Advanced vocabulary exercise 1

✓ Useful for TOEFL ✓ Useful for Cambridge B2/C1

DID YOU KNOW?

Academic vocabulary is the single biggest differentiator between a TOEFL score of 20 and 26+.

The TOEFL reading and listening sections are built around academic English — the kind of vocabulary used in university textbooks, lectures, and journals. The Academic Word List (AWL) identifies the 570 most important word families for academic study, and research consistently shows that students who know them score significantly higher on both TOEFL and IELTS Academic.

Cambridge C1/C2 Use of English also tests academic and formal vocabulary directly in Parts 1 and 5. This exercise covers the high-frequency academic words that appear repeatedly across all four major English exams — learning them here pays dividends across the board.

READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!

This exercise will help you practice advanced-level vocabulary. Complete each of the following sentences using one of these words: exalt, cultivate, saccharine, philanthropic, stagnate, obtuse, banal, obsequious, debunk, pernicious

1. She managed to several common misconceptions about Muslim women.

2. Her ( = overly sweet) way of addressing people came across as fake.

3. He is a selfish man. He doesn't have a bone in his body.

4. You wanted to hire someone who was quick-witted, but you ended up hiring someone who is .

5. The president tried to an atmosphere of mutual respect.

6. As a society, we tend to ( = put on a pedestal, etc.) sports stars and not teachers.

7. Instead of coming up with clever, innovative ideas, he just rehashed the same old rhetoric.

8. Instead of growing, the economy began to .

9. We believe that the new measures will have a ( = very negative) effect on the economy.

10. I'd prefer you to treat me as your equal. Your ( = overly submissive) behavior is making me uncomfortable.

More advanced English exercises
Want to improve your vocabulary? Here's a daily 15-minute vocabulary improvement plan designed to be easy to follow but highly effective. The key is consistency and active use of words.

Minute 0-5: Exposure (Read & Listen)
Read a short article, essay, or book passage (150-300 words).
Listen to a short podcast segment or TED Talk snippet.
Goal: Notice words you don't know. Don't stop for every word-just mark them.

Minute 5-10: Active Learning
Pick 3-5 unfamiliar words from your reading/listening.
Write them down in a notebook or app.
Format: Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Synonym/Antonym | Example sentence
Example:
Word: ubiquitous
POS: adj
Meaning: present everywhere
Synonym: omnipresent
Example sentence:
Smartphones are ubiquitous today.
Tip: Learn words in context, not isolation.

Minute 10-12: Recall & Reinforce
Cover the definitions and try to recall them.
Say the word out loud in a sentence you create.
Repeat this for all 3-5 words.

Minute 12-15: Quick Usage Practice
Use the words in writing or speaking:
Writing: Make a mini-story, journal entry, or paragraph using the words.
Speaking: Summarize your day or the article using at least 2 of the new words.

Make sure you try both our advanced-level vocabulary practice tests:
Advanced vocabulary test 1
Advanced vocabulary test 2