Building.Skills.for.the.TOEFL.iBT_Beginning_Reading.pdf

BT TOEFL-Reading

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Building iBT TOEFL Skills ®

Beginning

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READING

BT TOEFL-Reading

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Table of

Contents

Introduction to TOEFL® Reading -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapter 1

6

Short Passage Skill Practice

Skill A

Understanding Details ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Skill B

Identifying Topics and Paraphrasing -----------------------------------------------------------

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Skill C

Recognizing Coherence ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Review A---C: Vocabulary Review ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Skill Review ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Skill D

Understanding Referents and Vocabulary -----------------------------------------------

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Skill E

Making Inferences and Establishing Purpose ----------------------------------------

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Skill F

Completing Summaries and Tables ------------------------------------------------------------

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Review A---F: Vocabulary Review ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Skill Review ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Chapter 2

Long Passage Skill Practice

Skill A

Understanding Details ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

71

Skill B

Identifying Topics and Paraphrasing -----------------------------------------------------------

79

Skill C

Recognizing Coherence ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

87

Review A---C: Vocabulary Review ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

96

Skill Review ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 100 Skill D

Understanding Referents and Vocabulary ----------------------------------------------- 105

Skill E

Making Inferences and Establishing Purpose ---------------------------------------- 113

Skill F

Completing Summaries and Tables ------------------------------------------------------------ 121

Review A---F: Vocabulary Review --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 130 Skill Review ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 134

Chapter 3

Focus: Summarizing Information

Focus A Summaries from Prompts --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 144 Focus B Summaries from Charts and Tables ---------------------------------------------------- 150 Practice Test for Reading ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 157 Answer Key -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 169

BT TOEFL-Reading

Skill

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A

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Understanding Details

Necessary Skills Identifying Facts

• • • • •

Comprehending important information and facts that are stated in a passage Locating a specific piece of information in the passage quickly Using examples and descriptions to find information Understanding the distinction between main ideas and supporting details Using transitional expressions to locate details such as examples, time, reasons, or results

Identifying Negative Facts

• Recognizing incorrect information as well as information not mentioned in the text • Identifying paraphrases that do or do not correctly summarize information from the text

Example Questions • • • • •

According to the passage, who/when/where/what/how/why _______? According to paragraph _______, _______________________ because In paragraph _______, the author explains _______ by In paragraph _______, what does the author say about _______? The author mentions _______ as an example of

Negative Facts Questions

• All of the following are mentioned in the passage EXCEPT • According to the passage, which is NOT _______?

Understanding Details

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Skill A

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Australia

Australia is the world’s smallest continent, but it is one of the most fascinating. Australia has rainforests, deserts, and mountains. Seventy percent of the people in Australia live in cities near the coasts. The middle of the country is nearly deserted. Australia has 175 million sheep, about a sixth of the world’s total. It produces a third of the world’s wool. It exports ninety-seven percent of its wool to Japan, Europe, and China. Australia also has about 24 million cattle. It exports beef to more than 100 countries. Two million tourists visit this beautiful country each year.

1. How much of the world’s wool is produced in Australia, according to the passage? (A) (B) (C) (D)

66 33 25 75

percent percent percent percent

continent (n): a large landmass fascinating (adj): very interesting rainforest (n): a dense forest that is usually seen in hot humid areas percent (n): per 100 (i.e., 70%) export (v): to ship and sell products to other nations

3. The word “deserted” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to (A) (B) (C) (D)

dangerous dry empty old and falling down

2. How many Australians don’t live in cities near the coast? (A) (B) (C) (D)

70 20 30 50

percent percent percent percent

4. How did you choose the answer for question 2 above? Explain or show how you found the right answer. _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

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Chapter 1 Short Passage Skill Practice

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Skill B

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Baseball

Baseball is different from most sports. It has no time limit. A game could take one hour or several hours to complete. The longest known baseball game lasted eight hours and six minutes. Baseball games consist of nine innings. Each team gets an equal number of chances at bat and in the field. The team at bat tries to hit the ball and score points. These are called “runs.” The team in the field tries to catch the ball and make outs. After three outs, the teams trade places. An inning is completed when each team has had one turn at bat.

