TOEFL – Reading Section

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Agenda
In this video, we will discuss:
● Types of questions in the Reading section
● Practice questions
● Solved examples

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Types of Questions
● Factual Information and Negative Factual Information
● Inference and Rhetorical Purpose
● Vocabulary
● Sentence Simplification
● Insert Text Question
● Prose Summary and Fill in a Table

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Factual Information and Negative Factual Information
There is evidence of agriculture in Africa prior to 3000 B.C. It may 1. According to this paragraph, why do researchers doubt
have developed independently, but many scholars believe that that agriculture developed independently in Africa?
the spread of agriculture and iron throughout Africa linked it to a) African lakes and rivers already provided enough food for
the major centers of the Near East and Mediterranean world. The
people to survive without agriculture.
drying up of what is now the Sahara desert had pushed many
peoples to the south into sub-Saharan Africa. These peoples b) The earliest examples of cultivated plants discovered in
settled at first in scattered hunting-and-gathering bands, although Africa are native to Asia.
in some places near lakes and rivers, people who fished, with a c) Africa’s native plants are very difficult to domesticate.
more secure food supply, lived in larger population d) African communities were not large enough to support
concentrations. Agriculture seems to have reached these people agriculture.
from the Near East, since the first domesticated crops were
millets and sorghums whose origins are not African but West
Asian. Once the idea of planting diffused, Africans began to
develop their own crops, such as certain varieties of rice, and they
demonstrated a continued receptiveness to new imports. The
proposed areas of the domestication of African crops lie in a band
that extends from Ethiopia across southern Sudan to West Africa.
Subsequently, other crops, such as bananas, were introduced
from Southeast Asia

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Your Turn
Livestock also came from outside Africa. Cattle were introduced 2. According to this paragraph, camels were important
from Asia, as probably were domestic sheep and goats. Horses because they ___________.
were apparently introduced by the Hyksos invaders of Egypt a) were the first domesticated animal to be introduced to
(1780–1560 B.C.) and then spread across the Sudan to West Africa.
Africa. Rock paintings in the Sahara indicate that horses and
b) allowed the people of the West African savannahs to carve
chariots were used to traverse the desert and that by 300– 200
B.C., there were trade routes across the Sahara. Horses were out large empires.
adopted by peoples of the West African savannah, and later their c) helped African peoples defend themselves against Egyptian
powerful cavalry forces allowed them to carve out large empires. invaders.
Finally, the camel was introduced around the first century A.D. d) made it cheaper and easier to cross the Sahara.
This was an important innovation, because the camel’s ability to
thrive in harsh desert conditions and to carry large loads cheaply
made it an effective and efficient means of transportation. The
camel transformed the desert from a barrier into a still difficult,
but more accessible, route of trade and communication

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Question – Negative Factual Information
This technological shift caused profound changes in the 3. According to this paragraph, all of the following were
complexity of African societies. Iron represented power. In West social effects of the new metal technology in Africa EXCEPT:
Africa the blacksmith who made tools and weapons had an a) Access to metal tools and weapons created greater social
important place in society, often with special religious powers and equality.
functions. Iron hoes, which made the land more productive, and
b) Metal weapons increased the power of warriors.
iron weapons, which made the warrior more powerful, had
symbolic meaning in a number of West African societies. Those c) Iron tools helped increase the food supply.
who knew the secrets of making iron gained ritual and sometimes d) Technical knowledge gave religious power to its holders.
political power.

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Question – Negative Factual Information
The diffusion of agriculture and later of iron was accompanied by 4. This paragraph mentions all of the following as possible
a great movement of people who may have carried these
causes of the “Bantu explosion” EXCEPT:
innovations. These people probably originated in eastern Nigeria.
a) Superior weapons
Their migration may have been set in motion by an increase in
population caused by a movement of peoples fleeing the b) Better hunting skills
desiccation, or drying up, of the Sahara. They spoke a language, c) Peaceful migration
proto-Bantu (“bantu” means “the people”), which is the parent d) Increased population
tongue of a large number of Bantu languages still spoken
throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Why and how these people
spread out into central and southern Africa remains a mystery,
but archaeologists believe that their iron weapons allowed them
to conquer their hunting-gathering opponents, who still used
stone implements. Still, the process is uncertain, and peaceful
migration—or simply rapid demographic growth—may have also
caused the Bantu explosion.

