TOEFL 009

nitty-gritty

meollo del asunto

expansive

• amplio, muy grande

• covering a wide area in terms of space or scope; extensive or wide-ranging.

to struggle

tener dificultades, esforzarse

to boost

impulsar, aumentar

to feed

alimentar

tough

difícil

to prune

podar, eliminar lo innecesario

banning

prohibición

outlawed

prohibido

bulbs

bombillas

to contaminate

contaminar

to be disposed of

ser desechado

improperly

incorrectamente

to ensure

• asegurar que algo pasará

• garantizar o hacer que algo ocurra con certeza

obsolete

obsoleto, en desuso

flawed

lleno de fallas

to afford

tener suficiente dinero, comprar

upfront

por adelantado, sincero

tight budget

poco dinero disponible

to be in wider use

tener un uso más amplio

• Definition: Becoming more commonly employed, popular, or accepted.

• Context: It is often used in technical, academic, and business contexts to indicate increasing adoption.

• Examples:

  • "The new software is now in _____ use across the company."

  • "The technique has gained popularity and is now in _____ use for medical diagnostics."

• Similar Expressions: "In widespread use," "becoming more commonplace," "increasingly prevalent," or "gaining popularity".

to be equipped with

estar equipado con

lower-tech system

sistema de baja tecnología

counterpoint

argumento contrario

outright

completamente

• Immediately/Instantly: Happening right away, often used in cases of death or action.

• Completely/Totally: Entirely or without limitation, such as an "________ ban" or "________ victory".

• Openly/Directly: Without reservation, such as asking a question "________".

• No Restrictions/Cash Purchase: Buying or owning something completely, without debt (e.g., "bought it ________").

to hold up

retrasar

disposal guidelines

normas de desecho

to be well funded by

estar bien financiado por

whatsoever

• de ninguna manera, para nada

• at all (used for emphasis)

misleading

• engañoso

• deceptive, false, untruthful, distorted, disingenuous, and fallacious

setup

configuración, montaje

to attribute

atribuir

primarily

principalmente; for the most part; mainly

_

• Focus/Intent: "The study is _________ focused on...".

• Purpose: "The room is used _________ for meetings".

• Composition: "The team is _________ made up of volunteers".

to weaken

debilitar

simultaneous

simultáneo, al mismo tiempo

deprived of

privado o carente de algo que necesita

invoking

citando

sharply

repentinamente, con claridad

systematically

• de manera ordenada

• acting in an orderly, methodical, and planned manner to achieve a goal.

• It involves following a specific, consistent, or structured approach—rather than acting randomly—:

  • to organize,

  • analyze,

  • or execute tasks.

• Key aspects include being thorough, strategic, and often adhering to a set of rules or a fixed, deliberate plan.

• Negative Context: A group systematically destroying evidence, meaning they intentionally removed it in an organized, thorough manner.

to undermine

debilitar

• to make (someone or something) weaker or less effective usually in a secret or gradual way.

  • She tried to _________ my authority by complaining about me to my boss.

  • The events of the past year have _________d people's confidence in the government.

a far more

mucho más