Essential Words for the TOEFL (7th edition) » Lesson 15

Word List
  • adept
    →
    adj. able to do something well, being talented
    syn. skilled
    He is adept at calming noisy children.
    The investigators were adept at their jobs.
  • adhere
    n. adherence
    →
    v. to stick to or follow precisely
    syn. comply
    Travelers must adhere to the laws of the country they are visiting.
    The referee’s excessively strict adherence to the rules upset the players.
  • foster
    →
    v. to promote growth or development
    syn. stimulate
    The industrial revolution fostered the rise of the middle class.
    Parents usually foster the development of good habits in their children.
  • halt
    adv. haltingly; adj. halting; n. halt
    →
    v. to stop or discontinue
    syn. stop
    Bus service to the city was halted due to poor road conditions.
    The supervisor put a halt to the tardiness of the employees.
  • handle
    n. handling
    →
    v. to deal with or control
    syn. manage
    They handled themselves very well given the circumstances.
    The president’s handling of the crisis was widely applauded.
  • harbor
    →
    v. to give protection; to not express a desire or opinion, usually bad
    syn. shelter
    He harbors ill feelings for her.
    They harbored the political refugee in their home.
  • harmful
    adv. harmfully; v. harm; n. harm
    →
    adj. something that causes pain or damage
    syn. unhealthy
    Excessive radiation is harmful to the body.
    Bleach harms certain fabrics.
  • insignificant
    adv. insignificantly; n. insignificance
    →
    adj. not important; of little value
    syn. meaningless
    The amount of rainfall this summer has been insignificant.
    The insignificance of his comment became apparent with the passing of time.
  • mysterious
    adv. mysteriously; n. mystery; n. mysteriousness
    →
    adj. not easily understood or figured out
    syn. baffling
    He had a mysterious effect on everyone who heard him speak.
    The man’s disappearance was a mystery.
  • perilous
    adv. perilously; n. peril
    →
    adj. threatening or risky; harmful
    syn. dangerous
    It is perilous to exceed the speed limit.
    There are ample perils in the sport of mountain climbing.
  • promote
    n. promoter; n. promotion
    →
    v. to encourage or advertise; to elevate in rank or grade
    syn. boost
    Many nations promote tourism to lure foreign currency.
    The customers responded favorably to the half-price promotion.
  • redundant
    n. redundancy; adv. redundantly
    →
    adj. being excessive; showing unnecessary repetition
    syn. repetitious
    Students who ask teachers to “repeat that again” are being redundant because “repeat” means “again.”
    Lush, redundant vegetation is common in tropical climates.
  • reject
    n. rejection
    →
    v. to refuse
    syn. refuse
    The insurance company rejected the claim.
    The rejection of his work was difficult for him to understand.
  • substantial
    adv. substantially; adj. substantive
    →
    adj. important; strongly made; of value
    syn. significant
    The discovery of a vaccine for smallpox was a substantial medical achievement.
    This substantive article will change your opinion of rock music.
  • trait
    →
    n. specific qualities that distinguish one from another
    syn. characteristic
    Her sense of humor and cheerful personality are some of her most impressive traits.
    Alma’s blonde hair is a trait inherited from her father.
  • underscore
    →
    v. to make evident or emphasize
    syn. highlight
    The high quality of the student’s science fair project underscored her talent in biology.
    The conclusion of the report should underscore its main ideas.
Matching

Choose the synonym.

  1. foster
    • a. exaggerate
    • b. stimulate
    • c. gain
    • d. enhance
  2. halt
    • a. evaporate
    • b. avoid
    • c. defy
    • d. stop
  3. trait
    • a. dwelling
    • b. characteristic
    • c. function
    • d. abundance
  4. adept
    • a. able
    • b. honorable
    • c. content
    • d. talented
  5. redundant
    • a. repetitious
    • b. creative
    • c. round
    • d. active
  6. substantial
    • a. haphazard
    • b. diverse
    • c. significant
    • d. perilous
  7. underscore
    • a. shelter
    • b. highlight
    • c. boost
    • d. exaggerate
  8. mysterious
    • a. unhealthy
    • b. dangerous
    • c. dramatic
    • d. baffling
  9. insignificant
    • a. meaningless
    • b. rudimentary
    • c. vigorous
    • d. spacious
  10. adhere
    • a. exhaust
    • b. reject
    • c. comply
    • d. withstand
Multiple-Choice Test Questions

  1. Scientists can only speculate on the possible fate of the Cosmos. If the universe is unbound, there is little possibility that its expansion will halt. Thus, eventually the galaxies and stars will all die. The Cosmos then would be a cold, dark, and virtually empty place. If the universe is bound, the mass and energy content will come together again in a big fiery squeeze.