1. All of the following are true EXCEPT (A) one baseball game lasted more than six hours (B) in an inning, each team gets a chance to bat (C) baseball games are eight innings long (D) points scored in baseball are called runs

limit (n): a maximum length or amount inning (n): a division of a baseball game, in which each team has a chance at bat equal (adj): same complete (v): to finish score (v): to gain points in a game

3. The word “trade” in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by which of the following? (A) (B) (C) (D)

Switch Export Score Turn

2. Which of the following best states the topic of the passage? (A) (B) (C) (D)

The game of baseball Baseball players Things used in baseball Points in baseball

4. Write in the main idea supported by the given details.

__________

Has no time limit

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Chapter 1 Short Passage Skill Practice

Can take several hours to play a game

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Vocabulary Review Instructions: Choose the word or phrase to complete each sentence. 1. Eighty ____________ of Canadians support the Prime Minister on this issue. (A) (B) (C) (D)

continent element expert percent

2. Symphonies ____________ large groups of instruments. (A) (B) (C) (D)

chamber feature export perform

6. I think I just sprained my ankle. Did you bring the ____________ bag? (A) (B) (C) (D)

pain malady first aid depend on

7. She has become an ____________ on ancient pottery after studying the topic for over 20 years. (A) (B) (C) (D)

expert export assembly element

8. This frog swims in a rather ____________ way--it swims backwards! 3. The modern ____________ of Hamlet isn’t as interesting as the original. (A) (B) (C) (D)

version composer branch mixture

(A) (B) (C) (D)

real certain ahead odd

Instructions: Choose the word or phrase closest in meaning to the underlined part. 4. Compounds are made up of ____________. (A) (B) (C) (D)

elements mixtures bonds equations

9. The lost hiker lived for a week in the mountains by eating leaves and berries. (A) (B) (C) (D)

survived deserted performed depended on

5. “SO2 + H2O → H2SO3” is an example of a chemical ____________. (A) (B) (C) (D)

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element compound yield equation

Chapter 1 Short Passage Skill Practice

10. The weather often influences what clothes people wear. (A) (B) (C) (D)

shows yields affects completes

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Skill Review

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01

Silver Work

The Pueblo peoples of the US Southwest, including the Navajo and Zuni nations, are famous for their silver work. This silver work is a tradition with a relatively short history. In the beginning of the 1800s, they began trading for metal ornaments and learning to work iron. Some years later, in about 1870, they began learning how Mexican people crafted items from silver. They too began this practice. The first silver they used for making their own ornamental items, such as necklaces and bracelets, came from American silver dollars. The Navajo became famous for their exquisite silver work. A) The first pieces were made only with silver, but after some time, they began adding turquoise. B) In 1900, they started selling the beautiful objects they made. C) Tourists who came to visit Navajo pueblos bought them. D) At first, only men worked with silver, but now women also participate. The Zuni people’s silver works are famous, too. They began learning this craft from the Navajo in 1872. Their first pieces were similar to Navajo works, but in 1890, Zuni silver workers began changing their focus. The silver became of secondary importance. It was used only as a base for their favorite semi-precious stone, turquoise. They began decorating all sorts of pieces with turquoise. They made many different pieces of jewelry, often in the shapes of animals and gods.

1. The word “ornaments” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to (A) (B) (C) (D)

dishes coins decorations tools

2. The word “participate” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to (A) (B) (C) (D)

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decorate celebrate work with silver silver workers

Chapter 1 Short Passage Skill Practice

trade (v): to exchange necklace (n): a piece of jewelry worn around the neck bracelet (n): a piece of jewelry worn around the wrist exquisite (adj): excellent and beautiful piece (n): one unit of artwork add (v): to also use craft (n): skill in making something secondary (adj): lesser; not primary semi-precious (adj): stones less valuable than precious stones like diamonds, rubies or emeralds decorate (v): to make beautiful with; to add; to adorn

3. Which of the following best states the main idea of paragraph 1? (A) The Navajo made many ornaments. (B) The Pueblo peoples became famous for making ornaments with silver. (C) Both men and women worked with silver. (D) The Mexicans taught them to make ornaments.

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4. The key idea of the passage is best expressed by which of the following? (A) The Zuni have known how to make beautiful silver works for a long time. (B) Zuni silver works are different from Navajo silver works. (C) The Pueblo people first learned silver works from Mexicans. (D) The Pueblo peoples have been crafting unique silver items for over 100 years.

