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TOEFL PREPARATION COURSE
Reading Comprehension
Composition of the test:
@ 7 to 35
lines
50 questions 5 passages 55 minutes
@ 8 to 12
questions
The Passages –
General classification
1. Science and technology (40%) Includes astronomy,
geology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, zoology,
botany, medicine, engineering, mechanics, and so on.
2. North American history (20%); government,
geography, and culture
3. Art (15%) Includes literature, painting, architecture,
dance, drama, and so on.
4. Social science (10%) Includes anthropology, economics,
psychology, urban studies, sociology, and so on.
5. Biography (15%)
Type of Question – Percentage on
test
1. Main Idea/ Main Topic/ 5. Inference Questions
Main Purpose (10%) (12%)
2. Factual Questions 6. Vocabulary-in-Context
(24%) Questions (26%)
3. Negative Questions 7. Reference Questions
(9%) (10%)
4. Scanning Questions
(4%)
Recognizing the type of Don’t try to walk before you
questions. can crawl.
Examples
1. “What is the main idea of the passage?"
2. "According to the passage, why/ where did ... ?“
3. "Which of the following is NOT true about ... “
"All of the following are true EXCEPT ... “
4. "Where in the passage does the author first discuss ..
5. "Which of the following can be inferred from the
passage?“
6. "The word '--' in line 5 is closest in meaning to .. :‘
7. "The word "it" in line 15 refers to ... "
The right way to approach the passage
read the article at a comfortable speed. (Skim)
read in units of thought. (scan)
Eliminate answers that are clearly wrong or do not
answer the questions.
Mark difficult or time-consuming answers so that you
can come back to them later if you have time.
When there are only a few seconds left, fill in all
remaining blanks with your guess letter.
Practice 1:
The Stone Age was a period of history which began in
approximately 2 million B.C. and lasted until 3000 B.C. Its name was
derived from the stone tools and weapons that modern scientists
found. This period was divided into the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and
Neolithic Ages. During the first period (2 million to 8000 B.C.), the
first hatchet and use of fire for heating and cooking were developed.
As a result of the Ice Age, which evolved about 1 million years into
the Paleolithic Age, people were forced to seek shelter in caves, wear
clothing, and develop new tools.
During the Mesolithic Age (8000 to 6000 B.C.), people made
crude pottery and the first fish hooks, took dogs hunting, and
developed the bow and arrow, which were used until the fourteenth
century A.D.
The Neolithic Age (6000 to 3000 B.C.) saw humankind
domesticating sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle, being less nomadic than
in previous eras, establishing permanent settlements, and creating
governments.
Questions:
1. Into how many periods was the Stone Age divided?
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 5
2. In line 3, the word “derived” is closest in meaning to ________
(A) originated (C) hallucinated
(B) destroyed (D) discussed
3. Which of the following was developed earliest?
(A) Fish hook (C) Bow and Arrow
(B) Hatchet (D) Pottery
4. Which of the following developments is not related to the conditions of
the Ice Age?
(A) Farming (C) Living indoors
(B) Clothing (D) Using fire
5. The word “crude” in line 8 is closest in meaning to ___________
(A) extravagant (C) vulgar
(B) complex (D) primitive
Questions:
6. The author states that the Stone Age was so named because _________
(A) It was very durable like stone
(B) the tools and the weapons were made of stone
(C) there was little vegetation
(D) the people lived in stone caves
7. In line 12, “nomadic” is closest in meaning to __________
(A) sedentary (C) primitive
(B) wandering (D) inquisitive
8. With what subject is the passage mainly concerned?
(A) The Neolithic Age (C) The Stone age
(B) The Paleolithic Age (D) The Ice Age
9. Which of the following best describes the Mesolithic Age?
(A) People were inventive. (C) People were warriors.
(B) People stayed indoors all the time. (D) People were crude.
10. In line 12, the word “eras” is closest in meaning to __________.
(A) families (C) herds
(B) periods (D) tools
