Answer
Questions for Main Ideas Correctly (Answer Main Idea Questions Correctly)
Almost
all types of TOEFL tests use a multiple choice question model that asks about
the main idea of reading. This question can appear in a variety of words, even
with the same intent. Readings on TOEFL tests are usually written in a
traditional way so that it is easier for you to find answers to the questions
given. Tip tricks for answering TOEFL reading questions This Main Idea, the
answer is usually contained at the beginning of the paragraph. If the reading
consists of only one paragraph, you must learn the beginning of the paragraph
to determine the main idea.
The passage:
In the philosophy of John Dewey, a sharp distinction is made
between "intelligence" and "reasoning". According to Dewey,
intelligence is the only absolute way to achieve a balance between
Line realism and idealism, between practicality and wisdom of life.
(5) Intelligence involves "interacting with other things and knowing
them," while reasoning is merely the act of an observer, "... a mind
that beholds or grasps objects outside the world of thing.... "
With reasoning, a level of mental certainty can be achieved, but it
is through intelligence that control is taken of events that shape
(10) one's life.
In the philosophy of John Dewey, a sharp distinction is made
between "intelligence" and "reasoning". According to Dewey,
intelligence is the only absolute way to achieve a balance between
Line realism and idealism, between practicality and wisdom of life.
(5) Intelligence involves "interacting with other things and knowing
them," while reasoning is merely the act of an observer, "... a mind
that beholds or grasps objects outside the world of thing.... "
With reasoning, a level of mental certainty can be achieved, but it
is through intelligence that control is taken of events that shape
(10) one's life.
The question:
What is the topic of this passage?
(A) The intelligence ofjohn Dewey
(B) Distinctions made by John Dewey
(C) Dewey’s ideas on the ability to reason
(D) How intelligence differs from reasoning in Dewey’s works
What is the topic of this passage?
(A) The intelligence ofjohn Dewey
(B) Distinctions made by John Dewey
(C) Dewey’s ideas on the ability to reason
(D) How intelligence differs from reasoning in Dewey’s works
Discussion of
Questions and Answers
The first sentence
in this passage discusses a difference between the idea of
"intelligence" and "reasoning" in John Dewey's life view,
so this is probably the topic. Quickly check the parts of the sentence in this
reading to ensure that the topic being discussed is a fact of the difference
between "intelligence" and "reasoning". Then, check each
answer option to determine which is most appropriate.
Answer (A) only
mentions intelligence (intelligence), so it is not the topic. Answer (B)
mentions the difference John Dewey made, but does not say specifically what
kind of difference. Answer (C) only mentions reasoning, and is incomplete.
Therefore, the correct answer is (D); The idea of how intelligence differs
from reasoning comes from the first sentence in that reading, which mentions a
sharp distinction is made between "intelligence" and "reasoning".
Meanwhile,
if a reading contains more than one paragraph, you should learn the beginning
of each paragraph to determine the main idea (main idea). Study the following
example
The passage:
Nitrogen fixation is a process by which nitrogen is
continuously fed into biological circulation. In this process, certain
algae and bacteria convert nitrogen into ammonia (NH3). This
Line newly created ammonia is then for the most part absorbed by
(5) plants.
The opposite process of denitrification returns nitrogen to
the air. During the process of denitrification, bacteria cause some
of the nitrates from the soil to convert into gaseous nitrogen or
nitrous oxide (N2O). In this gaseous form, the nitrogen returns to the
(10) atmosphere.
The question:
Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
(A) The Process of Nitrogen Fixation
(B) Two Nitrogen Processes
(C) The Return of Nitrogen to the Air
(D) The Effect of Nitrogen on Plant Life
Nitrogen fixation is a process by which nitrogen is
continuously fed into biological circulation. In this process, certain
algae and bacteria convert nitrogen into ammonia (NH3). This
Line newly created ammonia is then for the most part absorbed by
(5) plants.
The opposite process of denitrification returns nitrogen to
the air. During the process of denitrification, bacteria cause some
of the nitrates from the soil to convert into gaseous nitrogen or
nitrous oxide (N2O). In this gaseous form, the nitrogen returns to the
(10) atmosphere.
The question:
Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
(A) The Process of Nitrogen Fixation
(B) Two Nitrogen Processes
(C) The Return of Nitrogen to the Air
(D) The Effect of Nitrogen on Plant Life
Discussion
of Questions and Answers
This
question asks about the best titles for this section. In a section that has
more than one paragraph, you must be sure to read the first sentence of each
paragraph to determine the subject, topic, title, or main idea. In this
example, the first sentence of the first paragraph shows that the first
paragraph deals with the nitrogen fixation process. If you only see the first
paragraph, you might choose the wrong answer (A), which can be a good title for
the first paragraph only. The first sentence of the second paragraph shows that
the process of denitrification (denitrification) is discussed in the second
paragraph. The answer (C) is also incorrect, because the return of nitrogen to
the air is a denitrification process (see sentence: In this gaseous form the
nitrogen returns to the atmosphere), and this is discussed in the second
paragraph only. While the answer (D) is also incorrect, because the influence
of nitrogen on living plants is not discussed in this section. For this reason,
the right answer to this question is answer (B); two nitrogen processes, namely
nitrogen fixation discussed in the first paragraph, and denitrification
discussed in the second paragraph.
