Sunday, July 27, 2008

How to Answer Reading Questions

The answer to the question in the title may be dependent on what type of reading question it is, for what purpose (TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, exams, etc.), in what format the question is presented and many others. Reading comprehension section in TOEFL, for instance, investigates a bunch of areas like main idea, details (stated or implied), paragraph structure, vocabulary, etc. The questions in this section will be then designed in various formats depending on their objectives. Irrespective of different types of questions, formats, and etc., however, I happened to find some general (quite practical though) tips for handling questions with reading passages from http://www.eduplace.com.

First

  • Concentrate. Put aside your worries and distractions. Get ready to get down to business!
  • Don't rely too much on prior knowledge. Although you may know about the subject, the information that is presented will be the source from which your answer should come.

Second

  • Read the question first. Why read the question before the passage? Because it saves time to know what you are reading for!
  • Make sure you understand the question. What kind of information will you need to gather when you read? Will you be looking for facts? Or will you be using the passage to come up with your own answer?
  • Read the passage. Read the passage as quickly as you can. Look for the answer as you read. When you find it, take notice of it, but -- and this is important -- don't stop reading yet! Read to the end. That way you can be sure that your answer is the best, most complete answer possible. If you are reading the passage in order to provide a written response, read more carefully. Make sure you understand everything.
  • Providing the answer. Feel free to look back at the passage to double-check your answer.

If You Didn't Find the Answer

  • Try again. Reread the question and the passage. Be sure you know what you are being asked to think about, before you reread.
  • Skip the question. If you still can't find or figure out the answer, skip the question. You can come back to it after you've finished the rest of the test.
I'm hoping that you can try to apply some or even all of those and see if they work for you.
Good luck with answering reading questions.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

How to Learn English

  1. You are like a new baby
    This is how we should learn a new language. Learn how babies acquire the language. They learn their language slowly. You can't impossibly expect to master a foreign language within days. It takes times. So, be patient and persevere. First babies learn to listen. Then they learn to talk. Finally, they can read and write. Those are the gradual stages you have to follow through.

  2. Listen to English every day
    There are lots of resources, especially online, that can benefit you in learning how to listen to English speeches. Listen to English radio. Watch English TV. Go to English movies. Use online lessons. Visit youtube.com and watch news or any video that can help upgrade your listening skills.

  3. Make an English/ESL friend
    Since a language is a means of communication, then you need a communication partner to learn it. SO, try making up conversations. Practice dialogs. Use beginner textbooks. Use skype.cast to make friends with foreigners. Practice chatting with them.

  4. Read English stories
    To improve your reading skills and enrich your vocabulary, read any English books. Start with children's storybooks. Try ESL readers. Read advertisements, signs and labels.
    Try EnglishClub.com for Young Learners. Just go online, and you can get a whole bunch of reading resources in English.

  5. Write down new words
    As an English learner, you need to be able to write, too. All you have to do to exercise this skill is write, write, and write. Start a vocabulary (new word) notebook. Write words in alphabetical order (A...B...C...). Make example sentences. Always use an English-English dictionary first. Throw away your bilingual dictionaries. They don't help you whatsoever.

  6. Keep an English diary
    You can also practice writing by keeping your personal diary IN ENGLISH. Start with one sentence like How do you feel? What did you do today? Then write another sentence tomorrow. You can also try to make a blog in English.

  7. Visit an English speaking country
    This is probably one of the most pricey ways of learning English, that is, go to an English speaking country like England, Australia, America, or many others. Stay with an English family. Hear native speakers talk. Practice your English with them. Have a fun experience.
Adapted from http://www.englishclub.com/learn-english-how.htm

Practical Tips of Taking TOEFL

1. Familiarize yourself with the three TOEFL formats (Internet-based, Computer-based, Paper-based)

Make sure you find out which test you will be taking before you start studying for the TOEFL. Most of the types of questions are similar, although there are a few new questions that can only be answered on a computer. The iBT and CBT use visual stimuli and have a written portion.

