Word association: Verbs Check your vocabulary for TOEFL

Check your vocabulary for TOEFL

Word association: Verbs

Exercise 1

Complete each of the following sentences with one verb. This verb should be one that is often used (i.e., it collocates) with the nouns and / or adverbs in italics. To help you, the first and last letters of each word have been given to you, and there is a sample sentence to show you how that verb could work with one of the nouns or adverbs.

Write your answers in the appropriate spaces in the grid. If you do this correctly, you will reveal a word in the shaded vertical strip that is often used with one of these nouns: authority, confidence, credibility, legitimacy, morale, positions or stability (for example, “He's very worried about his exams, so we don't want to do anything that might _____ his confidence any further”).

1	You can i________e someone's or something's behavior, choice, decision, development, outcome, or policy. (Sample sentence: I don't want to _____ your decision in any way).
2	You can o________n approval, authorization, consent, evidence, funding, information, license, or permission. (Sample sentence: You need to _____ permission to use the computers in the library).
3	You can d________s an issue, a matter, a plan, a proposal, a question, a subject, or a topic. (Sample sentence: We're all very tired. I suggest we _____ the matter tomorrow).
4	You can s________e an argument, a conflict, a dispute, a quarrel, or your differences. (Sample sentence: Neither side showed any willingness to _____ the dispute).
5	You can actively, greatly, positively or strongly e________e someone or something. (Sample sentence: When I was young, my parents actively _____ me to read as much as possible).
6	You can c________y with a demand, legislation, an order, a regulation, a request, a requirement, or a rule. (Sample sentence: You are legally obliged to _____ with the regulations).
7	You can d________e a mechanism, a method, a plan, a scheme, a strategy, or a system. (Sample sentence: He _____ a cunning plan to help his friend).
8	You can u________r a conspiracy, evidence, a fact, a fraud, a mystery, a plot, a scandal, a secret, or the truth. (Sample sentence: The investigation _____ a scandal that would bring down the government).
9	You can d________e credit, a mention, praise, recognition, respect, or support. (Sample sentence: They _____ a lot of praise for all their hard work).

Exercise 2

Follow the same instructions as Exercise 1. This time, the word you will reveal in the shaded vertical strip is one that is often used with the nouns agreement, ceasefire, contract, deal, price, settlement, terms, treaty, or truce (for example, “After the unions refused to end the strike, the management attempted to _____ a new contract”).

1	You can i________e affection, awe, confidence, devotion, envy, loyalty, or respect in other people. (Sample sentence: His actions did little to _____ confidence in his friends and coworkers).
2	You can o________t bitterly, formally, strenuously, strongly, vehemently, or vigorously about something. (Sample sentence: She _____ vehemently when she was accused of cheating).
3	You can a________e consistently, convincingly, forcefully, passionately, persuasively, plausibly, or strongly for or about something. (Sample sentence: They _____ forcefully for a change to the existing rules).
4	You can o________e something bitterly, fiercely, implacably, strenuously, strongly, vehemently, or vigorously. (Sample sentence: Darwin's theories are still bitterly _____ by many people).
5	You can f________t corruption, crime, discrimination, prejudice, or terrorism. You can do this desperately, doggedly, hard, stubbornly, or tenaciously. (Sample sentence: The new government promised the electorate that it would _____ corruption at all levels).
6	You can h________t a danger, a difference, a difficulty, a fact, the importance (of something), a issue, a need (for something), the plight (of something), a problem, or a weakness. (Sample sentence: Her report _____ the plight of migrant workers in the state).
7	You can c________e something or someone completely, considerably, dramatically, drastically, fundamentally, radically, or significantly. (Sample sentence: Global warming is believed to have radically _____ the climate in some parts of the world).
8	You can u________e an analysis, an assessment, an investigation, a program, a project, research,   review, a study, a survey, or a task. (Sample sentence: The board promised to _____ a review of current working practices).
9	Something or someone can d_____r considerably, greatly, markedly, radically, sharply, significantly, substantially, or widely from something or someone else. (Sample sentence: English _____ markedly from Spanish in that the words are not always pronounced as they are written).

Exercise 3

Follow the same instructions as Exercises 1 and 2. This time, the word you will reveal in the shaded vertical strip is one that is often used with the nouns attitude, belief, idea, impression, notion, stereotype, tendency, trend, or view (for example, “The latest figures _____ the view that young people read less than they used to”).

1	You can heartily, thoroughly, warmly, wholeheartedly, officially, overwhelmingly, personally, or unanimously a__________e of someone or something. (Sample sentence: We wholeheartedly _____ the measures that you have taken to boost morale).
2	You can l________n to something or someone attentively, carefully, closely, hard, intently, or closely. (Sample sentence: _____ carefully, because I will say this only once).
3	You can d________s an allegation, a claim, an idea, a notion, a suggestion, or a theory. (Sample sentence: She _____ my allegation as a complete fabrication, and more or less accused me of lying).
4	You can a__________n a belief, a claim, a commitment, a concept, an idea, a policy, or a principle. (Sample sentence: He used to be quite religious, but _____ his beliefs when his wife died in a road accident).
5	Something can f________l dramatically, rapidly, sharply, slightly, steadily, or steeply. (Sample sentence: Unemployment figures _____ dramatically under the government's “Work or Starve” initiative).
6	You can c________t crime, discrimination, disease, fraud, inflation, poverty, racism, terrorism, unemployment, or violence. (Sample sentence: The organization's main mission statement is to _____ disease and poverty on developing nations).
7	Someone or something can u________e a difficulty, a fact, the importance (of something), the need (for something), a point, a problem, or the significance (of something). (Sample sentence: The survey results _____ the need for change in people's attitudes toward the homeless).
8	You can c________e an agreement, a contract, a deal, a pact, or a treaty. (Sample sentence: At the end of the summit, an agreement was _____ under which trade sanctions between both countries would be lifted).
9	You can o________e a barrier, a difficulty, a disadvantage, a fear, a hurdle, limitations, an obstacle, a problem, resistance, or a weakness. (Sample sentence: Hypnosis helped him to _____ his fear of flying).

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