TOEFL Vocabulary Practice Set 1

The story’s bitter antagonist felt such great ______ for all of the other characters that as a result, his life was very lonely and he died alone.

• insurgence

• malevolence

• reciprocation

• declamation

• preference

Answer explanation

Malevolence (n.) means ill will or malice toward others; hate.

The dress Ariel wore ______ with small, glassy beads, creating a shimmering effect.

• titillated

• reiterated

• scintillated

• enthralled

• striated

Answer explanation

To scintillate (v.) means to emit or send forth sparks or little flashes of light, creating a shimmering effect; to sparkle.

After making ______ remarks to the President, the reporter was not invited to return to the White House pressroom.

• hospitable

• itinerant

• enterprising

• enterprising

• irreverent

Answer explanation

Irreverent (adj.) means lacking respect or seriousness; not reverent.

The ______ weather patterns of the tropical island meant tourists had to carry both umbrellas and sunglasses.

• impertinent

• supplicant

• preeminent

• illustrative

• kaleidoscopic

Answer explanation

Kaleidoscopic (adj.) means continually changing or quickly shifting.

Shakespeare, a(n) ______ writer, entertained audiences by writing many tragic and comic plays.

• numeric

• obstinate

• dutiful

• prolific

• generic

Answer explanation

Prolific (adj.) means abundantly creative.

She hadn’t eaten all day, and by the time she got home she was ______.

• blighted

• confutative

• ravenous

• ostentatious

• blissful

Answer explanation

Ravenous (adj.) means extremely hungry.

Kym was ______ in choosing her friends, so her parties were

attended by vastly different and sometimes bizarre personalities.

• indispensable

• indiscriminate

• commensurate

• propulsive

• indisputable

Answer explanation

Indiscriminate (adj.) means not discriminating or choosing randomly; haphazard; without distinction.

The authorities, fearing a ______ of their power, called for a

military state in the hopes of restoring order.

• subversion

• premonition

• predilection

• infusion

• inversion

Answer explanation

Subversion (n.) means an overthrow, as from the foundation.

Prince Phillip had to choose: marry the woman he loved and ______ his right to the throne, or marry Lady Fiona and inherit the crown.

• reprimand

• upbraid

• abdicate

• winnow

• extol

Answer explanation

To abdicate (v.) means to formally relinquish or surrender power, office, or responsibility.

Her ______ display of tears at work did not impress her new boss, who felt she should try to control her emotions.

• maudlin

• meritorious

• precarious

• plausible

• schematic

Answer explanation

Maudlin (adj.) means excessively and weakly sentimental or tearfully emotional.