TOEFL Reading Strategies
Bates, S. (2011). Oxford preparation course for the TOEFL iBT exam: a skills-based communicative approach. Don Mills, Ont.: Oxford University Press.
Vocabulary Questions Identify word form Analyze in immediate context Analyze in larger context Divide into word parts (root words, similar words) Replace the word with word in answer
Reference Questions Reference words can be a pronoun, possessive adjective, demonstrative, or quantifier that refers to a previous word. Look for a noun or noun phrase before the reference word.
For example: While people generally link the term calorie with food, it is a unit of measurement that can be applied to any substance possessing energy.
The word it in the passage refers to a) food b) term c) calorie d) unit
Insert Questions The question will ask you to place a sentence in one of the four positions within a paragraph. Look for connecting words like reference words and transitions. Look for synonyms, rephrased ideas, and repeated key words.
Insert Questions For example: Look at the four squares that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. In fact, the energy in this amount of fuel is comparable to that in 30 McDonald’s hamburgers.
A calorie, also known as a kilocalorie, is a unit of energy. This unit represents the energy required to heat a kilogram of water one degree Celsius. While people generally link the term calorie with food, it is a unit of measurement that can be applied to any substance possessing energy. For instance, there are 8200 calories in a liter (about one quart) of gasoline.
Paraphrase Questions This question asks you to identify which of the four sentences restates the essential information contained in a highlighted sentence in the text. The correct answer usually includes synonyms or restatements of ideas.
Factual Information Questions These questions ask about specific information such as facts, details, examples, and definitions. You will need to use scanning and recognizing paraphrase.
Negative Factual Information Questions This type of question asks you to specify which answer is NOT true according to the reading passage. It may be worded, “All of the following are true EXCEPT…” These questions may take longer to answer. Scan key words in the question. The correct answer will NOT be true or will NOT be mentioned.
Inference Questions This question asks you to draw a conclusion from the stated facts most often found within one or two sentences within a paragraph. Sometimes the question will ask about information scattered throughout the entire passage. The correct answer will NOT be DIRECTLY stated in the passage. You will have to infer the correct answer. Scan for key words and phrases.
Schematic Framework Questions This question will ask you to place important ideas from the passage in the appropriate categories. There may be two or three categories and either five or seven correct answers. Incorrect answers will be untrue or not mentioned according to the passage. Make sure you understand the category headings completely. Scan for synonyms and key words.
Purpose Questions There are three types: 1.
why the author included a specific phrase or sentence a. provide an example, reason, evidence or support
2.
what the author’s purpose is in writing the paragraph a. to state and develop the main idea b. to expand or develop the main idea of previous paragraph
3.
how one paragraph relates to another a. skim both paragraph to find the main idea of each b. read the last sentence of the first paragraph and the opening sentence of the second paragraph and find connections
Prose Questions Distinguish major from minor ideas in the passage Read the summary sentence and choose three answers that represent major ideas from the passage that relate to the summary sentence. Incorrect answers are usually minor points (examples, statistics, reasons), but they can also be untrue ideas or not mentioned according to the passage.
Bates, S. (2011). Oxford preparation course for the TOEFL iBT exam: a skills-based communicative approach. Don Mills, Ont.: Oxford University Press.
