Lesson 11: Essential Words for the TOEFL

Jun 7, 2016

amenity ○ destroy ○ disperse ○ dwelling ○ element ○ elementary ○ eliminate ○ emphasize ○ encircle ○ erratic ○ exaggerate ○ mention ○ pier ○ prevalent ○ release

amenity
[n.] something that makes life easier or more enjoyable
[Syn.] convenience

She had all the amenities of home when she went camping.
One expects many amenities at a five-star hotel.

destroy
[v.] to put an end to the existence of something
[Syn.] ruin

[adj.] destructive
[adv.] destructively
[n.] destructiveness
[n.] destruction
[n.] destroyer

The factory was destroyed by the fire.
The destruction of the old landmark was opposed by a concerned group of citizens.

disperse
[v.] to cause to move in many different directions
[Syn.] circulate

[adj.] dispersed

The high winds and rain dispersed the crowd.
After the hurricane, dispersed belongings cluttered the street.

dwelling
[n.] where people live
[Syn.] house

[n.] dweller
[v.] dwell

Cave-like dwellings have been discovered throughout the world.
City dwellers often have trouble adjusting to life in the country.

element
[n.] a part of the whole
*environment
[Syn.] component

[n.] element*
[adj.] elemental

City dwellers are out of their element in the country.
Hard work and perseverance are the basic elements of success.

elementary
[adj.] simple in structure, easy to do
[Syn.] primary

The solution to the problem was actually quite elementary.
You must take Elementary Physics before you can enroll in the advanced course.

eliminate
[v.] to remove, free oneself of something
[Syn.] delete

[n.] elimination
[adj.] eliminated

Mistakes must be eliminated before you hand in a term paper.
The elimination of the runner from the race was decided by the judge.

emphasize
[v.] to show that something is especially important or exceptional
[Syn.] highlight

[adj.] emphatic
[n.] emphasis
[adv.] emphatically

The professor emphasized certain aspects of the historical period.
When asked if they would like to leave class early, the students answered with an emphatic “yes”.

encircle
[v.] to make a circle around
[Syn.] surround

[adj.] encircled

The players encircled their coach after winning the big game.
The encircled celebrity actually became afraid of her fans.

erratic
[adj.] no regular pattern in thinking or movement; changeable without reason
[Syn.] inconsistent

[adv.] erratically

The artist’s paintings have an erratic qualify, some being excellent, and others mediocre.
The unstable chemical reacted erratically.

exaggerate
[v.] to make something more than what it is
[Syn.] overstate

[adj.] exaggerated
[n.] exaggeration

The federal government exaggerated the success of its programs.
To say that his business is successful would be an exaggeration.

mention
[v.] to say; relate in written form
[Syn.] remark

[adj.] mentioned
[n.] mention

Theater-goers often mention that they enjoy watching movies on a large screen.
The book mentioned today was included in the bibliography that was handed out in class last week.

pier
[n.] a place where boats arrive to take on or unload cargo and passengers
[Syn.] dock

The submarine arrived at the pier on time.
The goods were unloaded onto the pier.

prevalent
[adj.] existing widely or commonly
[Syn.] commonplace

[n.] prevalence

Comfortable trade winds are prevalent in the Caribbean islands.
There is a prevalence of disease where poor sanitation conditions exist.

release
[v.] to allow to come out; to give freedom
[Syn.] free

[n.] release

A new movie was just released.
The release of the records was expected today.

Choose the synonym.
1. amenity
  1. advice
  2. convenience
  3. element
  4. emphasis
2. ruin
  1. destroy
  2. conform
  3. forbid
  4. baffle
3. mention
  1. surround
  2. remark
  3. assert
  4. clarify
4. emphasize
  1. frighten
  2. highlight
  3. delete
  4. persuade
5. exaggerate
  1. impress
  2. dominate
  3. elaborate
  4. overstate
6. disperse
  1. circulate
  2. classify
  3. distort
  4. encircle
7. release
  1. free
  2. replace
  3. settle
  4. block
8. inconsistent
  1. destructive
  2. emphatic
  3. circulated
  4. erratic
9. commonplace
  1. elementary
  2. rudimentary
  3. prevalent
  4. uniform
10. pier
  1. depth
  2. crack
  3. dock
  4. prime
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the underlined word in the sentence.
1. Kapok is made from the silky fibers that encircle the seeds of the tropical silk cotton tree.
  1. release
  2. destroy
  3. surround
  4. circulate
2. Evidence suggests that the rumor process eliminates the most improbable accounts of an event.
  1. elicits
  2. deletes
  3. emphasizes
  4. exaggerates
3. The most elementary type of convection can be explained by the fact that heat rises.
  1. mentioned
  2. erratic
  3. prevalent
  4. primary
4. The thermostat is an element in some types of fire detection devices.
  1. problem
  2. amenity
  3. component
  4. advantage
5. Poorly constructed dwellings cannot withstand severe storms.
  1. houses
  2. piers
  3. boats
  4. roads

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