TOEFL® Vocabulary Flashcard

Accessibility refers to the quality of being available when needed.  Here is an example sentence

• One advantage of living in dormitories is the easy accessibility to the library.
• This hotel has easy accessibility to the beach.

Accessibility also refers to how easily a disabled person can negotiate part of a building or structure. For example:

• The stadium had wheelchair accessibility with ramps and a special seating area.

If a place or building is accessible to people, it is easy for them to reach it or get into it. If an object is accessible, it is easy to reach. The usages "be accessible to people" and "be accessible by transportation" are often used. Here are example sentences:

• The city center is easily accessible to the general public.
• The hospital should be accessible to wheelchair users.
• Public areas should be easily accessible to disabled people.
• The inn is accessible by train and bus.

If something is accessible to people, they can easily use it or obtain it. Here are example sentences:​

• The legal aid system should be accessible to more people. 
• This device helps make virtual reality a more usable and accessible technology.
• Education should be accessible to everyone.
• Thanks to the Internet, information is easily accessible to everyone now.

Definition: Used to show that something is almost, but not completely, accurate or exact; roughly

Example senences:

• The walk will cover a distance of four miles taking approximately two hours to complete.

A demonstration is a show or display. If you are against the war, you might go to an anti-war demonstration in front of the White House. Crying is a demonstration of your feelings.

If you sell website design you can make a demonstration site, or demo, so clients can see what they would get if they hired you.

If you attend a home and garden fair, you may see a demonstration of the best way to pull weeds.

To demonstrate means to show, so think of demonstrative as showing. People who are demonstrative easily and clearly show their emotions.

A demonstrative person might shout "Hooray" and jump for joy at good news. A non-demonstrative person might feel no less excited but refrain from demonstrating it. Here is an example sentence:

• She is more demonstrative (about her feelings) than I am. [=she shows her feelings more openly than I do]

Definition: something that cannot be reached or communicated with

Example senences:

• The company encrypts its data and takes other measures to ensure its information is secure and inaccessible by other competitors.

If a particular thing accounts for a part or proportion of something, that part or proportion consists of that thing. The usage "account for X percent of something" is often seen. Here are example sentences:

• Small companies account for up to 80 percent of urban employment and 60 percent of China's GDP.
• Computers account for 5% of the country's commercial electricity consumption. 
• Heavy vehicles account for more than 14% of road accidents.

If something accounts for a particular fact or situation, it provides or serves as a satisfactory explanation or reason for.  Here are example sentences:

• The disease accounted for over 10,000 deaths last year.
• These new features account for the computer's higher price.
• The disease cannot be accounted for [=explained] by genetics alone. There must be other causes as well.

If you can account for something, you can explain it or give the necessary information about it. Here are example sentences:

• How do you account for the company's alarmingly high staff turnover? 

Accountability is a noun that describes accepting responsibility, and it can be personal or very public. The collocations "show accountability' and "have accountability for something' are often used. For example

• Stepping up and admitting it when you break something shows accountability.
• A government has accountability for decisions and laws affecting its citizens
• An individual has accountability for acts and behaviors.
• Lack of accountability plays a key role in business failures because dysfunctional leadership results in bad strategic decision-making and poor employee performance.

If you are accountable to someone for something that you do, you are responsible for it and must be prepared to justify your actions to that person. The phrases "be (held) accountable to someone" and "be (held) accountable for something" are used.

Here are example sentences:

• Parents should be held accountable for their children’s actions.
• Parents should be held accountable to their children.
• Students are accountable for their behavior in school. 
• Parents who are accountable for their children's delinquent behavior are more likely to reinforce appropriate behavior in the youth.
• Working makes a teenager accountable for themselves in terms of being present and completing their job well.
• You are accountable for your actions.

Definition: Able to move quickly and easily; Able to think and understand quickly:

Example sentences:

• They are so agile when they move, thanks to their abundance of elastic muscles.
• In fact, it may make or break an artist depending on their ability and agility in taking risks.

Definition: move or cause to move back and forth; to cause worry

Example sentences:

• When we are agitated, cortisol levels in our bloodstream rise.
• Some people with dementia benefit from stimulation, but overstimulation, including a noisy environment, can make others agitated and aggressive.

Definition: The quality of being alert:

Example sentences:

• Fire has caused £30,000 damage to a woollen waste mill, and it could have been worse but for the alertness of a teenage girl.

