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Crossword: TOEFL 1

Posted on 2012/02/12
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crossword puzzle

 

This crossword puzzle might be kind of difficult – the vocabulary comes from a list of words that are common on the TOEFL test. Give it a try, and see how you do. Have fun, and learn from the words you don’t know!

Across

1. praise for a person or their achievements

4. a situation in which two people, ideas, or statements agree with each other

5. to not do something, especially something enjoyable, because you think it is bad for your health or morally wrong

7. hand or swing loosely

11. take the whole attention, enslave

12. a trick

14. no longer useful, outdated

16. unspoken, silent

19. astonish

21. the ability to think quickly and make good judgments

22. unreasonably impatient or irritable

24. death-like, pale and ill

25. very similar to something

26. looking ill, not bright

27. good at doing something that needs care and skill

28. to hate a type of behavior or way of thinking, especially because you think it is morally wrong

Down

1. to change something so that it can be used in a different way or for a different purpose

2. to repair

3. good enough in quality for a particular purpose or activity

4. angry or threatening behavior or feelings that often result in fighting

6. distress, suffering

8. to praise highly

9. yield, die

10. to make understandable

13. invent, prepare by mixing together

15. rub or wipe out, obliterate

17. to tell or warn someone severely that they have done something wrong

18. take away from, prevent from using

20. to slander

23. to decide officially to give something to someone or use something for a particular purpose

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Idiom Focus: Animal Idioms 8

Posted on 2012/02/11
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Every Saturday I’ll give you a couple of idioms to learn. An idiom is a saying or phrase whose meaning cannot be taken from the literal meanings of the words.

dark horse: In an election, a dark horse candidate is one unexpectedly nominated, who previously had not been considered a likely choice.

Example:

Abraham Lincoln was a dark horse Republican candidate who became the 16th president of the United States.

dog-eat-dog: indicating all-out competition, fighting and doing whatever it takes to win or be successful; having a “kill or be killed” mentality in business or other competition.

Example:

Pressure to get into a top-name university results in dog-eat-dog competition and widespread cheating among some high school students.

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Writing Assignment: The Theater (Solution)

Posted on 2012/02/11
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actors on stage

 

1. What kind of building is this?
This building is a theater.

2. How many balconies are on the left side?
There are four balconies on the left side.

3. Who is sitting in the balcony?
People in the audience (spectators) are sitting in the balcony.

4. Are the first two rows full?
It looks like the first two rows are full.

5. Are the spectators watching a film or a play?
The spectators are watching a play.

6. Can you also watch an opera in this theater?
Yes, you can also watch an opera in this theater.

7. How many people are on stage?
There are two people on stage.

8. Are the actors performing a German, French, or Spanish play?
The actors are probably performing a Spanish play.

9. Who is playing a guitar?
The man is playing a guitar.

10. Does the scene take place inside or outside?
The scene takes place outside.

11. Is that a real moon in the background?
No, it is not a real moon in the background. It is an artificial (fake) moon.

12. Where does the orchestra sit?
The orchestra sits in the orchestra pit, located in front of the stage.

13. Is the man playing a piano or an organ?
The man is playing an organ.

14. During the intermission, what hangs before the stage?
During the intermission, a curtain hangs before the stage.

15. What is listed in a program?
In the program is a list of the actors/actresses, the director and his crew, and the stage hands.

16. Do you buy an admission ticket before or after the performance?
You buy an admission ticket before the performance.

17. When do the spectators applaud?
The spectators applaud at the end of the play or opera.

18. Does the picture show a city theater or a school stage?
The picture shows a city theater, not a school stage.

19. Where do you prefer to sit in a theater?
I prefer to sit near the front of a theater.

20. What is the name of an American play?
The name of an American play is “Our American Cousin.” It is the play that Abraham Lincoln was watching when he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.

Paragraph: An Evening at the Theater

Write a brief paragraph about going to see a play. What play did you see (would you like to see)? What kind of people attended the play? How did you like it?

When I was in high school, I went on a class trip to downtown Chicago to see the play “Waiting for Godot.” The theater was not a very large one, but it was located near the lake and it seemed like a nice place. The theater did not sell concessions, or snacks, so we had to bring a sack lunch and eat it on the school bus after we had seen the play. The performance that we attended was during the day, and so the audience was mostly other high school kids who were also on a class trip to watch the play.

