Word list: 1 Spiny (adj) – covered with spines (long sharp points like needles) Example: A spiny cactus 2 Forage (v) – to go from place to place searching, especially for food Example: The children had been living on the streets, foraging for scraps and sleeping rough 3 Primitive (adj) – relating to human society at a very early stage of development, with people living in a simple way without machines or a writing system (C1) Example: Primitive races colonized these islands 2000 years ago 4 Uncover (v) – to discover something secret or hidden or remove something covering something else (C1) Example: The investigation uncovered evidence of a large-scale illegal trade in wild birds 5 Hibernate (v) – (of some animals) to spend the winter sleeping Example: The turtle hibernates in a shallow burrow for six months of the year 6 Scarp (v) – to get rid of something that is no longer useful or wanted, often using its parts in new ways (C2) Example: Hundreds of nuclear weapons have been scrapped 7 Retract (vb to take back an offer or statement or admit that a statement was false Example: When questioned on TV, the minister retracted his allegations IEL TS ZONE Word list
262 8 Perceive (vb to see something or someone, or to notice something that is obvious (C2) Example: Bill perceived a tiny figure in the distance 9 Appealing (adj) – attractive or interesting Example: The idea of not having to getup early every morning is rather appealing 10 Take toll on something (vb to harm or damage someone or something, especially in a gradual way Example: The recession has taken a heavy toll
