Toefl Reading Vocabulary

Question 1

Account for

Answer 1

verb) in the sense of explain
Synonyms
explain
answer for
clarify
clear up
elucidate
illuminate
justify
rationalize

Question 2

Notorious fluctuations

Answer 2

نوسانات زیاد

notorious
(adjective) in the sense of infamous
Definition
well known for some bad reason
one of Britain’s most notorious serial killers
Synonyms
infamous
disreputable
opprobrious
scandalous
dishonorable

fluctuate
1 (verb) in the sense of change
Definition
to change frequently and erratically
Body temperatures can fluctuate when you are ill.
Synonyms
change
swing
vary
alter
hesitate
alternate
waver
veer
rise and fall
go up and down
ebb and flow
seesaw

Question 3

High returns

Answer 3

بازده بالا

Question 4

Commerce

Answer 4

1 (noun) in the sense of trade
Definition
the buying and selling of goods and services
They have made their fortunes from industry and commerce.
Synonyms
trade
business
dealing
exchange
traffic
merchandising

2 (noun) in the sense of relations
Definition
social relations (literary)
The hours tick by in pleasant social commerce.
Synonyms
relations
communication
dealings
intercourse
socializing

Question 5

Stake out

Answer 5

phrasal verb informal
1 to watch a place secretly and continuously → stakeout
Police officers have been staking out the warehouse for weeks.
2 to mark or control a particular area so that you can have it or use it
We went to the show early to stake out a good spot.
3 to state your opinions about something in a way that shows how your ideas are clearly separate from other people’s ideas
Johnson staked out the differences between himself and the other candidates.

Question 6

Orientation

Answer 6

1 (noun) in the sense of inclination
Definition
the activities and aims that a person or organization is interested in
The party is liberal and democratic in orientation.
Synonyms
inclination
tendency
bias
leaning
bent
disposition
predisposition
predilection
proclivity (formal)
partiality
turn of mind

2 (noun) in the sense of induction
the company’s policy on recruiting and orientation
Synonyms
induction
introduction
breaking in
adjustment
settling in
adaptation
initiation
assimilation
familiarization
acclimatization

3 (noun) in the sense of position
Definition
the position of an object with relation to the points of the compass or other specific directions
The orientation of the church is such that the front faces the square.
Synonyms
position
situation
location
site
bearings
direction
arrangement
whereabouts
disposition
coordination

Question 7

Reform

Answer 7

noun) in the sense of improvement
Definition
correction of abuses or malpractices
a programme of economic reform
Synonyms
improvement
amendment
correction
rehabilitation
renovation
betterment
rectification
amelioration

1 (verb) in the sense of improve
Definition
to improve (a law or institution) by correcting abuses
his plans to reform the country’s economy
Synonyms
improve
better
correct
restore
repair
rebuild
amend
reclaim
mend
renovate
reconstruct
remodel
rectify
rehabilitate
regenerate
reorganize
reconstitute
revolutionize
ameliorate
emend

2 (verb) in the sense of mend your ways
Definition
to give up or cause to give up a bad habit or way of life
Under such a system where is the incentive to reform?
Synonyms
mend your ways
go straight (informal)
shape up (informal)
get it together (informal)
turn over a new leaf
get your act together (informal)
clean up your act (informal)
pull your socks up (British, informal)
get back on the straight and narrow (informal)

Question 8

Grandiose

Answer 8

1 (adjective) in the sense of pretentious
Definition
impressive, or meant to impress
Not one of his grandiose plans has ever come to anything.
Synonyms
pretentious
ambitious
extravagant
flamboyant
high-flown
pompous
showy
ostentatious
bombastic

adjective) in the sense of imposing
Definition
impressive, or meant to impress
the grandiose building which housed the mayor’s offices
Synonyms
imposing
grand
impressive
magnificent
majestic
stately
monumental
lofty
See examples for synonyms
Opposites
modest , humble , small-scale

Question 9

mercantile

Answer 9

1 (adjective) in the sense of commercial
Definition
of trade or traders
the emergence of a new mercantile class
Synonyms
commercial
business
trade
trading
merchant

2 (adjective) in the sense of profit-making
the urban society and its mercantile values
Synonyms
profit-making
materialistic
capitalistic
money-orientated

