TOEFL iBT Reading-Understanding Facts and Details

Factual Information Items

Read the selection from a longer reading passage and answer the items

An eclipse is an astronomical* event in which light from one astronomical body is blocked by another astronomical body, such as the moon or Earth. The sun, Earth, and Earth's moon are all involved in two kinds of eclipses. A solar eclipse occurs when light from the sun is blocked by the moon. For a solar eclipse to occur, the sun, moon, and Earth must be in alignment, with the moon in the middle to block the sun's light. Alignments of this sort are rare and last for only a few minutes, as Earth and the moon continue on their orbits. During an eclipse, people on Earth see the sun with a dark circle cut out of it (partial solar eclipse) or completely blocked by the moon (total solar eclipse) so that sunlight shines only from the edges of the sun; the rest of the light is blocked by the moon. The shadow cast by the moon during an eclipse will darken the sky, especially during a total or near total eclipse. Animals may believe that night is falling. Birds may begin to roost for the night, for example.

A lunar eclipse occurs when sunlight shining on the moon is blocked by Earth's shadow. For a lunar eclipse to happen, the sun, Earth, and the moon must all be in a row, with Earth in the middle so it can block the sun's light and cast a shadow on the moon. The shadow cast by Earth contains two parts, the umbra and the penumbra. The umbra is the shadow cast directly by Earth. The penumbra is a larger area around the umbra where direct light from the sun is blocked but some light is able to get through indirectly. A penumbral lunar eclipse happens when the penumbra cast by Earth slightly darkens the surface of the moon. An umbra I lunar eclipse takes place when the umbra falls on the moon's surface. A lunar eclipse may be partial or total, depending on whether the shadow cast falls completely or partially on the surface of the moon. In a penumbra! total eclipse, the moon may appear partially darkened, and areas of the penumbra may appear darker if they are near the umbra. In an umbral total lunar eclipse, it may appear that the moon has disappeared from the sky for a period.

Generally, a lunar eclipse is visible only at night and when the moon is full. A senelion, a kind of eclipse that occurs under only highly exceptional conditions, is a rare astronomical event. A senelion is an eclipse that occurs when the sun and moon are opposite one another on the horizon and are aligned so that Earth's shadow hits the moon. Thus the sun and the eclipsed moon can be seen simultaneously. This is the only time when the sun and a lunar eclipse will both be visible together. This is also the only time that an eclipse can take place with daylight visible at the same time. The most recent senelion was on December 10, 2010. The next one will not take place for another eighty-four years.

*related to objects in space (stars, planets, moons, etc.)

1. According to the passage, what is the cause of a solar eclipse?

• Light from the sun is blocked by Earth

• Light from the moon is blocked by Earth

• Light from Earth is blocked by the moon

• Light from the sun is blocked by the moon.

Factual Information Items

Read the selection from a longer reading passage and answer the items

An eclipse is an astronomical* event in which light from one astronomical body is blocked by another astronomical body, such as the moon or Earth. The sun, Earth, and Earth's moon are all involved in two kinds of eclipses. A solar eclipse occurs when light from the sun is blocked by the moon. For a solar eclipse to occur, the sun, moon, and Earth must be in alignment, with the moon in the middle to block the sun's light. Alignments of this sort are rare and last for only a few minutes, as Earth and the moon continue on their orbits. During an eclipse, people on Earth see the sun with a dark circle cut out of it (partial solar eclipse) or completely blocked by the moon (total solar eclipse) so that sunlight shines only from the edges of the sun; the rest of the light is blocked by the moon. The shadow cast by the moon during an eclipse will darken the sky, especially during a total or near total eclipse. Animals may believe that night is falling. Birds may begin to roost for the night, for example.

A lunar eclipse occurs when sunlight shining on the moon is blocked by Earth's shadow. For a lunar eclipse to happen, the sun, Earth, and the moon must all be in a row, with Earth in the middle so it can block the sun's light and cast a shadow on the moon. The shadow cast by Earth contains two parts, the umbra and the penumbra. The umbra is the shadow cast directly by Earth. The penumbra is a larger area around the umbra where direct light from the sun is blocked but some light is able to get through indirectly. A penumbral lunar eclipse happens when the penumbra cast by Earth slightly darkens the surface of the moon. An umbra I lunar eclipse takes place when the umbra falls on the moon's surface. A lunar eclipse may be partial or total, depending on whether the shadow cast falls completely or partially on the surface of the moon. In a penumbra! total eclipse, the moon may appear partially darkened, and areas of the penumbra may appear darker if they are near the umbra. In an umbral total lunar eclipse, it may appear that the moon has disappeared from the sky for a period.

