Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - Geography

Here you will learn some English words about geography, such as "tropic", "hilly", "slope", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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geology

[noun]

a field of science that studies the structure of the earth and its history

Ex: Studying geology reveals the history of our planet , from the formation of continents to the evolution of life .

hemisphere

[noun]

one of the two halves of the Earth, separated by the equator or a meridian

Ex: The Earth 's hemispheres have different weather patterns due to their locations .

altitude

[noun]

the distance between an object or point and sea level

Ex: Meteorologists study altitude variations to understand atmospheric pressure changes .

latitude

[noun]

the distance of a point north or south of the equator that is measured in degrees

continental

[Adjective]

relating to or characteristic of any continent

longitude

[noun]

the distance of a point east or west of the meridian at Greenwich that is measured in degrees

Ex: Time zones are determined based on lines of longitude around the globe.

tropic

[noun]

each of the two parallel and imaginary lines around the earth that is 23°26ʹ south or north of the equator

tropical

[Adjective]

associated with or characteristic of the tropics, regions of the Earth near the equator known for their warm climate and lush vegetation

Ex: The tropical sun provides abundant warmth and energy for photosynthesis in plants .

horizon

[noun]

the line where the sky and earth seem to come in contact with each other

Ex: The sunset painted the horizon with hues of pink and orange .

equator

[noun]

a hypothetical line around the Earth that divides it into Northern and Southern hemispheres

peninsula

[noun]

a large body of land that is partially surrounded by water but is attached to a larger area of land

Ex: The Arabian Peninsula is a vast desert region rich in oil and cultural history, bordered by several bodies of water, including the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.

highland

[noun]

land with mountains or hills

Ex: Highlands are often characterized by their cooler climates and unique flora and fauna adapted to higher elevations.

inland

[Adjective]

located away from the coast

Ex: The inland plains are ideal for agriculture due to fertile soil .

hilly

[Adjective]

having many hills

Ex: The hilly roads can be dangerous during the rainy season .

terrain

[noun]

an area of land, particularly in reference to its physical or natural features

Ex: Farmers adapted their cultivation techniques to suit the varying terrain of their land , employing terracing on slopes and irrigation systems in low-lying areas to optimize agricultural productivity .

slope

[noun]

a stretch of land forming part of a hill or mountain

pole

[noun]

the most northern or most southern points of the earth that are joined by its axis of rotation

Ex: The magnetic poles are not aligned exactly with the geographic poles and can shift due to changes in the Earth 's magnetic field .

ravine

[noun]

a deep narrow valley with steep sides, usually worn by a stream

Ex: Geologists study the formation of ravines to understand how water shapes the Earth 's surface over millennia .

branch

[noun]

a smaller part of a river that is separated from the main and larger part

Ex: The bridge spanned the branch of the river , providing a scenic view of the surrounding landscape .

current

[noun]

the flow or movement of water or a liquid in a specific direction

Ex: The warm ocean current influences the coastal climate, making winters milder.

tide

[noun]

the rise and fall of the sea level, which happens regularly, as a result of the attraction of the sun and moon

Ex: Tidal energy , generated from the movement of the tide, is a renewable source of power in some coastal regions .

gulf

[noun]

an area of sea that is partly surrounded by land, with a narrow opening

Ex: The boat was anchored in a quiet gulf.

coastal

[Adjective]

related to or situated along the coast, the area where land meets the sea

Ex: Coastal communities often rely on fishing and tourism for economic livelihood .

crater

[noun]

the round top of a volcano

Ex: The volcanic crater was filled with lava that glowed orange at night.

lava

[noun]

a substance from the inner layers of the earth which is erupted out of a volcanic mountain

Ex: Scientists study lava samples to understand the composition of the Earth 's interior .

iceberg

[noun]

a very large floating piece of ice

Ex: The expedition team carefully navigated their ship around the towering iceberg.

glacier

[noun]

a large mass of ice that forms over long periods of time, especially in polar regions or high mountains

Ex: The farm uses renewable energy to power its operations.

canyon

[noun]

a valley that is deep and has very steep sides, through which a river is flowing usually

Ex: They set up camp near the bottom of the canyon.

reef

[noun]

a ridge of rock or a line of sand near the surface of a body of water

coral reef

[noun]

a natural underwater structure formed by coral

Ex: Coral reefs are often called the rainforests of the sea .

pond

[noun]

an area containing still water that is comparatively smaller than a lake, particularly one that is made artificially

Ex: In winter , the pond froze over , allowing people to enjoy ice skating and other activities on its surface .

marine

[Adjective]

related to the sea and the different life forms that exist there

Ex: Marine biology focuses on studying the organisms and environments of the ocean .

peak

[noun]

the pointed top of a mountain

Ex: The mountain 's peak was often shrouded in clouds , giving it a mysterious appearance .

Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL

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Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - Geography