Target Words
anticipate
catastrophic
collide
eruption
famine
flood
impact
persevere
plunge
unleash
Definitions and Samples
1. anticipate v. To expect; to sense something before it happens
By placing sensors in earthquake-prone areas, scientists can anticipate some tremors in time to warn the public.
2. catastrophic adj. Extremely harmful; causing financial or physical ruin
The architect died in a catastrophic elevator accident.
3. collide v. To come together with great or violent force
As usual, their holiday was ruined when their in-laws’ views on politics collided with their own.
4. eruption n. A sudden, often violent, outburst
The eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 caused 57 deaths and immeasurable change to the face of the mountain.
5. famine n. Severe hunger; a drastic food shortage
The potato famine in Ireland in the mid-nineteenth century caused large numbers of Irish people to emigrate to America.
6. flood n. An overflowing of water; an excessive amount
The constant rain and poor drainage system caused a flood in town.
The political party sent out a flood of letters criticizing their opponents.
7. impact n. A strong influence
The speech about the importance of education made an impact on me.
8. persevere v. To keep going, despite obstacles or discouragement; to maintain a purpose
The hikers persevered despite the bad weather and the icy trail.
9. plunge v. To go down suddenly; to decrease by a great amount in a short time
He jumped off the diving board and plunged into the pool.
The value of the company’s stock plunged after its chief executive was arrested.
10. unleash v. To release a thing or an emotion
When they saw the strange man on their property, they unleashed their dogs.
He is from such an unemotional family, he will never learn to unleash his feelings.
TOEFL Prep I
Find the word or phrase that is closest in meaning to the opposite of each word in the left-hand column.
persevere (a) to pass by without hitting
anticipate (b) to give up
famine (c) to not see something coming
collide (d) harmless
catastrophic (e) excess of food
TOEFL Prep II
Select the word that best completes each sentence.
1. Residents of Hawaii must accept the possibility of a volcanic (eruption / perseverance).
2. Years after the accident, she was finally able to (anticipate / unleash) her feelings of anger.
3. Houses along the river often face (famine / flooding) during the rainy season.
4. Many people think it is cruel to (collide / plunge) live lobsters into boiling water.
5. A well-written essay should make some kind of (catastrophe / impact) on its readers.
TOEFL Success
Read the passage to review the vocabulary you have learned.
Answer the questions that follow.
Nature challenges humans in many ways, through disease, weather, and famine. For those living along the coast, one unusual phenomenon capable of catastrophic destruction is the tsunami (pronounced “tsoo-NAH-mee”).
A tsunami is a series of waves generated in a body of water by an impulsive disturbance. Earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, explosions, and even the impact of meteorites can generate tsunamis.
Starting at sea, a tsunami slowly approaches land, growing in height and losing energy through bottom friction and turbulence. Still, just like any other water waves, tsunamis unleash tremendous energy as they plunge onto the shore. They have great erosion potential, stripping beaches of sand, undermining trees, and flooding hundreds of meters inland. They can easily crush cars, homes, vegetation, and anything they collide with.
To minimize the devastation of a tsunami, scientists are constantly trying to anticipate them more accurately and more quickly. Because many factors come together to produce a life-threatening tsunami, foreseeing them is not easy. Despite this, researchers in meteorology persevere in studying and predicting tsunami behavior.
1. Which sentence best expresses the essential information of this passage?
a. Tsunamis could become a new source of usable energy in the next hundred years.
b. Tsunamis do more damage to the land than flooding.
c. Tsunamis can have an especially catastrophic impact on coastal communities.
d. Scientists can predict and track tsunamis with a fair degree of accuracy, reducing their potential impact.
2. In the first sentence, why does the author mention weather?
a. because tsunamis are caused by bad weather
b. because tsunamis are more destructive than weather phenomena
c. as an example of a destructive natural force
d. as an introduction to the topic of coastal storms
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