Generally, a lunar eclipse is visible only at night and when the moon is full. A senelion, a kind of eclipse that occurs under only highly exceptional conditions, is a rare astronomical event. A senelion is an eclipse that occurs when the sun and moon are opposite one another on the horizon and are aligned so that Earth's shadow hits the moon. Thus the sun and the eclipsed moon can be seen simultaneously. This is the only time when the sun and a lunar eclipse will both be visible together. This is also the only time that an eclipse can take place with daylight visible at the same time. The most recent senelion was on December 10, 2010. The next one will not take place for another eighty-four years.

*related to objects in space (stars, planets, moons, etc.)

2. Which of the following things happens during a partial solar eclipse?

• The sun looks like a dark circle was out from it

• Light shines only from the edges of the sun

• Animals believe that night is falling

• A shadow is partially cast on the moon

Factual Information Items

Read the selection from a longer reading passage and answer the items

An eclipse is an astronomical* event in which light from one astronomical body is blocked by another astronomical body, such as the moon or Earth. The sun, Earth, and Earth's moon are all involved in two kinds of eclipses. A solar eclipse occurs when light from the sun is blocked by the moon. For a solar eclipse to occur, the sun, moon, and Earth must be in alignment, with the moon in the middle to block the sun's light. Alignments of this sort are rare and last for only a few minutes, as Earth and the moon continue on their orbits. During an eclipse, people on Earth see the sun with a dark circle cut out of it (partial solar eclipse) or completely blocked by the moon (total solar eclipse) so that sunlight shines only from the edges of the sun; the rest of the light is blocked by the moon. The shadow cast by the moon during an eclipse will darken the sky, especially during a total or near total eclipse. Animals may believe that night is falling. Birds may begin to roost for the night, for example.

A lunar eclipse occurs when sunlight shining on the moon is blocked by Earth's shadow. For a lunar eclipse to happen, the sun, Earth, and the moon must all be in a row, with Earth in the middle so it can block the sun's light and cast a shadow on the moon. The shadow cast by Earth contains two parts, the umbra and the penumbra. The umbra is the shadow cast directly by Earth. The penumbra is a larger area around the umbra where direct light from the sun is blocked but some light is able to get through indirectly. A penumbral lunar eclipse happens when the penumbra cast by Earth slightly darkens the surface of the moon. An umbra I lunar eclipse takes place when the umbra falls on the moon's surface. A lunar eclipse may be partial or total, depending on whether the shadow cast falls completely or partially on the surface of the moon. In a penumbra! total eclipse, the moon may appear partially darkened, and areas of the penumbra may appear darker if they are near the umbra. In an umbral total lunar eclipse, it may appear that the moon has disappeared from the sky for a period.

Generally, a lunar eclipse is visible only at night and when the moon is full. A senelion, a kind of eclipse that occurs under only highly exceptional conditions, is a rare astronomical event. A senelion is an eclipse that occurs when the sun and moon are opposite one another on the horizon and are aligned so that Earth's shadow hits the moon. Thus the sun and the eclipsed moon can be seen simultaneously. This is the only time when the sun and a lunar eclipse will both be visible together. This is also the only time that an eclipse can take place with daylight visible at the same time. The most recent senelion was on December 10, 2010. The next one will not take place for another eighty-four years.

*related to objects in space (stars, planets, moons, etc.)

3. What is one difference between an umbral and a penumbra! lunar eclipse?

• The moon appears darker in an umbral eclipse than in a penumbra! eclipse

• The moon appears darker in a penumbra! eclipse than in an umbral eclipse

• An umbral eclipse is a total eclipse, and a penumbral eclipse is a partial eclipse

• A penumbra! eclipse is a total eclipse, and an umbral eclipse is a partial eclipse.

