Word of the Day:
PRAGMATIC
(prag-MAT-ik)
Practical, having to do with actual practice, concerned with everyday affairs
as opposed to theory or speculation.
Pragmatic comes from the Latin pragmaticus, which means skilled in
business or law. The lawyer is concerned with evidence and proof; the
businessperson is concerned with facts and figures. Both have little time for idle speculation or harebrained schemes. Both must be pragmatic,
concerned with practical, everyday affairs.
PRAGMATIC
(prag-MAT-ik)
Practical, having to do with actual practice, concerned with everyday affairs
as opposed to theory or speculation.
Pragmatic comes from the Latin pragmaticus, which means skilled in
business or law. The lawyer is concerned with evidence and proof; the
businessperson is concerned with facts and figures. Both have little time for idle speculation or harebrained schemes. Both must be pragmatic,
concerned with practical, everyday affairs.
November 15, 2015- TOEFL iBT Speaking question 1: which of the following do you think the university should reward; volunteer service, athletic achievement, or academic performance?
November 15, 2015- TOEFL iBT Speaking question 2: Which courses do you think schools should offer to students: language courses or computer courses?
November 15, 2015- TOEFL iBT Writing Independent task: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
the more money people have, the more they should contribute to charity.
the more money people have, the more they should contribute to charity.
Word of the Day:
CONGENIAL
(kun-JEE-nee-ul)
Sympathetic, agreeable, compatible, kindred, harmonious, having the same
taste, nature, or temperament.
Congenial persons have similar or sympathetic tastes, interests, or
personalities. Congenial things agree, go well together.
Antonyms, or opposites, of congenial are alien, dissident (DIS-uh-dint),
and incongruous (in-KAHNG-groo-us).
CONGENIAL
(kun-JEE-nee-ul)
Sympathetic, agreeable, compatible, kindred, harmonious, having the same
taste, nature, or temperament.
Congenial persons have similar or sympathetic tastes, interests, or
personalities. Congenial things agree, go well together.
Antonyms, or opposites, of congenial are alien, dissident (DIS-uh-dint),
and incongruous (in-KAHNG-groo-us).
November 15, 2015- TOEFL iBT Reading Section- Vocabulary questions:
Inevitable> certain
Surplus> extra
Accordingly> correspondingly
Cluster> group
Enormous> huge
Conspicuous> obvious
Endure> withstand
Task> job
Unfavorable> disadvantageous
Trigger> initiate
Reinforce> strengthen
Inevitable> certain
Surplus> extra
Accordingly> correspondingly
Cluster> group
Enormous> huge
Conspicuous> obvious
Endure> withstand
Task> job
Unfavorable> disadvantageous
Trigger> initiate
Reinforce> strengthen
November 14, 2015- TOEFL iBT Reading Section- Vocabulary questions:
Exclusively> solely
Conventional> standard
Stagnation> without growth
Mimic> reproduce
Initial> original
Vast> huge
Implication> consequence
Inhibited> constrained
Exclusively> solely
Conventional> standard
Stagnation> without growth
Mimic> reproduce
Initial> original
Vast> huge
Implication> consequence
Inhibited> constrained
Word 11:
CAPRICIOUS
(kuh-PRISH-us)
Unpredictable, tending to change abruptly for no apparent or logical reason.
Synonyms of capricious include flighty, changeable, impulsive, and
fickle. More difficult synonyms include erratic, whimsical (W(H)IM-zi-kul),
volatile (VAHL-uh-tul), and mercurial (mur-KYUR-ee-ul).
A caprice (kuh-PREES) is a sudden change of mind or change in the emotions. A person or a thing that is capricious is subject to caprices—to
abrupt, unpredictable changes: “He's so capricious, his mood changes with
the wind”; “New England has a capricious climate”; “The stock market is
notoriously capricious.”