Question 10

Course

Answer 10

In the course of the country

1 (noun) in the sense of route
Definition
the path or channel along which a river moves
For nearly four hours we maintained our course northwards.
Synonyms
route
way
line
road
track
channel
direction
path
passage
trail
orbit
tack
trajectory

2 (noun) in the sense of procedure
Definition
a mode of conduct or action
Resignation is the only course left open to him.
Synonyms
procedure
plan
policy
programme
method
conduct
behaviour
manner
mode
regimen

3 (noun) in the sense of progression
Definition
an onward movement in time or space
a series of naval battles which altered the course of history
Synonyms
progression
order
unfolding
development
movement
advance
progress
flow
sequence
succession
continuity
advancement
furtherance
march

4 (noun) in the sense of classes
Definition
a complete series of lessons or lectures
I’ll shortly be beginning a course on the modern novel.
Synonyms
classes
course of study
programme
schedule
lectures
curriculum
studies

5 (noun) in the sense of racecourse
Definition
an area on which a sport is played or a race is held
On the Tour de France, cyclists cover a course of over 2,000 miles.
Synonyms
racecourse
race
circuit
cinder track
lap

6 (noun) in the sense of period
Definition
a period of time
In the course of the 1930s, steel production in Britain approximately doubled.
Synonyms
period
time
duration
term
passing
sweep
passage
lapse

1 (verb) in the sense of run
Definition
(of a liquid) to run swiftly
The tears coursed down his cheeks.
Synonyms
run
flow
stream
gush
race
speed
surge
dash
tumble
scud
move apace

2 (verb) in the sense of hunt
Definition
to hunt with hounds that follow the quarry by sight and not scent
a ban on dogs coursing hares
Synonyms
hunt
follow
chase
pursue

Question 11

Inhabitant

Answer 11

(noun) in the sense of occupant
Definition
a person or animal that is a permanent resident of a particular place or region
the inhabitants of Glasgow
Synonyms
occupant
resident
citizen
local
native
tenant
inmate
dweller
occupier
denizen
indigene
indweller

Question 12

inhabitancy

Answer 12

noun) in the sense of habitation
Synonyms
habitation
occupation
lodging
dwelling
living in
residence
occupancy
tenancy
inhabitance

Question 13

Cultivate

Answer 13

1 (verb) in the sense of farm
Definition
to grow (plants)
She cultivated a small garden of her own.
Synonyms
farm
work
plant
tend
till
harvest
plough
bring under cultivation

Question 14

Cultivated

Answer 14

(adjective) in the sense of refined
Definition
well-educated
His mother was an elegant, cultivated woman.
Synonyms refined « cultured advanced polished educated sophisticated accomplished discriminating 1 enlightened discerning civilized genteel »
well-educated 1 urbane s erudite › well-bred <

Question 15

Empirical

Answer 15

(adjective) in the sense of first-hand
Definition
derived from experiment, experience, and observation rather than from theory or logic
There is no empirical evidence to support his
theory.
Synonyms first-hand « direct observed practical actual ›
experimental pragmatic « factual
experiential ›

Question 16

Exertion

Answer 16

1. (noun) in the sense of effort
   Definition
   effort or exercise, esp. physical effort panting from the exertion of climbing the Stairs
   Synonyms effort action exercise struggle industry labour « trial pains « stretch strain endeavour p
   travail (literary) p elbow grease (facetious) «)

Question 17

Lag

Answer 17

1 (verb) in the sense of hang back
Definition
to hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, or development
The boys crept forward, Roger lagging a little.
Synonyms
hang back
delay
drag (behind)
trail
linger
be behind
idle
saunter
loiter
straggle
dawdle
tarry

2 (verb) in the sense of drop
Definition
to fall away in strength or intensity
Trade has lagged since the embargo.
Synonyms
drop
fail
diminish
decrease
flag
fall off
wane
ebb
slacken
lose strength

ADDITIONAL SYNONYMS
in the sense of dawdle
Definition
to walk slowly or lag behind
They dawdled arm in arm past the shopfronts.
Synonyms waste time, potter, trail, lag, idle, loaf, hang about, dally, loiter, dilly-dally (informal), drag your feet or heels
in the sense of decrease
Definition
to make or become less in size, strength, or quantity
Population growth is decreasing each year.
Synonyms drop, decline, lessen, contract, lower, ease, shrink, diminish, fall off, dwindle, wane, subside, abate, peter out, slacken
in the sense of delay
Definition
to deliberately take longer than necessary to do something
If he delayed any longer, the sun would be up.
Synonyms linger, lag, loiter, dawdle, tarry, dilly-dally (informal), drag your feet or heels (informal)

