TOEFL Preparation 1

MODUL

TOEFL
Preparation 1

SMA Katolik St. Albertus

JalanTalang No. 1 Malang

TOEFL Preparation 1 STRUCTURE

WORD TYPES

Words belong to different groups or word types. The main word types are:

nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns and connectives

Each type of word has a different role in a sentence. Look at the following sentence:

The young child quickly followed his parents into the room and then he sat down.

The nouns are child, parents, room.
NOUNS are names for things

• Child is the subject of the sentence and tells us who carried out the action.
• Parents are the object and tell us who the child followed.
• Nouns can be functioned as a SUBJECT or an OBJECT of a sentence.

The verbs are followed and sat.
VERBS are doing words

• Followed and sat tell us what the child did.
• They can also be used for actions of the mind – e.g. think, believe, remember.

The adjective is young.
ADJECTIVES describe nouns

• Young tell us something about the child.

The adverbs are quickly and then.
ADVERBS describe the way the verb is carried out

• Quickly tells us how the child followed.
• Then tells us when he sat down. Adverbs can tell us how, when, how much something is done.

The pronouns are his and he.
PRONOUNS are used to avoid repeating a noun

• His and he are an alternative to repeating ‘the child’s’ and ‘the child’.
• Other pronouns include: it, she, her, they, them, we, us, that, this.

The connective is and.
CONNECTIVES are used to join two ideas

• Here and tells us that the boy did another thing.
• Other connectives include: but, or, so, although, therefore.

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TOEFL Preparation 1

PARTS OF SPEECH – NOUNS vs. VERBS

Sometimes, a word can be more than one part of speech. You can identify the part of the speech by
identifying the job the word does in the sentence.

A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea.
The underlined word in the sentence below is a noun.

The cook at the restaurant made fresh meatballs.

A verb is a word that describes an action or a state of beings.
The underlined word in the sentence below is a verb.

My father always cooks delicious meal for dinner.

Practice: Read each sentence below and look carefully at the underlined words and identify whether
they belong to a NOUN [write N] or a VERB [write V].

1. The boat’s sail needed mending.
2. My friends and I play soccer in the vacant lot.
3. Charles drew three large circles on his paper.
4. The football player performed a victory dance after he scored.
5. We will sail away in the morning.
6. Sam watched the cowboy rope a steer at the rodeo.
7. I dance when I am happy.
8. The eagle circles over the valley.
9. Erin and Amy are going to play this afternoon.
10. We made a swing with a tire and a rope.
11. I’ll bring the juice drinks to the party.
12. The puppy drinks a lot of water after she plays.

SENTENCES WITH ONE CLAUSE -----------------------------------------------------------

Some sentences in English have just one subject and verb, and it is very important for you to find the
subject and verb in these sentences. In some sentences it is easy to find the subject and verb. However,
certain structures, such as objects of prepositions, appositives, and participles, can cause confusion in
locating the subject and verb because each of these structures can look like a subject or verb. The object
of preposition can be mistaken for a subject.

Therefore, you should be able to do the following in sentences with one subject and verb:
(1) be sure the sentence has a subject and a verb,
(2) be careful of objects of prepositions and appositives when you are looking for the subject, and
(3) be careful of present participles and past participles when you are looking for the verb.

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TOEFL Preparation 1

Subject – Verb Agreement.

EXERCISES 1: Underline the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
1. John, along with twenty friends, (is/are) planning a party.
2. The picture of soldiers (bring/brings) back many memories.
3. The quality of these recordings (is/are) not very good.
4. If the duties of these officer (isn’t/aren’t) reduce, there will not be enough time to finish the project.
5. The effects of cigarette smoking (have/has) been proven to be extremely harmful.
6. The use of credit cards in place of cash (have/has) increased rapidly in recent years.
7. Advertisements on television (is/are) becoming more competitive than ever before.
8. Living expenses in this country, as well as in many others, (is/are) at an all-time high.
9. Mr. Jones, accompanied by several members of the committee, (have/has) proposed some changes

of the rules.
10. The levels of intoxication (vary/varies) from subject to subject.
11. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
12. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.
13. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
14. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
15. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greets, greet) the press cordially.
16. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
17. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.
18. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.
19. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.
20. Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea's favorite subject.
21. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.
22. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
23. Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.
24. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.
25. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?
26. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this case.
27. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.
28. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?
29. The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.
30. The committee (leads, lead) very different lives in private.

Remember!!
Subject and verb in a sentence must agree on person and number.

Examples: The elevator works very well.

singular singular

The elevators work very well.

plural plural

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TOEFL Preparation 1
Subject separated from the verb
When taking the TOEFL, you must always check the subject and verb to be sure they agree. However,
sometimes it is difficult to decide exactly what the subject is if the subject and verb are separated.

Example: The boys in the room are studying.
plural plural

Subject + (prepositional phrase) + verb
Very often, if the subject and verb are separated, they will be separated by a prepositional phrase. The
prepositional phrase has no effect on the verb.

Examples: The study of languages is very interesting.

singular subject singular verb

Several theories on this subject have been proposed.
plural subject plural verb

The danger of forest fire is not to be taken lightly

singular subject singular verb

The effects of that crime are likely to be devastating.

plural subject plural verb

The following expressions also have no effect on the verb.

together with along with
accompanied by as well as

Examples: The actress, along with her manager and some friends, is going to a party tonight.

singular subject singular verb

Mr. Robbins, accompanied by his wife and children, is arriving tonight.

singular subject singular verb

Note: if the conjunction and is used instead of one of these phrases, the verb would then be plural.
Example: The actress and her manager are going to a party tonight.

plural subject plural verb

Words that always take singular verbs and pronouns
Some words are often confused by students as being plural. The following words must be followed by
singular verbs and pronouns in formal written English.

Anybody Somebody Nobody Everybody Each

Anyone Someone No one Everyone Either *

Anything something nothing everything Neither *

*either and neither are singular if they are not used with or and nor.

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TOEFL Preparation 1
Examples: Everybody who has not purchased a ticket should be in this line.
Something was under the house.
If either of you takes a vacation now, we will not be able to finish the work
Anybody who has lost his ticket should report to the desk. (note the singular pronoun)
No problem is harder to solve than this one
Nobody works harder than John does.

