Cambridge IELTS Practice Tests 2, General Training, Test B, Reading, Section 3

Robots at work
A
have come a long way to have made a lot of progress
We've come a long way since the early days of the project.
edit (something) to prepare a piece of writing, a book, etc. to be published by
correcting the mistakes, making improvements to it, etc.
I know that this draft text will need to be edited.
This is the edited version of my speech (= some parts have been taken out).
typeset to prepare a book, etc. for printing
Pages can now be typeset on-screen.
ultimately adv in the end; finally
Ultimately, you'll have to make the decision yourself.
A poor diet will ultimately lead to illness.
printing press a machine that produces books, newspapers, etc. by pressing a surface
covered in ink onto paper
go [intransitive] if a machine goes, it works
This clock doesn't go.
editor a person who is in charge of a newspaper, magazine, etc., or part of one, and
who decides what should be included
the editor of the Washington Post
the sports/financial/fashion, etc. editor
subeditor (informal sub) a person whose job is to check and make changes to the text
of a newspaper or magazine before it is printed
put sth together to make or prepare something by fitting or collecting parts together
to put together a model plane/an essay/a meal
I think we can put together a very strong case for the defence.
prevail (in/among something) to exist or be very common at a particular time or in a
particular place
We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons.
Those beliefs still prevail among certain social groups.
compile something to produce a book, list, report, etc. by bringing together different
items, articles, songs, etc.
We are trying to compile a list of suitable people for the job.
The album was compiled from live recordings from last year's tour.
editorial adj [usually before noun] connected with the task of preparing something
such as a newspaper, a book or a television or radio programme, to be published or
broadcast
the magazine’s editorial staff
Some debates in Parliament are shown live and are outside editorial control.
human (also human being) a person rather than an animal or a machine
Dogs can hear much better than humans.
That is no way to treat another human being.
 automate something [usually passive] to use machines and computers instead of
people to do a job or task
The entire manufacturing process has been automated.
The factory is now fully automated.
B
edition (abbreviation ed.) the total number of copies of a book, newspaper or
magazine, etc. published at one time
The dictionary is now in its ninth edition.
The article appeared in the evening edition of ‘The Mercury’.
transmit (something) (from…) (to…) to send an electronic signal, radio or
television broadcast, etc.
signals transmitted from a satellite
The ceremony was transmitted live by satellite to over fifty countries.
a short-wave radio that can transmit as well as receive
transmission [uncountable] the act or process of sending out an electronic signal or
message or of broadcasting a radio or television programme
the transmission of computer data along telephone lines
a break in transmission (= of a radio or television broadcast) due to a
technical fault
update (on something) a report or broadcast that gives the most recent information
about something; a new version of something containing the most recent information
a news update
fax (formal facsimile) [uncountable] a system for sending documents using
a fax machine
Can you send it to me by fax?What is your fax number?
sophisticated adj (of a machine, system, etc.) clever and complicated in the way that
it works or is presented
highly sophisticated computer systems
Medical techniques are becoming more sophisticated all the time.
imagesetter a very high quality colour printer used for producing magazines, etc.
version a form of something that is slightly different from an earlier form or from
other forms of the same thing
There are two versions of the game, a long one and a short one.
the latest version of the software package
cyan [uncountable] (specialist) a greenish-blue colour, used in printing
magenta U a reddish-purple colour
photographic adj connected with photographs or photography
photographic equipment/film/images
They produced a photographic record of the event.
negative a developed film showing the dark areas of an actual scene as light and the
light areas as dark / bản âm
Keep the negatives in case you want more prints later.
aluminium (North American English aluminum) [uncountable] (symbol Al) a
chemical element. Aluminium is a light, silver-grey metal used for making pans, etc.
 aluminium saucepans/window frames
aluminium foil (= for example, for wrapping food in)
plate [countable] a sheet of metal, plastic, etc. that has been treated so that words or
pictures can be printed from it
a printing plate
press [countable, uncountable] a machine for printing books, newspapers, etc.; the
process of printing them
We were able to watch the books rolling off the presses.
These prices are correct at the time of going to press.
C
procession a series of people or things, one after the other
My day has just been a never-ending procession of visitors.
automate something [usually passive] to use machines and computers instead of
people to do a job or task
The entire manufacturing process has been automated.
