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 classes, each 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.
Like those ants, termite colonies consist of different classes, each 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
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
5. D 10.A
References :
References :
Phillips,
Deborah. (2003). Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL TEST. New York.
Pearson Education.
