Vocabulary Questions

SKILL 8Find Definitions from Structural

Clues

When being asked to determine the meaning of a word in the Reading Comprehension section of TOEFL test:

The passage provides information about the meaning of the word.

There are structural clues to tell you that the definition of a word is included in the passage.

How to Identify?

What is … ?What is the

meaning of … ?

What is true about … ?

Type of Clues

• comma, parentheses, dashesPunctuation

• or, that is, in other words, etc.Restatement

• such as, for example, etc.Examples

SKILL 9Determine Meanings from Word Parts

A Short List of Word PartsPART MEANIN

GEXAMPL

EPART MEANIN

GEXAMPL

ECONTRA (against) Contrast DIC (say) Dictate

MAL (bad) Malcontent

DOMIN (master) Dominant

MIS (error) Mistake JUD (judge) Judgment

SUB (under) Subway MOR (death) Mortal

DEC (ten) Decade SPEC (see) Spectator

MULTI (many) Multiple TERR (earth) Territory

SOL (one) Solo VER (turn) Divert

TRI (three) Triple VIV (live) Revive

SKILL 10Use Context to Determine Meanings of Difficult Words

Example:

A line in the passage:… The barges headed across the lake …

The question:A “barge” is probably which of the following?A. A trainB. A planeC. A bicycleD. A boat

Not being expected to

know the meaning of

“barge”

Instead, understand

from the context

The “barge” went across a

lake

It is probably a type of BOAT

How to Identify?

What is the meaning … ?

Which of the following is closest in meaning to … ?

The word is a difficult word, one that you probably do not know.

SKILL 11Use Context to Determine Meanings of Simple Words

Example:

A line from the passage:… He put his answer this way …

The question:The word “put” is closest in meaning to which of the following?A. PlacedB. SetC. ExpressedD. Handed

You cannot place an answer or set an answer or hand an answer.

The primary meaning of “to put” is to place, answer A is incorrect.

You will NOT be asked to give the regular meaning of a normal, everyday word.

You have to understand that “put” is a normal, everyday word.

Word Endings

Word endings in English often tell you how a word is used grammatically in English.

If you recognize a word ending on a word that you do not know, you can tell how the

word should be used grammatically.

Noun (Thing) Endings-ism socialism -ment government

-nce excellence -ty beauty

-ness sadness -age marriage

-ion information -ship friendship

Noun (Person) Endings-er employer -ist tourist

-or actor -cian musician

Adjective Endings-ent excellent -ive destructive

-ant important -ous dangerous

-ful careful -al natural

-ic economic -able capable

-less careless -ible possible

Verb Endings-en soften -ize memorize

-ate populate -ify notify

Heighten Desertification Speechless

Forgetful Submissive Tremendously

Imperialism Nocturnal Liability

Effusively Establishment Counselor

Cashier Impertinent Civic

Columnist Impertinently Sensitize

Aggravate Togetherness Ambiance

Glamorous Pharmacist Justification

Vintage Craftsmanship Interpretive

Statistician Manageable Personify