Essential Words for the TOEFL (7th edition) » Lesson 20

Word List
  • accentuate
    adj. accentuated; n. accentuation
    →
    v. to highlight; to give more importance to
    syn. emphasize
    The colorful dress accentuated the joy of the occasion.
    The supervisor accentuated her preference for hard-working employees during the performance appraisal.
  • devise
    adj. devisable
    →
    v. to brainstorm; to come up with an idea
    syn. formulate
    The firefighters devised a plan to safely bring the cat down from the tree.
    The scientists had to devise an entirely new experiment after the first one failed.
  • disguise
    adj. disguised; n. disguise
    →
    v. to hide the usual appearance of something
    syn. conceal
    It is hard to disguise the fact that business is slow.
    Everyone saw through his disguise.
  • embedded
    v. embed
    →
    adj. included or found inside something
    syn. inserted
    The archaeologist found a rare fossil embedded in the rock face.
    The instructions say to embed the seeds one inch apart.
  • ignite
    adj. ignitable; n. ignition
    →
    v. to set on fire; to give energy or life to something
    syn. kindle
    The jury’s decision ignited a fierce debate in the legal community.
    Wood is difficult to ignite if it is damp.
  • indifferent
    n. indifference
    →
    adj. being uninterested or not caring about something
    syn. apathetic
    The teacher was indifferent to student requests to extend the project’s deadline.
    The player’s indifference about his error on the field upset the coach.
  • initiate
    adj. initiated; n. initiation; n. initiative
    →
    v. to begin; to establish; to take decisive action without help
    syn. launch
    The newcomers initiated the long citizenship process.
    Their work shows a lot of initiative.
  • innovative
    n. innovator; n. innovation
    →
    adj. something newly introduced; creative
    syn. creative
    This innovative project is worthy of support.
    There have been many innovations in the field of genetic engineering.
  • narrate
    adj. narrative; n. narrative; n. narration; n. narrator
    →
    v. to tell a story; relate
    syn. relate
    The American actor, Morgan Freeman, narrated the documentary film.
    Her fabricated narrative generated a lot of excitement.
  • nevertheless
    →
    conj. in spite of that
    syn. nonetheless
    She was quite sick; nevertheless, she attended all of her classes.
    His project was flawed; nevertheless, it won second prize.
  • obsolete
    n. obsolescence
    →
    adv. being old fashioned; no longer in general use
    syn. outdated
    Some people believe that writing instruments, such as pencils and pens, will soon be obsolete.
    Some products are manufactured with planned obsolescence.
  • omit
    adj. omitted; n. omission
    →
    v. to leave out; not include
    syn. neglect
    She inadvertently omitted some important data from the report.
    His paper had several notable omissions.
  • outlandish
    adv. outlandishly
    →
    adj. strange and unpleasant; beyond accepted norms
    syn. bizarre
    His outlandish ideas demonstrated his creativity.
    Rebellious youth in many countries dress outlandishly.
  • overcome
    →
    v. to defeat; fight with success; to take control of an individual
    syn. conquer
    The young woman was overcome with emotion when she learned she had won a scholarship.
    The family overcame many obstacles to purchase the house.
  • partially
    adv. partly; adj. partial; n. part
    →
    adv. a part of the whole; incomplete
    syn. somewhat
    The clerk was only partially responsible for the error.
    The business venture was only a partial success.
  • portray
    n. portrayal
    →
    v. to represent; to act
    syn. depict
    The actress portrayed an orphan in the movie.
    The book’s portrayal of Mozart as a calm, mature individual is inaccurate.
  • streamline
    adj. streamlined
    →
    v. to update; to make more efficient or concise
    syn. simplify
    The planning process must be streamlined in order for it to be more reliable.
    Internet stores have streamlined the process of finding, buying, and selling merchandise.
Matching

Choose the synonym.

  1. kindle
    • a. initiate
    • b. ignite
    • c. persuade
    • d. overcome
  2. indifferent
    • a. dissimilar
    • b. outlandish
    • c. diverse
    • d. apathetic
  3. streamline
    • a. transform
    • b. simplify
    • c. allocate
    • d. navigate
  4. embed
    • a. omit
    • b. devise
    • c. insert
    • d. emulate
  5. obsolete
    • a. outdated
    • b. current
    • c. omitted
    • d. opposed
  6. relate
    • a. restore
    • b. record
    • c. narrate
    • d. balance
  7. nevertheless
    • a. nonetheless
    • b. albeit
    • c. although
    • d. presumably
  8. formulate
    • a. conceal
    • b. delight
    • c. feign
    • d. devise
  9. emphasize
    • a. accentuate
    • b. conquer
    • c. suspect
    • d. select
  10. portray
    • a. refine
    • b. depict
    • c. pass
    • d. abuse
Multiple-Choice Test Questions

  1. In 1982, after years of debate, the Canadian government agreed to extend a constitutional guarantee to their bill of rights. Embedded in this Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a reinforcement of the Constitution. Yet Parliament and the provincial legislatures have limited power to pass laws that might conflict with certain provincial rights.

