that everybody taking the test receives the same questions, regardless of whether
they answered previous questions correctly or incorrectly. Therefore, you don’t
have a Confirm button on your computer screen during this section. Also, you can
skip questions and return to them during the test, but there isn’t a device on the
computer screen to show you which questions you’ve skipped (which would
make it easier to return to the questions you’ve skipped). Therefore, you have to
click back through the questions in order to find the questions that you’ve left
unanswered. Even though you’re not required to answer each question in the
Reading section before proceeding, I recommend that you do so.
Each reading passage appears on the screen, and then after you’ve read the entire
passage, the questions relating to that passage appear. You can’t skip any part of
the reading passage. The computer system won’t permit you to skip to the ques-
tions before the entire passage appears on your computer screen. Therefore, you
should quickly read the entire passage before proceeding to the questions.
At the top of the reading passage, the words Beginning, More Available, and End
appear. These words tell you your place in the reading passage. If you see
Beginning at the top of the screen, you’re seeing the very beginning of the pas-
sage. If you see More Available, you’re in the middle of the text, and neither the
beginning nor the end currently appears on the screen. If you see End, the last
sentences of the passage appear on the screen.
To proceed through the passage, click the arrow button. If you click the bottom
arrow, you’ll slowly move through the reading passage. If you click within the bar
that appears above the arrow, you’ll move a page at a time. Because most readings
are two screens long, usually clicking in the bar will bring you to the bottom of
the passage. If you read to the bottom of the first screen and then click in the bar
above the bottom arrow, you’ll see the entire second screen of the passage.
The time that remains for you to read passages and answer questions is shown on
your computer screen. Pay attention to the time. Before you begin the Reading
section, you’re told how many readings and questions you’ll have and how much
time you’re given to complete the section. Divide the number of readings into the
time that you’re given so you can control how much time you spend on each set

each answer choice is assigned a letter from A to D.
■
Click on words or phrases in a specific order. On the computer screen,
you must click on highlighted words in a specific order. In this book, you
will be asked to list answer choices in a specific order from A to D.
■
Click on pictures or drawings. You’re shown several images and asked
to click on the one that depicts what the question asks. In this book, you’ll
be asked to choose among answers A through D.
Other questions in the Reading section require that you click on the correct
answer in the passage, and you may be asked to do one of several things:
■
Click the word that means the same as another word. Some vocabulary
questions require that you click on the word in the passage that means the
same as a word given in the question.
■
Click the referent of a pronoun. To test your knowledge of pronoun
antecedents, you must click on the noun or noun phrase in the passage to
which a given pronoun refers.
■
Click the sentence in which a particular subject is discussed. In this
type of question, you’re asked to identify where in the passage a particular
issue is presented.
■
Click on the place in a passage where a specific sentence could fit.
You’re given a sentence that does not appear in the original passage, and
you must determine the most logical place for it in the reading passage.
Multiple-choice questions may require you to identify main ideas, significant
points, inferences, details, vocabulary words, or referents. Questions that address
main ideas may include:

■
According to the passage, what/when/why/where/how . . . ?
■
According to the passage, what is one effect of . . . ?
Vocabulary and referent questions may include the following phrases:
■
The word . . . in the passage is closest in meaning to the word:
■
The phrase . . . in the passage is closest in meaning to:
■
The word . . . in the passage refers to:
Preparing for the Reading Section
The same methods that I suggest for improving your listening and grammar skills
are also great for reading. Read, read, read. Read whatever you can, whenever you
can. When you don’t have time to read printed material, listening to recorded
books is helpful, even for this section of the test. Read items that are as compli-
cated as you are able to understand. Also, pay particular attention to new vocabu-
lary words, including the use of prefixes, suffixes, and roots. Practice determining
the meaning of a vocabulary word from its context. Likewise, learn to connect
pronoun references to their antecedents. (Part III of this book provides detailed
information about connecting pronoun references to their antecedents.)
32
Part II: Analysis of Exam Areas
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A Patterned Plan of Attack
Reading
Be familiar with the section’s directions before the test begins.
Mark DISMISS DIRECTIONS as soon as the directions appear.
SKIM through THE PASSAGE, paying attention to the
first sentence of each paragraph.

you might in a writing class, but you do need to develop the body paragraphs in the
essay. Most writing teachers would say that you shouldn’t use a single sentence as
an introductory or conclusion paragraph, but for the TOEFL test, one sentence for
each is probably sufficient.
You have 30 minutes to plan and write the essay. You may hand-write it or type it,
but you’re given a computer tutorial regardless of whether you want to write or
type your essay. After taking the tutorial, you’re asked a second time whether you
want to type or hand-write the essay. The word processor used for the TOEFL test
is rudimentary, but it’s not difficult to learn. Make up your mind before you attend
the test whether you are going to hand-write or type the essay.
You’ll receive scratch paper on which you may organize your thoughts; do not
bring your own scratch paper to the test. What you write on your scratch paper
doesn’t affect your score in any way, but you do have to leave the paper when you
conclude the test. (The test administrators must ensure that you don’t take infor-
mation regarding the test with you.)
34
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