Did you notice that my recommended pronunciation for capricious is
kuh-PRISH-us, the second syllable rhyming with wish? You will hear
educated speakers say kuh-PREE-shus, a pronunciation based on the
corresponding noun caprice (kuh-PREES). This variant has been
recognized by American dictionaries since the 1960s. But authorities have
preferred kuh-PRISH-us since the 18th century, when pronunciation was
first recorded. Current American dictionaries list kuh-PRISH-us first, and it
is the only pronunciation in the Oxford English Dictionary. Have you ever
heard anyone put an E in the middle of suspicious, judicious, or avaricious
? Rhyme capricious with delicious.
CAPRICIOUS
(kuh-PRISH-us)
Unpredictable, tending to change abruptly for no apparent or logical reason.
Synonyms of capricious include flighty, changeable, impulsive, and
fickle. More difficult synonyms include erratic, whimsical (W(H)IM-zi-kul),
volatile (VAHL-uh-tul), and mercurial (mur-KYUR-ee-ul).
A caprice (kuh-PREES) is a sudden change of mind or change in the emotions. A person or a thing that is capricious is subject to caprices—to
abrupt, unpredictable changes: “He's so capricious, his mood changes with
the wind”; “New England has a capricious climate”; “The stock market is
notoriously capricious.”
Did you notice that my recommended pronunciation for capricious is
kuh-PRISH-us, the second syllable rhyming with wish? You will hear
educated speakers say kuh-PREE-shus, a pronunciation based on the
corresponding noun caprice (kuh-PREES). This variant has been
recognized by American dictionaries since the 1960s. But authorities have
preferred kuh-PRISH-us since the 18th century, when pronunciation was
first recorded. Current American dictionaries list kuh-PRISH-us first, and it
is the only pronunciation in the Oxford English Dictionary. Have you ever
heard anyone put an E in the middle of suspicious, judicious, or avaricious
? Rhyme capricious with delicious.
Word of the Day:
BLATANT
(BLAYT-’nt)
Noisy, disagreeably or offensively loud, boisterous, clamorous: “the blatant
sound of horns honking in heavy traffic.”
Blatant is also used to mean sticking out in a glaring way, obtrusive,
flagrant, as in “a blatant lie,” “a blatant error,” “a blatant attempt to impress
the boss.”
In either sense, blatant suggests something conspicuous and
disagreeable.
BLATANT
(BLAYT-’nt)
Noisy, disagreeably or offensively loud, boisterous, clamorous: “the blatant
sound of horns honking in heavy traffic.”
Blatant is also used to mean sticking out in a glaring way, obtrusive,
flagrant, as in “a blatant lie,” “a blatant error,” “a blatant attempt to impress
the boss.”
In either sense, blatant suggests something conspicuous and
disagreeable.
CLAIRVOYANT: (n.)
Having the supposed power to see objects and events that cannot be perceived with the five traditional senses; a SEER
Sybill Trelawney was the Divination professor at Hogwarts who claimed to be a CLAIRVOYANT. She used tea leaves and crystal balls to see the future. Both Harry and Professor Dumbledore were skeptical about her claim to be a CLAIRVOYANT. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dolores Umbridge fired Sybill for being a charlatan. Nonetheless, readers of the Harry Potter series know that Trelawney did make two extremely important and very accurate prophecies.
Quick Quiz:
I had the feeling that she had suddenly acquired the powers of a clairvoyant because whatever she predicted —---------.
A. turned out to be to my disadvantage
B. had already happened
C. came true after a while
Answer: C
Having the supposed power to see objects and events that cannot be perceived with the five traditional senses; a SEER
Sybill Trelawney was the Divination professor at Hogwarts who claimed to be a CLAIRVOYANT. She used tea leaves and crystal balls to see the future. Both Harry and Professor Dumbledore were skeptical about her claim to be a CLAIRVOYANT. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dolores Umbridge fired Sybill for being a charlatan. Nonetheless, readers of the Harry Potter series know that Trelawney did make two extremely important and very accurate prophecies.
Quick Quiz:
I had the feeling that she had suddenly acquired the powers of a clairvoyant because whatever she predicted —---------.
A. turned out to be to my disadvantage
B. had already happened
C. came true after a while
Answer: C
RHETORICIAN (n.)