    The word embedded in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. inserted
    • b. summarized
    • c. outlined
    • d. addressed
  2. Although the assertion is at least partially true, the citizens of Kansas resent the suggestion that they live in a cultural vacuum. Most of the larger cities have amateur theater groups, while Topeka and Wichita support symphony orchestras. The numerous colleges and universities in the state provide a concentration of art and music in many small communities that otherwise would have no similar activities.

    The word partially in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. somewhat
    • b. undeniably
    • c. nevertheless
    • d. occasionally
  3. Before becoming proficient, sword swallowers must first overcome their fear of projecting the sharp sword down their throat. Only after long hours of practice and experience can one swallow the sword comfortably. Beyond their entertainment value, exhibits of sword swallowing have helped to further medicine. By demonstrating to physicians that the pharynx could be accustomed to contact, experimentation and exploration of the involved organs is possible.

    The word overcome in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. disguise
    • b. conquer
    • c. treat
    • d. accentuate
  4. Sun Ra was an important African-American jazz pianist and bandleader of the 1930s. Having a flare for being creative, he dressed his band in purple blazers, white gloves, and propeller beanies. The band developed into The Arkestra, and over time the costumes and showmanship grew ever more outlandish. The musicianship, however, was uniformly excellent, and Sun Ra developed into a serious experimenter, fusing jazz with African music, dance, and acrobatics.

    The word outlandish in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. prosperous
    • b. bizarre
    • c. relaxing
    • d. melodical
  5. Modern descriptions of written languages are in most cases excellent, but they still omit an explicit account of a native speaker’s competence in his language, by virtue of which one calls him a speaker of English, Japanese, Arabic, or Chinese. Recent studies of language have revealed how more research is needed in order to fully describe linguistic competence.

    The word omit in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. portray
    • b. contribute
    • c. neglect
    • d. relate
  6. All team sports require reactive and proactive players. In soccer, for example, fullbacks, stoppers, sweepers, and midfielders have the job of preventing the opposing team from advancing very far. Goalies are responsible for stopping the ball and keeping their opponents from scoring. By comparison, the center forward has to take the initiative, seize the ball, move it down the field, keep it going, and move it forward into the enemy end zone.

    In stating that the center forward has to take the initiative, the author means that the center forward’s responsibility is to
    • a. play in an offensive way.
    • b. assume a supportive role.
    • c. react to opposing moves.
    • d. wait for others to score.
  7. A disguise is often used to create an interesting or amusing character. The mask is a type of disguise that is still used in the 21st century during festive occasions. Masks may be outlandish, hideous, or superficially horrible. Festival masks are commonly used during Halloween and Mardi Gras, or at masquerade-themed gatherings.

    The word disguise in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. elusiveness
    • b. confidant
    • c. omission
    • d. concealment
  8. The length, content, and form of folktales vary enormously. Both a short joke and an adventure-filled romance requiring several hours to narrate can be characterized as folktales. Folktales may be set in a mythical past, in historic times, or in the present. Storytelling is a basic human need. Therefore folktales, even in technological cultures, remain strong.

    The word narrate in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. relate
    • b. dictate
    • c. elaborate
    • d. mention
  9. Jan Swammerdam was a biologist who studied relatively few organisms, but in great detail. He employed highly innovative techniques such as injecting wax into the circulatory system to hold the blood vessels firm. He also dissected fragile structures under water to avoid destroying them.

    The word innovative in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. intricate
    • b. absurd
    • c. conspicuous
    • d. inventive
  10. Contracts between employees and employers state that the worker will do what the employer asks. In return, the employer pays the worker a fee, which the worker can use to purchase goods and services made by other workers who have also entered into a voluntary relationship with another employer. A cooperative spirit and a desire for mutual benefit accentuate healthy employer-employee relationships.

    The word accentuate in the passage is closest in meaning to
    • a. promote
    • b. determine
    • c. emphasize
    • d. forfeit
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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