О. М. Ільченко Англійська мова для науковців

XI

TOEFL: FIRST STEPS

The TOEFL test, developed in 1964 is intended to evaluate the English proficiency of nonnative speakers who wish to study in colleges or universities in Englishspeaking countries.

Over 600000 students take the test each year in more than 170 countries.

Section 1 — Listening Comprehension measures the ability to recognize and understand English as it is spoken in North America.

Section 2 — Structure and Written Expression measures the ability to recognize important grammatical points in English.

Section 3 — Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension measures the ability to understand the meaning of words and phrases in written English as well as reading comprehension of passages from various academic subjects.

Tips on Section 1

The problems tested include vocabulary and structures that are most frequently used in English as it is spoken in North America.

Part А складається з питань, половина яких передає інформацію прямо та недвозначно. Проте друга половина питань може передавати непряму пораду, пропозицто i т.І, або містити фразеологічний (ідіоматичний) зворот. Такі більш складні структури складають уже 2/3 у Part В. Головною складністю Part С є обсяг текстів. Наведемо декілька прикладів:

Part A.

Приклад 1

Ви почуете: Не tasted the coffee. Вам треба вибрати одну з відповідей:

(A)Не took the whole fee

(B)Не tried the beverage

(C)The coffee was hot

(D)He had a test last week

Правильна відповідь — В. Не tried the beverage є власне перефразуванням: to taste — to try; coffee як один з видів beverages.

Приклад 2

Ви почуете: What are you going to do tomorrow? Відповіді:

(A)What are your plans for tomorrow?

(B)Will it rain tomorrow?

(C)What are you doing in the morning?

(D)Will you close the door?

Правильна відповідь — А, зворот to be going to передає плани на майбутне.

Приклад 3

Ви почуете: Isn't it an incredible journey! Відповіді:

(A)The journey is not very interesting.

(B)The journey is really amazing.

(C)I can't believe it's George.

(D)I don't like traveling.

Правильна відповідь — В, зазначена фраза — своєрідне риторичне питання (за змістом) та вигук (за формою).

Ще калька прикладів перефразування — every other year — every two years;

in a day — the day after tomorrow;

as soon as you graduate — after your graduation:

There was a two-fold increase — the increase doubled. Перевіряється знання таких зворотів, як, наприклад,

used to та to be used to ...ing:

Janis used to work hard — she worked hard in the past:

Janis isn't used to working so hard — she isn't accustomed to hard work (she has no habit)

умовних речень (звороти I wish ..., If only ...),

емфатичних зворотів (типу She herself didn't know what to do — she didn't know what to do, she had no idea what to do, або Never have you done such a thing - this is tlie first time you have done it.)

Part B.

Приклад 1

—What a nice picture! Did you paint it yourself, Sue?

—Well, it was my mother's idea, but I had John do it. Who painted the picture?

Відповіді:

(A) John's brother

(B) Sue's mother

(C) John

(D) Sue

Аби дата правильну відповідь — С — необхідно знати зворот to have / get something done. someone do something.

Приклад 2

—I'm thirsty.

—Could you bring some cold water? What does the woman offer the man to do?

(A) Bring some water (правильна в1дпов1дь)

(B) Close the door

(C) Bring some wine

(D) Call her on Thursday

Також можливі запитання типу:

What is the woman's (man's) occupation?

Where does this conversation (most probably) take place/occur? Наприклад,

—We'd like something for dessert.

—How about our house specialty — raspberry pie?

Where does the conversation (most probably) take place/occur?:

(A)In a supermarket

(B)In the garden

(C)In a restaurant (правильна відповідь)

(D)In the street

Певну складність становлять питания типу «What does the woman / man mean?» «What do we learn from the conversation?», «What could be inferred from this conversation?», «What does the woman/man imply?», коли питають про те, що мається на увазі, про що непрямо йдеться.

—The weather is perfect. Will you go to the beach?

—I guess so.

What does the woman mean?