An eloquent writer or speaker; a master of RHETORIC (the art of speaking and writing)
Frederick Douglass, Franklin Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan were all charismatic (magnetic and inspiring) leaders and superb RHETORICIANS whose eloquent speeches inspired millions of people. For example, in his inaugural address, President Kennedy challenged Americans by proclaiming, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you -ask what you can do for your country.”
Quick Quiz:
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a fiery rhetorician, owes his winning the election by a landslide to —--------.
A. a fluky change in rich people’s positive attitude
B. his ability to deliver persuasive speeches
C. his reputation among the only minority group in society
Answer: B
An eloquent writer or speaker; a master of RHETORIC (the art of speaking and writing)
Frederick Douglass, Franklin Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan were all charismatic (magnetic and inspiring) leaders and superb RHETORICIANS whose eloquent speeches inspired millions of people. For example, in his inaugural address, President Kennedy challenged Americans by proclaiming, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you -ask what you can do for your country.”
Quick Quiz:
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a fiery rhetorician, owes his winning the election by a landslide to —--------.
A. a fluky change in rich people’s positive attitude
B. his ability to deliver persuasive speeches
C. his reputation among the only minority group in society
Answer: B
Word of the Day:
NEGLIGIBLE
(NEG-li-ji-bul)
Unimportant, trifling, of little consequence.
That which is negligible can be neglected. A negligible concern can be
disregarded; it is so trivial and insignificant that it warrants little or no
attention.
NEGLIGIBLE
(NEG-li-ji-bul)
Unimportant, trifling, of little consequence.
That which is negligible can be neglected. A negligible concern can be
disregarded; it is so trivial and insignificant that it warrants little or no
attention.
A Test taker's experience:
امتحان من صبح بیست و یکم نوامبر در موسسه امیربهادر بود.ریدینگ متن های طولانی داشت و نیاز به تمرکز و تسلط بالا برای پاسخگویی در زمان مناسب داشت. لیسنینگ لانگ بود همونی که خانومه کارت شناسایی و غذاش رو گم کرده. بقیه لیسنینگ ها هم عینا لیسنینگ هایی بود که استاد سر کلاس برامون گذاشته بودن در مورد اون جزایر آتشفشانی بالای ژاپن و ....برای قسمت اسپیکینگ پرسیده بود استراتژی شما برای اینکه بتوانید تمرین یا پروژه کاریتون انجام بشه چیه و سوال سوم در مورد این بود که آدمهای بیرون دانشگاه با پرداخت پول در باشگاه دانشگاه ورزش کنن که هم با پولشون و بدون اینکه دانشجوها و کارمندان دانشگاه پول بدن لوازم ورزشی باشگاه جدید بشن چون در وضع خوبی نیستن و هم اینکه دانشگاهشون توی شهر کوچیکیه و تعداد زیادی آدم نمیان که شلوغ بشه و باشگاه به اندازه کافی جای خالی داره..سوال چهارم تعریف Generalization
بود که مثال زده بود که بچه استاد وقتی سه سالش بوده بهش اولین قطارشو دادن بهش گفتن این اسمش قطاره ولی یه روز که سوار ماشین بودن و جلوی تقاطع ریل توقف کرده بودن تا قطار عبور کنه به بچه گفتن که این قطاره بچه گیج شده بود ولی بعدا که 4 سالش شده بود خودش کاملا متوجه بود که یک واژه میتونه به بیشتر از یه شئ خاص مربوط باشه.سوال پنجم هم تکراری بود پسره میخواست با همکلاسی های کلاس فرانسه اش بره ونکوور که اونجا بتونن فرانسه حرف بزنن ولی پول بلیط قطار نداشت یا باید یه هفته 10 ساعت اضافه کار میکرد که چون نزدیک امتحانات بودن سخت میشد یا باید یه چیزی میفروخت به یکی از بچه های دانشگاه که گفت مثلا گیتارمو میفروشم که میتونم اینجوری توی ونکوور پول داشته باشم خرج کنم ولی از طرفی دیگه گیتار نخواهم داشت.سوال ششم هم تکراری بود فواید مشتری رو گفت که از طرفی وقتی راضی باشن به بقیه هم میگن راضی بودن از کیفیت بالا مثلا اگه از مکانیکشون راضی باشن ماشین دوستشون خراب بشه بهش میگن برو پیش این مکانیک که خوبه و اون دوستشونم به دوستاش میگه و مشتری ها اینجوری زیاد میشن و از سوی دیگه مشتری وقتی راضی باشه میتونه کمک کنه به کار فروشنده مثلا استاد خودش رفته بوده کتابفروشی که همیشه میره و یه زوج دیده بوده که آقا داشته به خانم میگفته نمیدونم اینحا کتاب تاریخی میفروشن یا نه و استاد میشنوه اینو و میره جلو بهشون میگه بله کتاب تاریخی هم دارن.
