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Example-2
PassageMost animals use more than one species as food. Therefore, the term food web is a better description of food relationship than the term food chain. A food web is a complex feeding systems that contains several food chains. For example, mice, rabbits and deer eat plants. Owls eat meat and rabbits. Mountain lion eats rabbits and deer. These five species are parts of food chains that together form a food web. The first link in a food chain is always a green plant. Only organisms with chlorophyll, such as green plants, can make food. For example, the first link in the aquatic chains is algae. Most algae are microscopic green plants that produce food by photosynthesis. In photosynthesis, energy from sunlight converts carbon dioxide and water to sugar. Tiny fish in lakes, streams and oceans eat algae. In turn, these tiny fishes are eaten by larger fish. These larger fish are eaten by still larger fish. The food supply for fish is made by algae.This food is then passed through the food chains as one animal eats another. Organisms may be divided into three groups based on how they obtain food. These groups are producer, decomposer and consumer. Organisms containing chlorophyll are producers. Thus, green plants are producers. Animals that eat other animals and plants are consumers. Microbes, one-celled organisms that cause the decay of the dead animals and plants are decomposers. Since, decomposers cannot make their own food, they are also consumers. This same Passage is used for the next four (Examples 1 to 6)questions as well. The difficult words in this passage are web (network), aquatic (water living), algae (tiny plants which grow in water) and photosynthesis (process by which plant leaves produce food in the presence of sunlight).
Question
According to the author, what is the food web? (A) A complicated system of several food chains (B) A society that distributes food (C) The relationship of one green plant to another (D) The spiders use to catch food
Analysis
From the third sentence, which says, “A food web is a complex feeding system that contains several food chains”, we can really choose (A) as the answer.



Example-3
Passage
Most animals use more than one species as food. Therefore, the term food web is a better description of food relationship than the term food chain. A food web is a complex feeding systems that contains several food chains. For example, mice, rabbits and deer eat plants. Owls eat meat and rabbits. Mountain lion eats rabbits and deer. These five species are parts of food chains that together form a food web. The first link in a food chain is always a green plant. Only organisms with chlorophyll, such as green plants, can make food. For example, the first link in the aquatic chains is algae. Most algae are microscopic green plants that produce food by photosynthesis. In photosynthesis, energy from sunlight converts carbon dioxide and water to sugar. Tiny fish in lakes, streams and oceans eat algae. In turn, these tiny fishes are eaten by larger fish. These larger fish are eaten by still larger fish. The food supply for fish is made by algae.This food is then passed through the food chains as one animal eats another. Organisms may be divided into three groups based on how they obtain food. These groups are producer, decomposer and consumer. Organisms containing chlorophyll are producers. Thus, green plants are producers. Animals that eat other animals and plants are consumers. Microbes, one-celled organisms that cause the decay of the dead animals and plants are decomposers. Since, decomposers cannot make their own food, they are also consumers. This same Passage is used for the next three (Examples 1 to 6)questions as well. * These Questions are taken from the section of TOEFL Reading Comprehension of previous year's original Question Paper. The difficult words in this passage are web (network), aquatic (water living), algae (tiny plants which grow in water) and photosynthesis (process by which plant leaves produce food in the presence of sunlight).
Question
Which of the following would most likely be the first link in a food chain? (A) Termites (B) Fish (C) Lions (D) Grass
Analysis
The first sentence of the paragraph 2 says that the first link in the food chain is always a green plant. Among the choices in this question, grass is the only instance of a green plant. So, (D) is the answer.



Example-4
Passage
Most animals use more than one species as food. Therefore, the term food web is a better description of food relationship than the term food chain. A food web is a complex feeding systems that contains several food chains. For example, mice, rabbits and deer eat plants. Owls eat meat and rabbits. Mountain lion eats rabbits and deer. These five species are parts of food chains that together form a food web. The first link in a food chain is always a green plant. Only organisms with chlorophyll, such as green plants, can make food. For example, the first link in the aquatic chains is algae. Most algae are microscopic green plants that produce food by photosynthesis. In photosynthesis, energy from sunlight converts carbon dioxide and water to sugar. Tiny fish in lakes, streams and oceans eat algae. In turn, these tiny fishes are eaten by larger fish. These larger fish are eaten by still larger fish. The food supply for fish is made by algae.This food is then passed through the food chains as one animal eats another. Organisms may be divided into three groups based on how they obtain food. These groups are producer, decomposer and consumer. Organisms containing chlorophyll are producers. Thus, green plants are producers. Animals that eat other animals and plants are consumers. Microbes, one-celled organisms that cause the decay of the dead animals and plants are decomposers. Since, decomposers cannot make their own food, they are also consumers. This same Passage is used for the next two (Examples 1 to 6) questions as well. * These Questions are taken from the section of TOEFL Reading Comprehension of previous year's original Question Paper. The difficult words in this passage are web (network), aquatic (water living), algae (tiny plants which grow in water) and photosynthesis (process by which plant leaves produce food in the presence of sunlight).
Question
As used in last sentence of the second paragraph, the word passed could best be replaced by which of the following? (A) moved (B) approved (C) attempted (D) relinquished
Analysis
The relevant sentence is, “The food is then passed through the food chains as one animal eats another”. The only word among the given choices that can replace the word passed in the sentence is moved. So, the answer is A.




