Lesson 14: Essential Words for the TOEFL

Jun 7, 2016

ample ○ arid ○ avoid ○ defy ○ enact ○ even ○ feign ○ fertile ○ freshly ○ function ○ fundamental ○ indiscriminate ○ selective ○ spacious ○ withstand

ample
[adj.] more than enough
[Syn.] sufficient

[adv.] amply

There is ample evidence that the young man was speeding when the accident occurred.
She was amply paid for the work she completed.

arid
[adj.] having little rain or water
[Syn.] dry

The area known as the Sahara Desert is one of the most arid place in the world.
The valley on the leeward side of the mountain was extremely arid.

avoid
[v.] to miss or keep away from
[Syn.] avert

[adj.] avoidable
[n.] avoidance

She could not avoid letting her feelings show.
The incident would have been avoidable if he had told the truth.

defy
[v.] to show little fear or regard for rules or established norms; to challenge
[Syn.] resist

[adv.] defyingly
[adj.] defying

I defy you to find that book in the library’s collection.
The circus performer demonstrated her death-defying routine.

enact
[v.] to pass a law
[Syn.] legislate

[adj.] enacted
[n.] enactment

Congress enacted the legislation during its last session.
The enactment of the laws was in the hands of the Senate.

even
[adj.] regular, smooth; in equal parts
[Syn.] equitable

[adv.] evenly
[n.] evenness

The sound isn’t even turn up the left speaker.
The profits were divided evenly among the investors.

feign
[v.] to pretend, make believe
[Syn.] simulate

[adj.] feigned

She feigned illness when it was time to visit the dentist.
Her unhappiness was feigned.

fertile
[adj.] able to produce abundantly
[Syn.] rich

[v.] fertilize
[n.] fertility
[n.] fertilizer

The delta areas of rivers are known for their fertile soil.
Fertilizers are used on crops to increase yields.

freshly
[adv.] caught or produced not long ago
[Syn.] recently

[adj.] fresh
[v.] freshen
[n.] freshness

Freshly harvested produce is hard to find in the winter months.
The product’s freshness depends on an efficient transportation system to bring it to market.

function
[n.] the normal purpose of something
[Syn.] role

[adv.] functionally
[adj.] functional
[v.] function

It is the function of the director to organize and lead the department.
Most appliances cannot function without electricity.

fundamental
[adj.] a primary or basic element
[Syn.] essential

[adv.] fundamentally

The student government promised fundamental changes in the registration process.
He is fundamentally strong in his area of expertise.

indiscriminate
[adj.] not chosen carefully; unplanned
[Syn.] arbitrary

[adv.] indiscriminately

The indiscriminate arrangement of the products made the store confusing.
The book’s chapters seem to be organized indiscriminately.

selective
[adj.] carefully chosen
[Syn.] discriminating

[adv.] selectively
[adj.] select
[v.] select
[n.] selection
[n.] selectivity

They were very selective when they chose the members of the academic team.
He selected Spanish as his language class.

spacious
[adj.] having a lot of room
[Syn.] expansive

[adj.] spaciously
[n.] space
[n.] spaciousness

The spacious plains of the Midwest make up the nation’s breadbasket.
A vacuum is an empty space.

withstand
[v.] to fight without surrender; to persist
[Syn.] survive

She cannot withstand the pressures of her job.
The old building withstood the terrible storm.

Choose the synonym.
1. sufficient
  1. crucial
  2. essential
  3. ample
  4. extensive
2. survive
  1. erode
  2. weaken
  3. elude
  4. withstand
3. defy
  1. resist
  2. demand
  3. simulate
  4. discriminate
4. indiscriminate
  1. predictable
  2. arbitrary
  3. functional
  4. constant
5. arid
  1. dry
  2. fertile
  3. fresh
  4. drab
6. avoid
  1. avert
  2. amaze
  3. assert
  4. allow
7. selective
  1. inaccessible
  2. rich
  3. recent
  4. discriminating
8. even
  1. fundamental
  2. erratic
  3. evident
  4. equitable
9. spacious
  1. sensitive
  2. superficial
  3. minuscule
  4. expansive
10. legislate
  1. enact
  2. feign
  3. solve
  4. exhaust
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the underlined word in the sentence.
1. The Constitution of the United defines the fundamental rights of its citizens.
  1. essential
  2. selective
  3. enacted
  4. ample
2. Many organisms change their function from one season to another.
  1. diet
  2. size
  3. role
  4. shape
3. Freshly cut wood must he completely dry before it can be used for construction.
  1. Evenly
  2. Haphazardly
  3. Coarsely
  4. Recently
4. Due to large deposits of debris left by glaciers, the Midwestern plain of the United States is an extremely fertile area for farming.
  1. level
  2. rich
  3. spacious
  4. arid
5. When threatened, the opossum often feigns death.
  1. simulates
  2. withstands
  3. avoids
  4. confronts

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