2. Research TOEFL score requirements

If you take the TOEFL in order to apply to a specific school or program, find out what the requirements are for the schools you are interested in going to. Remember that the scores for the paper based test are different than the scores for the CBT and iBT. The average minimum score required is approximately 550 (paper test) or 215 (CBT) or 70 (iBT). Many universities expect you to achieve higher writing skills than speaking skills. TOEFL scores are only valid for two years.

3. Learn academic English

TOEFL is used for a different purpose than other ESL tests. The TOEFL measures your ability to succeed in an American university or college. You don't have to know about the business world as you do in the TOEIC test. Instead, you should concentrate on studying language that you would hear on campus and terms that you would hear in the classroom. You should read textbooks, encyclopaedias, journals and research articles rather than advertisements and resumes.

4. Use practice tests

The best way to prepare for the TOEFL is to practice doing the tests. Find a textbook that has exercises, vocabulary, practice tests, CDs, and explanatory answers. Work on the sections that you find most challenging. Don't just rely on one book. You might have a book that is much easier than the official TOEFL. Look for free samples on the Internet to supplement your textbook.

5. Find a mentor

A reliable native English teacher who knows a lot about the TOEFL is one of the best resources a student can have. You will have many questions that your textbook can't answer for you. If you cannot afford a teacher or a tutor, find a student who has studied for the test before.

6. Build up your stamina

The TOEFL test takes a long time to write. If you are taking the paper based test it will take you about 2.5 hours. The iBT and CBT are much longer. You can expect to be at the computer for 4 hours. Many students have an attention span of about two hours. Remind yourself that it is a long test a few days before test day. It is absolutely necessary that you get a good night's sleep before this test. You cannot afford to be tired.

7. Arrive prepared

If you arrive at the test center with all of the things you need, you will feel calm and ready. If you are writing the paper based test you should have a number of pencils, a pencil sharpener, and a few erasers that don't smudge. You will also need a pen to write the essay on the CBT if you choose not to type it. It is also important that your identification looks valid. If you have had problems with your ID before, make sure to bring a backup photo. Don't forget any paper work that ETS sends you to prove that you have registered.

8. Pace yourself

Wear a watch. This is especially important if you are taking the paper based test. Some exam rooms do not have clocks. The CBT has a clock on the screen, however, you should still wear a watch to make sure that you arrive on time! Watch your time very closely. You should never spend longer than a minute on one question. You will only have 30 minutes to write the essay at the end of the CBT. Spend at least 5 minutes planning your essay. Save at least 5 minutes to check your work.

9. Use the tutorials

On the CBT there are tutorials to help you understand how to answer the questions properly. Don't skip the tutorials. You get extra time to use them. They will help you to feel comfortable.

10. Learn about the CAT (computer adaptive testing)

The first two sections of the CBT are computer adaptive. That means that you will be given a few questions that are of medium difficulty. After you answer those questions, the computer will determine which questions to give you next. The first 10-15 questions in each part are extremely important. If you answer these correctly, your score will be much higher.

11. Answer every question

Never leave a question blank. Eliminate all of the answers you know are wrong and then make an educated guess. On the CBT, you cannot skip a question and go back to it. You have to answer a question and confirm that you are happy with your answer. You cannot change your answers, so double check to be sure. The reading section is not computer adaptive. You can skip or change questions, but only if you have extra time. You can always go back and change questions on the paper test, but students rarely have time to do this.

12. Secrets for the Listening section

Don't look back at a listening question after you have decided on an answer. You should always try to read ahead. If you know the questions before you hear the passage you will have a head start. In the TOEFL iBT you are allowed to take notes. This in not permitted for the paper and computer based TOEFL. On the real test you will only hear everything once. You have to train your ears to listen right the first time.

13. Secrets for the Structure section

This section has been eliminated for the TOEFL iBT. You do not need to study for this section unless you are taking an old version of the TOEFL. Many students say that this is the most difficult part of the TOEFL test. The important thing is that you can identify the parts of the sentence. Always make sure that every sentence has a subject and a verb. Look at the punctuation in the sentence. You should be able to recognize the structure (for example, prepositional phrase or noun clause) even if you don't understand what the sentence means.

