Vocabulary in Context: Master Unfamiliar Words in TOEFL Reading

Question 1

In a scientific experiment, what is the purpose of a substance used to compare the effects of a treatment?

Accepted Answer

Control Group

Answer

Dependent Variable

Answer

Hypothesis

Answer

Data

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a type of context clue used to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words in a passage?

Accepted Answer

Punctuation

Answer

Synonym

Answer

Antonym

Answer

Definition

Question 3

In the context of a lecture, what does the professor likely mean when they say they will 'clarify' a concept?

Accepted Answer

Make the concept more clear

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Make the concept less clear

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Make the concept more complex

Question 4

Understanding that "ephemeral" means "lasting for a short time" helps you better understand the passage because it:

Accepted Answer

Enhances your understanding of ideas related to the unfamiliar word.

Answer

Provides a direct translation of the unfamiliar word.

Answer

Eliminates the need to use a dictionary to define the word.

Question 5

Which of the following words has the closest meaning to "meticulous"?

Accepted Answer

careful

Answer

apathetic

Answer

sloppy

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impulsive

Question 6

What does the word "abrogate" most likely mean in the sentence: "The new law effectively abrogated the previous one. This means that the new law..."?

Accepted Answer

repealed

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upheld

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implemented

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amended

Question 7

Which of the following definitions best matches the meaning of the word "ephemeral" in the passage: "The fireworks display was ephemeral, lasting only a few minutes."?

Accepted Answer

lasting for a very short time

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extremely large

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highly complex

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very heavy

Question 8

What is the meaning of the phrase "red herring" in the following sentence: "The politician used a red herring to distract the audience from the main issue."?

Accepted Answer

a misleading clue or argument

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a metaphor for something dangerous

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a symbol of good luck

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a literal red fish

Question 9

What is the most likely meaning of the word "auspicious" in the following sentence: "The couple had an auspicious wedding day."?

Accepted Answer

fortunate

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boring

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stormy

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unlucky

Question 10

Which of the following words is the most suitable antonym for the underlined word in the sentence: "The explorer was determined to conquer the **uncharted** territory."?

Accepted Answer

familiar

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remote

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vast

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dangerous

Question 11

What does the word "benevolent" suggest about the person being described in the following sentence: "The benevolent ruler was loved by his subjects."?

Accepted Answer

kind and generous

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harsh and cruel

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wealthy and powerful

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intelligent and wise

Question 12

Which of the following words is the most suitable synonym for the underlined word in the sentence: "The politician's **rhetoric** was both persuasive and inspiring."?

Accepted Answer

speech

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appearance

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behavior

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policy

Question 13

What is the most likely meaning of the phrase " Achilles' heel" in the following sentence: "The company's reliance on a single supplier was its Achilles' heel."?

Accepted Answer

a fatal weakness

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a strong point

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a financial asset

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a legal liability

Question 14

In the sentence, "The weather forecast predicts auspicious conditions for the weekend," what is the most suitable meaning of "auspicious"?

Accepted Answer

Favorable

Answer

Doubtful

Answer

Unpredictable

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Unfavorable

Question 15

Based on the context, what is the most likely meaning of the word "elucidate" in the passage: "The professor's explanation was extremely helpful in elucidating the complex concept for the students."

Accepted Answer

Clarifying

Answer

Confusing

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Simplifying

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Summarizing

Question 16

In the sentence, "The explorer's profound knowledge of the region was instrumental in the expedition's success," the word "profound" primarily means:

Accepted Answer

Deep and thorough

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Basic and elementary

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Superficial and limited

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General and broad

Question 17

Which of the following is the best synonym for the underlined word in the sentence: "The speaker's captivating presentation kept the audience engrossed throughout."

Accepted Answer

Engaging

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Confusing

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Repetitive

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Boring

Question 18

The word "efficacy" in the sentence "The newly developed vaccine has demonstrated high efficacy in preventing the spread of the virus" means:

Accepted Answer

Effectiveness

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Safety

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Convenience

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Accessibility

Question 19

Which of the following terms is most similar in meaning to the underlined word in the sentence: "The scientist's groundbreaking discovery forever altered the course of medical research."

Accepted Answer

Revolutionary

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Incremental

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Conservative

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Traditional

Question 20

In the context of the passage, the word "meticulous" most likely means:

Accepted Answer

Extremely careful and precise

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Creative and innovative

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Quick and efficient

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Careless and sloppy

Question 21

Which of the following choices best defines the underlined word in the sentence: "The student's eloquent speech delivered at the graduation ceremony inspired the audience."

Accepted Answer

Powerful and moving

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Short and simple

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Unclear and confusing

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Monotonous and boring

Question 22

What is the primary meaning of the word "enigmatic" as used in the sentence: "The author's enigmatic writing style often left readers puzzled and intrigued."

Accepted Answer

Puzzling and mysterious

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Simple and predictable

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Humorous and entertaining

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Clear and straightforward

Question 23

In the following sentence, which word has a similar meaning to "gregarious": "The social gathering was filled with gregarious individuals who enjoyed interacting with others."

