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READING SECTION
Overview of TOEFL IBT
READING OVERVIEW
Length of Each
Passage
Number of Passages
and Questions
Timing
700 words 3-5 passages,
12-14 questions per passage
60-100 minutes
Test Taking Strategies for the TOEFEL Reading
Section
Be familiar with the directions
Dismiss the directions ASAP
Do not worry if the reading passage is on a topic that is
not familiar to you
Do not spend to much time reading the passage
Skim each passage
Continue…
Choose the best answer for each question
Do not spend too much time on a question you are
completely unsure of
Monitor the time
Guess to complete
Reading Skills
Reading Skill 1: Understand Vocabulary from the
Context
Context: the words, clauses and phrases around the
unknown vocabulary word
Questions about vocabulary in context
How to identify the question The word X is closest in meaning to….The word X could best be replaced by……
Where to find the answer Information to help you understand the meaning of an unknown word or phrase can often be found in the context surrounding the word or phrase
How to answer the question 1. Find the word or phrase in the passage.
2. Read the sentence that contain the word or phrase carefully.
3. Look for the context clues to help you to understand the meaning.
4. Choose the answer that the context indicates
Reading Skill 2: Recognize Referents
Determine referent for a particular pronoun or adjective
Referent precedes the pronoun or adjective
Find referent for variety of words
Third person: Subject Pronoun, Object Pronoun, Relative
Pronoun, Possessive Adjective, Possessive Pronoun,
Demonstrative Pronoun or adjective
Questions about Referent
How to identify the question The word X refers to….
Where to find the answer The pronoun or adjective is highlighted in the passage. The referent is generally in front of the highlighted word
How to answer the question 1. Locate the highlighted pronoun or adjective
2. Look before the highlighted word for nouns that agree with the highlighted word.
3. Try each of the nouns in the context around the highlighted word.
4. Eliminate any definitely wr0ng answer, and choose the best answer from the remaining choices.
Reading Skill 3: Simplify Meanings of the Sentences
Simplify the meaning of long and complex sentence
Choose the answer that is closest in meaning to
highlighted sentence
Questions about Simplifying the Meaning
How to identify the question Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information….
Where to find the answer The targeted sentence is highlighted in the passage. Information to answer the question is in the highlighted sentence and may also be in the context around the highlighted sentence.
How to answer the question 1. Study the highlighted sentence carefully.2. Break the sentence down into meaningful parts by looking for punctuation and transition expressions. 3. If the highlighted sentence makes references to information outside of the highlighted sentence, read the context around the highlighted sentence
Reading Skill 4: Insert Sentences into the Passage
Determine where to insert a sentence into the passage
Click on one of a number of squares in a passage to
indicate that the sentence should be inserted in the
position.
Questions about Inserting Sentence
How to identify the question Look at the four squares [□]….
Where to find the answer The places where the sentences maybe inserted are marked in the passage
How to answer the question 1. Look at the sentence to be inserted for any key words, or ideas at the beginning or the end of the sentence.
2. Read the context before and after the insertion square for any ideas that relate to the sentence to be inserted
3. Choose the insertion square that is most related to the sentence to be inserted
Details
Reading Skill 5: Find Factual Information
The answer to the question is the restatement of what is given
in the passage
Correct answer express the same idea as what is written in the
passage
The words are not exactly the same
The questions indicate which paragraph contains the answers
(According to the paragraph…)
Questions about Factual Detail
How to identify the question According to the paragraph….It is stated in paragraph….It is indicated in paragraph…It is measured in paragraph…
Where to find the answer These answer are generally found in order in the passage, and the paragraph where the answer is found generally indicated in the question
How to answer the question 1. Choose a key word or idea in the question
2. Scan the appropriate paragraph for the key word or idea
3. Read the sentence that contain the key word or idea carefully
4. choose the best answer
Reading Skill 6: Understand Negative Facts
Find an answer that is not true, stated or mentioned
in the passage
Three of other answers are stated, mentioned or true
in the passage and one answer is not
There are two kinds of answers to this type of question
There are three answers that are true and one that is not true in the passage
There are three true answers and one that is not stated or mentioned in the passage.
