TOEFL 1 Flashcards
contrast
(verb) put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
“The middle school teacher contrasted her best student’s work with that of her weakest student.”
core
(noun) the center of an object
Think: apple core
“The Earth’s inner core is about the same temperature as the surface of the Sun.”
clay
(noun) a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
“When fired in a kiln clay becomes a ceramic material that is used to produce earthenware stoneware and porcelain.”
void
(noun) an empty area or space
(noun) the state of nonexistence
“Nothing lives in the void of space.”
hazard
(noun) a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
“Working in a nuclear reactor can be a radiation hazard.”
defect
(noun) an imperfection in an object or machine
Think: de-effect
“If your shirt has a missing button that’s a defect and you should return it.”
plaster
(noun) a mixture used to cover walls and ceilings
Think: paste over “
The handyman used plaster to cover up the hole in the wall.”
investment
(noun) the act of investing; laying out money or capital in an enterprise with the expectation of profit
Think: men in vests (bankers wear fancy vests)
“Her early investment in Apple stock doubled her money.”
cast
(noun) the actors in a play
“The cast of the TV show Friends consists of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer.”
cast
(noun) container into which liquid is poured to create a given shape when it hardens
“I made a cast of my face so I could give all my friends a bronze model of myself.”
estimate
(noun) an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth
“I don’t know the exact value of √2, but I estimate it to be about 1.41.”
consume
(verb) use up resources or materials
“The car consumes gasoline.”
consume
(verb) eat excessively
“The tiger consumed the whole goat in ten minutes.”
scatter
(verb) to cause to separate and go in different directions
“She scatter the flowers into the wind.”
expose
(verb) make secret information known to the public
“The newspaper exposed the politician’s secret affairs.”
particle
(noun) a tiny piece of something
Think: part
“Particles of dust were blown around the room by the fan.”
minor
(adj) of lesser importance, size, or effect
Think: minute
“The paper cut was a minor injury.”
minority
(noun) a group of people who differ racially or politically from a larger group of which it is a part
“Korean Americans are an ethnic minority.”
major
(noun) the principal field of study of a student at a university
“When I was at Harvard, I majored in Economics, with a minor in Computer Science.”
major
(adj) of greater importance, size or effect
“The hurricane was a major disaster.”
majority
(noun) the greater in number of two parts
“The majority voted to pass the new law.”
minute
(adj) infinitely or immeasurably small
Think: minor
"”A begger has only a minute chance of becoming President.”
