā§āĻļāĻŋ āĻļāĻžāĻ¸āĻ¨ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻŽā§āĻā§āĻ¤ āĻ
āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: The Maldives gained independence from Britain in 1965.
Syn: freedom, self-ruleAnt: dependence
đĄ Exam tip: The adjective is independent and the opposite is dependent.
6. Climate Change and Tourism (9 words)
idyllic[/ÉĒËdÉĒlÉĒk/]adjhard
Meaning: āĻŽāĻ¨ā§āĻ°āĻŽ āĻ āĻļāĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤āĻŋāĻĒā§āĻ°ā§āĻŖ
Alt: āĻāĻĻāĻ°ā§āĻļ āĻ¸ā§āĻ¨ā§āĻĻāĻ° āĻĒāĻ°āĻŋāĻŦā§āĻļāĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻĒāĻ¨ā§āĻ¨
Example: The Maldives has idyllic natural beauty.
Syn: picturesque, peacefulAnt: unpleasant
đĄ Exam tip: Idyllic is used for an ideal countryside, scene, or life.
luxurious[/lĘÉĄËĘĘÉriÉs/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāĻ˛āĻžāĻ¸āĻŦāĻšā§āĻ˛
Alt: āĻ
āĻ¤ā§āĻ¯āĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ āĻāĻ°āĻžāĻŽāĻĻāĻžāĻ¯āĻŧāĻ āĻ āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻ¯āĻŧāĻŦāĻšā§āĻ˛
Example: The Maldives offers luxurious holiday resorts.
Syn: lavish, opulentAnt: plain
đĄ Exam tip: Luxury is the noun form of luxurious.
recreation[/ËrekriËeÉĒĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāĻ¨ā§āĻĻāĻ¨
Alt: āĻ
āĻŦāĻ¸āĻ° āĻ¸āĻŽāĻ¯āĻŧā§āĻ° āĻāĻ¨āĻ¨ā§āĻĻāĻĻāĻžāĻ¯āĻŧāĻ āĻāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻ¯āĻā§āĻ°āĻŽ
Example: The country is famous for beaches and facilities for recreation.
Syn: entertainment, leisureAnt: work
đĄ Exam tip: Recreational is the adjective form.
threat[/θret/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻšā§āĻŽāĻāĻŋ
Alt: āĻā§āĻˇāĻ¤āĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻĒāĻĻā§āĻ° āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻāĻžāĻŦāĻ¨āĻž
Example: The islands are under threat from rising sea levels.
Syn: danger, menaceAnt: safety
đĄ Exam tip: Under threat from is a useful phrase for cause-based questions.
global warming[/ËÉĄlÉĘbÉl ËwÉËmÉĒÅ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻŦā§āĻļā§āĻŦāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻˇā§āĻŖāĻžāĻ¯āĻŧāĻ¨
Alt: āĻĒā§āĻĨāĻŋāĻŦā§āĻ° āĻāĻĄāĻŧ āĻ¤āĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāĻ¤ā§āĻ°āĻž āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āĻ§āĻŋāĻ° āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻā§āĻ°āĻŋāĻ¯āĻŧāĻž
Example: Global warming causes rising sea levels.
Syn: climate warmingAnt: global cooling
đĄ Exam tip: Global warming is a major cause of climate change and sea-level rise.
flood[/flĘd/]verbeasy
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻ˛āĻžāĻŦāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻāĻ˛ā§ āĻĄā§āĻŦāĻŋāĻ¯āĻŧā§ āĻĻā§āĻāĻ¯āĻŧāĻž
Example: The tsunami flooded many dry parts of the islands.
Syn: inundate, submergeAnt: drain
đĄ Exam tip: Flood can be used as both a verb and a noun.
resettle[/ËriËËsetÉl/]verbhard
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻ¨āĻ°ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸āĻ¨ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻ¨āĻ¤ā§āĻ¨ āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻ¨ā§ āĻŦāĻ¸āĻ¤āĻŋ āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Example: The government may resettle its people if the islands go underwater.
Syn: relocate, rehouseAnt: displace
đĄ Exam tip: The prefix re- means again; resettle means settle again in a new place.
emission[/ÉĒËmÉĒĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ°ā§āĻāĻŽāĻ¨
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¸ āĻŦāĻž āĻĻā§āĻˇāĻ āĻĒāĻĻāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻĨ āĻāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋāĻ¯āĻŧā§ āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧāĻž
Example: The cabinet called on nations to cut their carbon emissions.
Syn: discharge, releaseAnt: absorption
đĄ Exam tip: Carbon emissions are gases released by vehicles, factories, and other sources.
carbon[/ËkÉËbÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻŦāĻ¨
Alt: āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ°āĻžāĻ¸āĻžāĻ¯āĻŧāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ āĻŽā§āĻ˛
Example: Countries should reduce carbon emissions.
Syn: carbon elementAnt: none
đĄ Exam tip: Carbon footprint and carbon emission are common environmental terms.
7. India and Bhutan: Geography, Culture and Values (9 words)
diversity[/daÉĒËvÉËsÉti/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻŦā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āĻ°ā§āĻ¯
Alt: āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻŋāĻ¨ā§āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻšā§āĻ°ā§āĻĒāĻ¤āĻž
Example: India is famous for its cultural diversity.
