Essential Words for the TOEFL - Lesson 2

Question 1

advantage
adv. advantageously
adj. advantageous

Answer 1

n. something that may help one to be successful or to gain something
syn. benefit

Is there any advantage in arriving early?
He was advantageously born into a rich family.

Question 2

advent

Answer 2

n. the coming or appearance of something
syn. arrival

With the advent of computers, many tasks have been made easier.
The newspaper announced the advent of the concert season.

Question 3

agile
adv. agilely
n. agileness
n. agility

Answer 3

adj. able to move in a quick and easy way
syn. nimble

Deer are very agile animals.
She moved agilely across the stage.

Question 4

albeit

Answer 4

conj. in spite of the facts; regardless of the fact
syn. although

His trip was successful, albeit tiring.
Albeit difficult at times, speaking another language is rewarding.

Question 5

appealing
v. appeal
n. appeal
adv. appealingly

Answer 5

adj. attractive or interesting
syn. alluring

Working abroad is appealing to many people.
Through his speeches, the candidate appealed to the voters.

Question 6

celebrated

Answer 6

adj. acclaimed; well-known and popular
syn. renowned

The celebrated pianist will be giving a concert this weekend.
San Francisco is celebrated for its multicultural makeup.

Question 7

circumvent
n. circumvention

Answer 7

v. to go around; avoid
syn. evade

The hacker attempted to circumvent the computer’s security system.
Circumvention of the freshman math requirement is possible.

Question 8

collide
n. collision

Answer 8

v. to hit one object against another with violent force; to be in opposition
syn. crash

The collision caused major damage to both cars.
Moon craters were caused when large asteroids collided with the moon.

Question 9

contemporary
n. contemporary

Answer 9

adj. modern, up-to-date, or (n.) a person living at the same time as another person
syn. current

Contemporary architecture makes very good use of space.
Cervantes was a contemporary of Shakespeare.

Question 10

distribute
n. distribution

Answer 10

v. to divide among people or to give out
syn. dispense

Many publishers distribute their newspapers directly to homes in their area.
The distribution of seeds is very quick with this new machine.

Question 11

encourage
n. encouragement
n. encourager
adv. encouragingly
adv. encouraging

Answer 11

v. to promote, hep, or support
syn. stimulate

The government cut taxes in order to encourage spending.
The professor gave each student the encouragement that was needed to learn the material.

Question 12

energetic
n. energy
adv. energetically

Answer 12

adj. full of life, action, or power
syn. vigorous

Sam hasn’t been as energetic as he usually is.
There’s a lot of energy in these batteries.

Question 13

frail
n. frailty

Answer 13

adj. weak in health or in body
syn. fragile

The frail wings of the newborn bird could not lift it off the ground.
One of the frailties of human beings is laziness.

Question 14

heyday

Answer 14

n. a high point of success or abundance
syn. pinnacle

Many settlers became rich during the heyday of the California gold rush of the 1800s.
We are living in the heyday of digital communications.

Question 15

myth
adj. mythological
n. mythology

Answer 15

n. an invented story or idea
syn. legend

Throughout history, myths were created in an attempt to explain many common natural occurrences.
Mythology is the study of legends and fables.

Question 16

refine
n.refinement
adj. refined

Answer 16

v. to make pure; to improve
syn. perfect(verb)

Factories must refine oil before it can be used as fuel.
A squirt of lime juice is the perfect refinement of cola.

Question 17

worthwhile

Answer 17

adj. value in doing something
syn. rewarding

It was worthwhile waiting ten hours in line for the tickets.
It’s worthwhile to prepare for the TOEFL.