Essential Words for the TOEFL Lesson 7 Vocabulary Test

Choose the synonym.

deform

simultaneous

eventually

clarify

brash

thriving

inconsistency

different

hypothetically

reveal

The geologic history of Earth reveals much information about the evolution of the continents, oceans, atmosphere, and biosphere. The layers of rock at Earth’s surface contain evidence of the evolutionary processes these components underwent when each layer was formed. By studying this rock record from the beginning, it is possible to track their development through time.

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

Day-to-day weather constitutes a major element of the environment and an important factor in human well-being and activity. Agriculture, animal husbandry, transportation, and public health and safety are all greatly influenced by weather. It is not surprising that one of humanity’s oldest environment-related interests has been to manage the weather purposefully.

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

Illumination plays a great role in our psychological and physical well-being. Light can model objects or flatten them, reveal colors or distort them, provide a cheerful environment or a gloomy one. Glare and reflected glare can cause discomfort and reduce visibility. In addition to calculating illumination, a lighting engineer must deal with all of these problems through the choice of light sources and fixtures.

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

The different appearance of animals is chiefly superficial; the diverse variety of known forms can be assorted among only a half-dozen basic body plans. These plans are established during the embryonic stages of development and limit the size and complexity of the animals. Symmetry, number, and development of tissue, presence, and nature of body cavities, and several aspects of early development define these fundamental plans of organization.

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

When the settlers of the western United States abandoned their original log cabins, sod houses, and dugouts, they built small, wood-framed dwellings of one or two rooms without a basement. Rooms were usually added as prosperous families grew larger. This usually resulted in a series of large, open rooms laid end to end so that each would have an equal amount of sunlight.

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

The medical profession is sometimes accused of being more interested in itself than the quality of care it delivers. Many patients feel they don’t get the attention they deserve; many see the profession as selfish to its core. Doctors rarely agree, as a recent survey comparing their attitudes and that of the public shows. Seventy percent of the public were disappointed in the quality of care; only 35 percent of the doctors agreed.

In stating that the medical profession is selfish to its core, the author means that it_____.

Industrial cities appeared after the full development of industrial capitalism in the core nation-states of the eighteenth century. As a result, one of the dramatic features of the industrial revolution eventually developed, a remarkable increase in production. This increase was made possible by the improved methods of manufacturing that were adopted by factories.

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

The earliest complete calendars were probably based on lunar observations. But lunar years were not convenient for agricultural purposes. Therefore, to keep in step with the Sun, lunar-solar calendars were formed by adding an additional “leap” month when the observation of crops made it seem necessary. Eventually, the Gregorian civil calendar, a solar calendar that is calculated without reference to the Moon, became the most popular method of measuring years.

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

Mollusks have existed for some 500 million years, and about 10,000 extinct species are known. There are 350 or more living species of cephalopods from the Mollusk family. One of these is the cuttlefish. Fossil evidence confirms that the ancient cuttlefish has existed in its present form for more than 20 million years. When we compare the modern-day cuttlefish to the ancient fossils, we see evidence that the well-developed head, the many arms, two gills, two kidneys, and three hearts of the contemporary cuttlefish were also present in the cuttlefish of long ago.

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

The first swimsuits concealed the shape of the human body. Over the decades, attitudes relaxed regarding the public display of one’s body shape. Designers could move away from conservative styles and promote those that revealed a body’s physical attributes.

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