THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO TOEFL TEST
Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgements xiii
GETTING STARTED XV
Questions and Answers about TOEFL xvi
Twelve Keys to High Scores on TOEFL xx
SECTION 1: GUIDE TO LISTENING COMPREHENSION 1
About Listening Comprehension 2
Sample Listening Comprehension Test 3
Part A: Dialogs 11
About Dialogs 11
Lesson 1. Anticipating Questions about Dialogs 16
Lesson 2. Dialogs with Sound Confusion 18
Lesson 3. Dialogs with Homonyms and Words with Multiple Meanings 21
Lesson 4. Dialogs with Idiomatic Expressions 24
Lesson 5. Answering Inference Questions about Dialogs 29
Lesson 6. Dialogs Involving Agreement and Disagreement 32
Lesson 7. Dialogs Involving Suggestions, Invitations, Offers, and Requests 35
Lesson 8. Dialogs Involving Contradictions, Assumptions, and Questions 42
Lesson 9. Answering Questions about Activities, Plans, Topics, and Problems 46
Lesson 10. Dialogs with Special Verbs 49
Mini-Test 1: Dialogs 52
Part B: About Extended Conversations 55
About Extended Conversations 55
Lesson 11. Anticipating Questions about the Extended Conversations 59
Lesson 12. Answering Overview Questions about Extended Conversations 62
Lesson 13. Answering Detail Questions about Extended Conversations 64
Mini-Test 2: Extended Conversations 67
Part C: Mini-Talks 68
About Mini-Talks 68
Lesson 14. Anticipating Questions about Mini-Talks 72
Lesson 15. Answering Overview Questions about Mini-Talks 74
Lesson 16. Answering Detail Questions about Mini-Talks 76
Mini-Test 3: Mini-Talks 79
Mini-Lessons for Section 1: Idiomatic Expressions 81
1
,SECTION 2: GUIDE TO STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION 101
About Structure and Written Expression 102
Sample Structure and Written Expression Test 104
Part A: About Structure 111
Introduction 111
Lesson 17. Incomplete Independent Clauses 114
Lesson 18. Incomplete Adjective Clauses 121
Lesson 19. Incomplete or Missing Participial Phrases 126
Lesson 20. Incomplete or Missing Appositives 129
Lesson 21. Incomplete Adverb Clauses 132
Lesson 22. Incomplete Noun Clauses 138
Lesson 23. Missing or Incomplete Prepositional Phrases 141
Mini-Test 4: Structure 144
Lesson 24. Word Order Items 147
Lesson 25. Items Involving Verb Problems 152
Lesson 26. Incomplete or Missing Infinitive and Gerund Phrases 155
Lesson 27. Items Involving Parallel Structures 159
Lesson 28. Items Involving Misplaced Modifiers 162
Lesson 29. Incomplete or Missing Comparisons 165
Lesson 30. Missing Conjunctions 168
Lesson 31. Missing Negative Words 171
Mini-Test 5.' Structure 174
Part B: Written Expression 176
About Written Expression 176
Lesson 32. Errors with Word Forms 179
Lesson 33. Errors in Word Choice 189
Lesson 34. Errors with Verbs 202
Lesson 35. Errors with Parallel Structures 209
Lesson 36. Errors with Pronouns 212
Lesson 37. Errors with Singular and Plural Nouns 219
Mini-Test 6: Written Expression 225
Lesson 38. Errors with Verbals 228
Lesson 39. Errors with Prepositions 234
Lesson 40. Errors with Articles 240
Lesson 41. Errors with Comparatives and Superlatives 247
Lesson 42. Errors in Word Order 250
Lesson 43. Errors with Conjunctions 254
Mini-Test 7.. Written Expression 257
Mini-Lessons for Section 2: Preposition Use 260
2
,SECTION 3: GUIDE TO READING COMPREHENSION 269
About Reading Comprehension 270
Sample Reading Comprehension Test 276
Lesson 44. Overview Questions 290
Lesson 45. Factual Questions, Negative Questions, and Scanning Questions 303
Lesson 46. Inference Questions and Purpose Questions 313
Lesson 47. Vocabulary-in-Context Questions 324
Lesson 48. Reference Questions 334
Mini-Test 8: Reading Comprehension 343
Mini-Lessons for Section 3: Vocabulary Building 352
Guide to the Test of Written English (TWE) 387
About the Test of Written English 388
Ten Keys to Writing the TWE Essay 395
Three Practice TWE Tests 399
Three Complete Practice Tests 409
About Taking the Practice Tests 410
Scoring the Practice Tests 411
Practice Test 1 413
Practice Test 2 441
Practice Test 3 469