Factual Information Items

Read the selection from a longer reading passage and answer the items

An eclipse is an astronomical* event in which light from one astronomical body is blocked by another astronomical body, such as the moon or Earth. The sun, Earth, and Earth's moon are all involved in two kinds of eclipses. A solar eclipse occurs when light from the sun is blocked by the moon. For a solar eclipse to occur, the sun, moon, and Earth must be in alignment, with the moon in the middle to block the sun's light. Alignments of this sort are rare and last for only a few minutes, as Earth and the moon continue on their orbits. During an eclipse, people on Earth see the sun with a dark circle cut out of it (partial solar eclipse) or completely blocked by the moon (total solar eclipse) so that sunlight shines only from the edges of the sun; the rest of the light is blocked by the moon. The shadow cast by the moon during an eclipse will darken the sky, especially during a total or near total eclipse. Animals may believe that night is falling. Birds may begin to roost for the night, for example.

A lunar eclipse occurs when sunlight shining on the moon is blocked by Earth's shadow. For a lunar eclipse to happen, the sun, Earth, and the moon must all be in a row, with Earth in the middle so it can block the sun's light and cast a shadow on the moon. The shadow cast by Earth contains two parts, the umbra and the penumbra. The umbra is the shadow cast directly by Earth. The penumbra is a larger area around the umbra where direct light from the sun is blocked but some light is able to get through indirectly. A penumbral lunar eclipse happens when the penumbra cast by Earth slightly darkens the surface of the moon. An umbra I lunar eclipse takes place when the umbra falls on the moon's surface. A lunar eclipse may be partial or total, depending on whether the shadow cast falls completely or partially on the surface of the moon. In a penumbra! total eclipse, the moon may appear partially darkened, and areas of the penumbra may appear darker if they are near the umbra. In an umbral total lunar eclipse, it may appear that the moon has disappeared from the sky for a period.

Generally, a lunar eclipse is visible only at night and when the moon is full. A senelion, a kind of eclipse that occurs under only highly exceptional conditions, is a rare astronomical event. A senelion is an eclipse that occurs when the sun and moon are opposite one another on the horizon and are aligned so that Earth's shadow hits the moon. Thus the sun and the eclipsed moon can be seen simultaneously. This is the only time when the sun and a lunar eclipse will both be visible together. This is also the only time that an eclipse can take place with daylight visible at the same time. The most recent senelion was on December 10, 2010. The next one will not take place for another eighty-four years.

*related to objects in space (stars, planets, moons, etc.)

4. Which of these events is the most unusual?

• An umbral lunar eclipse

• A partial solar eclipse

• A total solar eclipse

• A senelion

Factual Information Items

Read the selection from a longer reading passage and answer the items

An eclipse is an astronomical* event in which light from one astronomical body is blocked by another astronomical body, such as the moon or Earth. The sun, Earth, and Earth's moon are all involved in two kinds of eclipses. A solar eclipse occurs when light from the sun is blocked by the moon. For a solar eclipse to occur, the sun, moon, and Earth must be in alignment, with the moon in the middle to block the sun's light. Alignments of this sort are rare and last for only a few minutes, as Earth and the moon continue on their orbits. During an eclipse, people on Earth see the sun with a dark circle cut out of it (partial solar eclipse) or completely blocked by the moon (total solar eclipse) so that sunlight shines only from the edges of the sun; the rest of the light is blocked by the moon. The shadow cast by the moon during an eclipse will darken the sky, especially during a total or near total eclipse. Animals may believe that night is falling. Birds may begin to roost for the night, for example.

A lunar eclipse occurs when sunlight shining on the moon is blocked by Earth's shadow. For a lunar eclipse to happen, the sun, Earth, and the moon must all be in a row, with Earth in the middle so it can block the sun's light and cast a shadow on the moon. The shadow cast by Earth contains two parts, the umbra and the penumbra. The umbra is the shadow cast directly by Earth. The penumbra is a larger area around the umbra where direct light from the sun is blocked but some light is able to get through indirectly. A penumbral lunar eclipse happens when the penumbra cast by Earth slightly darkens the surface of the moon. An umbra I lunar eclipse takes place when the umbra falls on the moon's surface. A lunar eclipse may be partial or total, depending on whether the shadow cast falls completely or partially on the surface of the moon. In a penumbra! total eclipse, the moon may appear partially darkened, and areas of the penumbra may appear darker if they are near the umbra. In an umbral total lunar eclipse, it may appear that the moon has disappeared from the sky for a period.

