Vocabulary

Identify the contextual meaning of a particular word or phrase given in the passage. TOEFL Reading Vocabulary questions ask test takers to identify the meanings of words or phrases as they were used within the reading passage. They are easy to spot because the word or phrase is highlighted in the passage to show the context it was used in, and the question is usually written in the same way: “The word/phrase in the passage is closest in meaning to … ” The word or phrase that is selected for a question typically is necessary to understand an important concept or topic in the passage. The words that are chosen are academic vocabulary that university students should know. Specialized vocabulary like scientific terms are not used for questions, and when they appear in a passage, they will often be defined within the passage or in a footnote.