5. 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.

6. Look at the four squares [ ] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage: The Navajo thought these blue-green stones looked very beautiful with the silver. Where would the sentence best fit? Choose the square [ ] where the sentence should be added to the passage. (A) (B) (C) (D)

Line Line Line Line

9 11 12 13

(A) The Zuni thought silver was the most important part of their artwork. (B) Silver was the second thing that silver workers worked on. (C) Silver became less important than before to the Zuni artists. (D) The Zuni thought that turquoise was more important.

Skill Review

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Businesses There are more than 14 million businesses in the United States. They are divided into three categories: proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations. A proprietorship is a business owned by one person. This person pays all the money needed to run the business. He or she earns money if the business has a profit. However, the person loses money if the business has a deficit. A proprietorship is usually a small business, like a store or restaurant. It does not have to pay the government any extra money for tax. A partnership is a business owned by more than one person. All partners give money to the business. Those who give more money own more of it. Those who give less money own less. The people who give more money get a larger share of the profits. Each partner only pays tax on his or her profits. A corporation is a business owned by many people. Each owner buys small units of the corporation. Two examples are Coca-Cola and Microsoft. In a corporation, the people divide the ownership into shares of stock. A) Stock prices increase if the business does well. They decrease if the business does poorly. The stockholders vote for directors to run the business. Anyone can buy a corporation’s stocks. B) Almost 30 million Americans own stock. Most of these people own a small number of stocks in large corporations. C) People buy stocks and hope to sell them when the price rises. D) People with stocks can also make money by receiving dividends. A dividend is the stockholder’s part of the company profits. It is usually paid four times a year. Corporations are treated differently than proprietorships or partnerships. A corporation can buy land, save money, and make contracts. The state government watches corporations. The government also taxes its profits at a higher rate than other businesses. Corporations can get new money quickly by selling more stock. In general, corporations are not as personal as proprietorships or partnerships. However, they are more secure and can make greater profits.

proprietorship (n): the fact or state of being owner partnership (n): a relationship where two or more people own something together

profit (n): money that is made (above the expenses that made it) deficit (n): an amount of money that is a loss

corporation (n): a group of people who work together in business

extra (n): that which is more than was needed or expected

earn (v): to gain or make money

tax (n): money paid to the government

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Practice Test

partners (n): the people in a partnership

treat (v): to act towards

decrease (n): to make less

contract (n): a legal agreement

stockholder (n): a person who owns stock in a company

rate (n): measure or level

dividend (n): a portion of a company’s profit paid to a shareholder

secure (adj): safe

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1. It can be inferred from the passage that a profit means (A) a business earns more money than it spends (B) a business spends more money than it earns (C) a business spends the same amount of money that it earns (D) a business sells shares of stocks 2. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “categories” as used in paragraph 1? (A) (B) (C) (D)

Areas Boxes Types Ideas

3. The purpose of this passage is to (A) explain different kinds of US businesses (B) explain the US system of stocks (C) explain why there are more than 14 million US businesses (D) explain why corporations are better than proprietorships and partnerships 4. In paragraph 4, the word “they” refers to (A) (B) (C) (D)

businesses people shareholders share prices

5. Why does the author include the following sentence in paragraph 5? “Almost 30 million Americans own stock.” (A) To show that stocks are expensive (B) To show how many people make money from selling stocks (C) To show that you don’t have to be rich to buy stocks (D) To explain how dividends work

6. Which is true of corporations? (A) They are owned by one person. (B) They pay higher taxes than proprietorships and partnerships. (C) They cannot get new money very quickly. (D) They are usually small businesses. 7. The word “company” as used in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to (A) (B) (C) (D)

stocks corporation dividend tax

8. All of the following are mentioned in the passage EXCEPT (A) the number of (B) the number of (C) the number of the US (D) the number of

businesses in the US stock owners in the US business categories in corporations in the US

9. Based on the information in paragraph 5, what can be inferred about buying stocks? (A) (B) (C) (D)

You will make a lot of money. Stocks are easy to buy. You could lose money. Corporations always pay dividends.

10. How is a corporation different from a partnership? (A) Corporations are owned by more than one person. (B) Corporations can make money or lose money. (C) Corporations can be big or small. (D) A corporation’s owners do not run the business.

Practice Test

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