Essential Words for the TOEFL - Lesson 1

Question 1

abroad

Answer 1

adv. to or in another country
syn. overseas; internationally

Louis Armstrong often traveled abroad.
Living abroad can be an educational experience.

Question 2

abrupt
adv. ?
n. ?

Answer 2

adv. abruptly
n. abruptness

adj. quick; without warning
syn. sudden

There was an abrupt change in the weather.
After the incident, everyone left abruptly.

Question 3

acceptable
v. ?
adv. ?
n. ?
adj. ?

Answer 3

v. accept
adv. acceptably
n. acceptability
adj. accepting

adj. allowable or satisfactory
syn. permissible

The idea was acceptable to everyone.
The registrar accepted more applicants than he should have.

Question 4

acclaim
adj. ?
n. ?

Answer 4

adj. acclaimed
n. acclamation

n. enthusiastic approval; applause
syn. praise

Isaac Stern has won acclaim abroad.
Acclaimed authors often win Pulitzer Prizes.

Question 5

actually
adj. ?

Answer 5

adj. actual

adv. being in existence, real or factual
syn. truly

They were actually very good soccer players.
The actual time allotted to complete the test is two hours.

Question 6

adverse
adv. ?
n. ?
n. ?

Answer 6

adv. adversely
n. adversity
n. adversary

adj. displeasing, objectionable, or bad
syn. unfavorable

Adverse weather conditions made it difficult to play the game.
His indecision adversely affected his job performance.

Question 7

advice
v. ?
adj. ?
n. ?

Answer 7

v. advise
adj. advisable
n. advisability

n. a recommendation given by someone not associated with the problem or situation
syn. suggestion

Good advice is hard to find.
It is not advisable to stay up late the day before a test.

Question 8

attractive
v. ?
n. ?
n. ?
adv. ?

Answer 8

v. attract
n. attraction
n. attractiveness
adv. attractively

adj. calling attention to; pleasing; creating interest; pretty
syn. appeaiing

The idea of working four, ten-hour work days was attractive to the employees.
The major attraction of the show was a speech by the president.

Question 9

autonomous
adv. ?

Answer 9

adv. autonomously

adj. by itself; with no association
syn. independent

Mexico became an autonomous state in 1817.
Although working closely with the government, all businesses function autonomously.c

Question 10

chronic
adv. ?

Answer 10

adv. chronically

adj. always present; continual
syn. constant

The author’s chronic headache prevented her from finishing the chapter.
He is chronically late to class.

Question 11

disapproval
v. ?
adv. ?

Answer 11

v. disapprove
adv. disapprovingly

n. the act of disagreeing; not giving approval
syn. objection

Their disapproval of the plan caused the experiment to be abandoned.
The students disapproved of the plan of study.

Question 12

disruptive
v. ?
n. ?
adv. ?

Answer 12

v. disrupt
n. disruption
adv. disruptively

adj. causing confusion and interruption
syn. disturbing

Frequent questions during lectures can be disruptive.
The storm caused a disruption in bus service.

Question 13

haphazardly
adj. ?
n. ?

Answer 13

adj. haphazard
n. haphazardness

adv. having no order or pattern; by chance
syn. arbitrarily; carelessly

It was obvious that the house was built haphazardly.
Susan completed the assignment in a haphazard way.

Question 14

persistent
v. ?
n. ?
adv. ?

Answer 14

v. persist
n. persistence
adv. persistently

adj. continuous; refusing to give up; firm in action or decision
syn. constant

The attorney’s persistent questioning weakened the witness.
Her persistence earned her a spot on the team.

Question 14

postpone
adj. ?
n. ?

Answer 14

adj. postponable
n. postponement

v. to change to a later time; to delay
syn. reschedule

The referees decided to postpone the soccer match.
The postponement of the meeting upset the impatient club members.

Question 15

valid
n. ?
adv. ?

Answer 15

n. validity
adv. validly

adj. producing a desired result based on truths or facts
syn. convincing

The students had a valid reason for missing class.
The professor questioned the validity of the test results.

Question 16

withdraw
n. ?

Answer 16

n. withdrawal

v. to remove, take out, or take back
syn. extract

The player withdrew from the competition.
Gloria had to make a withdrawal from her savings to pay tuition.