Essential Words for the TOEFL (7th edition) » Lesson 1

Word List
  • abroad
    →
    adv. to or in another country
    syn. overseas; internationally
    Louis Armstrong often traveled abroad.
    Living abroad can be an educational experience.
  • abrupt
    adv. abruptly; n. abruptness
    →
    adj. quick; without warning
    syn. sudden
    There was an abrupt change in the weather.
    After the incident everyone left abruptly.
  • acceptable
    v. accept; adv. acceptably; n. acceptability; adj. accepting
    →
    adj. allowable or satisfactory
    syn. permissible
    The idea was acceptable to everyone.
    The registrar accepted more applicants than he should have.
  • acclaim
    adj. acclaimed; n. acclamation
    →
    n. enthusiastic approval; applause
    syn. praise
    Leonardo DiCaprio has earned acclaim abroad as an actor.
    Acclaimed authors often win Pulitzer Prizes.
  • adverse
    adv. adversely; n. adversity; n. adversary
    →
    adj. displeasing, objectionable, or bad
    syn. unfavorable
    The game was cancelled by officials due to the adverse weather conditions.
    His indecision adversely affected his job performance.
  • aspect
    →
    n. a part or characteristic of something; an element
    syn. facet
    I would trust the professional’s advice in that aspect of economics.
    There are many fascinating aspects to the complex procedure.
  • attractive
    v. attract; n. attraction; n. attractiveness; adv. attractively
    →
    adj. calling attention to; pleasing; creating interest; pretty
    syn. appealing
    The idea of working four, ten-hour work days was attractive to many employees.
    The major attraction of the show was a speech by the president.
  • autonomous
    adv. autonomously
    →
    adj. by itself; with no association
    syn. independent
    Mexico became an autonomous state in 1817.
    Although working closely with the government, all businesses function autonomously.
  • chronic
    adv. chronically
    →
    adj. always present; continual
    syn. constant
    The author’s chronic headache prevented her from finishing the chapter.
    He is chronically late to class.
  • disapproval
    v. disapprove; adv. disapprovingly
    →
    n. the act of disagreeing; not giving approval
    syn. objection
    Their disapproval of the plan caused the experiment to be abandoned.
    The students disapproved of the level of difficulty of the test.
  • disruptive
    v. disrupt; n. disruption; adv. disruptively
    →
    adj. causing confusion and interruption
    syn. disturbing
    Frequent questions during lectures can be disruptive.
    The storm caused a disruption in bus service.
  • haphazardly
    adj. haphazard; n. haphazardness
    →
    adv. having no order or pattern; by chance
    syn. arbitrarily; carelessly
    It was obvious that the house was built haphazardly.
    Susan completed the assignment in a haphazard way.
  • intervention
    v. intervene
    →
    n. taking action; be involved
    syn. involvement
    The tutor’s intervention helped him improve his grade.
    Some world leaders decide to not intervene in the affairs of other nations.
  • persistent
    v. persist; n. persistence; adv. persistently
    →
    adj. continuous; refusing to give up; firm in action or decision
    syn. constant
    The attorney’s persistent questioning unsettled the witness.
    Her persistence earned her a spot on the team.
  • postpone
    adj. postponable; n. postponement
    →
    v. to change to a later time; to delay
    syn. reschedule
    The referees decided to postpone the soccer match.
    The postponement of the meeting upset the impatient club members.
  • valid
    n. validity; adv. validly
    →
    adj. producing a desired result based on truths or facts
    syn. convincing
    The students had a valid reason for missing class.
    The professor questioned the validity of the test results.
  • withdraw
    n. withdrawal
    →
    v. to remove, take out, or take back
    syn. extract
    The player withdrew from the competition.
    Gloria had to make a withdrawal from her savings to pay tuition.
Matching

Choose the synonym.

  1. withdraw
    • a. extract
    • b. describe
    • c. copy
    • d. convince
  2. autonomous
    • a. independent
    • b. sudden
    • c. international
    • d. abrupt
  3. chronic
    • a. famous
    • b. visible
    • c. constant
    • d. ordinary
  4. intervene
    • a. involve
    • b. oppose
    • c. interrupt
    • d. create
  5. aspect
    • a. attraction
    • b. talent
    • c. characteristic
    • d. objection
  6. haphazardly
    • a. suddenly
    • b. secretly
    • c. carelessly
    • d. constantly
  7. constant
    • a. disruption
    • b. acceptable
    • c. abrupt
    • d. persistent
  8. valid
    • a. attractive
    • b. convincing
    • c. normal
    • d. abrupt
  9. unfavorably
    • a. attractively
    • b. haphazardly
    • c. acceptably
    • d. adversely
  10. postpone
    • a. respond
    • b. reschedule
    • c. assert
    • d. reveal
Multiple-Choice Test Questions

  1. A customs union is an organization of autonomous countries that agree that international trade between member states is free of restrictions. They place a tariff or other restriction on products entering the customs union from nonmember states. One of the best-known customs unions is the European Union, or EU.

