TOEFL Practice Test #5 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A reading passage about astronomy states: "The Hubble constant quantifies the rate at which the universe is expanding, though measurements using different methods have yielded discrepant values." The word "discrepant" means:
- Consistently identical
- Showing inconsistency or disagreement between measurements (Correct answer)
- Increasingly accurate over time
- Based on outdated methods
Correct answer: Showing inconsistency or disagreement between measurements
"Discrepant" describes findings that are inconsistent with each other or with an expected value. In science, discrepant measurements indicate unresolved methodological issues or gaps in understanding—here, different measurement methods produce values that do not agree with each other.
Question 2: In a TOEFL Listening lecture, a professor of economics explains elasticity of demand. She says: "If the price of insulin doubles, diabetic patients will still buy it—they have no choice." This example illustrates:
- Elastic demand — quantity demanded changes significantly with price
- Inelastic demand — quantity demanded does not change significantly with price (Correct answer)
- Supply-side economics
- Price discrimination in pharmaceutical markets
Correct answer: Inelastic demand — quantity demanded does not change significantly with price
Inelastic demand describes a situation where quantity demanded changes little when price changes, because the product is a necessity with no substitute. Insulin for diabetics is the classic example: patients must buy it regardless of price, making demand highly inelastic.
Question 3: A TOEFL Reading passage includes this sentence: "Despite extensive excavation, archaeologists have found no evidence of fortifications at the site, suggesting that the settlement was either peaceful or protected by geography rather than defensive walls." The word "fortifications" means:
- Agricultural tools
- Written records or inscriptions
- Defensive structures built to protect a settlement (Correct answer)
- Evidence of trade activity
Correct answer: Defensive structures built to protect a settlement
"Fortifications" are defensive structures—walls, ramparts, moats—built to protect a settlement from attack. The context clues ("no evidence," "defensive walls," "peaceful or protected") confirm this meaning.
Question 4: In the TOEFL Writing section, what is the recommended length for the Independent Writing Task essay?
- At least 100 words
- At least 300 words, ideally 400–500 words (Correct answer)
- Exactly 250 words
- No word limit; length is not evaluated
Correct answer: At least 300 words, ideally 400–500 words
ETS recommends at least 300 words for the Independent Writing Task, but well-developed essays typically range from 400–500 words. Length alone does not determine the score—development, coherence, and language use matter—but very short responses indicate underdevelopment.
Question 5: A TOEFL Reading "Category Chart" question presents a table and asks students to classify concepts from the passage into two or more categories. What skill does this question type primarily test?
- Vocabulary recall
- Ability to identify main versus supporting ideas
- Ability to recognize how information in the passage is organized into distinct categories (Correct answer)
- Ability to paraphrase the author's thesis
Correct answer: Ability to recognize how information in the passage is organized into distinct categories
Category Chart (Schematic Table) questions test the ability to organize and classify information from the passage. Students must sort key concepts, examples, or features into the correct categories, demonstrating comprehension of how the author has distinguished and grouped information.
Question 6: Which of the following is a characteristic of effective TOEFL Listening note-taking during a lecture?
- Recording every word the professor says to ensure completeness
- Using a linear outline format to capture main ideas, supporting points, and examples with abbreviated symbols (Correct answer)
- Focusing only on vocabulary words that are defined explicitly
- Ignoring the professor's examples and focusing only on definitions
Correct answer: Using a linear outline format to capture main ideas, supporting points, and examples with abbreviated symbols
Effective TOEFL note-taking captures main ideas, supporting details, and examples in a structured but abbreviated form. Since listeners cannot rewind, they must use symbols, abbreviations, and indentation to record the lecture's hierarchy efficiently while continuing to listen.
