Vocabulary questions ask you to identify the meanings of words and phrases

as they are used in the reading passage.

It's easy to identify Vocabulary questions, because there will be a word or
phrase highlighted in the reading passage, and you will see questions like
these, with phrases like "closest in meaning" or "the author means."
On-screen:
Vocabulary- identify meanings of words and phrases
Word or phrase highlighted in the reading passage

 The word "X" in the passage is closest in meaning to…

 The phrase "X" in the passage is closest in meaning to…
 In stating "X", the author means that…
Now let's look at a sample vocabulary question. This one is from a reading
passage about meteorite impacts.
Here's an excerpt from the passage with the vocabulary word highlighted.
Here's the sample question, which asks the meaning of the word "pose".
Now, there's really not much strategy in answering these vocabulary
questions. .
On-screen:
There is increasing evidence that the impacts of meteorites have had
important effects on Earth, particularly in the field of biological evolution. Such
impacts continue to pose a natural hazard to life on Earth.
The word "pose" is closest in meaning to

1. claim
2. model
3. assume
4. present
Green check appears next to answer option D. present
Keep in mind that there's a difference between academic vocabulary and
specialized vocabulary. Academic vocabulary words can be used across
many fields of study. These are the kind of words you'll be tested on.
Specialized vocabulary words are specific to one field. If words like this are in
a TOEFL reading passage, they will be defined for you.
On-screen: Academic Vocabulary (Expected to know)

 Arbitrary
 Capacity
 Fluctuate
 Relatively
Specialized Vocabulary (Defined for you)
 Cadence (Music)
 Monopolies (Business)
 Desertification (Earth Science)
 Cetaceans (Biology)
 Here is a tip for increasing your vocabulary:
Many English words come from Latin or Greek. So if you study Latin
and Greek roots that will help you remember the meanings of words.
And it can also help you figure out the meanings of words you may not
know.
 On-screen:
Latin and Greek roots of English words

Examples and Definitions Meaning Origin

Biology- science of life life Greek

Cardiac - relating to the heart heart Greek

Retrospect - review past events back Latin

Vacant – not occupied empty Latin


 : For example, if you know that the Latin root "terra" means earth, then
when you see this sentence from the passage that talks about the
"terrestrial material" found at the impact site, you'll know that it's
referring to the material from the earth, not from the meteorite.
 : terra = earth
 Even diluted by the terrestrial material excavated from the crater, this
component of meteorites is easily identified.