(A)She doesn't like the weather

(B)She will probably go to the beach

(C)She doesn't agree with the man

(D)She thinks it's too hot

Правильна відповідь — В, вирази І guess so, I think so, I wouldn't say no to ... передають непряму згоду.

Окремо слід наголосити на розрізненні фразеологічних зворотів:

—I don't know whether Mark is kidding or not.

—He is always pulling my leg, too. What do we learn from a man's response?

(A) He thinks Mark is a good kid

(B) He has long legs

(C) He doesn't know if it is true

(D) He says Mark makes playful fun of him as well

Аби дати правильну відповідь D треба знати значення виразів to make fun, to kid, to pull someone's leg (обманювати).

Наведемо декілька типових фразеолопчних зворотів:

Для аудіювання пропонуються більш довгі бесіди та тексти науково-популярного характеру (уривки з лекцій, діалоги з життя студентів тощо). Наприклад:

The regulations of the Graduate School provide for two plans of study for the Master's degree. Plan A requires 24 hours of course work plus a written thesis. Plan В requires 30 hours of course work and submission of the more modest Master's essay.

It should be noted that, by devoting a third year to the Master's Program, it's usually possible for a student to complete both the Master's Program and the requirements for Secondary teaching certification. The coordinator of secondary teaching major will advise Master's Students interested in certification, and there is a checklist of requirements for the combined programs available in the department office.

What is the (main) topic of the text?

Відповіді:

(A)Two plans for M.A. studies (правильна відповідь)

(B)Teaching certification

(C)A new course

(D)Regulations for undergraduate students

Who is the speaker addressing?

(A)Educational specialists

(B)Pupils

(C)Students (правильна відповідь)

(D)Professors

(Можливе запитання: «Who is the speaker?»)

Which program demands a more serious thesis?

(A)Plan В

(B)Plans A and В

(C)Plan А (правильна відповідь)

(D)Secondary Teaching Certification

Where a checklist of the requirements for the combined programs can be found?

(A)Behind the department office.

(B)Near the department office

(C)At the dean's office

(D)In the department office (правильна відповідь)

Tips on Section 2

The language tested is formal, rather than conversational. The topics of the sentences are of a general academic nature.

Section 2 складається з двох частин, у першій треба додати частину речення, якої не вистачає, у другій

— знайти слово, конструкцію або зворот з помилкою. Корисно повторити такі сполучення як neither ...

nor, either ... or, both ... and, in spite of, despite, to approve of, to be aware of, to differ from, to be capable oL to interfere with. to be opposed to, to refer ta, to worry about, to distinguish between, to be known for. to be satisfied with, possibility of, exception to та iн.

Checklist for Section 2

1. Missing subject

... spend the winter in a state of hibernation.

(A)That many animals

(B)Because animals

(C)Many animals (правильна в1дпов1дь)

(D)While animals

2. Repeated subject

The students they will have to take the test. А В С D Відповідь — В

Chemicals used in the home they should be stored out of reach of children.

3. Verbs (tense, agreement or form)

The Universal Product Code ... in 1973.

(A)introduced

(B)is introduced

(C)was introduced (правильна відповідь)

(D)has been introduced

These devices have been first used in, 1890. А В С D

Відповідь — В (правильно were).

4. Pronouns (form or agreement)

She was a scientist whose studied anthropology as well as history. А В С D

Відповідь — В. Правильно — who.

5. —ING and —ED forms

I enjoy to speak foreign languages. А В С D

Відповідь — В (після слова enjoy вживаеться герундій — speaking). They were ... in our publications.

(A)interesting

(B)interest

(C)interested

(D)to be interested Відповідь — C.

216 Appendix XI

6. Articles and Singular/Plural Nouns

The oxygen is known to be the most abundant element. А В С D Відповідь — A.

American university degrees are awarded on completion of a specified amount of courses А В

which earn students credits.

СD

Відповідь — В (правильно — number)

7. Comparatives and superlatives.

The more we studied the subject, ... we liked it.

