Essential Words for the TOEFL (7th edition) » Lesson 12

Word List
  • benefit
    adv. beneficially; adj. beneficial; n. benefit; n. beneficiary
    →
    v. to be useful or helpful
    syn. assist
    Use of solar power will benefit all mankind.
    It is extremely beneficial to prepare for a test.
  • blind
    adv. blindly; n. blindness
    →
    adj. unable to see or understand; to conceal; showing poor judgment or understanding
    syn. unaware
    They were blind to the fact that they had little chance to succeed.
    He went into the job blindly, with no previous experience.
  • broaden
    adv. broadly; adj. broad; n. breadth
    →
    v. to make larger or greater
    syn. enlarge
    Education will broaden your opportunities to land a good job.
    The breadth of his knowledge is impressive.
  • burgeon
    adj. burgeoning
    →
    v. growing at a fast pace
    syn. thrive
    His talent as a pianist burgeoned at the age of 14.
    The burgeoning population of major cities is creating a demand for more services.
  • carry out
    →
    v. to perform a task, often for someone else
    syn. accomplish
    The boss required her team to carry out their plan.
    The prime minister asked for his order to be carried out immediately.
  • conspicuously
    adj. conspicuous
    →
    adv. attracting attention
    syn. noticeably
    His name was conspicuously absent from the list of winners.
    The attorneys were conspicuous for their aggressive manner in the courtroom.
  • deficient
    adv. deficiently; n. deficiency
    →
    adj. not having enough of something
    syn. lacking
    A diet deficient in calcium can lead to bad health.
    There is a deficiency of qualified engineers in the country.
  • eloquent
    adv. eloquently; n. eloquence
    →
    adj. expressing clearly, effectively, and convincingly
    syn. articulate ( adj.)
    Successful politicians are usually eloquent speakers.
    That student’s essay is eloquently written.
  • endorse
    n. endorsement
    →
    v. to express approval
    syn. support
    The union endorsed the new contract.
    The president’s endorsement of the project guaranteed its funding.
  • enormous
    adv. enormously; n. enormity
    →
    adj. very large
    syn. tremendous
    His enormous wealth allows him to contribute to many charities.
    A diet with many fruits and vegetables is enormously beneficial to the body.
  • entirely
    adj. entire; n. entirety
    →
    adv. completely
    syn. thoroughly
    The economist was entirely right in his analysis.
    The president released the speech in its entirety before the news conference.
  • erode
    n. erosion
    →
    v. to wear away; disappear slowly
    syn. deteriorate
    The senator’s support is eroding because of his unpopular positions on the major issues.
    It took millions of years of erosion for nature to form the Grand Canyon.
  • evaporate
    n. evaporation
    →
    v. to vanish
    syn. disappear
    The chances of the two sides reaching an agreement have evaporated.
    The evaporation of the funds was unexplainable.
  • recover
    adj. recovered; adj. recoverable; n. recovery
    →
    v. to get back; to have something returned
    syn. retrieve
    The NASA team was unable to recover the space capsule.
    The recovered objects had not been damaged.
  • reportedly
    adj. reported; v. report; n. report
    →
    adv. to know by report; unconfirmed; supposedly
    syn. rumored
    The students reportedly sent a representative, but she has not yet arrived.
    The reported tornado has not been confirmed.
  • shift
    adj. shifting; v. shift; adj. shifty
    →
    n. a change in position or direction
    syn. switch
    The shift in the wind was helpful to the sailors.
    Earthquakes are caused by the shifting of the Earth’s crust along tectonic faults.
  • susceptible
    n. susceptibleness; adj. susceptibly
    →
    adj. to be subject to influence; capable of being affected by a person or thing
    syn. vulnerable
    When traveling in tropical climates, travelers are susceptible to malaria.
    Adolescents are especially susceptible to the influence of their friends.
Matching

Choose the synonym.

  1. benefit
    • a. prosper
    • b. demand
    • c. assist
    • d. distinguish
  2. carry out
    • a. discern
    • b. hasten
    • c. accomplish
    • d. lift
  3. rumored
    • a. routinely
    • b. purposefully
    • c. comparatively
    • d. reportedly
  4. lacking
    • a. deficient
    • b. unaware
    • c. slim
    • d. enjoyable
  5. thrive
    • a. exaggerate
    • b. burgeon
    • c. dominate
    • d. endorse
  6. susceptible
    • a. vulnerable
    • b. conspicuous
    • c. exaggerated
    • d. released
  7. broaden
    • a. impress
    • b. elicit
    • c. reveal
    • d. enlarge
  8. switch
    • a. enrich
    • b. shift
    • c. propose
    • d. support
  9. retrieve
    • a. recover
    • b. deteriorate
    • c. disperse
    • d. relinquish
  10. eloquent
    • a. articulate
    • b. remarkable
    • c. enduring
    • d. conspicuous
Multiple-Choice Test Questions

  1. Politics are an integral aspect of modern sports. In many places, political decisions determine which sports will be encouraged, how much public support will be available to promote recreational sports, and whether or not athletes will be free to compete in certain international competitions. Bitter controversies have arisen as some political support for popular sporting events has evaporated in various parts of the world.

    The word evaporated in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. burgeoned
    • b. intensified
    • c. broadened
    • d. disappeared
  2. Rolltop desks are named after their sliding roll tops, or tambours, that cover the working surface of the upper part and can be locked. First introduced into England from France in the late eighteenth century, the rolltop desk had become a standard piece of office equipment by the end of the nineteenth century. It was mass-produced in large quantities. Shortly after this period of mass production, its popularity eroded.

    The word eroded in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. recovered
    • b. shifted
    • c. intensified
    • d. deteriorated
  3. The American architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed furniture, but its distinctive appearance defies categorization. The furniture design was entirely dependent on the design of the building; the same motifs appear in both. He consistently favored built-in furniture because then the furniture was part of the architecture.

    The word entirely in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. slowly
    • b. reportedly
    • c. completely
    • d. conspicuously
  4. While the potential benefit of genetic engineering is substantial, the potential dangers may be equivalent. Improper handling could pose a health hazard to the public. For example, the introduction of cancer-causing genes into common infectious organisms like the influenza virus could be one of these dangers.

    The word benefit in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. cost
    • b. assistance
    • c. endorsement
    • d. recovery
  5. Jogging has been endorsed by many medical authorities as valuable exercise for the heart and for general physical conditioning. It should be conducted every other day. Other medical authorities, however, warn that fallen arches and other ailments can result from jogging. Warm-up exercises before jogging, properly designed shoes, proper jogging technique, loose clothing, and general good health are vital for safe participation in this activity.

    The word endorsed in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. reported
    • b. supported
    • c. criticized
    • d. exaggerated
  6. In 1900, when countries such as Russia, Italy, and Japan claimed an exclusive right to trade with China, the secret society of “Boxers” was formed to oppose this intrusion into Chinese affairs. Members of the group were reported to have magical powers that protected them in attacks from invading foreigners. Nevertheless, more than 20,000 foreign troops eventually landed in China, successfully attacked Beijing, established their right to remain, and disbanded the Boxers.

    In stating that the Boxers were reported to have magical powers, the author means that their magical powers
    • a. were an established fact.
    • b. were alleged to exist.
    • c. had been reported as false.
    • d. had been verified as true.
  7. From 1890 to 1940, Los Angeles was the core orange-growing area. The city was inland from any potential port, but city leaders persuaded the U.S. Congress to finance a breakwater at the city of San Pedro. The territory between the two cities was annexed, and a great harbor was constructed between 1899 and 1914. As a result, Los Angeles experienced burgeoning economic growth.

    The word burgeoning in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. enduring
    • b. hastened
    • c. ideal
    • d. thriving
  8. Normal schools were established chiefly to train elementary-school teachers. They were commonly state-supported and offered a two-year course beyond high school. In the twentieth century, schools broadened their teacher-training requirements to at least four years. Therefore, after World War II, teacher-training institutions lengthened their programs. By the 1960s, most former normal schools had been absorbed into colleges or universities as departments or schools of education.

    The word broadened in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. replaced
    • b. shifted
    • c. enlarged
    • d. advanced
  9. Experiments are underway to prove the usefulness of new oil discovery technology. They will enable vast accumulations of crude oil to be recovered along both the Athabasca River in northcentral Alberta, Canada, and along the Orinoco River in eastern Venezuela. If these experiments are successful and a significant volume of crude is found, the world’s petroleum supply may be extended by several decades.

    The word recovered in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. retrieved
    • b. exported
    • c. reported
    • d. extracted
  10. The Internet is a powerful tool available to students around the world. Thanks to its rapid growth, researching any topic is now as easy as a mouse click. It is no longer commonplace to see students using information from books in a library because the Internet is far more convenient. Students can carry an enormous amount of information in their backpacks or briefcases just by having a laptop computer with access to the worldwide web. Some people claim that digital books will soon replace physical books. Others believe that libraries will become obsolete and that scholars will turn to online sources to conduct research.

    The word enormous in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. astounding
    • b. exceptional
    • c. advantageous
    • d. tremendous
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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