Understanding Vocabulary from Context & Recognizing Referents

Understanding Vocabulary from Context &

Recognizing Referents

By Evi Sofiawati

Reading Skills

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Poll

So, do you think you have the skills to guess the unfamiliar vocabulary from the context?

Multiple Choice

The word 'notable' in paragraph 1 line 5 is closest in meaning to ...

• written

• significant

• measured

• ordinary

Answer choice B is correct because “significant” fits the context of the sentence.

Answer choice A is incorrect because “written” is not a synonym for “notable.”

Answer choice C is incorrect because “measured” is not a synonym for “notable.”

Answer choice D is incorrect because “ordinary” is an antonym for “notable.”

TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Understanding Vocabulary from Context

Multiple Choice

The word 'adversely' in paragraph 1 line 11 is closest in meaning to ...

• carefully

• accidentally

• medically

• negatively

Answer choice D is correct because “negatively” fits the context of the sentence.

Answer choice A is incorrect because “carefully” is not a synonym for “adversely.”

Answer choice B is incorrect because “accidentally” is not a synonym for “adversely.”

Answer choice C is incorrect because “medically” is not a synonym for “adversely.”

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TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Understanding Vocabulary from Context

Multiple Choice

The word 'promoted' in paragraph 2 line 6 is closest in meaning to ...

• encountered

• announced

• blocked

• lifted

Answer choice A is correct because “encouraged” fits the context of the sentence.

Answer choice B is incorrect because “announced” does not fit the context of the sentence.

Answer choice C is incorrect because “blocked” is an antonym for “promoted.”

Answer choice D is incorrect because “lifted” does not fit the context of the sentence.

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TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Understanding Vocabulary from Context

Multiple Choice

The word 'poised' in paragraph 3 line 3 is closest in meaning to ...

• interacting

• sitting

• blowing

• poisoning

Answer choice B is correct because “sitting” fits the context of the sentence.

Answer choice A is incorrect because “interacting” is not a synonym for “poised.”

Answer choice C is incorrect because “blowing” is not a synonym for “poised.”

Answer choice D is incorrect because “poisoning” is not a synonym for “poised.”

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TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Understanding Vocabulary from Context

Multiple Choice

The word 'hue' in paragraph 4 line 3 is closest in meaning to ...

• color

• odor

• thickness

• smoke

Answer choice A is correct because “color” is a synonym for “hue.”

Answer choice B is incorrect because “odor” is not a synonym for “hue.”

Answer choice C is incorrect because “thickness” is not a synonym for “hue.”

Answer choice D is incorrect because “smoke” is not a synonym for “hue.”

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TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Understanding Vocabulary from Context

Multiple Choice

The word 'hazardous' in paragraph 5 line 1 is closest in meaning to ...

• healthy

• safe

• dangerous

• visible

Answer choice C is correct because “dangerous” fits the context of the sentence.

Answer choice A is incorrect because “healthy” is not a synonym for “hazardous.”

Answer choice B is incorrect because “safe” is an antonym for “hazardous.”

Answer choice D is incorrect because “visible” is not a synonym for “hazardous.”

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TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Understanding Vocabulary from Context

Multiple Choice

The word 'intensified' in paragraph 6 line 3 is closest in meaning to ...

• calmed

• lengthened

• aggravated

• preciseness

Answer choice D is correct because “strengthened” fits the context of the sentence.

Answer choice A is incorrect because “calmed” is an antonym for “intensified.”

Answer choice B is incorrect because “lengthened” is not a synonym for “intensified.”

Answer choice C is incorrect because “aggravated” does not fit the context of the sentence.

TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Understanding Vocabulary from Context

Multiple Choice

The word 'protocol' in paragraph 6 line 6 is closest in meaning to ...

• manners

• agreement

• law

• preciseness

Answer choice B is correct because “agreement” fits the context of the sentence.

Answer choice A is incorrect because “manners” does not fit the context of the sentence.

Answer choice C is incorrect because “law” does not fit the context of the sentence.

Answer choice D is incorrect because “preciseness” is not a synonym for “protocol.”

TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Understanding Vocabulary from Context

Multiple Choice

The word 'protocol' in paragraph 6 line 6 is closest in meaning to ...

• manners

• agreement

• law

• preciseness

Answer choice B is correct because “agreement” fits the context of the sentence.

Answer choice A is incorrect because “manners” does not fit the context of the sentence.

Answer choice C is incorrect because “law” does not fit the context of the sentence.

Answer choice D is incorrect because “preciseness” is not a synonym for “protocol.”

TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Understanding Vocabulary from Context

Multiple Choice

The word 'those' in paragraph 1 line 2 refers to ...

• types

• animals

• advantages

• groups

Answer choice C is correct because “advantages” is something that can be conferred upon membership in… larger groups.

Answer choice A is incorrect because in the sentence, “those” are conferred upon membership in… larger groups. This indicates we are talking about something that is provided to members of different groups.

Answer choice B is incorrect because in the sentence, “those” are conferred upon membership in… larger groups. This indicates we are talking about something that is provided to members of different groups.

Answer choice D is incorrect because it doesn’t make sense that “groups” would be conferred upon membership in… larger groups.

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TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Recognizing Referents

Multiple Choice

The word 'they' in paragraph 2 line 8 refers to ...

• small groups

• flowers

• nutrients

• bee colonies

Answer choice D is correct because the sentence states bee colonies often send out small groups of bees that scout… the essential nutrients they require. The bee colonies require the nutrients.

