Target Words 1. acquire 2. assess 3. asset 4. hazardous
5. jointly 6. lease 7. liability 8. proprietor
9. safeguard 10. sole
Definitions and Examples
1. acquire v. To get something, usually something with special value or meaning
Bart hoped to acquire the 1898 D Indian Head penny, which would make his collection complete.
2. assess v. To estimate the value of something
The Barnes building was assessed at $1.3 million, but it can probably sell for much more than that.
3. asset n. A possession that has positive value Some examples of assets are real estate, cash, and stock shares. 4. hazardous adj. Dangerous Parents have to be careful not to buy children’s clothes and toys made of hazardous materials.
5. jointly adv. Together with one or more other parties
In most states, a husband and wife are assumed to own all their possessions jointly.
6. lease v. To rent something for a long time (several months or years)
Some drivers prefer to lease a car rather than buy one.
7. liability n. Legal responsibility for harming a person or property; a disadvantage
Before you go river rafting, you sign a document releasing the trip
leaders from liability in case of injury.
Henderson is a liability to our work team because he never finishes anything on time.
Usage tips In its second meaning, liability is often followed by a to phrase.
8. proprietor n. Owner, usually of a business or a building The proprietor of Hekman’s Windows is Nels Hekman, grandson of the people who established the factory.
9. safeguard v. To protect
A burglar-alarm system safeguards our house when we go away on vacation.
10. sole adj. Only
Many people have wanted to invest in Harry’s publishing business, but he remains the sole owner.
TOEFL Prep I
Find the word that is closest in meaning to each word in the left-hand column. 1. assess (a) dangerous 2. hazardous (b) evaluate
3. jointly (c) protect
4. liability (d) responsibility
5. safeguard (e) together
TOEFL Prep II
Choose the word that best completes each sentence.
The building company is trying to (safeguard/acquire) the whole neighborhood so it can put up a mall.
To the average farm family, every child was (an asset/a liability), one more set of hands to gather eggs or plant beans.
Gary’s Cookie Shop has to move because the owner of the building won’t renew the (lease/asset).
The (hazardous/sole) adult influence on Sarah as she grew up was her grandmother.
Some people are born with the disease, but others (acquire/assess) it later in life.
TOEFL Success
Read the passage to review the vocabulary you have learned. Answer the questions that follow.
It is not easy to make a living as the proprietor of apartment buildings. There is a huge initial expense, not only to acquire the properties but to assess the buildings and to remove any hazardous materials like lead-based paint. A landlord also has to buy the best liability insurance available just to safeguard the investment. Otherwise, one tragic accident could wipe out the value of the entire asset. Because of this expense, it’s rare to find a sole individual owning such a property. The risk is more often taken on jointly by a group of investors who then split the profits from the leases.
1. What is the main idea of this reading?
a. Being a landlord is enjoyable.
b. It costs a lot of money to be a landlord.
c. Friendships can be destroyed by owning property jointly. d. Income from leases is greater than a landlord’s expenses.
2. Which of the following is not an expense mentioned in the reading?
a. property taxes
b. insurance
c. making the property safe
d. buying the building you hope to rent
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