400 Must Have Words for the TOEFL » LESSON 18 - War and Conquest

Word List
  • annex [ˈænɛks] v.
    To make something (usually land) part of another unit
    → Bardstown grew by annexing several farms at the north edge of town.
    Parts of speech     annexation n., annex n.
  • apex [ˈeɪpɛks] n.
    The highest point
    → Gregory knew that his running skills had to be at their apex during the tournament.
    Usage tips     Apex is often used to describe the high point of someone’s abilities.
  • collapse [kəˈlæps] v.
    To fall down, usually because of weakness
    → the roof collapsed on top of me
    Parts of speech     collapse n., collapsible adj.
  • conquest [ˈkɒŋkwest] n.
    A takeover by force or continued effort
    → The first recorded conquest of Mt.Everest was by Tensing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hilary.
    Usage tips     Conquest is usually followed by an of phrase.
    Parts of speech     conquer v.
  • devise [dɪˈvaɪz] v.
    To find an original way to make an object or a plan
    → The soldiers devised a way to cross the river into enemy territory without being seen.
    Parts of speech     device n.
  • invasive [ɪnˈveɪsɪv] adj.
    Aggressively entering into someone else’s territory
    → Surgery with a laser is less invasive than surgery with a knife or scalpel.
    Parts of speech     invade v., invasion n., invader n.
  • prevailing [prɪˈveɪlɪŋ] adj.
    Strongest or most common
    → The prevailing attitude among our neighbors is to be friendly but not too friendly.
    Parts of speech     prevail v., prevalence n.
  • resist [rɪˈzɪst] v.
    To refuse to give in to a strong force or desire
    → Although many native nations resisted, the U.S.government eventually took over almost all Indian land.
    Parts of speech     resistance n., resistant adj.
  • severely [sɪˈvɪəlɪ] adv.
    Harshly; extremely
    → Commanders severely punished any soldier who criticized the battle plan.
    Parts of speech     severity n., severe adj.
  • violation [ˌvaɪəˈleɪʃən] n.
    An action that breaks a law or agreement; mistreatment of something that deserves respect
    → The army’s testing of new weapons was a violation of the cease-fire agreement.
    Usage tips     Violation is often followed by an of phrase.
    Parts of speech     violate v., violator n.

TOEFL Prep I Find the word or phrase that is closest in meaning to each word in the left-hand column. Write the letter in the blank.

______ 1. severely(a) invent
______ 2. prevailing(b) fall down
______ 3. devise(c) add on
______ 4. collapse(d) extremely
______ 5. annex(e) most common

TOEFL Prep II Circle the word that best completes each sentence.

  1. The judge ruled that Harry was guilty of a (violation / conquest) of the seat-belt law.
  2. Because Dalmatia was protected by high mountains,the empire could not (apex / annex) it.
  3. We have to (conquest / devise) a way to fight this new disease.
  4. Several armed groups joined together to (resist / collapse) the foreign invaders.
  5. The (prevailing / invasive) belief held that the enemy’s peace moves were not sincere.
Answer Key
TOEFL Prep I
  1. d
  2. e
  3. a
  4. b
  5. c
TOEFL Prep II
  1. violation
  2. annex
  3. devise
  4. resist
  5. prevailing
Answer Key

TOEFL Success Read the passage to review the vocabulary you have learned. Answer the questions that follow.

The Roman conquest of North Africa is, in the prevailing view, less interesting than Rome’s European adventures. In truth, one of the first lands Rome annexed beyond the Italian peninsula was the area around Carthage in North Africa. Carthage and Rome had been in conflict (called the Punic Wars) since 264 BCE for control of trade along the Mediterranean coast. In 202 BCE, during the Second Punic War, the Carthaginian general Hannibal devised a clever plan, in violation of most military wisdom, to march through the high Alps to attack the Roman heartland. The cold weather and steep terrain severely stressed Hannibal’s forces, many of whom rode elephants. The Romans resisted Hannibal’s attacks, and his bold invasion force collapsed. In the end, Rome finished off Carthage in the Third Punic War (149–146 BCE). At its apex in 117 CE, Rome controlled all of North Africa and territories from the Persian Gulf to Britain.

Bonus Structure— In the end introduces the last stage of a long process.

  1. Which sentence best expresses the essential information of this passage?
    • a. Romans were very successful at resisting invaders.
    • b. Hannibal tried crossing the Alps on elephants to invade Rome.
    • c. Rome and Carthage fought three wars,known as the Punic Wars.
    • d. One of Rome’s first overseas conquests was of the North African state of Carthage.
  2. The author of this passage believes that Hannibal’s attack on Rome by crossing the Alps was __________.
    • a. not what most military commanders would do
    • b. exactly what the Roman army used to do
    • c. cruel to elephants
    • d. impractical because elephants can’t cross mountains
Answer Key
Answer Key
  1. d
  2. a
Favorite Books
Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know

The study of the English language has spread all over the world, and high school and college students everywhere have come to realize that language mastery depends on the possession of a comprehensive vocabulary. This is just what 1100 Words You Need to Know has been offering through the five earlier editions and continuing on this sixth one.

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