Questions about Negative Facts
How to identify question It is not stated…It is not mentioned…It is not true…It is not indicated…All of the following are true except
Where to find the answer These answers are generally found inorder in the passage, and the paragraph where the answer is found is generally indicted in the passage
How to answer the question 1. Choose a key word in the question2. Scan the appropriate place in the
passage for the key word3. Read the sentence that contain the
key word carefully4. Look for the answer that are
definitely true according to the passage
5. Choose the answer that is not true
Reading Skill 7: Make Inferences from Stated Facts
Draw conclusion from the specific details in the passage
Questions contain the words implied, likely, or inferred
Draw the conclusion from the stated information
Question about Inference from Stated Facts
How to identify the question It is implied in paragraph….It can be inferred from paragraph…..It is most likely that…
Where to find the answer The answer to these questions are generally found in order in the passage
How to answer the question 1. Choose a key word or phrase in the passage
2. Scan the passage for the key word or phrase
3. Carefully read the sentence that contain the key word or phrase
Reading Skill 8: Infer Rhetorical Purpose
Explain why the author includes certain words, phrases, or
sentences in a passage
The highlighted words, phrases, or sentences are included to
improve the rhetoric, or overall presentation of ideas, of the
passage
Decide which of four multiple-choice answers best explain
why author chose to include highlighted information
Questions about Rhetorical Purpose
How to identify the question Why does the author mention…The author mentions X in order to…
Where to find the answer The targeted information is highlighted in the passage
How to answer the question 1. Study the highlighted information carefully
2. Study the context around the highlighted information , and ask yourself how the highlighted information is related to the context around it.
3. Draw conclusion about the purpose of highlighted information
4. Read the answer choices5. Choose the best answer
Reading Skill 9: Select Summary Information
Complete a summary chart
Determine major supporting ideas
The question has three correct answers and worth 3 points
Two points for three correct answers
One point for two correct answers
0 for either one or 0 correct answers
Must be able to recognize rhetorical pattern
Question about Summary Information
How to identify the question A summary information chat is given
Where to find the answer Because the answer demonstrate an understanding of the major points and critical s supporting information, the information needed to answer the question is found throughout the passage3e
How to answer the question 1. read the topic stated in the summary chart carefully
2. Read the passage focusing on the main idea as they relate to topic stated in the summary chart
3. Read each answer choice, evaluating whether it is true information according to the passage, false information accroding to the passage, or not discussed in the passage
Continue…
4. Eliminate any answers that are false
or not discussed5. For each statement that is true
according tot the passage, evaluate whether it is a major factor related to the topic or is minor detail
6. Select the answer that are true and are major factors as your responses
7. Partial credit is possible, and your answer may be in any order
How to score the answer A summary question has 3 correct answer and is worth 2 points1. You get 2 points by 3 correct
answers2. You get 1 point by 2 correct answers3. You get 0 points for 1 or 0 correct
answersThe answer maybe in any order in the
chare to be correct
Reading Skill 10: Complete Schematic Tables
Schematic table outlines the key information
Has 5 to 7 correct answers
A question with 5 correct answers worth 3 points
3 points for 5 correct answers
2 points for 4 correct answers
1 point for 3 correct answers
O point for either 2,1, or 0 correct answers
Continue…
A question with 7 correct answers worth 4 points
4 points for 7 correct answers
3 points for 6 correct answers
2 points for 5 correct answers
1 point for 4 correct answers
Recognize overall organization of the information
Question about Schematic Tables
How to identify the question A schematic table is given
How to find the answer Because the answer demonstrate anunderstanding of the major points and critical supporting information, the information needed to answer the question is found throughout the passage.
How to answer the question 1. Look at the information that is provided in the schematic table
2. Read the passage, focusing on the main idea as they related to the topics in the schematic table
3. Read each answer choice, evaluating whether it is true information according to the passage, false information according to the passage, or not discussed in the passage.
4. Eliminate any answer that are false or not discussed
5. Match the true answer choices to the correct category in the schematic table
6. Partial credit is possible and your answer may appear in any order
