Reading for TOEFL

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 Excerpts from college level textbooks Tests your ability to process academic texts Dont worry, everything you need is there.

What material will be used? What will be tested? What happens if I am not familiar with the topic?

Types of organization that are to be tested:

Classification Comparison/contrast Cause/effect Problem/solution

Skills required:
Basic Information Skills
Inferencing Skills Reading to Learn Skills 10 question types

Basic Information and Inferencing Skills (11 to 13 per text)

Factual Information 3-6 per set Negative Factual Information 0-2 per set Inference 0-2 per set Rhetorical Purpose 0-2 per set Vocabulary 3-5 per set Reference 0-2 per set Sentence simplification 0-1 per set Insert text 0-1 per set

Reading to learn questions

1 per set

9. Prose summary

10. Fill in a table

Factual Information Questions

Ask you to identify factual information that is explicitly stated in the passage They focus on facts, details, definitions, other information in the text Examples
According to According to According to The authors the paragraph, which of the following is true of X? the paragraph, X occurred because the paragraph, x did y because description of X mentions which of the following?

Tips
Reread the passage Eliminate choices that present information that is contradicted in the passage Do not select an answer just because it is mentioned in the passage

Negative Factual Information Questions

Ask you to verify what information is true or NOT true or not included in the passage Tips: POE Locate the relevant information in the passage Then verify that 3 of the 4 answers are true and the remaining choice is false You can recognize them by the words NOT or EXCEPT

Inference Questions
Test your ability to comprehend an argument or an idea that is strongly implied but not explicitly stated (Ex: if an effect is stated, you will be asked about its cause)

How to recognize them: By the words infer, suggest or imply

TIPS: Make sure your answer does not contradict the main idea of the passage! Dont select an answer just because it seems important or true.

Rhetorical Purpose Questions

Remember: rhetoric is the art of speaking or writing effectively You will be asked WHY the author has presented a particular piece of information in a particular place or manner You recognize them by the words WHY or IN ORDER TO

Tips
Get familiar with the following words: definition, example, to illustrate, to explain, to contrast, to note, to criticize, function of They usually dont ask about the overall organization of the passage; instead, they focus on logical links between sentences and paragraphs.

Vocabulary Questions
Ask you to identify the meanings of individual words or phrases as they are used in the text There is no list of words that must be tested The tested word is usually relevant to understanding the passage Words that are unusual or technical are defined for you. Just click on them!

Tips
You recognize them by the highlighted area Check the meaning used in the passage Reread the sentence substituting the word you have chosen. Make sure it still makes sense.

Reference Questions
Ask you to identify referential relationships between the words in the passage (usually a pronoun, or which or this) They are similar to vocabulary questions- they use highlighted areas

Tip - make sure that your answer is the same number (sg or pl) and case (first, second or third person); then, proofread.

Reference Question (sample)

Sentence simplification questions

Always look the same-a sentence is highlighted an then you are asked:
Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

Tip

Make sure your answer does not contradict the main argument of the paragraph in which the sentence occurs, or the passage as a whole

Insert text questions

You are given a sentence in order to insert it in the passage You recognize them by the 4 black squares, located at the beginning or end of a sentence
Your job is to click on one of the squares and insert the given sentence in the text, where it fits best. You can click as many times as you pleaseJ

Reading to Learn Questions

Ask you to:
organize the information into a mental framework distinguish between major and minor ideas understand functions such as cause effect, compare-contrast, arguments etc

Reading to Learn Question Types:

Prose summary
You are asked to select major ideas in the passage The correct choice will synthesize major ideas in the passage You are given 6 choices and asked to pick three

Fill in a table
You are given a classification table partially completed Your job is to drag correct answer choices and complete the table Correct answers represent major ideas and important supporting information in the passage Can worth 3 points or 4 points The order does matter

Can worth 1 or 2 points The order does not matter

Prose summary (sample question)

Good luck!J