Essential Words for the TOEFL (7th edition) » Lesson 10

Word List
  • distinct
    adv. distinctly; adj. distinctive; n. distinction
    →
    adj. clearly noticed; different
    syn. definite
    There was a distinct aroma of coffee in the restaurant.
    The two theories are distinctly different from each other.
  • dominant
    adv. dominantly; v. dominate; n. domination
    →
    adj. primary or principal; having or exercising control over something
    syn. major
    The dominant life forms of the Paleozoic era lived in the water.
    The skyscraper dominated the skyline.
  • dormant
    n. dormitory
    →
    adj. not growing or producing; asleep
    syn. inactive
    The volcano had been dormant for hundreds of years before the eruption last month.
    The seniors live in the new dormitory.
  • drab
    adv. drably; n. drabness
    →
    adj. lacking color; uninteresting, boring
    syn. colorless
    Their clothing was quite drab.
    The drabness of the desert made driving less interesting.
  • dramatic
    adv. dramatically; v. dramatize; n. drama
    →
    adj. something that captures the imagination; exciting
    syn. emotional
    The dramatic finish to the game left us speechless.
    The hurricane dramatically changed the coastline.
  • eclectic
    adv. eclectically
    →
    adj. to select or represent something chosen from many sources or places
    syn. diverse
    He has an eclectic taste in music, from hard rock to classical.
    The eclectic group of students came from fifteen different countries.
  • elaborate
    adv. elaborately; v. elaborate; n. elaboration
    →
    adj. something with a large number of parts; full of details
    syn. complex
    An elaborate head dress indicated rank within the Aztec community.
    His elaboration of the issue was quite thorough.
  • exceptional
    adv. exceptionally
    →
    adj. unusual in a positive way
    syn. phenomenal
    The orchestra’s performance was exceptional.
    The North Star is exceptionally bright.
  • genuine
    adv. genuinely; n. genuineness
    →
    adj. honest or true; real
    syn. authentic
    She was genuinely concerned about world hunger.
    This is a genuine artifact from the American Civil War.
  • hazardous
    adv. hazardously; n. hazard
    →
    adj. very risky, unsafe
    syn. dangerous
    Handling flammable liquids is hazardous.
    There are many hazards involved with starting a business.
  • minuscule
    adj. minute; n. minutia
    →
    adj. of little consequence; very small
    syn. tiny
    The sale of the building had a minuscule effect on the profits of the corporation.
    Some leaves are covered with minute hairs.
  • prime
    adj. primed; adj. prime*; n. prime
    →
    v. to make ready;
        *first in importance or in time
    syn. prepare
    The directors primed the actors before the performance.
    Mozart passed away in the prime of his life.
  • rudimentary
    n. rudiment
    →
    adj. simple; not complex
    syn. basic
    He has a rudimentary knowledge of computers.
    The rudiments of grammar are taught in all English classes.
  • skeptical
    adv. skeptically; n. skeptic
    →
    adj. to question the truthfulness of information presented as fact; to not trust
    syn. unconvinced
    The professor was skeptical about the theories of climate change.
    To answer his skeptics, the scientist presented proof of his conclusions at the conference.
  • stoic
    adv. stoically; n. stoicism
    →
    adj. showing no emotion; appearing disinterested
    syn. indifferent
    His stoic reaction to the event surprised his friends.
    His stoicism was unusual, since he is normally an emotional boy.
  • superficial
    adv. superficially
    →
    adj. simple; not deep; near the surface
    syn. shallow
    The inspector determined that the crack in the bridge was only superficial.
    You should not try to answer the question superficially.
  • vigorous
    adv. vigorously; n. vigor
    →
    adj. powerful, full of action
    syn. strong
    His vigorous defense of the issues impressed everyone.
    He approached his work with vigor.
Matching

Choose the synonym.

  1. exceptional
    • a. dominant
    • b. dense
    • c. phenomenal
    • d. acceptable
  2. stoic
    • a. distorted
    • b. indifferent
    • c. hazardous
    • d. straightforward
  3. prepare
    • a. concur
    • b. display
    • c. depend
    • d. prime
  4. eclectic
    • a. vibrant
    • b. energized
    • c. limited
    • d. diverse
  5. dangerous
    • a. hazardous
    • b. rigid
    • c. commonplace
    • d. intolerable
  6. elaborate
    • a. gigantic
    • b. impressive
    • c. complex
    • d. dramatic
  7. minuscule
    • a. tiny
    • b. dim
    • c. drab
    • d. major
  8. superficial
    • a. emotional
    • b. lasting
    • c. shallow
    • d. curious
  9. authentic
    • a. basic
    • b. valid
    • c. genuine
    • d. rudimentary
  10. vigorous
    • a. dominant
    • b. convenient
    • c. uniform
    • d. strong
Multiple-Choice Test Questions

  1. The development of centralized governments was not accompanied by centralized responsibility for road maintenance. One important development in the construction and maintenance of public transportation systems was the establishment of turnpike trusts. Entrepreneurs would join together to obtain government permission to take over a length of road for 21 years or build a new one and pay for its maintenance by collecting tolls. However, in its early years, road engineering was rudimentary, and many trusts did not know how to preserve the roads.

