Essential Words for the TOEFL (7th edition) » Lesson 16

Word List
  • conscientious
    adv. conscientiously
    →
    adj. showing serious purpose; one who works carefully and with enthusiasm
    syn. meticulous
    She is a conscientious representative of the student body.
    They approached the task conscientiously.
  • convey
    →
    v. to make something known to others; to communicate
    syn. communicate
    The manager of the store conveyed his displeasure directly to the workers.
    He was able to convey his message to the audience with ease.
  • encompass
    →
    v. to surround completely; to envelop
    syn. include
    Her plan of study encompasses every aspect of computer science.
    The course encompasses all the literature of the nineteenth century.
  • expansion
    adj. expandable; v. expand
    →
    n. the act of making larger
    syn. growth
    Expansion occurs when matter is heated.
    The laboratory is expanding its capacity to produce computer chips.
  • heighten
    adj. heightened; n. height
    →
    v. to cause to become greater
    syn. intensify
    A very successful interview can heighten a candidate’s chances to get a job.
    The public was in a heightened state of nervousness as the hurricane approached.
  • highlight
    n. highlight
    →
    v. to emphasize the part of a greater whole
    syn. emphasize
    The owner’s manual highlights the basic functions of the camera.
    The final goal was the highlight of the game.
  • inadvertently
    adj. inadvertent
    →
    adv. by accident; without paying attention; unexpectedly
    syn. carelessly
    The reporters had inadvertently failed to include the name of one of the dignitaries.
    His inadvertent calculation caused him to derive the wrong answer.
  • inevitable
    adv. inevitably; n. inevitability
    →
    adj. something that cannot be prevented from happening
    syn. unavoidable
    When two weather systems meet, unpredictable weather conditions are inevitable.
    The inevitability of the outcome made the challenge less exciting.
  • infancy
    adj. infantile; n. infant
    →
    n. in the beginning stages of development
    syn. beginning
    The new theory is in its infancy and will be thoroughly tested by its critics.
    The author’s infantile writing style appeals to young readers.
  • mimic
    n. mimicker
    →
    v. to copy an action
    syn. imitate
    The comedian mimicked the president’s gestures.
    Parrots mimic the speech that they hear in their surroundings.
  • paramount
    adv. paramountly; n. paramountcy
    →
    adj. to be of highest importance
    syn. foremost
    The club’s paramount goal is to raise awareness of the importance of community service.
    Being quiet is of paramount importance while watching a movie at the theater.
  • proficient
    adv. proficiently; n. proficiency
    →
    adj. to be skilled or experienced in something
    syn. competent
    The exam will test the students’ proficiency in the Portuguese language.
    Highly proficient athletes earn the privilege of competing in the Olympics.
  • retrieve
    adj. retrieved; n. retrieval
    →
    v. to find and bring back
    syn. recover
    Will Detroit retrieve its status as the car manufacturing center of the world?
    This computerized information retrieval system is the most up-to-date system available.
  • systematically
    adj. systematic; n. system
    →
    adv. done according to a plan
    syn. methodically
    The plan was developed systematically by a team of experts.
    Systematic changes in foreign policy have been proposed.
  • unlikely
    →
    adj. not probable
    syn. doubtful
    Rain is unlikely to occur during the dry season.
    It is unlikely that he will want to attend the conference.
  • unwarranted
    →
    adj. without good reason or cause; inappropriate
    syn. unjustified
    His negative reaction was unwarranted.
    The motorist felt that the ticket for the infraction was unwarranted.
  • zenith
    →
    n. the highest point
    syn. apex
    He reached the zenith of his profession at a very young age.
    The publication of the book represented the zenith of his career.
Matching

Choose the synonym.

  1. convey
    • a. intensify
    • b. promote
    • c. communicate
    • d. engender
  2. proficient
    • a. suitable
    • b. persistent
    • c. competent
    • d. inevitable
  3. growth
    • a. expansion
    • b. function
    • c. highlight
    • d. recover
  4. meticulously
    • a. haphazardly
    • b. conscientiously
    • c. inadvertently
    • d. conspicuously
  5. retrieve
    • a. disperse
    • b. recover
    • c. accelerate
    • d. broaden
  6. encompass
    • a. emphasize
    • b. gain
    • c. heighten
    • d. include
  7. apex
    • a. facet
    • b. zenith
    • c. trait
    • d. flaw
  8. systematically
    • a. unexpectedly
    • b. persuasively
    • c. astoundingly
    • d. methodically
  9. paramount
    • a. likely
    • b. foremost
    • c. appealing
    • d. meticulous
  10. mimic
    • a. exceed
    • b. imitate
    • c. astonish
    • d. highlight
Multiple-Choice Test Questions

  1. The first elevated rail system was successfully operated in New York City in 1871, using steam power. Because steam power had many disadvantages, the lines were later electrified. An extensive network of elevated lines was built in New York City. It was in service for many years, but was systematically eliminated because of its antiquated appearance and because it contributed to traffic congestion.

