TOEFL Words | Questions & Answers 11/44

This page gives you ten original TOEFL-style vocabulary items built around the target words below. Answer all ten first, then check your choices against the answer key at the end.

TOEFL Words | Questions 101-110

101. Ferry service along the coast was further extended when a new route opened connecting the two island towns.

The word "extended" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) increased
• (B) shortened
• (C) renamed
• (D) relocated

102. Years of drought had left the once-fertile valley barren, unable to support even hardy grasses.

The word "barren" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) shaded
• (B) flooded
• (C) rocky
• (D) infertile

103. Among the region's farmers, the preferred crop for rocky soil was a hardy variety of barley that needed little water.

The word "preferred" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) imported
• (B) forbidden
• (C) expensive
• (D) favored

104. Unlike the soft clay used for pottery, this material had short, hard fibers that resisted bending.

The word "hard" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) firm
• (B) smooth
• (C) colorful
• (D) damp

105. Historians noted a wide divergence of opinion among the town's founders about where the new courthouse should stand.

The word "divergence" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) agreement
• (B) record
• (C) difference
• (D) range

106. Builders in the coastal town switched to durable brick for new dwellings after two wooden houses burned down in one winter.

The word "durable" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) lightweight
• (B) traditional
• (C) colorful
• (D) long-lasting

The word "dwellings" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) houses
• (B) roads
• (C) fences
• (D) gardens

107. The ceiling of the old ballroom was elaborately carved, with vines and flowers repeated in every corner of the plasterwork.

The word "elaborately" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) done in great detail
• (B) finished very quickly
• (C) painted a single color
• (D) left completely bare

108. A chance meeting with a former classmate at the airport led to a job offer neither of them expected.

The word "chance" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) unplanned
• (B) formal
• (C) brief
• (D) awkward

109. Regular practice with a metronome became an integral part of her daily violin routine.

The word "integral" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) an occasional
• (B) a demanding
• (C) a repetitive
• (D) an essential

110. Most of the region's earthquakes are concentrated along a narrow fault line running just west of the old highway.

The word "concentrated" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) predicted
• (B) clustered
• (C) exploded
• (D) scattered

Answers

• 101 — A: extended ≈ increased — made larger or longer.
• 102 — D: barren ≈ infertile — unable to produce crops or vegetation.
• 103 — D: preferred ≈ favored — liked or chosen over other options.
• 104 — A: hard ≈ firm — solid and resistant to pressure.
• 105 — C: divergence ≈ difference — a point where things differ or split apart.
• 106 — D, A: durable ≈ long-lasting; dwellings ≈ houses — able to withstand wear, in places where people live.
• 107 — A: elaborately ≈ done in great detail — worked out with fine, careful detail.
• 108 — A: chance ≈ unplanned — happening by accident, without being arranged.
• 109 — D: integral ≈ essential — a necessary part of the whole.
• 110 — B: concentrated ≈ clustered — gathered closely together in one area.

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