    The word rudimentary in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. elaborate
    • b. haphazard
    • c. flawed
    • d. basic
  2. Language is a system of communication specific to the human race. It is primarily oralaural, since all naturally evolved large-scale linguistic systems have orderly patterns of sound produced by the human voice and perceived and processed by the ear. Despite the great variety of languages spoken throughout the world and the superficial differences among them, most linguists agree that all languages are essentially similar in structure and function.

    The word superficial in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. certain
    • b. frightening
    • c. exceptional
    • d. shallow
  3. The layers of volatile gases and liquids near and above the surface of the Earth are of prime importance, along with solar energy, to maintaining life on Earth. They are distributed and recycled throughout the relatively thin atmosphere of the Earth. This atmosphere is a mixture of gases, primarily nitrogen and oxygen. However, the atmosphere also contains much smaller amounts of gases such as argon, carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor along with minute solid and liquid particles in suspension.

    The word prime in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. chief
    • b. dubious
    • c. superficial
    • d. dramatic
  4. Avoidance is the most common form of defense in reptiles. At the first sign of danger, most snakes and lizards slither or dart away under cover; turtles and crocodiles plunge out of sight into water. But, in cases where danger presents itself abruptly and flight may be hazardous, reptiles may attack.

    The word hazardous in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. harmless
    • b. dangerous
    • c. arbitrary
    • d. unacceptable
  5. As the Industrial Revolution developed in the nineteenth century, the era of wooden-hulled sailing ships gave way to that of steam-powered iron ships. Phenomenal changes took place in nearly every facet of ship design and operation. By the mid-1800s, these changes caused the end of the majestic wooden-hulled ship line. Despite its demise, another half century would elapse before it was clear what form its replacement would take.

    The word phenomenal in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. vigorous
    • b. definite
    • c. exceptional
    • d. debilitating
  6. Research suggests that musical ability is genetic. Twins have the same genetic makeup. Therefore, researchers asked more than 500 children to sing along with recorded popular songs and discovered that 80 percent were equally able or unable to duplicate the melody. These results support the claim that musical talent is inherited—many children have some talent, but few are exceptionally talented, and only they have any hope of becoming concert pianists.

    In stating that few children are exceptionally talented, the author means that
    • a. musical ability is evenly distributed.
    • b. almost everyone should study music.
    • c. the most talented are few in number.
    • d. twins cannot sing along with a song.
  7. In the social sciences, conflict theory refers to the theoretical approach that views social phenomena as the result of conflict between individuals or groups. Conflict theory has developed at both micro and macro levels. Since much of the documented behavior is dramatic and unpredictable, theories of such behavior are more evaluative than analytic.

    The word dramatic in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. frightening
    • b. distinctive
    • c. emotional
    • d. distorted
  8. Feathers serve as an adaptable cover for the body of a bird. They form a smooth surface that reduces friction with the air, and they furnish flexible strong wings for flight and tails for steering. Feathers also act as superb insulation to conserve body heat and are relatively waterproof. Many songbirds in temperate zones reveal a drab plumage during the winter, in contrast to their brilliant springtime mating plumage.

    The word drab in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. soft
    • b. colorless
    • c. bright
    • d. basic
  9. Comic books began as collections of newspaper comic strips and took on a life of their own in the 1930s. The favorite reading matter of several generations of children, comic books often dealt with heroic characters who fought crime or terror. The newspaper strip and the comic book represent the dominant graphic mythology of the twentieth century.

    The word dominant in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. major
    • b. elaborate
    • c. lasting
    • d. critical
  10. The vast majority of animals exhibit a symmetrical form, therefore making form a fundamental, representative characteristic for most animals. All animals with a bilateral symmetry, those that have a distinct right and left side and a front and rear end, are classified together as Bilateria, a division of multicellular animals. Bilateria contrast with multicellular animals, which have a radial symmetry. An example is the jellyfish, which has no right or left sides.

    The word distinct in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. dominant
    • b. uniform
    • c. definite
    • d. conventional
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.

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