Answer choice A is incorrect because “small groups” refers to bees. It is not only the small groups of bees that require the nutrients, but all of the bees in the colonies.

Answer choice B is incorrect because the flowers… contain the required nutrients; the flowers don’t require the nutrients.

Answer choice C is incorrect because the nutrients are what “they” require.

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TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Recognizing Referents

Multiple Choice

The word 'others' in paragraph 2 line 11 refers to ...

• studies

• insects

• bees

• ants

Answer choice B is correct because the sentence states insects such as bees, ants, and others, which indicates “others” refers to “insects.”

Answer choice A is incorrect because the sentence states insects such as bees, ants, and others, which indicates “others” refers to insects.

Answer choice C is incorrect because “bees” is listed as one example of insects included in the list with “others.”

Answer choice D is incorrect because “ants” is listed as one example of insects included in the list with “others.”

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TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Recognizing Referents

Multiple Choice

The word 'their' in paragraph 3 line 7 refers to ...

• collective groups

• species

• scientists

• individuals

Answer choice D correct because the sentence states individuals… at times, differ in their actions. “Individuals” is the subject of the verb “differ,” and “their” refers back to the subject.

Answer choice A is incorrect because the sentence states individuals… at times, differ in their actions. “Individuals” is the subject of the verb “differ,” and “their” refers back to the subject.

Answer choice B is incorrect because the sentence states individuals… at times, differ in their actions. “Individuals” is the subject of the verb “differ,” and “their” refers back to the subject.

Answer choice C is incorrect because the sentence states individuals… at times, differ in their actions. “Individuals” is the subject of the verb “differ,” and “their” refers back to the subject.

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TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Recognizing Referents

Multiple Choice

The word 'this lack' in paragraph 4 lines 4-5 refers to ...

• imbalance in nutrients

• natural mechanisms

• foraging strategy

• attempt

Answer choice A is correct because the sentence states a species detects an imbalance in nutrients… their foraging strategy adapts in an attempt to compensate for this lack. The “imbalance in nutrients” indicates that something is missing—or lacking—from the nutrients.

Answer choice B is incorrect because the sentence states a species detects an imbalance in nutrients, either instinctively, or through other natural mechanisms. The “mechanisms” are used to “detect” something, so there is no lack in the mechanisms.

Answer choice C is incorrect because the sentence states foraging strategy adapts in an attempt to compensate for this lack. Since the “foraging strategy” is adapting, there is no lack in the strategy.

Answer choice D is incorrect because the sentence states foraging strategy adapts in an attempt to compensate for this lack. The “attempt” is “to compensate for this lack.” Therefore, the attempt cannot be the lack.

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TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Recognizing Referents

Multiple Choice

The word 'what' in paragraph 5 line 7 refers to ...

• foragers

• observation

• phenomenon

• behavior

Answer choice D is correct because the sentence states The observation of this phenomenon is fascinating, in that it shows behavior contradictory to what might be assumed. The “behavior” is contradictory.

Answer choice A is incorrect because “what” is not a correct reference for “foragers.” Foragers are typically people or animals, and would be referred to with “who;” “whom;” or “that.”

Answer choice B is incorrect because the sentence states The observation of this phenomenon is fascinating, in that it shows behavior contradictory to what might be assumed. The “behavior” is contradictory, not the “observation.”

Answer choice C is incorrect because the sentence states The observation of this phenomenon is fascinating, in that it shows behavior contradictory to what might be assumed. The “behavior” is contradictory, not the “phenomenon.”

TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Recognizing Referents

Multiple Choice

The word 'ones' in paragraph 6 line 3 refers to ...

• recources

• colonies

• caterpillars

• groups

TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Recognizing Referents

Answer choice C is correct because the first part of the sentence states colonies consisting of more active, as opposed to passive, caterpillars, making a connection between “active;” “passive;” and “caterpillars.” The end of the sentence states more passive than active ones, which means “ones” must refer to “caterpillars” as well.

Answer choice A is incorrect because the first part of the sentence states colonies consisting of more active, as opposed to passive, caterpillars, making a connection between “active;” “passive;” and “caterpillars.” The end of the sentence states more passive than active ones, which means “ones” must refer to “caterpillars” as well.

Answer choice B is incorrect because the first part of the sentence states colonies consisting of more active, as opposed to passive, caterpillars, making a connection between “active;” “passive;” and “caterpillars.” The end of the sentence states more passive than active ones, which means “ones” must refer to “caterpillars” as well.

Answer choice D is incorrect because the first part of the sentence states colonies consisting of more active, as opposed to passive, caterpillars, making a connection between “active;” “passive;” and “caterpillars.” The end of the sentence states more passive than active ones, which means “ones” must refer to “caterpillars” as well.​

Multiple Choice

The word 'they' in paragraph 6 line 6 refers to ...

• active caterpillars

• resources

• groups

• sedentary caterpillars

Answer choice D is correct because the previous sentence states sedentary caterpillars usually focus on one food source at a time. The key sentence uses the transition Therefore to draw a cause/effect relationship between the two sentences and continues they are able to keep the groups… intact.

Answer choice A is incorrect because “active caterpillars” are not mentioned in the previous sentence.

Answer choice B is incorrect because the sentence states they are able to keep the groups… intact. “Resources” provide supplies, but does not typically keep a group together.

Answer choice C is incorrect because the sentence states they are able to keep the groups within the colony intact. “Groups” is the object of the verb, not the subject.

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TOEFL iBT | Reading Skills

Recognizing Referents

Poll

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