    The word systematically in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. inadvertently
    • b. appropriately
    • c. meticulously
    • d. methodically
  2. Municipal solid waste must be collected and treated in order to reduce the total volume and weight of the material that requires final disposal. Treatment changes the form of the waste and makes it easier to handle. It can also be used to recover certain materials, as well as heat energy, for recycling or reuse.

    The word recover in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. retrieve
    • b. convey
    • c. deplete
    • d. develop
  3. American biographer and historian Samuel Eliot Morrison colorfully recreated notable stories of modern history. Combining a gift for storytelling with meticulous scholarship, he took the reader back into history to relive the adventures of such characters as Ferdinand Magellan, Christopher Columbus, and Sir Francis Drake. He also recorded the accomplishments of the U.S. Navy during World War II.

    The word meticulous in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. unwarranted
    • b. infantile
    • c. valid
    • d. conscientious
  4. Space medicine protects human beings from the environment of space and studies their reactions to that environment. The foundations of space medicine can be traced to aviation medicine. The term aerospace medicine has evolved to encompass practice in both areas. Aerospace medicine has been a certified subspecialty of the American Board of Preventive Medicine since 1953.

    The word encompass in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. favor
    • b. promote
    • c. emphasize
    • d. include
  5. If some motion is possible according to physical laws, then a motion in which events appear in reverse order is also possible. For example, it would be unusual to observe a real process in which a vase broken on the floor collects itself and flies up whole into a person’s hand. Nevertheless, according to known physical laws, such a process is not impossible, although it is too unlikely to expect it to actually happen.

    The word unlikely in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. difficult
    • b. doubtful
    • c. astonishing
    • d. superficial
  6. In 1896 a Swedish chemist first assessed the effects of greenhouse gases. He showed that activities such as burning coal, destroying forests, and even raising cattle dangerously increase atmospheric concentrations of such gases as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Since then, heightened awareness of the effects cars and factories have on the environment has led to more concern about these gas concentrations. Recently they have been blamed for an apparent warming trend in Earth’s atmosphere.

    In referring to heightened awareness, the author means that people are
    • a. ignorant of the situation.
    • b. more conscious of the situation.
    • c. unconcerned about the problem.
    • d. ashamed that the problem exists.
  7. Great technological advances were made during the infancy of the United States’ industrial growth. But the modern trends of the 1920s brought about problems as well as benefits. Many Americans had trouble adjusting to the impersonal, fast-paced life of cities. The complex life in cities tended to weaken the strong family ties that had always been part of American society.

    The word infancy in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. prime
    • b. beginnings
    • c. miracle
    • d. ambiguity
  8. Careful testing is one of a pharmaceutical company’s most important responsibilities. Pharmaceutical companies and the Food and Drug Administration constantly guard against the possibility of a harmful drug being sold to the public. But even the most careful testing cannot always reveal the possibility that a drug may produce an inadvertent harmful effect.

    The word inadvertent in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. acute
    • b. unlikely
    • c. agilely
    • d. unexpected
  9. Basketball was invented by James Naismith, a Canadian-American, in 1891. Today, it is the world’s most popular indoor sport. Basketball emphasizes teamwork and the athletic qualities of endurance, speed, and agility. Tall players have an advantage because they can reach closer to the basket or above other players to shoot and rebound the ball. Smaller players make contributions to their teams as shooters and ball handlers.

    The word emphasizes in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. encompasses
    • b. elaborates
    • c. highlights
    • d. enhances
  10. Daniel Webster was a well-known American speaker, and one of the most capable lawyers and statesmen of his time. He used his speaking ability to establish a strong national government in the Senate. He also applied the speaking skills he had mastered as a lawyer to heighten his appeal for the end to slavery.

    The word heighten in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. intensify
    • b. persuade
    • c. promote
    • d. convey
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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