Generally, a lunar eclipse is visible only at night and when the moon is full. A senelion, a kind of eclipse that occurs under only highly exceptional conditions, is a rare astronomical event. A senelion is an eclipse that occurs when the sun and moon are opposite one another on the horizon and are aligned so that Earth's shadow hits the moon. Thus the sun and the eclipsed moon can be seen simultaneously. This is the only time when the sun and a lunar eclipse will both be visible together. This is also the only time that an eclipse can take place with daylight visible at the same time. The most recent senelion was on December 10, 2010. The next one will not take place for another eighty-four years.

*related to objects in space (stars, planets, moons, etc.)

5. Which of the following is a characteristic of a senelion?

• The moon will block the sun's light

• The sky may darken for a few minutes

• The sun and eclipsed moon can be seen at the same time

• A senelion is a total lunar eclipse

Negative Factual Information Items

 

Read the selection from a longer reading passage and answer the items

 

The modem steel and glass building represents more than a building technique. It is the aesthetic’ creation of architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe. Of these architects, one of the most influential in the development of the modern style is the architect most people simply call Mies. Born in Germany, Mies achieved considerable professional success in the United States. His style made extensive use of steel girders to support buildings, rather than stone or brick walls. This innovation, pioneered by architects who came before Mies, allowed architects to replace thick walls with expansive windows because the steel girders, rather than the walls, supported the buildings. Interior spaces were large and open, with few or minimal interior columns or walls needed because the building's steel frame made them unnecessary structurally. The stark, sleek buildings created a dramatic counterpoint to older, often elaborately decorated buildings with carved stonework, elaborate metalwork decorations, and dark, enclosed interior spaces.

Mies strove toward a rich yet simple, consistent, and aesthetically complete style. The typical Mies building employed top-quality materials such as marble, chrome-plated metal, and plate glass, always deployed in straight lines and cubical forms, to create rich but simplistic forms. Mies insisted on designing interior furnishing and details, too. His buildings might include custom furniture. To give a uniform Icok to building exteriors, he even designed special window blinds. One of Mies's most famous sayings to describe his minimalistic approach was, "Less is more.”

1. Which of the following is NOT a feature of Mies's architecture?

• many interior walls and columns

• expensive, high-quality materials

• cubical spaces

• open, sweeping floor plans

Negative Factual Information Items

 

Read the selection from a longer reading passage and answer the items

The modem steel and glass building represents more than a building technique. It is the aesthetic’ creation of architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe. Of these architects, one of the most influential in the development of the modern style is the architect most people simply call Mies. Born in Germany, Mies achieved considerable professional success in the United States. His style made extensive use of steel girders to support buildings, rather than stone or brick walls. This innovation, pioneered by architects who came before Mies, allowed architects to replace thick walls with expansive windows because the steel girders, rather than the walls, supported the buildings. Interior spaces were large and open, with few or minimal interior columns or walls needed because the building's steel frame made them unnecessary structurally. The stark, sleek buildings created a dramatic counterpoint to older, often elaborately decorated buildings with carved stonework, elaborate metalwork decorations, and dark, enclosed interior spaces.

Mies strove toward a rich yet simple, consistent, and aesthetically complete style. The typical Mies building employed top-quality materials such as marble, chrome-plated metal, and plate glass, always deployed in straight lines and cubical forms, to create rich but simplistic forms. Mies insisted on designing interior furnishing and details, too. His buildings might include custom furniture. To give a uniform Icok to building exteriors, he even designed special window blinds. One of Mies's most famous sayings to describe his minimalistic approach was, "Less is more.”