I thought that the play was very strange. It was about two old men who did nothing all day except wait for Godot. Godot never showed up (“showed up” = came), and so we never found out who Godot was, why he was important, or why the old men in the play were waiting for him. The play was too avant-garde for me, and I would prefer to see a play where the plot made more sense.

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Writing Assignment: The Theater

Posted on 2012/02/10
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the theater

 

Vocabulary

to perform
film
program
to clap, applaud
row
play
performance
piano
actor
balcony
city theatre
stage
to like most
drama
outside
moon
to take place
inside
opera
play
real, genuine
orchestra
scene
admission ticket
organ
theater
intermission
spectator

1. What kind of building is this?
2. How many balconies are on the left side?
3. Who is sitting in the balcony?
4. Are the first two rows full?
5. Are the spectators watching a film or a play?
6. Can you also watch an opera in this theater?
7. How many people are on stage?
8. Are the actors performing a German, French, or Spanish play?
9. Who is playing a guitar?
10. Does the scene take place inside or outside?
11. Is that a real moon in the background?
12. Where does the orchestra sit?
13. Is the man playing a piano or an organ?
14. During the intermission, what hangs before the stage?
15. What is listed in a program?
16. Do you buy an admission ticket before or after the performance?
17. When do the spectators applaud?
18. Does the picture show a city theater or a school stage?
19. Where do you prefer to sit in a theater?
20. What is the name of an American play?

Paragraph: An Evening at the Theater

Write a brief paragraph about going to see a play. What play did you see (would you like to see)? What kind of people attended the play? How did you like it?

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Grammar Basics: Unit 16 – Present Perfect (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/02/10
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Exercises: Put the verbs in the present perfect.

Examples:

  • (I / finish) my homework, so I can relax now. ==> I’ve finished my homework, so I can relax now.
  • (She / never / take) piano lessons. ==> She’s never taken piano lessons.
  • (you / ever / go) skiing? ==> Have you ever gone skiing?

1. John has written a letter to the newspaper.
2. Mother has told Tom five times to pick up his clothes.
3. Sue’s never come home this late before.
4. We’ve gone to Michigan for vacation every year since I was a child.
5. Have you ever gotten dressed up for a fancy party?
6. I’ve never cooked a turkey for Thanksgiving.
7. Hasn’t Mary driven a car before?
8. Mr. Smith has never washed his car.
9. I’ve never been to the library.
10. She’s never ridden on an airplane before.
11. Haven’t you ever seen an elephant before?
12. Rob has never seen her wear glasses.
13. Has Dad come home yet?
14. That’s the first time I’ve ever been late for school.
15. The baby has never stayed up this late.
16. Have you ever made a pie?
17. Kathy has never taken a typing class before.
18. Have you ever seen such a sight?
19. James has never skipped school in his life.
20. Have you ever played baseball?

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Grammar Basics: Unit 16 – Present Perfect

Posted on 2012/02/09
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S + have/has + V (past participle) is the present perfect (have + past participle).

The past participle for regular verbs is –ed, the same as the simple past. For irregular verbs, the past participle is sometimes the same as the simple past. Sometimes, it is different – check out the section on Irregular Verbs for a list of common irregular verbs.

We have the following table of have + past participle, along with the contracted forms:

Positive:

I have jumped (I’ve jumped)
you have jumped (you’ve jumped)
he / she / it has jumped (he’s / she’s / it’s jumped)
we have jumped (we’ve jumped)
they have jumped (they’ve jumped)

Negative:

I have not jumped (I’ve not jumped // I haven’t jumped)
you have not jumped (you’ve not jumped // you haven’t jumped)
he / she / it has not jumped (he’s / she’s / it’s not jumped // he / she / it hasn’t jumped)
we have not jumped (we’ve not jumped // we haven’t jumped)
they have not jumped (they’ve not jumped // they haven’t jumped)

For questions, switch the subject and “have”: Have / Has S ~ ?

I have jumped ==> Have I jumped?
you have jumped ==> Have you jumped?
he / she / it has jumped ==> Has he / she / it jumped?
we have jumped ==> Have we jumped?
they have jumped ==> Have they jumped?

