Strategies of Reading and Structure for TOEFL

4/30/2015 06:41:00 AM



The first component you will have to do when you sit for the exam is the Reading. The Reading Section measures your ability to read and understand academic texts (passages) in English. Reading is a critical skill in academic environment. Students have to read a lot and comprehend the information presented in their textbooks or other reading materials.

Strategies for Reading Test :

1.        Read
It might sound obvious but the best way to practice for TOEFL’s reading test is to read as much as possible beforehand on as wide a variety of topics as possible. Current affairs, health, sports, it doesn’t matter. Also, cover all the media in your reading materials like books, online texts, and also magazines. Familiarize yourself also with the size of texts that are 700 words long.
2.        Keep a Vocabulary Notebook
How to do remember what you have to do everyday? Do you write lists on paper? Do you keep an online agenda? Do you stick yellow post-its on your fridge? It doesn’t matter. Do the same with new vocabulary. Build a vocabulary bank and refer to it as often as you can to refresh it in your memory. This will help you develop a strong vocabulary that should be a great help to you when you sit TOEFL’s reading test.
3.        Practice Past Tests
You need to always remember that TOEFL is a standardized test. This means it always follows the same format. Practice past tests to familiarize yourself with the format.
4.        Practice Staying Within The Time Limit
As well as familiarizing yourself with the structure of the exam, you need to practice working within the time limit. When you practice past exams respect the time constraints. Set an alarm clock if necessary. Remember that in TOEFL iBT the software will cut you off when you reach the time limit so it is critical you learn to work within it.
5.        Learn to Skim
In English, skimming involves reading a passage quickly and understanding a text by extracting the important details at a glance. This is a crucial skill for the TOEFL reading test. Practice doing this with passages in the run-up to the exam.
6.        Practice Summing Up
Never presume you know the meaning of a text while you are reading it. Always stop at the end of each paragraph and try to sum up what you have just read (even if it have to whisper rather than say it out loud).
7.        Highlight (if you need to)
Highlighting important data like vocabulary, dates and places might help you relax and order your thoughts. Go ahead and do this while you are reading if it helps.
8.        Learn To Guess Unfamiliar Words
When you are faced with a new word what do you do? Panic? Consult a dictionary? Neither of these responses will help you in your exam. Learn to guess the meaning of new words from the context of a passage or the words and paragraphs which surround it.
9.        Learn To Pick Out Pronouns
When you speak, you know there is a big difference between the pronouns he, she and it. It is the same when you are reading. Learn to pay attention to the pronouns in a text so you know to whom or what it is referring, especially if there are multiple characters in the text. This could be the difference between you answering a question correctly and incorrectly.
10.    Relax
In order to really capture the meaning of a text, you need to be relaxed so that you can focus on it completely. If you are very nervous you might miss important, and maybe obvious, points. Develop relaxation techniques like deep breathing during the test or even a yoga session before it! Whatever keeps you calm and works for you should not be ignored.

Look at the following examples:
Select the correct answer from the four choices given!

When buying a house, you must be sure to have it checked for termites. A termite is much like an ant in its communal habits, although physically the two insects are distinct.
            Like those ants, termite colonies consist of different classeseach with its own particular job. The most perfectly formed termites, both male and female, make up the productive class. They have eyes, hard body walls and fully developed wings. A pair of reproductive termites founds the colony. When new reproductive termites develop, they leave to form another colony. They use their wings only this on time and then break them off.
            The worker termites are small, blind and wingless, with soft bodies. They make up the majority of the colony and do all the work. Soldiers are eyeless and wingless but are larger than the workers and have hard heads and strong jaws and legs. They defend the colony and are cared for by the workers.
The male and female of the reproductive class remain inside a closed-in cell when the female lays thousands of eggs. The workers place the eggs in cell and care for them. Even if one colony is treated with poison, if a male and female of the reproductive class escape, they can form a new colony.
Pest control companies can inspect a house for infestation of termites. Often, of lay person can not spot the evidence, so it is critical to have the opinion of a proffesional. Treatments vary depending upon the type of termite.

1.  How are termites like ants?
      A. They live in communities, and each class has a specific duty
      B. Their bodies are the same shape
      C. The king and queen are imprisoned
      D. The females' reproductive capacities are the same
2.  The word "communal" in line 3 is closest in meaning to
      A. Eating
      B. Reproducing
      C. Organizational
      D. Social
3.  Which of the following is not true?
      A. All termites have eyes
      B. Some termites cannot fly
      C. Workers are smaller than soldiers
      D. Termites do not fly often
4.  In line 4, the word "distinct" is closest in meaning to
      A. Similar
      B. Different
      C. Genetically related
      D. Strong
5.  In line 6, "classes" is closest in meaning to
      A. Sexes
      B. Colonies
      C. Courses
      D. Categories

Answers :
1. A                 4. B
2. D                 5. D
3. B     

Strategies for Structure :
1.        First study the sentence.
Your purpose is to determine what is needed to complete the sentence correctly.
2.        Then study each answer based on how well it completes the sentence.
Eliminate answers that do not complete the sentence correctly.
3.        Do not try to eliminate incorrect answers by looking only at the answers.
The incorrect answers are generally correct by themselves. The incorrect answers are generally incorrect only when used to complete the sentence.
4.        Never leave any answers blank.
Be sure to answer each question even if you are unsure of the correct response.
5.        Do not spend too much time on the Structure questions.
Be sure to leave adequate time for the Written Expression questions.
Look at the following examples:

Select the correct answer from the four choices given!
1.    Geysers have often been compared to volcanoes _______ they both emit hot liquids from below the Earth's surface.
a.    due to
b.    because
c.    in spite of
d.   regardless of
2.    During the early period of ocean navigation, ________ any need for sophisticated instruments and techniques.
a.    so that hardly
b.    where there hardly was
c.    hardly was
d.   there was hardly
3.    Every student               wear uniform in flag ceremony.
a.    will
b.    houl
c.    must
d.   may
4.    The new emploees are furious               the news about their delayed salary.
a.    receiving
b.    received
c.    to receive
d.   receive
5.    Airlangga University has a well-respected medical school.
a.    As university
b.    As public university
c.    As the university
d.   As a public university
In each question you will see a text with 4 underlined words or phrases. One of these is incorrect or needs to be re-written. Select the incorrect option.

6.    Should we really speak of the “breakdown” of families when we are perhaps witnessing new family forms and a new social structure arising late capitalism?
a.    Should we
b.    when we are
c.    arising
d.   speak of
7.   Public opinion polls have consistently demonstrated the public’s willingness for 'tradeoff' economic growth for environmental protection.
a.    opinion polls
b.    consistently
c.    for
d.   environmental
8.    The economy is heavy dependent on industry, and economic growth has always been of greater concern than environmental preservation.
a.    heavy
b.    on industry
c.    has always been
d.   than
9.  Advocacy for child war victims, children in hazardous work, abused children and those variously exploited or handicapped has attracted the attention and commitment of legislators and policy-makers through the world.
a.    in
b.    those
c.    has attracted
d.   through
10.The increase population, and rapid economic growth in recent years, have put a large and increasing stress on the water resources and environment in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
a.    increase
b.    in recent years
c.    on the water resources
d.   in

Answers :
1. B                 6. C
2. D                 7. C
3. C                 8. A
4. A                 9. D

You Might Also Like

0 Leave your coment