Reading Study Guide for the TOEFL Test

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Other TOEFL Question Types

It is important to get to know the types of questions you will find on this test. It’s also important and be able to identify them as it will help in selecting the correct answer. Let’s take a look at the types of questions you will see.

Factual Information (3–6 questions)
Negative Factual (0–2 questions)
Inference (0–2 questions)
Rhetorical Purpose (0–2 questions)
Vocabulary (3–5 questions)
Reference (0–2 questions)
Sentence Simplification (0–1 question)
Insert Text (0–1 question)
Prose Summary (1 question)
Fill in a Table (1 question)

Of these types, the following have not been previously discussed in this study guide. Read on below to become familiar with them, as well.

Factual Information

Factual information questions ask for explicit facts from the passage and you will see three to six of them on the test. You can identify factual information questions when you see key words in the questions, such as “It is stated in the passage that…”, or “the author states…” and “according to…”

There are effective strategies for solving these questions. You will be looking for the one answer that is true in the multiple-choice list. To do this, first, find the key word in the question. Then scan the passage to find the answer that matches the multiple-choice list. If you take note of the key words, they will help you find the facts in the passage. For example, if the question asks you what is stated about the level of ability of the new recruits, you will look for “level of ability” and “new recruits” in the passage. Once you find these key words in the passage, you don’t have to look any further. Remember though, while you are looking for the key word in the passage, you must pay close attention to words that could be synonyms of the key word in the question.

Another useful tip is that the question frequently tells you which paragraph to look. If that is the case, look in that paragraph only. You do not need to look in any other paragraphs.

A third effective strategy is to eliminate answers that are wrong, contradicted, or not explicitly stated. This is a good tip if you don’t find the answer right away.

Remember, you don’t have to read the paragraph in full to answer most of the questions. Your skimming and scanning will help you find the answers. You only have 20 minutes to answer 12 to 14 questions, so scanning is going to be your best tool. Time is of the essence!

Negative Factual Information

You may have two or fewer negative factual information questions on this test. They ask you to verify what information in the passage is not true. You can recognize negative factual questions when you see key words in the question such as “It is not stated in paragraph X…” or “It is not true that …” Another phrasing of this type of question might include “All of these are true, except…”

Often, choosing the correct answer in a negative factual information question involves checking more of the passage than you did in the factual information question. There will be four choices in the answer. Three of those choices are mentioned in the paragraph stated in the question or may be spread across several paragraphs. You must pick the choice that is not mentioned in the passage, is not stated accurately, or contradicts statements in the text.

Here are the steps you can take to answer a negative factual information question:

Step 1: Choose key words in the answer choices.

Step 2: Scan those key words in the text to verify the statements.

Step 3: Eliminate true answers. The correct answer directly contradicts or is not mentioned.

Sentence Simplification (Paraphrasing)

Sentence simplification or paraphrasing is among the last four types of questions in the TOEFL Reading section. They are more difficult and require a more in-depth reading of the passage. Luckily, you will have skimmed, scanned, and answered many questions that have given you a deeper understanding of the passage. In sentence simplification, you will basically be asked to choose a sentence from the answers that is most like the specific highlighted sentence in the passage.

You can recognize and identify a sentence simplification type of question when you see key words like, “Which of the sentences below expresses the essential information?” The part of the passage that you will be asked to simplify will be highlighted, and the question will tell you which paragraph to look in, which significantly reduces your time use.

The steps in selecting the correct answer are:

Step 1: Read the highlighted sentence and simplify it in your mind. Determine the most essential information and the individual elements of it. Then restate them to yourself in plain English before you look at the answers. If you focus in this way, finding the correct answer is easier and more time-efficient.

Step 2: Eliminate wrong answers. When you have simplified the answer in your head (or notes), look at the choices. Start to eliminate. Is the choice wrong? Does it contradict the highlighted sentence? Or is the choice not stated in the paragraph?

Another way to find the correct answer is to compare the answer with the highlighted section to see if they agree grammatically. Also, make sure you check synonyms and for accurate changes in the order of ideas. Consider any transformation between the active and passive voice and between general and specific nouns. Do they agree or do they contradict each other?

Step 3: Double-check your possible answer. Replace the sentence in the passage with it. Does it flow easily with the rest of the paragraph or the passage as a whole? Does it restate the same idea as the highlighted section? Or does it leave out something important? If your answer meets the requirements of simplifying the highlighted section and restates the essential information, look no further. Move on to the next question.

Insert a Sentence (Coherence)

Inserting text, or improving coherence, is another one of the last tasks you will complete in the Reading section. Most exams include one of this type of question, and it can be the most time-consuming. Here, you will decide where a new sentence best fits into the reading passage. It tests your ability to see the logical flow of a passage and the grammatical connections between sentences.

You will be able to recognize an insert-a-sentence question when you see four squares or four circles in the passage. The question will state, “Look at the four squares ■ that indicate…” You will click on the square that you think marks the correct and logical place to add the new sentence.

Here are steps for answering this type of question correctly:

Step 1: Read the sentence in the question. Make sure you understand it and make note of the grammatical tense.

Step 2: Read through the paragraph with the sentence now added. Does it agree grammatically? Read the sentence before and the sentence after to see if the new sentence seems logical when placed there. If you aren’t sure, then try the new sentence in the other three positions. Look at the structure and logic. Watch for referents like these and transition words like on the other hand, for example, therefore, and as a result. These clues will help you determine which position is the most logical. You may have to read the paragraph four times to be certain of your answer.

Fill in a Table

You will be asked to complete either prose summary or fill in a table during your iBT TOEFL® test, but not both. The fill in a table task is similar to the prose summary except that instead of choosing the three main ideas, you will drag and drop items into categories.

You will see two or three categories in an empty table and choose from the options provided, deciding which ones correctly belong to each category. Each correct answer will only be used once. You will have two options that shouldn’t be used at all because they are incorrect.

To choose the correct options, you will need to be able to organize major ideas in the passage. As for prose summary questions, you will need to distinguish essential information from the non-essential. To choose the correct options, you’ll need to identify and understand the relationship of cause/effect, problem/solution, and compare/contrast concepts. You’ll also need to classify major ideas in their appropriate context. In other words, the task is asking you to make a detailed outline for the reading passage.

The steps in choosing the correct options are simple if you can determine the outline.

Step 1: Read the options and find key words. Locate the key words in the passage. Organize them on paper.

Step 2: Find the relationship or classifications in the table and drag and drop your selections to the correct category. These answer options are more specific than main idea choices. You may have to refer back to the passage several times to confirm your choice.

Step 3: You should be able to defend your choice from the information in the passage. Remember, two options are not correct, because they are not mentioned in the text, not relevant to the table, or contradict the passage.

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