TOEFL STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

Structure and Written Expression in the TOEFL aims to test your ability to identify written English that is used in formal situations (formal written English). Many English expressions can be accepted in oral communication, but are not acceptable or not commonly used in written communication, let alone formal ones.

Problem Structure and Written Expression consists of two parts, sentence structure (structure) and written expression. Structure and Written Expression consists of 40 questions, consisting of 15 structure questions (numbers 1 to 15) and 25 questions for written expressions (numbers 16 to 40). The time to work on these 40 questions is 25 minutes.

Part A: Sentence Completion

In this section there are 15 questions, each consisting of 1 sentence with words and / or phrases omitted. We are asked to choose one of the choices (a), (b), (c), or (d) which if inserted the sentence above becomes grammatically correct. So in other words we have to choose WHERE IS TRUE.

Part B: Error Identification

In this section, there are 25 questions. In each sentence there are words or groups of words underlined marked with (a), (b), (c), and (d). We are asked to identify the marked part which is NOT grammatically appropriate. In other words we are asked to choose WHERE IS WRONG.

Strategy to answer TOEFL Structure

General key

1.    Understand the command forms (directions) in each part (part) well before the exam day.

2.    Work on structural questions first.

3.    Continue on written expression questions

Key structure

1.    First note the questioned question in the question.

2.    Pay attention to each available answer, the most appropriate choice to address the questioned sentence.

3.    Don't ever inspire a choice of answers by just looking at the answers without looking at the question sentence.

4.    First note the words or groups of words underlined and quickly find out which parts are not right.

5.    If the problem you are facing is not identified, you can only see words or groups of words that are underlined, immediately read the sentence in full.

For the Example

A. Setence Completion

1. _____ the demands of aerospace, medicine, and agriculture, aengineers, are creating exotic new metallic substances.
    a. Meet
    b. Being met are
    c. To meet
    d. They are meeting

2. _______ James A. Bland, “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” was adopted is the state song of Virginia in 1940.
    a. Was written b
    b. His writing was
    c. He wrote the
    d. Written by

3. Mary Garden, ______ the early 1900’s was considered one of the best singing actresses of her time.
    a. a soprano was popular
    b. in a popular soprano
    c. was a popular soprano
    d. a popular soprano in

4. In the realm of psychological theory Margaret F. Washburn was a dualist _____ that motor phenomena have an essential role in psychology.

    a. who she believed
    b. who believed
    c. believed
    d. who did she believe

6. He entered a university …

a. when she had sixteen years

b. when sixteen years were his age

c. at the age of sixteen

d. at age sixteen years old

7. When henry arrived home after a hard day at work, …

a. his wife was sleeping

b. his wife slept

c. his wife has slept

d. his wife has been sleeping

8. In some cases, … to decide if an organism is a plant or an animal.

a. difficult if

b. it is difficult

c. the difficulty

d. is difficult

9. We … in Bandar lampung since 2010

a. Are lived

b. Lived

c. Are living

d. Have lived

10. When I am not at home, they will meet my mother. We can also say that when I am not at home … by them.

a. My mother will be met

b. My mother will be meeting

c. My mother met

d. My mother is met

B. Error Identification

Choose the one word or phrase which is not appropriade for the standard English.

1.    Opposite with the gambir Station, you will find the old "Monas Square" and the statue of R.A

a                                                       b     c                                                           d

Kartini.

2. The Sony camrecorder demo was fun and impressive, but it is not as better as  Microsoft's.

                                                    a                                       b                      c                  d

3. Recently, the work had been being done by John M.Rayyan.

         a            b                        c                    d

4. The thief who stole my watch was commpelled to restore it back again

                      a                                                       b                 c              d

5. I try to figure in the answer of what the function of the organitation is. 
        a          b                               c                                                          d

6.    The first bicycle race on record in the United States taken place in

 a                               b                                             c              d

7.    Modern motorcycles are lighter, faster, and specialized than motorcycles of twenty-five years ago.

   a                                      b                                c                          d

8.    If I had a new car, I will invited my friends to go anywhere

  a                        b       c                                       d

9.      Many system computers are damage by viruses

  a                                     b       c                d

10. William is one of the most clever boys of the biology class

        a                      b                 c     d

Discussion of Questions and Answers

A. Structure (number 1-4)

1. Answer        : (C) To meet

    Keyword     : the demands of aerospace

    Discussion   : The pattern of infinitive phrase: to infinitive + object of to infinitive

              The sentence states the purpose or purpose. Then it is needed for the infinitive phrase. For the right choice of phrases to fill the pass is to meet.

