Essential Words for the TOEFL Lesson 20 Vocabulary Test

Choose the synonym.

kindle

indifferent

streamline

embed

obsolete

relate

nevertheless

formulate

emphasize

portray

In 1982, after years of debate, the Canadian government agreed to extend a constitutional guarantee to their bill of rights. Embedded in this Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a reinforcement of the Constitution. Yet Parliament and the provincial legislatures have limited power to pass laws that might conflict with certain provincial rights.

The word embedded in the passage is closest in meaning to_____.

Although the assertion is at least partially true, the citizens of Kansas resent the suggestion that they live in a cultural vacuum. Most of the larger cities have amateur theater groups, while Topeka and Wichita support symphony orchestras. The numerous colleges and universities in the state provide a concentration of art and music in many small communities that otherwise would have no similar activities.

The word partially in the passage is closest in meaning to_____.

Before becoming proficient, sword swallowers must first overcome their fear of projecting the sharp sword down their throat. Only after long hours of practice and experience can one swallow the sword comfortably. Beyond their entertainment value, exhibits of sword swallowing have helped to further medicine. By demonstrating to physicians that the pharynx could be accustomed to contact, experimentation and exploration of the involved organs is possible.

The word overcome in the passage is closest in meaning to_____.

Sun Ra was an important African-American jazz pianist and bandleader of the 1930s. Having a flare for being creative, he dressed his band in purple blazers, white gloves, and propeller beanies. The band developed into The Arkestra, and over time the costumes and showmanship grew ever more outlandish. The musicianship, however, was uniformly excellent, and Sun Ra developed into a serious experimenter, fusing jazz with African music, dance, and acrobatics.

The word outlandish in the passage is closest in meaning to_____.

Modern descriptions of written languages are in most cases excellent, but they still omit an explicit account of a native speaker’s competence in his language, by virtue of which one calls him a speaker of English, Japanese, Arabic, or Chinese. Recent studies of language have revealed how more research is needed in order to fully describe linguistic competence.

The word omit in the passage is closest in meaning to_____.

All team sports require reactive and proactive players. In soccer, for example, fullbacks, stoppers, sweepers, and midfielders have the job of preventing the opposing team from advancing very far. Goalies are responsible for stopping the ball and keeping their opponents from scoring. By comparison, the center forward has to take the initiative, seize the ball, move it down the field, keep it going, and move it forward into the enemy end zone.

In stating that the center forward has to take the initiative, the author means that the center forward’s responsibility is to_____.

A disguise is often used to create an interesting or amusing character. The mask is a type of disguise that is still used in the 21st century during festive occasions. Masks may be outlandish, hideous, or superficially horrible. Festival masks are commonly used during Halloween and Mardi Gras, or at masquerade-themed gatherings.

The word disguise in the passage is closest in meaning to_____.

The length, content, and form of folktales vary enormously. Both a short joke and an adventure-filled romance requiring several hours to narrate can be characterized as folktales. Folktales may be set in a mythical past, in historic times, or in the present. Storytelling is a basic human need. Therefore folktales, even in technological cultures, remain strong.

The word narrate in the passage is closest in meaning to_____.

Jan Swammerdam was a biologist who studied relatively few organisms, but in great detail. He employed highly innovative techniques such as injecting wax into the circulatory system to hold the blood vessels firm. He also dissected fragile structures under water to avoid destroying them.

The word innovative in the passage is closest in meaning to_____.

Contracts between employees and employers state that the worker will do what the employer asks. In return, the employer pays the worker a fee, which the worker can use to purchase goods and services made by other workers who have also entered into a voluntary relationship with another employer. A cooperative spirit and a desire for mutual benefit accentuate healthy employer-employee relationships.

The word accentuate in the passage is closest in meaning to_____.