    The word autonomous in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. massive
    • b. acclaimed
    • c. prosperous
    • d. independent
  2. The search to hide natural body odors led to the discovery and use of musk. Musk is a scent used in perfumes. It is obtained from the sex glands of the male musk deer, a small deer native to the mountainous regions of the Himalayas. The odor of musk, penetrating and persistent, is believed to act as an aphrodisiac. In animals, musk serves the functions of defining territory, providing recognition, and attracting mates.

    The word persistent in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. attractive
    • b. disruptive
    • c. constant
    • d. pleasant
  3. Until the late ninteenth century all rubber was extracted haphazardly from trees found in the jungles of South America. It was expensive and the supply was uncertain. However, during the 1860s the idea of transporting rubber trees to the British colonies in Asia was conceived. This led to the larger-scale cultivation of rubber trees on organized plantations.

    The word haphazardly in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. carelessly
    • b. secretly
    • c. constantly
    • d. dangerously
  4. Some animals use bold coloration to disrupt a would-be predator’s perception. Other animals have color patterns that blend with their surroundings. Such coloration serves for protection, to attract mates, or to distract enemies. Called cryptic coloration, it uses the animals’ living place, habits, and means of defense. Cryptic coloration may blend an animal so well with its environment that it is virtually invisible.

    The word disrupt in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. disturb
    • b. distinctive
    • c. brilliant
    • d. unfavorable
  5. Cognitive approaches to therapy assume that emotional disorders are the result of irrational beliefs or perceptions. The mind may interpret an event as scary or calming, happy or sad. The emotionally disordered person may perceive adverse events as personal failures. Cognitive psychotherapies seek to make the patient aware of the irrationality of this perception and to substitute more rational evaluations of such events.

    The word adverse in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. monotonous
    • b. threatening
    • c. inoffensive
    • d. unfavorable
  6. Increasingly, authorities are uneasy about teenagers who talk or text on their phones while driving. For many, phone use and driving are perfectly compatible; others, however, are more easily distracted, especially while listening to music. The growing number of accidents associated with phone use supports this claim. Many communities now disapprove of this habit so much that they have forbidden anyone of any age to use cell phones while driving.

    In stating that many communities now disapprove of these phones, the author means that they
    • a. fully endorse their popularity.
    • b. condemn or oppose their use.
    • c. favor their use only by adults.
    • d. agree to their unrestricted use.
  7. Fans are used to circulate air in rooms and buildings and for cooling and drying people, materials, or products. Even though air that is circulated by a fan is comforting, no fan actually cools the air. Air conditioners use a complicated process to cool the air and create changes in temperature. While repairing a fan is relatively simple, a professional repairman will often have to intervene when home owners face problems with their air conditioning units.

    The words to intervene in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. to be interested in
    • b. to learn about
    • c. to get involved
    • d. to be prepared
  8. Tornadoes strike in many areas of the world, but nowhere are they as frequent or as devastating as in the United States. A vast “tornado belt” embraces large portions of the Great Plains of the United States and the southeastern portion of the country. Tornadoes pose the greatest threats to these areas, which are especially vulnerable to abrupt changes in weather conditions.

    The word abrupt in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. sudden
    • b. vivid
    • c. sharp
    • d. direct
  9. For women in the 1920s, freedom in dress reflected their new freedom to take up careers. Only a small percentage of women pursued such opportunities, but the revolutionary change affected the types of clothes worn by most women. For example, trousers became acceptable attire for almost all activities. This milestone in the fashion world favored more stylish and comfortable clothing instead of more formal modes of dress.

    The word acceptable in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. usable
    • b. endurable
    • c. believable
    • d. permissible
  10. The National Film Board of Canada was established in 1939 to produce films that reflect Canadian life and thought, and to distribute them both domestically and abroad. By winning awards from film festivals around the world, it has earned international acclaim for the artistic and technical excellence of its work.

    The word acclaim in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. fascination
    • b. praise
    • c. acceptance
    • d. attraction
Answer Key
Favorite Books
Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know

The study of the English language has spread all over the world, and high school and college students everywhere have come to realize that language mastery depends on the possession of a comprehensive vocabulary. This is just what 1100 Words You Need to Know has been offering through the five earlier editions and continuing on this sixth one.

Read more