4. Even though the school is struggling as __________ lack of funds, it is
expected to continue to operate, due to the immense popularity among the
local residents.
A. the result of a
B. result a
C. result
D. result of
5. One of Cuba’s major sources of income is raising the sugar.
6. A brilliant presenter, __________ used to draw a tremendous crowd, but now
the amount of money he is charging is considered too high.
A. always
B. he
C. be
D. he was
7. In spite of the antagonistic display by their opponents’ supporters,
__________ city commissioners tried to keep reason and calm at the
forefront.
A. the three incumbent
B. a three incumbent
C. three incumbently
D. the incumbent three
8. Modern outboard boat engines frequently are sold with pump that
automatically mixes oil with gasoline.
9. Whether there should be more control over handguns __________ long been
a topic of debate in the United States.
A. having
B. has
C. is
D. have
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A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
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10 . Having been found guilty of theft, __________ to find work in his chosen
field as an accountant.
A. was difficult for Henry Jones
B. Henry Jones found it difficult
C. found Henry Jones difficult
D. it was found by Henry Jones difficult
11. Henry Flagler was the railroad baron who he also developed a number of
magnificent hotels and other fabulous structures.
12 . This course is one of __________ few English courses offered by the college
each month.
A. the
B. only
C. mostly
D. almost
Answers and Explanations
for Structure Quiz 6
1. A: it. A subject of the second clause is required because the that clause is the
main clause. The sentence, as corrected, means the same as, “To give an effective
speech, delivery is the most important thing.”
2. B: deciding. The sentence requires a conjugated verb, decided.
3. D: low tide. The context is definite, so the definite article the is necessary: how
low the tide is.
4. A: the result of a. This is an idiomatic expression.
5. D: the. Sugar is being used as a general statement, meaning all sugar.
6. B: he. He used to means he was accustomed to doing something in the past. He
was used to would have to be following by a verb+ing.
7. A: the three incumbent. The article the is necessary because it is specific and
makes sense with the ordinal number three. Incumbent is an adjective because it
modifies commissioners, which in this case is also modified by city.
8. B: with pump. It would make sense to say with a pump.
9. B: has. The sentence requires a conjugated verb, so having makes no sense. It is
not passive, so is makes no sense. The subject is whether, so the verb must be
singular.
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Structure
A
B
C
D
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10 . B: Henry Jones found it difficult. The second clause needs a clause beginning
with a subject. Because the sentence begins with a participle, having, the subject
of the second clause must be the same person or thing as the subject of the origi-
nal sentence.
11. B: he. After the relative pronoun who, it is not correct to have another pronoun.
The word should be omitted.
12 . A: the. The expression is one of the. The answer only would have been correct if
it had been followed by a (only a few).
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153
READING
In this chapter, you get an overview of what to expect when you take the Reading
section of the TOEFL test. I cover the various items tested in the Reading section
and provide sample questions that help you understand what you’ll encounter on
test day.
As I indicated in Part II, the Reading section consists of several reading passages
that are each followed by a series of questions. In general, you will encounter the
following four types of questions in the Reading section:
■
General. You will be asked to identify the main idea of a passage or to in-
dicate what an appropriate title for the passage would be.
■
Details. You will be asked questions about particular details explained in
the passage.
■
Vocabulary. Vocabulary questions test your understanding of particular
words within the passage.
■
Referents. Referent questions test your ability to identify antecedents of
pronouns used in the passage.
When you read a passage on the TOEFL test, first skim the entire passage, paying
attention to the first sentences of each paragraph, in order to grasp the main idea.
Then read the passage completely and move on to the questions. The reading pas-
sage appears on the computer screen while you look at the questions. The Reading
section isn’t computer adaptive, so you can return to prior questions if necessary.
The computer program will not allow you to read the questions until you have
viewed the entire reading passage.
Identifying Main Ideas and Purpose
Prepare yourself for Reading section questions that ask for the main idea, a good
title, or what you can infer from the reading passage. Keep in mind that questions
asking for the main idea of a passage or a good title for the passage are essentially
the same question. You must determine the overall meaning of the entire passage
and not be tricked into identifying some specific detail.
The main idea is just what it says: the principal thought that the passage conveys.
