English for the TOEFL Structure and Written Expression

English for the TOEFL: “Structure and Written Expression” and “Reading” Sections Разработчик: Горкальцева Е. Н. Ст. преподаватель каф. ИЯЭИ ЭНИН

Contents 1. Typical Grammar Mistakes in the TOEFL 2. Other common grammar topic 3. Problem areas according to the pilot testing (September 2012) 4. Questions for Reading Section 5. Vocabulary for the TOEFL

Typical Grammar Mistakes in the TOEFL Agreement: Subject + predicate, Pronouns, prepositions with verbs, prepositions for cases, verbs + adverbs, Noun + article. E. g. • There is approximately 120 schools … • It is pollution that cause problems in ecosystems … • Computers can process amount information … • A large number doctors … • Jefferson is famous for him contribution to … • Banks are strict regulated … • A patterns of migration ….

Typical Grammar Mistakes in the TOEFL Redundancy Point of view (tenses) Parallel structures E. g. • Blood plasma it is the transportation system … • There approximately 120 schools in 1970. . . • Ants serve the gardens by eliminating pests and can aerate soil

Typical Grammar Mistakes in the TOEFL e. g. Complex That witches cause disasters _______ sentences among the colonists. a) It was widely believed b) Was widely believed c) Was believed in a wide way d) They widely believed The octopus is a unique animal because has three functioning hearts. We met them at the performance, which

Typical Grammar Mistakes in the TOEFL Use of despite, in spite of (the fact that …) connectives although, however, and nevertheless, yet, still, conjunctions because of, due to (the fact that …), as … or, either, neither, both that, what, how, where, when, whether/if ; except, but (for), including.

Typical Grammar Mistakes in the TOEFL Misleading meanings of words • “Too” : 1) тоже; 2) слишком • Перевод «тоже» “Also”, “As well as … “, “too” • most + adjective … (для степени сравнения) – most of + noun… (в значении «большинство» ), • almost - most, • near – nearly, • about , around (в значении «около» )

Other Common Grammar Topics • Modals (including “to be to …, ” have to … ”, “ought to …”, ”be allowed to”, “managed to”) • Infinitive constructions: E. g. Migrating birds are believed (expected, considered, reported) to …. Ornithologists watch birds migrate … • Use of the Bare Infinitive ( after “make, get, see”, etc. ) • The Passive Voice

Other Common Grammar Topics • Use of the gerund E. g. the advantage of …, problems in … be interested in … , etc. • Subjunctive mood (+ I wish)

Other Common Grammar Topics • Comparative structures as good as …, as much as …, as many as …, not so good as …, so good that …, more … than, much more …, less …, much less … , the …(the comparative degree) the… (the comparative degree) • Use of “so” and “such” • Order of adjectives (1. size, 2. age, 3. color, 4. origin, 5. material ) • The Plural of nouns (Pluralia tantum, Singularia tantum, the plural of borrowings) • Missed suffixes: e. g. five kilometer away

Problem areas according to the pilot testing (September 2012) • Информация ЦОКО Наиболее низкий коэффициент решаемости по английскому языку показали задания, содержащие следующий языковой материал: Раздел «Использование языка» (задания 1 -30 на дополнение предложений правильными грамматическими структурами): Употребление временных форм глагола: Present Simple, Past Perfect. Структура и порядок слов в словосочетании и предложении. Структура и порядок слов в предложении. Инверсия (конструкции с not until, only after, not only). Структура и порядок слов в именных конструкциях (what-, whether- clauses) Связующие элементы в предложениях (союзы: where, despite, in spite of, although, however, nevertheless, yet, still, or, either, neither, both, that, how, what, whether/if ). Конструкции с формальным подлежащим (there). Употребление артиклей: неопределённый артикль, нулевой артикль.

Problem areas according to the pilot testing (September 2012) Раздел «Использование языка» (задания 31 -40 на нахождение ошибки в одном из выделенных фрагментов предложения): Согласование между подлежащим и сказуемым. Эмфатические конструкции с формальным подлежащим (it). Употребление предлогов. Образование и употребление существительных, прилагательных, наречий (словообразование). Образование и употребление степеней сравнения прилагательных

Typical TOEFL questions for Reading Section About the topic: About the main idea: What does the passage mainly discuss? What’s the author’s main purpose? Which of the following would be the best title to the passage? • What is the author’s main point?

Typical TOEFL questions for Reading Section About the quotes from the text: About the interpretation of facts and ideas • What does the writer mean by + “quotation”? • It can be concluded (inferred, implied) from the passage that … • There is an implication that … •

Typical TOEFL questions for Reading Section For exclusion of facts About facts • The author mentions all • EXCEPT … • • Which of the following • was NOT mentioned ? • Numbers Time (when … ? ) Ways (how …? ) Reasons (why …? ) • Which of the statements is true …?

Typical TOEFL questions for Reading Section About the vocabulary • The word “ ” (it/ they/that) refers (means/ is closest in meaning/is similar in meaning) to …. • Find the opposite in meaning to “_____”.

Vocabulary for the TOEFL Measurement • Length (long) • Thickness (thick) • Width (wide) • Depth (deep) • Height (high) • Area • Distance • Number • Speed • Amount • Volume • Age

Vocabulary for the TOEFL Physical terms Matter Velocity Space Voltage Pressure Body Current Heat Shape Vapor Biological terms Soil Seed Tissue Mammal Insect Pest Crops

Vocabulary for the TOEFL Materials Oil Brass Mercury Steel Aluminum Copper Iron Lime Silver Gold Brick Stone Carbon Wood Glass Plastic Cotton Rayon Silk Leather

Vocabulary for the TOEFL Typical adjectives Probable Evident (in)complete Exact Definite Distinct Accurate Favorable Extreme Resistant Abundant Ancient Efficient Sensitive Beneficial Wealthy Fortunate Controversial Sufficient

Vocabulary for the TOEFL Typical Nouns Phenomenon (phenomena) Significance Relations Establishment Source Benefit Efficiency Objective Essence Movement Condition Advertisement Maintenance Research

Techniques for the TOEFL • Eliminate impossible variants! At least two are impossible! • Analyze the agreement of subject and predicate. • Mind the point of view. • Analyze sentence structure (simple, complex), see if there are some participles or parentheses in the beginning.

Techniques for the TOEFL • Check the use of prepositions. • If there are 2 variants are not very much different, one is the answer. • Apply logical thinking and life experience!!!! • Learn to meet the time limit!!! (25 min. for 40 questions) For Reading Section: • Read the questions first!!!