Mini-Dialogues: Spoken Questions

All questions you hear in this part of the TOEFL begin with question words. These words include:
who, what, when, where, which, why, and how.
There are two basic question types in Part A that use these words: fact questions and inference
questions. Fact questions ask about specific information that has been mentioned in the dialogue.
Inference questions ask about information that has NOT been mentioned specifically in the dialogues.
The information has only been implied or suggested by the speakers, but not stated directly.
The most common types of fact and inference questions used in Part A are listed below in two
groups. Group 1 questions can be either fact or inference questions. Group 2 questions can only be
inference questions because they contain words like probably, assume, imply, and infer.

Group 1
What does the woman/man mean?
What is the woman/man doing?
What does the woman/man want to know?
What is the woman/man asking?
What does the woman/man say about X?
What does the woman/man think about X?
What is the woman's/man's opinion about X?
What does the woman/man suggest?
How does the woman/man feel?
What are the man and woman going to do?
What do we learn from this conversation?
What does the man think the woman should do?
What does the woman think the man should do?

Group2
Where does this conversation probably take place?
What will the woman/man probably do next?
What can we assume about the woman/man?
What had the woman/man assumed?
What does the woman/man imply?*
What can we infer from the woman's/man's response?*
What job/profession does the woman/man probably have?

* NOTE: Imply and infer are related terms with slightly different meanings. Imply
is what the speaker does when s/he indirectly expresses an idea. Infer is what the
listener does when s/he figures out what the indirectly expressed idea is.

SPECIAL NOTE: The spoken questions in Part A are almost always asked about
what the second speaker says. Only once in a while do they ask about what the first
speaker says or about the situation of the dialogue.

Listening Comprehension 45
The laboratory is out of service this afternoon

The students always like this class

I lost the photos of Denmark

We shiped the box to Laurie

Harvey was injured in the accident

The rug in this room is dusty

Gary ended his exam early

 Direct object

Complement

Subject

indirect object
Complement

subject

object of preposition

Direct object

Direct

subject
I

Is
I
 C 6. Last weekend we played basketball together at the new gym.

I 7. This can is contains more coffee than the other one does.
I
8. The party last night which was a lot of fun.
C
9. We enjoyed our vacation even though it was very short.

_C_ 10. I hope that I will do well on my next Spanish exam.

he
_C_ 11. When graduates, my roommate will give me his stereo.

_I _ 12. The airplane that he flies it is a small one.

EXERCISE 2B: More Practice with Subjects and Verbs

Circle the correct answer. Then, use the choices provided to answer the question: What is needed in
this sentence? Choices:
The verb
The subject and the verb

1. Although he was tired, William ______ working on his paper.

}6) who continued
(@)) continued
(C) he continued
(D) continuing

What is needed in this sentence? ___,T_,_h-'-'e

"---'v:'--'e"'r-'b'----------------------
2. ______ on me to lend him my history notes.
(A) Andrew counted
(B) Andrew counting
(C) That Andrew counted
(D) Since Andrew counted

What is needed in this sentence? _________________________

3. According to recent studies, winter ______ the season when the most traffic
accidents occur.
(A) being
(B) in
(C) when
(D) is

What is needed in this sentence? _________________________

4. In the 1970s students in American colleges and universities ______ many protests and
demonstrations.
(A) they staged
(B) staged
(C) staging
(D) to stage

What is needed in this sentence? _________________________

142 Structure and Written Expression

,, Explanation •
In this question, the singular indefinite noun creature needs an article. Answer (B) is the correct
answer to the question because is very clever is incorrect.
Correction: is a very clever

MODEL
A sun was shining brightly when we arrived at the lake.
--A- -B- C I)

What is wrong with this sentence?

Answer: An incorrect article has been used.

,, Explanation •
In this question, the wrong article has been chosen. Sun is a definite noun. There is only one sun
above the earth; it is definite to everyone. Definite nouns do not take the article a. Answer (A) is
the correct answer to this question because a sun is incorrect.
Correction: The sun

MODEL
Peter is looking for an university where he can play basketball.
A B c -is-

What is wrong with this sentence?

