Lesson 10: Essential Words for the TOEFL

Jun 7, 2016

distinct ○ dominant ○ dormant ○ drab ○ dramatic ○ elaborate ○ exceptional ○ hazardous ○ minuscule ○ prime ○ rudimentary ○ sensitive ○ superficial ○ terrifying ○ vigorous

distinct
[adj.] clearly noticed; different
[Syn.] definite

[adv.] distinctly
[adj.] distinctive
[n.] distinct

There was a distinct aroma of coffee in the restaurant.
The two theories are distinctly different from each other.

dominant
[adj.] primary or principal; having or exercising control over something
[Syn.] major

[adv.] dominantly
[v.] dominate
[n.] domination

The dominant life forms of the Paleozoic Era lived in the water.
The skyscraper dominated the sky line.

dormant
[adj.] not growing or producing; asleep
[Syn.] inactive

[n.] dormitory

The volcano had been dormant for hundreds of years before the eruption last month.
The seniors live in the new dormitory.

drab
[adj.] lacking color; uninteresting, boring
[Syn.] colorless

[adv.] drably
[n.] drabness

Their clothing was quite drab.
The drabness of the desert made driving less interesting.

dramatic
[adj.] something that captures the imagination; exciting
[Syn.] emotional

[adv.] dramatically
[n.] drama
[v.] dramatize

The dramatic finish to the game left us speechless.
The hurricane dramatically changed the coastline.

elaborate
[adj.] something with a large number of parts; full of details
[Syn.] complex

[adv.] elaborately
[v.] elaborate
[n.] elaboration

An elaborate headdress indicated rank within the Aztec community.
His elaboration of the issue was quite thorough.

exceptional
[adj.] unusual in a positive way
[Syn.] phenomenal

[adv.] exceptionally

The orchestra’s performance was exceptional.
The North Star is exceptionally bright.

hazardous
[adj.] very risky, unsafe
[Syn.] dangerous

[adv.] hazardously
[n.] hazard

Handling flammable liquids is hazardous.
There are many hazards involved with starting a business.

minuscule
[adj.] of little consequence; very small
[Syn.] tiny

[adj.] minute
[n.] minitia

The sale of the building had a minuscule effect on the profits of the corporation.
Some leaves are covered with minute hairs.

prime
[v.] to make ready;
* first in importance or in time
[Syn.] prepare

[adj.] primed
[adj.] prime*
[n.] prime

The directors primed the actors before the performance.
Mozart passed away in the prime of his life.

rudimentary
[adj.] simple; not complex
[Syn.] basic

[n.] rudiment

He has a rudimentary knowledge of computers.
The rudiments of grammar are taught in all English classes.

sensitive
[adj.] easily affected
[Syn.] delicate

[adv.] sensitively
[n.] sensitivity

Film varies according to its sensitivity to light.
This equipment is very sensitive to changes in temperature.

superficial
[adj.] simple; not deep; near the surface
[Syn.] shallow

[adv.] superficially

The inspector determined that the crack in the bridge was only superficial.
You should not try to answer the question superficially.

terrifying
[adj.] filled with fear
[Syn.] frightening

[adv.] terrifyingly
[v.] terrify

To be in a violent storm is a terrifying experience.
They are terrified by dogs.

vigorous
[adj.] powerful, full of action
[Syn.] strong

[adv.] vigorously
[n.] vigor

His vigorous defense of the issues impressed everyone.
He approached his work with vigor.

Choose the synonym.
1. exceptional
  1. dominant
  2. dense
  3. phenomenal
  4. acceptable
2. terrify
  1. distort
  2. frighten
  3. challenge
  4. settle
3. prepare
  1. create
  2. display
  3. depend
  4. prime
4. delicate
  1. vibrant
  2. distinct
  3. diverse
  4. sensitive
5. dangerous
  1. hazardous
  2. rigid
  3. commonplace
  4. intolerable
6. elaborate
  1. gigantic
  2. impressive
  3. complex
  4. dramatic
7. minuscule
  1. tiny
  2. dim
  3. drab
  4. major
8. superficial
  1. emotional
  2. lasting
  3. shallow
  4. curious
9. rudimentary
  1. dormant
  2. ideal
  3. basic
  4. arbitrary
10. vigorous
  1. dominant
  2. convenient
  3. uniform
  4. strong
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the underlined word in the sentence.
1. Because much collective behavior is dramatic and unpredictable, theories of such behavior are more evaluative than analytic.
  1. hazardous
  2. unexpected
  3. terrifying
  4. emotional
2. In contrast to their springtime nuptial plumage, ninny songbirds revert to a drab plumage during the winter.
  1. sensitive
  2. elaborate
  3. different
  4. colorless
3. A seed is dormant at the time it is shed by its parent.
  1. primed
  2. inactive
  3. minuscule
  4. harvested
4. The newspaper trip and the comic book represent the dominant graphic mythology of the twentieth century.
  1. major
  2. magical
  3. familiar
  4. routine
5. The vast majority of animals exhibit a distinct symmetrical form.
  1. definite
  2. superficial
  3. familiar
  4. rudimentary

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