400 Must Have Words for the TOEFL LESSON 3 – Evolution and Migration Vocabulary Test
Question 1
Choose the word or phrase that is closest in meaning to the opposite of the word below.
physical
Physical describes the body or material things, as in physical exercise. Its opposite is mental, which describes the mind, as in mental effort.
Question 2
migration
Migration is moving from one place or region to another, as in the migration of birds. The opposite is staying in one place.
Question 3
adapt
To adapt is to change so that you fit a new situation or environment. The opposite is to stay the same.
Question 4
inherent
Inherent means existing as a natural, basic part of something, as in Risk is inherent in any business. The opposite is not an integral part.
Question 5
survive
To survive is to stay alive, especially through danger or difficulty. The opposite is to die.
Question 6
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the underlined part of each sentence.
Various languages are spoken on the Indian subcontinent.
Various means of many different kinds. Diverse has the same meaning, as in diverse languages.
Question 7
Making bread involves a sequence of steps that takes about three hours.
A process is a series of actions or steps done to reach a result, as in the process of making bread.
Question 8
Few sea turtles manage to live through their first year of life.
To survive means to manage to stay alive through a difficult period. Few sea turtles survive their first year.
Question 9
This age group tends to support current educational policies.
A generation is all the people born and living at about the same time, so it is an age group, as in the younger generation.
Question 10
Her thinking about economics has changed slowly in the last several months.
To evolve is to change or develop gradually over time. Her thinking has evolved means it has changed slowly.
Question 11
Read the passage to review the vocabulary you have learned. Answer the questions that follow.
The migration from Asia to North America across the Bering Strait (perhaps by land bridge) was a monumental event in human history. The process of overspreading the Americas took more than 1,000 years or 30 generations. This might seem to confirm common sense—that slow travel was inherent in any great migration without wheeled vehicles across unknown terrain. Further thought shows that this process was remarkably fast—about 10 north-south miles per year, on average. The Americas were populated at an astounding pace when one considers the physical limits of the human body and the physical features of the American continents. The legs of humans can move only so fast under the best of circumstances, and they work even slower over mountain passes or deserts. Populations spread through the diverse regions of the Americas (grasslands, eastern forests, coastal swamps) and needed to adapt to their new environments. The migrants’ lifestyle had evolved over the years to that of professional nomads ensuring that they would find the resources needed to survive.
Bonus Structure— Further thought means “looking deeper; thinking more.”
Which sentence best expresses the essential information in this passage?
The main idea is that the spread of people through the Americas was surprisingly fast. The passage admits that 1,000 years seems slow, but then says Further thought shows that this process was remarkably fast and that the Americas were populated at an astounding pace. Not 'remarkably slow': that is only the common-sense view the passage argues against.
Question 12
In this passage, the word monumental is closest in meaning to _____.
Monumental means very important or very great in size or effect. The migration is called a monumental event in human history because it was hugely important. Not disastrous: the passage gives no sign that the event was bad.
Print this test
Free worksheets for class or home
Word List
adapt [əˈdæpt] v.
To adjust to the circumstances; to make suitable
→ Dinosaurs could not adapt to the warmer temperatures.
Usage tips Adapt is often followed by to.
Parts of speech adaptation n., adapter n., adaptable adj.
diverse [dʌɪˈvəːs] n.
Various; showing a lot of differences within a group
→ India is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world.
Usage tips An -ly adverb (e.g.,linguistically) often comes before diverse.
Parts of speech diversify v., diversity n., diversification n.
evolve [iˈvɑlv] v.
To develop; to come forth
→ Modern-day sharks evolved from their ancestor Eryops, which lived more than 200 million years ago.
Usage tips Evolve is often followed by into or from.
Parts of speech evolution n., evolutionist n.
feature [ˈfitʃər] n.
Part, characteristic
→ The best feature of this car is its heated seats.
Usage tips Feature is often followed by of.
Parts of speech feature v.
generation [ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃ(ə)n] n.
A group of people born at about the same time
→ As older managers retired, a new generation of leaders took control of the company.
Usage tips Before generation, an adjective like new, next, earlier, or older is common. Generation is often followed by of.
Parts of speech generational adj.
inherent [ɪnˈhɪərənt] adj.
Naturally characteristic; always found within something, because it’s a basic part of that thing
→ No job can be interesting all the time. Boredom is inherent in any kind of work.
Usage tips Inherent is often followed by in.
Parts of speech inherently adv.
migration [maɪˈɡreɪʃ(ə)n] n.
Movement from one place to another by a group of people or animals
→ The migration of farm workers from one state to the next depends primarily on the harvest.
Usage tips Migration is often followed by to or from.
Parts of speech migrate v., migrant n., migratory adj.
physical [ˈfɪzɪk(ə)l] adj.
Related to the body; related to materials that can be seen or felt
→ Because of the shape of its throat, an ape does not have the physical ability to speak.
Usage tips Physical usually comes before the noun it describes.
Parts of speech physically adv.
process [ˈproses] v.
A series of steps leading to a result
→ To get a good job, most people go through a long process of letter-writing and interviews.
Usage tips Process is often followed by of plus the -ing form of a verb.
Parts of speech proceed v., process v.
survive [sərˈvaɪv] v.
To continue living (despite some danger or illness)
→ After getting lost in the mountains, Gordon survived by eating wild plants and catching fish.
Usage tips Survive is often followed by a phrase with by.
Parts of speech survivor n., survival n.