None/no: none can take either a singular or plural verb depending on the noun which follows it
Non + of the + non-count noun + singular verb
Example: None of the counterfeit money has been found

None + of the + plural count noun + plural verb
Example: None of the students have finished the exam yet.

No can take either a singular or plural verb depending on the noun which follows it.
No + singular noun + singular verb

No + non-count noun + singular verb
Example: No example is relevant to this case.

No + plural noun + plural verb
Example: No examples are relevant to this case.

EITHER/NEITHER
When either and neither are followed by or and nor, the verb may be singular or plural depending on
whether the noun following or and nor is singular or plural. If or or nor appears alone, the same rule
applies. Study the following formulas.

Neither + noun + nor + plural noun + plural verb
Either + noun + or + plural noun + plural verb
Examples: Neither John nor his friends are going to the beach today
Plural noun plural verb

Neither John nor his friend is going to the beach today

Singular noun singular verb

Neither + noun + nor + singular noun + singular verb
Either + noun + or + singular noun + singular verb
Example: Neither John nor Bill is going to the beach today.

Singular noun singular verb

Either John or Bill is going to the beach today.

Singular noun singular verb

Neither John nor Jane is going to Class today.

Singular singular

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TOEFL Preparation 1
GERUND AS SUBJECTS
If a sentence begins with [verb + ing] (gerund), the verb must also be singular
Examples: Knowing her has made him what he is.
Dieting is very popular today.
Not studying has caused him many problems.
Washing with a special cream is recommended for scalp infections.
Being cordial is one of his greatest assets.
Writing many letters makes her happy.

COLLECTIVE NOUNS
Also many words indicating a number of people or animals are singular. The following nouns are usually
singular. In some cases they are plural if the sentence indicates that the individual members are acting
separately.

Congress Jury Club
Organization Group Minority
Government Army Class
Family Majority * Crowd
Team Committee Public
*Majority can be singular or plural. If it is alone it is usually singular. If it is followed by plural noun, it is
usually plural.

Example: The Majority believes that we are in no danger
The Majority of the students believe him to be innocent

Examples of collective nouns:
The committee has met, and it has rejected the proposal
The family was elated by the news
The crowd was wild with excitement.
Congress has initiated a new plan to combat inflation.
The organization has lost many members this year.
Our team is going to win the game.

The following nouns are used to indicate groups of certain animals. It is not necessary to learn the
nouns; however, they mean the same as group and thus are considered singular.

Flock of birds, sheep School of fish
Herd of cattle Pride of lions
Pack of dogs

The flock of birds is circling overhead.
The herd of cattle is breaking away.

Collective nouns indicating time, money, and measurement used as a whole are singular.
Twenty-five dollars is too much to pay for that shirt.
Fifty minutes isn’t enough time to finish this test.
Two miles is too much to run in one day.

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TOEFL Preparation 1

A NUMBER OF/THE NUMBER OF

A number of + plural noun + plural verb

The number of + plural noun + singular verb

Examples: A number of students are going to the class picnic (a number of = many)
The number of days in a week is seven.
A number of the applicants have already been interviewed.
The number of residents who have been questioned on this matter is quite small.

NOUNS THAT ARE ALWAYS PLURAL
The following nouns are always considered plural. They cannot be singular. In order to speak of them as
singular, one must say: “a pair of”

Scissors Glasses Jeans
Trousers Pants Tweezers
Shorts Pliers Tongs

Examples:
The pants are in the drawer.
A pair of pants is in the drawer.
The pliers were on the table.
The pair of pliers was on the table.
These scissors are dull.
This pair of scissors is dull.

THERE IS/THERE ARE
There is
There was + Singular subject (or non-count)
There has been

There are
There were + Plural subject
There have been

Examples:
There is a storm approaching

Singular singular

There have been a number of telephone calls today.
Plural plural

There were too many people at the party.

Plural Plural

There has been an increase in the importation of foreign cars.

Plural plural

There was water on the floor where he fell.
Singular non-count

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TOEFL Preparation 1

EXERCISE 2: B. Identify if the sentence is Correct or Incorrect.
A. Underline the correct verb in these sentences. 1. They have been waiting a long time.
1. Sally (run, runs) to the park every day. 2. The pen or the pencil are lost.
2. The dogs (bark, barks,) at strangers. 3. Someone don’t understand.
3. Ted and Mary (is, are) going to the movies. 4. Those has been cheaper in the past.
4. The game (was, were) exciting. 5. Randy and Juan like sports.
5. They (worry, worries) too much.

EXERCISE 3: Underline the correct verb.
1. Neither Bill nor Mary (is/are) going to the play tonight.
2. Anything (is/are) better than going to another movie tonight.
3. Skating (is/are) becoming more popular every day.
4. A number of reporters (was/were) at the conference yesterday.
5. Your glasses (was/were) on the bureau last night.
6. There (was/were) some people at the meeting last night.
7. The committee (has/have) already reached a decision.
8. A pair of jeans (was/were) in the washing machine this morning.
9. Each student (has/have) answered the first three questions.
10. Either John or his wife (make/makes) breakfast each morning.
11. After she had perused the material, the secretary decided that everything (was/were) in order.
12. The crowd at the basketball game (was/were) wild with excitement.
13. The jury (is/are) trying to reach a decision.

SKILL I: BE SURE THE SENTENCE HAS A SUBJECT AND A VERB
You know that a sentence in English should have a subject and a verb. The most common types of
problems that you will encounter in the Structure section off the TOEFL test have to do with subjects and
verbs: perhaps the sentence is missing either the subject or the verb or both, or perhaps the sentence
has an extra subject or verb.
Example I
________ was backed up for miles on the freeway.
(A) Yesterday
(B) In the morning
(C) Traffic
(D) Cars
In this example you should notice immediately that there is a verb (was), but there is no subject. Answer
(C) is the best answer because it is singular subject that agrees with the singular verb was. Answer (A),
yesterday, and answer (B), in the morning, are not subjects, so they are not correct. Although answer
(D), cars, could be a subject, it is not correct because cars is plural and it does not agree with the singular
verb was.