14. Secrets for the Reading section

Just like in the structure section, it is not important that you know every word in the reading section. Concentrate on the areas that the questions pertain to. Skim through the passage, read the questions, then read for more detail. The questions usually come in the order they appear in the passage. Anticipate the type of questions you will be asked in this section. At least 60 percent of the readings will have a main idea question. You will be asked at least two vocabulary questions from each reading. You will also be asked some detailed questions and some inference questions. You will not have time to reread a whole passage.

15. Secrets for the Writing section

You will have 30 minutes to write the essay on the CBT. The paper based tests is sometimes accompanied by the TWE (Test of Written English). You will not have access to a spell check function on the CBT. The most important thing is to keep your writing simple and clear. Don't use vocabulary and punctuation that you are unsure of. You will not impress the reader. When you practice for this section, find a format that you are comfortable with. Use this format every time. Always leave time to review what you have written. Read your essay silently in your head.

16. Make your corrections clear

If you are taking the paper test, remember that a machine will be marking your test. Only one circle must be filled in. Fill it in all the way using a sharp dark pencil. If you erase something, make sure it is completely erased. Many students lose points for being sloppy with their pencils and erasers.

17. Dress in comfortable clothing

Dress in comfortable layers on test day. You never know whether or not the test room will be cold or warm. Wear your favourite shirt. When you feel comfortable you perform better! Don't wear tight clothing. You have to sit in one place for a long time.

18. Make sure to eat before the test

Four hours is a long time to go without a snack. You will not be allowed to bring any food or drinks into the test room with you. Eat a sensible meal before you take the test. Avoid too much caffeine as it will give you the shakes. Don't consume large amounts of sugar right before the test. You will get tired very quickly.

19. Refer to the official TOEFL website

The official TOEFL website ( www.toefl.com) has a number of helpful things that you can download for free. They will supply you with a list of writing topics for the essay. You can also find important information about test centers and test updates. Many of your questions can be answered here. You will also get hints about which resources are worth buying.

20. Scores

Scores for the iBT are available online 15 days after you take the test. For paper based and computer based TOEFL contact the test center and ask for a Score Report Request Form. You can choose four institutions where you want your score to be sent to free of charge. You should bring this information with you on test day. If you are taking the CBT you will know your Listening and Reading score. You won't find out your Structure/Writing score until you get this information in the mail. If you wait until after test day, you will be charged approximately 12 US dollars for each institution that you wish to receive your score.

Abridged from http://www.englishclub.com/esl-exams/ets-toefl-tips.htm

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

TOEFL Written Expressions

Written Expressions Section is part of Paper-Based TOEFL (either institutional or international). In this section, all you have to do is locate a part of sentence (which is underlined) that is wrong. Note that all sentences below are ungrammatical. In the real TOEFL questions though, there is an alphabet like A, B, etc. below the underlined part.


1. More and 90 percent of the calcium in the human body is in the skeleton.

2. Perhaps the most popular film in movie history, Star Wars was written and direction by George Lucas.

3. Some animal activities, such as mating, migration, and hibernate have a yearly cycle.

4. Geographers were once concerned largely with exploring areas unknown to them and from describing distinctive features of individual places.

5. In his animated films, Walt Disney created animals that talk and act like people while retaining its animal traits.

6. The first city in the United States that put into effect major plan for the clustering, of government buildings was Washington, D.C.

7. In a microwave oven, radiation penetrates food and is then absorbed primarily by water molecules, caused heat to spread through the food.

8. The cultures early of the genus Homo were generally distinguished by regular use of stone tools and by a hunting and gathering economy.

9. Dolphins are sleek and powerful swimmers that found in all seas and unlike porpoises, have well defined, beaklike snouts and conical teeth.

10. The velocity of a river is river is controlled by the slope, the depth, and the tough of the riverbed.


Want to give a shot to answer them? Let me know your answers and I'll get back to you with responses.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Count & Non-Count Nouns

Nouns in almost all languages fall into two categories: count and non-count noun--some grammar books call them countable and uncountable noun.

