TOEFL Basic Skills Lesson Description

Teacher Notes / Vocabulary
New vocabulary learned during the lesson may be assigned as sentence homework.
Grammar Points / Next Lesson
Anything we noticed during the lesson that needs to be addressed will be listed here. / List focus points for the next lesson
Section / Classroom / Homework
Speaking / - Check transcripts from homework speaking assignment.
- Organize ideas and offer suggestions
- Assign a new speaking task
15-20 minutes / - Listen to the speaking recording several times
- Write the answer word-for-word to the best of your ability
- Bring the transcripts to class for correction
1 hour
Listening / - Listen to the day's recording all the way through
- Answer the corresponding questions
- Play the track through a second time, stopping frequently to check understanding and details. Replay if necessary.
20-25 minutes / No Homework
Reading / - Check homework from the reading chart
- Look at new vocabulary words and identify important ones
- Assign important words as sentence homework
20 minutes / - Homework is from the reading chart
- Read the passage quickly the first time, practicing the techniques of skimming and scanning
- Answer the questions
- Read the passage a second time to fully understand the meaning.
- Make a vocabulary list of unknown words and bring it in to class
1 ½ hours
Writing / There will always be an ongoing writing assignment to check. Homework will come from the Essay Topics list and some essays may take several lessons to complete.
20 minutes / Continuous writing homework
1-2 hours

Homework Chart

Reading Section

1
Factual / non-Factual
Questions / 2
Vocabulary
Questions / 3
Inference
Questions / 4
Purpose, Method, Opinion Q's / 5
Sentence Restatement
Questions / 6
Reference
Questions / 7
Sentence Addition Questions / 8
Completing Summaries / Charts / 9
Vocabulary
Builders
30-32
Q: 1-10 / 50-52
Passages 1-3 / 64-66
Q: 1-15 / 85-87
Passages 1-2
Q: 1-11 / 103-105
Q: 1-16 / 116-119
Q: 1-18 / 135-137
Q: 1-2 / 156-159
Passages 1-2 / 188-190
Exercise 1
Q: 1-16
32-33
Q: 11-20 / 53-54
Passages 4-6 / 66-67
Passage 1
Q: 1-5 / 87-89
Passages 3-4
Q: 12-20 / 106-107
Passages 1-2
Q: 1-2 / 119-120
Passage 1
Q: 1-6 / 138-139
Q: 3-5 / 160-164
Passages 3-4 / 190-192
Exercise 2
Q: 1-15
33-34
Q: 21-30 / 54-56
Passage 1
Q: 1-11 / 68-70
Passage 2
Q: 6-15 / 89-91
Passages 5-7
Q: 21-31 / 107-109
Passages 3-4
Q: 3-4 / 121-122
Passage 2
Q: 7-10 / 139-140
Q: 6-8 / 164-166
Passage 5 / 192-194
Exercise 3
Q: 1-16
35-38
Q: 1-11 / 56-58
Passage 2
Q: 12-18 / 71-73
Passage 3
Q: 16-23 / 91-94
Passage 1
Q: 1-7 / 109-110
Passages 5-6
Q: 5-6 / 122-123
Passage 3
Q: 11-15 / 141
Q: 9-10 / 167-170
Passages 1-2 / 194-196
Exercise 4
Q: 1-18
38-40
Q: 12-18 / 58-59
Passage 3
Q: 19-26 / 73-77
Passage 4
Q: 24-34 / 94-97
Passages 2-3
Q: 8-13 / 110-112
Passages 7-8
Q: 7-8 / 123-124
Passage 4
Q: 16-20 / 142-143
Q: 11-14 / 170-173
Passages 3-4 / 196- 199
Exercise 5
Q: 1-21
40-42
Q: 19-26 / 60-61
Passage 4
Q: 27-33 / 77-80
Passage 5
Q: 35-42 / 97-99
Passage 4
Q: 14-21 / 112-114
Passages 9-10
Q: 9-10 / 124-126
Passage 5
Q: 21-29 / 143-145
Q: 15-20 / 173-174
Passage 5 / 199-202
Exercise 6
Q: 1-20
43-45
Q: 27-33 / 61-62
Passage 5
Q: 34-41 / 202-204
Exercise 7
Q: 1-16 / 99-101
Passage 5
Q: 22-27 / 204-207
Exercise 8
Q: 1-17 / 127-130
Passage 6
Q: 30-41 / 145-146
Q: 21-22 / 207-209
Exercise 9
Q: 1-13 / 209-211
Exercise 10
Q: 1-14
45-47
Q: 34-43 / 211-214
Exercise 11
Q: 1-18 / 214-216
Exercise 12
Q: 1-16 / 216-217
Exercise 13
Q: 1-15 / 218-221
Exercise 14
Q: 1-21 / 221-223
Exercise 15
Q: 1-18 / 223-226
Exercise 16
Q: 1-17 / 226-228
Exercise 17
Q: 1-15
TOEFL Listening Schedule (Basic Skills)
A
Disc 1 – Track 3
Sample Question
Pages 258-261
5:02 / B
Disc 1 – Track 4
Exercise 9.1
Pages 261-265
10:38 / C
Disc 2 – Track 3
Sample Item 1
Pages 276-277
1:35 / D
Disc 2 – Track 4
Sample Item 2
Pages 277-279
1:46 / E
Disc 2 – Track 5
Sample Item 3
P: 279-280
1:29
F
Disc 2 – Track 6
Sample Item 4
P: 280 – 282
2:05 / G
Disc 2 – Track 7
Exercise 10.1
P: 282 – 289
23:11 / H
Disc 3 – Track 3
Sample Item 1
P: 304 – 305
1:13 / I
Disc 3 – Track 4
Sample Item 2
P: 306 – 307
1:22 / J
Disc 3 – Track 5
Sample Item 3
P: 307 – 308
1:02
K
Disc 3 – Track 6
Exercise 11.1
P: 308 – 311
9:06 / L
Disc 4 – Track 2
Exercise 11.2
P: 311 – 317
23:16 / M
Disc 4 – Track 3
Lesson 12 Replay Q's
P: 318 – 319
1:49 / N
Disc 4 – Track 4
Sample Item
P: 319 – 320
:31 / O
Disc 4 – Track 5
Exercise 12.1
P: 320 – 321
3:55
P
Disc 4 – Track 6
Exercise 12.2
P: 321 – 329
12:10 / Q
Disc 4 – Track 7
Exercise 12.3
P: 329 - 338
12:34 / R
Disc 4 – Track 8
Sample Item 1
P: 329 - 341
1:51 / S
Disc 4 – Track 9
Sample Item 2
P: 341 - 342
2:01 / T
Disc 5 – Track 3
Sample Item
P: 357 - 358
3:25

