READING Comprehension TOEFL Test

You might understand your native English-speaking friends when they talk. They might even understand you. However, this does not mean you are ready for the TOEFL test. We’ve said it before and it’s worth repeating that the TOEFL exam is all about strategy. You will also need one to help you prepare effectively for the test. TOEFL test has 3-5 texts. Most of these are around 700 words long. They are followed by 12-15 questions based on the text. There is 20 minutes allocated to each text/questions section.

Here are ten tips to help you prepare for the TOEFL reading test.

1. Read

It might sound obvious but the best way to practice for TOEFL’s reading test is to read as much as possible beforehand on as wide a variety of topics as possible. Current affairs, health, sports, it doesn’t matter. Also, cover all the media in your reading materials like books, online texts, and also magazines. Familiarize yourself also with the size of texts that are 700 words long.

2. Keep a Vocabulary Notebook

How to do remember what you have to do everyday? Do you write lists on paper? Do you keep an online agenda? Do you stick yellow post-its on your fridge? It doesn’t matter. Do the same with new vocabulary. Build a vocabulary bank and refer to it as often as you can to refresh it in your memory. This will help you develop a strong vocabulary that should be a great help to you when you sit TOEFL’s reading test.

3. Practice Past Tests

You need to always remember that TOEFL is a standardized test. This means it always follows the same format. Practice past tests to familiarize yourself with the format.

4. Practice Staying Within The Time Limit

As well as familiarizing yourself with the structure of the exam, you need to practice working within the time limit. When you practice past exams respect the time constraints. Set an alarm clock if necessary. Remember that in TOEFL iBT the software will cut you off when you reach the time limit so it is critical you learn to work within it.

5. Learn to Skim

In English, skimming involves reading a passage quickly and understanding a text by extracting the important details at a glance. This is a crucial skill for the TOEFL reading test. Practice doing this with passages in the run-up to the exam.

6. Practice Summing Up

Never presume you know the meaning of a text while you are reading it. Always stop at the end of each paragraph and try to sum up what you have just read (even if it have to whisper rather than say it out loud).

7. Highlight (if you need to)

Highlighting important data like vocabulary, dates and places might help you relax and order your thoughts. Go ahead and do this while you are reading if it helps.

8. Learn To Guess Unfamiliar Words

When you are faced with a new word what do you do? Panic? Consult a dictionary? Neither of these responses will help you in your exam. Learn to guess the meaning of new words from the context of a passage or the words and paragraphs which surround it.

9. Learn To Pick Out Pronouns

When you speak, you know there is a big difference between the pronouns he, she and it. It is the same when you are reading. Learn to pay attention to the pronouns in a text so you know to whom or what it is referring, especially if there are multiple characters in the text. This could be the difference between you answering a question correctly and incorrectly.

10. Relax

In order to really capture the meaning of a text, you need to be relaxed so that you can focus on it completely. If you are very nervous you might miss important, and maybe obvious, points. Develop relaxation techniques like deep breathing during the test or even a yoga session before it! Whatever keeps you calm and works for you should not be ignored.

Sample: Reading Comprehension Questions

Questions 1–4 are about the following announcement.

Student Volunteers Needed! On Saturday, December 12th, from 10 A.M. until 4 P.M., Carverton Middle School will be holding a music festival in the school gymnasium. The special event will feature a variety of professional musicians and singers. Task Time Date Make posters 1 P.M.–4 P.M. December 5th Set up gym 11 A.M.–4 P.M. December 11th Help performers 9 A.M.–4 P.M. December 12th Welcome guests 10 A.M.–2 P.M. December 12th Clean up gym  4 P.M.–7 P.M. December 12th Interested students should speak with Ms. Braxton, the music teacher. Students who would like to help at the festival must have written permission from a parent or guardian.

1. What time will the festival begin?

1. 10 A.M.
2. 11 A.M.
3. 1 P.M.
4. 2 P.M.

2. In line 2, the word feature is closest in meaning to _______.

1. look
2. keep
3. include
4. entertain

3. What job will be done the day before the festival begins?

1. Making posters
2. Setting up the gym
3. Cleaning up the gym
4. Helping the performers

4. Who is told to talk to Ms. Braxton?

1. Parents
2. Students
3. Teachers
4. Performers

Questions 5–11 refer to the following story.

