TOEFL Academic Vocabulary in Context Questions and Answers 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The lecture states: "The new framework is intended to supplant the outdated model used for decades." The word "supplant" means:
- Supplement and support
- Take the place of (Correct answer)
- Revise partially
- Criticize openly
Correct answer: Take the place of
"Supplant" means to take the place of something, often by force or because the replacement is superior. It implies a complete replacement rather than a supplement to the original.
Question 2: In a passage about architecture: "The building's aesthetic was austere, characterized by clean lines and the absence of ornamentation." The word "austere" means:
- Elaborate and decorative
- Severely plain and simple (Correct answer)
- Historically significant
- Structurally fragile
Correct answer: Severely plain and simple
"Austere" describes something severe or strict in appearance, manner, or attitude, without luxury or ornamentation. In design contexts, it refers to a minimalist style that avoids decorative elements.
Question 3: From a political science passage: "The regime's repressive policies engendered widespread resentment among the population." The word "engendered" means:
- Suppressed
- Caused or gave rise to (Correct answer)
- Reduced
- Documented
Correct answer: Caused or gave rise to
"Engender" means to cause or give rise to a feeling, situation, or condition. It is used in academic writing to describe how one factor produces or creates another, often in social or emotional contexts.
Question 4: The text reads: "The author draws an analogy between the brain and a computer to explicate her theory of neural processing." The word "explicate" means:
- Analyze and explain in detail (Correct answer)
- Contradict
- Simplify excessively
- Ignore
Correct answer: Analyze and explain in detail
"Explicate" means to analyze and develop an idea or principle in detail, making it clear. It is more thorough than simply "explain" and implies a careful, systematic unpacking of meaning.
Question 5: In a biology lecture: "The organism exhibited remarkable resilience, adapting to adverse conditions with little apparent detriment." The word "detriment" means:
- Benefit
- Harm or damage (Correct answer)
- Change
- Speed
Correct answer: Harm or damage
"Detriment" means harm, damage, or disadvantage to something. When a process occurs "with little detriment," it means the subject suffers minimal negative effects from the process.
Question 6: The passage states: "Scholars have long debated whether the collapse of the Roman Empire was precipitated by internal decay or external invasion." The word "precipitated" means:
- Prevented
- Caused to happen suddenly (Correct answer)
- Gradually alleviated
- Accurately predicted
Correct answer: Caused to happen suddenly
"Precipitate" as a verb means to cause an event, especially a bad one, to happen suddenly or sooner than expected. It suggests that the factor played a triggering role in a rapid onset of events.
TOEFL Academic Vocabulary in Context Questions and Answers 3
The lecture states: "The new framework is intended to supplant the outdated model used for decades." The word "supplant" means: