RIVIEW OF SECTION 3:

READING COMPREHENSION

Section 3 : Reading Comprehension

Reading passages
Five reading passages with an average of ten question after each passage.
You must choose from four possible answer that would be the best response to each question

TYPES OF PROBLEMS IN THE READING COMPREHENSION SECTION

Problems like those in this Review of reading Comprehension frequently appear on
section 3 of the TOEFL.
To prepare for section 3 of the TOEFL, study the problems in this chapter.
Reading Comprehension
1. Previewing
2. Reading for man ideas
3. Using contexts for vocabulary
4. Scanning for details
5. Making inferences
6. Identifying exceptions
7. Locating references
8. Referring to the passage.

CUMULATIVE REVIEW EXERCISE

FOR READING SOMPREHENSION

DIRECTION: Read the following passage, using the skill you have learned. Preview, read for
main ideals, and use context for vocabulary. To read faster, read phrases instead of words.
Than answer the question that follow the passage. Scan for detail and evidence. Make
inferences.
Although each bay has an individual schedule of development, general patterns
of growth have been observed. Three periods of development have been identified,
including early infancy, which extends from the first to the sixth month; middle
infancy, from the sixth to the ninth month; and late infancy, from the ninth to the
(5) fifteenth month. Whereas the newborn in concerned with his or her inner world and
responds primarily to hunger and pain, in early infancy the baby is already aware of
(5) the surrounding world. During the second month, many infants are awake more and
can raise their heads to look at things. They also begin to smile at people. By four
months, the baby is searching for things but not yet grasping them with its hands. It is
(5) also beginning to be wary of strangers and may scream when a visiting relative tries
 to pick it up. By five months, the baby is grabbing objects and putting them into its
mouth. Some babies are trying to feed themselves with their hands.
In middle infancy, the baby concentrates on practicing a great many speech
sounds. It loves to imitate action and examine interesting objects. At about seven
month, it begins to crawl, a skill that is masters at the end of middle infancy.
In late infancy, the baby takes an interest in games, songs, and even books.
Progress to ward walking moves through standing balancing, bouncing in place and
walking with others. As soon as the baby walks well alone, it has passed from infancy
into the active toddler stage.

1. What does this passage mainly discuss?

(A) Growth in early infancy
(B) The active toddler stage
(C) How a baby learns to walk
(D) The developmental stages of infancy

2. Where in the passage does the author mention the characteristics of newborns?
(A) Lines 5-6
(B) Lines 7-8
(C) Lines 9-10
(D) Lines 10-11

3. The word “primarily” in line 5 could best be replaced by

(A) Often
(B) Naturally
(C) For the most part
(D) In a loud way

4. When does a baby become frightened of unfamiliar people?

(A) In early infancy
(B) In middle infancy
(C) In late infancy
(D) In the toddler stage

5. The word “grasping” in line 9 is closest in meaning to

(A) Watching
(B) Liking
(C) Holding
(D) Fearing

6. The word “it” in line 12 refer to

 (A) The baby
(B) Speech
(C) Skill
(D) To imitate

7. According to this reading passage, what would a six-month-old baby like to do?
(A) Smile at people
(B) Crawl on the floor
(C) Imitate actions
(D) Play simple games

8. According to the passage, what can be inferred about babies that are standing and
balancing?
(A) They can walk
(B) They are about seven months old.
(C) They are in the late infancy stage
(D) They are developing on schedule

9. A baby in late infancy would be able to do all of the following EXCEPT

(A) Make many speech sound
(B) Walk well alone
(C) Show interest in games
(D) Imitate actions

10. The next paragraph will probably discuss

(A) Speech
(B) School
(C) Toddlers
(D) Activities

MORE EXERCISES FOR

READING COMPREHENSION (Social Science)

This section is designed to measure your ability to read and understand short passages similar
in topics and style to those that students are likely to encounter in North American
Universities and Collages.

Direction: In this section you will read several passages. Each one is followed by a number
of question about it. You are to choose the one best answer, (A), (B), (C), or (D) to each
question. Then on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space
that corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.

Answer all question about the information in a passage on the basis of what is stated or
implied in hat passage.

Now begin work on the questions.

Question 1 to 10 are based on the following passages:

Martin Luther King, Jr., is well known for his work in civil rights and for his many
famous speeches, among them his moving “I Have A Dream” speech. But fewer people know
much about King’s childhood. M.L, as he was called, was born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, at
the home of his maternal grandfather. M.L.’S grandfather, the Reverend A.D. Williams,
purchased their home on Auburn Avenue in 1909, twenty years before M.L. was born. The
reverend Williams, an eloquent speaker, played an important role in the community since so
many people’s lives centered around the church. He allowed his church and his home to be
used as a meeting place for a number of organizations dedicated to the education and social
advancement of blacks. M.L. grew up in this atmosphere, with his home being used as a
community gathering place, and was no doubt influenced by it.
M.L.’S childhood was not especially eventful. His father was a minister and his mother
was a musician. He was the second of three children, and he attended all-black schools in a
black neighborhood. The neighborhood was not poor, however. Auburn Avenue was the main
artery through a prosperous neighborhood that had come to symbolize achievement for
Atlanta’s black people. It was an area of banks, insurance companies, builders, jewelers,
tailors, doctors, lawyers, and other black-owned or black operated business and services.
Even in the face of Atlanta’s segregation, the district thrived. Dr. King never forgot the
community spirit he had known as a child, nor did he forget the racial prejudice that was a
seemingly, insurmountable barrier that kept black Atlanta’s from mingling with whites.

