Toefl Itp Reading Comprehension Main Idea and Organization of Text

TOEFL ITP
Reading Comprehension
Main idea and

Organization of text
English III
KUS2001
Week _XII_English III_THJ 1

Outline
§ Objective of the lesson
§ Reading skills : Main idea questions and Organizations of text
§ Exercises

Objective of the lesson
• You are able to be familiar with reading comprehension

• You are able to determine the correct answer to the exercises (the
application of skills 1-2 in reading )

TOEFL Reading Comprehension
• 50 questions (multiple choices) in 55 minutes
• What are asked: main ideas, directly answered questions (based on
the text), implications of the text, and vocabulary.
Source: Deborah Philip, 2003

General Strategies in Reading
• Be familiar with the directions

• Do not spend too much time on the reading
• The texts might be about something unfamiliar to you, but do not
worry because all the information you need is in the text.
• Never leave any answer blank.

Strategies in Reading
• Skimming: To find main ideas or gist of the text

• Scanning: To find specific information/detail (use keywords)
• Check out the questions first to determine the type of the questions
and what information needs to find
• Read the passage which contains the answer carefully Choose the
best answer

Questions about the ideas of the passage

Skill 1: Finding the main idea
Common questions
What is the topic of the passage?
What is the subject of the passage?
What is the main idea of the passage?
What is the author’s main point of the passage? With what is the
author primarily concerned?
Which of the following will be the best title?

Where to find the answer

It is usually helpful to find the topic sentences (in the first sentence of a
paragraph)

How to answer
• Read the first line of each paragraph
• Find the common theme or idea in the first lines
• Then, skim the text if you have the common
• Check the answer options and choose the best one.

Example
Nitrogen fixation is a process by which nitrogen is continuously fed into biological
circulation. In this process, certain algae and bacteria convert nitrogen into ammonia (NH,).
This newly created ammonia is then for the most part absorbed by plants.
The opposite process of denitrification returns nitrogen to the air. During the process of
denitrification, bacteria cause some of the nitrates from the soil to convert into gaseous
nitrogen or nitrous oxide (N20). In this gaseous form the nitrogen returns to the
atmosphere.
Which of the following will be the best title for this passage? A. The process of nitrogen
fixation
B. The nitrogen processes
C. The return of nitrogen to the air
D. The effect of nitrogen on plant life

Skill 2: Recognise the organisation of
ideas

Skill 2: Recognise the organisation of ideas
Common questions
How is the information in the passage organised?
How is the information in the second paragraph related to the first
paragraph?

Where to find the answer

It can generally be found in the first line of the appropriate paragraphs

How to answer
Read the first line of each paragraph
Look for words that show relationship between paragraphs
Check the answer options and choose the best answer that shows the
relationship.

Example
Conflict within an organization is not always viewed as undesirable. In fact, various
managers have widely divergent ideas on the value that conflict can have.
According to the traditional view of conflict, conflict is harmful to an organization.
Managers with this traditional view of conflict see it as their role in an organization
to rid the organization of any possible sources of conflict.
The interactionist view of conflict, on the o ther hand, holds that conflict can serve
an important function in an organization by reducing complacency among workers
and causing positive changes to occur. Managers who hold an interactionist view of
conflict may actually take steps to stimulate conflict within the organization.
How is the information in the passage organised?
A. The origin of ideas of conflict is presented
B. Contrasting views of conflict are presented
C. Two theorists discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their views on conflict D.
Examples of conflict within organisations are presented

Exercises:
Related to skills 1-2

References
Deborah Phillips. Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL test: The
Paper Test. New York: Pearson Education, Inc, 2003.

Toefl Itp Reading Comprehension Main Idea and Organization of Text

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Toefl Itp Reading Comprehension Main Idea and Organization of Text

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TOEFL ITP

Main idea and

Week _XII_English III_THJ 1

Week _XII_English III_THJ 2

• You are able to be familiar with reading comprehension

Week _XII_English III_THJ 3

Source: Deborah Philip, 2003

Week _XII_English III_THJ 4

• Be familiar with the directions

Week _XII_English III_THJ 5

• Skimming: To find main ideas or gist of the text

Week _XII_English III_THJ 6

Week _XII_English III_THJ 7

Week _XII_English III_THJ 8

Where to find the answer

Week _XII_English III_THJ 9

Week _XII_English III_THJ 10

Week _XII_English III_THJ 11

Week _XII_English III_THJ 12

Week _XII_English III_THJ 13

Where to find the answer

Week _XII_English III_THJ 14

Week _XII_English III_THJ 15

Week _XII_English III_THJ 16

Week _XII_English III_THJ 17

Week _XII_English III_THJ 18

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