Countable nouns are individual nouns (objects) which can be counted like computer, campus, country, house, etc. They can be both singular (a computer, a campus, a country, a house, etc.) or plural (a few computers, some campuses, many countries, two houses, etc.).

Uncountable nouns are are not individual objects and cannot be counted like information, water, rice, sand, etc. They are always singular (NOT lots of informations, two waters, a lot of rices, some sands, etc.).

Some countable nouns in your language(s) are uncountable in English. They include: accommodation, advice, baggage, bread, equipment, furniture, garbage, information, knowledge, luggage, money, news, pasta, progress, research, travel, work.

Actually, you can express the plurality of certain uncountable nouns by adding some measurements, for example:

water - a glass of water
equipment - a piece of equipment
bread - a slice (loaf) of bread
accommodation - a place to stay
advice - a piece of advice
baggage - a piece of baggage
furniture - a piece of furniture
garbage - a piece of garbage
information - a piece of information
luggage - a piece of luggage,
pasta - a plate of pasta, a serving of pasta
water - a glass, a bottle, a jug of water
meat - a piece, a slice, a pound of meat
butter - a bar of butter
ketchup - a bottle of, a tube of ketchup, etc.

Now, what you have to do is decide whether each of the following words is countable or uncountable.
1. blog
2. internet
3. e-mail
4. laptop
5. intelligence
6. chatroom
7. letter
8. layout
9. setting
10. podcast

As always, send your answers to me and I'll get back to you ASAP.
Good luck.

Friday, July 11, 2008

General Vocabulary Test

Let me update you with another English test that will help brush up on your English skills. It's been quite a few days I haven't updated this blog since the blogspot system considered it as a spam and needed some time to review it.
Anyway, this time, the focus of the exercise is on general vocabulary. Look at the pair of the sentences below and find a word that can fit to each fair.

1. a. You need to _____ the car's seat so that you can sit on it comfortably.
b. The administration have some problems in _____ing to the new system.

2. a. Your shirt is too tight, you need to take it back to the shop and _____ it.
b. It takes time to _____ to living in a town with the freezing winter like Iowa City.

3. a. You must _____ the voltage to avoid any damage in the system.
b. She planned to _____ her appearance to promote her career in a movie industry.

4. a. We can pay less for the electricity bill if we _____ from a furnace to a space heater.
b. I will have to _____ flights to avoid any delay.

5. a. They can't _____ the contract because it has been signed.
b. She really wants to have a plastic surgery to _____ her looks.

6. a. The government said that price of gas would _____ next month.
b. My manager refused to ______ my salary though he had promised me.

7. a. Because of the urbanization, many people move to cities to _____ the population there.
b. The sting I got this morning had caused my leg to _____ up.

8. a. The university has just received a big donation to _____ the old chairs.
b. I think we need to _____ the air conditioner because it has been too old.

As always, send your answers to me and I'll respond to you immediately.
Good luck.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Dumb Facts about English

The shortest complete sentence in the English language is “I am.”

The most used letter in the English alphabet is ‘E’, and ‘Q’ is the least used!

Floccinaucinihilipilification, the declaration of an item being useless, is the longest non-medical term in the English language.

Goddessship is the only word in the English language with a triple letter.

The sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” uses every letter of the alphabet!

The sentence “Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs” uses every letter of the alphabet and uses the least letters to do so!

The world’s longest-named lake has 45 letters (Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg).

In the U.S. there are 18 doctors called Dr. Doctor, and one called Dr. Surgeon. There is also a dermatologist named Dr. Rash, a psychiatrist called Dr. Couch and an anesthesiologist named Dr. Gass.

“Rhythm” is the longest English word without a vowel.

The longest word in the English language is ‘pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis’ which describes a lung disease caused by breathing in particles of volcanic matter or a similar fine dust.

“Jack” is the most common name in nursery rhymes.

In the English language there are only three words that have a letter that repeats six times. Degenerescence (six e’s), Indivisibility (six i’s), and nonannouncement (six n’s).

The only three words in the English language to have 2 consecutive u’s is vacuum, residuum, and continuum.

The very first dictionary “The American” took Noah Webster 20 years to put together.

