Val's Tips for the iBT
(TOEFL) Reading
Section
Types of skills
Vocabulary and Reference: Skills 1 and 2
Sentences: Skills 3 and 4
Details: Skills 5 and 6
Inferences: Skills 7 and 8
Reading to Learn: Skills 9 and 10
Vocabulary and Reference
Skill 1: Understand Vocabulary from
Context
Skill 2: Recognize Referents
Note: both skills require you to use clues/
hints from the 'context'--surrounding
words and sentences
Using Context Clues 1a
It is too klemzat to read.
Make 2 guesses for what klemzat means
Using Context Clues 1b
It is too klemzat to read in this room
without a light.
What does klemzat mean?
Using Context Clues 1c
It is too klemzat to read in this room
without a fire.
What does klemzat mean?
Using Context Clues 2a
The bride bazed the groom on the nose.
What does bazed mean?
Using Context Clues 2b
The bride bazed the groom on the nose
to show her love.
What does bazed mean?
Using Context Clues 2c
The bride bazed the groom on the nose
when he said he wouldn't marry her.
What does bazed mean?
Using Context Clues in a
paragraph 1a
When Auntie Tsu would take him to the temple, Jimmy would
have to kneel and pray before the Buddha. He bowed three
times and made the praying motions until his aunt would
give him a coin wrapped in red paper. He would have to wait
until Auntie finished lighting the incense and stick the bunch
into the sand-filled holder before she allowed him to go
across the street to spend his lee-see. Auntie Tsu stayed in
the temple to talk to the round-faced monk.
What does kneel mean? What clues helped you guess?
Using Context Clues in a
Paragraph 1b
When Auntie Tsu would take him to the temple, Jimmy would
have to kneel and pray before the Buddha. He bowed three
times and made the praying motions until his aunt would
give him a coin wrapped in red paper. He would have to wait
until Auntie finished lighting the incense and stick the bunch
into the sand-filled holder before she allowed him to go
across the street to spend his lee-see. Auntie Tsu stayed in
the temple to talk to the round-faced monk.
What does incense mean? What clues helped you guess?
Using Context Clues in a
Paragraph 1c
When Auntie Tsu would take him to the temple, Jimmy would
have to kneel and pray before the Buddha. He bowed three
times and made the praying motions until his aunt would
give him a coin wrapped in red paper. He would have to wait
until Auntie finished lighting the incense and stick the bunch
into the sand-filled holder before she allowed him to go
across the street to spend his lee-see. Auntie Tsu stayed in
the temple to talk to the round-faced monk.
What does lee-see mean? What clues helped you guess?
Tips for Reading Skill 1
You don't have to know the vocabulary word--just use
the clues to select the answer that is closest in
meaning. See p. 10 Example 1
Be careful of 'everyday English'--usually a secondary
meaning is being tested. See p. 11 Example 2
Sometimes you are asked for the meaning of a
phrase--using the clues choose the answer that is
closest in meaning. See p. 12 Example 3
Tips for Skill 2--recognizing
referents
Referents mean pronouns or adjectives that refer (back)
to a previously mentioned noun ex) it, one, that, which...
The rising air pushes against the colder air, and the
rotation of the earth causes the air to spin, in much the
same way that water in a sink spins as it goes down the
drain.
What does it refer to?
Tips for Skill 2 continued
The rising air pushes against the colder air,
and the rotation of the earth causes the air
to spin, in much the same way that water in a
sink spins as it goes down the drain.
What does it refer to?
Tip 1: Look BEFORE the referent for nouns that might match
Tip 2: Try each of the nouns in the context around the referent
Tip 3: Eliminate any WRONG answers and choose the best answer from remaining choices
Sentences
Skill 3: Simplify Meanings of Sentences
You need to show your understanding of COMPLEX
sentences by choosing answers that expresses all the
key info in the complex sentence.
Skill 4: Insert Sentences into the Passage
One sentence is missing from the paragraph so you need
to choose where the sentence best fits in the paragraph.
Skill 3 Example 1
Were Earth to be juxtaposed with the Great Red Spot,
our planet would be dwarfed in comparison, with a
diameter less than half that of the Great Red Spot.
Break into smaller parts by looking for punctuation and
transition expressions.
If reference is made to info outside the sentence, then
read the context around the COMPLEX sentence.
Skill 3 Example 1 cont'd
Were Earth to be juxtaposed with the Great
Red Spot, our planet would be dwarfed in
comparison, with a diameter less than half
that of the Great Red Spot.
Eliminate WRONG answers, then choose
the best answer from the remaining choices.
Skill 3 Example 1 cont'd
Were Earth to be juxtaposed with the Great Red Spot, our planet would
be dwarfed in comparison, with a diameter less than half that of the Great
Red Spot (GRS).
1. The density of the GRS is much higher than that of Earth.
2. If the diameter of the GRS were doubled, it would equal that of the
Earth.
3. By placing the Earth next to the GRS, one could see that the Earth has
a much smaller diameter.
4.Because the Earth is close to the GRS, Earth is influenced by its huge
size.
Skill 3 Example 2
The outer winds require six Earth days to complete the circumference of
the GRS, a length of time indicative of the vastness of the GRS.
