Vocabulary · Free lesson
TOEFL reading: use context to choose a word’s meaning
This original museum passage gives a clue before asking you to interpret a word. You do not need background knowledge of archives. Use what the text actually says.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
Read the sentence around the word and test a possible meaning against its details. In a collection covering many towns and years, extensive means wide-ranging. It does not automatically mean expensive or complete.
A possible meaning must fit both the word and the context.
Read: “The museum’s records began with one village. They now include letters and maps from forty towns across a century. The collection is extensive, although several decades are still poorly represented.” Forty towns and a century support a broad range. The final clause rules out calling the collection complete. Nothing states its cost.
Original museum passage
The museum’s records began with one village.
They now include letters and maps from forty towns across a century.
The collection is extensive, although several decades are still poorly represented.
Extensive describes range or amount. A broad collection can still have gaps; wide-ranging and complete are not the same claim.
Test the interpretation
Find the supporting detail
letters and maps from forty towns across a century
Try the meaning in place
The collection is wide-ranging, although some periods are poorly represented.
Try it now
Choose what the context supports
Read all answers and explanations
What does extensive mean in the museum passage?
The collection covers a wide range.The many towns and long time span support range. Price is unstated, and the text acknowledges gaps.
Which detail directly supports a broad range?
The records now cover forty towns across a century.Now covering forty towns and a century gives positive evidence for breadth. One original village and an unstated price do not.
Why is complete an inaccurate replacement here?
Some decades are still poorly represented.The stated gaps rule out complete coverage. A small starting point does not establish current gaps, and cost does not determine completeness.
Put it into practice
Repair an unsupported interpretation
The reader confused extensive with expensive. Replace only that unsupported meaning while preserving the remaining limitation.
The collection is costly, although some periods are poorly represented.
See a model answer
The collection is wide-ranging, although some periods are poorly represented.
A paraphrase should keep both the broad coverage and the stated limit.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Is context just guessing?
A supported interpretation points to specific clues. If the text does not support a detail, do not add it just because it sounds likely.
Forty towns across a century supports a wide range.
Can I use a dictionary afterward?
Yes, during study. Check the meaning and compare it with your evidence. This does not imply a dictionary is available during the test.
Extensive coverage can still have gaps.
Take it into your day
Use local evidence, preserve limits, and reject meanings based only on similar spelling.
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