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Your Turn
Outflow channels are probably relics of catastrophic flooding on 5. According to this paragraph, all of the following are true
Mars long ago. They appear only in equatorial regions and about the outflow channels on Mars EXCEPT:
generally do not form extensive interconnected networks.
a) They formed at around the same time that volcanic activity
Instead, they are probably the paths taken by huge volumes of
water draining from the southern highlands into the northern was occurring on the northern plains.
plains. The onrushing water arising from these flash floods likely b) They are found only on certain parts of the Martian
also formed the odd teardrop-shaped “islands” (resembling the surface.
miniature versions seen in the wet sand of our beaches at low c) They sometimes empty onto what appear to have once
tide) that have been found on the plains close to the ends of the been the wet sands of tidal beaches.
outflow channels. Judging from the width and depth of the
d) They are thought to have carried water northward from
channels, the flow rates must have been truly enormous—
perhaps as much as a hundred times greater than the 105 tons the equatorial regions.
per second carried by the great Amazon river. Flooding shaped
the outflow channels approximately 3 billion years ago, about the
same time as the northern volcanic plains formed.

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Question – Drill
Some scientists speculate that Mars may have enjoyed an 6. All of the following questions about geological features
extended early period during which rivers, lakes, and perhaps
on Mars are answered in this paragraph EXCEPT:
even oceans adorned its surface. A 2003 Mars Global Surveyor
a) What are some regions of Mars that may have once
image shows what mission specialists think may be a delta—a fan-
shaped network of channels and sediments where a river once been covered with an ocean?
flowed into a larger body of water, in this case a lake filling a b) Where do mission scientists believe that the river
crater in the southern highlands. Other researchers go even forming the delta emptied?
further, suggesting that the data provide evidence for large open c) Approximately how many craters on Mars do mission
expanses of water on the early Martian surface. A computer- scientists believe may once have been lakes filled with
generated view of the Martian north polar region shows the
water?
extent of what may have been an ancient ocean covering much of
the northern lowlands. The Hellas Basin, which measures some d) During what period of Mars’ history do some scientists
3,000 kilometers across and has a floor that lies nearly 9 think it may have had large bodies of water?
kilometers below the basin’s rim, is another candidate for an
ancient Martian sea.

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Inference and Rhetorical Question
There is evidence of agriculture in Africa prior to 3000 B.C. It may 1. In this paragraph, what does the author imply about
have developed independently, but many scholars believe that
changes in the African environment during this time period?
the spread of agriculture and iron throughout Africa linked it to
a) The climate was becoming milder, allowing for a greater
the major centers of the Near East and Mediterranean world. The
drying up of what is now the Sahara desert had pushed many variety of crops to be grown.
peoples to the south into sub-Saharan Africa. These peoples b) Although periods of drying forced people south, they
settled at first in scattered hunting-and-gathering bands, although returned once their food supply was secure.
in some places near lakes and rivers, people who fished, with a c) Population growth along rivers and lakes was dramatically
more secure food supply, lived in larger population decreasing the availability of fish.
concentrations. Agriculture seems to have reached these people
d) A region that had once supported many people was
from the Near East, since the first domesticated crops were
millets and sorghums whose origins are not African but West becoming a desert where few could survive.
Asian. Once the idea of planting diffused, Africans began to
develop their own crops, such as certain varieties of rice, and they
demonstrated a continued receptiveness to new imports. The
proposed areas of the domestication of African crops lie in a band
that extends from Ethiopia across southern Sudan to West Africa.
Subsequently, other crops, such as bananas, were introduced
from Southeast Asia.

