Reading Comprehension T O E F L Preparation

LESSON 9
REFERENCE QUESTIONS

Reference questions ask what noun, (called the

reference) a pronoun or some other expression refers to.
The correct answer is not always the noun that is closest to
the pronoun in the passage. Incorrect choices are usually
other nouns that appear in the passage. If you are unable to
decide immediately which answer is correct, substitute the
four choices for the word that is being asked about. Which
one is the most logical substitute?
In general, reference questions tend to be the easiest
type of reading question.

The following pronouns are often in the reading questions :

Personal Pronouns
Subject Object Possesive
Adjective Pronoun
I Me My Mine
We Us Our Ours
You You Your Yours
He Him His His
She Her Her Hers
It It Its Its*
They Them Their Theirs

Demonstrative Pronouns
This (singular/uncountable) » These (plural)
That (singular/uncountable » Those (plural

L.A. Language Academy

Reading Comprehension T O E F L Preparation

Sample Item

“There is a poisonous, plant-like animal called the

anemone that lives among coral reefs. When small fish
venture too close to the tentacles of these "living
flowers;' they are stung and eaten. For unknown
reasons, the anemone makes an exception of the
clownfish, which swims through its deadly tentacles in
safety. When in danger, the clownfish dashes among the
anemone's tentacles where other fish are afraid to
follow. The clownfish even builds its nest where the
anemone can protect it”.

1. The word "they" in line 4 refers to

(A) coral reefs
(B) small fish
(C) tentacles
(D) flowers

Of the four choices, only "small fish" is a logical answer.

2. The word "it" in line 10 is a reference to the

(A) clownfish
(B) nest
(C) anemone
(D) exception

Only the word "nest" is a logical substitute for "it."

L.A. Language Academy