What are Vocabulary Questions Like on the TOEFL Test?
Improve your score with vocabulary
On the TOEFL test, you must know your English vocabulary. You will need a deep knowledge of English vocabulary for every section of the test: Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing. So, I’ve provided this lesson with an audio version and video version in addition to simply reading.
Listen to this English vocabulary lesson…
What are Vocabulary Questions Like on the TOEFL Test?
Watch this English vocabulary lesson…
What Do Vocabulary Questions Look Like in the TOEFL Test Reading Section?
You will be asked to identify the meaning to words and phrases from reading passages. There are a few different ways you will be tested on your vocabulary knowledge. Here is what vocabulary questions look like:
- The word “X” in the passage is closes in meaning to…
- The phrase “X” in the passage is closest in meaning to…
- In stating “X”, the author means that…
In those example questions, “X” represents the vocabulary word or phrase you are being tested on.
What Are Some Key Strategies for the TOEFL Reading section?
Here are 4 key strategies to knowing how to answer vocabulary questions:
#1 – Look at context clues
Look at the sentences around the word to help you identify the meaning of a single word. This is called looking for “context clues”. You want to notice what part of speech (i.e. noun, adjective, adverb, etc…) the word is. You will also want to notice what the general tone and topic is of the passage. If it’s a scientific topic, you won’t likely have a word with an informal meaning. If it’s a conversation about family, it’s probably won’t have a formal meaning.
#2 – Break long words into small pieces
Have you ever seen a word like “desertification”, and thought, “What in the world does that mean?!”? The good news is that long words can usually be divided into small parts.
Desert = Dry, hot place with lots of sand
ific = making into
tion = the act of
Desertification = The act of making something into a desert
It’s important to know the root words, suffixes, and prefixes. If you know those going into the TOEFL exam, you will be successful. Then, when you are in the test, just break big words into small pieces.
#3 – Eliminate answer options that are definitely wrong
If you cross out words that you know aren’t synonyms for the vocabulary word, you will only have left 2 or 3 likely answers. This increases your percentage chance that you will get the question correct.
#4 – Substitute answer options in the sentence to see which one sounds right
Once you have narrowed down your answer options to 2 or 3 responses, read the original sentence with each answer option. That will help you identify which answer is the correct one.
Let’s try an example here:
Passage excerpt: Emily issued a reciprocal invitation to lunch to be polite.
The word “reciprocal” is closest in meaning to
a. mutual
b. model
c. academic
d. specific
If I was not sure what reciprocal was, I would substitute each possible answer in the original sentence, like this:
a. Emily issued a mutual invitation to lunch to be polite.
b. Emily issued a model invitation to lunch to be polite.
c. Emily issued an academic invitation to lunch to be polite.
d. Emily issued a specific invitation to lunch to be polite.
Which of these sentences makes the most sense to you? Hopefully, you’ve chosen option “a”.
What is an easy way to learn TOEFL vocabulary quickly?
Enroll now in my TOEFL Advanced Vocabulary course! It gives you the high-scoring vocabulary that you need for the TOEFL test. Plus, you’ll get a PDF download and audio files so you can practice on the go!
Happy learning,
Andrea
Click on one of the following links to start speaking clearer English!
1) TOEFL MASTER CLASS
2) free mini-course “punctuation mistakes to avoid”
3) Clear English Pronunciation Video Course
4) English Vocabulary – Audio Files & PDF – TOEFL & IELTS
The following is a TOEFL Reading practice test to help you prepare for the Reading section of the TOEFL test.
Instructions: Read the sample passage below and then answer the questions that follow.
TOEFL Reading Practice Passage
Gorillas are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forest of central Sub-Saharan Africa. The genus Gorilla is divided into two species: the eastern gorillas and the western gorillas (both critically endangered), and either four or five subspecies. They are the largest living primates. The DNA of gorillas is highly similar to that of humans, from 95 to 99% depending on what is included, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after the chimpanzees and bonobos.
