TOEFL Reading: Rhetorical Purpose Questions 2

Question 1

A TOEFL rhetorical purpose question typically begins with which phrase?

Accepted Answer

Why does the author mention...

Answer

What is the meaning of the word...

Answer

According to paragraph 2, what...

Answer

Which sentence can be inferred...

Question 2

When an author provides a specific example right after a general claim, the example's purpose is usually to:

Accepted Answer

Illustrate or support the claim

Answer

Contradict the claim

Answer

Define a technical term

Answer

Summarize the whole passage

Question 3

The phrase 'In contrast' signals that the author intends to:

Accepted Answer

Show a difference between two ideas

Answer

Add another supporting detail

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Repeat the previous point

Answer

Give a chronological sequence

Question 4

If a passage introduces a surprising statistic, the author's likely rhetorical purpose is to:

Accepted Answer

Emphasize the scale or importance of a point

Answer

Confuse the reader deliberately

Answer

End the discussion of the topic

Answer

Provide an exact definition

Question 5

An author quotes a leading scientist primarily in order to:

Accepted Answer

Lend authority and credibility to a claim

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Introduce an unrelated topic

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Show personal opinion only

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Replace the need for evidence

Question 6

A rhetorical question inserted into a paragraph is most often used to:

Accepted Answer

Engage the reader and introduce the next point

Answer

Provide a final answer

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List factual data

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Define vocabulary

Question 7

When the author writes 'For instance,' the following information serves to:

Accepted Answer

Give a concrete example of the preceding idea

Answer

Disagree with the preceding idea

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Conclude the paragraph

Answer

Introduce a counterargument