Definition: Hit when moving

Example senences:

• A youth was killed when a passenger train collided with his car on a level crossing in East Yorkshire last night
• When continental and oceanic plates collide the thinner and more dense oceanic plate is overridden by the thicker and less dense continental plate. The oceanic plate is forced down into the mantle in a process known as "subduction".

Definition: An instance of one moving object or person striking violently against another:

Example sentences:

• Three people have died in a head-on collision between two cars in a weekend which also saw two police officers seriously injured in a separate road accident.

Definition: in a relative manner; by comparison to something else

Example sentences:

• Sesame Street was already a quality show, and its dependence on government subsidies has been comparatively small for years.

Definition: an aggressive willingness to compete;

Example sentences:

• Strategic alliance is a common way for two companies to increase competitiveness in a global market.

Definition: marked by or capable of arousing controversy

Example sentences:

• Vitamin D is a controversial topic among doctors, mainly because studies about its health effects have been so conflicting.
• The Coca-Cola Company yesterday revealed some details about its controversial role as a supporter of obesity research.

Definition: proven with written evidence

Example sentences:

• Even when the right work is done and documented, analysts don’t always have good resources for managing the intellectual property they create.

Definition: existing for a long time

Example sentences:

• The camera is small, light, and durable, and every setting can be tweaked to fit the needs of whatever you're filming.

Definition: undergo or be subjected to

Example sentences:

• It seemed impossible that anyone could endure such pain

Definition: Showing or involving great activity or vitality

Example sentences:

• Youngsters have already come up with some of their own designs which cater for younger primary school age children up to teenagers who wanted more energetic activities.

Definition: capable of being seen or noticed; clearly revealed to the mind

Example sentences:

• It seems fairly evident that, given a choice, you should raise your child to speak more than one language.
• The promise of precision medicine for cancer is now clearly evident.

Definition: to grow; undergo development or evolution

Example sentences:

• Companies that launched with digital DNA still have to run fast to keep up with rapidly evolving technologies and consumer expectations.

Definition: to emphasize the part of a greater whole

Example sentences:

• Superhero comics in general have made major strides this year to highlight diverse voices and characters for diverse audiences.
• Most students highlight as they are reading text for the first time, when they do not know what is important enough to highlight.

Definition: in an improper way

Example sentences:

• The pointed attorneys have argued the judge improperly excluded certain evidence and testimony.

To indicate means to point something out or to present evidence. There are two patterns:

• indicate that + Subject + Verb
• indicate + Noun

Here are example sentences:

• Estimates indicate that more than 60 percent of the yearly retail sales in the U.S. are credit transactions.
• Evidence indicates that people have always been predominantly right-handed.
• The drastic disappearance of Foraminifera in these layers of rock indicated that something had happened at the boundary between the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods.
• The drastic decline in the numbers of amphibians worldwide indicates the global pollution of water and air.
• Record profits in the retail market indicate a boom in the economy.
• An increase in crime indicates a decline in moral standards.
• The importance of the sun in the Rameses cartouche is vital because it indicates the language of the scribes.

The word “indicate” can also be used without an object. The example below highlights it uses without an object.

• You forgot to indicate. (This means you forgot to signal before you made your turn when driving.)

An indication is an abstract idea. It is a clue or a suggestion. 

Note:

• an indicator is an object that indicates something.
• An indication is an act of indicating something.

When paraphrasing, you can use "give someone an indication of" or "be an indication of" instead of "indicate". Let's look at the following example:

• The drastic decline in the numbers of amphibians worldwide indicates the global pollution of water and air.

Can be paraphrased to 

• The drastic decline in the numbers of amphibians worldwide gives scientists an indication of the global pollution of water and air.

or 

• The drastic decline in the numbers of amphibians worldwide is an indication of the global pollution of water and air.

Here are more examples:

• Record profits in the retail market is an indication of a boom in the economy = Record profits in the retail market indicates a boom in the economy.
• An increase in crime is an indication of a decline in moral standards. = An increase in crime indicates a decline in moral standards.

Use the word indicative when you want to show that something is suggestive or serves as a sign of something. 

The phrase "be indicative of" basically means "is an indication of". Therefore, when paraphrasing, you can use "be indicative of" or "is an indication of" instead of "indicate". Let's look at the following example:

• The drastic decline in the numbers of amphibians worldwide indicates the global pollution of water and air.

Can be paraphrased to 

• The drastic decline in the numbers of amphibians worldwide is indicative of the global pollution of water and air. = 
• The drastic decline in the numbers of amphibians worldwide is an indication of the global pollution of water and air.

