It is very common for
reading passages in the reading section of both the paper TOEFL test and the
computer TOEFL test to have questions about the overall ideas in the passage.
The most common type of question asks about the main idea, topic, title, or
subject. There may also be questions about how the information in the passage
is organized or about which type of information is included in a particular
paragraph.
Almost every reading
passage on the paper TOEFL test or computer TOEFL test will have a
multiple-choice question about the main idea of a passage. Such a question may
be worded in a variety of ways; you may, for example, be asked to identify the
topic, subject, title, primary idea, or main idea. These questions are all
really asking what primary point the author is trying to get across in the passage.
Since TOEFL passages are generally written in a traditionally organized manner,
it is relatively easy to find the main ideas by studying the topic sentences,
which are most probably found at the beginning of each paragraph. If a passage
consists of more than one paragraph, you should study the beginning of each
paragraph to determine the main idea. Look at a multiple-choice example from
the computer TOEFL test that asks about the title of a passage with more than
one paragraph.
How to Identify The
Question
1.
What
is the topic of the passage?
2.
What
is the subject of the passage?
3.
What
is the main idea of the passage?
4.
What
is the author’s main point in the passage?
5.
With
what is the author primarily concerned? Which of the following would be the
best title?
Where to Find The
Answer
The answer to this type of question
can generally be determined by looking at the first sentence of each paragraph
How To Answer The
Question
1.
Read
the first line of each paragraph.
2.
Look
for a common theme or idea in the first lines.
3. Pass
your eyes quickly over the rest of the passage to check that you have really
found the topic sentence(s).
4. Eliminate any definitely wrong answers and choose the best answer from the remaining choices.
SKILL 2: RECOGNIZE THE ORGANIZATION
OF IDEAS
In the Reading
section of both the paper TOEFL test and the computer TOEFL test, there may be
questions about the organization of ideas in a passage. On the paper and the
computer tests, you may be asked to determine how the ideas in one paragraph
(or paragraphs) relate to the ideas in another paragraph (or paragraphs). On
the computer TOEFL test, you may also see a question that asks you to click on
the paragraph in a passage that contains certain ideas. Look at an example
from the paper TOEFL test that asks you to determine how the information in the
passage is organized.
How to Identify
The Question
1.
How
is the information in the passage organized?
2.
How
is the information in the second paragraph related to the information in the
first paragraph?
Where To Find The
Answer
The answer to this type of question
can generally be determined by looking at the first sentence of the appropriate
paragraphs.
Howto
Answer The Question *
1.
Read
the first line of each paragraph.
2. Look for words that show relationships among the paragraphs.
3. Choose the answer that best expresses the relationship
SKILL 3: ANSWER
STATED DETAIL QUESTIONS CORRECTLY
A stated detail
question asks about one piece of information in the passage rather than the
passage as a whole. The answers to these questions are generally given in order
in the passage, and the correct answer is often a restatement of what is given
in the passage. This means that the correct answer often expresses the same
idea as what is written in the passage, but the words are not exactly the
same. The questions that test stated details are generally multiple-choice
questions. On the computer test, there may also be a type of stated detail question
that asks you to click on an appropriate drawing. Look at a multiple-choice
example from the paper TOEFL test that asks about a stated detail from the
passage.
How to Identify The
Question
1. According
to the passage,...
2. It is
stated in the passage...
3. The
passage indicates that... Which of the following is true... ?
Whereto Find The answer
The answers to these
questions are found in order in the passage
How To Answer The
Question
1.
Choose
a key word in the question,
2.
Skim
in the appropriate part of the passage for the key word or idea.
3.
Read
the sentence that contains the key word or idea carefully.
4.
Eliminate
the definitely wrong answers and choose the best answer from the remaining
choices.
SKILL 4: FIND
“UNSTATED” DETAILS
You will sometimes be
asked in the reading section of both the paper TOEFL test and the computer
TOEFL test to find an answer that is not stated or not mentioned or not true in
the passage. This type of question really means that three of the answers are
stated, mentioned, or true in the passage, while one answer is not.