Question 18

In view of

Answer 18

phrase) in the sense of considering
Definition
taking into consideration
In view of the circumstances, his achievement is remarkable.
Synonyms
considering
taking into account
in the light of
bearing in mind
keeping in mind
mindful of
taking into consideration
taking note of

Question 19

Capital
(human capital)

Answer 19

سرمایه انسانی

(noun) in the sense of money
Definition
wealth used to produce more wealth by investment
The company is having difficulties in raising capital.
Synonyms
money
funds
stock
investment(s)
property
cash
finance
finances
financing
resources
assets
wealth
principal
means
wherewithal
wonga (slang)

1 (adjective) in the sense of principal
Synonyms
principal
leading
controlling
major
important
chief
main
prime
central
essential
primary
vital
prominent
cardinal
paramount
foremost
overruling
pre-eminent

2 (adjective) in the sense of upper case
The name and address are written in capital letters.
Synonyms
upper case
block
3 (adjective) in the sense of first-rate
Definition
excellent or first-rate (old-fashioned)
They had a capital time in London.
Synonyms
first-rate
fine
excellent
superb
sterling
splendid
world-class

Question 20

Well above

Answer 20

بسیار بالاتر

Question 21

Toll due

Answer 21

Abolished toll dues
عوارض پرداختی را لغو کرد

Question 22

Political institutions

Answer 22

نهادهای سیاسی

Question 23

Conventional

Answer 23

1 (adjective) in the sense of proper
conventional views
Synonyms
proper
conservative
correct
formal
respectable
bourgeois
genteel
staid
conformist
decorous
Pooterish

2 (adjective) in the sense of ordinary
Definition
established by accepted usage or general agreement
the cost of fuel and electricity used by a conventional system
Synonyms
ordinary
standard
normal
regular
usual
vanilla (slang)
habitual
bog-standard (British, Irish, slang)
common

3 (adjective) in the sense of traditional
Definition
established by accepted usage or general agreement
The conventional wisdom on these matters is being challenged.
Synonyms
traditional
accepted
prevailing
orthodox
customary
prevalent
hidebound
wonted

4 (adjective) in the sense of unoriginal
Definition
following the accepted customs and lacking originality
This is a rather conventional work by a mediocre author.
Synonyms
unoriginal
routine
stereotyped
pedestrian
commonplace
banal
prosaic
run-of-the-mill
hackneyed
vanilla (slang)
See examples for synonyms
Opposites
abnormal , uncommon , unconventional , off-the-wall (slang), unorthodox , left-field (informal)

Question 24

Alertness

Answer 24

noun) in the sense of watchfulness
feelings of greater alertness and ability to concentrate
Synonyms
watchfulness
vigilance
agility
wariness
quickness
liveliness
readiness
circumspection
attentiveness
spiritedness
briskness
nimbleness
perceptiveness
carefulness
sprightliness
promptitude
activeness
heedfulness

If you are alert, you are paying full attention to things around you and are able to deal with anything that might happen.

you are fully aware of it.

Question 25

Take place

Answer 25

(phrase) in the sense of happen
Similar demonstrations also took place elsewhere.
Synonyms
happen
occur
go on
go down (US, Canadian)
arise
come about
crop up
transpire (informal)
befall
materialize
come to pass (archaic)
betide

Question 26

Conduct

Question 27

Implication

Question 28

Congenital

Question 29

Accords with

Question 30

Anectodal evidence

Question 31

Incongruous

Question 32

Brilliant flash of light

Answer 32

adjective) in the sense of bright
Definition
shining with light
The event was held in brilliant sunshine.
Synonyms
bright
shining
intense
sparkling
glittering
dazzling
vivid
radiant
luminous
ablaze
resplendent
scintillating
lustrous
coruscating
refulgent (literary)
lambent
See examples for synonyms
Opposites
dark , dull , obscure , dim , gloomy

Question 33

Neutralize

Answer 33

verb) in the sense of counteract
Definition
to make ineffective by counteracting
antibodies that neutralize the toxic effects of soluble antigens
Synonyms
counteract
cancel
offset
undo
compensate for
negate
invalidate
counterbalance
nullify