For negative questions, use the contracted form: Haven’t / Hasn’t S ~?

I have not jumped ==> Haven’t I jumped?
you have not jumped ==> Haven’t you jumped?
he / she / it has not jumped ==> Hasn’t he / she / it jumped?
we have not jumped ==> Haven’t we jumped?
they have not jumped ==> Haven’t they jumped?

When do we use Present Perfect?

The present perfect is used to talk about a time from the past until now:

Examples:

Have you seen the new movie?
—No, I haven’t.

Have you gone to college?
—Yes, I went to college when I was 23.

How often has Mary been to Europe?
—She has traveled to Europe a number of times.

Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, where have you been?
—I’ve been to London to visit the Queen.

I have had several jobs since I graduated from school.
Tom has had bad luck ever since he bought that new car.

We can also use “ever” in questions to ask if something has happened at any time in a person’s life. We can answer with “never” if it has not happened at all:

Have you ever been to Korea?
—Yes, I’ve been there once.
—No, I’ve never been there. I hope to go someday.

Have you ever eaten squid?
—Yes, I’ve eaten it at a seafood restaurant.
—No, I’ve never tried it.

Exercises: Put the verbs in the present perfect.

Examples:

  • (I / finish) my homework, so I can relax now. ==> I’ve finished my homework, so I can relax now.
  • (She / never / take) piano lessons. ==> She’s never taken piano lessons.
  • (you / ever / go) skiing? ==> Have you ever gone skiing?

1. (John / write) a letter to the newspaper.
2. (Mother / tell) Tom five times to pick up his clothes.
3. (Sue / never / come) home this late before.
4. (We / go) to Michigan for vacation every year since I was a child.
5. (you / ever / get) dressed up for a fancy party?
6. (I / never / cook) a turkey for Thanksgiving.
7. (Mary / not / drive) a car before?
8. (Mr. Smith / never / wash) his car.
9. (I / never / be) to the library.
10. (She / never / ride) on an airplane before.
11. (you / not / ever / see) an elephant before?
12. (Rob / never / see) her wear glasses.
13. (Dad / come) home yet?
14. That’s the first time (I / ever / be) late for school.
15. (The baby / never / stay) up this late.
16. (you / ever / make) a pie?
17. (Kathy / never / take) a typing class before.
18. (you / ever / see) such a sight?
19. (James / never / skip) school in his life.
20. (you / ever / play) baseball?

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Culture Focus: The Super Bowl

Posted on 2012/02/08
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American football is a unique sport that is enjoyed by many, especially men and boys. It is a fall sport, and the culmination of the professional season is a game called the Super Bowl. Post-seasonal college football games have a history of being called “bowl” games, stemming from the famous Rose Bowl game in Pasedena, California on New Year’s Day. Thus, when the Super Bowl was created as a result of the merger between the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL) in 1966, it was decided to use to call this world championship of football a “super bowl” game. The name stuck, and Americans have been enthusiastically watching this “world series” of football every January/February since 1967.

This year, Super Bowl XLVI was on Sunday, February 5.  An average of 80 – 90 million Americans watch the game every year, making it one of the most-watched television programs of the year in the U.S. Not surprisingly, advertisers pay enormous amounts of money to have their commercials shown during the program – in 2007, a 30-second commercial cost $2.6 million dollars to be shown during the Super Bowl game.

Another feature of the Super Bowl game is its 30-minute halftime show, the entertainment provided when both teams take a break halfway through the game. Most singers, bands, and other performers can only dream of having a part of this widely-viewed event, as the entertainment is generally done by well-known names such as Prince, Janet Jackson, and U2.

Many offices have informal betting pools based on the Super Bowl. The participants of the pool carefully study the odds for the teams playing off in the championship, and place bets according to various factors, such as a team’s past history, who’s on the injured list, or where the Super Bowl will be held. Pools are a form of gambling, and are therefore illegal in most places. However, that doesn’t seem to stop those who want to pay and play in the pool!

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Grammar Basics: Unit 15 – I used to… (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/02/08
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Exercises: Complete the following sentences. Use “used to” or the simple present as necessary.

Examples:

  • Mary has short hair, but she (have) long hair. ==> Mary has short hair, but she used to have long hair.
  • John (be) fat, but now he (be) skinny. ==> John used to be fat, but now he is skinny.

