TOEFL Academic Vocabulary in Context 3 Flashcards
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Read the sentence: "The researcher's findings were seminal in shaping modern theories of cognition." The word "seminal" is closest in meaning to:
Answer: Influential and foundational
"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.
In the passage: "The government sought to ameliorate the conditions in overcrowded urban areas by investing in infrastructure." The word "ameliorate" means:
Answer: Improve
"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.
The sentence reads: "Scientists posit that dark matter comprises the majority of the universe's mass." The word "posit" in this context means:
Answer: Assume or put forward as a fact
"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.
From a history lecture: "The treaty was an ephemeral solution that collapsed within a decade." The word "ephemeral" most nearly means:
Answer: Lasting only a short time
"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.
In a biology passage: "The enzyme acts as a catalyst, expediting the chemical reaction without being consumed." The word "expediting" means:
Answer: Speeding up
"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.
The academic text states: "The proliferation of misinformation online has led to widespread public confusion." The word "proliferation" means:
Answer: Rapid increase and spread
"Proliferation" refers to a rapid increase in the number or amount of something. It is frequently used in academic and news contexts to describe the fast growth of technology, ideas, species, or problems.