رایتینگ اول در مورد فواید روغن پالم بود که در لیسنینگ رد شده بود.ریدینگ گفته بود روغن پالم ازش یه نوع سوخت درست میکنن که کمتر باعث گرمایش زمین میشه تا سوخت فسیلیو برای ایجاد روغن پالم باید درخت پالم بکارن پس به جنگلسازی کمک میکنه و به کشاورزای کوچیک کمک میکنه به لحاظ اقتصادی. اما لیسنینگ میگفت برای کاشتن درخای پالم باید گیاهای موجود رو از بین ببرن و این جنگلسازی نیست بلکه عکس این هست با افزایش تقاضای پالم داره
Deforestation
بیشتر میشه و کشاورزای بزرگ برای شود بیشتر در حال بیشتر کاشتن هستند و کشاورزهای کوچیک دارن سود خیلی کمی میبرن و برای کاشتن درختان پالم باید اول زمین
Clear
بشه که با سوختی به نام
peat
میسوزونن که این خودش بیشتر از سوخت فسیلی دی اکسید کربن آزاد میکنه.و موشصوع
رایتینگ آخر این بود آیا موافق هستید با این جمله کهمهمترین درسهای زندگی رو از اعضای خانواده میگیرید
امتحان من صبح بیست و یکم نوامبر در موسسه امیربهادر بود.ریدینگ متن های طولانی داشت و نیاز به تمرکز و تسلط بالا برای پاسخگویی در زمان مناسب داشت. لیسنینگ لانگ بود همونی که خانومه کارت شناسایی و غذاش رو گم کرده. بقیه لیسنینگ ها هم عینا لیسنینگ هایی بود که استاد سر کلاس برامون گذاشته بودن در مورد اون جزایر آتشفشانی بالای ژاپن و ....برای قسمت اسپیکینگ پرسیده بود استراتژی شما برای اینکه بتوانید تمرین یا پروژه کاریتون انجام بشه چیه و سوال سوم در مورد این بود که آدمهای بیرون دانشگاه با پرداخت پول در باشگاه دانشگاه ورزش کنن که هم با پولشون و بدون اینکه دانشجوها و کارمندان دانشگاه پول بدن لوازم ورزشی باشگاه جدید بشن چون در وضع خوبی نیستن و هم اینکه دانشگاهشون توی شهر کوچیکیه و تعداد زیادی آدم نمیان که شلوغ بشه و باشگاه به اندازه کافی جای خالی داره..سوال چهارم تعریف Generalization
بود که مثال زده بود که بچه استاد وقتی سه سالش بوده بهش اولین قطارشو دادن بهش گفتن این اسمش قطاره ولی یه روز که سوار ماشین بودن و جلوی تقاطع ریل توقف کرده بودن تا قطار عبور کنه به بچه گفتن که این قطاره بچه گیج شده بود ولی بعدا که 4 سالش شده بود خودش کاملا متوجه بود که یک واژه میتونه به بیشتر از یه شئ خاص مربوط باشه.سوال پنجم هم تکراری بود پسره میخواست با همکلاسی های کلاس فرانسه اش بره ونکوور که اونجا بتونن فرانسه حرف بزنن ولی پول بلیط قطار نداشت یا باید یه هفته 10 ساعت اضافه کار میکرد که چون نزدیک امتحانات بودن سخت میشد یا باید یه چیزی میفروخت به یکی از بچه های دانشگاه که گفت مثلا گیتارمو میفروشم که میتونم اینجوری توی ونکوور پول داشته باشم خرج کنم ولی از طرفی دیگه گیتار نخواهم داشت.سوال ششم هم تکراری بود فواید مشتری رو گفت که از طرفی وقتی راضی باشن به بقیه هم میگن راضی بودن از کیفیت بالا مثلا اگه از مکانیکشون راضی باشن ماشین دوستشون خراب بشه بهش میگن برو پیش این مکانیک که خوبه و اون دوستشونم به دوستاش میگه و مشتری ها اینجوری زیاد میشن و از سوی دیگه مشتری وقتی راضی باشه میتونه کمک کنه به کار فروشنده مثلا استاد خودش رفته بوده کتابفروشی که همیشه میره و یه زوج دیده بوده که آقا داشته به خانم میگفته نمیدونم اینحا کتاب تاریخی میفروشن یا نه و استاد میشنوه اینو و میره جلو بهشون میگه بله کتاب تاریخی هم دارن.
