Wondering why the TOEFL is so difficult, even for advanced

English students?
Wondering why there are guides for every individual section of
the TOEFL?

Every TOEFL section has very, very specific types of questions

and tasks.

 How to Attack These 3 Question Types with

Confidence
 5 TOEFL Reading Tips and Test-taking Strategies for
Total Success
 12 Proven Tips for Success
 The Best TOEFL Writing Templates for Any Prompt
 Achieve a High Score on the TOEFL Integrated
Writing Task in 7 Steps

You need to know exactly what these questions are asking for in
order to get the highest score possible on the test.

The Reading section is no exception. In fact, it has 10

different question types!
Each of these question types tests your ability to understand a
written passage and express your understanding. You will need to
effectively work with the information presented within the text.

Even if you understand everything you read, you might not be

prepared for the types of questions and the answers they require!

To do well on the TOEFL, you need to work with exercises that

match the test format as closely as possible. The Reading section
tasks can be split into three general groups. Keep reading to learn
all about them in this post!
All of the sample exercises below are based on an excerpt from
pages 20-22 of  “International Finance: Theory and Policy” by
Steve Suranovic, accessible freely from The Saylor Foundation.

THE 10 TYPES OF TOEFL READING EXERCISES YOU MUST

MASTER

10 Types of TOEFL Reading Exercises You Must Master

BASIC INFORMATION QUESTIONS

These tasks are based on the factual information present in the
passage.
The correct answer will be stated in the text, often in just one or
two sentences.
Are you able to locate the key information in a passage? If so, you
should do well with the basic information tasks! They may be
factual, negative factual or vocabulary-based.
1. FACTUAL INFORMATION (3-6 QUESTIONS PER PASSAGE)
These questions target statements or facts explicitly present in the
passage.

Passage:
Please go to page 20 of “International Finance,” linked above, and
read the first paragraph. This paragraph begins with the phrase
“Countries interact…”
Example:
According to the author in the paragraph, what does exchange
rate measure?

1. The difference between import and export

2. The way to convert one currency into another currency

3. The speed of exchange of goods between countries

4. The rate of change in international trade

The correct answer is 2. Why? The paragraph states that the

exchange rate measures the number of units of one currency that
exchanges for one unit of another currency.

2. NEGATIVE FACTUAL INFORMATION (0-2 QUESTIONS PER

PASSAGE)
These questions ask you to identify what is not true about the
passage you have just read.
Passage:
Please refer to page 22 of “International Finance,”  specifically to
paragraphs 2, 3 and 4.
Example:
According to the text, which country relies on a single foreign
currency to maintain its exchange value?

1. USA

2. Russia

3. China

4. Germany

The correct answer is 3. China pegs its currency to the U.S. dollar,
whereas Russia uses a currency basket.

USA and Germany are not mentioned in the paragraphs of the

text that were indicated.

3. VOCABULARY INFORMATION (3-5 QUESTIONS PER PASSAGE)

Everyone’s favorite, these tasks are all about how well you
understand certain vocabulary in the context of the paragraph you
are working with.

Example:
In paragraph 3, page 20, the word “backed” is closest in meaning
to:

1. Bought

2. Sold
3. Returned

4. Supported

The correct answer is 4. “Backed” in this context means

“supported by” or “influenced by.”

INFERENCE QUESTIONS
The inference questions require that you work with the general
meaning of the given paragraph in the passage. You must be
able to inferinformation from the one explicitly stated.
Correct answers to these types of tasks will not be present in the
text, but should be obvious if you comprehend the passage well.

4. INFERENCE (1-3 QUESTIONS PER PASSAGE)

To answer an Inference question correctly, you should be able to
understand an idea or an argument that is strongly implied, but
not stated in the text.

Analyzing information in the paragraph(s) and thinking logically

about it are key!

Example:
Which of the following can be inferred from the first paragraph on
page 21?

1. The IMF regulates exchange rates throughout the world.

2. Independently floating currencies are uncommon in capitalist

markets.

3. Central banks have full power to set the currency systems in

their respective countries.
4. Exchange rate values remain largely stable over time.

The correct answer is 3. Every other choice contradicts the

information in the paragraph.

5. RHETORICAL PURPOSE (1-2 QUESTIONS PER PASSAGE)

While the factual information questions may ask you about the
“what” or “how,” the Rhetorical Purpose section is all about
the “why.”

If you understand the reasoning behind the author’s way of

presenting information, you are good to go for the Rhetorical
Purpose tasks.

Example:
Refer once again to page 22, paragraphs 2 and 4. Why does the
author mention China and Russia there?

1. To demonstrate different types of fixed currency systems

2. To compare their economic performance

3. To illustrate the power their currencies play in the international

market

4. To explain the benefits of free-flowing currency

The correct answer is 1, as both countries are simply listed as

examples of different currency systems.

6. REFERENCE (0-2 QUESTIONS PER PASSAGE)

Reference questions play the role similar to Vocabulary questions.
They assess your ability to correctly identify the relationships
between sentences, thus aiding the overall comprehension of the
text. Usually, you will see a pronoun highlighted in the paragraph;
your task will be to decide what it refers to.