1. I used to play the piano every day, but now I don’t have time.
2. Kim used to work in a restaurant. Now she works at a bank.
3. What did you use to do with your friends when you were a child?
4. When I was little, I used to hate broccoli.
5. Tom likes to play tennis. He plays it every day.
6. Before we moved, we used to live in Wisconsin.
7. Did you use to walk to school as a child?
8. William used to be rich, but he lost all his money in the stock market.
9. Last summer I used to get up early so I could exercise before breakfast.
10. What job did you use to have while you were in college?

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Grammar Basics: Unit 15 – I used to…

Posted on 2012/02/07
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The phrase

S used to V …

indicates some past condition or past activity that does not happen any more.

Examples:

I used to study German (, but I don’t anymore now).
When John was in college, he used to work nights.
Sam is very athletic (, but he used to be lazy).

Negative form:

did not (didn’t) use to ~

Examples:

Mary didn’t use to like Chinese food.
Pam didn’t use to listen to classical music.
We didn’t use to watch much TV.

Question form:

did S use to ~ ?

Examples:

Did you use to ride your bike when you were young?
Did Dad use to work on a farm as a boy?
Did the teacher use to give the class lots of homework?

Note: “used to” is used only for the past, never the present.

Exercises: Complete the following sentences. Use “used to” or the simple present as necessary.

Examples:

  • Mary has short hair, but she (have) long hair. ==> Mary has short hair, but she used to have long hair.
  • John (be) fat, but now he (be) skinny. ==> John used to be fat, but now he is skinny.

1. I (play) the piano every day, but now I (have / not) time.
2. Kim (work) in a restaurant. Now she (work) at a bank.
3. What did you (do) with your friends when you (be) a child?
4. When I (be) little, I (hate) broccoli.
5. Tom (like) to play tennis. He (play) it every day.
6. Before we (move), we (live) in Wisconsin.
7. Did you (walk) to school as a child?
8. William (be) rich, but he (lose) all his money in the stock market.
9. Last summer I (get) up early so I (can) exercise before breakfast.
10. What job did you (have) while you (be) in college?

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Education Focus: American Education System, Part 4

Posted on 2012/02/06
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Today for our Education Focus, I want to take a quick look at a popular alternative to a four-year college or university: the community college, also known as a junior college.

A community college, or junior college, is a two-year institution that grants a two-year degree, also known as an associate’s degree. Like the bachelor’s and master’s degrees, one can earn an associate’s degree in arts (A.A.) or an associate’s degree in science (A.S.). Community colleges are typically local schools that are supported by the county or community, and as such do not have boarding students. With few exceptions, all the students are commuter students (students who live off campus – usually with parents, or spouses – and drive (commute) to school each day). A community college does not offer advanced degrees, but instead focuses on general education requirements that all students need to take as part of a well-rounded curriculum.

Community colleges are popular because they offer a less-expensive alternative to attending a college or university for a full four years. To save money, students will take lower-level classes at their community college, then transfer the credits to a four-year college or university. If a student is planning to transfer, he must consult with an academic advisor to make sure that all his credits will transfer to the school of his choice. Alternatively, the student can complete the community college’s degree requirements for the associate’s degree, and then he won’t have to worry about whether or not the credits will transfer – his associate’s degree will be accepted at most four-year colleges and universities.

Another reason why students might choose to attend a community college first before going on to a four-year college or university is that it can give him a chance to improve his transcript. Sometimes a student doesn’t do as well as he could have done in high school, which might hurt his chances in being accepted at the school of his choice. If he attends a community college and improves his academic record there, an admissions officer at a four-year college or university would be more likely to place greater emphasis on the community college academic record than the high school academic record.

A final reason why some students attend a community college rather than a four-year institution is simply because he is interested in a vocation that needs some additional training, but doesn’t need the rigorous academic training that a four-year college or university provides. Vocations like auto mechanic, cook/chef, and nursing or dental assistants would be in this category. These types of vocations are especially popular with what are called “non-traditional” students – students who are returning to school after having spent time in the workforce or raising a family. These students tend to have jobs already, and are looking for the extra classes to obtain certification or get a raise in salary.

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