The factory is now fully automated.
herald (in the past) a person who carried messages from a ruler
honk [intransitive, transitive] if a car horn honks or you honk or honk the horn, the
horn makes a loud noise
SYNONYM HOOT honking taxis
honk at somebody/something Why did he honk at me?
honk something People honked their horns as they drove past.
for all the world exactly
She sounds for all the world like her mother on the phone.
random adj [usually before noun] done, chosen, etc. without somebody deciding in
advance what is going to happen, or without any regular pattern
the random killing of innocent people
a random sample/selection (= in which each thing has an equal chance of
being chosen)
path (pl. paths) (also pathway) [usually singular] a line along which
somebody/something moves; the space in front of somebody/something as they move
SYNONYM WAY
He threw himself into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
The avalanche forced its way down the mountain, crushing everything in its
path.
get on with sth to continue doing something, especially after an interruption
Be quiet and get on with your work.
(informal) Get on with it! We haven't got all day.
automation U the use of machines to do work that was previously done by people /
sự tự động hoá; kỹ thuật tự động
Automation meant the loss of many factory jobs.
unauthorized adj without official permission
No access for unauthorized personnel.
OPPOSITE AUTHORIZE
 unauthorized use of public funds
an unauthorized biography (= written without the subject’s permission or
help)
personnel [plural] the people who work for an organization or one of the armed
forces
skilled personnel
sales/technical/medical/security/military, etc. personnel
alert somebody (to do something) | alert somebody (that)… [often passive] to warn
somebody about a dangerous or urgent situation
Neighbours quickly alerted the emergency services.
Alerted by a noise downstairs, he sat up and turned on the light.
intruder a person who enters a building or an area illegally
The intruder fired at least one more shot at the guard, then fled.
Intruder alarms are being fitted in many schools as a way of improving
security.
tall story (usually North American English tall tale) a story that is difficult to believe
because what it describes seems exaggerated and not likely to be true
take sth on [no passive] to begin to have a particular quality, appearance, etc.
The chameleon can take on the colours of its background.
His voice took on a more serious tone.
D
principle C the basic idea that a plan or system is based on
The general principle is that education should be available to all children up
to the age of 16.
shift [intransitive, transitive] to move, or move something, from one position or place
to another
Lydia shifted uncomfortably in her chair.I shifted uneasily under his gaze.
shift (from…) (to…) The action of the novel shifts from Paris to London.
shift something Could you help me shift some furniture?
shift something (from…) (to…) He shifted his gaze from the child to her.
newsprint U the cheap paper that newspapers are printed on
reel (especially British English) (also spool especially in North American English) a
round object around which you wind such things as thread, wire or film;
a reel together with the film, wire, thread, etc. that is wound around it
a cotton reel a reel on a fishing rod
reels of magnetic tape
emerge [intransitive] to start to exist; to appear or become known
After the elections opposition groups began to emerge.
emerge as something He emerged as a key figure in the campaign.
punch sth in/punch sth into sth to put information into a computer by pressing the
keys
He punched in the security code.
go about sth to start working on something
SYNONYM TACKLE
 You're not going about the job in the right way.
go about doing something How should I go about finding a job?
reel (especially British English) (also spool especially in North American English) a
round object around which you wind such things as thread, wire or film;
a reel together with the film, wire, thread, etc. that is wound around it
a cotton reel a reel on a fishing rod
reels of magnetic tape
press [countable, uncountable] a machine for printing books, newspapers, etc.; the
process of printing them
We were able to watch the books rolling off the presses.
These prices are correct at the time of going to press.
alert somebody (to do something) | alert somebody (that)… to warn somebody
about a dangerous or urgent situation
Neighbours quickly alerted the emergency services
.Alerted by a noise downstairs, he sat up and turned on the light.
fulfil sth (North American English fulfill) (formal) to do or have what is required or
necessary
to fulfil a duty/an obligation/a promise
to fulfil the terms/conditions of an agreement
newsprint U the cheap paper that newspapers are printed on
reel (especially British English) (also spool especially in North American English) a
round object around which you wind such things as thread, wire or film;
a reel together with the film, wire, thread, etc. that is wound around it
a cotton reel a reel on a fishing rod
reels of magnetic tape
strip [transitive] to remove a layer from something, especially so that it is completely
exposed
strip something (off) Strip off all the existing paint.