رایتینگ اول در مورد فواید روغن پالم بود که در لیسنینگ رد شده بود.ریدینگ گفته بود روغن پالم ازش یه نوع سوخت درست میکنن که کمتر باعث گرمایش زمین میشه تا سوخت فسیلیو برای ایجاد روغن پالم باید درخت پالم بکارن پس به جنگلسازی کمک میکنه و به کشاورزای کوچیک کمک میکنه به لحاظ اقتصادی. اما لیسنینگ میگفت برای کاشتن درخای پالم باید گیاهای موجود رو از بین ببرن و این جنگلسازی نیست بلکه عکس این هست با افزایش تقاضای پالم داره
Deforestation
بیشتر میشه و کشاورزای بزرگ برای شود بیشتر در حال بیشتر کاشتن هستند و کشاورزهای کوچیک دارن سود خیلی کمی میبرن و برای کاشتن درختان پالم باید اول زمین
Clear
بشه که با سوختی به نام
peat
میسوزونن که این خودش بیشتر از سوخت فسیلی دی اکسید کربن آزاد میکنه.و موشصوع
رایتینگ آخر این بود آیا موافق هستید با این جمله کهمهمترین درسهای زندگی رو از اعضای خانواده میگیرید
NEOPHYTE, NOVICE, GREENHORN (n)
All three are beginners
In October 2008, Justin Bieber was an unknown NEOPHYTE who had never professionally recorded a song. However, Usher recognized that although Bieber was NOVICE, he was a musical prodigy who had the potential to become a superstar. With Usher as his mentor, the angelic-looking Bieber soon developed a “streetwise" look that included baseball caps, hoodies, hip hop chains, and flashy sneakers. Usher quickly transformed Bieber from a GREENHORN to a global sensation. In July 2010, JB's music video Baby supplanted Lady Gaga's Bad Romance video as the most viewed You Tube video ever.
Quick Quiz:
The Eiger is a difficult mountain to climb. Novices —--------.
A) have already climbed it
B) should not attempt it
C) need to training to attempt it
Answer: B
All three are beginners
In October 2008, Justin Bieber was an unknown NEOPHYTE who had never professionally recorded a song. However, Usher recognized that although Bieber was NOVICE, he was a musical prodigy who had the potential to become a superstar. With Usher as his mentor, the angelic-looking Bieber soon developed a “streetwise" look that included baseball caps, hoodies, hip hop chains, and flashy sneakers. Usher quickly transformed Bieber from a GREENHORN to a global sensation. In July 2010, JB's music video Baby supplanted Lady Gaga's Bad Romance video as the most viewed You Tube video ever.
Quick Quiz:
The Eiger is a difficult mountain to climb. Novices —--------.