2. Answer            : (D) Written by
    Keyword         : James A. Bland
    Discussion    :  The sentence above requires Adjective Phrase to describe the noun "Carry Me Back to Old Virgin". The most appropriate effective phrase is Written by. Why is it called an effective phrase, past participle (v3) which is not accompanied by the form be or have is an objective.

3. Answer            : (D) a popular soprano in 

    Keyword        : Mary Garden

    Discussion      : The sentence in the question requires Appositive Phrase. Mary Garden and appositive phrase (a popular soprano) have the same meaning. Then the right answer is a popular soprano.

4. Answer           : (B) Who believed
    Keyword        : a dualist
    Discussion      : The pattern of adjective clause : (Conj. + S + V).
                             To explain a dualist nouns then the exact clause is believed.

B. Error Identification (number 1-5)

1. The word Opposite which means dealing with followed by to, not with. So the sentence should sound: Opposite to the Gambir Station, you will find the old "Monas Square" and the statue of R.A kartini

ANSWER : A

2. as.......as not used on the adjective which states the comparison, but with the first adjective form. so the sentence should use.......as good as......

ANSWER : C

3. There is a brief description of the time (recently) so the phrase verb uses the present perfect tense that has been being done

ANSWER : C

4. The word restore means giving back, so there is no need to say back after the word restore.

ANSWER : B

5. The word which means finding is a figure out, not a figure. The proposition combination between figure and in is not found in English
ANSWER : B

Source:

http://www.geniustoefl.com/artikel-ilmu-kunci-toefl/artikel/structure-and-written-expression/contoh-soal-toefl-structure-and-written-expression

https://www.ilmubahasainggris.com/soal-toefl-sentence-completion-dan-error-identification-tentang-structure-serta-written-expression/

http://popi-irawan.blogspot.com/p/section-ii.html

https://www.ilmubahasainggris.com/soal-toefl-sentence-completion-dan-error-identification-tentang-structure-serta-written-expression/

https://kumpulansoaltoefl.blogspot.com/2014/12/contoh-soal-toefl-error-recognition-beserta-pembahasan.html

STRATEGY TO ANSWER TOEFL “Listening Comprehension”

What is the TOEFL Test?

The TOEFL test measures the ability of non-native English speakers to use and understand English as it’s read, written, heard and spoken in the university classroom.

There are four parts tested in the TOEFL Test:

1. Listening Comprehension

2. Structure and Written Expression

3. Reading Comprehension

4. Test Of English Written (TWE)

In this time I will review about the listening comprehension. The listening section is the second part of the TOEFL. Students will listen to a both academic lectures at a university level and conversations between professors and students.  They will be required to answer questions following. The listening section of the TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) includes 4-6 academic lecture excerpts (each 3-5 minutes in length) and 2-3 conversations on a variety of general topics relevant to university life (approximately 3 minutes each). Students answer six questions per lecture and five questions per conversation, and total section timing ranges from 60 to 90 minutes. Listening section exercises are delivered by audio recording, and pictures on the computer screen indicate both the context of the exercise and the number of speakers. Listening section scaled scores are from 0 to 30.

TOEFL Listening Purposes

· To obtain basic comprehension, such as understanding the main idea, key points, structure, purpose, conclusion, important facts and relevant details

·   To learn from listening, such as understanding various relationships between ideas (e.g., compare-and-contrast, cause-and-effect, agree-disagree, or steps in a process) and tracing the development of ideas or events throughout the recordings. Note any digression during the talk and any side comments.