You should note that
there are two kinds of answers to this type of question: (1) there are three
true answers and one that is not true according to the passage, or (2) there
are three true answers and one that is not mentioned in the passage.
How to
Identify The Question
1.
Which of the following is not stated...?
2.
Which of the following is not mentioned...?
3.
‘Which of the following is not discussed...?
4.
All of the following are true except....
Whereto
Find The Answer
The answers to these
questions are found in order in the passage.
How To Answer The
Question
1.
Choose
a key word in the question.
2.
Scan
the appropriate place in the passage for the key word (or related idea).
3.
Read
the sentence that contains the key word or idea carefully.
4. Look for answers that are definitely true according to the passage. Eliminate those answers.
5. Choose the answer that is not true or not discussed in the passage.
SKILL 6: ANSWER
IMPLIED DETAIL QUESTIONS CORRECTLY
You will sometimes be
asked to answer a multiple-choice question about a reading passage by drawing a
conclusion from a specific detail or details in the passage. Questions of this
type contain the words implied, inferred, likely, or probably to let you know
that the answer to the question is not directly stated. In this type of
question, it is important to understand that you do not have to “pull the
answer out of thin air.” Instead, some information will be given in the
passage, and you will draw a conclusion from that information. Look at a
multiple-choice example of an implied detail question from the paper TOEFL
test.
How to identify the question
1.
It is implied in the passage that...
2.
It can be inferred from the passage that... It is most likely
that...
3.
What probably happened...?
Where
to find the answer
The answers to these
questions are generally found in order in the passage.
How to answer the question
1. Choose
a key word in the question.
2. Scan
the passage for the key word (or a related idea).
3. Carefully
read the sentence that contains the key word.
4. Look
for an answer that could be true, according to that sentence
SKILL 7: ANSWER
TRANSITION QUESTIONS CORRECTLY
You will sometimes be
asked on both the paper TOEFL test and the computer TOEFL test to answer a
multiple-choice question about what probably came before the reading passage
(in the preceding paragraph) or what probably comes after the reading passage
(in the following paragraph). Of course, the topic of the preceding or
following paragraph is not directly stated, and you must draw a conclusion to
determine what is probably in these paragraphs. This type of question is a
transition question. It asks you to demonstrate that you under-stand that good
writing contains transitions from one paragraph to the next. A paragraph may
start out with the idea of the previous paragraph as a way of linking the ideas
in the two paragraphs. A paragraph may also end with an idea that will be
further developed in the following paragraph. Look at a multiple-choice example
of a transition question from the paper TOEFL test that asks you to identify
what was probably in the preceding paragraph.
How to identify the question
1.
The paragraph preceding the passage probably...
2.
What is most likely in the paragraph following the passage?
Where
to find the answer
1.
The answer can generally be found in the first line of the passage
for a preceding question.
2.
The answer can generally be found in the last line for a following
question.
how to answer the
question
1. Read
the first line for a preceding question.
2. Read
the last line for a following question.
3. Draw
a conclusion about what comes before or after.
4. Choose
the answer that is reflected in the first or last line of the passage.
SKILL 8: FIND
DEFINITIONS FROM STRUCTURAL CLUES
When you are asked to
determine the meaning of a word in the reading section of either the paper
TOEFL test or the computer TOEFL test, it is possible (1) that the passage
provides information about the meaning of the word, and (2) that there are
structural clues to tell you that the definition of a word is included in the
passage. Look at a multiple-choice example from the paper TOEFL test where a
structural clue to the meaning of the tested word is included in the passage.
How to identify the question
1.
What is the meaning of “X”/n
line Y?
2.
The word “X” in line Y is closest in
meaning to... The word “X” in line Y could best be replaced by...
Types
of clues
Punctuation : comma, parentheses, dashes
Restatement : or, that is, in other words,
i.e.
Examples :
such as, for example, e.g.
where to find the
answer
Information to help you determine
what something means will generally be found after the punctuation clue, the
restatement clue, or the example clue.
How to answer the question
1. Find
the word in the passage.
2. Locate
any structural clues.
3. Read
the part of the passage after the structural clue carefully.
