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Acedmi

Level 3 · Confident · Band 6.5–7.0

Arts and culture: IELTS vocabulary

Describe and evaluate art, music and traditions.

10 words

aestheticadjective/ees-THET-ik/

relating to beauty and how something looks

The building has more aesthetic appeal than practical value.

Collocation: aesthetic appeal · Similar: artistic, visual

contemporaryadjective/kun-TEM-puh-ruh-ree/

belonging to the present time; modern

The gallery mainly exhibits contemporary art by living artists.

Collocation: contemporary art · Similar: modern, present-day

patronnoun/PAY-trun/

a person who gives money to support artists

A wealthy patron paid for the young composer's education.

Collocation: a patron of the arts · Similar: sponsor, benefactor, backer

censorshipnoun/SEN-suh-ship/

the banning of books, films or news thought unacceptable

Strict censorship meant that many novels could not be published.

Collocation: strict censorship · Similar: suppression, banning

evocativeadjective/ih-VOK-uh-tiv/

bringing strong memories, images or feelings to mind

Her paintings are deeply evocative of her childhood by the sea.

Collocation: evocative of the past · Similar: suggestive, reminiscent, atmospheric

curateverb/kyoo-RAYT/

to select and organise items for an exhibition

Two young historians were asked to curate the new photography exhibition.

Collocation: curate an exhibition · Similar: organise, put together

critically acclaimedphrase/KRIT-ik-lee uh-KLAYMD/

praised highly by professional reviewers

The critically acclaimed film won praise from almost every reviewer.

Collocation: a critically acclaimed film · Similar: highly praised, well reviewed

artefactnoun/AH-tih-fakt/

an object made by people long ago, of historical interest

The museum displays every artefact found at the ancient burial site.

Collocation: an ancient artefact · Similar: relic, object

highbrowadjective/HY-brow/

serious and intellectual, often appealing to highly educated people

Opera is often seen as highbrow entertainment for a small elite.

Collocation: highbrow culture · Similar: intellectual, sophisticated

heritagenoun/HER-ih-tij/

traditions, buildings and customs passed down from earlier generations

The old harbour is an important part of the city's heritage.

Collocation: cultural heritage · Similar: legacy, tradition

Grammar check

Choose the right option, then open the answer.

  1. 1. It ___ that the artist completed the painting in just one week.

    is claimed · claims · is claiming · has claimed

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    is claimed: Passive reporting with 'It': 'It is claimed that...' reports what people say.

  2. 2. ___ I admire most about her music is its honesty.

    That · Which · What · It

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    What: A 'What' cleft sentence highlights the key point: 'What I admire most is...'.

  3. 3. The theatre was empty last night; the tickets ___ too expensive.

    can't have been · should have been · will be · must have been

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    must have been: 'Must have been' is a logical deduction about the past based on evidence.

  4. 4. ___ in 1890, the opera house is still the pride of the city.

    Building · Built · Having built · To build

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    Built: Past participle clause with passive meaning: the opera house was built in 1890.

  5. 5. Only after the artist died ___ her work become famous.

    did · had · has · was

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    did: 'Only after...' at the start causes inversion. Past simple 'become' needs 'did'.

Use the words: speaking questions

  • Should governments fund the arts, or should they rely on private money?
  • Why do you think some traditional art forms are disappearing?
  • Is art still important in a world dominated by technology?

Answer them out loud with Dodo in the app for a band and better versions of your answers.