2019-04-02 TOEFL: word roots, reading sum/org

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - notes from all classes
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Word roots (list 6) - With your partner, try to think of one or two words to explain the meaning of each root.
re (recycle, rebound, reuse, recline) = again/back
reg (regulation, regent, regime) = rule
retro (retrograde, retroactive, retrospect) = backward, “more back” (“tro” and “tra” originally had a comparative meaning in roots like “retro”, “intro”, “extra”, “contra”)
rupt (disrupt, rupture, erupt, interrupt) = break/burst
scend (ascend, descend, transcend) = climb
scope/skep/spec (microscope, skeptic, spectacle) = see/view/watch
scrib/script (transcript, scripture, inscribe) = write/draw
sect/seg (section, bisect, sector, segment) = cut/divide
semi (semicircle, semiannual) = half (This is a Latin root. “hemi” is the Greek root.)
sol (solitude, desolate) = alone
sol (solar, solarium) = Sun
soph (philosophy, sophisticated) = wisdom
struct (construct, structure) =
sub (subterranean, submerge, substandard) = under
super (superstructure, supersonic) = over
tele (telephone, telescope, telepathy) = far/distant
term (determine, terminate) = end/limit
terra/terri (territory, terrain) = land/Earth
therm (thermometer, thermal) = heat
trans (transport, transaction, transverse) = across/between
ultra (ultraviolet, ultrasound) = over/above (The opposite prefix is “infra”.)
uni (universe, unique, unilateral) = one
vac (vacuum, vacate, evacuate, vacant) = empty
veri (verify, veracity) = true
viv/vit (vital, vivacious) = life
vol (benevolent, volunteer, volition) = will
xeno (xenophobia, xenophile) = strange/foreign
zoo (zoology, zooplankton) = animal
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“re” can mean “back” or “again” with old words, but with new words it always means “again”
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https://www.english-corpora.org/coca/ - use “KWIC” to see many examples of your word in context
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Roots that mean the “same” thing can end up with different meanings in the resulting words:
supersonic/subsonic = above or below the speed of sound
ultrasonic/infrasonic = above or below the frequency of (audible) sound

“before” + “say”:
predict = the normal logical thing that we do
foretell = tell the future with something supernatural
prophesy = tell the future with the help of God or gods
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BREAK
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TOEFL Test:
1 Reading: 60-80 minutes, 3 or 4 passages, about 14 questions per passage
2 Listening: 60-90 minutes, 2 or 3 sets (each set = 3 listening passages, 17 questions, 10 minutes to answer)
	(10-minute break)
3 Speaking: 20 minutes, 6 tasks, 5.5 minutes of speaking time
4 Writing: about 1 hour, 2 tasks, 20+30 minutes of writing time
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Reading Question Types:
- fact/detail
- negative fact
- purpose/method
- vocabulary
- paraphrase
- inference
- reference (pronouns)
- sentence insertion
- summarize
- organize
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Summary Questions: choose the three (out of six) options that express the most important ideas from the passage (wrong answers might be minor details, might be incorrect statements, or might not be mentioned in the passage)
	(If you choose 3 correct, you get 2 points; 2 correct = 1 point; 0 or 1 correct = 0 points)
Organization Questions: put the answer choices in the correct categories according to the text (wrong answers might be true of multiple categories, might be true of a category not included in this question, or might be false information)
	(If you have 5 choices, you get 3 points for all correct. If you have 7, you get 4 for all correct.)
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Cambridge exercise R22 - Write S for correct summaries, D for minor details, or N for information not found in the paragraph.
1 A. N
  B. S
  C. D
2 A. N
  B. D
  C. S
3 A. S
  B. N
  C. D
4 A. D - This is a paraphrase of one sentence in the middle of the paragraph.
  B. N
  C. S - This is the only sentence that makes sense on its own and covers the main topic of the paragraph.
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Exercise R24 - Answer these organization questions.
1 underground: A D
  conventional: B E
2 early: D E
  later: A C
For passage 3, scan for the answer choices together.
A “out of the circle” - ringtaw
B “holes” - holes (not ringtaw or fortification)
C “circles” (plural) - fortification
D “one circle” - ringtaw
E “one circle at a time” -> multiple circles - fortification
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While you can sometimes see that an entire paragraph or section of the passage is about one of the categories, it’s more common to have some details mixed together. In that case, it’s better to scan for each answer choice and identify which category it belongs to.
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Homework: exercise R23 (summary questions) AND Cengage p. 167-172 (organization questions about passages 1, 2, 3)
	(Optional: finish all the rest of the organization exercises)