TOEFL Basic Skills First Essay Topics

*Sample Question: In general, people are living longer now. Discuss the causes of this phenomenon. Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.

1. You have enough money to purchase either a house or a business. Which would you choose to buy? Give specific reasons to explain you choice.

2. Some students prefer to study alone. Others prefer to study with a group of students. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

3. What are some of the qualities of a good parent? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

4. When students move to a new school, they sometimes face problems. How can schools help these students with their problems? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

5. People recognize a difference between children and adults. What events (experiences or ceremonies) make a person an adult? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

6. When famous people such as actors, athletes and rock stars give their opinions, many people listen. Do you think we should pay attention to these opinions? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

7. Some people prefer to spend their free time outdoors. Other people prefer to spend their leisure time indoors. Would you prefer to be outside or would you prefer to be inside for your leisure activities? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your choice.

8. A gift (such as a camera, a soccer ball, or an animal) can contribute to a child's development. What gift would you give to help a child develop? Why? Use reasons and specific examples to support your choice.

9. Some high schools require all students to wear school uniforms. Other high schools permit students to decide what to wear to school. Which of these two school policies do you think is better? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

10. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Only people who earn a lot of money are successful. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

11. A person you know is planning to move to your town or city. What do you think this person would like and dislike about living in your town or city? Why? Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.

