TOEFL Academic Vocabulary in Context 3

Question 1

Read the sentence: "The researcher's findings were seminal in shaping modern theories of cognition." The word "seminal" is closest in meaning to:

Accepted Answer

Influential and foundational

Answer

"Seminal" means highly influential and providing the basis for later development. In academic writing, a seminal work or finding is one that sets the groundwork for an entire field or line of inquiry.

Question 2

In the passage: "The government sought to ameliorate the conditions in overcrowded urban areas by investing in infrastructure." The word "ameliorate" means:

Accepted Answer

Improve

Answer

"Ameliorate" means to make something bad or unsatisfactory better. It is a formal academic word often used in social science and policy contexts to describe improvement of difficult conditions.

Question 3

The sentence reads: "Scientists posit that dark matter comprises the majority of the universe's mass." The word "posit" in this context means:

Accepted Answer

Assume or put forward as a fact

Answer

"Posit" means to put forward a theory or idea as a basis for argument or discussion. It is commonly used in academic writing when a claim is presented as a working hypothesis rather than a confirmed fact.

Question 4

From a history lecture: "The treaty was an ephemeral solution that collapsed within a decade." The word "ephemeral" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

Lasting only a short time

Answer

"Ephemeral" describes something that lasts for only a very short time. In academic contexts it is used to contrast short-lived phenomena with more enduring ones, emphasizing the temporary nature of the subject.

Question 5

In a biology passage: "The enzyme acts as a catalyst, expediting the chemical reaction without being consumed." The word "expediting" means:

Accepted Answer

Speeding up

Answer

"Expediting" means to make an action or process happen sooner or more quickly. In scientific writing it often describes how a substance or mechanism accelerates a process.

TOEFL Practice Test

TOEFL Practice Test

TOEFL Academic Vocabulary in Context 3