The main idea is the one major concept that pervades the entire passage. Look at
the entire passage and watch for the topic that is discussed in every paragraph.
Don’t be confused by a detail or even a subtopic. The answer to the questions ask-
ing you to identify the main idea will be very general.
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Sometimes the TOEFL test asks you to identify the author’s purpose in presenting
an idea in the passage. These questions ask you to identify why the author gave
the information. When you encounter a question about purpose, ask yourself what
the writer was trying to accomplish. What positive effect does the information in
the passage provide?
Studying the Details
As you read, concentrate on the main idea and don’t dwell on the details. You will
be able to return to the passage and reread sections that deal with specific details.
Generally, questions are asked in order of how information is presented in the pas-
sage, so you should be able to skim back through the reading and find the details
you need. Questions on details require a strong understanding of vocabulary, be-
cause frequently different words will be used in the question than are used in the
passage.
Some detail questions will ask you to identify the correct drawing, picture, graph, or
other depiction that explains something that was covered in the reading. You may
also be asked to match or organize items to show your understanding of the passage.
Testing Your Vocabulary
On previous versions of the TOEFL test, vocabulary was tested independently, out
of context. Now, vocabulary is tested in context, which means that you have the
context of the entire reading passage to assist you in determining the meaning of a
specific word.
A strong knowledge of vocabulary is important for scoring well on the Reading
section not only because you have to answer individual vocabulary questions, but
also because you can use your vocabulary knowledge to answer other questions.
In the Reading section, you need to understand the vocabulary words or be able to
figure out their meaning from other techniques.
Remember: The best way to improve your reading and vocabulary is to read as
much as and as many different types of material as possible. Read newspapers,
magazines, books, and whatever else you can. Pay attention to the types of things
that the TOEFL test will ask.
Studying lists of vocabulary words as you prepare for the TOEFL test doesn’t
make sense, because there are simply too many words to learn. If you’re unfamil-
iar with a word that you find in a reading passage, try to determine its meaning
from the context. To help you do so, the following sections offer an overview of
commonly used prefixes, suffixes, and roots. With a working knowledge of these
elements of English vocabulary, you increase your chances of determining the
meaning of words that are unfamiliar to you.
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Prefixes
A prefix is a short string of letters (usually only one syllable long) affixed to the
beginning of a word in order to change its meaning. For example, the prefix pre-
means “comes before.” When pre- is attached to the root -fix, which means “at-
tach,” you can determine that a prefix is a group of letters attached to the front of a
word. Following are some of the most commonly used prefixes and examples that
will help you to identify them.
a- or ab-
The prefix a- or ab- means “away from,” “from,” or “not.”
The men averted their eyes from the accident.
Meaning: The men turned their eyes away from the accident. (See –vert in
the “Roots” section later in the chapter.)
The man’s skin growth was abnormal.
Meaning: The man’s skin growth was not normal.
The women abducted the young boy.
Meaning: The women led the boy away, meaning she kidnapped him.
Sheila was absent yesterday.
Meaning: Sheila was not present yesterday.
It is atypical.
Meaning: It is not typical.
a- or an-
The prefix a- can have another meaning, which is the same as the meaning of the
prefix an As the following examples show, this prefix means “without.”
It is amorphous.
Meaning: It is without shape.
It is anhydrous.
Meaning: It is without water.
He is amoral.
Meaning: He is without morals.
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It is aseptic.
Meaning: It is without disease-causing microorganisms.
ad-
The prefix ad- means “to” or “toward.” When this prefix is attached to a root that
starts with certain letters — d, f, g, l, m, q, r, s, and t — the d drops out and the
first letter of the root is repeated. For example, when ad- is added to the root -fix,
the resulting word is affix (rather than adfix); the d drops out and the letter f is
repeated. Verbs that contain this prefix are often followed by the preposition to
(even though the word to is part of the definition of ad-).
The university admitted Bill.
Meaning: The university granted Bill entrance to the university.
The glue has dried and will not adhere to the surface.
Meaning: The glue has dried and will not stick to the surface.
She has found it easy to adapt to her new situation.
Meaning: She has found it easy to fit well to her new situation.
She used tape to affix the picture to the wall.
