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TOEFL iBT Reading Section
The TOEFL iBT Reading part checks how well you understand academic stuff. You'll read two passages, each about 700 words long. You’ll have to learn to answer 10 types of questions and answer 20 questions overall. In TOEFL iBT Reading, you get 36 minutes to read three academic texts, which are around 2100 words total. The passages are like pieces from university textbooks. They introduce different topics but don't stress if you're not familiar. Everything you need to answer is in the passage. Plus, there's a glossary to explain tricky words if you need it. So, just take your time, read carefully, and you'll do great!
To know more on the other skills that are assessed by the TOEFL exam, you can refer to this article that explains what is TOEFL.
Reading Difficulty Level
TOEFL reading questions are like reading a basic university book. Most TOEFL reading practice questions topics are from North America, but sometimes from the UK, Australia, or New Zealand. TOEFL reading practice questions cover lots of areas as such:
- Social Sciences: anthropology, economics, psychology, and more.
- Science and Technology: like astronomy and biology.
- History, Government, and Culture.
- Art: Literature, Painting, Drama, and more.
Even if it's hard, you don't need to get everything. Just learn how to answer each TOEFL reading question type. You can still get a good score without fully understanding the passage. Start by understanding the TOEFL reading question types.
The 10 TOEFL Reading Question Types
The TOEFL reading questions can be broken down into 10 TOEFL reading practice question types:
- Vocabulary
- Reference
- Inference
- Purpose
- Negative Factual Information
- Essential Information
- Detail
- Sentence Insertion
- Complete the Summary
- Complete the Table
Here's a detailed explanation for these TOEFL reading question types:
1. Detail Question
In this TOEFL reading practice question, Questions 1 and 2 are like detectives asking about specific details in the passage. They want to know the "who," "what," "when," "where," and "why" as the author explains it. They're looking for information that's directly stated in a small part of the text.
2. Purpose Question
This TOEFL reading practice question asks why the author put certain details in. The answer isn't directly there in the text. To answer, figure out the paragraph's main idea and see how the info connects to it. This TOEFL reading practice questions might look like, "Why does the author mention XXX in paragraph 2?" It's about understanding why the author included specific bits.
3. Vocabulary Question
Questions 4 and 5 are about words. In a "Vocabulary question," you're asked to find a word's closest meaning. They give you 4 options. Your job is to understand what the word means in the passage. It's like figuring out the word's meaning where it's used in the text.
4. Essential Information Question
In an "Essential Information Question," you'll see a sentence highlighted. This TOEFL reading practice question asks which of the 4 answer options is equal to the highlighted sentence. The right sentence will be similar but different from the highlighted one, and it should still give all the important info. Wrong sentences might get details wrong, leave something out, or change the original meaning. So, you need to pick the one that matches perfectly with the highlighted sentence.
5. Negative Factual Information Question
If you see the words "NOT" or "EXCEPT" in a TOEFL reading question, it's a negative factual question. It might look like this: "According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true of X?" This means you're looking for the statement that's wrong about something in the text. So, be on the lookout for those tricky words like "NOT" or "EXCEPT" in the TOEFL reading question.
6. Inference Question
The next TOEFL reading question is an Inference question TOEFL that asks about what the author hints at or suggests in a paragraph. They might ask, "In paragraph 5, what does the author imply about…?" or "What can be inferred from paragraph 5?" The answer isn't directly in the passage. You have to figure it out from the information given. So, you need to pick the conclusion that makes the most sense based on what's written.
7. Sentence Insertion Question
In a "Sentence Insertion" TOEFL reading question, you'll need to decide where a new sentence fits in the passage. This TOEFL reading question checks if you understand the passage's logic and can see how sentences connect grammatically. So, you'll need to figure out where the new sentence makes the most sense in relation to the other sentences.
8. Complete the Summary Question
In a ‘Complete the Summary’ TOEFL reading question, you'll see a summary of the passage and 6 answer options. Your task is to choose 3 answers that capture the main ideas or key info from the passage. You'll drag and drop them from the bottom of your screen into 3 marked spots above. The correct answers won't be exact copies of sentences in the passage. The other options might have small mistakes or cover less important ideas. This TOEFL reading question i worth 2 points, and you'll get 1 point for getting 2 out of 3 correct.
9. Reference Question
In a "Reference" TOEFL reading question, you're asked what the highlighted word refers to. If it's a pronoun, you have to figure out which word the pronoun stands for.
10. Complete the Table Question
In a "Complete a table" TOEFL reading question, you'll see empty categories in a table. You have to pick the options that fit each category from the choices given. Two options won't be used. There could be either 5 or 7 correct options. You earn 3 or 4 points. If you get 3/5 or 4/7 correct, you get 1 point. If you get 4/5 or 5/7 correct, you get 2 points. If you get 5/5 or 6/7 correct, you get 3 points. This question checks if you can organize the main ideas and understand the relationships between them.
In conclusion, practising TOEFL reading questions is key to improving your skills and confidence for the exam. By familiarising yourself with different TOEFL reading questions and strategies, you'll be better prepared to tackle the challenges of the test. Remember to focus on understanding the main ideas, making inferences, and paying attention to details. With consistent practice and perseverance, you can sharpen your reading abilities and achieve success in the TOEFL exam. So keep practising and stay positive, and you'll be well on your way to reaching your goals!
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