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Inference and Rhetorical Question
Some scientists speculate that Mars may have enjoyed an 2. What can be inferred from this paragraph about liquid
extended early period during which rivers, lakes, and perhaps
water on Mars?
even oceans adorned its surface. A 2003 Mars Global Surveyor
a) Lakes on early Mars were likely as large as some on
image shows what mission specialists think may be a delta—a fan-
shaped network of channels and sediments where a river once Earth’s surface today.
flowed into a larger body of water, in this case a lake filling a b) If there is any liquid water at all on Mars’ surface today,
crater in the southern highlands. Other researchers go even its quantity is much smaller than the amount that likely
further, suggesting that the data provide evidence for large open existed there in the past.
expanses of water on the early Martian surface. A computer- c) Small-scale gullies on Mars provide convincing evidence
generated view of the Martian north polar region shows the
that liquid water existed on Mars in the recent past.
extent of what may have been an ancient ocean covering much of
the northern lowlands. The Hellas Basin, which measures some d) The small amount of water vapor in the Martian
3,000 kilometers across and has a floor that lies nearly 9 atmosphere suggests that there has never been liquid
kilometers below the basin’s rim, is another candidate for an water on Mars.
ancient Martian sea.

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Your Turn
These ideas remain controversial. Proponents point to features 3. According to this paragraph, what do the 2003 Global
such as the terraced “beaches” shown in one image, which could
Surveyor data suggest about Mars?
conceivably have been left behind as a lake or ocean evaporated
a) Ancient oceans on Mars contained only small amounts of
and the shoreline receded. But detractors maintain that the
terraces could also have been created by geological activity, carbon.
perhaps related to the geologic forces that depressed the b) The climate of Mars may not have been suitable for the
Northern Hemisphere far below the level of the south, in which formation of large bodies of water.
case they have nothing whatever to do with Martian water. c) Liquid water may have existed on some parts of Mars’
Furthermore, Mars Global Surveyor data released in 2003 seem to surface for long periods of time.
indicate that the Martian surface contains too few carbonate rock
d) The ancient oceans that formed on Mars dried up during
layers—layers containing compounds of carbon and oxygen—that
should have been formed in abundance in an ancient ocean. Their periods of cold, dry weather.
absence supports the picture of a cold, dry Mars that never
experienced the extended mild period required to form lakes and
oceans. However, more recent data imply that at least some parts
of the planet did in fact experience long periods in the past during
which liquid water existed on the surface.

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Question – Drill
Certainly, in trying to explain the Roman phenomenon, one would 4. This paragraph suggests which of the following about
have to place great emphasis on this almost animal instinct for the
the people of Latium?
territorial imperative. Roman priorities lay in the organization,
a) Their economy was based on trade relations with other
exploitation, and defense of their territory. In all probability it was
the fertile plain of Latium, where the Latins who founded Rome settlements.
originated, that created the habits and skills of landed settlement, b) They held different values than the people of Rome.
landed property, landed economy, landed administration, and a c) Agriculture played a significant role in their society.
land-based society. From this arose the Roman genius for military d) They possessed unusual knowledge of animal instincts.
organization and orderly government. In turn, a deep attachment
to the land, and to the stability which rural life engenders,
fostered the Roman virtues: gravitas, a sense of responsibility,
peitas, a sense of devotion to family and country, and iustitia, a
sense of the natural order.

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Rhetorical Purpose
Outflow channels are probably relics of catastrophic flooding on 5. In this paragraph, why does the author include the
Mars long ago. They appear only in equatorial regions and
information that 105 tons of water flow through the
generally do not form extensive interconnected networks.
Amazon river per second?
Instead, they are probably the paths taken by huge volumes of
water draining from the southern highlands into the northern a) To emphasize the great size of the volume of water that
plains. The onrushing water arising from these flash floods likely seems to have flowed through Mars’ outflow channels
also formed the odd teardrop-shaped “islands” (resembling the b) To indicate data used by scientists to estimate how long
miniature versions seen in the wet sand of our beaches at low ago Mars’ outflow channels were formed
tide) that have been found on the plains close to the ends of the c) To argue that flash floods on Mars may have been
outflow channels. Judging from the width and depth of the
powerful enough to cause tear-shaped “islands” to form
channels, the flow rates must have been truly enormous—
perhaps as much as a hundred times greater than the 105 tons d) To argue that the force of flood waters on Mars was
per second carried by the great Amazon river. Flooding shaped powerful enough to shape the northern volcanic plains
the outflow channels approximately 3 billion years ago, about the
same time as the northern volcanic plains formed.

