Session 2 - TOEFL Training PKM - 20/09/24

9 Skills in TOEFL
Reading Comprehension

​Tutor: Chandra Fauzi, M.Pd
Session: 2 & 3

Skill 1. Answer main idea correctly

Aim: Asking the primary point the the author’s trying to inform or explain in the passage

The Wording: topic, subject, title, primary idea, or main idea.

Types of Questions:

Skill 1. Answer main idea correctly

Where to find the answer: Look at the first sentence of each paragraph

How to answer the questions:

Multiple Choice

Exercise helps people stay healthy. It makes the body strong and improves mood. Any activity, like walking or running, is good for health.

Q: What is the main idea of the passage?

• Running is the best exercise.

• Exercise makes you stronger and happier.

• Exercise is only good for your body.

• Walking is better than running.

-  How is the information in the passage organized?

- How is the information in the second paragraph related to to the first paragraph?

How to identify the questions

To determine how the idea(s) in paragraph(s) relate to ideas in another paragraph(s)

​Aim:

Skill 2: How the passage is organized

1. Read the first line of each paragraph

2. Look for words that show relationship among the paragraphs

3. Choose the answer the best expresses the relationship

How to answer the questions

Look the the first sentence of the appropriate paragraphs

​Where to find the answer

Skill 2: How the passage is organized

Multiple Choice

Paragraph 1: Forests are important because they clean the air and provide homes for animals.
Paragraph 2: Many people are working to protect forests by planting trees and stopping deforestation.

Q:How is Paragraph 2 related to Paragraph 1?

• Paragraph 2 gives examples of how people are protecting forests.

• Paragraph 2 explains why forests are not important.

-       According to the passage,…

-       It is stated in the passage…

-       The passage indicates that…

-       Which of the following is true…?

Types of Questions:

to find one piece of information in the passage. The correct answer is a restatement of what is given in the passage; the correct answer expresses the same idea as written in the passage, but the words are NOT exactly the same.

Aim:

Skill 3: Answer stated detail questions correctly

a. Choose a key word in the question
b. Skim in the appropriate part of the passage for the key word or idea
c. Read the sentence that contains the key word or idea carefully.
d. Eliminate the definitely wrong answers and choose the best answer from the remining choices.

How to answer the question:

Where to find the answer: the answers to the question is found in order in the passage

Skill 3: Answer stated detail questions correctly

Multiple Choice

Deserts are dry areas that get little rain. Some deserts, like the Sahara, are hot, while others, like the Gobi, can be cold. Plants and animals in deserts have special ways to survive with little water.

Q: It's stated in the passage that some dessert...

• Have cold temperatures, like the Gobi.

• Have plenty of water.

• Do not have any living creatures.

• Are always hot.

-   Which of the following is not stated…?

-   Which of the following is not mentioned…?

-   Which of the following is not discussed…?

-    All of the following are true except…

Question types

To find an answer that is not stated or not mentioned or not true in the passage. In others words, the three answers are stated, mentioned, or true in the passage, while there is one that is not.

Aim:

Skill 4: Finding ‘unstated’ details correctly

How to answer?

Where to find the answer: the answers to these questions are found in order in the passage

Skill 4: Finding ‘unstated’ details correctly

Multiple Choice

Rainforests are located near the equator. They receive heavy rainfall and are home to a variety of plants and animals. Rainforests also produce oxygen that is vital for life on Earth.

Q: Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage?

• Rainforests produce oxygen.

• Rainforests are located near the equator.

• Rainforests are found in polar regions.

• Rainforests have many plants and animals.

The pronoun “. . .” in line X refers to which of the following?

Common question:

Aim: to determine which noun a pronoun refers. Remember that a noun is generally used first then the pronoun that refers to it comes after. Whenever you are asked which noun a pronoun refers to, you should look before the pronoun to find the noun.

Skill 5: Find Pronoun Reference

How to answer the questions

1.     Locate the pronoun in the passage

2.     Look before the pronoun for nouns that agree with the pronoun

3.     Try each of the nouns in the context in place of the pronoun

4.     Eliminate any definitely wrong answers and choose the best answer form the remaining choices.

Where to find the answer:

“the line where the pronoun is located is given in the question. The noun that the pronoun refers to is generally found before the pronoun."

