Strategies
For The Reading Comprehension Section
Prepare
before the Test
Read on a variety of topics to build
your English vocabulary.A large number of the passages on the TOEFL deal with
topics in the natural sciences, the social sciences, and history. A smaller
number related to culture and the arts. Read as much as you can in these
subject area, particularly from textbooks, magazines, and newspapers.
Practice trying to guess the meaning of
unfamiliar words from the way they are used in sentences. Use other words in
the sentence, your understanding in the passage, and your knowledge of the
world as clues to the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Be familiar with the testing tools used
on the computer test. Practice using the mouse and the scroll bar. Practice
reading from a computer screen and scrolling through a passage.
Pace Yourself
Work as quickly as you can.Pay attention
to the number of questions and the amount of time you have during the test. On
the paper test, you have 55 minutes to read all of of the passages and answer
50 questions, This means you have only 10 to 11 minutes to spend on each
passage and its questions.
You can leave questions unanswered on
both the paper test and the computer test. Later, you can go back to answer,
review, or change your answers to previous questions. This is easier to do on
the paper test because you can see and mark the questions. On the computer
test, you have to remember which questions you skip because you are not allowed
to write anything. Eliminate answer choices you know are incorrect. Then, if
you are not sure of the correct answer, guess!
Answer all questions about one passage
before you move on to the next passages. On the computer test, although you are
allowed to return to previous passages, this process takes a lot of time. It is
better to finish each passage before going on.
Begin by Skimming
On both the paper and computer tests,
begin a passage by skimming it. Skimming is reading quickly for a general
understanding of the meaning and organization. Frequently the first question
about a passage asks about its topic or main idea.
Read the first one or two sentences in
each paragraph to get an idea of its content. Notice key words and phrases that
are repeated throughout the passage. Read the last sentences in the last
paragraph.
On the computer test, you must use the
scroll bar on skim the passages because most of them are too long to fit on a
single screen.
Identify What the
Question Wants
Identify exactly what each question
wants to know. Does it ask about information that is mentioned in the passage?
Or does it ask about something that is NOT in the passage? Does it ask you to
identify something that author stated. Or does it ask you to make an inference
based on something the author implied? Does it ask you about the meaning of a
word or phrase?
When you know what you are looking for,
you can scan the passage to find the information you need. Scanning means
looking for key words and phrases. On the computer test, sometimes the computer
will tell you which paragraph to look in and will make that paragraph with an
arrow.
In question about vocabulary, look for
context clues in the passage. Use your knowledge of sentence structure,
punctuation, and other words and ideas in the passage.
Sample: Reading
Comprehension Questions
Questions 1–4 are about
the following announcement.
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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.
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.
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1. What time will the festival begin?
- 10 A.M.
- 11 A.M.
- 1 P.M.
- 2 P.M.
2. In line 2, the word feature is
closest in meaning to _______.
- look
- keep
- include
- entertain
3. What job will be done the day before the festival
begins?
- Making posters
- Setting up the gym
- Cleaning up the gym
- Helping the performers
4. Who is told to talk to Ms. Braxton?
- Parents
- Students
- Teachers
- Performers
Questions 5–11 refer to the following story.
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Line
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"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. |
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5
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"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. |
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10
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"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." |
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15
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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 |
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20
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students, a math teacher, two secretaries, and a janitor.
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 |
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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 |
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25
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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 |
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30
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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!" |
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5. What would be the best title for the story?
- Joe Joins the Team
- Practice Makes Perfect
- Bill Wins the Big Game
- Bill's Basketball Problem
6. In line 6, the word performed is
closest in meaning to _______.
- acted
- played
- moved
- changed
7. Why is Bill upset?
- He plays better in practice than he does during games.
- The school yard is not a good place to practice.
- Joe watches him too closely when he plays.
- His team loses too many games.
8. Why does Bill play well when Joe is watching him?
- He is comfortable with Joe.
- Joe tells him how to play better.
- He does not know that Joe is there.
- He wants to prove to Joe that he is a good player.
9. Why does Joe decide to gather a group of people?
- Because he wants more players for his team
- Because he wants to help Bill feel less nervous
- Because he wants to show them his talent
- 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 _____.
- Joe
- a janitor
- a math teacher
- the basketball coach
11. Why does the group have to be quiet when they go to
the basketball court?
- Because Joe is telling Bill what to do
- Because they do not want Bill to know they were there
- Because Bill likes to practice alone
- Because the group needs to listen to Joe’s instructions
Sumber :
·
https://www.ets.org/toefl_junior/prepare/standard_sample_questions/reading_comprehension
·
http://khengdina.hubpages.com/hub/TOEFL-strategies-For-The-Reading-Comprehension-Section
·
http://www.tcyonline.com/toefl/str_read.php
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