In the reading section, we want to look specifically at three areas for each type of question:
1.How to identify this type of question on the TOEFL
2.Provide a definition of the skill being tested
3.Give steps and strategies for working on this skill
We’ll start with vocabulary from context.
1.So to our first goal, how do you identify this type of question?
In the question itself you will usually see the phrase “closest in meaning to.”
In the reading, a word or phrase will be highlighted in gray.
Here is an example of a question: Notice the vocabulary “closest in meaning to.”
1. The word “massive” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to
(A) ancient
(B) carefully planned
(C) very large
(D) carefully protected
2.Now to our second goal, what does vocabulary from context mean?
This type of question is testing whether a student can figure on the meaning of the underlined vocabulary.
There are several ways that students can determine and figure out the vocabulary of a new word.
The first way is definition. How do you know if you have definition? You can have any of the following:
To be,
or,
and,
semicolon (;)
A second way is contrast. How do you know if you have contrast? You may have any of the following?
But
However
On the other hand
In contrast
While
Rather than
Er/more than
A third way is examples. How do you know if you have examples? You may have any of the following?
for example,
for instance,
such as,
a list
like
a name + a situation
A fourth way is the general sense of the passage. Sometimes the sentence will give you some clues. One helpful one is to use cohesion.
What is cohesion?
Cohesion is logically connecting one sentence to the next. How does that help you?
If you don’t know the word, you can look for synonyms in the sentence below and after.
3.To our final goal, let’s look at some steps and strategies to do better with this skill.
Step 1: Look at the highlighted word in the question and find it in the passage.
Step 2: Then look for clues before and after that word. Look to see if you have any of the following:
a definition
a contrast
an example
general sense of the passage
Use those clues to rule out answers that are not possible and figure out the closest meanings.
Step 3: Look at the position in the paragraph and don’t forget to use cohesion to help you.