Lesson 3: Essential Words for the TOEFL

Jun 7, 2016

alter ○ analyze ○ ancient ○ annoying ○ conform ○ defect ○ enrich ○ intensify ○ observe ○ ongoing ○ propose ○ restore •anticipate ○ intolerable ○ vital

alter
[v.] to change or make different
[Syn.] modify

[v.] altered
[n.] alteration
[adj.] alterable
[adv.] alterably

Will the starlit alter its course and miss the coast?
Gloria hasn’t altered her plans to return to school.

analyze
[v.] to study something carefully, to separate into parts for study
[Syn.] examine

[n.] analyzed
[n.] analysis

Scientists must analyze problems thoroughly.
Analysis of the substance confirms the presence of nitrogen.

ancient
[adj.] something from a long time ago, very old.
[Syn.] old

Archaeologists analyze ancient civilizations.
Dave found an ancient Roman coin.

annoying
[adj.] a slight bother, disturbing to a person
[Syn.] bothersome

[n.] annoyance
[v.] annoy
[adv.] annoyingly

Mosquitoes can be an annoying part of a vacation at the beach.
She annoyed her parents by coming home late.

anticipate
[v.] to think about or prepare for something ahead of time
[Syn.] predict

[adj.] anticipatory
[n.] anticipation

No one can anticipate the results of the games.
They planned their vacation with anticipation.

conform
[v.] to follow established rules or patterns of behavior
[Syn.] adapt

[n.] conformity
[n.] conformist

Yon must conform to the rules or leave the club.
She has always been a conformist.

detect
[v.] to find out, to observe something
[Syn.] notice

[n.] detection
[n.] detective

He detected a smile on his girlfriend’s face.
They are the best detectives on the police force.

enrich
[v.] to make rich, to make something of greater value
[Syn.] enhance

[n.] enrichment
[adj.] enriching

The fine arts enrich our lives.
The discovery of oil was an enrichment for the country.

intensify
[v.] to make stronger in feeling or quality
[Syn.] heighten

[n.] intensity
[adj.] intense
[adj.] intensive
[adv.] intensely
[adv.] intensively

The importance of the test will sometimes intensify the nervousness of the students.
The chess match was played with great intensity.

intolerable
[adj.] difficult or painful to experience, not able to accept different ways of thought or behavior
[Syn.] unbearable

[n.] intolerance
[adv.] intolerably
[adv.] intolerantly
[adj.] intolerant

Any opposition to the rules is intolerable.
His boss was intolerant of his tardiness.

observe
[v.] to see and watch carefully, to examine
[Syn.] notice

[n.] observation
[n.] observer
[adj.] observant
[adj.] observable

Human beings like to observe the behavior of monkeys.
I made the observation that you are not happy.

ongoing
[adj.] continuing
[Syn.] current

The tutoring project is an ongoing program of the school.
Maintaining roads is an ongoing job.

propose
[v.] to suggest or plan to do something
[Syn.] suggest

[n.] proposal
[n.] proposition
[adj.] proposed

The governor is going to propose new taxes.
Her proposal was well accepted.

restore
[v.] to give back or bring back something; to return to the original condition
[Syn.] revitalize

[n.] restoration
[adj.] restored

He restored my confidence in hint.
It is a beautiful restoration of the old table.

vital
[adj.] of great importance, full of life
[Syn.] indispensable

[n.] vitality
[adv.] vitally

Money is vital to the success of the program.
His intense vitality was easily observable.

Choose the synonym.
1. indispensable
  1. abrupt
  2. abroad
  3. vital
  4. frail
2. restore
  1. appeal
  2. revitalize
  3. attract
  4. disrupt
3. conform
  1. annoy
  2. divide
  3. encourage
  4. adapt
4. notice
  1. observe
  2. refine
  3. distribute
  4. analyze
5. current
  1. energetic
  2. ideal
  3. ongoing
  4. intense
6. observe
  1. alter
  2. notice
  3. anticipate
  4. modify
7. intense
  1. strong
  2. intolerant
  3. vitally
  4. allowable
8. enrich
  1. alter
  2. dispense
  3. disrupt
  4. enhance
9. unbearable
  1. inspiring
  2. unfavorable
  3. intolerable
  4. ancient
10. proposal
  1. question
  2. attention
  3. benefit
  4. suggestion
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the underlined word in the sentence.
1. The composition of heavenly bodies can be discovered by analyzing the light they emit.
  1. detecting
  2. examining
  3. intensifying
  4. observing
2. In 1985, the Coca-Cola Company altered the secret formula of the drink’s ingredients.
  1. modified
  2. proposed
  3. enriched
  4. restored
3. Aside from simply being annoying, loud noises can permanently damage the ear.
  1. unwelcome
  2. bothersome
  3. detected
  4. intolerable
4. Building construction is an ancient human activity.
  1. old
  2. vital
  3. ongoing
  4. contemporary
5. Manitoba’s leaders anticipated the changing economic environment during the early part of the twentieth century.
  1. welcomed
  2. predicted
  3. made use of
  4. conformed to

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