Accepted Answer

Outgoing

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Introverted

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Reserved

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Quiet

Question 24

Choose the word that best fits the context of the sentence: The students were able to quickly **gather** the necessary materials for the project.

Accepted Answer

assemble

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borrow

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disperse

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lend

Question 25

The teacher provided us with a **copious** amount of resources to prepare for the exam.

Accepted Answer

abundant

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insufficient

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limited

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scant

Question 26

The **malevolent** force was determined to destroy the village.

Accepted Answer

evil

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benevolent

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neutral

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indifferent

Question 27

The **ephemeral** beauty of the flowers lasted only a few days.

Accepted Answer

short-lived

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permanent

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eternal

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lasting

Question 28

The word 'gregarious' in the passage means:

Accepted Answer

sociable

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reserved

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introverted

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antisocial

Question 29

The word 'meticulous' in the passage means:

Accepted Answer

paying great attention to detail

Answer

haphazard

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careless

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sloppy

Question 30

What is the meaning of the underlined word in the sentence: The **magnanimous** king pardoned all the prisoners.

Accepted Answer

generous

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stingy

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selfish

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greedy

Question 31

What is the meaning of the underlined word in the sentence: The **enigmatic** painting left many viewers puzzled.

Accepted Answer

mysterious

Answer

obvious

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clear

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simple

Question 32

According to the passage, a **novice** is:

Accepted Answer

a beginner

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an expert

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a professional

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a master

Question 33

The **erudite** professor impressed his students with his vast knowledge.

Accepted Answer

learned

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ignorant

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foolish

Question 34

Read the following sentence: "The new law was met with widespread _opposition_ from environmental groups." What is the most appropriate meaning of the underlined word in this context?

Accepted Answer

Disagreement

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Indifference

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Support

Question 35

What is the fundamental goal of using context clues when encountering unfamiliar words in a TOEFL Reading passage?

Accepted Answer

To understand the meaning of the word without interrupting reading flow

Answer

To memorize the word's definition

Question 36

Read the following sentence: "The hurricane caused _catastrophic_ damage to the coastal town." What is the most likely part of speech of the underlined word in this context?

Accepted Answer

Adjective

Answer

Adverb

Answer

Noun

Question 37

In a TOEFL Reading passage about the history of science, the term 'epoch' is mentioned. Which of the following is the most reasonable meaning of 'epoch' in this context?

Accepted Answer

A significant period of time characterized by specific features

Answer

A specific unit of measurement

Question 38

Read the following sentence: "The government implemented a series of _stringent_ measures to combat the spread of the virus." What is the most likely meaning of 'stringent' in this context?

Accepted Answer

Strict or severe

Answer

Temporary or provisional

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Lenient or relaxed

Question 39

When encountering an unfamiliar word in a TOEFL Reading passage, it is advisable to:

Accepted Answer

Refer to the context for clues that may help determine the word's meaning

Answer

Guess the meaning based on personal experience or assumptions

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT a potential advantage of using context clues to understand unfamiliar words in TOEFL Reading?

Accepted Answer

It may increase reading time

Answer

It enhances comprehension

Answer

It reduces stress during the exam

Question 41

In a TOEFL Reading passage on environmental conservation, the term 'mitigate' is used. What is the most probable meaning of 'mitigate' in this context?

Accepted Answer

To reduce or lessen the severity of

Answer

To accelerate or worsen

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To ignore or disregard

Question 42

Which of the following is a type of context clue that can help you determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word?

Accepted Answer

Synonyms

Answer

Punctuation marks

Answer

Capitalization

Answer

Grammar rules

Question 43

In the passage, the word 'abrogate' most likely means:

Accepted Answer

To cancel or repeal

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To amend or change

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To support or uphold

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To define or explain

Question 44

The word 'prolific' often describes someone who:

Accepted Answer

Produces a lot

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Is very intelligent

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Is very lazy

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Is very shy

Question 45

What is the best way to determine the meaning of the word 'auspicious'?

Accepted Answer

Check for synonyms or antonyms in the surrounding sentences.

Answer

Translate the word into your native language.

Answer

Ignore the word and move on.

Answer

Guess based on the sound of the word.

Question 46

The phrase 'a veritable cornucopia' refers to something that is:

Accepted Answer

Abundant or overflowing

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Very small and insignificant

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Very difficult to find

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Very rare and valuable

Question 47

Which of the following is NOT a type of context clue?

Accepted Answer

Author's opinion

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Antonyms

Answer

Synonyms

Answer

Definitions

Question 48

The word 'ephemeral' in the passage likely means:

Accepted Answer

Short-lived or fleeting

Answer

Very large and imposing

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Very bright and colorful

Question 49

Which of the following is an effective strategy for improving vocabulary?

Accepted Answer

Reading widely and noting unfamiliar words

Answer

Translating words into your native language

Answer

Guessing the meaning of words based on their sound

Answer

Memorizing a list of words

Question 50

The word 'magnanimous' in the passage suggests that the person is:

Accepted Answer

Generous and forgiving

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Stingy and selfish

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Rude and arrogant

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Cowardly and fearful