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TOEFL Preparation 1
Example II
Engineers ________ for work on the new space program.
(A) necessary
(B) are needed
(C) hopefully
(D) next month
In this example you should notice immediately that the sentence has a subject (engineers), and that
there is no verb. Because answer (B), are needed, is a verb, it is the best answer. Answer (A), (C), (D) are
not verbs, so they are not correct.
Example III
The boy ________ going to the movies with a friend.
(A) he is
(B) he always was
(C) is relaxing
(D) will be
This sentence has a subject (boy) and has part of a verb (going); to be correct, some form of the verb be
is needed to make the sentence complete. Answers (A) and (B) are incorrect because the sentence
already has a subject (boy) and does not need the extra subject he. Answer (C) is incorrect because
relaxing is an extra verb part that is unnecessary because of going. Answer (D) is the best answer; will be
together with going is a complete verb.
The following chart outlines what you should remember about subjects and verbs:

SUBJECTS AND VERBS
A sentence in English must have at least one subject and one verb.

ANALYZING SUBJECT AND VERB
Example I
______was ringing continuously for hours.
(A) Loudly
(B) In the morning
(C) The phone
(D) The bells

Analysis:
In this example, you should notice immediately that there is a verb, was ringing, but there is no subject.
Answer (C) is the best answer because it is a singular subject that agrees with the singular verb was
ringing. Answer (A), loudly, and answer (B), in the morning, are not subjects, so they are not correct.
Although answer (D), bells, could be a subject, it is not correct because bells is plural and it does not
agree with the singular verb was ringing.

Example II
Newspapers _______ every morning and every evening.
(A) delivery (B) are delivered (C) on time (D) regularly

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TOEFL Preparation 1

Analysis:
In this example, you should notice immediately that the sentence has a subject, newspapers, but that
there is no verb. Because answer (B), are delivered, is a verb, it is the best answer. Answers (A), (C), and
(D) are not verbs, so they are not correct.

Example III
The plane __________ landing at the airport in five minutes.
(A) it is (B) it really is (C) is descending (D) will be

Analysis:
This sentence has a subject, plane, and has part of a verb, landing; to be correct, some form of the verb
be is needed to make the verb complete. Answers (A) and (B) are incorrect because the sentence already
has a subject, plane, and does not need the extra subject it. Answer (C) is incorrect because descending
is an extra part of a verb that is unnecessary because of landing. Answer (D) is the best answer; will be
together with landing is a complete verb.

EXERCISE 1
Analyze the subjects and the verbs in each of the following sentences. Then indicate if the sentences
are correct (C) or incorrect ( I ).

No Sentence Subject Verb C/I Reason

0. The basketball player tossed the ball Basketball player tossed C X
into the hoop. friend

1. The bus schedule has changed since
last week.

2. Accidentally dropped the glass on the
floor.

3. The customer paying the clerk for the
clothes.

4. The professor handed the syllabus to
the students.

6. Each day practiced the piano for
hours.

7. My best friend always helpful with X C No verb
problems.

8. The new student in the class very
talkative and friendly.

9. Walking with the children to school.

10. The whales headed south for the
winter.

Total correct answers

Score = (total correct answers : 4)x10 Corrector: Teacher’s Signature:

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TOEFL Preparation 1

Introduction to Reading Methods READING

Skimming and scanning are both skills that can help you find information from texts more quickly, but
people often get confused between them.
1. SKIMMING

Skimming is a way of getting the gist, or general idea, of a text quickly. Instead of reading every
word, use features such as the title, subheadings or pictures to give you an idea of what a text is
about.
Instead of reading the whole of each paragraph you can just read the first and last sentences, or try
to pick out key words as you go along. This skill can take a while to master, but will be a great help
to you if you can.
Skimming is a reading technique that can help you:
• read more quickly
• decide if the text is interesting and whether you should read it in more detail
You can use the skimming technique when you want to identify the main ideas in the text.
• Read the title, subtitles and subheadings to find out what the text is about.
• Look at the illustrations to give you more information about the topic.
• Read the first and last sentence of each paragraph.
• Don’t read every word or every sentence. Let your eyes skim over the text and look out for key

words.
• Continue to think about the meaning of the text.
2. SCANNING
Scanning is a way of looking for specific information in a text. For example, you may be learning
about King Henry VIII and want to know the date he became king. This will be shown as a number
rather than a word, so instead of reading the whole text you can move your eyes quickly across the
words until you come to a number.
As with skimming, you can make use of titles and subheadings to make sure you are looking in the
correct part of the text, but then think about features of the word you are looking for. If you are
looking for the name of a person, scan the text for words starting with capital letters, as these tend
to stand out, or look for words beginning with the letter that you are looking for.

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TOEFL Preparation 1
Simple exercise for scanning:
Find the following words from the text as quickly as possible. Write down in which line you find the
words

No. Word Line No. Word Line

0. Beating 1 6. gathered

1. Violent 7. Fly-past

2. Flares 8. trailing

3. Riot police 9. smoke

4. Disperse 10. hosted

5. parade

Text
France won the World Cup for the second time last Sunday, beating Croatia 4–2. There were

largely peaceful celebrations around Paris but some turned violent. Fans threw flares and fireworks
at riot police who tried to disperse them.

The French football players arrived home the following day and showed off their World Cup
trophy while taking part in an open-top bus victory parade along the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Hundreds
of thousands of people gathered to welcome back the country’s champions. There was even a fly-past of
nine jets, trailing blue, white and red smoke.

The football players then went to a garden party hosted by the President Emmanuel Macron.

3. How is skimming different to scanning?
The term skimming is often confused with scanning.
Ø You skim a text to obtain the gist - the overall sense - of a piece of writing. This can help
you decide whether to read it more slowly and in more detail.
Ø You scan a text to obtain specific information. For example, to find a particular number in a
telephone directory.
Sometimes you can use both reading methods. After you’ve skimmed a piece of text to decide
whether it’s of interest, you might then use scanning techniques to find specific information.

How do you skim read?
When you use the skimming technique you don’t read the whole text word for word. You should
use as many clues as possible to give you some background information. There might be
pictures or images related to the topic, or an eye-catching title. Let your eyes skim over the
surface of the text and look out for key words while thinking about any clues you’ve found about
the subject.

In this worksheet you can practice skimming and scanning techniques.