Example:
The word “this” in Paragraph 3, page 20 (“…and this makes
monetary policy contentious…”) refers to:
1. turbulent economic times

2. central banks’ abilities

3. gold-backed currencies

4. government’s decisions on policy

The correct answer is 2. The sentence discusses the implications

of a central bank’s ability to achieve certain goals.

7. SENTENCE SIMPLIFICATION (0-1 QUESTION PER PASSAGE)

Work hard at your ability to summarize and generalize the
information you are given, because this is what Sentence
Simplification measures. You will be presented with a sentence
from the passage; the goal is to choose the answer sentence that
summarizes it best.

Example:
Which of the following best expresses the essential information in
the last sentence on page 20 (“Throughout history…”)?

1. The gold standard ensured that exchange rates remained fixed

up until World War II.
2. The gold standard coupled with the fixed exchange rate
agreement ensured the exchange rates remained stable in most
countries.

3. The Bretton Woods system played a major role in guaranteeing

that the gold standard remained in place.

4. After World War II, fixed exchange rates were adopted by most
countries.

The correct answer is 2. The 1, 3 and 4 are either incorrect or only

partially correct.

8. INSERT TEXT (1 QUESTION PER PASSAGE)

Frequently a challenging task, Insert Text tests your reading
comprehension to the maximum limit! Understanding the text
flow and mastering grammatical connections between sentences
is essential for success here.

In this task, you will be given a new sentence and asked where in

an existing paragraph it would fit best. Remember that there is
only one correct answer.
Passage:
Paragraphs 2 and 3 on page 20.

Example:
Locate paragraphs 2 and 3 on page 20. They discuss currency
conversion using a gold standard. On the test, four squares (■)
would be inserted into the paragraphs to indicate where a new
sentence could be added to the passage.

The correct answer will be the only paragraph out of four provided
that makes sense grammatically and flows logically with the new
sentence in it.
READING TO LEARN QUESTIONS
The most difficult ones in the Reading section, Reading to Learn
questions require that you work with the whole passage to find
the right answers. Your ability to assess the information,
recognize its purpose and distinguish major points from minor
points in the passage are crucial. Often, you will also need a good
grasp on cause-effect and compare-contrast rhetorical functions.
There are only two types of questions in this group. Both of them
are worth two points each!

For the examples below, please refer to pages 20 to 22

of International Finance in their entirety. You can expect
to see the following two types of Reading to Learn questions for
them:
9. PROSE SUMMARY (1 PER PASSAGE)
Somewhat similar to Sentence Simplification, Prose Summary will
ask you to identify the major arguments of the whole passage. For
this task, learn to recognize minor details and pay attention to the
whole idea and argument of the passage instead.

You will be given six answer choices, out of which you need to pick
three that best represent the major ideas of the text.

Passage:
Pages 20 to 22 of “International Finance.”

Example:
The passage describes the basics of exchange rates and how they
are used throughout the world. What are the main points of the
passage?
1. Countries rely on the exchange of currency to conduct trade and
financial transactions across borders. Trade and investment are
impossible without established currency exchange systems.

2. The European Union maintains a fixed exchange rate in

between its member states, but a free-floating one in relation to
every other country.

3. The gold standard was a traditional way of pegging currency to

a commodity (gold) and basing the exchange rates on that.

4. The Bretton Woods system allowed countries to maintain fixed

currency rates, and is still the norm today.

5. Several types of currency systems are in use today, including

free floating, fixed and composite currency fixed, among others.

6. The IMF helps monitor currencies across the world, and every
state’s central bank has to comply with its policies and Special
Drawing Rights.

The correct answer choices are 1, 2 and 5. Number 3 is true, but is

a minor point. The 4 and 6 are incorrect.

10. FILL IN A TABLE (1 PER PASSAGE)

This task measures your ability to structure and organize the
information given to you in the passage. It will present you with
an incomplete table that you need to fill in by dragging and
dropping correct answer choices into their correct locations on the
table.

You will be given more answer choices than there are spots on the
table, so some will obviously be incorrect. Each answer can be
used only once!
Passage:
Pages 20 to 22 of “International Finance.”

Example:
Countries with a fixed currency system:

1.

2.

Countries with a floating currency system:

1.

2.

3.

Answer choices:

 USA
 China
 Russia
 Japan
 France
 South Africa
 Estonia
The complete table should be filled in as follows:

Countries with a fixed currency system:

1. Russia
2. Estonia
Countries with a floating currency system:
 1. USA
2. Japan
3. South Africa
China’s currency is allowed to appreciate and hence is not fixed.
France is not mentioned in the passage, but it is part of the
European Union, whose currency system is unique (discussed at
the end of the passage).

Doing TOEFL exercises should form the central part of your test
preparation.

As you have just learned, the types of tasks found in the Reading
section can be very complex.

You need to become very comfortable with all ten tasks to be able
to focus on answering them correctly on the test.

Once you mastered all the Reading exercises available to you, you

are all set for TOEFL success!

Source: https://wiki-toefl.com/10-types-of-toefl-reading-exercises-you-
must-master/