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Vocabulary
This technological shift caused profound changes in 1. The word “profound” in the passage is closest in meaning to
the complexity of African societies. Iron represented
a) Fascinating
power. In West Africa the blacksmith who made tools
b) Far-reaching
and weapons had an important place in society, often
with special religious powers and functions. Iron hoes, c) Necessary
which made the land more productive, and iron d) Temporary
weapons, which made the warrior more powerful, had
symbolic meaning in a number of West African 2. The word “ritual” in the passage is closest in meaning to
societies. Those who knew the secrets of making iron a) Military
gained ritual and sometimes political power. b) Physical
c) Ceremonial
d) Permanent

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Vocabulary
Photographic evidence suggests that liquid water once existed 3. The word “merge” in the passage is closest in meaning to
in great quantity on the surface of Mars. Two types of flow
a) Expand
features are seen: runoff channels and outflow channels.
b) Separate
Runoff channels are found in the southern highlands. These
flow features are extensive systems—sometimes hundreds of c) Straighten out
kilometers in total length—of interconnecting, twisting d) Combine
channels that seem to merge into larger, wider channels. They
bear a strong resemblance to river systems on Earth, and
geologists think that they are dried-up beds of long-gone rivers
that once carried rainfall on Mars from the mountains down
into the valleys. Runoff channels on Mars speak of a time 4
billion years ago (the age of the Martian highlands), when the
atmosphere was thicker, the surface warmer, and liquid water
widespread.

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Sentence Simplification
Dissatisfaction with conventional explanations for 1. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential
dinosaur extinctions led to a surprising observation that,
information in the highlighted sentence in this paragraph?
in turn, has suggested a new hypothesis. Many plants and
Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave
animals disappear abruptly from the fossil record as one
moves from layers of rock documenting the end of the out essential information.
Cretaceous up into rocks representing the beginning of a) The fossil record suggests that there was an abrupt extinction of
the Cenozoic (the era after the Mesozoic). Between the many plants and animals at the end of the Mesozoic era.
last layer of Cretaceous rock and the first layer of b) Few fossils of the Mesozoic era have survived in the rocks that
Cenozoic rock, there is often a thin layer of clay. Scientists mark the end of the Cretaceous.
felt that they could get an idea of how long the
c) Fossils from the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic up to the
extinctions took by determining how long it took to
deposit this one centimeter of clay and they thought they beginning of the Cenozoic era have been removed from the layers of
could determine the time it took to deposit the clay by rock that surrounded them.
determining the amount of the element iridium (Ir) it d) Plants and animals from the Mesozoic era were unable to survive
contained in the Cenozoic era.

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Sentence Simplification
The time had come to formulate a hypothesis. The investigators theorized that about 20 million years ago, the Mediterranean was a
broad seaway linked to the Atlantic by two narrow straits. Crustal movements closed the straits, and the landlocked Mediterranean
began to evaporate. Increasing salinity caused by the evaporation resulted in the extermination of scores of invertebrate species. Only
a few organisms especially tolerant of very salty conditions remained. As evaporation continued, the remaining brine (salt water)
became so dense that the calcium sulfate of the hard layer was precipitated. In the central deeper part of the basin, the last of the
brine evaporated to precipitate more soluble sodium chloride (salt). Later, under the weight of overlying sediments, this salt flowed
plastically upward to form salt domes. Before this happened, however, the Mediterranean was a vast desert 3,000 meters deep. Then,
about 5.5 million years ago came the deluge. As a result of crustal adjustments and faulting, the Strait of Gibraltar, where the
Mediterranean now connects to the Atlantic, opened, and water cascaded spectacularly back into the Mediterranean. Turbulen
waters tore into the hardened salt flats, broke them up, and ground them into the pebbles observed in the first sample taken by the
Challenger. As the basin was refilled, normal marine organisms returned. Soon layers of oceanic ooze began to accumulate above the
old hard layer.

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Sentence Simplification
2. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in this paragraph?
Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
a) The Strait of Gibraltar reopened when the Mediterranean and the Atlantic became connected and the cascades of water from
one sea to the other caused crustal adjustments and faulting.
b) The Mediterranean was dramatically refilled by water from the Atlantic when crustal adjustments and faulting opened the Strait
of Gibraltar, the place where the two seas are joined.
c) The cascades of water from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean were not as spectacular as the crustal adjustments and faulting
that occurred when the Strait of Gibraltar was connected to those seas.
d) As a result of crustal adjustments and faulting and the creation of the Strait of Gibraltar, the Atlantic and Mediterranean were
connected and became a single sea with spectacular cascades of water between them.

