Essential Words for the TOEFL Lesson 21 Vocabulary Test

Choose the synonym.

picturesque

partisan

eruption

disappear

shallow

propensity

reaction

rich

protected

rhythm

Until the latter half of the twentieth century, the Chesapeake Bay’s sheltered, nutrient-rich waters supported plentiful populations of marine life. Commercial fishing and recreational activities abounded. By the 1970s, however, residential and industrial development of the surrounding land had led to significant pollution of the bay. Various projects have been initiated in an effort to reverse the environmental damage that the bay has suffered.

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

The bee family Apidae, which includes honeybees, no longer uses honeypots that could be damaged by exposure to the elements. Instead, honey and pollen are stored in vertical combs with a layer of cells on each surface. Of the four species of honeybees in this family, only three are found in Asia. Their nests have several combs and are sheltered in crevices of rocks or hollows of trees.

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

Andrew Carnegie established several independent, philanthropic foundations. Among them are funds for the recognition of heroic acts. These include the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, the Endowment for International Peace, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, which was established in 1905 to provide pensions for college teachers.

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

The world of magic comprises a wide range of phenomena, from the intricate ritual beliefs and practices of religious systems, to acts of conjuring and sleight of hand for entertainment. Magic is a social and cultural phenomenon found in all places and in all periods of history, with varying degrees of importance.

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

A person’s need for food is determined by age and by average heights and weights. Individual activity levels are also used to determine the level of ideal calorie consumption. For example, a decrease in recommended daily calorie consumption with increasing age is consistent with the known reduction in metabolism that occurs with aging and with a normal decrease in physical activity.

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

Liquids vary in the amount of acid they contain. For example, water contains relatively little acid, while vinegar contains a large quantity. Acidic content is determined by dipping litmus paper into a liquid. This paper is saturated with a colorant obtained from plants called lichens. The colorant reacts to the presence of acid by turning different shades of red—the brightness of the shade can be measured on a scale called a pH scale.

In stating that the colorant reacts to the presence of acid in the liquid, the author means that it_____.

Gars are long, slender, predatory fish, with a long, tooth-studded jaw and a tough, armored skin. They are a primitive fish that inhabit placid fresh waters of the Western Hemisphere. Because of the highly vascular and cellular nature of the gar’s swim bladder, it functions as a lung. This makes the gar able to survive in large numbers in the Everglades of the southern United States.

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

In the human body, different toxins produce different reactions. Irritation of the upper respiratory tract by inhaled formaldehyde gas is rapidly reversible because as soon as inhalation ends, the irritation subsides. In contrast, the response produced by silica dust is irreversible, because once the silicotic nodules are formed, they remain in the lung.

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

Much of the world’s unique heritage is endangered by pollution, the advance of human settlements, conflicts over the use of land and resources, and other problems. Thus, many countries are setting aside scenic natural areas as rapidly as possible. The tendency of many governments has been to establish as many parks as possible before natural environments are altered by human activities.

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

A “must carry” rule is designed to ensure that local TV stations do not vanish from cable TV offerings. It requires cable systems to carry all local broadcast channels within a certain area of their transmitters. The law was struck down in 1985, although many aspects of that case are still being argued.

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