Line
	"Did you see that?" Joe said to his friend Bill. "You're a great shooter!"   Bill caught the basketball and bounced it before throwing it again. The ball flew into the net.   "Bill, you never miss!" Joe said admiringly.
5	"Unless I'm in a real game," Bill complained. "Then I miss all the time."   Joe knew that Bill was right. Bill performed much better when he was having fun with Joe in the school yard than he did when he was playing for the school team in front of a large crowd.   "Maybe you just need to practice more," Joe suggested.
10	"But I practice all the time with you!" Bill objected. He shook his head. "I just can't play well when people are watching me."   "You play well when I'm watching," Joe pointed out.   "That's because I've known you since we were five years old," Bill said with a smile. "I'm just not comfortable playing when other people are around."
15	Joe nodded and understood, but he also had an idea.   The next day Joe and Bill met in the school yard again to practice. After a few minutes, Joe excused himself.   "Practice without me," Joe said to his friend. "I'll be back in a minute."   Joe hurried through the school building, gathering together whomever he could find—two
20	students, a math teacher, two secretaries, and a janitor.
	When Joe explained why he needed them, everyone was happy to help.   Joe reminded the group to stay quiet as they all went toward the school's basketball court. As Joe
25	had hoped, Bill was still practicing basketball. He made five baskets in a row without noticing the silent people standing behind him.   "Hey, Bill!" Joe called out finally.   Bill turned. A look of surprise came over his
30	face.   "I just wanted to show you that you could play well with people watching you," Joe said. "Now you'll have nothing to worry about for the next game!"

5. What would be the best title for the story?

1. Joe Joins the Team
2. Practice Makes Perfect
3. Bill Wins the Big Game
4. Bill's Basketball Problem

6. In line 6, the word performed is closest in meaning to _______.

1. acted
2. played
3. moved
4. changed

7. Why is Bill upset?

1. He plays better in practice than he does during games.
2. The school yard is not a good place to practice.
3. Joe watches him too closely when he plays.
4. His team loses too many games.

8. Why does Bill play well when Joe is watching him?

1. He is comfortable with Joe.
2. Joe tells him how to play better.
3. He does not know that Joe is there.
4. He wants to prove to Joe that he is a good player.

9. Why does Joe decide to gather a group of people?

1. Because he wants more players for his team
2. Because he wants to help Bill feel less nervous
3. Because he wants to show them his talent
4. Because he wants more people to see the next game

10. At the end of the story, all of the following people watch Bill practice EXCEPT _____.

1. Joe
2. a janitor
3. a math teacher
4. the basketball coach

11. Why does the group have to be quiet when they go to the basketball court?

1. Because Joe is telling Bill what to do
2. Because they do not want Bill to know they were there
3. Because Bill likes to practice alone
4. Because the group needs to listen to Joe’s instructions

Questions 12–20 are about the following passage.

Line
	When another old cave is discovered in the south of France, it is not usually news. Rather, it
	is an ordinary event. Such discoveries are so frequent these days that hardly anybody pays heed to them. However, when the Lascaux cave complex was discovered in 1940,
5	the world was amazed. Painted directly on its walls were hundreds of scenes showing how people lived thousands of years ago. The scenes show people hunting animals, such as bison or wild cats. Other images depict birds and, most noticeably, horses, which appear in more than
10	300 wall images, by far outnumbering all other animals.    Early artists drawing these animals accomplished a monumental and difficult task. They did not limit themselves to the easily accessible walls but carried their painting materials to spaces that required climbing
15	steep walls or crawling into narrow passages in the Lascaux complex.    Unfortunately, the paintings have been exposed to the destructive action of water and temperature changes, which easily wear the images away. Because the Lascaux caves have
20	many entrances, air movement has also damaged the images inside. Although they are not out in the open air, where natural light would have
	destroyed them long ago, many of the images have deteriorated and are barely recognizable. To prevent further damage, the site was closed to tourists in 1963, 23 years after it was discovered.

12. Which title best summarizes the main idea of the passage?

1. Wild Animals in Art
2. Hidden Prehistoric Paintings
3. Exploring Caves Respectfully
4. Determining the Age of French Caves

13. In line 3, the words pays heed to are closest in meaning to ______.

1. discovers
2. watches
3. notices
4. buys

14. Based on the passage, what is probably true about the south of France?

1. It is home to rare animals.
2. It has a large number of caves.
3. It is known for horse-racing events.
4. It has attracted many famous artists.

15. According to the passage, which animals appear most often on the cave walls?

1. Birds
2. Bison
3. Horses
4. Wild cats

16. In line 8, the word depict is closest in meaning to _______.

1. show
2. hunt
3. count
4. draw

17. Why was painting inside the Lascaux complex a difficult task?

1. It was completely dark inside.
2. The caves were full of wild animals.
3. Painting materials were hard to find.
4. Many painting spaces were difficult to reach.

18. In line 12, the word They refers to _______.

1. walls
2. artists
3. animals
4. materials

19. According to the passage, all of the following have caused damage to the paintings
     EXCEPT _______ .

1. temperature changes
2. air movement
3. water
4. light

20. What does the passage say happened at the Lascaux caves in 1963?

1. Visitors were prohibited from entering.
2. A new lighting system was installed.
3. Another part was discovered.
4. A new entrance was created.

Answer Key for Reading Comprehension

1. A
2. C
3. B
4. B
5. D
6. B
7. A
8. A
9. B
10. D
11. B
12. B
13. C
14. B
15. C
16. A
17. D
18. B
19. D
20. A

SUMBER :

https://www.ets.org/toefl_junior/prepare/standard_sample_questions/reading_comprehension

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