Essential Words for the TOEFL Lesson 9 Vocabulary Test

Choose the synonym.

enormous

dialect

vibrant

straightforward

imposing

uniform

install

saturate

acute

classify

Written by Adam Smith in 1776, The Wealth of Nations is a vibrant attack against mercantilism and one of the most influential books ever written on economics. One of its main ideas is that when people pursue their own selfish interests, society as a whole benefits. Competition, rather than private or government monopoly, should regulate prices and wages. He also believed that competition produces socially beneficial consequences and that government should not interfere with market forces.

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

Despite its weaknesses and inner conflicts, the humanistic movement was heroic in its scope and energy, and exceptional in its aspirations. For human development in all fields, it created a context of seldom-equaled fertility. This era was saturated with advancements in both science and the liberal arts. Its characteristic modalities of thought, speech, and vision lent themselves to bring on the genius of humankind and provide a path for enduring achievement.

By saying that the era was saturated with advancements, the author means that_____.

The gigantic, intricately formed chasm of the Grand Canyon contains a great many impressive peaks, canyons, and ravines between its outer walls. The canyon includes a number of side canyons and surrounding plateaus. The deepest and most impressively beautiful section is within Grand Canyon National Park, which encompasses the Colorado River’s length from Lake Powell to Lake Mead.

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

The unified classical architectural style of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition buildings proved to be the most impressive and influential style of its time. A committee of East Coast architects and firms gathered in December 1890 to plan the fair buildings. The collective result was the construction of a group of 150 buildings known as the White City. Their design established white, columnar architecture as the only acceptable public style in the United States for 40 years thereafter.

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

The position of President of the United States has, in the past decade, expanded in its diversity. There were forty-two Caucasian presidents of the United States prior to President Barack Obama’s election. His installation as president inspired countless Americans to pursue their dreams regardless of race.

The noun installation in the passage is closest in meaning to_____.

England is the second-most densely populated country in Europe, preceded only by Malta. It has 255 inhabitants per square kilometer. In comparison, Italy has 200 inhabitants and Spain 87. Many European countries have agricultural economies, and their populations are unevenly distributed. For example, Paris has 3,550 people per square kilometer, while many parts of the rest of France contain fewer than 30 people per square kilometer.

In stating that England is densely populated, the author means that its_____.

In the field of artificial intelligence, scientists are studying methods for developing computer programs that display aspects of intelligent behavior. Research into all aspects of artificial intelligence is vigorous. However, some researchers doubt that artificial intelligence can truly replicate forms of intelligent behavior like that observed in intelligent living organisms. Indeed, artificial intelligence programs are simple when compared to the intuitive reasoning and induction capabilities of the human brain.

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

Canadian thistle is a bothersome North American weed that grows in clusters. However, some species such as the Scotch, or cotton thistle, which have dense heads of small pink or purple flowers, can make attractive garden plants and are widely cultivated for ornamental purposes throughout the Northeast.

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

The Sun is not the only star known to be accompanied by an extensive planetary system. A few nearby stars are now known to be encircled by particles of undetermined size. This opens the strong hypothesis that the universe is filled with many solar systems similar to that of our sun. No deep understanding of the Solar System can be achieved without an appreciation of the basic properties of the Sun, which in part accounts for the existence of life on Earth.

The phrase accounts for is closest in meaning to_____.

An exchange rate is the rate at which one country’s currency may be exchanged for that of another. Exchange rates have been governed in recent years primarily by the forces of supply and demand. The exchange rate normally changes, depending upon the strength of a country’s economy and its trade balance.

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