INSERT THE SENTENCE FOR THE TOEFL READING SECTION

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ISN'T NATURE WONDERFUL?

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TOEFL READING SECTION COMMENTS # 4

In this post we will continue our study of the types of questions to be found in the Reading Section of the Test of English as a Foreign Language - the TOEFL.

The TOEFL Reading Section includes a type of question called “Insert the Sentence”

These questions are presented in two columns. 

The column on the right will show a relatively long paragraph that is connected to the Reading Passage it corresponds to. This paragraph will present four squares placed at different points; these squares represent the various choices for inserting the answer.

On the left column you will find the directions for inserting the sentence, and the additional sentence you are supposed to insert.

You need to mentally place this additional sentence at one of the squares provided, choosing the placing that is most coherent with the rest of the passage. Then you click on that square.

It’s not easy to present clear directions here without real examples, and sadly the examples I have found are all under copyright so I can’t use them on this post. Still, let’s struggle on!

Using a very simple plan for analyzing questions of this type, we will say that the new sentence to be added could appear in three possible positions within the main paragraph:

• At the start of the paragraph as an introduction.

• Someplace in the middle, maybe as an example or an additional detail.

• At the end of the paragraph as a conclusion.

Here are some short examples which should help to clarify this procedure.

EXAMPLE 1.

The main paragraph:

Throughout the ages humans have devised many solutions in their search for shelter. The use of caves, branches, animal skins, plant fibers, stones and other natural objects can be frequently found in various cultures all over the world.

The sentence that needs to be added:

The study of the characteristics of primitive human dwellings is very interesting.

In this example, the best answer consists in placing the added sentence at the start of the paragraph, as an introduction. The completed paragraph reads as follows:

The study of the characteristics of primitive human dwellings is very interesting. Throughout the ages humans have devised many solutions in their search for shelter. The use of caves, branches, animal skins, plant fibers, stones and other natural objects can be frequently found in various cultures all over the world.

EXAMPLE 2.

The main paragraph:

Flowers are decorations provided by Nature that make plants more attractive. Birds, bees and humans usually select flowers according to the shape, the color or the scent. For instance, when sucking nectar, the humming bird will choose long, bell shaped flowers that are a good fit for its long beak.

The sentence that needs to be added:

In this way, Nature ensures that all the species can live together in harmony.

In this case, the best answer consists in placing the added sentence at the end of the paragraph, as a conclusion. The completed paragraph reads as follows:

Flowers are decorations provided by Nature that make plants more attractive. Birds, bees and humans usually select flowers according to the shape, the color or the scent. For instance, when sucking nectar, the humming bird will choose long, bell shaped flowers that are a good fit for its long beak. In this way, Nature ensures that all the species can live together in harmony.

EXAMPLE 3.

The main paragraph:

The shape of the roof over a house is an important element in the designing of the plans for the construction of the house. A triangular roof provides two sloped sides that allow both the rain and the snow to slide off easily. A flat roof will accumulate quantities of rain or snow that could prove to be too heavy for the structure. Therefore the architect needs to consider a number of features to be included in the designing of the roof.

The sentence that needs to be added:

However, there could be advantages in installing a garden terrace on a flat roof.

In this case, the best answer consists in placing the added sentence within the paragraph after the reference to a flat roof. The completed paragraph reads as follows:

The shape of the roof over a house is an important element in the designing of the plans for the construction of the house. A triangular roof provides two sloped sides that allow both the rain and the snow to slide off easily. A flat roof will accumulate quantities of rain or snow that could prove to be too heavy for the structure. However, there could be advantages in installing a garden terrace on a flat roof. Therefore the architect needs to consider a number of features to be included in the designing of the roof.

EXAMPLE 4.

Some initial comments

Referents can also offer clues as to the correct placing of the additional sentence. For example, given a text on the theme of “The Battle of Gettysburg”, you read the following in the main paragraph:

A Confederate infantry force of about 13,000 men charged valiantly across the open land toward the Union lines on Cemetery Ridge about a mile away. This attack, known as Picket’s Charge, failed to break the Union line.

The sentence to be added is:

They were subjected to heavy artillery and rifle fire and sustained a huge number of casualties.

The clue here is the referent for They. The complete sentence is as follows:

A Confederate infantry force of about 13,000 men charged valiantly across the open land toward the Union lines on Cemetery Ridge about a mile away.  They were subjected to heavy artillery and rifle fire and sustained a huge number of casualties. This attack, known as Picket’s Charge, failed to break the Union line.

“They” is a replacement for “A Confederate infantry force of about 13,000 men”. It must come after its referent. 

SOME FINAL WORDS.

The Insert the Sentence type of question that is included in the TOEFL Reading Section will never be very easy; the paragraphs are usually longer and more involved than these examples.

Understanding referents and transition words will be a great help in answering correctly.

I have already written a post on “Referents”, so my next post will be about “Transition words”. So stay tuned, this information could be useful!

See you on the next post!

© 2013  joveron (Joan Robertson)

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