guidelines for reading part

1. Important Tips for TOEFL
Exam
Reading Section
Prepared by Amal Dhainy

2. Reading Section:
• Tip #1: Memorize the question types
• The TOEFL Reading contains 10 different types of questions. Some
appear more frequently than others and some take more time than
others. Most are worth one point but some are worth two or three.

3. Inference Question
• In this type of question, the answer is not directly stated in the reading
passage. It requires you to draw conclusions based on information that is
given in the passage. You need to find out the correct conclusion from the
choices. Here is an example:
• [5] Iridium (Ir) has been scarce on Earth's surface since the
early stages of the planet's formation. As it typically exists in a
metallic form, it was predominantly incorporated into the
Earth's core as the planet cooled and solidified. Iridium is
found in high quantities in some meteorites, where the initial
chemical composition of the solar system is retained. Even
today, Earth is persistently struck by microscopic meteorites
that land on both terrestrial and aquatic surfaces. By
quantifying the number of these meteorites that land on Earth
over a specific timeframe, scientists can estimate the duration
it might have taken to accumulate the observed quantity of
Iridium in the boundary clay. These computations indicate that

4. • Question: Paragraph 5 suggests that a distinct
interpretation of the Iridium (Ir) in the boundary clay is
necessary because
• the Iridium from microscopic meteorites that reached Earth
during the Cretaceous period would have been integrated into
Earth's core
• the Iridium in the boundary clay was laid down much earlier than
a million years ago
• the density of Iridium in the boundary clay surpasses that in
microscopic meteorites
• the volume of Iridium in the boundary clay exceeds what could
have been delivered by microscopic meteorites in the timeframe
the boundary clay was formed

5. Vocabulary Question
• In a reading "Vocabulary question", you are asked what a word or phrase
is closest in meaning to and are given 4 answer options. You need to be
able to understand the meaning of the word as it is used in the passage.
Here is an example:
• The Native American Trade is the trade between Europeans,
their North American descendants, and the indigenous people
of North America who are now known as Native Americans in
the United States, First Nations in Canada, whom were formerly
known as Indians. Indian Trade is the term used to describe the
people involved in the trade, which began in the 1500s, and had
various products in different regions and eras. In most of
Canada the term is synonymous with the fur trade, such as
beaver fur, which, from the European point of view, was the

6. • Question: The word "indigenous" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning
to
• Intelligent
• Foreign
• Native
• Friendly
• Answer: C

7. Rhetorical Purpose Question
• To solve this type of question, you need to understand the main point of the
paragraph and how the referenced information is related to the main point of the
paragraph. You will see the question phrased something like the following: Why
does the author mention XXX in paragraph 2? Here is an example.
• [4] Darwin's theory posits that 'natural selection' acts as the engine
behind evolution, resembling a form of 'selective breeding' occurring
in nature. This theory forms a solid basis for understanding the
gradual changes organisms undergo over time. Nonetheless, being
a theory, it remains elusive and challenging to definitively prove. One
of the primary challenges to Darwin's theory revolves around the
concept of "irreducibly complex systems." An irreducibly complex
system refers to a system where numerous distinct parts must
function together in unison, as the absence of even a single
component would lead to the collapse of the entire system. With
advancements in modern technology, scientists can now identify
such "irreducibly complex systems," even at the microscopic level. If
these complex systems indeed rely on intricate interdependencies,
they pose a significant challenge to Darwin's hypothesis concerning

8. • Question: In paragraph 4, What was the intention behind the
author's inclusion of a quote expressing skepticism towards the
idea that natural selection could account for the intricate
complexity of the human eye?
• To present evidence supporting the existence of irreducibly
complex systems
• To demonstrate a potential contradiction between natural
selection and the fundamental principles of Darwin's theory
• To provide support for the role of natural selection in the
foundation of Darwin's theory
• To substantiate the claim that natural selection is a theory that
poses challenges in terms of definitive proof
• Answer: D

9. Detail (Factual Information) Question
• Detail questions ask you about information that’s specifically stated in a
small part of the passage. They generally focus on the “who,” “what,”
“when,” “where,” and “why” as explained by the author. Here is an example.
• [3] Eye fossils from approximately 540 million years ago mark the
earliest evidence of ocular structures. While light sensitivity may
have served certain organisms before this period, the emergence
of visual abilities for rapid movement and navigation is a more
recent development. However, assessing the pace of eye
evolution proves challenging due to the limited fossil record from
this era. Scientists have estimated the transformation from a
circular cluster of light-sensing cells to a fully functional vertebrate
eye by considering factors such as mutation rates, the organism's
relative advantage, and the impact of natural selection. These

10. • Question: According to paragraph 3, by what means has the
estimation of the development of a fully functional vertebrate eye
been conducted?
• Estimations have relied on mutation rates, the organism's
relative advantages, and natural selection.
• Estimations have been derived from studies of the fossil record
during this era.
• Estimations have been based on the influence of natural
selection alone.
• Estimations have been derived from the examination of the
earliest eye fossils, dating back 540 million years.
• Answer: A