1. The Earth's outer winds move a distance equal to the circumference of
the GRS.
2. The outer winds of the GRS move more quickly than do those on Earth.
3. The winds moving across the GRS finally change direction every six
Earth days.
4.The fact that the winds take so long to move around the GSR proves
how big it is.
Tips for Skill 4--inserting
sentences into the paragraph
Look at the sentence given for any KEY words
or ideas at the BEGINNING or END of the
sentence.
Read the context BEFORE and AFTER the
'insertion squares' for any ideas that relate to
the sentence to be inserted.
Choose the best answer.
Tips for Skill 5--Find factual info
Tip 1: With this skill you are asked questions about the
facts given in the paragraph--Correct answers are
usually RE-STATEMENTS of the facts!!!
Tip 2: Find the KEY WORD or IDEA in the question.
Then SCAN the appropriate paragraph for the KEY
WORD or IDEA.
Tip 3: Read the sentence with the KEY WORD or
IDEA carefully and choose the best answer.
Tips for Skill 6: Understand
negative facts
Tip 1: With this type of question, you are usually asked
to find an answer that is not stated, or not mentioned,
or not true. I.e. three answers are stated, or mentioned,
or true so the best answer to chose is the one that is
NOT.
Tip 2: Eliminate the answers that you DO find in the
passage.
Take special notice of the NOT in the question!!!!
Inferencing: Skills 7 - 8
To infer something means that the writer (
or speaker) doesn't give the answer
directly so you MUST use the facts and
context clues given to MAKE
CONNECTIONS and MAKE AN
'EDUCATED' GUESS.
Inferencing Example 1
There was no outside light and no moon.
Taro couldn't find his key to the door.
Suddenly he remembered that he had a
small flashlight on his key chain.
What did Taro do next?
Inferencing Example 2
Wakako' s grip on the steering wheel
tightened as she quickly changed gears
from 2nd to 3rd. She then pushed her
foot down hard on the gas pedal.
What is Wakako doing?
Skill 7: Make inferences from stated
facts
Questions of this type contain the words
implied, inferred, likely, or probably to let
you know the answer is NOT STATED
directly
You must use information given in the
reading to DRAW A CONCLUSION
Tips for Skill 7
Tip 1: Find the KEY WORD or IDEA in the
question. Then SCAN the appropriate paragraph
for the KEY WORD or IDEA or RELATED IDEA
Tip 2: Carefully read the info and draw a
conclusion.
Tip 3: Eliminate any WRONG answers and any
with NO INFO GIVEN in paragraph
Skill 8: Infer Rhetorical Purpose
In this type of question, you are asked to
explain WHY the AUTHOR included certain
WORDS, PHRASES, or SENTENCES in the
passage
You need to look at the STYLE or WAY the
author WRITES, and the OVERALL
PRESENTATION OF IDEAS
Tips for Skill 8
Tip 1: Study the highlighted text carefully
Tip 2: Study the CONTEXT around the
HIGHLIGHT and ASK yourself HOW
they are CONNECTED or RELATED
Tip 3: DRAW a CONCLUSION
Reading To Learn: Skills 9 +10
Skill 9: Select Summary Information
Skill 10: Complete Schematic Tables
Note: For both skills 9 and 10, you need to
show your understanding of the WHOLE
reading passage--you can refer to the
passage as you work on the question
Skill 9: Select Summary Info
In this type of question, the overall topic or
theme of the passage is given. However, you
must select the MAJOR supporting ideas
from a given list.
This type of question has 3 correct answers =
2 points, 2 correct = 1 point, 1 or 0 correct = 0
points
Tips for Skill 9
Tip 1: Decide what type of rhetorical
pattern is used i.e. compare + contrast,
cause + effect, or argument supported by
reasons--look at intro+topic sentences
Tip 2: The overall topic is given--read it
carefully to confirm your understanding
Tips for Skill 9 cont'd
Tip 3: Read each answer choice carefully-decide if the info is TRUE, FALSE, or NOT
DISCUSSED. Eliminate the FALSE and NOT
DISCUSSED choices
Tip 4: For the TRUE choices, decide if MAJOR
points or MINOR details. Eliminate MINOR
detail choices.
Skill 10: Complete Schematic Tables
For this type of question, you are asked to
complete a table that outlines the key info but, the
info is divided into categories i.e. Major points +
Supporting ideas
This type of question may have 5 or 7 correct
answers (5 correct =3pts, 4 correct=2 pts, 3
correct=1 pt)(7 correct=4 points, 6 correct = 3 pts,
5correct = 2pts,4 correct=1 pt)
Tips for Skill 10
Tip 1: Decide what type of rhetorical pattern is
used i.e. compare + contrast, cause + effect, or
argument supported by reasons--look at intro
+topic sentences
Tip 2: Look at the TOPICS/CATEGORIES
mentioned in the schematic table-- think about
how they connect to the main ideas in the passage
Tips for Skill 10 cont'd
Tip 3: Read each answer choice
carefully--decide if the info is TRUE,
FALSE, or NOT DISCUSSED. Eliminate the
FALSE and NOT DISCUSSED choices
Tip 4: Match the TRUE choices to the
correct CATEGORY in the table
Good luck on the iBT!!!