4. Even though the school is struggling as __________ lack of funds, it is
expected to continue to operate, due to the immense popularity among the
local residents.
A. the result of a
B. result a
C. result
D. result of
5. One of Cuba’s major sources of income is raising the sugar.
6. A brilliant presenter, __________ used to draw a tremendous crowd, but now
the amount of money he is charging is considered too high.
A. always
B. he
C. be
D. he was
7. In spite of the antagonistic display by their opponents’ supporters,
__________ city commissioners tried to keep reason and calm at the
forefront.
A. the three incumbent
B. a three incumbent
C. three incumbently
D. the incumbent three
8. Modern outboard boat engines frequently are sold with pump that
automatically mixes oil with gasoline.
9. Whether there should be more control over handguns __________ long been
a topic of debate in the United States.
A. having
B. has
C. is
D. have
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Part III: Detailed Review of Items Tested

low the tide is.
4. A: the result of a. This is an idiomatic expression.
5. D: the. Sugar is being used as a general statement, meaning all sugar.
6. B: he. He used to means he was accustomed to doing something in the past. He
was used to would have to be following by a verb+ing.
7. A: the three incumbent. The article the is necessary because it is specific and
makes sense with the ordinal number three. Incumbent is an adjective because it
modifies commissioners, which in this case is also modified by city.
8. B: with pump. It would make sense to say with a pump.
9. B: has. The sentence requires a conjugated verb, so having makes no sense. It is
not passive, so is makes no sense. The subject is whether, so the verb must be
singular.
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Structure
A
B
C
D
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10 . B: Henry Jones found it difficult. The second clause needs a clause beginning
with a subject. Because the sentence begins with a participle, having, the subject
of the second clause must be the same person or thing as the subject of the origi-
nal sentence.
11. B: he. After the relative pronoun who, it is not correct to have another pronoun.
The word should be omitted.
12 . A: the. The expression is one of the. The answer only would have been correct if
it had been followed by a (only a few).
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Part III: Detailed Review of Items Tested
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title, or what you can infer from the reading passage. Keep in mind that questions
asking for the main idea of a passage or a good title for the passage are essentially
the same question. You must determine the overall meaning of the entire passage
and not be tricked into identifying some specific detail.
The main idea is just what it says: the principal thought that the passage conveys.
The main idea is the one major concept that pervades the entire passage. Look at
the entire passage and watch for the topic that is discussed in every paragraph.
Don’t be confused by a detail or even a subtopic. The answer to the questions ask-
ing you to identify the main idea will be very general.
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Sometimes the TOEFL test asks you to identify the author’s purpose in presenting
an idea in the passage. These questions ask you to identify why the author gave
the information. When you encounter a question about purpose, ask yourself what
the writer was trying to accomplish. What positive effect does the information in
the passage provide?
Studying the Details
As you read, concentrate on the main idea and don’t dwell on the details. You will
be able to return to the passage and reread sections that deal with specific details.
Generally, questions are asked in order of how information is presented in the pas-
sage, so you should be able to skim back through the reading and find the details
you need. Questions on details require a strong understanding of vocabulary, be-
cause frequently different words will be used in the question than are used in the
passage.
Some detail questions will ask you to identify the correct drawing, picture, graph, or
other depiction that explains something that was covered in the reading. You may
also be asked to match or organize items to show your understanding of the passage.
Testing Your Vocabulary
On previous versions of the TOEFL test, vocabulary was tested independently, out
of context. Now, vocabulary is tested in context, which means that you have the
context of the entire reading passage to assist you in determining the meaning of a

Meaning: The men turned their eyes away from the accident. (See –vert in
the “Roots” section later in the chapter.)
The man’s skin growth was abnormal.
Meaning: The man’s skin growth was not normal.
The women abducted the young boy.
Meaning: The women led the boy away, meaning she kidnapped him.
Sheila was absent yesterday.
Meaning: Sheila was not present yesterday.
It is atypical.
Meaning: It is not typical.
a- or an-
The prefix a- can have another meaning, which is the same as the meaning of the
prefix an As the following examples show, this prefix means “without.”
It is amorphous.
Meaning: It is without shape.
It is anhydrous.
Meaning: It is without water.
He is amoral.
Meaning: He is without morals.
155
Reading
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It is aseptic.
Meaning: It is without disease-causing microorganisms.
ad-
The prefix ad- means “to” or “toward.” When this prefix is attached to a root that
starts with certain letters — d, f, g, l, m, q, r, s, and t — the d drops out and the
first letter of the root is repeated. For example, when ad- is added to the root -fix,
the resulting word is affix (rather than adfix); the d drops out and the letter f is
repeated. Verbs that contain this prefix are often followed by the preposition to

Meaning: This is the exact opposite of that.
They say that Mary is antisocial.
Meaning: They say that Mary is the opposite of social; she is not sociable.
bi-
The prefix bi- means “two.”
James fell off his bicycle.
Meaning: James fell off his two-wheeled cycle.
He is serving on the bipartisan committee.
Meaning: He is serving on the committee consisting of two political parties.
The legislature is bicameral.
Meaning: The legislature has two chambers.
He used the binoculars to see the distant figures.
Meaning: He used the optical device for two eyes to see the distant figures.
We need to complete the biweekly bulletin.
Meaning: We need to complete the bulletin that comes out every two weeks.
circum-
The prefix circum- means “around” or “on all sides.”
The circumference of the circle is two inches.
Meaning: The length of the boundary around the circle is two inches.
Please stop trying to evade the issue with circumlocution.
Meaning: Please stop trying to evade the issue by speaking around what you
mean.
157
Reading
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Everybody please circumscribe the correct answer on your paper.
Meaning: Everybody please draw a circle around the correct answer on your
paper.
They circumnavigated the globe.
Meaning: They sailed around the globe.

She deducted forty dollars from the total cost of the coat.
Meaning: She subtracted (marked down) forty dollars from the total cost of
the coat.
They debarked the ship peacefully.
Meaning: They came down from the ship peacefully.
The dead plants began to decay.
Meaning: The dead plants began to break down to basic parts.
dis-
Dis- means “apart” or “away.”
The boys dissected the frog.
Meaning: The boys took the frog apart.
She dissented from the majority opinion.
Meaning: She voted apart from the majority opinion.
The employer dismissed the staff member.
Meaning: The employer sent the staff member away.
The materials dissipated.
Meaning: The materials separated or moved away from each other.
He is a dissident.
Meaning: His ideas are apart from those of the majority.
dys-
The prefix dys- means “bad,” “faulty,” “difficulty,” or “illness.”
He was suffering from dysentery.
Meaning: He was suffering from an illness of the large intestine.
159
Reading
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