Match the terms with their definitions.
Column A Column B
skimming a way of reading quickly to find specific information
scanning a way of reading quickly to get the gist of a text

Would you use skimming or scanning in the following situation?

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TOEFL Preparation 1
1. You have picked up a book on dinosaurs in the library and you want to decide whether to borrow it or

not.
2. You have got a book on football in front of you and you want to know who won the Premiership in

the year 2005.
Practice
A. Skimming a school prospectus
Skim read the Portham Village School prospectus to answer the questions.

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TOEFL Preparation 1

Skimming a school prospectus
1. Is the prospectus aimed at children or parents? __________________________________________
2. Would you use the prospectus to:

a. find directions to the school? ______________________________________________________
b. find out what time the school opens? _______________________________________________
c. find out about school uniform? ____________________________________________________
3. As well as illness, which issues does the ‘Absence’ section deal with? _________________________
4. Does the prospectus give details of the curriculum? _______________________________________
5. You can find out about school clubs from this prospectus. True or false? ______________________
6. The prospectus tells parents about the issues of bullying. True or false? _______________________
7. Does the prospectus give parents information about school examinations? ____________________
8. Does the prospectus tell parents how to purchase second-hand uniform? _____________________
9. Does the prospectus tell you about school lunches? _______________________________________
10. The prospectus gives you the telephone number to call if your child is ill. True or false? __________

B. SCANNING
Scan the prospectus to find the answers to the questions.
1. If your child is ill, who should you telephone? ____________________________________________
2. Which school year does this prospectus relate to? ________________________________________
3. Who has stated that children shouldn’t take holidays during term time? ______________________
4. Children can attend the dentist during school hours. True or false? __________________________
5. Can girls wear stud earrings? _________________________________________________________
6. What colour is the school tie? ________________________________________________________
7. Children have to be in which school years to attend archery? _______________________________
8. Can children wear trainers in school? __________________________________________________
9. On which page will you find information about exams? ____________________________________
10. How often is the budget uniform shop open? ____________________________________________

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TOEFL Preparation 1

READING SKILL 1: PROBLEM WITH MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS

Almost every reading passage on the TOEFL test will have a question about the main idea of a passage.
Such a question may be worded in a variety of ways; you may, for example, be asked to identify the
topic, subject, title, primary idea, or main idea. These questions are all really asking what primary point
the author is trying to get across in the passage. Since TOEFL passages are generally written in a
traditionally organized manner; it is not difficult to find the main idea by studying the topic sentence,
which is most probably found at the beginning of a paragraph. If a passage consists of only one
paragraph, you should study the beginning of that paragraph to determine the main idea.
Example I
The passage:
Basketball was invented in 1891 by a physical education instructor in Springfield, Massachusetts, by the
name of James Naismith. Because of the terrible weather in winter, his physical education students were
indoors rather than outdoors. They really did not like the idea of boring, repetitive exercises and
preferred the excitement and challenge of a game. Naismith figured out a team sport that could be
played indoors on a gymnasium floor, that involved a lot of running, that kept all team members
involved, and that did not allow the tackling and physical contact of American-style football.
The question:
What is the main idea of this passage?
(A) The life of James Naismith
(B) The history of sports
(C) Physical education and exercise
(D) The origin of basketball
Analysis:
The first sentence of this passage discusses the invention of basketball, so this is probably the topic. A
quick check of the rest of the sentences in the passage con firms that the topic is in fact the beginnings of
the sport of basketball. Now you should check each of the answers to determine which one comes
closest to the topic that you have determined. Answer (A) mentions James Naismith but not basketball,
so it is not the topic. Answer (B) is too general; it mentions sports but does not mention basketball.
Answer (C) is also too general; it mentions physical education but does not mention basketball. The best
answer is therefore answer (D); the origin of basketball means that the invention of basketball is going to
be discussed.
The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about main idea questions.
TOEFL EXERCISE 1: Study each of the passages, and choose the best answers to the questions that follow.
In this exercise, each paragraph is followed by two main idea, topic, or title questions so that you can
practice this type of question. On the TOE FL test, one passage would probably not have two such
questions because they are so similar.

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TOEFL Preparation 1
PASSAGE ONE (Questions 1 - 2)
Most of the ice on the Earth, close to 90 percent of it, is covering the surface of the continent Antarctica.
It does not snow very much in Antarctica, but whatever snow does fall remains and grows deeper and
deeper. In some areas of Antarctica, the ice has perhaps been around for as much as a million years and
now is more than two miles deep.
1. The main idea of the passage is that

(A) the Earth is a cold planet
(B) most of the Earth’s ice is found in Antarctica
(C) it snows more in Antarctica than in any other place on Earth
(D) Antarctica is only two miles wide but is 90 percent ice
2. The best title for the passage is
(A) Snowfall in Antarctica
(B) The Icy Earth
(C) The Cold, Cold Snow
(D) The Causes of Antarctica’s Ice
PASSAGE TWO (Questions 3 - 4)
The extremely hot and humid weather that occurs in the United States in July and August is commonly
called the “dog days” of summer.This name comes from the star Sirius, which is known as the Dog Star.
Sirius is the brightest visible star, and in the hot summer months it rises in the east at approximately the
same time as the Sun. As ancient people saw this star rising with the Sun when the weather was at its
hottest, they believed that Sirius was the cause of the additional heat; they believed that this bright star
added its heat to the heat of the Sun, and these two together made summer weather so unbearably hot.
3. The topic of this passage is
(A) how dogs like to play during the summer
(B) the causes of hot and humid weather
(C) why the hot summer days are known as the “dog days”
(D) the days that dogs prefer
4. The main idea of this passage is that
(A) the name for the summer days came from Sirius, the Dog Star
(B) dogs generally prefer hot summer days
(C) the hottest days occur in the summer because of the movements of the Sun and stars
(D) Sirius rises at almost the same time as the Sun during the summer months
PASSAGE THREE (Questions 5 - 6)
The term “primitive art” has been used in a variety of ways to describe works and styles of art. One way
that this term has been used is to describe the early period within the development of a certain style of
art. Another way that this term has been used is to describe artists who have received little professional
training and who demonstrate a nontraditional naivete in their work.
A wonderful example of this second type of primitive artist is Grandma Moses, who spent all her life
living on a farm and working at tasks normally associated with farm life. She did not begin painting until
she reached the age of seventy-six, when she switched to painting from embroidery because the arthritis
in her hands made embroidery too difficult. Totally without formal education in art, she began creating
panoramic images of everyday life on the farm that have achieved international fame.

