TOEFL Practice Test #2 3

Question 1

A passage about forest ecology states: "Old-growth forests serve as carbon sinks, sequestering atmospheric CO2 for centuries." The word "sequestering" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

Capturing and storing

Answer

Releasing gradually

Answer

Converting into oxygen

Answer

Transporting to the soil

Question 2

A professor is discussing the fall of the Western Roman Empire and says: "Historians have traditionally attributed the collapse to barbarian invasions. More recently, however, environmental factors—prolonged drought, volcanic winter—have gained traction." What is the professor doing?

Accepted Answer

Comparing traditional and revisionist historical interpretations

Answer

Refuting the traditional view entirely

Answer

Defending the original barbarian invasion theory against criticism

Answer

Presenting a settled consensus about the Roman Empire's fall

Question 3

In a TOEFL Reading passage, paragraph 5 includes this sentence: "Indeed, this finding overturns decades of conventional wisdom." The word "overturns" most likely signals:

Accepted Answer

The finding contradicts or disproves the previously accepted explanation

Answer

The finding supports and confirms existing theories

Answer

The finding is preliminary and requires further testing

Answer

The finding is controversial and widely rejected by the field

Question 4

What is the purpose of the "warm-up" period at the start of a TOEFL Speaking task?

Accepted Answer

To give the test taker 15–30 seconds to read the question and organize ideas before speaking

Answer

To allow the test taker to begin answering immediately without preparation

Answer

To provide additional audio instructions about the topic

Answer

To allow the test taker to review previous answers

Question 5

A TOEFL Listening passage describes a biology lecture about animal communication. The professor explains how vervet monkeys produce different alarm calls for different predators. This example is most likely used to illustrate which concept?

Accepted Answer

Rudimentary symbolic communication in non-human animals

Answer

Instinctive behavior in primates

Answer

The evolutionary relationship between monkeys and their predators

Answer

Social hierarchy in primate communities

Question 6

In the TOEFL Reading section, an "Inference" question typically asks:

Accepted Answer

What conclusion can most reasonably be drawn based on information in the passage?

Answer

Which fact in the passage directly proves the author's thesis?

Answer

What is the definition of a specific word used in the passage?

Answer

How does the author organize the main argument of the passage?