Get to
know the preparation of ideas (Recognize the Organization of Ideas)
In the
Comprehension Reading section, both on the Paper Test and the Computer Test,
there are questions about the organization of ideas in a reading. You may be
asked to determine how the ideas in one paragraph or more are related to the
ideas in the other paragraph. Tip tricks for answering the TOEFL reading
questions in this form, note the example from the TOEFL worksheet that asks you
to determine how the reading information was arranged.
The passage:
If asked who invented the game of baseball, most
Americans would probably reply that it was their belief that
Abner Doubleday did. They believe this because the story
Line about Doubleday is part of the tradition of baseball.
(5) Doubleday was given credit for this invention early in the
twentieth century when sporting-goods manufacturer
Spaulding inaugurated a commission to research the question
of who invented baseball. In 1908, a report was published by
the commission in which Abner Doubleday, a U.S. Army
(10) officer from Cooperstown, New York, was given credit for the
invention of the game. The National Baseball Hall of Fame
was established in Cooperstown in honor of Doubleday.
Today, most sports historians are in agreement that
Doubleday really did not have much to do with the
(15) development of baseball. Instead, baseball seems to be a close
relative of the English game of rounders and probably has
English rather than American roots.
If asked who invented the game of baseball, most
Americans would probably reply that it was their belief that
Abner Doubleday did. They believe this because the story
Line about Doubleday is part of the tradition of baseball.
(5) Doubleday was given credit for this invention early in the
twentieth century when sporting-goods manufacturer
Spaulding inaugurated a commission to research the question
of who invented baseball. In 1908, a report was published by
the commission in which Abner Doubleday, a U.S. Army
(10) officer from Cooperstown, New York, was given credit for the
invention of the game. The National Baseball Hall of Fame
was established in Cooperstown in honor of Doubleday.
Today, most sports historians are in agreement that
Doubleday really did not have much to do with the
(15) development of baseball. Instead, baseball seems to be a close
relative of the English game of rounders and probably has
English rather than American roots.
The Question:
In this passage
(A) an idea is presented and then refuted
(B) a concept is followed by examples
(C) a cause is followed by an effect
(D) a belief is supported with reasons
In this passage
(A) an idea is presented and then refuted
(B) a concept is followed by examples
(C) a cause is followed by an effect
(D) a belief is supported with reasons
Discussion
of Questions and Answers
This
question is about how information is arranged in the reading. To answer this
question, it is necessary to pay attention to the main idea every three
paragraphs. The main idea of the first paragraph is found at the beginning of
the sentence: namely "If asked who invented the game of baseball, most
Americans would probably reply that it was their belief that Abner Doubleday
did" (if asked who invented the baseball game, most Americans might answer
confidently, Abner Doubleday). The main idea of the second paragraph was
found in the first line: namely "Doubt was given credit for this
invention" (Daubleday was given an award for his discovery). The main idea
of the third paragraph was found in the first line: "most sports
historians are in agreement that don't have much to do with the development of
baseball" (most sports historians agree that Doubleday doesn't really do
much baseball development). If you study the information on each of the first
lines of each paragraph, you can determine that the third paragraph is opposite
or refutes the information introduced introduced at the beginning of the two
paragraphs. For this reason, answer (A) is the most correct for this question.
Answering
Specific Questions Correctly (Stated Detail Questions)
What is
the meaning of the stated detail question? The stated detail question
specifically asks about certain information contained in the reading, not
asking in its entirety. The answers to these questions are generally contained
in the reading and appear repeatedly with different expressions or words.
The passage:
Williamsburg is a historic city in Virginia that was settled
by English colonists in 1633, twenty-six years after the first
permanent English colony in America was settled at
Line Jamestown. In the beginning, the colony at Williamsburg was
(5) named Middle Plantation because of its location in the middle
of a peninsula between two rivers, the York and the James.
The site for Williamsburg had been selected by the colonists
because the soil drainage was better there than at the
Jamestown location, and there were fewer mosquitoes.
The question:
The passage indicates that Jamestown
(A) was settled in 1633
(B) was settled twenty-six years after Williamsburg
(C) was the first permanent English colony in America
(D) was originally named Middle Plantation
Williamsburg is a historic city in Virginia that was settled
by English colonists in 1633, twenty-six years after the first
permanent English colony in America was settled at
Line Jamestown. In the beginning, the colony at Williamsburg was
(5) named Middle Plantation because of its location in the middle
of a peninsula between two rivers, the York and the James.
The site for Williamsburg had been selected by the colonists
because the soil drainage was better there than at the
Jamestown location, and there were fewer mosquitoes.
The question:
The passage indicates that Jamestown
(A) was settled in 1633
(B) was settled twenty-six years after Williamsburg
(C) was the first permanent English colony in America
(D) was originally named Middle Plantation
Discussion
of Questions and Answers
This question asks
what readings indicate about Jamestown. So, you know that the answer is
immediately stated in the reading. Take a quick look at the reading sections
that discuss Jamestown. The answer to this question was found in the statement
that "Williamsburg .... was settled by English colonists in 1633,
twenty-six years after the first permanent English colony in America was
settled at Jamestown." (Williamsburg was occupied by British invaders in
Th 1633, 26 years after settling for the first time British colonists in
America occupied Jamestown). Answer (A) is wrong, because Williamsburg was
occupied in 1633. Answer (B) is wrong, because Jamestown was occupied before
Williamsburg. The answer (D) is wrong, because the name Middle Plantation is
for Williamsburg. The correct answer is (C), because the reading directly
states that Jamestown was first occupied by British colonies in America,
"... the first permanent English colony in America ..."
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