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5. The subject of this passage is

(A) an example of one of the types of primitive art
(B) Grandma Moses’s life on the farm
(C) how primitive art differs from formal art
(D) Grandma Moses’s primitive lifestyle
6. Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?
(A) Grandma Moses spent her life on a farm.
(B) Art critics cannot come to any agreement on a definition of primitive art.
(C) Grandma Moses is one type of primitive artist because of her lack of formal training.
(D) Many artists receive little professional training.
PASSAGE FOUR (Questions 7 - 8)
In the first half of the nineteenth century, a New York newspaper, the New York Sun, successfully carried
out a hoax on the American public. Because of this trick, readership of the paper rose substantially. On
August 25, 1835, the Sun published reports that some wonderful new discoveries had been made on the
moon. The article described strange, never-before-seen animals and temples covered in shining jewels.
Many members of the American public were fooled by the story, even some prominent members of the
scientific community. The effect of the false story on sales of the paper was dramatic. Paper sales
increased considerably as people eagerly searched out details of the new discoveries.
Later, the newspaper company announced that it had not been trying to trick the public; instead, the
company explained the moon stories as a type of literary satire.
7. Which of the following best states the topic of the passage?
(A) A nineteenth-century discovery on the moon
(B) The New York Sun
(C) A hoax and its effect
(D) The success of a newspaper
8. The main point of the passage is that
(A) the New York Sun was one of the earliest American newspapers
(B) the Sun increased sales when it tricked the public with a false story
(C) a newspaper achieved success by writing about the moon
(D) in 1835 some amazing new discoveries were made about the moon

READING SKILL 2: PROBLEMS WITH STATED DETAIL QUESTIONS

A stated detail question asks about one piece of information in the passage rather than the passage as a
whole. The answers to these questions are generally given in order in the passage, and the correct
answer is often a restatement of what is given in the passage. This means that the correct answer often
expresses the same idea as what is written in the passage, but the words are not exactly the same.
Example
The passage:
Flutes have been around for quite some time, in all sorts of shapes and sizes and made from a variety of
materials. The oldest known flutes are about 20,000 years old; they were made from hollowed-out
bones with holes cut in them In addition to bone, older flutes were often constructed from bamboo or
hollowed-out wood. Today’s flutes are generally made of metal, and in addition to the holes they have a

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complicated system of keys, levers, and pads. The instrument belonging to well known flautist James
Galway is not just made of any metal; it is made of gold
The questions:
1. According to the passage, the oldest flutes

(A) had holes cut in them
(B) were made of metal
(C) were made 200,000 years ago
(D) had a complicated set of levers and pads
2. The passage indicates that James Gaiway’s flute is made of
(A) bones
(B) bamboo
(C) wood
(D) gold
Analysis:
The answers to the questions are generally found in order in the passage, so you should look for the
answer to the first question near the beginning of the passage. Since the first question asks about the
oldest flutes, you should see that this question is answered in the second sentence. The passage states
that the oldest flutes were bones with holes cut in them, so the best answer is answer (A). Answers (B)
and (D) are true about today’s flutes, but not the oldest flutes, so they are incorrect. Answer (C) is an
incorrect number; the oldest flutes are 20,000 years old, not 200,000 years old.
The answer to the second question will probably be located in the passage after the answer to the first
question. Since the second question is about James Galway’s flute, you should skim through the passage
to find the part of the passage that discusses this topic. The answer to this question is found in the
statement that the instrument belonging to well-known flautist James Galway is not just made of any
metal; it is made of gold. The best answer to this question is therefore answer (D).
TOEFL EXERCISE 2: Study each of the passages, and choose the best answers to the questions that follow.
PASSAGE ONE (Questions 1 - 2)
Many parts of the Southwestern United States would become deserts again without the waters of the
Colorado River. A system of thousands of miles of canals, hundreds of miles of tunnels and aqueducts,
and numerous dams and n bring Colorado River water to the area. The Imperial Valley in Southern
California is an example of such a place; it is a vast and productive agricultural area that was once a
desert. Today, 2,000 miles of canals irrigate the fertile land and keep it productive.
1. Which of the following is mentioned in the passage as a way that Colorado River water gets to the
Southwest?
(A) By truck
(B) In bottles
(C) In wells
(D) Through canals

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2. According to the passage, the Imperial Valley

(A) is a desert today
(B) is located in Colorado
(C) produces a lot of agricultural goods
(D) does not require irrigation
PASSAGE TWO (Questions 3 - 5)
The ancestors of humans had a lot more hair than the humans of today; in fact, they had thick hair all
over their bodies. This thick hair was necessary for protection against the cold of the Ice Ages. As the
Earth got warmer, the hair began to thin out, except for on the head. The head hair has remained
through the evolutionary process, both as a sort of pillow to cushion the sensitive head when it gets
banged around and as a sort of hat to keep the head warm and prevent so much heat from escaping
through the scalp.
3. Which of the following is true about the hair of the ancestors of humans?
(A) There was not much of it.
(B) It covered their entire bodies.
(C) It was thin,
(D) It was not useful.
4. According to the passage, what happened as the temperature on the Earth increased?
(A) The hair on the head began to thin out.
(B) The hair on the body remained the same.
(C) The hair on the body got thicker.
(D) The hair on the body began to thin out.
5. The author indicates that one of the purposes of hair on the head is to
(A) fill up pillows
(B) help heat escape through the scalp
(C) ensure that the head is warm
(D) make it easier to think
PASSAGE THREE (Questions 6-10)
The plane with the largest wingspan ever built was nicknamed the Spruce Goose. The wingspan of the
Spruce Goose was 320 feet (almost 100 meters), and the plane weighed 200 tons. It was so big that it
needed eight engines to power it.
The plane was designed by Howard Hughes in response to a U.S. government request for a plane that
was able to carry a large cargo for the war effort. It was made of wood because wood is a less critical
material in wartime than metal.
The plane was so difficult to build that it never really got used. It was flown one time only, by 1-lughes
himself, on November 2, 1947; during that flight it traveled a distance of less than one mile over the Los
Angeles Harbor, but it did fly. Today, the Spruce Goose is on exhibit for the public to see in Long Beach,
California.