List of English Prefixes

Prefix
/
General Meaning
/
Example
a(n)- / not , without / amoral , anarchy
acr(o)- / high, up / Acrobat
aer(o)- / air / aeronautics, aeroplane , aerodynamics
agr(o)- / relating to farming / agriculture
Anglo- / English or British / Anglo-Saxon
anthrop(o)- / relating to human beings / anthropology
ant(i)- / against / antidote, antibody
aut(o)- / self / autonomy, autobiography, automobile,autopilot
bar(o)- / atmosphere / barometer
bi- / two / bicycle , bilingual, biannual
bi(o)- / life / biology , biography , biosphere , biotechnology
bibli(o)- / relating to books / bibliophile , bibliography
cardi(o)- / heart / cardiovascular
cent-, centi - / hundred or hundredth / centimeter, centipede , century
chron(o)- / time / chronology, chronological order
circum- / around / circumference
co- / together / cooperative, cohabitation
com-, con-, col-, cor- / with, together / conference, connotation, context, Congress, congregation
contr(a)-, contr(o) / against, opposite / contradiction, controversy
counter- / against, opposite / counterpoint, counterweight
crypt(o)- / hidden / Cryptography, cryptic
de- / taking something away, the opposite / decentralization , deforestation , dehydration
dec(a)-, dek(a)- / ten / Decade, decathlon
deci - / one tenth / Deciliter, decimate
dem(o)- / people, nation / demographics, democracy
derm(o)-, derm(a)-, dermat- / skin / dermatology, dermatitis
dynam(o)- / power , force / dynamic, dynamite
dis- / reverse , opposite / dissent , discovery , disambiguation
dys- / bad, deformed, abnormal / dysfunctional
eco- / house / economy, ecology, ecosystem,
electr(o)- / electricity / electrocution
ex- / former / ex-wife, ex-president
ex(o)- / outside / exoskeleton
extra- / very, more than usual, outside, beyond / extra-thin, extra-special
extraordinary, extraterrestrial
flor(i)- / relating to flowers / florist
fore- / before, in advance / foresight, foreshadowing
hyper- / excessive / hyperactive, hypertension
hyp(o)- / below, / hypodermic
in-, il-, im-, ir- / not / infallibility, illiteracy, immoral, irrelevant
inter- / between, from one to another / intervention, international
intra- / within, interior / intramural, intravenous
kilo - / thousand / kilogram, kilowatt
mal- / bad, badly / malpractice, malnutrition
mega -, megal- / million , very large / megabyte, megaphone
micro - / one millionth, very small / micro gram, microorganism
mid- / in the middle of / mid-term elections , Mid-Autumn Festival , Mid-Atlantic Ridge
milli - / thousandth / milligram , milliliter
mini- / small / miniskirt, minuscule
mis- / bad , wrong / Misdemeanor, mistake, mischief
mon(o)- / one , single / monorail, monotony, monocle
multi- / many / multicultural, multilingual
non- / not / nonsense
oct(o)-, oct(a)- / eight / Octopus, octagon
out- / more, to a greater degree / to outdo, to outrun
over- / more than normal, too much / overpopulation , over-consumption
post- / after / Postmodern, post game show
pre- / before / prediction , preview , precedent , prenatal care
pro- / for, in favour of / pro-choice, pro-life, promotion
quadr-, quart- / four / quadruplet,
re- / again, repeatedly / reduction , reflection , revolution
semi- / half / Semi-circle, semi-detached
sub- / below, less than, under,(least to greatest in order: hypo, sub, super, hyper) / subway , subtitles
super- / extremely, more than / superhuman , Superego , supersonic
syn- / along with, together, at the same time / Synchronized swimming
tel(e)-, tel(o)- / far, over a long distance / telecommunications, television, telephone
trans- / across, beyond / Transfer, transatlantic , Trans-Siberian railway
tri- / three / triangle, tricolor
ultra- / extremely, beyond a certain limit / Ultraviolet
un- / not, opposite, take something away / unconstitutional, undelete
uni- / one , single / uniform , unification
zoo- (" zoo -oh") / relating to animals / zoology
List of English Suffixes
Suffix / Meaning / Example
-agogy / leading / demagogy
-archy / rule, leadership / anarchy
-cide / murder, killing agent / suicide , regicide
-cracy / rule, government / democracy
-cycle / circle, cycle / bicycle
-ess / female / actress , waitress , stewardess
-ful / full of, having some or much / hopeful , useful
-holic / love , addiction / alcoholic
-ism / doctrine, act, practice, condition / alcoholism , Buddhism , southernisms
-ist / person / dentist
-itis / disease, inflammation / hepatitis , gingivitis
-less / lack of / homeless , useless
-ly -like / having the attributes of / Quickly, surprisingly
-mania / an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action / pyromania
-oid / resembling / paranoid
-ology / study, science / paleontology
-onomy / knowledge of / astronomy
-phobia / fear / acrophobia
-phone / sound, audio / telephone
-science / knowing / omniscience
-scope / view / microscope , telescope
-ship / circle, state of being / friendship , relationship
-wise / direction / clockwise
Noun Endings
-tion / creation / -cracy / democracy
-dom / freedom / -ity / reality
-ship / relationship / -hood / childhood
-ery / recovery / -ness / willingness
-ence / patience / -logy / biology
-tude / altitude / -ment / movement
-ism / mannerism
Adjective Endings
-ate / moderate / -ing / boring
-ous / luminous / -ed / tired
-al / normal / -able / laughable
-ible / Sensible / -ish / Sluggish
-ile / Senile / -y / Happy
-ic / Economic / -ical / Logical
-ial / Serial / -ory / Sensory
-less / Tireless / -ive / competitive
-ly / Friendly / -ful / colorful
Adverb Endings
-ly / Quickly / -ally / enthusiastically
Verb Endings
-ize / Realize / -ify / Notify
-en / Widen / -ate / Tolerate
-er / Discover