strip A off/from B Deer had stripped all the bark off the tree.
strip B of A Deer had stripped the tree of its bark.
rack (often in compounds) a piece of equipment, usually made of metal or wooden
bars, that is used for holding things or for hanging things on
a vegetable/wine/plate/toast rack
I looked through a rack of clothes at the back of the shop.
wrapping [uncountable](also wrappings [plural]) paper, plastic, etc. used for
covering something in order to protect it
She tore the cellophane wrapping off the box.
shrink wrapping (= plastic designed to shrink around objects so that it fits
them tightly)
tough adj not easily cut, broken, torn, etc.
a tough pair of shoes
The reptile's skin is tough and scaly.
 reel (especially British English) (also spool especially in North American English) a
round object around which you wind such things as thread, wire or film;
a reel together with the film, wire, thread, etc. that is wound around it
a cotton reel a reel on a fishing rod
reels of magnetic tape
handling the action of touching, feeling or holding something with your hands
toys that can stand up to rough handling
In the manufacturing industries heavy materials handling is often done by
robots.
rough adj not gentle or careful; violent
This watch is not designed for rough treatment.
They complained of rough handling by the guards.
rough kids
peel (something) away/off/back to remove a layer, covering, etc. from the surface of
something; to come off the surface of something
Carefully peel away the lining paper.
The label will peel off if you soak it in water.
E
paste something + adv./prep. to stick something to something else using glue
or paste
He pasted the pictures into his scrapbook.
Paste the two pieces together.
trim something (off something) | trim something (off/away) to cut away
unnecessary parts from something
Trim any excess fat off the meat.
I trimmed two centimetres off the hem of the skirt.
reel (especially British English) (also spool especially in North American English) a
round object around which you wind such things as thread, wire or film;
a reel together with the film, wire, thread, etc. that is wound around it
a cotton reel a reel on a fishing rod
reels of magnetic tape
press [countable, uncountable] a machine for printing books, newspapers, etc.; the
process of printing them
We were able to watch the books rolling off the presses.
These prices are correct at the time of going to press.
load [transitive, intransitive] to put something into a weapon, camera or other piece of
equipment so that it can be used
load something (into something) She loaded film into the camera.
load something (with something) She loaded the camera with film.
load (something) Is the gun loaded?
Opposite unload
call for sth to need something
The situation calls for prompt action.‘I've been promoted.’
‘This calls for a celebration!’
 spot a particular area or place
a quiet/secluded/lonely, etc. spot
He showed me the exact spot where he had asked her to marry him.
use sth up to use all of something so that there is none left
Making soup is a good way of using up leftover vegetables.
deposit somebody/something + adv./prep. to put or lay somebody/something down
in a particular place
She deposited a pile of books on my desk.
(informal) I was whisked off in a taxi and deposited outside the hotel.
core the central part of an object
the earth’s core the core of a nuclear reactor
shredder a machine that tears something into small pieces, especially paper, so that
nobody can read what was printed on it
F
sensor a device that can react to light, heat, pressure, etc. in order to make a machine,
etc. do something or show something
security lights with an infrared sensor (= that come on when a person is near
them)
path (pl. paths) (also pathway) [usually singular] a line along which
somebody/something moves; the space in front of somebody/something as they move
SYNONYM WAY
He threw himself into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
The avalanche forced its way down the mountain, crushing everything in its
path.
route a way that you follow to get from one place to another
Which is the best route to take?
route (from A to B) the quickest route from Florence to Rome
work sth out to plan or think of something
I've worked out a new way of doing it.
lay down sth to state something plainly esp. as an official rule
The coach laid down the rules from the first day of practice.
run [intransitive] + adj. to become different in a particular way, especially a bad way
The river ran dry (= stopped flowing) during the drought.
Supplies are running low. We've run short of milk.
line [countable] a system of making something, in which the product moves from one
worker to the next until it is finished
maintenance (of something) the act of keeping something in good condition by
checking or repairing it regularly
The school pays for heating and the maintenance of the buildings.
car maintenance
absolute adj [only before noun] used, especially in spoken English, to give emphasis
to what you are saying
There's absolute rubbish on television tonight.