Here are more example sentences:

• Thin tree rings are indicative of slow growth. [=Thin tree rings indicate that a tree has grown slowly]
• Provocative images of the media are the indicative of the vibrant competitions in the media.

​"Indicator" is a thing that indicates the state or level of something. An indicator indicates something or gives an indication of something. 

Note:

• An indicator is an object that indicates something.
• An indication is an act of indicating something. An indication is an abstract idea.

Let's look at the following example to get a better idea of how to use the word "indicator".

The drastic decline in the numbers of amphibians worldwide indicates the global pollution of water and air (= The drastic decline in the numbers of amphibians worldwide is an indication of the global pollution of water and air.)

From the above sentence, we can say that

Calculating the number amphibians worldwide is used as an indicator of global pollution of water and air.

Here are example sentences using the word "indicator":

• Nitrogen oxides are used by scientists as an indicator of economic activity and of the effectiveness of pollution-control measures. 
• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.
• Calculating the number amphibians worldwide is used as an indicator of global pollution of water and air.
• The stock market is seen as a leading indicator of economic growth.

You might hear a lot from newscasters about "economic indicators." These are figures, such as the rate of unemployment or inflation that indicate where we're headed economically. Here is an example sentence:

• Economic indicators suggest that prices will go up

When you have an insight, you have a feeling or emotion or thought that helps you to know something essential about a person or thing.Insight isn't based on hard facts or evidence. And it doesn't have anything to do with using your senses such as sight or smell. When you gain insight, you are using your intuition or sixth sense.  

Insight means the ability to understand people and situations in a very clear way.  In this case, it is uncountable. For example:

• He is a leader of great insight.

Insight can also mean an understanding of what something is like. The following two patterns are often used

• Someone gains insight(s) into something
• Sth gives someone insight(s) into something

In this case, insight can be used as countable and uncountable. Either form could be used depending on the context, assumptions, hopes, etc... Let's look at the following examples

• The book gives us fascinating insights into life in Mexico.
• I hope you have gained some insight into the difficulties we face.

In the first sentence, Mexican life is assumed to be complex. It is assumed that there are many moments (while reading) in which the reader will say, "AH! I understand!".

Each of those moments is //an insight// (event: a moment of understanding). Each moment gives us //some insight// (some knowledge, uncountable) into Mexican life.

Do you see the difference here? The book is giving us discrete //moments//. Each moment is //an insight// into Mexican life. Therefore the book is giving us many insights -- plural insights. Each moment adds to our general knowledge of, our (uncountable) insight into, Mexican life.

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Consider the second sentence: "I hope you have gained some insight into the difficulties we face."

It is not describing any kind of "moment", instead it is like saying, "I hope you gained some knowledge".

You could rewrite it to use a countable insight as follows:

• I hope this meeting has given you an insight into the difficulties we face (singular event -> singular insight)
• I hope these meetings have given you many insights into the difficulties we face. (plural meetings -> plural insights)

Insightful is an adjective that is exhibiting insight or clear and deep perception. If you are insightful, you are confident and inquisitive. For example:

• One of the most important aspects of being an insightful leader is avoiding the pitfall of the obvious.

Insightful things make you ponder more than you normally would.  For example:

• The chapter was insightful to why the refugees felt that had to leave the camp.

Definition: forever; without end

Example sentences:

• The filmmakers want the movie to have a lasting, consciousness-raising effect, to make people continue to think about their own honesty.
• He left a lasting impression on the people who heard his inspirational speeches.

Definition: limited in size or scope

Example sentences:

• He says the meetings will help him narrow down recruits and present the most fitting candidates.
• The narrow window of time to diagnose and successfully treat a patient makes the treatment of meningococcal disease difficult.

If something necessitates an event, action, or situation, it makes it necessary. ​

Example sentences:

• It is widely acknowledged that the primary objective of school education is to impart theoretical knowledge and not the acquisition of life skills. However, it does not necessitate schools offering car repair or bank account management lessons.
• New safety regulations necessitated adding a railing to the stairs. 

Definition: force somebody to do something

Example sentences:

• At a company with publicly traded stock, management and controlling holders are obliged to put public shareholders’ interests above their own.
• The government plans to oblige mobile operators to improve their coverage, possibly by sharing rivals' networks.

Definition: leave undone or leave out

Example sentences:

• The sequence omits whole classes of genes found in all other animals, including genes normally involved in immunity, develop­ment and neural function.
• This almost instant cucumber kimchi can be made in no time, omitting the fermentation process.