Example-5
Passage
Most animals use more than one species as food. Therefore, the term food web is a better description of food relationship than the term food chain. A food web is a complex feeding systems that contains several food chains. For example, mice, rabbits and deer eat plants. Owls eat meat and rabbits. Mountain lion eats rabbits and deer. These five species are parts of food chains that together form a food web. The first link in a food chain is always a green plant. Only organisms with chlorophyll, such as green plants, can make food. For example, the first link in the aquatic chains is algae. Most algae are microscopic green plants that produce food by photosynthesis. In photosynthesis, energy from sunlight converts carbon dioxide and water to sugar. Tiny fish in lakes, streams and oceans eat algae. In turn, these tiny fishes are eaten by larger fish. These larger fish are eaten by still larger fish. The food supply for fish is made by algae.This food is then passed through the food chains as one animal eats another. Organisms may be divided into three groups based on how they obtain food. These groups are producer, decomposer and consumer. Organisms containing chlorophyll are producers. Thus, green plants are producers. Animals that eat other animals and plants are consumers. Microbes, one-celled organisms that cause the decay of the dead animals and plants are decomposers. Since, decomposers cannot make their own food, they are also consumers. * This same Passage is used for the next (Examples 1 to 6)question as well. * These Questions are taken from the section of TOEFL Reading Comprehension of previous year's original Question Paper. The difficult words in this passage are web (network), aquatic (water living), algae (tiny plants which grow in water) and photosynthesis (process by which plant leaves produce food in the presence of sunlight).
Question
The author divides the organisms according to (A) how they use energy (B) how they obtain food (C) how much energy they require in order to move (D) whether they live on the land or in the sea
Analysis
The first sentence of the third paragraph says, “Organisms may be divided into three groups based on how they obtain food”. So, B is the ready answer.




Example-6
Passage
Most animals use more than one species as food. Therefore, the term food web is a better description of food relationship than the term food chain. A food web is a complex feeding systems that contains several food chains. For example, mice, rabbits and deer eat plants. Owls eat meat and rabbits. Mountain lion eats rabbits and deer. These five species are parts of food chains that together form a food web. The first link in a food chain is always a green plant. Only organisms with chlorophyll, such as green plants, can make food. For example, the first link in the aquatic chains is algae. Most algae are microscopic green plants that produce food by photosynthesis. In photosynthesis, energy from sunlight converts carbon dioxide and water to sugar. Tiny fish in lakes, streams and oceans eat algae. In turn, these tiny fishes are eaten by larger fish. These larger fish are eaten by still larger fish. The food supply for fish is made by algae.This food is then passed through the food chains as one animal eats another. Organisms may be divided into three groups based on how they obtain food. These groups are producer, decomposer and consumer. Organisms containing chlorophyll are producers. Thus, green plants are producers. Animals that eat other animals and plants are consumers. Microbes, one-celled organisms that cause the decay of the dead animals and plants are decomposers. Since, decomposers cannot make their own food, they are also consumers. * These Questions are taken from the section of TOEFL Reading Comprehension of previous year's original Question Paper. The difficult words in this passage are web (network), aquatic (water living), algae (tiny plants which grow in water) and photosynthesis (process by which plant leaves produce food in the presence of sunlight).
Question
Which of the following organisms could not be a consumer as described in the passage? (A) A microbe (B) A rabbit (C) A tree (D) A fish
Analysis
Having divided organisms into three groups, namely producers, decomposers and consumers, the author says in the last paragraph, Organisms containing chlorophyll are producers. Thus, green plants are producers”. Thus, a tree is a producer and can not be a consumer. So, C is the answer. Microbes fall under the category of decomposers. But the last sentence says that decomposers are also consumers. So, A is not the answer.


