About Paper version of the TOEFL Test

About Paper version of the TOEFL Test

OVERVIEW OF THE TEST

The TOEFL test is a test to measure the English proficiency of nonnative speaker of English. It is required by the English-language colleges and universities. Additionally, institutions such as government agencies, business, or scholarship programs may require this test. The TOEFL test currently exists in paper and computer formats. (The purpose of this book is to prepare students for the paper version of the TOEFL Test. There are other Longman products to prepare students for the computer version of the TOEFL test).

DESCRIPTION OF THE TEST

The paper version of the TOEFL test currently has the following sections:

• Listening Comprehension: To demonstrate their ability to understand spoken English, examinees must listen to various types of passages on a recording and respond to multiply choice questions about the passages.
• Structure and Written Expression: To demonstrate their ability to recognize grammatically correct English, examinees must either choose the correct way to complete sentences or find errors in sentence.
• Reading Comprehension: To demonstrate their ability to understand written English, examinees must answer multiple-choice questions about the ideas and the meanings of words in reading passages.

TOEFL Problem analysis: Problem with negative expression

Negative expressions are very common in Listening Part A. The most common kind of correct response to a negative statement is a positive statement containing a word with an opposite meaning.

Example

On the recording, you hear:

(woman)  : Did you get a lot of work done at the library today?

(man)       : I couldn’t. It wasn’t very quiet there.

(narrator) : What does the man mean?

In your test book, you read:

(A) The library was noisy

(B) He got a lot done.

(C) He couldn’t quite get to the library today.

(D) The library’s a good place to work because it’s quiet.

The correct answer is answer (A). If it was not quiet in the library, this means that it was noisy. Notice that the correct answer uses noisy, the opposite of quiet.

EXERCISE 2: In this exercise, underline the negative expression in the second line of each short conversation. Then read the question, and choose the best answer to that question. Remember that the best answer is one that uses an opposite meaning.

On the recording, you hear:

1. (woman) : You made so many mistakes in this homework.
     (man)     : I wasn’t very careful.
    (narrator): What does the man mean?

(A) He was rather careless.
(B) He does not care about mistakes.
(C) He took care of the work at home.
(D) He did not carry the work home.