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6. Which of the following is true about the Spruce Goose?

(A) Each of its wings measures 100 meters.
(B) It weighs 200 pounds.
(C) It has eight wings to help it to fly.
(D) It has a wingspan larger than the wingspan of any other plane.
7. The passage indicates that the plane was designed
(A) as a cargo plane
(B) as a racing plane
(C) to carry wood
(D) for exhibition
8. According to the passage, the Spruce Goose is constructed from
(A) wood
(B) lightweight metal
(C) plastic
(D) steel
9. According to the passage, when the Spruce Goose flew,
(A) it went only a short distance
(B) it fell into the Los Angeles Harbor
(C) it flew 100 miles
(D) it carried a large cargo
10. The passage indicates that the Spruce Goose today
(A) flies regularly for the U.S. government
(B) is in the Los Angeles Harbor
(C) is in storage
(D) can be seen by the public
TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1 - 2): Study each of the passages, and choose the best answers to the
questions that follow.
PASSAGE ONE (Questions 1-3)
The center part of a hurricane is called the eye of the storm. In the eye of a hurricane, winds are calm
and no rain falls. There can even be blue sky and sunshine in the eye of the storm. This dry and calm spot
is caused as the air spins around the center of the hurricane. The spinning air rises and pulls moisture
with it. What remains in the center is dry,
clear air.
1. The topic of the passage is
(A) the destruction of hurricanes
(B) the harsh weather during a hurricane
(C) the calm in the center of a hurricane
(D) the beautiful weather that follows a hurricane

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2. The passage indicates that in the eye of a hurricane

(A) it is windy
(B) there is a lot of rain
(C) there is cloudy, gray sky
(D) it can be sunny
3. According to the passage, what causes the calm spot?
(A) The air circling around the center
(B) The blue sky and sunshine
(C) The high temperatures
(D) The heavy rainfall
PASSAGE TWO (Questions 4-8)
The invention of the phonograph happened quite by accident. Thomas Edison moved to Menlo Park,
New Jersey, in 1876, where he established an industrial research laboratory There, Edison was working
on a carbon telephone transmitter to improve the existing Bell telephone system.
In that laboratory a year later, Edison invented the phonograph while he was trying to improve a
telegraph repeater. He attached a telephone diaphragm to the needle in the telegraph repeater; in this
way, he was able to reproduce a recording that could be played back. After he made some
improvements to the machine, he tested it. He recited “Mary Had a Little Lamb” into the machine and
played his voice back to a very surprised audience.
4. What is the best title for the passage?
(A) Thomas Edison’s Many Inventions
(B) Improvements in the Telephone and Telegraph
(C) The History of Menlo Park
(D) An Accidental Invention
5. According to the passage, the invention of the phonograph
(A) was quite unplanned
(B) was Edison’s principal project
(C) was surprising to no one
(D) took many years
6. In what year did the invention of the phonograph occur?
(A) 1876
(B) 1877
(C) 1878
(D) The article does not say.
7. According to the passage, how was the phonograph made?
(A) With a telephone needle and a recorder
(B) From a recording of a telegraph
(C) With only a telegraph repeater
(D) From a combination of telephone and telegraph parts

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8. According to the passage, how did Edison test his new invention?

(A) He made improvements to the machine.
(B) He used a carbon transmitter.
(C) He read a children’s rhyme.
(D) He reproduced the audience’s voice.

PASSAGE THREE (Questions 9 - 14)
The Sears and Roebuck catalogue was a fixture in American society for many decades. Practically
anything needed in the American home could be ordered through this comprehensive catalogue and
delivered by mail. The catalogue made it easier for homeowners in urban areas to track down items they
were trying to find; the catalogue was an absolute necessity for residents in out-of-the-way areas where
many types of home supplies were not available for hundreds of miles.
In the early twentieth century, it was not possible to buy just home supplies from the Sears and Roebuck
catalogue. It was actually possible to buy a mail-order house. If you ordered a house through the mail,
you would receive all the necessary building materials as well as plans for constructing the house; all of
this could be had for prices starting around $600.

9. This passage mainly discusses
(A) products sold in the Sears and Roebuck stores
(B) the design of the Sears and Roebuck catalogue
(C) how to shop using catalogues
(D) shopping through the Sears and Roebuck catalogue in the past

10. The passage indicates that items ordered through the Sears and Roebuck catalogue
(A) had to be picked up at a Sears and Roebuck store
(B) were delivered by mail
(C) arrived in Sears and Roebuck trucks
(D) had to be small

11. According to the passage, why was the Sears and Roebuck catalogue important to people in remote
areas?
(A) It contained the only products they could afford.
(B) They did not like the products in local stores.
(C) It had a lot of products they could not get in their local areas.
(D) It was the only way to get a new home.

12. The passage mentions that which of the following large items could be purchased through the Sears
and Roebuck catalogue?
(A) A home
(B) A car
(C) A boat
(D) A train

13. The mail-order house in the Sears and Roebuck catalogue
(A) was for urban areas only
(B) was set up by Sears and Roebuck workers
(C) needed to be put together
(D) arrived in one piece

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14. The price of $600 mentioned in the passage was