Skill 5: Find Pronoun Reference

Multiple Choice

Water evaporates from oceans, lakes, and rivers. As it rises into the air, it cools and forms clouds. These clouds eventually release rain, which returns to the ground.

Q: The pronoun "it" in line 2 refers to which of the following?

• Water

• Oceans

• Clouds

• Air

-       It is implied in the passage that…

-       It can be inferred from the passage that…

-       It is most likely that ….

-       What probably happened…?

Aim: to ask you to draw a conclusion from a specific detail or details in the passage. Key words of the questions: implied, inferred, likely, or probably.

Skill 6: Answer implied detail questions correctly

• ^{Choose a key word in the question}

• ^{Scan the passage for the key word (or related idea)}

• ^{Carefully read the sentence that contains the key word}

• ^{Look for an answer that could be true, according to that sentence}

Where to find the answer: All information is generally found in order in the passage

Skill 6: Answer implied detail questions correctly

How to answer the question:

Multiple Choice

Penguins live in cold regions and spend much of their time swimming to catch fish. Their thick feathers help them stay warm in freezing temperatures.

Q: It can be inferred from the passage that penguins…

• Spend little time in the water.

• Have bodies that are well-suited for swimming.

• Cannot survive in cold environments.

• Do not eat fish.

• What is the meaning of “X” in line Y?

• The word “X” in line Y is closest in meaning to…

• The word “X” in line Y could best be replaced by…

Aim: to determine the meaning of a word in the reading section. It’s possible (1) that the passage provides information about the meaning of the word, (2) that there are structural clues to tell you that the definition of a word in included in the passage.

Skill 7: Find definitions from structural clues

Where to find the answer: the information you can use will generally be found after the punctuation clue, the restatement clue, or the example clue

Types of clues:
- Puncutuation (tanda koma, tanda kurung, tanda sambung)

-  Restatement : or, that is, in other words, i.e.

- Examples: such as, for example, e.g.

Skill 7: Find definitions from structural clues

How to answer the questions?    
Find the word in the passage

(1) Locate any structural clues

(2) Read the part of the passage after the structural clue carefully

(3) Eliminate any definitely wrong answers and choose the best answer form the remaining choices

Multiple Choice

Some plants, like the Venus flytrap, are carnivorous. This means they eat insects or small animals. These plants have special structures to catch their prey.

Q: The word "carnivorous" in line 1 could best be replaced by…

• Eating plants

• Eating meat

• Growing quickly

• Living in water

How to identify the question: Where in the passage…?

Aim: to ask you to determine where in the passage a piece of information is found

Skill 8: Determine where specific information is found

Where to find the answer: it can be in any of the lines listed in the answers to the questions

How to answer the question:

1.     Choose a key word or idea in the question

2.     Skim the appropriate part(s) of the passage looking for the key word or idea

3.     Choose the answer that contains the key word or idea.

Skill 8: Determine where specific information is found

Multiple Choice

The water cycle moves water between the Earth and the atmosphere (1). Water evaporates into the air, forms clouds (2), and then falls back to the Earth as rain (3), that's all.

Q: Where in the passage does it explain how clouds form?

• Line 1

• Line 2

• Line 3

• Line 4

To discuss, to criticize, to argue against, to support, etc.

Purpose:

No emotion: informational, explanatory or factual

With emotion: Humorous, Sarcastic, Impassioned.

Tone:

    Skill 9: Determine the tone, purpose

Tone: (1) skim the passage looking for clues that the author is showing some emotion; (2) Choose the answer that identifies the emotion

Purpose: (1) study the main idea in the topic sentence and the details used to support the main idea; (2) draw a conclusion about the purpose

How to answer?

Tone: look for clues throughout the passage that show if the author is showing some emotion rather than just presenting facts.

Purpose: Draw a conclusion about the purpose form the main idea and supporting ideas.

Where to find the answer

    Skill 9: Determine the tone, purpose

Multiple Choice

Laughter reduces stress and improves health. It boosts happiness and helps people stay positive.

Q: What is the tone of the passage?

• Humorous

• Sarcastic

• Optimistic

• Impassioned

Multiple Choice

Exercise strengthens muscles, boosts mood, and increases energy. Regular exercise is essential for staying healthy.

Q: What is the author’s purpose in this passage?

• To inform readers about the benefits of exercise

• To warn against the dangers of exercise

• To describe different types of exercise

• To explain the history of exercise