The word “alphabet” is derived from the first two letters in the Greek alphabet: “alpha” and “beta”.

from http://www.dumbfacts.com/facts/directory-of-facts/just-dumb/english/

Must-Know Facts About English

Did you know that English is the most widespread language in the world and is more widely spoken and written than any other language?
Did you know that over 400 million people use the English vocabulary as a mother tongue, only surpassed in numbers, but not in distribition by speakers of the many varieties of Chinese?
Did you know that over 700 million people, speak English, as a foreign language?
Did you know that of all the world's languages (over 2,700) English is arguably the richest in vocabulary; and that the Oxford English Dictionary lists about 500,000 words, and a further half-million technical and scientific terms remain uncatalogued?
Did you know that three-quarters of the world's mail, telexes and cables are in English?
Did you know that the main language used throughout the world on the internet is English?
Did you know that more than half of the world's technical and scientific periodicals are in English?
Did you know that English is the medium for 80% of the information stored in the world's computers?
Did you know that English is the language of navigation, aviation and of Christianity; it is the ecumenical language of the World Council of Churches?
Did you know that 5 of the largest broadcasting companies in the world (CBS, NBC, ABC, BBC and CBC) transmit in English, reaching millions and millions of people all over the world?

from http://www.framtak.com/english/facts.html

Most Common Areas in TOEFL Grammar

You must have known what TOEFL is, right? Just google it and tons of stuff about it will pop up. Well, as you know, TOEFL has different types: paper-based, computer-based, and internet based. Each has different characteristics. But, in general, each incorporate grammar in their own way as part of the test.

Below are ten incorrect sentences, each of which represents a common area to be tested in grammar section of TOEFL. Try to identify what's going on, and then revise. After that, observe more carefully and decide what area of grammar each belongs to (for example: subject-verb agreement/concord, tenses, etc.). As always send your answers to me, I'll get back to you as soon as I possibly can.

1. The labor union they had a meeting yesterday.
What's wrong? ________________________________________
The correct one is ______________________________________
What area of grammar is this? _____________________________

2. That young man was here for the past two days.
What's wrong? ________________________________________
The correct one is ______________________________________
What area of grammar is this? _____________________________

3. Because got rained out, the football match was called off.
What's wrong? ________________________________________
The correct one is ______________________________________
What area of grammar is this? _____________________________

4. My hometown is a very fascinated place.
What's wrong? ________________________________________
The correct one is ______________________________________
What area of grammar is this? _____________________________

5. The new headmaster is him.
What's wrong? ________________________________________
The correct one is ______________________________________
What area of grammar is this? _____________________________

6. "Die Hard 4" movie will come real soon.
What's wrong? ________________________________________
The correct one is ______________________________________
What area of grammar is this? _____________________________

7. The interviewer asked me where did I go to for my masters.
What's wrong? ________________________________________
The correct one is ______________________________________
What area of grammar is this? _____________________________

8. I first arrived in London, then headed to Paris and went back to Asia.
What's wrong? ________________________________________
The correct one is ______________________________________
What area of grammar is this? _____________________________

9. She is a very diligent, hard-working student.
What's wrong? ________________________________________
The correct one is ______________________________________
What area of grammar is this? _____________________________

10. The current project is all on community development in rural areas.
What's wrong? ________________________________________
The correct one is ______________________________________
What area of grammar is this? _____________________________

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

How Many You Know

Below are Odgon's 850 basic words in English. Read through and see how many words you're familiar with. It'll basically tell you what level of English proficiency you're at now.

OPERATIONS - 100 words
come, get, give, go, keep, let, make, put, seem, take, be, do, have, say, see, send, may, will, about, across, after, against, among, at, before, between, by, down, from, in, off, on, over, through, to, under, up, with, as, for, of, till, than, a , the, all, any, every, little, much, no, other, some, such, that, this, I , he, you, who, and, because, but, or, if, though, while, how, when, where, why, again, ever, far, forward, here, near, now, out, still, then, there, together, well, almost, enough, even, not, only, quite, so, very, tomorrow, yesterday, north, south, east, west, please, yes .

