TOEFL Reading Lecture Part 2 & 3

Here are my notes on the TOEFL reading lectures I previously posted.

TOEFL Reading Lecture Part 2

TOEFL Reading Lecture Part 3

Basic Process (Detail Questions 3-4)

1.     Find the keywords in the question

·        Very important

2.     Find the keyword sentence in the reading

·        Look for Synonym language (Questions normally have synonyms)

3.     Read only the keyword sentence in the passage( This is for, Basic questions: detail questions, purpose questions, inference)

·        If the next sentence starts with connecting language

·        Answers come after the connecting language

·        If keyword sentence starts with connecting language, answer is in previous sentence

4.     Read the proper answer and pick the answer that matches the same meaning

Example Question: Who was the first president of America?

Now, we know the keywords are something like: first president

Don’t forget to be aware of synonyms,  the question could be: Who was the first leader of America? ( Leader= synonym)

Now, go to the passage.  Find the words: First president and you know that is where your answer is.

Purpose Question (Example terms: mention, say- What does he mean when he says/mentions this)

1.)   Find the keywords in the question

2.)  Find the keyword sentence

3.)  Read the sentence before the keyword sentence ( Example- If someone is late to class, to find out why they are late, you must look before.)

4.)  Find the matching purpose in the answers

Inference Question ( what inference must be true)

*** Might be true, possibly true= Impossible***

·        Pick the answer that must be true

Example: Two weeks ago, somebody says if I don’t come to class, I decided to get married. Two weeks later, the student is not in class.

Answer choices 1.) Car accident 2.) Got married 3.) Student is scared 4.) Student is sick

Pick the answer that must be true

Example 2: What can we infer by paragraph 3?

Inference question uses one of the following words usually: What does it suggest? What does it imply?

Negative Factual ( True/False Question- All of the following are true except….)

1.)  Find the keywords in the answer choices

2.)  Find the keywords in each paragraph to determine if the answer is true or false

Example:  All of the following for people are running for president except

A.) The cowboy from Taiwan B.) The governor of Mexico C.) The banker from Massachusets D.) The lawyer from Japan

Keywords= cowboy, governor, banker, lawyer

Use each keyword and see if they are running for president.

If it says the cowboy from Taiwan is running for vice-president. There is your answer.

Vocabulary Questions

1.)  Learn lots of vocabulary (obviously)

2.)  Study vocab in synonym groups- Example: Write the word intermittent on the front of a notecard, and five synonyms on the back

3.)  Look at the root word- (take off prefix and suffix)

4.)  Context- look the sentence before and after

5.)  Context clues- Example:  or means the word will mean the same-, but- means the word will mean opposite

6.)   Look at the verb

7.)   Substitution ( take out the vocab word, put your own word, (not an answer choice) then finding the matching word

 ** Never go off what sounds right. They are all meant to sound right***

Read the question and see the vocabulary word

·        Don’t look at the answer yet (if you’re unclear)

·        Look at the word in the sentence and find the meaning using one of the strategies

**Connecting language/ transition- so, now, this means, that means, for example, as a result,