TOEFL Practice Test #8 2

Question 1

A TOEFL Reading passage on climate science states: "Feedback loops—both positive and negative—play a crucial role in regulating Earth's temperature." In this context, a "positive feedback loop" means:

Accepted Answer

A process in which an initial change amplifies further change in the same direction

Answer

A beneficial change that improves environmental conditions

Answer

A scientific model that produces optimistic predictions

Answer

A feedback mechanism that stabilizes temperature at a constant level

Question 2

In a TOEFL Listening lecture on sociology, a professor discusses Émile Durkheim's concept of "anomie"—a condition of social normlessness that leads to disorientation and deviance. The professor says students often confuse anomie with alienation. What type of question would this generate?

Accepted Answer

A connecting content question asking how anomie and alienation differ

Answer

A factual question about Durkheim's biography

Answer

An attitude question about whether the professor prefers anomie or alienation as a concept

Answer

A gist question about the professor's overall research focus

Question 3

A TOEFL Reading passage on economics discusses market failures. The passage uses the word "externality" in the sentence: "Pollution represents a negative externality because its costs are borne by society rather than by the producing firm." From context, "externality" means:

Accepted Answer

A cost or benefit that affects parties not directly involved in an economic transaction

Answer

An internal company expense passed to employees

Answer

A government regulation on business activities

Answer

A profit earned by firms through socially beneficial production

Question 4

In a TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing task, a professor asks students to discuss whether space exploration should be funded by governments or private companies. A student's response begins: "While governments have traditionally led space exploration, private companies like SpaceX demonstrate that commercial investment can accelerate innovation more efficiently." This response:

Accepted Answer

Takes a clear position with a specific supporting reason

Answer

Fails to take a clear position

Answer

Is too short to be evaluated

Answer

Contains a grammatical error that affects the score

Question 5

A TOEFL Reading passage on human evolution discusses bipedalism. Which question type asks: "Why does the author discuss the development of the Achilles tendon in paragraph 4?"

Accepted Answer

Rhetorical Purpose question

Answer

Factual Information question

Answer

Inference question

Answer

Vocabulary question

Question 6

A TOEFL Reading passage uses the phrase "conversely" at the start of a sentence. This transition word signals that:

Accepted Answer

The following sentence presents an opposite or contrasting idea.

Answer

The following sentence provides an example of the previous point.

Answer

The following sentence introduces a time sequence.

Answer

The following sentence summarizes the paragraph's main argument.