He must earn an absolute fortune.
 input [countable, uncountable] time, knowledge, ideas, etc. that you put into work, a
project, etc. in order to make it succeed; the act of putting something in
input (into/to something) Her specialist input to the discussions has been
very useful.
input (of something) There has been a big input of resources into the project
from industry.
G
churn sth out (informal, often disapproving) to produce something quickly and in
large amounts
She churns out novels at the rate of three a year.
edition (abbreviation ed.) the total number of copies of a book, newspaper or
magazine, etc. published at one time
The dictionary is now in its ninth edition.
The article appeared in the evening edition of ‘The Mercury’.
Questions 27-32
heading the subject of each section of a speech or piece of writing
The company's aims can be grouped under three main headings.
Answers
beware vi vt (used only in infinitives and in orders) if you tell somebody to beware,
you are warning them that somebody/something is dangerous and that they should be
careful
beware of somebody/something Motorists have been warned to beware of
icy roads.
beware (of) doing something Beware of saying anything that might reveal
where you live.
beware somebody/something It's a great place for swimming, but beware
dangerous currents.
27 v
slpit PAST TENSE AND PAST PARTICIPLE split [transitive, intransitive] to divide, or to
make something divide, into two or more parts
split something (into something) She split the class into groups of four.
split (into something) The results split neatly into two groups.
28 vii 29 iv 30 i 31 viii 32 ii
take over (from sb)/take sth over (from sb) to begin to have control of or
responsibility for something, especially in place of somebody else
look ahead (to sth) to think about what is going to happen in the future
supersede something/somebody [often passive] to take the place of
something/somebody that is considered to be old-fashioned or no longer the best
available / thế chỗ, thay thế
The theory has been superseded by more recent research.
Questions 33-40
Answers
version a form of something that is slightly different from an earlier form or from
other forms of the same thing
 There are two versions of the game, a long one and a short one.
the latest version of the software package
33 transmitted (NOT sent) (electronically)
transmit (something) (from…) (to…) to send an electronic signal, radio or
television broadcast, etc.
signals transmitted from a satellite
The ceremony was transmitted live by satellite to over fifty countries.
a short-wave radio that can transmit as well as receive
fax (formal facsimile) [uncountable] a system for sending documents using
a fax machine
Can you send it to me by fax?What is your fax number?
34 (photographic) film/negative(s)
photographic adj connected with photographs or photography
photographic equipment/film/images
They produced a photographic record of the event.
negative a developed film showing the dark areas of an actual scene as light and the
light areas as dark / bản âm
Keep the negatives in case you want more prints later.
35 (Aluminium) printing plates
aluminium (North American English aluminum) [uncountable] (symbol Al) a
chemical element. Aluminium is a light, silver-grey metal used for making pans, etc.
aluminium saucepans/window frames
aluminium foil (= for example, for wrapping food in)
plate [countable] a sheet of metal, plastic, etc. that has been treated so that words or
pictures can be printed from it
a printing plate
press [countable, uncountable] a machine for printing books, newspapers, etc.; the
process of printing them
We were able to watch the books rolling off the presses.
These prices are correct at the time of going to press.
36 programmed
reel (especially British English) (also spool especially in North American English) a
round object around which you wind such things as thread, wire or film;
a reel together with the film, wire, thread, etc. that is wound around it
a cotton reel a reel on a fishing rod
reels of magnetic tape
37 (tough) wrapping// damaged paper
wrapping [uncountable](also wrappings [plural]) paper, plastic, etc. used for
covering something in order to protect it
She tore the cellophane wrapping off the box.
shrink wrapping (= plastic designed to shrink around objects so that it fits
them tightly)
tough adj not easily cut, broken, torn, etc.
a tough pair of shoes
 The reptile's skin is tough and scaly.
reel (especially British English) (also spool especially in North American English) a
round object around which you wind such things as thread, wire or film;
a reel together with the film, wire, thread, etc. that is wound around it
a cotton reel a reel on a fishing rod
reels of magnetic tape
38 weighed 39 paster robot(s)
paste something + adv./prep. to stick something to something else using glue
or paste
He pasted the pictures into his scrapbook.
Paste the two pieces together.
trim something (off something) | trim something (off/away) to cut away
unnecessary parts from something
Trim any excess fat off the meat.
I trimmed two centimetres off the hem of the skirt.
40 storage area