About the Author 497
Answer Sheets 499
3
, Preface
About This Book
If you are preparing for TOEFL, you are not alone. Over a million people all over the world take either the
Internet- or Paper-based version of the test every year. A high score on this test is an essential step in being
admitted to graduate or undergraduate programs at almost all colleges and universities in North America. A
strong TOEFL score may also be needed to complete an English program at a language school or may be a
requirement for graduation from a university. But preparing for this test can be a difficult, frustrating
experience. Perhaps you haven't taken many standardized, multiple choice tests such as TOEFL. Perhaps you
are not familiar with the format of TOEFL. Maybe you've taken TOEFL once but were not satisfied with your
score, or maybe you've taken the test several times but can't seem to improve your score beyond a certain
point. In any of these cases, you need a guide. That's why this book was written-to help students preparing
for this important exam to maximize their scores.
This is the most complete and accurate TOEFL preparation book for the Paper-based test now available.
It is based on many years of classroom experience teaching TOEFL preparation classes in the United States
and abroad, and on several years of research on the test. The Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test is simply
written and clearly organized and is suitable for any intermediate or advanced student of English as a second
or foreign language.
The Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test offers a step-by-step program that teaches you critical test taking
techniques, helps you polish the language skills specifically needed for the Paper-based test, and generally
makes you a smarter test-taker. And the Guide is an efficient way to prepare for TOEFL; by concentrating only
on the points that are actually tested on the TOEFL, it lets you make the most of your preparation period and
never wastes your time.
Good luck on TOEFL!
4
Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgements xiii
GETTING STARTED XV
Questions and Answers about TOEFL xvi
Twelve Keys to High Scores on TOEFL xx
SECTION 1: GUIDE TO LISTENING COMPREHENSION 1
About Listening Comprehension 2
Sample Listening Comprehension Test 3
Part A: Dialogs 11
About Dialogs 11
Lesson 1. Anticipating Questions about Dialogs 16
Lesson 2. Dialogs with Sound Confusion 18
Lesson 3. Dialogs with Homonyms and Words with Multiple Meanings 21
Lesson 4. Dialogs with Idiomatic Expressions 24
Lesson 5. Answering Inference Questions about Dialogs 29
Lesson 6. Dialogs Involving Agreement and Disagreement 32
Lesson 7. Dialogs Involving Suggestions, Invitations, Offers, and Requests 35
Lesson 8. Dialogs Involving Contradictions, Assumptions, and Questions 42
Lesson 9. Answering Questions about Activities, Plans, Topics, and Problems 46
Lesson 10. Dialogs with Special Verbs 49
Mini-Test 1: Dialogs 52
Part B: About Extended Conversations 55
About Extended Conversations 55
Lesson 11. Anticipating Questions about the Extended Conversations 59
Lesson 12. Answering Overview Questions about Extended Conversations 62
Lesson 13. Answering Detail Questions about Extended Conversations 64
Mini-Test 2: Extended Conversations 67
Part C: Mini-Talks 68
About Mini-Talks 68
Lesson 14. Anticipating Questions about Mini-Talks 72
Lesson 15. Answering Overview Questions about Mini-Talks 74
Lesson 16. Answering Detail Questions about Mini-Talks 76
Mini-Test 3: Mini-Talks 79
Mini-Lessons for Section 1: Idiomatic Expressions 81
1
,SECTION 2: GUIDE TO STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION 101
About Structure and Written Expression 102
Sample Structure and Written Expression Test 104
Part A: About Structure 111
Introduction 111
Lesson 17. Incomplete Independent Clauses 114
Lesson 18. Incomplete Adjective Clauses 121
Lesson 19. Incomplete or Missing Participial Phrases 126
Lesson 20. Incomplete or Missing Appositives 129
