TOEFL Practice Test #2 2

Question 1

A reading passage on coral reefs states: "The symbiotic relationship between coral polyps and zooxanthellae is fundamental to reef survival." The word "symbiotic" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

Mutually beneficial

Answer

Competitive and destructive

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Temporary and unstable

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One-sided and parasitic

Question 2

A professor lectures on the Industrial Revolution, emphasizing how it changed labor patterns. She says: "Before this period, most families were self-sufficient agricultural units. After it—well, the wage labor system transformed social structure entirely." What is the professor's purpose in contrasting these two periods?

Accepted Answer

To illustrate how dramatically and fundamentally the Industrial Revolution altered social organization

Answer

To argue that the pre-industrial period was superior to the industrial period

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To show that industrial and pre-industrial economies were essentially similar

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To emphasize that agricultural labor was more productive than factory labor

Question 3

In a TOEFL Reading passage about deep-sea ecosystems, the author writes: "These organisms thrive in conditions once thought inimical to life." The word "inimical" means:

Accepted Answer

Hostile or harmful

Answer

Supportive and nurturing

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Largely unexplored

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Artificially created

Question 4

During a TOEFL Listening conversation, a university librarian explains to a student that access to a restricted database requires faculty approval. The student seems frustrated. What question would test the student's attitude?

Accepted Answer

How does the student feel about the access restriction?

Answer

What database is the student trying to access?

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What is the faculty approval process?

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When does the database access expire?

Question 5

The TOEFL Reading section contains "Prose Summary" questions. What does this question type require?

Accepted Answer

Identifying and selecting three major ideas that best summarize the passage from six choices

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Selecting the one sentence that states the thesis of the passage

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Writing a short paragraph summarizing the passage in the student's own words

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Ranking all six answer choices from most to least important

Question 6

In the TOEFL Speaking Task 3, after reading a passage about a concept called "priming" and listening to a professor's lecture, a student is asked to explain the concept. The student should:

Accepted Answer

Explain the concept as defined in the reading and illustrate it with the professor's examples from the lecture

Answer

Summarize only the reading passage in detail

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Compare the reading passage with the lecture and argue which source is clearer

Answer

Describe personal experiences related to the concept of priming