Meaning: She used tape to attach or fix the picture to the wall.
ante-
The prefix ante- means “before.”
This room is called the anteroom.
Meaning: This room comes before another room.
It is from the antediluvian period.
Meaning: It is from the period before the flood.
This is from the antebellum period.
Meaning: This is from the period before the war.
anti- or ant-
The prefix anti- or ant- means “opposite” or “counteracting.”
Michelle drank the antacid.
Meaning: Michelle drank the substance to counteract acid.
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They haven’t found a suitable antibody.
Meaning: They haven’t found a suitable substance to counteract the
harmful one.
The plane was shot down by an antiaircraft weapon.
Meaning: The plane was shot down by a weapon that counters aircraft.
This is the antithesis of that.
Meaning: This is the exact opposite of that.
They say that Mary is antisocial.
Meaning: They say that Mary is the opposite of social; she is not sociable.
bi-
The prefix bi- means “two.”
James fell off his bicycle.
Meaning: James fell off his two-wheeled cycle.
He is serving on the bipartisan committee.
Meaning: He is serving on the committee consisting of two political parties.
The legislature is bicameral.
Meaning: The legislature has two chambers.
He used the binoculars to see the distant figures.
Meaning: He used the optical device for two eyes to see the distant figures.
We need to complete the biweekly bulletin.
Meaning: We need to complete the bulletin that comes out every two weeks.
circum-
The prefix circum- means “around” or “on all sides.”
The circumference of the circle is two inches.
Meaning: The length of the boundary around the circle is two inches.
Please stop trying to evade the issue with circumlocution.
Meaning: Please stop trying to evade the issue by speaking around what you
mean.
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Everybody please circumscribe the correct answer on your paper.
Meaning: Everybody please draw a circle around the correct answer on your
paper.
They circumnavigated the globe.
Meaning: They sailed around the globe.
con-
The prefix con- means “together” or “with.” When con- precedes a root that starts
with the letters l or r, the n becomes l or r, respectively. When con- precedes a root
that starts with the letters p, m, or b, the n becomes m.
The men conspired to overthrow the government.
Meaning: The men plotted together to overthrow the government.
Michelle and Susan conferred about the proper procedure.
Meaning: Michelle and Susan discussed the proper procedure together.
They corresponded by videotape while he was away.
Meaning: They communicated with each other by videotape while he was away.
The materials were very compact.
Meaning: The materials were very well packed together.
contra-
Contra- means “against,” “opposing,” or “opposite.”
Helen contradicted Ellen’s testimony.
Meaning: Helen’s testimony was opposite Ellen’s.
He described a contrary view of the situation.
Meaning: He described an opposing view of the situation.
The students contravened the rules.
Meaning: The students acted in opposition to the rules.
The two men had contrasting views on the issue.
Meaning: The two men held opposing views on the issue.
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de-
The prefix de- means “from” or “down.”
The soldier was demoted for improper behavior.
Meaning: The soldier’s rank was lowered, or brought down, for improper be-
havior. (Demoted is the opposite of promoted.)
She deducted forty dollars from the total cost of the coat.
Meaning: She subtracted (marked down) forty dollars from the total cost of
the coat.
They debarked the ship peacefully.
Meaning: They came down from the ship peacefully.
The dead plants began to decay.
Meaning: The dead plants began to break down to basic parts.
dis-
Dis- means “apart” or “away.”
The boys dissected the frog.
Meaning: The boys took the frog apart.
She dissented from the majority opinion.
Meaning: She voted apart from the majority opinion.
The employer dismissed the staff member.
Meaning: The employer sent the staff member away.
The materials dissipated.
Meaning: The materials separated or moved away from each other.
He is a dissident.
Meaning: His ideas are apart from those of the majority.
dys-
The prefix dys- means “bad,” “faulty,” “difficulty,” or “illness.”
He was suffering from dysentery.
Meaning: He was suffering from an illness of the large intestine.
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Reading
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. to break down to basic parts.
dis-
Dis- means “apart” or “away.”
The boys dissected the frog.
Meaning: The boys took the frog apart.
She dissented from. possible. Read newspapers,
magazines, books, and whatever else you can. Pay attention to the types of things
that the TOEFL test will ask.
Studying lists