1. What is the passage mainly about? (A) Powerful

(A) The prejudice that existed in (B) Active
Atlanta (C) Romantic
(B) Martin Luther King’s childhood (D) Fascinating
(C) M.L.’S grandfather
(D) The neighborhood King grew up 3. The word “gathering” in paragraph 1
in could best be replaced by
(A) Picking
2. The word “eloquent” in paragraph 1 (B) Learning
means most nearly (C) Exciting
 (D) Meeting (A) Flower arranging
(B) Shoe making
4. As used in paragraph 2, the word (C) Garment making
“eventful” is closest in meaning to (D) Book binding
which of the following
(A) Valued 8. According to the author, king was
(B) Memorable influenced by
(C) Admirable (A) Community spirit
(D) Emotional (B) Black lawyers
(C) His mother
5. In paragraph 2, the word “it” refers to (D) His speeches
which of the following?
(A) Achievement 9. As used paragraph 2, which of the
(B) Neighborhood following is closest in meaning to the
(C) Segregation word “seemingly”?
(D) Services (A) Apparently
(B) Inevitably
6. According to the author, blacks in (C) Inexplicably
king’s neighborhood were involved in (D) Hastily
all the following business and services
EXCEPT 10. According to the author, M.L.
(A) Dentistry (A) Had a difficult childhood
(B) Medicine (B) Was a good musician as a child
(C) Law (C) Loved to listen to his
(D) Banking grandfather speak
(D) Grew up in a relatively rich area
7. The word “tailors” in paragraph 2 of Atlanta
describes people who are associated
with which of the following trades?

Question 11 to 12 are based on the following passage:

Alfred Bernhard Nobel, a Swedish inventor and philanthropist, bequeathed most of

his vast fortune in trust a fund from which annual prizes could be awarded to individuals and
organizations who had achieved the greatest benefit to humanity in a particular year.
Originally, there were six classifications for outstanding contributions designated in Nobel’s
will including chemistry, physics, physiology or medicine, literature, and international peace.
The prizes are administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm in 1969, a prize for
economics endowed by the Central Bank of Sweden was added. Candidate for the prizes must
be nominated in writing by a qualified authority in the field of competition. Recipients in
physics chemistry, and economics are selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of sciences; in
physiology or medicine by the Caroline institute; in literature by the Swedish Academy; and
in peace by the Norwegian Nobel Committee appointed by Norway’s parliament. The prizes
are usually presented in Stockholm on December 10, with the King of Sweden officiating, an
appropriate tribute to Alfred Nobel on the anniversary of his death. Each one includes a gold
medal, a diploma, and a cash award of about one million dollars.

11. What does this passage mainly discuss? (D) A free choice
(A) Alfred Bernhard Nobel
(B) The Nobel Prizes 16. A Nobel prize would NOT be given to
(C) Great contributions to mankind (A) An author who wrote a novel
(D) Swedish philanthropy (B) A doctor who discovered a vaccine
(C) A composer who wrote a
12. Why were the prizes named for Alfred symphony
Bernhard Nobel? (D) A diplomat who negotiated a peace
(A) He left money in his will to establish settlement
a fund for the prizes
(B) He won the first Nobel prize for his 17. The word “one” in paragraph 2 refers
work in philanthropy to
(C) He is now living in Sweden (A) Tribute
(D) He serves as chairman of the (B) Anniversary
committee to choose the recipients (C) Prize
(D) Candidate
13. How often are the Nobel prizes
awarded? 18. Which individual or organization serves
(A) Five times a year as administrator for the trust?
(B) Once a year (A) The king of Sweden
(C) Twice a year (B) The Nobel Foundation
(D) Once every two years (C) The central Bank of Sweden
(D) Swedish and Norwegian academies
14. The word “outstanding” in paragraph 1 and institutes
could best be replace by
(A) Recent 19. The word “appropriate” in paragraph 2
(B) Unusual is closest in meaning to
(C) Established (A) Prestigious
(D) Exceptional (B) Customary
(C) Suitable
15. The word “will” in paragraph 1 refers to (D) Transitory
(A) Nobel’s wishes
(B) A legal document 20. Why are the awards presented on
(C) A future intention December 10?
(A) It is tribute to the king of Sweden (C) That date was established in Alfred
(B) Alfred Bernhard Nobel died on that Nobel’s will
day (D) The Central Bank of Sweden
administers the trust.