11. Negative Factual Information Question
• You can recognize a negative factual information question by either the word “NOT” or
“EXCEPT” in the question. The question can appear like the following: According to the
passage, which of the following is NOT true of X? Here is an example.
• 4] Darwin's theory posits that 'natural selection' acts as the engine behind
evolution, resembling a form of 'selective breeding' occurring in nature.
This theory forms a solid basis for understanding the gradual changes
organisms undergo over time. Nonetheless, being a theory, it remains
elusive and challenging to definitively prove. One of the primary challenges
to Darwin's theory revolves around the concept of "irreducibly complex
systems." An irreducibly complex system refers to a system where
numerous distinct parts must function together in unison, as the absence of
even a single component would lead to the collapse of the entire system.
With advancements in modern technology, scientists can now identify such
"irreducibly complex systems," even at the microscopic level. If these
complex systems indeed rely on intricate interdependencies, they pose a
significant challenge to Darwin's hypothesis concerning the process of

12. Tip #2: Find keywords and focus on them
• Keywords are important words in the question that you can use to
help you find answers quickly.
• Keywords are almost never prepositions (under/in) or articles
(a/an/the)
• Keywords are almost always verbs, nouns or adjectives
• Proper nouns are almost always keywords

13. • Question: All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 4 as a viewpoint to state
the natural selection is difficult to prove EXCEPT
• The notion that natural selection could account for the intricate complexity of the
human eye appears highly implausible.
• The existence of irreducibly complex systems contradicts the mechanisms of
evolution.
• Modern microbiology provides evidence for the existence of irreducibly complex
systems.
• The presence of selective breeding poses a significant challenge to the theory of
natural selection.
• Answer: D

14. Essential Information (Sentence Simplification)
Question
• In an “Essential Information question”, you will see the question
you see an entire sentence highlighted in the reading passage.
The question will ask you to choose which of the 4 answer
option sentences is equal to the highlighted sentence. The
correct sentence will be paragraphed so it is different than the
highlighted one but still convey all the important information.
Incorrect sentences will represent a detail or concept
inaccurately, leave out an important detail, and change the
original meaning of the sentence. Here is an example.

15. • [4] The dissatisfaction with traditional explanations for
the extinction of dinosaurs led to a notable observation,
which subsequently gave rise to a fresh hypothesis.
Numerous plants and animals abruptly cease to appear
in the fossil record when transitioning from rock strata
marking the end of the Cretaceous to those denoting the
start of the Cenozoic (the era succeeding the Mesozoic).
Frequently, there is a slender layer of clay between the
final layer of Cretaceous rock and the initial layer of
Cenozoic rock. Scientists hypothesized that they could
approximate the duration of the extinctions by
determining the deposition time of this one-centimeter-
thick clay layer. They proposed to measure this period
by quantifying the amount of the element iridium (Ir)

16. • Question: Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential
information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 4? Incorrect choices
change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
• Evidence from the fossil record implies a sudden extinction event affecting
numerous plants and animals at the conclusion of the Mesozoic era.
• Only a handful of Mesozoic era fossils have been preserved in the rock
formations that delineate the end of the Cretaceous period.
• Fossils from the Cretaceous epoch of the Mesozoic through to the onset of
the Cenozoic era have been extracted from their encasing rock layers.
• Flora and fauna from the Mesozoic era failed to persist into the Cenozoic
era.
• Answer: A

17. Sentence Insertion (Insert Text) Question
• In an "Insert a Sentence" question, you will be asked to decide
where a new sentence best fits into the reading passage. This
question type tests your understanding of the logic in the
passage. It also tests your ability to understand the grammatical
connections from one sentence to another. Here is an example.

18. • [5] Trade was difficult for the early Europeans trading with Native
Americans during the first trades.
• █ [A] Economic contact between Native Americans and
Europeans can be traced back to the English and French
fishermen off the coast of Canada in the 1500s. They traded
guns and other weapons for beaver fur. █ [B] The first explorers
to trade with the Native Americans were Giovanni da Verrazano
and Jacques Cartier in the 1520s and 1530s. █ [C]In Verrazano's
book he notes, "If we wanted to trade with them for some of their
things, they would come to the seashore on some rocks where
the breakers were most violent while we remained on the little
boat █ [D]and they sent us what they wanted to give on a rope,
continually shouting to us not to approach the land.

19. • Question: In paragraph 5 of the passage, there is a missing sentence.
The paragraph shows four letters (A, B, C, and D) that indicate where
the following sentence could be added.
• Choose the place where the sentence fits best.
• Answer: B

20. Complete the Summary (Prose Summary)
Question
• In a ‘Complete the Summary’ question, you are given a
summary statement of the reading passage and 6 answer
options. You need to drag and drop 3 answers that represent
major ideas or contain important information from the passage.
You need to drag and drop them from the bottom area of your
computer screen into a blank area above with 3 positions
marked off. The 3 correct options will NOT have the exact
wording of any sentence in the passage. The other 3 will have
errors in detail, or state an unimportant concept. This question
always has a value of 2 points. You will get 1 point if you get 2
out of 3 correct. Here is an example.

21. Tip #3: Practice reading with a timer
• Reading 1400 words and answering 20 questions in 36 minutes is
tough.
• It’s a good exercise to time yourself while you do TOEFL Reading
Practice questions

22. • Tip #4: Beware of modifiers in answer choices
• One way to eliminate wrong choices and select the correct one is to
pay close attention to modifiers.

23. Complete the Table (Fill in a Table) Question
• In a “Complete a table” question, you will see 2 or 3 categories
in an empty table. From the options provided, you must select
which ones correctly belong to each category. There will also be
2 options that won’t be used. There will either be 5 or 7 correct
options depending on the question.
• https://www.bestmytest.com/blog/toefl/toefl-reading-question-
types#sentence-insertion-question-type