·   To make inferences about author’s opinion and what is implied in a recording

Types of TOEFL Listening Questions

1. Short Dialogues (PART A)

Short dialogs are the first part of the listening section. This section consists of two lines of conversation along with a question read by two men and women native people (vice versa). In this section you have to listen to the recorded conversations and the questions then answer the 4 answer choices on the question sheet. This section consists of 30 dialogues and 30 questions. So, the Short Dialogues, also called PART A, have 30 questions that you must answer correctly.

2. Long Conversations (PART B)

Long Conversation is a conversation between two native people around 60-90 minutes about topics related to students or students. In this section you will listen to 2-3 conversations that each conversation has 2-3 questions. So, PART B has 7-9 questions that you have to do.

3. Talks (PART C)

Talks are different from Long Conversation. Talks is a conversation by a lecturer/teacher about 60-90 

seconds on the topic of academic material. In this section you have to listen to 3 talks, each of which 

has 3-4 questions. So, in the Talks section you have to answer 11-13 questions that you have to do.

Strategy and Example

Here are some strategies for answering TOEFL listening tests:

General Strategy

1.      Understand the command forms (Direction of each part (part) well before the day of H).

2.      Read the answer choices for each question when the narrator is reading direction and an 

example question (Direction has been read before the day of H).

3.      Listen to full concentration and focus your attention on the conversation you are listening to.

4.      Maximize listeing's capabilities on the first questions of each part.

Special Strategy

PART A: Short Conversation

5.      Focus on listening to the second speaker.

6.      Don't panic if you don't understand word for word in a compliant conversation, only need to 

capture the ideas and contents of the conversation.

7.      If you cannot understand what the second speaker said, choose the most different answer 

than you heard.

8.      Understand functional expression forms (agreement, suggestion, suprice, etc.), idiomatic 

expressions and situations when the conversation is done.

PART B: Longer Conversation

9.      When the narrator talks about the direction of par B you should read the answer choices at 

a glance then record them and estimate what themes will be discussed.

10.  When listening to the conversation, you must know the theme / topic discussed.

11.  Beware of each question.

12.  Pay attention to the conditions and situations that occur during the conversation 

that are related to the place and time of discussion, what and who is discussed.

PART C: TALK

13.  If you have a lot of time, look at the answer choices listed on the question sheet and 

find the keywords.

14.  Be aware of the conversation in the first sentences because it is usually a topic 

for the following sentences.

15.  Focus listening on things related to 5W+1H questions (What, Why, Who, When, 

Where, and How).

16.  Make a conclusion on the situation that occurred when the conversation was held.

PART A

Directions

In Part A, you will hear short conversations between two speakers. At the end of each conversation, a third voice will ask a question about what was said. The question will be spoken just one time. After you hear a conversation and the question about it, read the four possible answers and decide which one would be the best answer to the question you have heard. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the problem and mark your answer.

Man       : Can  you  tell me if today’s matinee is comedy, romance, or western

Women : I have no idea

Narrator : What does the women mean

(A) She has strong ideas about movies

(B)  She prefers comedy over westerns and  romances

(C)  She doesn’t like today’s  matinee

(D) She does not know

Keyword: I have no idea, which means the speaker doesn't have any ideas

(Woman)  : I just got this letter from my sister

(Man)       : So the mail has come already.

(Narrator) : What had the woman assumed?

(A) The man’s sister never wrote to him

(B)  The mail had not yet arrived

(C)  The mail always came early

(D) The mail had already arrived

(Man)       : Why is Bill not at work this week?

(Woman)  : His doctor made him take a week off.

(Narrator) : What does the woman mean?

(A) The doctor decided to take some time off from work

(B)  The doctor told Bill he wasn’t too weak to work

(C)  Bill was made when the doctor took some time off

(D) Bill took a vacation on his doctor’s orders

Discussion: “His books were never in the top ten, but I like his style” the man stated that the author's books were never in the top ten, but he liked them, which meant that the man appreciated the author's writing.

PART B

(narrator)    Questions 4 through 7. Listen to a conversation about a trip.

(man)          Are you ready for "The Big Apple"?

(woman)     Excuse me?

(man)          You know, New York City. You are going to New York with us, aren't you? I wanted to show everybody around my old neighborhood.