4. Eliminate
any definitely wrong answers and choose the best answer from the remaining
choices.
SKILL 9: DETERMINE MEANINGS FROM WORD PARTS
When you are asked to
determine the meaning of a long word that you do not know in the reading
section of either the paper TOEFL test or the computer TOEFL test, it is
sometimes possible to determine the meaning of the word by studying the word
parts. Look at a multiple-choice example from the paper TOEFL test where the
answer can be determined from a word part.
SKILL 10: USE CONTEXTTO DETERMINE MEANINGS OF DIFFICULT WORDS
On both the paper
TOEFL test and the computer TOEFL test, you may be asked to determine the
meaning of a difficult word in a reading passage, a word that you are not
expected to know. In this case, the passage will probably give you a clear
indication of what the word means. Look at a multiple-choice example from the
paper TOEFL test where the context helps you to understand the meaning of an
unknown word.
How to identify the question
1.
What is the meaning of “X” in line Y?
2.
The word “X” in line Y is closest in meaning to...
Where to find the answer
Information to help you
understand the meaning of an unknown word can often be found in the context
surrounding the unknown word.
How to answer the question
1. Find
the word in the passage.
2. Read
the sentence that contains the word carefully.
3. Look
for context clues to help you understand the meaning.
4. Choose
the answer that the context indicates.
SKILL
11: USE CONTEXT TO DETERMINE MEANINGS OF SIMPLE WORDS
On
both the paper TOEFL test and the computer TOEFL test, you may be asked to determine the meaning of a simple word in a reading passage, a word that you
see often in everyday English. In this type of question, you should not give
the normal, everyday meaning of the word; instead, a secondary meaning of the
word is being tested, so you must determine the meaning of the word in this
situation. Look at a multiple-choice example from the paper TOEFL test where a
secondary meaning is the best answer to the question.
How to
identify the question
1.
What is the meaning of “X” in line Y?
2.
The word “X” in line Y could best be replaced by...
Where
to find the answer
Information to help you understand
the secondary meaning of a simple word can often be found in the context
surrounding the word.
How to
identify the question
1. Find the word in the passage.
2. Read the sentence that contains the word
carefully.
3. Look for context clues to help you understand
the meaning.
4. Choose the answer that the context indicates.
SKILL 12: DETERMINE WHERE SPECIFIC INFORMATION IS FOUND
Sometimes
the final question accompanying a reading passage (or one paragraph of a passage) will ask you to determine where in the passage a piece of information
is found. This type of question is worded differently on the paper TOEFL test
and on the computer TOEFL test. On the paper test, there will be a
multiple-choice question that asks where certain information is found. The answer
choices will list possible locations for that information. On the computer
test, the question asks you to click on the sentence that contains certain
information. Look at a multiple-choice example from the paper TOEFL that asks
you to identify where certain information is found.
How to identify the question
Where in the passage...?
Where to find the answer
The answer can be in any of the lines listed in the answers to the
question.
How to answer the question
1. Choose
a key word or idea in the question.
2. Skim
the appropriate part(s) of the passage looking for the key word or idea.
3. Choose
the answer that contains the key word or idea.
SKILL
13: DETERMINE THE TONE, PURPOSE, OR COURSE
How to
identify the question
1.
What is the tone of the passage?
2.
What is the author's purpose in this passage?
3.
In which course would this reading be assigned?
Where
to find the answer
Tone : Look for clues throughout the passage
that show if the author is showing some emotion rather than just presenting
facts.
Purpose : Draw a conclusion about the purpose from
the main idea and supporting ideas.
Course : Draw
a conclusion about the course from the topic of the passage and the supporting
ideas.
How to answer the question
Tone : Skim the passage looking for
clues that the author is showing some emotion.
And choose the answer that identifies the emotion.
Purpose : study the main idea in the topic sentence and
the details used to support the main idea. Next, Draw a conclusion about the
purpose.
Course : study the main idea in the
topic sentence and the details used to support the main idea. And draw a conclusion about the course.
Reference
Phillips, Deborah. 2001. Longman Complete Course for the TOEF Test: Preparation for the Computer and Paper Tests