You use "on account of" to introduce the reason or explanation for something. "Because of" and "on account of' are synonymous in cases where reasons involve thoughts or records.   Here is an example sentence:

• We canceled the beach picnic on account of the bad weather forecast.

Let's look at the following two sentences:

• The water boiled because of the heat. (Better!)
• The water boiled on account of the heat. 

Both uses are valid, but in this example, because of is slightly better than on account of because it does not imply thought on the part of the water.

Definition: look down on; to ignore or neglect

Example sentences:

• The glass walls of their common room overlook the main hall and dining area.
• Scientists must not overlook any aspect of experimental procedure.

Definition: Bigger than the usual size

Example sentences:

• He was wearing an oversized leather jacket.

Definition: unique or specific to a person or thing or category

Example sentences:

• The findings suggest that media coverage can help improve the public's knowledge about a particular health topic.
• China is the fastest-growing national investor in America, targeting real estate, hospitality and technology services in particular.

Your perspective is the way you see something. Perspective can be used from a positive or negative standpoint. The preposition "on" is often used after it.

Example sentences:

• My grandmother has a surprisingly modern perspective on life.
• They had totally different perspectives on the war.
• It's easy to lose perspective on things when you are under stress.
• He says the death of his father 18 months ago has given him a new perspective on life.

Phrases

• from one's perspective = from the perspective of someone
• Put something in/into perspective

from one's perspective

From one's perspective = from the perspective of someone = from one's point of view

Example sentences:

• He helped us see the problem from a new perspective. (meaning angle, point of view).
• The story is told from the perspective of a teenage boy in the 1940s.
• From my perspective, I think the employee should be punished.

Put something in perspective

If you put something in perspective, it means you correctly regard something in relation to something else. 

Example sentences:

• You need to put things in perspective: even though you have not attained your career goals yet, you still have many years to do so.
• Let's put the cost of living into perspective; it costs more to live now than in the past, but now we have a better life than before.
• John put things in perspective: even though his English was not as good as Mary's English, he realized that he had been studying it for less time than Mary.
• Life can sometimes seem very overwhelming. This feeling can be normal, although it may be debilitating to routines and lifestyles. You should try and develop your own methods of putting your problems into perspective, no matter what it is.

Collocations

a fresh perspective (=new and interesting or useful)

• The venture will benefit from their fresh perspective.

a historical perspective

• It is important to have a historical perspective when considering these changes.

a global/international perspective

• A global perspective allows firms to spot opportunities and reduce supply costs.​a female perspective​

a business perspective

• I think it was a good thing to do, from a business perspective.

Definition: Find or identify with great accuracy or precision:

Example sentences:

• Scientists pinpoint how genetic mutation causes rarly brain damage

Definition: A measure taken in advance to prevent something dangerous, unpleasant, or inconvenient from happening

Example sentences:

• He had taken the precaution of seeking legal advice. Of course I took the precaution of turning my light off first, and it was a lucky thing I did.

Definition: in a predictable manner or to a predictable degree

Example sentences:

• Predictably, they do not want the security of pensions, but the joy of more cash to spend immediately.
• Retail sales over the past few months have, predictably, been awful, and foreign trade has also gotten clobbered by the huge depreciation.

Definition: to make ready; first in rank or degree

Example sentences:

• The directors primed the actors before the performance.
• The book isn’t vegetarian, but there are so many plant-based options that it’s already occupying a prime spot on my countertop.

Definition: Nearness in space, time, or relationship:

Example sentences:

• Miss Bridges dismissed speculation that the close proximity of the rides had helped the fire to spread.

Definition: a picture or element thrown back

Example sentences:

• Freedom of improvisation within form itself was a reflection of their human condition.
• Our currency is a reflection of our values and should rightfully represent our inclusive democracy

Definition: to know by report; unconfirmed; supposedly

Example sentences:

• Kelly was reportedly fired for alleged corruption and nepotism related in part to the new project.

If you describe a person or organization as unaccountable, you are critical of them because they are not responsible to anyone for their actions, or do not feel they have to explain their actions to anyone.  People, especially those in leadership positions, are described as unaccountable when they behave as though they don't need to explain themselves, answer to anyone else, or take responsibility for their actions.

We can also use "unaccountable" to describe something that does not seem to have any sensible explanation. For example:

• Crop circles, Big Foot sightings, and unidentified flying objects are mysterious and unaccountable.