Lesson 21. Incomplete Adverb Clauses 132
Lesson 22. Incomplete Noun Clauses 138
Lesson 23. Missing or Incomplete Prepositional Phrases 141
Mini-Test 4: Structure 144
Lesson 24. Word Order Items 147
Lesson 25. Items Involving Verb Problems 152
Lesson 26. Incomplete or Missing Infinitive and Gerund Phrases 155
Lesson 27. Items Involving Parallel Structures 159
Lesson 28. Items Involving Misplaced Modifiers 162
Lesson 29. Incomplete or Missing Comparisons 165
Lesson 30. Missing Conjunctions 168
Lesson 31. Missing Negative Words 171
Mini-Test 5.' Structure 174
Part B: Written Expression 176
About Written Expression 176
Lesson 32. Errors with Word Forms 179
Lesson 33. Errors in Word Choice 189
Lesson 34. Errors with Verbs 202
Lesson 35. Errors with Parallel Structures 209
Lesson 36. Errors with Pronouns 212
Lesson 37. Errors with Singular and Plural Nouns 219
Mini-Test 6: Written Expression 225
Lesson 38. Errors with Verbals 228
Lesson 39. Errors with Prepositions 234
Lesson 40. Errors with Articles 240
Lesson 41. Errors with Comparatives and Superlatives 247
Lesson 42. Errors in Word Order 250
Lesson 43. Errors with Conjunctions 254
Mini-Test 7.. Written Expression 257
Mini-Lessons for Section 2: Preposition Use 260
2
,SECTION 3: GUIDE TO READING COMPREHENSION 269
About Reading Comprehension 270
Sample Reading Comprehension Test 276
Lesson 44. Overview Questions 290
Lesson 45. Factual Questions, Negative Questions, and Scanning Questions 303
Lesson 46. Inference Questions and Purpose Questions 313
Lesson 47. Vocabulary-in-Context Questions 324
Lesson 48. Reference Questions 334
Mini-Test 8: Reading Comprehension 343
Mini-Lessons for Section 3: Vocabulary Building 352
Guide to the Test of Written English (TWE) 387
About the Test of Written English 388
Ten Keys to Writing the TWE Essay 395
Three Practice TWE Tests 399
Three Complete Practice Tests 409
About Taking the Practice Tests 410
Scoring the Practice Tests 411
Practice Test 1 413
Practice Test 2 441
Practice Test 3 469
About the Author 497
Answer Sheets 499
3
, Preface
About This Book
If you are preparing for TOEFL, you are not alone. Over a million people all over the world take either the
Internet- or Paper-based version of the test every year. A high score on this test is an essential step in being
admitted to graduate or undergraduate programs at almost all colleges and universities in North America. A
strong TOEFL score may also be needed to complete an English program at a language school or may be a
requirement for graduation from a university. But preparing for this test can be a difficult, frustrating
experience. Perhaps you haven't taken many standardized, multiple choice tests such as TOEFL. Perhaps you
are not familiar with the format of TOEFL. Maybe you've taken TOEFL once but were not satisfied with your
score, or maybe you've taken the test several times but can't seem to improve your score beyond a certain
point. In any of these cases, you need a guide. That's why this book was written-to help students preparing
for this important exam to maximize their scores.
This is the most complete and accurate TOEFL preparation book for the Paper-based test now available.
It is based on many years of classroom experience teaching TOEFL preparation classes in the United States
and abroad, and on several years of research on the test. The Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test is simply
written and clearly organized and is suitable for any intermediate or advanced student of English as a second
or foreign language.
The Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test offers a step-by-step program that teaches you critical test taking
techniques, helps you polish the language skills specifically needed for the Paper-based test, and generally
makes you a smarter test-taker. And the Guide is an efficient way to prepare for TOEFL; by concentrating only
on the points that are actually tested on the TOEFL, it lets you make the most of your preparation period and
never wastes your time.
Good luck on TOEFL!
4