(A)the least

(B)less

(C)at least

(D)the less Відповідь — D.

8. Word forms (nouns, verbs, adjectives or adverbs).

Electronics is the. world's most important industrialization. А В С D

Відповідь — D (правильно — industry).

9. Vocabulary usage.

I looked at a. movie on television today. А В С D Відповідь — А (правильно — watched

to look — подивитися, поглянути to watch — дивитися досить довго). Strange as it may seem. I have very little knowledge in electricity.

А В C D Відповідь — D (правильно — knowledge of).

10. Conditional sentences.

If it will rain, I'll come and meet you in the car. А В С D Відповідь — В (правильно — if it rains, ... ).

If there were no unemployment we will not have the amount of crime we have today. A B C D

Відповідь — В (правильно — would).

11. Unnecessary repetition

The invention of the. laser greatly expanded the power of scientific researh tremendously. А В С D

Відповідь — D (greatly та tremendously означають одне i те саме).

12. Parallel structures

These people are famous for their unique language, colorful costumes, and independent. А В С D

Відповідь — D (правильно — independence).

13. Word order

This process requires the use of 10 muscles different. А В С D Відповідь — D (правильно — different muscles).

Корисно запам'ятати правило порядку слів у словосполученні, яке складається з багатьох компонентів:

OpShACOM — Opinion, Shape, Age, Color, Origin, Material an interesting new American magazine.

opinion age origin

Tips on Section 3

This section tests the ability to understand meanings of words and reading materials.

Part A.

Example

An event of momentous proportion prevented me from arriving on time.

(A)important

(B)trivial

(C)strong

(D)influential

Відповідь — А. Зверніть увагу на т.зв. «фальшивих друзів перекладача» типу:

Part В.

1.All information needed to answer the questions is given in the passages.

2.Previous vocabulary knowledge is helpful for the readings. The topics are usually from science and technology (55%), arts (music, literature — 25%), U.S. Government and History (20%). Therefore, any extensive reading in these areas is helpful.

3.There are seven types of questions which normally occur:

a) main idea

(The main theme of the passage is ... , What does the passage mainly discuss? With what topic is the passage mainly concerned?

What is the main topic of the passage?

Which of the following is the best title for the passage? etc.)

b)factual (dates, figures etc.)

c)inference

(What is the author's viewpoint/attitude/tone? It can be inferred from the passage that ... The author implies that ... )

d)vocabulary;

e)asking what a word refers to;

f)identifying what the author did NOT say;

g)asking the topic of the previous or following paragraph.

4. Extensive paraphrasing is used.

5. There are several strategies. Use the one that you think works best for you.

Strategy #1

a)Scan the entire passage for general meaning. Don't worry about understanding every word.

b)Now read the passage carefully.

c)Read each question and scan back for the answer.

SAMPLE ESSAY

The key to protecting the environment is action. We all must work together to make the environment as clean and healthy as possible. Give specific reasons why.

Environmentalists say that protecting the health of our planet will help us all. However, it is realty hard to change our lives enough to prevent global pollution. The biggesttrouble, for example, with most air pollutants is that they are invisible. That makes it difficult to see 'how dangerous they are.

Consider such dangerous pollutant as carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide comes from things we do every day like driving cars. A gallon of gasoline weight eight founds. If you burn it in the engine of a car it releases more than five founds of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide. Even our gas stoves give off carbon dioxide.

New kinds of cars and furnaces that run on solar power or wind power or some other kind of renewable energy will help conserve scarce fuel and reduce the amount of pollutants being released into our air, land, and water. But while we an waiting for those kiwis of things to come along, we need to use less gas, oil and coal It’s true that we probably can’t give up cars altogether — hut we can

use them less. People could walk and bike many more places than they do now. At least, they could drive small cars that use less gas.

Now тапy people are fighting for the environment, but despite the work of many people, each year the health of our earth get worse. Unless we are willing to work on saving the environment, it will probably keep getting worse. But if we choose to care about our planet, we could leave the world greener than we found it