Essential Words for the TOEFL Lesson 1 Vocabulary Test

Choose the synonym.

withdraw

autonomous

chronic

intervene

aspect

haphazardly

constant

valid

unfavorably

postpone

A customs union is an organization of autonomous countries that agree that international trade between member states is free of restrictions. They place a tariff or other restriction on products entering the customs union from nonmember states. One of the best-known customs unions is the European Union or EU.

The word autonomous in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.

The search to hide natural body odors led to the discovery and use of musk. Musk is a scent used in perfumes. It is obtained from the sex glands of the male musk deer, a small deer native to the mountainous regions of the Himalayas. The odor of musk, penetrating and persistent, is believed to act as an aphrodisiac. In animals, musk serves the functions of defining territory, providing recognition, and attracting mates.

The word persistent in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.

Until the late nineteenth century, all rubber was extracted haphazardly from trees found in the jungles of South America. It was expensive and the supply was uncertain. However, during the 1860s the idea of transporting rubber trees to the British colonies in Asia was conceived. This led to the larger-scale cultivation of rubber trees on organized plantations.

The word haphazardly in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.

Some animals use bold coloration to disrupt a would-be predator’s perception. Other animals have color patterns that blend with their surroundings. Such coloration serves for protection, to attract mates, or to distract enemies. Called cryptic coloration, it uses the animals’ living place, habits, and means of defense. Cryptic coloration may blend an animal so well with its environment that it is virtually invisible.

The word disrupt in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.

Cognitive approaches to therapy assume that emotional disorders are the result of irrational beliefs or perceptions. The mind may interpret an event as scary or calming, happy or sad. The emotionally disordered person may perceive adverse events as personal failures. Cognitive psychotherapies seek to make the patient aware of the irrationality of this perception and to substitute more rational evaluations of such events.

The word adverse in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.

Increasingly, authorities are uneasy about teenagers who talk or text on their phones while driving. For many, phone use and driving are perfectly compatible; others, however, are more easily distracted, especially while listening to music. The growing number of accidents associated with phone use supports this claim. Many communities now disapprove of this habit so much that they have forbidden anyone of any age to use cell phones while driving.

In stating that many communities now disapprove of these phones, the author means that they _____.

Fans are used to circulate air in rooms and buildings and for cooling and drying people, materials, or products. Even though the air that is circulated by a fan is comforting, no fan actually cools the air. Air conditioners use a complicated process to cool the air and create changes in temperature. While repairing a fan is relatively simple, a professional repairman will often have to intervene when homeowners face problems with their air conditioning units.

The word to intervene in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.

Tornadoes strike in many areas of the world, but nowhere are they as frequent or as devastating as in the United States. A vast “tornado belt” embraces large portions of the Great Plains of the United States and the southeastern portion of the country. Tornadoes pose the greatest threats to these areas, which are especially vulnerable to abrupt changes in weather conditions.

The word abrupt in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.

For women in the 1920s, freedom in dress reflected their new freedom to take up careers. Only a small percentage of women pursued such opportunities, but the revolutionary change affected the types of clothes worn by most women. For example, trousers became acceptable attire for almost all activities. This milestone in the fashion world favored more stylish and comfortable clothing instead of more formal modes of dress.

The word acceptable in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.

The National Film Board of Canada was established in 1939 to produce films that reflect Canadian life and thought, and to distribute them both domestically and abroad. By winning awards from film festivals around the world, it has earned international acclaim for the artistic and technical excellence of its work.

The word acclaim in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.