TOEFL and IELTS Vocabulary Chapter 3

• Evolution (n.) - The process by which living organisms change over time.
• Dramatically (adv.) - In a way that is striking and sudden.
• Classify (v.) - To arrange things into groups based on similar characteristics.
• Body plan (n.) - The basic structure of an animal's body.
• Phyla (n.) (plural of phylum) - Major categories used to classify animals based on their body plans.
• Geological record (n.) - The record of Earth's history preserved in rock layers.
• Flowering (n.) - A rapid increase in diversity or number.
• Extinct (adj.) - No longer existing.
• Conspicuous (adj.) - Easy to see or notice.
• Blooming (n.) - The time when flowers appear on a plant.
• Pollinate (v.) - To transfer pollen from the male part of a flower to the female part for fertilization.
• Signals (n.) - Messages or cues that convey information.
• Canopy (n.) - The upper layer of leaves in a forest.
• Desiccation (n.) - The drying out of something.
• Leathery (adj.) - Tough and flexible like leather.
• Oval (adj.) - Egg-shaped.
• Drip tip (n.) - A pointed tip at the end of a leaf that helps to shed water.
• Epiphyte (n.) - A plant that grows on another plant for support, but does not get nutrients from it.
• Liana (n.) - A woody vine.
• Bark (n.) - The outer layer of a tree trunk.
• Furrowed (adj.) - Having grooves or channels.
• Lichen (n.) - A symbiotic organism formed by a fungus and an alga living together.
• Moss (n.) - A small, non-flowering plant that grows in damp places.
• Aspen (n.) - A type of poplar tree with trembling leaves.
• Alder (n.) - A type of tree with woody cones.
• Spruce (n.) - A type of evergreen tree with cone-shaped scales.
• Acre (n.) - A unit of land area equal to 43,560 square feet.
• Larval: The immature stage of an animal before it reaches adulthood.
• Membranes: Thin layers of tissue that surround or cover something.
• Calcareous: Containing calcium carbonate.
• Albumen: Egg white.
• Gelatin: A jelly-like substance.
• Evolved: Developed gradually over time.
• Reptiles: Animals with cold blood and scaly skin.
• Amphibians: Animals that live both in water and on land.
• Hypothesis: A proposed explanation for something.
• Skeletal features: The structure of bones.
• Transition: A change from one state to another.
• Aquatic: Living in water.
• Predators: Animals that hunt and kill other animals.
• Atmosphere: The layer of gases surrounding a planet.
• Yolk: The part of an egg that provides food for the embryo.
• Calcium ions: Charged atoms of calcium.
• Pre-adapted: Already suited for a particular environment.
• Mortality: Death.
• Progeny: Offspring.
• Rigid: Stiff.
• Chemical elements: The basic building blocks of matter.
• Chemical reactions: Processes that involve changes in the composition of substances.
• Deep-sea vents: Hot springs on the ocean floor.
• Solar radiation: Energy from the Sun.
• Liquid medium: A liquid substance.
• Solar radiation: Energy from the Sun.
• Liquid medium: A liquid substance.
• Foliage: The leaves of a plant.
• Subsidize: To provide financial support.
• Drain: Something that uses up resources.
• Wind drag: The force of air resistance against an object.
• Creosote bush: A shrub found in deserts.
• Self-prune: To remove parts of oneself.
• Drought: A long period without rain.
• Propagation: The reproduction of plants.
• Poplar trees: A type of tree with broad leaves.
• Willow trees: A type of tree with long, drooping branches.
• Muddy banks: The edges of a river or stream covered in mud.
• Desiccation: The drying out of something.
• Brittle: Easily broken.
• Propagation: The reproduction of plants.
• Elm trees: A type of tree with large leaves.
• Cork: A protective layer on the bark of a tree.
• Hardwoods: Trees with broad leaves and hard wood.
• Maples: A type of tree with maple syrup.
• Beech: A type of tree with smooth, gray bark.
• Birches: A type of tree with white bark.
• Pine trees: A type of tree with needles instead of leaves.
• Congestion: Crowding.
• Horticulturalists: People who study the science of growing plants.
• Precipitation: Rainfall or snowfall.
• Sparsely: Scattered or spread out.
• Continental landmasses: Large areas of land that are not islands.
• Desiccation: The drying out of something.
• Fixll sun: Direct sunlight, unfiltered by clouds.
• Erratic: Unpredictable.
• Soil moisture: The amount of water in the soil.
• Ecosystems: A community of living organisms and their physical environment.
• Intermittent: Happening occasionally or at irregular intervals.
• Canaries: Small yellow birds.
• Combustible: Able to burn easily.
• Mulch: A layer of material (such as dead leaves or bark) spread around the base of plants to protect them.
• Lightning: A bright flash of light in the sky caused by electricity.
• Charcoal: The black residue left after wood or other organic matter has burned.
• Invaders: Plants or animals that move into an area where they are not native.
• Nutrients: Substances that plants and animals need to grow and survive.
• Herbivores: Animals that eat plants.