TOEFL Reading Strategies

TOEFL Reading Strategies

By Alisa Friendsplace

Strategy 1. Improve your Paraphrasing Ability

Paraphrasing is basically putting other people's words

into your own words. It is an important tool in

detecting the correct answer. As you read a passage,

you should be noting down key information. These

paraphrased notes will serve as a quick reminder of

the key facts so that you don't need to read the

whole passage again.

TOEFL Reading Strategies

Paraphrasing

a child prodigy → very talented for his age

Possible Answer:

Mozart was very talented for his age.

Paraphrased Note

Mozart was considered a child prodigy. Mozart began to play the piano at the age of 3 and compose his own music at the age of 5.

Excerpt

Below are examples of reading excerpts in full on the left and in paraphrased form on the right:

Excerpt&Paraphrase

in close proximity → nearby​

​

​Possible Answer:

Athens and Sparta were nearby neighboring cities.

Paraphrased Note

Ancient Greece had two major cities, Athens and Sparta. These two cities, while in close proximity, developed in very diverse ways.

Excerpt

Below are examples of reading excerpts in full on the left and in paraphrased form on the right:

Excerpt&Paraphrase

Strategy 2. Watch for Keywords and Synonyms

Synonyms are words that have the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. For example, synonyms of big are: large, massive, immense, etc. Often, a writer will use synonyms. They make reading interesting. However, synonyms can also make reading difficult because a reader may not know the definition of a particular synonym. If a writer uses a synonym for a word and a reader does not know it, details may be missed. So, watch for words that may be synonyms.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

It is a well-known fact that the Komodo dragon is a carnivorous animal. Its usual diet

consists of carrion, or already dead animals, but it is more than happy to consume live

animals too. When the prey is large, the Komodo dragon will use a sneak attack to

catch it. Once the prey is killed, the Komodo dragon will tear off chunks of flesh and

devour the animal.

The Komodo dragon uses a different approach with smaller victims. When attempting

to feed on something the size of a goat or smaller, a Komodo will aim to swallow it

whole. Usually it takes about 20 minutes for the Komodo dragon to complete its dinner.

Sometimes, it will run into a tree or a rock while the animal is lodged in its mouth, trying

to speed up swallowing by forcing the food down its throat.

What does a Komodo dragon usually do when eating smaller animals?

• It lodges the animal in its mouth.

• It attempts to swallow the animal whole.

• It tears off chunks of flesh and swallows it.

• It forces the animal down by running into a tree.

...and here is why:

Using strategy 2, you can find four different synonyms

related to food ("diet," "prey," "animal," "victim") as well as four related to eating ("consume" "devour," "feed on," "swallow"). These synonyms allow the reader to find the answer within the passage by correctly understanding the details, helping them to discover that the Komdo dragon tries to swallow smaller animals whole. Misunderstanding the definitions of some of those words may cause the reader to miss something important.

Notice how each synonym about eating

relates to an explanation or fact about the Komodo dragons eating habits.

Strategy 3. Watch out for Trap

Answers Sometimes the test makers give you an answer choice based on truthful information found in a reading passage. However, the information in that answer choice is either unrelated to the actual question asked or worded in a purposely misleading way. Do not commit to an answer just because it LOOKS true. Do not choose an answer just because the words match part of the reading. Make sure the question and the answer choice logically fit together.

Multiple Choice

Dear Mrs. Anderson,

I am sending this letter in with my sister Sophia because I cannot deliver it myself. I have broken my leg and can't get out of bed. I want to be back in class in a week, but

the doctor said it will take at least two. I don't want to miss any more class than that

because I want to make it back for the school's singing contest tryouts. These take place

in three weeks. I know that there is a lot due in class this month, so I was hoping you could make a

package with all of the schoolwork and send it home with my sister. That way, I can try

get it all done before I get back. I really do not have a lot to do anyway, being stuck in bed all the time.

Hopefully I will see you soon.

Sincerely yours,

Nicole

Why does Nicole want to be back in school in two weeks at the latest?

• She wants to see Mrs. Anderson soon.

• There are a lot of assignments in class this month.

• It will take at least two weeks for her to recover.

• She wants to compete in the singing contest tryouts.

...and here is why:

Nicole clearly states that she doesn't want to miss any more class than two weeks because she wants to make it back for the singing contest tryouts in three weeks. Answer (A) is a trap answer because, although Nicole says that hopefully she'll see Mrs. Andersom soon, it is not necessarily true that Nicole wants to be back in two weeks to see her. Choices (B) and (C) are also trap answers. Both have to do with Nicole going back to school, but neither of the address why she wants to go back in two weeks at the latest.