Answer: The indefinite article is spelled incorrectly.

,, Explanation •
In this question, the article is spelled incorrectly. The indefinite article has two sp;llings. Before a
consonant sound or a y or w sound, it is spelled a. However, before a vowel sound, it is spelled an.
In this sentence, university begins with a vowel symbol. However it begins with a y sound. Answer
(C) is the correct answer to this question because an university is incorrect.
Correction: a university

.- ON THE TOEFL
• Check to see that a/an is spelled correctly.
• Check to see that articles are used only when they are needed.
• Check to see that the correct articles are used with the nouns they refer to.

See the Grammar Appendix, #4, pages 394-395 if you need more information on definite
and indefinite countable and uncountable nouns.

See the chart in the Grammar Appendix, #6, pages 396-397 if you need more information
on articles.

Structure and Wdtten Expression 147

 EXERCISE 4A: Practice Identifying Problems with Articles
In each sentence below, underline the articles. Then, on the line provided, put an I if the sentence is
incorrect and a C if the sentence is correct. Correct the errors.

an
1. After;, hour of waiting patiently, Larry left the doctor's office without seeing the doctor.
C 2. They don't have much money, so they can't buy a house.
A
I
3. The lion is generally considered to be the ferocious animal.
I
4. Many dogs are bred for a specific purposes.
The
I
5. He tried to tell truth about the accident, but he was too upset to remember all of the details.
C
6. The man in the corner, who is the new director of the library, is her husband.
I
7. Karen's portfolio provided me with a clear indications of her qualifications.
i a
8. Marilyn is very talented artist whose works are being displayed in an art gallery on First
Avenue.
C 9. The post office is a very busy place during the holiday season, when well-wishers send cards
and packages to their families and friends.
An
I 10. A honest person always returns borrowed things.
a
I 11. Craig bought his new camera at discount store.

C 12. Charles has the oldest car in the parking lot.

EXERCISE 4B: More Practice with Articles

"'
Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is incorrect. Then, correct each error.
the
A 1. Under table were some boots, a scarf, and three books.
-8- -0-
A C

2. The happiness is a quality that comes from within a person.

A B C D

an
3. My uncle used to be a umpire at the local baseball --o
games.
-
-A-
B C
the
4. Before leaving the office, please turn off computer and lock the filing cabinets.
A B C D

5. In the United States, cattle rustling is still a serious --0

crimes.
-
/\ -8- C
the
6. The reason that I do not want to buy a new car is that I don't have a money necessary for
� s c
such an extravagant expense.

148 Structure and Written Expression

C
 4. The girl who
-
is sitting in the red chair is the person to who you must give this envelope.
-A B

5. Even Leroy had said he was going to quit school, I was surprised when he actually did.
- -
B
-A-

6. Unless he asks me to, I will not correct the papers who he gave me.
A -B-

7. I don't like the shoes he has on; addition, I don't care for the tie that he is wearing.
A -B-

8. In spite fact that he had good intentions, Fred was not able to give us the help that
-
A -B

we needed.

9. The doctor which

---
gave me this medicine told me that I need to stay in bed for three days.
-B
A -

10. I haven't seen Joseph today; as result, I'm worried that he might be sick.
A -B-

11. The teacher whom book I have said that I could keep it.
A -B -

Gv"14 Check Prepositional Phrases and Subordinate

Clauses
English prepositional phrases and subordinate clauses are easily confused. Confusion often
happens because, although they are formed differently, prepositional phrases and subordinate
clauses can function in similar ways in English.
Because of her financial difficulties, Anne could not go.
Prepositional phrase
Because she had financial difficulties, Anne could not go.
Subordinate clause
In this pair of sentences, the prepositional phrase and the subordinate clause both function as
adverbs telling why Anne could not go.
The book on the table is mine.
Prep phrase
The book that is on the table is mine.
Subordinate clause
In this pair of sentences, the prepositional phrase and the subordinate clause both function as
adjectives telling which book.