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Sentence Simplification
Unlike in the Americas, where metallurgy was a very late and limited development, Africans had iron from a relatively early date,
developing ingenious furnaces to produce the high heat needed for production and to control the amount of air that reached the
carbon and iron ore necessary for making iron. Much of Africa moved right into the Iron Age, taking the basic technology and adapting
it to local conditions and resources.

3. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage?
Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
a) While American iron makers developed the latest furnaces, African iron makers continued using earlier techniques.
b) Africans produced iron much earlier than Americans, inventing technologically sophisticated heating systems.
c) Iron making developed earlier in Africa than in the Americas because of the ready availability of carbon and iron ore.
d) Both Africa and the Americas developed the capacity for making iron early, but African metallurgy developed at a slower rate.

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Insert Text Question
The diffusion of agriculture and later of iron was accompanied by a 1. In this paragraph, there is a missing sentence. Look at
great movement of people who may have carried these
the paragraph and indicate (A, B, C and D) where the
innovations. These people probably originated in eastern Nigeria.
following sentence could be added to the passage.
(A) Their migration may have been set in motion by an increase in
population caused by a movement of peoples fleeing the These people had a significant linguistic impact on the
desiccation, or drying up, of the Sahara. (B) They spoke a language, continent as well. Where would the sentence best fit?
proto-Bantu (“bantu” means “the people”), which is the parent
tongue of a large number of Bantu languages still spoken a) Option A
throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Why and how these people spread b) Option B
out into central and southern Africa remains a mystery, but c) Option C
archaeologists believe that their iron weapons allowed them to d) Option D
conquer their hunting-gathering opponents, who still used stone
implements. (C) Still, the process is uncertain, and peaceful
migration—or simply rapid demographic growth—may have also
caused the Bantu explosion. (D)

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Insert Text Question
Outflow channels are probably relics of catastrophic flooding 2. In this paragraph, there is a missing sentence. Look at the
on Mars long ago. (A) They appear only in equatorial regions
paragraph and indicate (A, B, C and D) where the following
and generally do not form extensive interconnected networks.
sentence could be added to the passage.
(B) Instead, they are probably the paths taken by huge volumes
of water draining from the southern highlands into the These landscape features differ from runoff channels in a
northern plains. (C) The onrushing water arising from these number of ways.
flash floods likely also formed the odd teardrop-shaped Where would the sentence best fit?
“islands” (resembling the miniature versions seen in the wet
sand of our beaches at low tide) that have been found on the a) Option A
plains close to the ends of the outflow channels. (D) Judging b) Option B
from the width and depth of the channels, the flow rates must c) Option C
have been truly enormous—perhaps as much as a hundred d) Option D
times greater than the 105 tons per second carried by the great
Amazon river. Flooding shaped the outflow channels
approximately 3 billion years ago, about the same time as the
northern volcanic plains formed.

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Question – Drill
Modern attitudes to Roman civilization range from the infinitely 3. In the paragraph below, there is a missing sentence. Look at
impressed to the thoroughly disgusted. (A) As always, there are
the paragraph and indicate (A, B, C and D) where the following
the power worshippers, especially among historians, who are
sentence could be added to the passage.
predisposed to admire whatever is strong, who feel more
attracted to the might of Rome than to the subtlety of Greece. They esteem symbols of Roman power, such as the massive
(B) At the same time, there is a solid body of opinion that dislikes Colosseum.
Rome. (C) For many, Rome is at best the imitator and the Where would the sentence best fit?
continuator of Greece on a larger scale. (D) Greek civilization had
quality; Rome, mere quantity. Greece was original; Rome, a) Option A
derivative. Greece had style; Rome had money. Greece was the b) Option B
inventor; Rome, the research and development division. Such c) Option C
indeed was the opinion of some of the more intellectual Romans. d) Option D
“Had the Greeks held novelty in such disdain as we,” asked
Horace in his Epistles, “what work of ancient date would now
exist?”

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Summary
A quick recap:
● Read the question to find the exact line to answer the question.
● Never ever try to match the words or phrase with the passage. It could be a trap.
● The correct answer might be paraphrased.
● Read less and understand more.
● Practice more.

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