Vocabulary for TOEFL iBT

78 VOCABULARY FOR TOEFL iBT

TIPS AND STRATEGIES

Idioms and vocabulary variations are likely to appear on standardized tests like

TOEFL iBT and occur regularly in newspaper articles, textbooks, and other day-

to-day communications. Here are some specific tips and strategies to use as you add

these words to your vocabulary and prepare for your exam.

● Use the context of the sentences provided with the definitions to help you

understand these words and memorize their meanings.

● Solidify these words and phrases in your memory by teaching them to

someone else.

● Pronounce these words each time you go over their meaning. The more

you hear how they sound, the more familiar they will feel to you, and the

easier it will be to remember them.

● Once again, use the power of mnemonic devices and associations to help

you remember meaning.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

On the lines provided or on a separate piece of paper, indicate whether each of the

following expressions represents slang, a colloquialism, or a cliché. Then compare

your selection to the correct answers at the end of the chapter.

1. “She may of gone to the movies” is an example of __.
2. “The car battery was dead as a doornail ” is an example of __.
3. Hang a right at the next corner” is an example of __.

Answer yes or no to the following sentences, on the basis of your knowledge of

the idioms. Then compare your selection to the correct answers at the end of the

chapter.

4. If you burn out at something, it means that you need the services of an
electrician. _
5. If it happens once in a blue moon, it happens rarely. _