Example-7
Passage
The railroad was not the first institution to impose regularity on society or to draw attention to the importance of precise time keeping. For as long as merchants have set out their wares at day break and communal festivities have been celebrated, people have been in rough agreement with their neighbors as to the time of the day. The value of this tradition is more apparent than ever. Were it not for public acceptanceof a single yardstick of time, social life would be unbearably chaotic. The massive daily transfers of goods, services and information would proceed in fits and starts. The very fabric of modern society would begin to unravel. * The next four questions (Examples 8, 9, 10 & 11) also are based on this Passage. The difficult words in this passage are impose (dictate), precise (accurate), wares (goods for sale), apparent (obvious), chaotic (confusing), it fits and starts (in a haphazard manner) and unravel (come apart).
Question
What is the main idea of this passage? (A) In society we must take more time for our neighbors (B) The traditions of society are timeless (C) An accepted way of measuring time is essential for smooth functioning of society (D) Society judges people by the times at which they conduct certain activities
Analysis
Obviously A, B and D are all factually wrong and can not be therefore be stated to be the main idea of the passage. Throughout this short passage, the author emphasizes the importance of the public acceptance of a single yardstick of time. So, C is the most appropriate answer.


Example-8
Passage
The railroad was not the first institution to impose regularity on society or to draw attention to the importance of precise time keeping. For as long as merchants have set out their wares at day break and communal festivities have been celebrated, people have been in rough agreement with their neighbors as to the time of the day. The value of this tradition is more apparent than ever. Were it not for public acceptance of a single yardstick of time, social life would be unbearably chaotic. The massive daily transfers of goods, services and information would proceed in fits and starts. The very fabric of modern society would begin to unravel. * The next three questions also (Examples-9,10 & 11) are based on this same passage. The difficult words in this passage are impose (dictate), precise (accurate), wares (goods for sale), apparent (obvious), chaotic (confusing), it fits and starts (in a haphazard manner) and unravel (come apart).
Question
The word draw , in the first sentence, can best be replaced by (A) bring (B) infer (C) formulate (D) sketch
Analysis
The full phrase is to draw attention to the importance of precise time keeping. Among the given choices, it is only bring which can replace the word draw in this phrase. So, A is the answer.


Example-9
Passage
The railroad was not the first institution to impose regularity on society or to draw attention to the importance of precise time keeping. For as long as merchants have set out their wares at day break and communal festivities have been celebrated, people have been in rough agreement with their neighbors as to the time of the day. The value of this tradition is more apparent than ever. Were it not for public acceptance of a single yardstick of time, social life would be unbearably chaotic. The massive daily transfers of goods, services and information would proceed in fits and starts. The very fabric of modern society would begin to unravel. * The next two questions (Examples-10 & 11) also are based on this same passage. The difficult words in this passage are impose (dictate), precise (accurate), wares (goods for sale), apparent (obvious), chaotic (confusing), fits and starts (in a haphazard manner) and unravel (come apart).
Question
In the third sentence, the phrase this tradition refers to (A) the practice of starting the business day at dawn (B) cordial relations between neighbors (C) the railroad’s reliance on time schedule (D) people’s agreement on the measurement on the measurement of time
Analysis
The sentence immediately preceding the phrase this tradition says, “For long ….. people have been in rough agreement with their neighbors as to the time of the day”. So, the tradition referred to is the people’s agreement on the measurement of time. So, D is the answer. Since none of the other choices is even referred to near this sentence, we can eliminate all of them.




Example-10
Passage
The railroad was not the first institution to impose regularity on society or to draw attention to the importance of precise time keeping. For as long as merchants have set out their wares at day break and communal festivities have been celebrated, people have been in rough agreement with their neighbors as to the time of the day. The value of this tradition is more apparent than ever. Were it not for public acceptance of a single yardstick of time, social life would be unbearably chaotic. The massive daily transfers of goods, services and information would proceed in fits and starts. The very fabric of modern society would begin to unravel. * The next question (Example-11) is also based on this Passage. The difficult words in this passage are impose (dictate), precise (accurate), wares (goods for sale), apparent (obvious), chaotic (confusing), it fits and starts (in a haphazard manner) and unravel (come apart).
Question
The author implies that which of the following is a consequence of the greater complexity of today’s society? (A) Agreement of the measurement of time is more important. (B) The role of the rail road has become more vital. (C) People agree about time more rapidly. (D) Traditional values are of greater importance to the society’s well being.
Analysis
The author states in the second sentence that as long as merchants have set out their wares at daybreak and communal festivities have been celebrated, people have been in rough agreement with their neighbors as to the time of the day. He then adds that the value of this tradition is more apparent than ever because, unless there is public acceptance of a single yardstick of time, social life would be unbearably chaotic because of “the massive daily transfers of goods, services and information”. The author thereby implies that, as a consequence of the greater complexity of today’s society agreement on the measurement of time is more important. So, A is the answer. The emphasis in the passage is not at all about the role of the railroad, and so B is not the correct one. The passage relatively talks about the greater importance of people having to agree on the measurement of time at present, ant not about the relatively greater readiness of the people to agree about the time now.So, C is the wrong one. The passage talks of only one tradition relating to the agreement about time, and not of traditional values in general. So, D is also a wrong one.