2019-10-08 TOEFL: word roots, reading vocab

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - notes from all classes
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word roots (list 3) - With your partner, try to think of one or two words to explain the meaning of each root
ego (egocentric, egotistical, egomania) = self
endo (endotherm, endocrine) = inside
epi (epiphyte, epidermis, epidemic) = on/upon
equi (equidistant, equation) = same (quantity)
erg (ergonomic, energy) = work
esth/aesth (anesthetic, kinesthesia) = feel/perceive (Words that start with this root are often related to (the perception of) beauty.)
eu (eulogy, euphemism, euphoria) = good (The opposite prefix is “dys”.)
ex/ect (ex-husband, exit, excavate, ectotherm) = out
extra (extraordinary, extrovert, extraterrestrial) = outward/beyond (This is the same “tra” or “tro” as “intro”, “contra”, “retro”.)
fac/fact (artifact, factory) = make (This comes from the same Latin root as “hacer”. f->h is a common change from Latin to Spanish.)
fer (transfer, ferry) = carry
flect/flex (deflect, reflection, flexible) = bend
fore (foreground, forecast) = before (“fore”, “front”, “first”, “prim”, “pre”, “pro” - all come from the same root)
fract/frag (fracture, fragment, fragile) = break
fug (refugee, fugitive) = escape/flee
funct (function, defunct) = work/perform
gen (generation, generate, genealogy) = make/create (By extension, this is also in words related to families and types.)
geo (geography, geology, geocentric) = Earth
graph (autograph, graphite, seismograph) = draw/write
grat (gratify, gratuity, grateful) = please (v)
helio (heliocentric, heliograph) = Sun
hemo (hemophilia, hemorrhage, hemoglobin) = blood
hetero (heterogeneous, heteronym) = different
homo (homogeneous, homonym) = same (not quantity)
hydro (hydrate, hydraulic, hydrophobia) = water (or more generally fluid)
hyper (hyperextend, hyperactive, hypertension) = over/too much
hypo (hypodermic, hypothermia, hypotension) = under/too little
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“kine” and “migr” both mean “move”. For other roots about movement, there’s something more specific you should be able to identify.
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The roots of words can make them seem synonymous but the real connotations are very different.
prediction = the normal everyday guesses and conclusions we make about the future
foretelling = a magical prediction, such as what a fortune teller might give you
prophecy = a divine prediction, such as what comes from the gods
(The roots all basically mean “before”+“say”.)
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ultrasonic = higher (frequency) than sound (that we can hear)
supersonic = faster than sound
hypersonic = much faster than sound (often at least 5 times faster)
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TOEFL: 4 hours, 4 sections, 30 points per section (120 total), $205
1 reading: 54-72 minutes, 3 or 4 passages, 10 questions about each passage
2 listening: 40-60 minutes, 2-3 conversations (5Q) and 3-4 lectures or discussions (6Q)
	(10-minute break)
3 speaking: 17 minutes, 4 tasks, 3m45s speaking time
4 writing: 55 minutes, 2 tasks, 20+30 minutes of writing time

- The test changed on August 1st and there are no books about the new version. The old reading section was 60-80 minutes and each passage had up to 14 questions. The old listening section was 60-90 minutes and there were 4 or 6 lectures or discussions. The old speaking section had 6 tasks.
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Reading Question Types:
- paraphrase (which sentence has the same meaning as the highlighted sentence?)
- vocabulary (which word has the same meaning as the highlighted word in the text?)
- fact (according to the text, which of these is true?)
- negative fact (according to the text, which of these is NOT true?)
- inference (what can be inferred from the text?)
- purpose (why does the author use a particular phrase or include an example?)
- sentence insertion (where in the paragraph does this new sentence fit best?)
- summarize (which three answer choices are the most important ideas from the passage?)
(- reference (what does this pronoun refer to?) - probably not on the test, but a useful skill)
(- categorize (put the answer choices in the correct categories) - probably not on the test, but on some of our practice tests)
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Vocabulary in Context
- One key point is that it’s always asking about the word in the context of the passage. The correct answer choice may not be a general synonym of the word. Some incorrect answers could be synonyms of the word in other contexts, but not in the text.
score =
	(n) the number of points (on a task or in a game)
	(v) to earn points
	(v) to scratch or etch a hard surface
	(n) sheet music, especially including parts for all instruments
	(n) twenty
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Cengage exercise 2.1 - In your own words, what do the highlighted dowrds mean?
passage 1
2 steady, unchanging
3 after sunset (dawn = before sunrise)
4 basic
5 dim, weak, poor, slight
6 waste, garbage
7 walk around without direction (especially for animals, especially with “free”)
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BREAK
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passage 2
8 gained power
9 program of studies
10 optional, choosable
11 emphasized, focused on
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https://books.google.com/ngrams/ - see and compare the frequency of different words and expressions in English books
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passage 3
12 group
13 fog, haze
14 shining, bright
15 broken pieces (after something is built or destroyed)
16 several
17 grieving (especially after a death)
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exercise 2.2 passage 1 - take 5.5 minutes eliminate definitely wrong answers (and try to guess the correct one)
1 B
2 C
3 C
4 D
5 A
6 D
	“nothing if not _____” = “very _____”
7 B
8 B
9 A
10 A
11 A
passage 3 - take 4 minutes
Check with your partner. Did you eliminate some of the same incorrect options?
19 C
20 B
21 C (These words mean strong and durable.)
22 A (shock absorbers are part of a suspension system)
23 B (They were on the train at that time, going to the company.)
24 D
25 D
	it was by no means ______ = it wasn’t ______
26 B
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coaches owned by Wells Fargo = coaches belonging to Wells Fargo
(the coaches are owned by…)     (the coaches belong to…)
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Homework: finish exercises 2.1 and 2.2 (also: bring your books tomorrow)