THINGS - 400 General words
account, act, addition, adjustment, advertisement, agreement, air, amount, amusement, animal, answer, apparatus, approval, argument, art, attack, attempt, attention, attraction, authority, back, balance, base, behavior, belief, birth, bit, bite, blood, blow, body, brass, bread, breath, brother, building, burn, burst, business, butter, canvas, care, cause, chalk, chance, change, cloth, coal, color, comfort, committee, company, comparison, competition, condition, connection, control, cook, copper, copy, cork, cotton, cough, country, cover, crack, credit, crime, crush, cry ,current, curve, damage, danger, daughter, day, death, debt, decision, degree, design, desire, destruction, detail, development, digestion, direction, discovery, discussion, disease, disgust, distance, distribution, division, doubt, drink, driving, dust, earth, edge, education, effect, end, error, event, example, exchange, existence, expansion, experience, expert, fact, fall, family, father, fear, feeling, fiction, field, fight, fire, flame, flight, flower, fold, food, force, form, friend, front, fruit, glass, gold, government, grain, grass, grip, group, growth, guide, harbor, harmony, hate, hearing, heat, help, history, hole, hope, hour, humor ice, idea, impulse, increase, industry, ink, insect, instrument, insurance, interest, invention, iron, jelly, join, journey, judge, jump, kick, kiss, knowledge, land, language, laugh, law, lead, learning, leather, letter, level, lift, light, limit, linen, liquid, list, look, loss, love, machine, man, manager, mark, market, mass, meal, measure, meat, meeting, memory, metal, middle, milk, mind, mine, minute, mist, money, month, morning ,mother, motion, mountain, move, music, name, nation, need, news, night, noise, note, number, observation, offer, oil, operation, opinion, order, organization, ornament, owner, page, pain, paint, paper, part, paste, payment, peace, person, place, plant, play, pleasure, point, poison, polish, porter, position, powder, power, price, print, process, produce, profit, property, prose, protest, pull, punishment, purpose, push, quality, question, rain, range, rate, ray, reaction, reading, reason, record, regret, relation, religion, representative, request, respect, rest, reward, rhythm, rice, river, road, roll, room, rub, rule, run, salt, sand, scale, science, sea seat, secretary, selection, self, sense, servant, sex, shade, shake, shame, shock, side, sign, silk, silver, sister, size, sky, sleep, slip, slope, smash, smell, smile, smoke, sneeze, snow, soap, society, son, song, sort, sound, soup, space stage start statement, steam, steel, step, stitch, stone, stop, story, stretch, structure substance sugar, suggestion, summer, support, surprise, swim, system, talk, taste, tax, teaching, tendency, test, theory, thing, thought, thunder, time, tin, top, touch, trade, transport, trick, trouble, turn, twist, unit, use, value, verse, vessel, view, voice, walk, war, wash, waste, water, wave, wax, way, weather, week, weight, wind, wine, winter, woman, wood, wool, word, work, wound, writing . year

THINGS - 200 Picturable words
angle, ant, apple, arch, arm, army, baby, bag, ball, band, basin, basket, bath, bed, bee, bell, berry, bird, blade, board, boat, bone, book, boot, bottle, box, boy, brain, brake, branch, brick, bridge, brush, bucket, bulb, button, cake, camera, card, cart, carriage, cat, chain, cheese, chest, chin, church, circle, clock, cloud, coat, collar, comb, cord, cow, cup, curtain, cushion, dog, door, drain, drawer, dress, drop, ear, egg, engine, eye, face, farm, feather, finger, fish, flag, floor, fly, foot, fork, fowl, frame garden, girl, glove, goat, gun, hair, hammer, hand, hat, head, heart, hook, horn, horse, hospital, house, island, jewel, kettle, key, knee, knife, knot, leaf, leg, library, line, lip, lock, map, match, monkey, moon, mouth, muscle, nail, neck, needle, nerve, net, nose, nut, office, orange, oven, parcel, pen, pencil, picture, pig, pin, pipe, plane, plate, plough/plow, pocket, pot, potato, prison, pump, rail, rat, receipt, ring, rod, roof, root, sail, school, scissors, screw, seed, sheep, shelf, ship, shirt, shoe, skin, skirt, snake, sock, spade, sponge, spoon, spring, square, stamp, star, station, stem, stick, stocking, stomach, store, street, sun, table, tail, thread, throat, thumb, ticket, toe, tongue, tooth, town, train, tray, tree, trousers, umbrella, wall, watch, wheel, whip, whistle, window, wing, wire, worm .