Because prepositional phrases and subordinate clauses function similarly, it is important to

remember the differences in their forms when taking the TOEFL.

Structure and Written Expression 179

EXERCISE 14B: Practice Identifying Errors in Prepositional Phrases and
Subordinate Clauses
On the line provided, put an I if the sentence is incorrect and a C if the sentence is correct. Then,
correct each error.

durint:1
1. Student life while tli.e 1960s was chaotic.

2. What worries me the most is your health.

3. That he said in his letter, he will be home next week.

4. The three people who they were here early were Joyce, Lee, and Tom.

5. Marcia cannot come with us because of she has a play rehearsal tonight.

6. I cannot tell you how you should budget your time.

EXERCISE 14C: More Practice with Phrases and Clauses

Circle the correct answer.

1. Writing a research paper takes a lot of time 5. day were just a little bit
it requires library work. longer, I would have time to finish my
(A) because of work.
how (A) Each
@ (B) Since each
as
(D) due to (C) If each
(D) Were each
2. his youth, Professor
Hanagan was a boy scout. 6. Maple syrup is light in
(A) While color and free of impurities is the most
(B) During expensive kind.
(C) When (A) and
(D) That (B) which
(C) it
3. Skiing is a popular American sport, (D) about which
quite expensive.
(A) however it is 7. Bread is one type of food
(B) even though it is (A) all cultures seem to have it
(C) despite its (B) that all cultures seem to have
(D) it is (C) by all cultures
(D) that all cultures seem to have it
4. William is a hardworking person;
8. is cooking, we can eat our
(A) while he likes to have a good time salad.
(B) nevertheless, he likes to have a good time (A) While the steak
(C) that he also likes to have a good time (B) During the steak
(D) but also likes to have a good time (C) The steak
(D) Because of the steak

Structure and Written Expression 183

 EXERCISE 15A: Practice Recognizing Appositive Errors
Some of the sentences below contain appositives. Some do not. Circle each appositive you find.
Then, underline and label each subject S and each finite verb V. On the line provided, put an I if
the sentence is incorrect and a C if the sentence is correct. Correct each error.

S V
_J_ 1. Last week, an old friend0ame to see me.

2. Lobster, my favorite food, is served fresh at this restaurant.

3. Ethan Allen, he was a famous American revolutionist, lived in Vermont.

4. Born on June 22, 1973, my son he is Charles will be twenty-three years old on his next
birthday.

5. Old Maid, a favorite children's game, is played with cards.

6. For Christmas, Charles, wants a new stereo.

7. Huckleberry Finn, a book which is often read to children, remains popular with adults
as well.

8. My father, of a man who loved to read, gave books to his children every Christmas.

9. Broccoli, it is a vegetable which can be prepared in many ways, contains many essential
vitamins and minerals.

10. Montana, it is the fourth largest state in the United States, only has a population of
about 200,000.

11. On the table, Harold, found the pen he thought he had lost.

EXERCISE 15B: More Practice with Appositives

Circle the correct answer.

1. The town of Cody, Wyoming, is named 3. Marie Curie,------, eventually

after Buffalo Bill Cody, _____
(A) he was a wild West cowboy and
entertainer
@a wild West cowboy and entertainer
(C) to be a wild West cowboy and
entertainer
(D) was a wild West cowboy and
entertainer
2. Liz Moses, ______ , grows beautiful
vegetables in her garden.
(A) is my next-door neighbor
(B) of my next-door neighbor
(C) whom my next-door neighbor
(D) my next-door neighbor
died from the side effects of her work.
(A) was the scientist who discovered
radium
(B) whose scientific discovery of radium
(C) the scientist discovered radium
(D) the scientist who discovered radium
4. ------, to look up, means to search
for something in a book or a dictionary.
(A) This phrase
(B) For this phrase
(C) It is this phrase
(D) Phrased

186 Structure and Written Expression

4

west hemsphere

twenty century

USA