Gorillas' natural habitats cover tropical or subtropical forest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although their range covers a small percentage of Sub-Saharan Africa, gorillas cover a wide range of elevations. The mountain gorilla inhabits the Albertine Rift montane cloud forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, ranging in altitude from 2,200 to 4,300 metres (7,200 to 14,100 ft). Lowland gorillas live in dense forests and lowland swamps and marshes as low as sea level, with western lowland gorillas living in Central West African countries and eastern lowland gorillas living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near its border with Rwanda.
(#1) Gorillas move around by knuckle-walking, although they sometimes walk upright for short distances, typically while carrying food or in defensive situations. (#2) A 2018 study investigating the hand posture of 77 mountain gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (8% of the population) found that knuckle walking was done only 60% of the time, and they also supported their weight on their fists, the backs of their hands/feet, and on their palms/soles (with the digits flexed). (#3) Studies of gorilla handedness have yielded varying results, with some arguing for no preference for either hand, and others right-hand dominance for the general population. (#4)
The eastern gorilla is more darkly colored than the western gorilla, with the mountain gorilla being the darkest of all. The mountain gorilla also has the thickest hair. The western lowland gorilla can be brown or grayish with a reddish forehead. In addition, gorillas that live in lowland forest are more slender and agile than the more bulky mountain gorillas. The eastern gorilla also has a longer face and broader chest than the western gorilla. Like humans, gorillas have individual fingerprints. Their eye color is dark brown, framed by a black ring around the iris. Gorilla facial structure is described as mandibular prognathism, that is, the mandible protrudes farther out than the maxilla. Adult males also have a prominent sagittal crest.
A gorilla's lifespan is normally between 35 and 40 years, although zoo gorillas may live for 50 years or more. Colo, a female western gorilla at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, was the oldest known gorilla at 60 years of age when she died on 17 January 2017.
Questions
1. According to the passage, gorillas can live in
a. a variety of altitudes.
b. several different countries in Africa.
c. thick forests.
d. lowland forests only.
2. All of the following is true about gorillas EXCEPT
a. they primarily eat smaller animals.
b. they live in a forest habitat.
c. their genetics are similar to humans.
d. their diet consists of vegetation.
3. Look at the word predominantly in paragraph 1. The word predominantly in this passage refers to
a. impulsively
b. unfortunately
c. mainly
d. lastly
4. Look at the word inhabits in paragraph 2. The word inhabits in this passage refers to
a. lives in
b. protects
c. goes
d. works
5. The author implies that
a. most gorillas prefer using their left hand over their right.
b. gorillas rarely walk on their knuckles.
c. gorillas regularly walk upright for long distances.
d. studies haven't solidly proven which hand gorillas prefer using.
6. Why does the writer mention that the eastern gorilla also has a longer face and broader chest than the western gorilla?
a. To validate the importance a broad chest in western gorillas
b. To define the meaning of "broad"
c. To highlight a physical difference between types of gorillas
d. To demonstrate that most gorillas are identical in physical build
7. Which of the following statements is true for BOTH eastern and western gorillas.
a. Both eastern and western gorrilas are brown with red foreheads.
b. Both eastern and western gorrilas have unique fingerprints.
c. Both eastern and western gorrilas have thin hair.
d. Both eastern and western gorrilas have light brown eyes.
8. In Paragraph 3, look at the four numbers (#1, #2, #3, #4) that indicate where the following sentence would be added to the passage.
Such a range of hand postures was previously thought to have been used by only orangutans.
Where would the sentence best fit?
(View all the correct answers below.)
Great job! If you're ready to take your TOEFL preparation to the next level, go to StudyWithAndrea.com/TOEFL.
Answers: 1. d 2. a 3. c 4. a 5. d 6. c 7. b 8. #3
Click on one of the following links to start speaking clearer English!
1) TOEFL MASTER CLASS
2) free mini-course "punctuation mistakes to avoid"
3) Clear English Pronunciation Video Course
4) English Vocabulary - Audio Files & PDF - TOEFL & IELTS
About Andrea
Andrea Giordano is the founder of StudyWithAndrea.com and has taught more than 1,000,000 students from 180 countries. Andrea holds a Master of Education (TESOL) from Shenandoah University, and is the former Executive Director of TESOL and ESL programs at Campbellsville University. Andrea is a proven leader in online English teaching and is driven by her passion to help you speak English clearly.
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