TOEFL Words | Questions & Answers 34/44

This page drills ten TOEFL vocabulary targets with new example sentences. Read each sentence, pick the option closest in meaning to the bolded word, then check the answer key at the end.

TOEFL Words | Questions 331-340

331. Seismologists recorded the gentle motion of the footbridge as festival crowds crossed, noting how the structure swayed slightly from side to side.

The word "motion" is closest in meaning to which of the following?

• (A) vibration
• (B) movement
• (C) direction
• (D) size

332. A quality-control inspector rejected the batch because the defects appeared in a completely random pattern rather than at regular intervals along the line.

The word "random" is closest in meaning to which of the following?

• (A) predictable
• (B) unpredictable
• (C) organized
• (D) frequent

333a. During the early modern period, portrait painters relied on natural light because reliable artificial lighting had not yet been invented.

The word "period" is closest in meaning to which of the following?

• (A) technique
• (B) place
• (C) audience
• (D) time

333b. Critics argue that her early novels influenced succeeding generations of writers who adopted her spare, understated prose style.

The word "succeeding" is closest in meaning to which of the following?

• (A) earlier
• (B) foreign
• (C) later
• (D) forgotten

334. Because arable land was scarce in the mountainous region, farmers built terraces to make the most of every available slope.

The word "scarce" is closest in meaning to which of the following?

• (A) fertile
• (B) expensive
• (C) limited
• (D) protected

335. Engineers calculated how much force wind would exert on the bridge cables before finalizing the support design.

The word "exert" is closest in meaning to which of the following?

• (A) apply
• (B) remove
• (C) measure
• (D) predict

336a. The manufacturer marketed the fabric as unusually durable, claiming it could withstand years of daily washing without fading or tearing.

The word "durable" is closest in meaning to which of the following?

• (A) lightweight
• (B) long-lasting
• (C) affordable
• (D) fashionable

336b. When the ceramic vase struck the tile floor, it shattered into dozens of small, sharp fragments.

The word "shattered" is closest in meaning to which of the following?

• (A) softened
• (B) reassembled
• (C) broken apart
• (D) dented

337. In this ecosystem, oak is the dominant tree species, far outnumbering maple and birch across most surveyed plots.

The word "dominant" is closest in meaning to which of the following?

• (A) most common
• (B) most colorful
• (C) least studied
• (D) newest

338. Rural clinics in the region still relied on primitive equipment, with no reliable electricity or refrigeration for medicine.

The word "primitive" is closest in meaning to which of the following?

• (A) expensive
• (B) unsafe
• (C) modern
• (D) undeveloped

339. By the late 1990s, researchers believed the field of genomics stood on the threshold of a period of rapid discovery.

The phrase "on the threshold of" is closest in meaning to which of the following?

• (A) in need of
• (B) at the start of
• (C) at the end of
• (D) in doubt about

340. Several smaller studios took up imitation of the celebrated animator's distinctive visual style once his films became widely popular.

The word "imitation" is closest in meaning to which of the following?

• (A) copying
• (B) criticism
• (C) funding
• (D) distribution

Answers

• 331 — B: motion ≈ movement — a change in position or physical movement in general.
• 332 — B: random ≈ unpredictable — a pattern with no regular order.
• 333a — D: period ≈ time — a span of time, here a historical era.
• 333b — C: succeeding ≈ later — describes generations that come after.
• 334 — C: scarce ≈ limited — in short supply.
• 335 — A: exert ≈ apply — to apply force or pressure.
• 336a — B: durable ≈ long-lasting — able to withstand wear over time.
• 336b — C: shattered ≈ broken apart — broke suddenly into many pieces.
• 337 — A: dominant ≈ most common — the most frequently occurring type.
• 338 — D: primitive ≈ undeveloped — lacking modern development or technology.
• 339 — B: on the threshold of ≈ at the start of — about to begin.
• 340 — A: imitation ≈ copying — reproducing someone else's style or work.

Keep building your word list on the vocabulary hub, then apply these words to full passages in reading practice.