2. Mies used all of these materials in his buildings EXCEPT:

• marble

• plate glass

• chrome-plated metal

• elaborate carved stonework

Negative Factual Information Items

 

Read the selection from a longer reading passage and answer the items

 

The modem steel and glass building represents more than a building technique. It is the aesthetic’ creation of architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe. Of these architects, one of the most influential in the development of the modern style is the architect most people simply call Mies. Born in Germany, Mies achieved considerable professional success in the United States. His style made extensive use of steel girders to support buildings, rather than stone or brick walls. This innovation, pioneered by architects who came before Mies, allowed architects to replace thick walls with expansive windows because the steel girders, rather than the walls, supported the buildings. Interior spaces were large and open, with few or minimal interior columns or walls needed because the building's steel frame made them unnecessary structurally. The stark, sleek buildings created a dramatic counterpoint to older, often elaborately decorated buildings with carved stonework, elaborate metalwork decorations, and dark, enclosed interior spaces.

Mies strove toward a rich yet simple, consistent, and aesthetically complete style. The typical Mies building employed top-quality materials such as marble, chrome-plated metal, and plate glass, always deployed in straight lines and cubical forms, to create rich but simplistic forms. Mies insisted on designing interior furnishing and details, too. His buildings might include custom furniture. To give a uniform Icok to building exteriors, he even designed special window blinds. One of Mies's most famous sayings to describe his minimalistic approach was, "Less is more.”

3. Which of the following is NOT an example of how Mies designed rich, consistent, aesthetically

complete buildings?

• curving lines

• custom furniture

• special window blinds

• high-quality material

Negative Factual Information Items

 

Read the selection from a longer reading passage and answer the items

 

The modem steel and glass building represents more than a building technique. It is the aesthetic’ creation of architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe. Of these architects, one of the most influential in the development of the modern style is the architect most people simply call Mies. Born in Germany, Mies achieved considerable professional success in the United States. His style made extensive use of steel girders to support buildings, rather than stone or brick walls. This innovation, pioneered by architects who came before Mies, allowed architects to replace thick walls with expansive windows because the steel girders, rather than the walls, supported the buildings. Interior spaces were large and open, with few or minimal interior columns or walls needed because the building's steel frame made them unnecessary structurally. The stark, sleek buildings created a dramatic counterpoint to older, often elaborately decorated buildings with carved stonework, elaborate metalwork decorations, and dark, enclosed interior spaces.

Mies strove toward a rich yet simple, consistent, and aesthetically complete style. The typical Mies building employed top-quality materials such as marble, chrome-plated metal, and plate glass, always deployed in straight lines and cubical forms, to create rich but simplistic forms. Mies insisted on designing interior furnishing and details, too. His buildings might include custom furniture. To give a uniform Icok to building exteriors, he even designed special window blinds. One of Mies's most famous sayings to describe his minimalistic approach was, "Less is more.”

4. All of the following provided support for older buildings EXCEPT:

• steel girders

• interior columns

• thick, heavy walls

• brick and stone materials

Negative Factual Information Items

 

Read the selection from a longer reading passage and answer the items

 

The modem steel and glass building represents more than a building technique. It is the aesthetic’ creation of architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe. Of these architects, one of the most influential in the development of the modern style is the architect most people simply call Mies. Born in Germany, Mies achieved considerable professional success in the United States. His style made extensive use of steel girders to support buildings, rather than stone or brick walls. This innovation, pioneered by architects who came before Mies, allowed architects to replace thick walls with expansive windows because the steel girders, rather than the walls, supported the buildings. Interior spaces were large and open, with few or minimal interior columns or walls needed because the building's steel frame made them unnecessary structurally. The stark, sleek buildings created a dramatic counterpoint to older, often elaborately decorated buildings with carved stonework, elaborate metalwork decorations, and dark, enclosed interior spaces.

Mies strove toward a rich yet simple, consistent, and aesthetically complete style. The typical Mies building employed top-quality materials such as marble, chrome-plated metal, and plate glass, always deployed in straight lines and cubical forms, to create rich but simplistic forms. Mies insisted on designing interior furnishing and details, too. His buildings might include custom furniture. To give a uniform Icok to building exteriors, he even designed special window blinds. One of Mies's most famous sayings to describe his minimalistic approach was, "Less is more.”

5. All of these were features of older building styles EXCEPT:

• dark interior spaces

• metal decorations

• brick or stone walls

• straight lines and cubical spaces