Target Words 1. annex 2. apex 3. collapse
4. conquest
5. devise 6. invasive
7. prevailing
8. resist 9. severely 10. violation
Definitions and Examples
1. annex v. To make something (usually land) part of another unit Bardstown grew by annexing several farms at the north edge of town.
2. apex n. The highest point
Gregory knew that his running skills had to be at their apex during the tournament.
3. collapse v. To fall down, usually because of weakness
The structure collapsed after the heavy rains. 4. conquest n. A takeover by force or continued effort The first recorded conquest of Mt. Everest was by Tensing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hilary.
5. devise v. To find an original way to make an object or a plan The soldiers devised a way to cross the river into enemy territory without being seen.
6. invasive adj. Aggressively entering into someone else’s territory Surgery with a laser is less invasive than surgery with a knife or scalpel.
7. prevailing adj. Strongest or most common
The prevailing attitude among our neighbors is to be friendly but not too friendly.
8. resist v. To refuse to give in to a strong force or desire Although many native nations resisted, the U.S. government eventually took over almost all Indian land.
9. severely adv. Harshly; extremely
Commanders severely punished any soldier who criticized the battle plan.
10. violation n. An action that breaks a law or agreement; mistreatment of something that deserves respect
The army’s testing of new weapons was a violation of the cease-fire agreement.
The sculptures at Mt. Rushmore may be a violation of sacred Indian land.
TOEFL Prep I
Find the word or phrase that is closest in meaning to each word in the left-hand column. 1. severely (a) invent
2. prevailing (b) fall down
3. devise (c) add on 4. collapse (d) extremely
5. annex (e) most common TOEFL Prep II
Choose the word that best completes each sentence.
The judge ruled that Harry was guilty of a (violation/conquest) of the seat-belt law.
Because Dalmatia was protected by high mountains, the empire could not (apex/annex) it.
We have to (conquest/devise) a way to fight this new disease.
Several armed groups joined together to (resist/collapse) the foreign invaders.
The (prevailing/invasive) belief held that the enemy’s peace moves were not sincere.
TOEFL Success
Read the passage to review the vocabulary you have learned. Answer the questions that follow.
The Roman conquest of North Africa is, in the prevailing view, less interesting than Rome’s European adventures. In truth, one of the first lands Rome annexed beyond the Italian peninsula was the area around Carthage in North Africa.
Carthage and Rome had been in conflict (called the Punic Wars) since 264 BCE for control of trade along the Mediterranean coast. In 202 BCE, during the Second Punic War, the Carthaginian general Hannibal devised a clever plan, in violation of most military wisdom, to march through the high Alps to attack the Roman heartland.
The cold weather and steep terrain severely stressed Hannibal’s forces, many of whom rode elephants. The Romans resisted Hannibal’s attacks, and his bold invasion force collapsed. In the end, Rome finished off Carthage in the Third Punic War (149–146 BCE). At its apex in 117 CE, Rome controlled all of North Africa and territories from the Persian Gulf to Britain.
Which sentence best expresses the essential information of this passage?
Romans were very successful at resisting invaders.
Hannibal tried crossing the Alps on elephants to invade Rome.
Rome and Carthage fought three wars, known as the Punic Wars.
One of Rome’s first overseas conquests was of the North African state of Carthage.
The author of this passage believes that Hannibal’s attack on Rome by crossing the Alps was __________. a. not what most military commanders would do b. exactly what the Roman army used to do c. cruel to elephants d. impractical because elephants can’t cross mountains
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