TOEFL Vocabulary & Word Usage 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "The historian's account was highly ________, drawing on primary sources that had never been previously examined."
- Redundant
- Anecdotal
- Substantiated (Correct answer)
- Ambiguous
Correct answer: Substantiated
"Substantiated" means supported by evidence or proof. An account "drawing on primary sources" is one that is supported by concrete evidence, making "substantiated" the correct choice. "Anecdotal" would suggest unverified personal stories; "redundant" means unnecessary repetition; "ambiguous" means unclear.
Question 2: Which word best completes the academic sentence: "The committee reached a ________ decision after extensive deliberation, with all members in agreement."
- Contentious
- Unanimous (Correct answer)
- Provisional
- Inconclusive
Correct answer: Unanimous
"Unanimous" means all members are in complete agreement—no dissent. The context "all members in agreement" directly signals unanimity. "Contentious" means disputed; "provisional" means temporary/tentative; "inconclusive" means not reaching a definite conclusion.
Question 3: Select the word that best completes the sentence: "The artist's approach was deliberately ________, combining elements of Baroque, Impressionism, and street art in a single canvas."
- Homogeneous
- Eclectic (Correct answer)
- Conservative
- Derivative
Correct answer: Eclectic
"Eclectic" describes a style derived from a wide and diverse range of sources. The sentence describes combining elements from three distinct artistic traditions, making "eclectic" the precise fit. "Homogeneous" means uniform; "conservative" implies traditional; "derivative" suggests copying without originality.
Question 4: Which of the following words is most academic and appropriate for an essay sentence: "The government's response to the crisis was ________ because officials failed to coordinate their efforts effectively."
- Bad
- Messed up
- Inadequate (Correct answer)
- Not good enough
Correct answer: Inadequate
"Inadequate" is the formal, academic term for something that is not sufficient or effective. "Bad" is too vague and informal; "messed up" is a colloquialism; "not good enough" is informal and imprecise. Academic writing requires specific, formal vocabulary like "inadequate."
Question 5: Choose the word that correctly completes: "The new evidence ________ the long-held assumption that ancient societies were hierarchically rigid."
- Corroborates
- Undermines (Correct answer)
- Reiterates
- Exemplifies
Correct answer: Undermines
"Undermines" means to damage or weaken something gradually. If new evidence challenges a previously held assumption, it undermines it. "Corroborates" would mean it supports the assumption; "reiterates" means to repeat; "exemplifies" means to illustrate.
Question 6: Select the correct collocation for an academic sentence: "The author's argument ________ several key assumptions that were later shown to be incorrect."
- Does
- Rests on (Correct answer)
- Talks about
- Goes with
Correct answer: Rests on
"Rests on" is the standard academic collocation meaning an argument or claim depends upon certain foundations (assumptions, premises). It is formally equivalent to "is based on" or "is predicated upon." The other options are too informal or non-idiomatic for academic writing.
TOEFL Vocabulary & Word Usage 2
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "The historian's account was highly ________, drawing on primary sources that had never been previously examined."