    The word halt in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. continue
    • b. stop
    • c. expand
    • d. intensify
  2. The perception of depth and distance depends on information transmitted through various sense organs. Sensory cues indicate the distance at which objects are located from the individual and from each other. The senses of sight and hearing transmit depth and distance cues that are substantially independent of one another.

    The word substantially in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. significantly
    • b. absurdly
    • c. critically
    • d. vigorously
  3. Because the needs of human communication are so various, the study of meaning is probably the most difficult and mysterious aspect of serious language study. Traditionally, language has been defined as the expression of thought. But this idea is far too narrow an interpretation of language and far too broad a view of thought to be worthwhile. The expression of thought is just one of the many roles of language.

    The word mysterious in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. substantial
    • b. meaningful
    • c. promising
    • d. baffling
  4. The theory of environmental determinism says that the physical surroundings of a people, including natural resources, climate, and geography, are the major determining factors in the development of their culture. Therefore, determinism rejects the idea that history and tradition, social and economic factors, and other elements of culture explain social development.

    The word rejects in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. refuses
    • b. ignores
    • c. promotes
    • d. withstands
  5. The greatest benefit of a regular exercise program is an improvement in overall fitness. Appropriate exercise boosts muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory endurance. The level of maximum oxygen intake or cardio-respiratory endurance is usually not of great importance to most individuals. The most important thing is to attain their maximum level of performance.

    The word boosts in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. harms
    • b. manages
    • c. promotes
    • d. alters
  6. The number of giant pandas in the world is dwindling. The chief reason is that their natural habitat in China has been reduced as bamboo forests have been cleared to increase available land for China’s vast human population. In fact, the world came perilously close to losing the panda altogether in the 1980s as a result. Today, the panda’s future is brighter. The Chinese government now protects most of the panda’s natural habitat.

    In saying that the world came perilously close to losing the panda, the author means that the giant panda
    • a. has been set free from zoos.
    • b. endangered human beings.
    • c. threatened the extinction of bamboo.
    • d. was nearly entirely eliminated.
  7. Several pilots were killed during the competition for the Orteig Prize, which was promised to the first pilot to fly nonstop from New York to Paris. Charles Lindbergh believed he could win it if he had the right airplane, and he was right. He received the $25,000 prize in 1927 for being the first to make the perilous flight across the Atlantic.

    The word perilous in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. substantial
    • b. dangerous
    • c. haphazard
    • d. prosperous
  8. In parts of the world that lack modern sewage treatment plants, water carrying human waste can flow into drinking water supplies. Disease-carrying bacteria in the waste can make the drinking water harmful. Even in certain U.S. cities, such contaminants have been found in urban water supplies.

    The word harmful in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. frail
    • b. adverse
    • c. conspicuous
    • d. unhealthy
  9. Commercial arbitration has been practiced in European countries for many years. In the United States, commercial arbitration to handle disputes is gaining in popularity. The American Arbitration Association hires panels of arbitrators who mediate disagreements and propose solutions. The decisions of these panels have been enforced by the courts of many states.

    The word handle in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. face
    • b. manage
    • c. enact
    • d. promote
  10. Martin Luther King Jr. had a magnificent speaking ability. This quality enabled him to adeptly express African-Americans’ need for social justice. He gained the support of millions of people of all races through his eloquent pleas for nonviolent social action in the face of acute opposition. He received international accolades when he was awarded the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize, after many years of struggle to assure basic civil rights for all citizens.

    The word adeptly in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. constantly
    • b. extremely
    • c. passionately
    • d. talented
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