TOEFL Words | Questions & Answers 26/44

This page drills ten TOEFL-level words in fresh context sentences. Read each sentence, choose the closest meaning for the bolded word, then check your answers against the key at the end.

Questions 251–260

251. Heavy fog inhibited the airport's ground crews from loading cargo on schedule for most of the morning.

The word "inhibited" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) helped
• (B) recorded
• (C) united
• (D) hindered

252. The modern bicycle's frame is much lighter than its nineteenth-century counterpart, though the basic design has changed little.

The word "counterpart" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) opponent
• (B) version
• (C) supervisor
• (D) blueprint

253. Tiny pores in the volcanic rock allowed rainwater to seep through and slowly dissolve the softer mineral deposits inside.

The word "pores" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) ridges
• (B) fibers
• (C) crystals
• (D) holes

254. Traces of pigment were still detectable on the pottery shard even after centuries buried in damp soil.

The word "detectable" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) faded
• (B) fragile
• (C) porous
• (D) apparent

255. The lobby's marble floors made the office building look inviting, though the cramped upper floors told a different story.

The word "inviting" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) unstable
• (B) modern
• (C) attractive
• (D) noisy

256. Guests were surprised by the sumptuous banquet hall, with its gold trim and rows of crystal chandeliers.

The word "sumptuous" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) luxurious
• (B) rustic
• (C) cramped
• (D) drafty

257. The narrow lot could not yield enough space for a proper garden, so the family built a rooftop terrace instead.

The word "yield" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) measure
• (B) postpone
• (C) calculate
• (D) provide

258. Minute ice particles collected on the windshield overnight, forming a thin, delicate layer of frost by dawn.

The word "minute" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) tiny
• (B) dull
• (C) foggy
• (D) massive

259. Wet sand grains adhere to each other far more easily than dry ones, which is why damp sand holds its shape.

The word "adhere" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) dissolve
• (B) separate
• (C) stick
• (D) evaporate

260. A sudden drop in temperature can initiate the formation of frost on exposed crops overnight.

The word "initiate" is closest in meaning to:

• (A) conclude
• (B) postpone
• (C) diminish
• (D) begin

Answers

• 251 — D: inhibited ≈ hindered — held back or restricted an action or process.
• 252 — B: counterpart ≈ version — the equivalent thing from a different time or place.
• 253 — D: pores ≈ holes — tiny openings in a surface or material.
• 254 — D: detectable ≈ apparent — able to be noticed or identified.
• 255 — C: inviting ≈ attractive — appealing enough to draw people in.
• 256 — A: sumptuous ≈ luxurious — extravagant and costly in appearance.
• 257 — D: yield ≈ provide — to give or supply, often as a result.
• 258 — A: minute ≈ tiny — extremely small in size.
• 259 — C: adhere ≈ stick — to cling or bond to a surface.
• 260 — D: initiate ≈ begin — to start a process or action.

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