Syn: variety, multiplicityAnt: uniformity
đĄ Exam tip: Unity in diversity means living together despite differences.
civilization[/ËsÉĒvÉlaÉĒËzeÉĒĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ¸āĻā§āĻ¯āĻ¤āĻž
Alt: āĻāĻ¨ā§āĻ¨āĻ¤ āĻ¸āĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻ āĻ¸āĻžāĻāĻ¸ā§āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: India is a land of ancient civilization.
Syn: culture, societyAnt: barbarism
đĄ Exam tip: Indus Valley Civilization is a proper historical term and should be capitalized.
supremacy[/suËËpremÉsi/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¯ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻ§āĻŋāĻĒāĻ¤ā§āĻ¯
Alt: āĻ¸āĻ°ā§āĻŦā§āĻā§āĻ āĻā§āĻˇāĻŽāĻ¤āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻ°ā§āĻ¤ā§āĻ¤ā§āĻŦ
Example: The English gained supremacy over India.
Syn: dominance, authorityAnt: inferiority
đĄ Exam tip: Gain or establish supremacy means become dominant.
victor[/ËvÉĒktÉ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻ¯āĻŧā§
Alt: āĻ¯ā§ āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāĻā§āĻˇ āĻāĻ¯āĻŧāĻ˛āĻžāĻ āĻāĻ°ā§
Example: The English emerged as the victors.
Syn: winner, championAnt: loser
đĄ Exam tip: Victor is a noun; victorious is the adjective.
paradise[/ËpÃĻrÉdaÉĒs/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻ°ā§āĻ
Alt: āĻ
āĻ¤ā§āĻ¯āĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ āĻ¸ā§āĻ¨ā§āĻĻāĻ° āĻ āĻ¸ā§āĻāĻŽāĻ¯āĻŧ āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻ¨
Example: Kashmir has been described as a paradise on earth.
Syn: heaven, utopiaAnt: hell
đĄ Exam tip: Paradise on earth is a common metaphor for an exceptionally beautiful place.
landlocked[/ËlÃĻndlÉkt/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻ˛āĻŦā§āĻˇā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤
Alt: āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āĻ° āĻŦāĻž āĻŽāĻšāĻžāĻ¸āĻžāĻāĻ°ā§āĻ° āĻ¸āĻā§āĻā§ āĻ¸āĻ°āĻžāĻ¸āĻ°āĻŋ āĻ¸āĻāĻ¯ā§āĻāĻšā§āĻ¨
Example: Bhutan is a small, landlocked country.
Syn: inland, sea-freeAnt: coastal
đĄ Exam tip: Landlocked countries are surrounded by land and have no coastline.
evolve[/ÉĒËvÉlv/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻļāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻšāĻāĻ¯āĻŧāĻž
Alt: āĻ§ā§āĻ°ā§ āĻ§ā§āĻ°ā§ āĻĒāĻ°āĻŋāĻŦāĻ°ā§āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻ¨ā§āĻ¨āĻ¤ āĻšāĻāĻ¯āĻŧāĻž
Example: A unique culture evolved in Bhutan over time.
Syn: develop, progressAnt: decline
đĄ Exam tip: Evolve is usually followed by over time or gradually.
biodiversity[/ËbaÉĒÉĘdaÉĒËvÉËsÉti/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻā§āĻŦāĻŦā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āĻ°ā§āĻ¯
Alt: āĻāĻĻā§āĻāĻŋāĻĻ āĻ āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻžāĻŖā§āĻ° āĻŦā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āĻ°ā§āĻ¯
Example: Bhutan has taken steps to protect its biodiversity.
Syn: biological variety, ecosystem diversityAnt: monoculture
đĄ Exam tip: Biodiversity includes the variety of all living organisms in an area.
happiness[/ËhÃĻpinÉs/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ¸ā§āĻ
Alt: āĻāĻ¨āĻ¨ā§āĻĻ āĻ āĻ¸āĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ā§āĻˇā§āĻāĻŋāĻ° āĻ
āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: Bhutan measures success by Gross National Happiness.
Syn: joy, contentmentAnt: sorrow
đĄ Exam tip: Gross National Happiness is Bhutan's distinctive national development measure.
đĄ Exam Tips
âĸ Learn words in context, especially phrases such as cultural heritage, religious coexistence, temperate climate, coral reef, and carbon emissions.
âĸ For synonym questions, compare the meaning of the word in the passage rather than its most common dictionary meaning.
âĸ Remember opposite pairs: lowland/highland, import/export, sacred/profane, abundant/scarce, coastal/landlocked, and independence/dependence.
âĸ Use precise geographical vocabulary when describing countries: coastline, lowland, peak, atoll, lagoon, island, and landlocked.
âĸ In paragraph and letter writing, connect vocabulary with linking words such as despite, besides, as a result, therefore, and finally.
âĸ Distinguish noun and adjective forms: agriculture/agricultural, archaeology/archaeological, diversity/diverse, and happiness/happy.
âĸ For True/False questions, check numbers and dates carefully, such as 1199 islands, 26 atolls, independence in 1965, and the republic in 1968.
âĸ In exam answers, support explanations with details from the text, such as examples of festivals, ethnic groups, tourist sites, and climate threats.
âĸ Use capital letters for proper nouns and historical names such as Mount Everest, Sri Lanka, India, Bhutan, the Maldives, and the Indus Valley Civilization.
âĸ When writing about tourism, mention attractions, transport, accommodation, activities, total cost, and expenses not included in a package.