Essential Words for the TOEFL Lesson 4 Vocabulary Test

Choose the synonym.

appeal

mundane

instigate

elicit

abdicate

misleadingly

stagnant

resilient

embody

vague

The creation and analysis of optical illusions involve mathematical and geometric principles, such as the proportionality between the areas of similar figures. Optical illusions and their effects are often created through careful physical attributes, such as a nonstandard use of perspective, distorted angles, deceptive shading, unusual juxtaposition, and color effects.

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

The Seneca Falls Convention, held in 1848, started the woman’s suffrage movement in the United States. A “Declaration of Sentiments,” which called upon women to organize and to petition for their rights, was passed. However, one controversial resolution, calling for the right of women to vote, narrowly passed. The ridicule of that provision of the Declaration caused many backers of women’s rights to withdraw their support later on.

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

Space law is concerned with the proper uses of outer space. The most important treaty of space laws was the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. The participants who crafted the treaty concluded that the moon and all other celestial bodies were to be free for exploration and use by all nations. They also concurred that the use of weapons of mass destruction was to be forbidden in space.

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

It is a common misconception that the U.S. Congress has the constitutional power to legislate nearly anything for the general welfare. The Constitution gives Congress many powers, but it does not give Congress the power to legislate freely for the general welfare. In many instances, Congress may try to cause the states to do something by means of offers of subsidies or grants, but it cannot compel them to accept the incentives. The lawmaking process can become stagnant if the states do not agree with the proposed legislation.

The phrase become stagnant in the passage is closest in meaning to_____.

Due to the astounding progress of integrated-circuit technology, an enormous number of transistors can be placed onto a single integrated-circuit chip. The first commercially successful microprocessor chip had only 4,800 transistors, but by the beginning of the 2000s, the newest high-end chips had 7.2 billion.

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

Deer populations have grown dramatically in the northeast United States in the last 20 years. Many residents are happy to have deer in their communities, but many others see them as a menace. Deer often wander into traffic, cause automobile accidents, trample lawns, eat flowers, and host insects that carry disease. Therefore, many residents are determined to restrict their movements, fence them out, or even eliminate them altogether.

In stating that many people are determined to eliminate the deer, the author means that they_____.

The game of chess was not well organized until 1946, when the world chess governing body, FIDE, asserted its control over international play. At that time, national chess groups immediately welcomed the chance to join the new federation. However, FIDE’s authority has not been universally recognized, and even today there is no general agreement as to the status of the world championship.

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

Social anthropologists attempt to illustrate the social emergence and evolution of the human race and to determine differences between human social organization and that of other primates. Despite the fact that all classifications of human societies and cultures are arbitrary, they also attempt to note differences between various human societies. In spite of these difficulties, anthropologists have made great advances in the identification and grouping of human civilizations.

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

The Monroe Doctrine allowed the United States to intervene in the affairs of Latin American countries in case of foreign invasion. Once the United States was designated to act on behalf of its neighbors to the south, episodes of foreign interference decreased until the 1960s, when Cuba wanted the support and economic aid of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

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

J. Edgar Hoover was an astute professional who served as Director of the FBI for 48 years. A resilient and determined government official, Hoover’s tenure spanned one of the most important eras of modern U.S. history. His policies helped to shape and create what has now become a highly respected modern investigative organization.

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