(A) the lowest price for the item
(B) the average price for the item
(C) the only price for the item
(D) the highest price for the item
SKILL 3: PROBLEMS ABOUT UNSTATED DETAIL QUESTIONS
You will sometimes be asked in the Reading Comprehension section of the TOEFL test to find an answer
that is not stated or not mentioned or not true in the passage. This type of question really means that
three of the answers are stated, mentioned, or true in the passage, while one answer is not. Your actual
job is to find the three correct answers and then choose the letter of the one remaining answer.
You should note that there are two kinds of answers to this type of question: (1) there are three true
answers and one answer that is not discussed in the passage, or (2) there are three true answers and one
that is false according to the passage.
Example
The passage:
The Florida Keys are a beautiful chain of almost 1,000 coral and limestone islands These islands form an
arc that heads first southwest and then west from the mainland. U.S. Highway 1, called the Overseas
Highway connects the main islands in the chain. On this highway, it is necessary to cross 42 bridges over
the ocean to cover the 159 miles from Miami on the mainland, to Key West the farthest island on the
highway and the southernmost city in the United States.
The questions:
1. Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the Florida Keys?
(A) The Florida Keys are a chain of islands.
(B) The Florida Keys contain coral and limestone
(C) The Florida Keys are in the shape of an arc.
(D) The Florida Keys are not all inhabited.
2. Which of the following is NOT true about U.S. Highway 1?
(A) It is also known as the Overseas Highway
(B) It joins all of the islands in the Florida Keys.
(C) It has more than 40 bridges
(D) It connects Miami and Key West
Analysis:
The first question asks for the one answer that is not mentioned about the Florida Keys. The passage
states that the Florida Keys are a chain (answer A) with coral and limestone (answer B) in the shape of an
arc (answer C), so these answers are not correct. The best answer is therefore answer (D). The passage
does not discuss whether or not the keys are all inhabited.
The second question asks for the answer that is not true about U.S. Highway 1. The passage states that it
is called the Overseas Highway (answer A), that it has 42 bridges (answer C), and that it cover(s) the 159
miles from Miami. . . to Key West (answer D), so these answers are not correct. The best answer is

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answer (B). The passage states that the Overseas Highway connects the main islands in the chain, so it
does not connect all of the islands.
TOEFL EXERCISE 3: Study each of the passages, and choose the best answers to the questions that follow.
PASSAGE ONE (Questions 1-2)
Blood pressure measurement has two components: systolic and diastolic. Systolic pressure is taken when
the heart is contracting to pump blood; diastolic pressure is taken when the heart is resting between
beats. In the usual blood pressure reading, the systolic measurement is given first and is the higher of
the two. Normal blood pressure is a systolic measurement of 120—140, and when the systolic pressure
is 160 or higher, then hypertension exists. Systolic pressure between 140 and 160 indicates borderline
hypertension.
1. Which of the following is NOT true about systolic blood pressure?

(A) It is taken during the contraction of the heart.
(B) It is usually given first in a blood pressure reading.
(C) A normal systolic measurement is 120 – 140.
(D) Hypertension exists when the systolic pressure is below 140.
2. Which of the following is NOT stated about diastolic pressure?
(A) It is one of the two components of blood pressure measurement.
(B) It is taken when the heart is resting.
(C) It is lower than systolic pressure.
(D) A diastolic measurement of 140 is normal.
PASSAGE TWO (Questions 3 - 4)
In the 1960s, as space travel was becoming a subject of much discussion, Pan American Airlines began
receiving some fairly unusual requests for flight information. People began making requests to be on the
first flight that Pan Am made to the Moon.
On a whim, Pan Am started a waiting list for the first flight to the Moon. Similar requests have come to
Pan Am over the years, and Pan Am has responded by adding the names of the requesters to the list.
Unfortunately for Pan Am, the original company is no longer in business, and it never got to the Moon.
However, when it went out of business, it had a waiting list of more than 90,000 names for its first lunar
flight.
3. All of the following are mentioned about Pan American Airlines, EXCEPT that

(A) it started business in the 1960s
(B) it received requests for its first flight to the Moon
(C) it kept some people on a long waiting list
(D) it went out of business
4. Which of the following is NOT true about Pan Am’s Moon flights?
(A) People asked Pan Am about its flights to the Moon.
(B) Pan Am kept a waiting list for its Moon flights.
(C) Pan Am never really made any Moon flights.
(D) Pan Am’s waiting list had only a few names on it.

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PASSAGE THREE (Questions 5-8)

The tunnel trees in Yosemite Valley are an amazing attraction to people who visit there. The
tunnel trees are huge trees, giant redwoods, which have had tunnels carved in them, and cars can
actually drive through some of the trees. The fact that the trees are large enough to have cars drive
through them should give you some indication of just how big the trees are.

There are currently two existing tunnel trees in Yosemite Valley. One of them is called the “Dead
Giant.” This is just the stump, or bottom part, of a much larger tree. The hole was cut through the base
of the tree in 1878, and stagecoaches used to drive through it. Today the Dead Giant still exists, but the
stagecoaches do not. Passenger cars can and do drive through the 10-foot-wide opening in the tree
stump.

The other existing tunnel tree is the 230-foot high California Tree, which had a hole carved
through it in 1895. This tree is no longer open to the public, so it is not possible to take a car through it.
Unfortunately, a third tunnel tree no longer exists. The Wawona Tunnel Tree was a 2,100-year-old tree
which was carved in 1881. A terrible snowstorm in 1969 caused this ancient giant of a tree to fall.
5. Which of the following is NOT true about the tunnel trees in Yosemite Valley?

(A) They are trees with holes cut in them.
(B) They are giant redwoods.
(C) Three tunnel trees currently exist.
(D) Cars have driven through some of them.
6. All of the following are stated about the Dead Giant, EXCEPT that
(A) it is still a tunnel tree today
(B) it is just the stump of a tree
(C) it was cut less than a century ago
(D) it has a 10-foot opening
7. Which of the following is NOT true about the California Tree?
(A) Its tunnel still exists.
(B) Its tunnel is 230 feet high.
(C) Its tunnel was cut in 1895.
(D) Cars are not allowed to go through it.
8. All of the following are true about the Wawona Tunnel Tree, EXCEPT that
(A) it does not exist anymore
(B) the tree lived for more than 2,000 years
(C) the tunnel tree was destroyed in a snowstorm
(D) the tunnel was destroyed in 1881

STRUCTURE

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Extra Exercise.
Direction: Identify the appositives in the following sentences. They can be appositives to
subjects, direct objects, or predicate nominatives.
1. The neighbor boys, the twins, were excellent baseball players.
2. The girl in the red dress is Sarah, our best actress.
3. Have you read Brothers, a book by Dean Hughes?
4. There goes Grant Long, the electrical contractor.
5. My friend, Matt Matson, collects lost hubcaps.
6. My brother, Bill has a cabin in the mountains.
7. Friday, my birthday, will be the thirteenth.
8. Hopping on the fence was a rare bird, the cedar waxwing.
9. This is Fred, an old roommate of mine.
10. Have you seen my car, an old Rambler.