A) have already climbed it
B) should not attempt it
C) need to training to attempt it
Answer: B
Please find below update to speaking questions: Some changes to part 1 and 2 topics
A popular topic on TOEFL Test especially in the reading section: It is recommended you take a cursory glance at the information presented on the following page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt
Wikipedia
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was a cradle of civilization concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in the eastern part of North Africa[1][2][3]. It emerged from prehistoric Egypt around 3150 BC (according to conventional Egyptian chronology),[4] when Upper…
BENEFICIARY (n.)
The recipient of funds, titles, property, and other benefits
Nicholas Sparks has achieved international fame by writing romance novels such as The Notebook and A Walk to Remember· that are often set in New Bern, North Carolina. Residents of New Bern also know Sparks as a generous BENEFACTOR and PATRON who has donated nearly $1 million dollars to build a state-of-the-art track and field facility for New Bern High School. As the BENEFICIARIES of this MUNIFICENT gift the New Bern Bears have become one of North Carolina's top track and field teams. Note that both BENEFACTOR and BENEFICIARY begin with the Latin prefix bene, which means "good." So a BENEFACTOR, like Nicholas Sparks, gives good gifts, and a BENEFICIARY, like New Bern High School, receives good gifts.
Quick Quiz:
Because he was the chief beneficiary of his father's will, he —----------.
A) was as despondent as ever
B) received the bulk of his father’s wealth
C) did not receive as much money as the other beneficiaries
Answer: B
The recipient of funds, titles, property, and other benefits
Nicholas Sparks has achieved international fame by writing romance novels such as The Notebook and A Walk to Remember· that are often set in New Bern, North Carolina. Residents of New Bern also know Sparks as a generous BENEFACTOR and PATRON who has donated nearly $1 million dollars to build a state-of-the-art track and field facility for New Bern High School. As the BENEFICIARIES of this MUNIFICENT gift the New Bern Bears have become one of North Carolina's top track and field teams. Note that both BENEFACTOR and BENEFICIARY begin with the Latin prefix bene, which means "good." So a BENEFACTOR, like Nicholas Sparks, gives good gifts, and a BENEFICIARY, like New Bern High School, receives good gifts.
Quick Quiz:
Because he was the chief beneficiary of his father's will, he —----------.
A) was as despondent as ever
B) received the bulk of his father’s wealth
C) did not receive as much money as the other beneficiaries
Answer: B
ICONOCLAST (n.)
A person who attacks and ridicules cherished figures, ideas, and institutions
What do the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaton and the modern filmmaker Michael Moore have in common? Both are ICONOCLASTS. Akhenaton challenged ancient Egypt's longstanding belief in a large number of gods by rejecting polytheism and insisting that Aton was the universal or only god. Michael Moore is a modern ICONOCLAST whose documentary films have attacked the Iraq War, the American health care system, Wall Street bankers, and Washington politicians. Like a true ICONOCLAST, Moore ridiculed Congress, saying that most of its members are scoundrels who deserve to be “removed and replaced.”
Quick Quiz:
Some iconoclasts in the field of education believe that the present education system —--------.
A. can be no more effective than it is under the current circumstances
B. is to revert to educational doctrines that used to cater to people of the antiquity
C. should be replaced with a new one designed to meet the needs of modern society
Answer: C
A person who attacks and ridicules cherished figures, ideas, and institutions
What do the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaton and the modern filmmaker Michael Moore have in common? Both are ICONOCLASTS. Akhenaton challenged ancient Egypt's longstanding belief in a large number of gods by rejecting polytheism and insisting that Aton was the universal or only god. Michael Moore is a modern ICONOCLAST whose documentary films have attacked the Iraq War, the American health care system, Wall Street bankers, and Washington politicians. Like a true ICONOCLAST, Moore ridiculed Congress, saying that most of its members are scoundrels who deserve to be “removed and replaced.”
Quick Quiz:
Some iconoclasts in the field of education believe that the present education system —--------.
A. can be no more effective than it is under the current circumstances
B. is to revert to educational doctrines that used to cater to people of the antiquity
C. should be replaced with a new one designed to meet the needs of modern society
Answer: C