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.

When you demonstrate something, you show what it is or how it works.  Here are examples:

• The instructor demonstrated the correct procedure for pruning a tree.
• A Sensodyne marketer demonstrated how to use the mouthwash and dental floss.
• The CEO demonstrated impressive leadership in building a company that took employees' needs into account.

To demonstrate a fact means to make it clear to people.  Here are examples:

• The latest test results clearly demonstrate that the COVID-19 vaccine works.
• Research has demonstrated that babies can recognize their mother's voice very soon after birth. 研究顯示，嬰兒出生後很快就能辨識母親的聲音。

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.

The adjective "demonstrative" describes something that serves as conclusive evidence of something; also, it can refer to openly expressing emotions or feelings. 

• Her demonstrative gestures during the presentation helped clarify her points.

• He tends to be very demonstrative of his feelings, often hugging and kissing his relatives.

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.

A valid argument is one that is well-grounded in fact, law or logic. Something is valid when it can be supported or backed-up, or if it is functional.  In a legal context, valid means that something is binding or actionable: “At the time of the accident his license was no longer valid, so they impounded his car.”Here are some examples using the word valid:

• These coupons will no longer be valid after the date printed on the back.
• You need to make certain that your passport is valid if you plan on visiting me during Christmas. 
• Some car rental agencies require a valid customer passport as a deposit when the customer collects the car.
• Their marriage is not legally valid.
• Is your passport still valid? ​
• Is the contract legally valid?
• There are valid reasons for some people to be unsure about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. If you are hesitant, you should talk to your doctors to decide what is best for you.
• This is a valid criticism and we should not take it lightly.

To validate is to prove that something is based on truth or fact, or is acceptable. It can also mean to make something, like a contract, legal.  Example sentences:

• Do you know if this auditorium validates parking?
• You can get your parking ticket validated at the concierge desk.
• Make sure you validate your parking on the way out.
• Customs officers validated our passports.

The noun validity means the quality of being real or correct or the state of being acceptable according to the law. Example sentences:

• The ground crew will check the validity of your passport before you board the plane.
• Scientists questioned the validity of the findings.
• As a general rule, passports should have at least six months of validity when traveling internationally. Most countries will deny you entry if your passport isn't valid for at least 6 months after your last day of travel. 

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.

Congestion refers to a state of overcrowding or blockage, often resulting in a slowdown or halt in movement or flow. This term is commonly used in a variety of contexts. In traffic, congestion occurs when roads or highways are filled with vehicles, leading to slower speeds and increased travel times. In terms of networks, such as the internet or telecommunications, congestion happens when too much data is transmitted at once, causing delays and slower service. Similarly, in healthcare or other services, congestion refers to excessive demand leading to long waits and decreased efficiency.

• Heavy downpour causes waterlog and traffic congestion in Delhi, India.

• Boston has the second-worst traffic congestion in the U.S., according to a new study.

• The Taipei city government hopes to ease traffic congestion problems by setting up bicycle rental points at MRT stations.

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.

Durable, as an adjective, describes something that is able to withstand wear, pressure, or damage. It often refers to materials or products that are made to last for a long time without significant deterioration. In a broader sense, it can also refer to something that is long-lasting in terms of effectiveness or relevanc

• This backpack is made from durable materials that can withstand heavy use.

• They need to invest in more durable equipment for the factory.

• Durable goods often come with a guarantee of several years.

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.

The verb "indicate" means to point out or show something, often used when giving information or suggesting something indirectly.

• The research indicates a growing trend in online shopping.

• 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. 

• 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 noun "indication" means a sign or piece of information that suggests something might exist or be true.

• His fever was an indication of a more serious health problem.

• There are clear indications that the economy is improving.

• Record profits in the retail market is an indication of a boom in the economy

• An increase in crime is an indication of a decline in moral standards.

The adjective "indicative" describes something that serves as a sign or suggests something. 

• His tone was indicative of his true feelings.

• The increase in sales is indicative of a growing interest in our products.

• Such symptoms are often indicative of a severe allergic reaction.

The noun "indicator" means a device or measure that shows the condition or existence of something, often used to provide guidance, information, or warning.

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation. 

• The stock market is seen as a leading indicator of economic growth. 

• The indicator light on the dashboard shows that the car's engine needs to be checked.

• Economic indicators like GDP and unemployment rates are essential for analyzing a country's financial health.

• The bird species' population size can serve as an indicator of the local environmental quality.

• Nitrogen oxides are used by scientists as an indicator of economic activity and of the effectiveness of pollution-control measures.
  
  

The noun "insight" means the capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing.

• His insights into the problem helped us find a solution quickly.

• The book provides new insights into the president's leadership style.

• Gaining insight into your own behavior can be a challenging but rewarding process.

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.

The verb "necessitate" means to make something necessary as a result or prerequisite.

• The new regulations necessitate a complete overhaul of our operating procedures.

• The increase in production necessitated hiring more staff.

• The sudden illness of the speaker necessitated postponing the conference.

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.

The adjective "unaccountable" describes something or someone that cannot be explained or justified. It often refers to actions or behaviors that are mysterious, inexplicable, or not subject to being held responsible or accountable by others. 

• His absence was unaccountable.

• She found herself feeling an unaccountable sense of dread.

• The manager's decisions were often unaccountable to the team.