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FORM OF VERBS

Skill 4: BE CAREFUL OF PRESENT PARTICIPLES

The following chart outlines what you should remember about present participles:
PRESENT PARTICIPLES

A present participle is the –ing form of the verb. The present participle can be (1) part of the verb
or (2) an adjective. It is part of the verb when it is accompanied by some form of the verb be, It is
an adjective when it is not accompanied by some form of the verb be.

1. The boy is standing in the corner.
2. The boy standing in the corner was naughty.
Read the following examples:
The man is talking to his friend. (Talking is part of the verb because it is accompanied by is.)

The man talking to his friend has a beard. (Talking is an adjective because it is not accompanied by be.)

The child ______ playing in the yard is my son.
A. now B. is C. he D. was

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In this example, it appears that child is the subject and playing is part of the verb. Then, you might choose answer
(B), is, or answer (D), was, to complete the verb. However, these two answers are incorrect because playing is not
part of the verb. You should recognize that playing is a participial adjective rather than a verb because there is
another verb in the sentence (is). In this sentence there is a complete subject (child) and a complete verb (is), so
this sentence does not need another subject or verb. The best answer here is (A).

EXERCISE 4: Each of the following sentences contains one or more present participles. Underline the
subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the present participles and label them as adjectives or verbs.
Then, indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

____ 1. The companies offering the lowest prices will have the most customers.
ADJ

____ 2. Those travelers are completing their trip on Delta should report to Gate Three.
VERB

____ 3. The artisans were demonstrating various handicrafts at booths throughout the fair.

____ 4. The fraternities are giving the wildest parties attract the most new pledges.

____ 5. The first team winning four games is awarded the championship.

Skill 5: BE CAREFUL OF PAST PARTICIPLES

The following chart outlines what you should remember about past participles:
PAST PARTICIPLES

A past participle often ends in –ed, but there are also many irregular past participles. For many
verbs, including –ed verbs, the simple past and the past participle are the same and can be easily
confused. The –ed form of the verb can be (1) the simple past, (2) the past participle of a verb, or
(3) an adjective.

1. She painted this picture.
2. She has painted this picture.
3. The picture painted by Karen is now in a museum.

Read the following examples.
The family has purchased a television. (Purchase is part of the verb because it is accompanied by has.)
The poem was written by Paul. (Written is part of the verb because it is accompanied by was.)
The television purchased yesterday was expensive. (Purchased is an adjective . Was is the verb.)
The poem written by Paul appeared in the magazine. (Written is an adjective. Appeared is the verb.)

The package ____ mailed at the post office will arrive Monday.
A. have B. were C. them D. just

In this example, it appears that packages is the subject and mailed is either a complete verb or a past participle that
needs a helping verb. But if you look further in the sentence, you will see that the verb is will arrive. You will then
recognize that mailed is a participial adjective and is therefore not part of the verb. Answers (A) and (B) are
incorrect because mailed is an adjective and does not need a helping verb such as have or were. Answer (C) is
incorrect because there is no need for the object them. Answer (D) is the best answer to this question.

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EXERCISE 5: Each of the following sentences contains one or more past participles. Underline the
subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the past participles and label them as adjectives or verbs. Then,
indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

____ 1. The money was offered by the client was not accepted .
VERB VERB
____ 2. The car listed in the advertisement had already stalled.
ADJ VERB
____ 3. The chapters were taught by the professor this morning will be on next week’s exam.

____ 4. The loaves of bread were baked in a brick oven at a low temperature for many hours.

____ 5. The ports were reached by the sailors were under the control of a foreign nation.

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LISTENING

INTRODUCTION TO LISTENING

Types of listening

There are many ways to listen. We listen differently for different reasons.

A. MAIN IDEA
Listen to the conversation. What is the most important idea? Check (ü) the correct answer.

Sometimes you don’t need to understand everything you hear. You just want the main idea,
or general meaning.

B. DETAILS
Listen again. What are they going to eat? Check (ü) the correct answer.

Sometimes you only need to understand the details, or specific information. Ask yourself,
“What am I listening for?”

C. INFERENCE
Listen again. Will they go together? Check (ü) yes or no.

Sometimes people don’t say the exact words. You can still understand the meaning. This is
called listening “between the lines,” or listening and making inferences.
Try it again. Two friends are talking on the telephone. Each time you listen, think about the
information you need.

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D. MAIN IDEA. Listen. What is the most important idea? Check (ü) the correct answer.

E. DETAILS. Listen again. What pages should she read? Write the page numbers.

F. INFERENCE. Listen again. Did both students go to school today? Check the correct answer.

You heard the same conversation three times. Each time, you listened for different reasons. Always think
about why you are listening.

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LISTENING TASK 1
A. Listen. People are

ordering food in a
restaurant. Check (ü)
their orders.

B. Listen again. Circle the correct information.
1. The woman doesn’t like vegetables / chicken.
2. Active Lemon Light has no flavor / too much sugar.
3. The man thinks cheese has too much fat / doesn’t taste good.
4. She doesn’t like onions / tomatoes.

LISTENING TASK 2
A. Listen. Which foods are the people talking

about? Number the pictures from 1 to 6.
(There is one extra food item.)
B. Listen again. How did you know? Write the
words that gave you the hints.

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LISTENING TASK 3
A. Listen. People are talking about Thailand. What are the topics?
1. a. Vacation 2. a. Houses 3. a. Families 4. a. parties
b. Greetings b. People b. Music b. food

B. Listen again. Are the statements true or false? Check (ü) the correct answers. True False
No. Statement
1. Thai out their hands higher when they greet younger people
2. About 11 percent of the people living in Thailand are Chinese.
3. Today, about 13 percent of Thais live in bigger families.
4. Thai dishes usually have a little meat or fish.

LISTENING TASK 4
A. Listen. A

woman is
talking about
two popular
dishes in
Thailand. What
is in each dish?
Check (ü) the
things. (There
are two extra
items for each
dish.)

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B. Listen again. Circle the correct information.

1. A. Thai people eat curry with bread / rice.
B. The most popular Thai dish is / is not spicy.

2. A. The woman prefers pad Thai in the U.S. / Thailand.
B. Thai dishes are / are not always spicy.

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