TOEFL Reading: 2 Tricks For Reference Word Questions

Summary

In this video, Carrie shares helpful TOEFL reading strategies, focusing on reference word questions. She explains how to identify and answer these questions efficiently, emphasizing the importance of checking answer choices first. Carrie provides two examples, demonstrating how to eliminate incorrect answers by considering singular and plural words. She also highlights the significance of understanding transition words and the context of the sentence. By following these strategies, TOEFL test-takers can boost their performance on reference word questions. Don't forget to subscribe for more tips!

Takeaways

• 😀 Reference word questions are less common in TOEFL reading but still important to study for.
• 😀 When answering reference word questions, always check the answer choices first to eliminate obviously incorrect options.
• 😀 Reference words like 'he', 'she', 'they', 'this', 'that' are commonly used in reference word questions.
• 😀 Plural reference words (e.g., 'those', 'they') must refer to plural choices. If the answer choices are singular, they can be eliminated.
• 😀 It's useful to check the passage context even after selecting an answer to double-check your choice.
• 😀 Reference words usually refer to a word that comes before them in the sentence or passage.
• 😀 Transition words (e.g., 'in addition', 'however') play a critical role in understanding the relationship between reference words and their antecedents.
• 😀 If there are multiple plural choices in a question, you may need to go back to the passage to carefully review the context.
• 😀 Use the process of replacing the reference word with the answer choices in the passage to check which one fits best.
• 😀 TOEFL reading strategies, such as practicing reference word questions, will help improve your score and confidence.
• 😀 Always encourage others to share your learning resources and subscribe to stay updated with useful tips and strategies.

Q & A

What is the focus of the video?

The video focuses on TOEFL reading strategies, specifically two tricks for handling reference word questions.

What are reference words, and how are they used in TOEFL reading questions?

Reference words, such as 'he', 'her', 'they', 'this', 'that', are used to refer to something mentioned earlier in the passage. The questions ask you to identify what these reference words refer to in the context of the passage.

Are reference word questions common in TOEFL reading sections?

No, reference word questions are not as common as other types of questions in TOEFL reading. Not every passage will have these types of questions.

What should you do first when approaching reference word questions?

First, check the answer choices. Since reference word questions are similar to vocabulary questions, looking at the options helps to rule out incorrect answers right away.

How can you rule out incorrect answers in reference word questions?

You can rule out answers that do not match the number (singular/plural) or meaning of the reference word. For example, if the reference word is plural, you can eliminate singular options.

In the first example, how did Carrie identify the correct answer for the reference word 'those'?

Carrie identified that 'those' is plural and eliminated answers that were singular. She then verified the correct answer by checking the context in the passage.

What is the significance of checking the plural or singular form of the reference word?

The plural or singular form helps to immediately eliminate answer choices that do not match. For instance, if the reference word is plural, any singular answer choices can be ruled out.

Why did Carrie suggest checking the answer choices before going into the passage for reference word questions?

Carrie suggested this because it allows you to quickly eliminate obviously incorrect answers without reading through the entire passage, saving time.

What should you do if you cannot immediately identify the correct reference word in the passage?

If the reference word is unclear, you should go back to the passage, read the context, and try substituting the answer choices into the sentence to see which fits best.

In the second example, how did Carrie decide that 'they' referred to 'the people'?

Carrie determined that 'they' referred to 'the people' by analyzing the passage and ruling out other plural options like 'proponents', 'rollers', and 'statues'. She confirmed 'the people' was the best fit by checking each choice in context.