QUALITIES - 100 Generalable
acid, angry, automatic, beautiful, black, boiling, bright, broken, brown, cheap, chemical, chief, clean, clear, common, complex, conscious, cut, deep, dependent, early, elastic, electric, equal, fat, fertile, first, fixed, flat, free, frequent, full, general, good, great, grey/gray, hanging, happy, hard, healthy, high, hollow, important, kind, like, living, long, male, married, material, medical, military, natural, necessary, new, normal, open, parallel, past, physical, political, poor, possible, present, private, probable, quick, quiet, ready, red, regular, responsible, right, round, same, second, separate, serious, sharp, smooth, sticky, stiff, straight, strong, sudden, sweet, tall, thick, tight, tired, true, violent, waiting, warm, wet, wide, wise, yellow, young .

QUALITIES - 50 Opposites
awake, bad, bent, bitter, blue, certain, cold, complete, cruel, dark, dead, dear, delicate, different, dirty, dry, false, feeble, female, foolish, future, green, ill, last, late, left, loose, loud, low, mixed, narrow, old, opposite, public, rough, sad, safe, secret, short, shut, simple, slow, small, soft, solid, special, strange, thin, white, wrong .

Comprehending a Dialog

Read the following dialog and answer the questions.

Interviewer:
Could you tell us about an average day in your life?
Dave: Sure, I get up early - at 5 in the morning. Then I have a shower. After that, I pray and then have breakfast.

Interviewer: Are you studying or working?
Dave: I'm a student at Indonesia University of Education.

Interviewer: What major are you in?
Dave: Educational Psychology.

Interviewer: That's interesting. Anyway, what do you do in the afternoon?
Dave: First I have lunch, then I pray and study at the library with my friends afterwards.

Interviewer: Do you have lots of homework?
Dave: Not really. I just love going to the library to read newspapers.

Interviewer: Wow, that's great. What kind of newspapers do you like reading?
Dave: Local and English ones.

Interviewer: Very interesting. What do you do in the evening?
Dave: In the evening, I go home and have dinner and listen to the radio.

Interviewer: What program do you usually listen to?
Dave: English talkshows at Radio Republik Indonesia.

Interviewer: Do you go out at night?
Dave: No. There isn't much to see here at night.

Decide if each of the statements below is TRUE (T) of FALSE (F) based on the dialog above.

1. [T - F] Dave has a shower exactly at 5 in the morning.

2. [T - F] Dave prays in the morning after breakfast.

3. [T - F] Dave is not working at Indonesia University of Education.

4. [T - F] Dave prays at the library in the afternoon.

5. [T - F] Dave doesn't have much homework.

6. [T - F] Dave reads newspapers at the library.

7. [T - F] Dave reads local newspapers in English.

8. [T - F] Dave loves listening to Radio Republik Indonesia.

9. [T - F] Dave dislikes going out at night.

10. [T - F] There isn't a lot to see at night in Dave's place.

Send your answer to my email directly and I'll respond to you immediately.

Good luck.

Misspelling

Below is a list of words that are misspelled. Rearrange the letters so that they make up English words. Note that all of these words belong to one category. Guess what that is.

1. RAM
2. CABK
3. SARE
4. YESE
5. CEAF
6. TEEF
7. FRINGES
8. HIAR
9. SHAND
10. DHEA
11. SNEEK
12. SLEG
13. TOUMH
14. SONE
15. CENK
16. DHOULSERS
17. MACHTOS
18. THEET
19. BHUMTS
20. NOUGET

As usual, send your answer to my email and I'll respond to you immediately.
Good luck.