(woman)     Oh...sure! I wouldn't miss it especially when the tour guide is a native New Yorker.

(man)          I thought we could start at the Museum of Modern Art. Right now there's an exhibit on twentieth-century American painters.

(woman)     Fine with me...but what were you saying about...a big apple?

(man)          "The Big Apple." It's a nickname for New York. I think I heard once that it started with jazz musicians in the 20's.

(woman)     Oh.

(man)          Whenever they played a concert in a city, they called that city an "apple." In those days, New York was the biggest city in the country, so they called it "The Big Apple."

(woman)     Hey, I have an idea! Let's go to a jazz club while we're there.

(man)          Sounds good.

Questions :

4. You will hear: 

(narrator)         What is the man planning to see?

You will read:            

A. An art exhibit. (the answer’s stated on line 6)

            B. A Broadway play.

            C. A modern dance production.

            D. An opera.

5. You will hear: 

(narrator)         What can be inferred about the man?

You will read:            

A. He is a jazz musician.

            B. He wants to join the woman's club.

            C. He is in his twenties.

            D. He was born in New York. (the answer’s stated on line 3)

6. You will hear: 

(narrator)         What does the word "Apple" in the phrase "The Big Apple" refer to?

You will read:            

A. An instrument.

            B. A city. (the answer’s stated on line 12)

            C. A theater.

            D. A concert.

7. You will hear: 

(narrator)         Who gave New York its nickname?

You will read:            

A. Painters.

            B. Tour guides.

            C. Musicians. (the answer’s stated on line 9)

            D. Grocers.

PART C

Directions In Part C, you will hear several talks. After each talk, you will be asked some questions.  The talks and questions will be spoken just one time. They will not be written out for you,  so you will have to listen carefully in order to understand and remember what the  speaker says. When you hear a question, read the four possible answers in your test  book and decide which one would be the best answer to the question you have heard.  Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the problem and fill in the space that  corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.

Statement Script on Part C

The reason we’re meeting today is to introduce the plan for our new office layout. Starting next month, instead of cubicles, we will have an open office. There will be no cubicle walls or partitions. Instead, desks will be arranged in clusters for each department. The desks in each department will be facing each other in clusters of four or six. We feel this will facilitate better communication between workers in each departments. It will also create a more welcoming environment for clients.

The department managers will still have their own offices, but each will have large windows and glass doors, to make employees and clients feel welcome to come inside. We’re also going to paint the walls and put in new carpeting. The project will start on the first of next month and should take about three weeks to complete. We will be moving to the third floor during that period.

Question Script from Narrator

1.      What is the speaker mainly discussing ?

2.      What does the speaker say about the new layout?

3.      What is NOT true about plans for the office?

Choice of answers in your test book:

1.    A. An office renovation
B. Building construction
C. A marketing campaign
D. New carpeting

2.    A. The desks will be facing away from each other.
B. Department managers will sit in cubicles.
C. It will increase the number of sales to clients.
D. It will improve employee communication.

3.    A. The walls will be painted.
B. New carpeting will be installed.
C. Work will begin next year.
D. The work will take three weeks.

Answers to the above questions:

1.    Answer : (A) An office renovation

Keyword : our new office layout

Discussion : From the keywords above, you can know if the office will be renovated later.

2.      Answer : (D) It will improve employee communication.

Keyword : will facilitate better communication

Discussion : The phrase "better communication" on keywords has the same meaning as the phrase "improve communication"

3.      Answer : (C) Work will begin next year

Keyword : not true; start on the first of next month

Discussion : Because it starts in the next month which takes around three weeks, therefore the wrong or incorrect statement is that the work will begin next year.

Reference :

https://panduantoeflonline.wordpress.com/2016/04/20/bagian-dari-listening/

https://www.manhattanreview.com/toefl-listening/ 

https://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/what-is-toefl 

http://sariputraagnezz.blogspot.com/2014/03/strategi-menjawab-soal-listening-toefl.html 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8mdskiSlphWVVVmM3ppM1duOW8/edit 

http://www.belajaringgris.net/contoh-soal-toefl-listening-12944.html