SOLUTION & EXPLANATION FOR TOEFL IBT READING PRACTICE TEST 11 ( FROM TOEFL IBT IVY’S READING 15 ACTUAL TESTS)
KEY FOR READING PASSAGE 1
1. Factual Information I (B)
Q. According to paragraph 1, which of the following best explains why Greek pottery is valuable to historians?
Why? -See Clue 1(B)[lines 7-10]
► … the Greeks’ pottery is an essential source of historical information because so much of it survives today.
Why Not? (A), (C) Not mentioned / (D) Incorrect —See Clue line 10
2. Reference I (C)
Q. The word it in the passage refers to
Why? Analysis of ancient Greek pottery paintings shows several distinct periods, each capitalizing on and advancing the style that preceded it. —See Clue 2(C)[lines 18-21]
3. Sentence Simplification I (C)
Q. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
Why? This gradual progression parallels developments in other areas of Greek society // —how their cultural interest shifted from a mythology of gods and heroes to the events of their own lives, // as they replaced the mythological figures in their pottery paintings with images of everyday Greeks.
Why Not? (A), (D) Incorrect
(B) Information about the relationship between the change of the pottery paintings and that of Greek society is left out.
4. Rhetorical Purpose I (A)
Q. Why does the author mention abstract shapes in paragraph 2?
Why? Abstract shapes are mentioned as a commencement of the development of Greek pottery painting styles. —See Clue 4(A)[lines 27-34]
5. Vocabulary I (A)
Q. The word imposed in the passage is closest in meaning to
Why? established can replace imposed in this context —See Clue 5(A)[lines 65-66]
• impose v. to apply as compulsory m
establish v. to bring about permanently or concretely
6. Factual Information I (A)
Q. According to paragraph 4, what is the main weakness of the black-figure style?
Why? —See Clue 6{A)[lines 64-67]
► The primary drawback of the black-figure style was the constraints imposed by the tools used to etch designs in the black slip …
7. Vocabulary I (B)
Q. The word visualize in the passage is closest in meaning to
Why? imagine can replace visualize in this context [vis- = see] ~See Clue 7(B)[lines 72-75]
• visualize v. to form a picture of something in one’s mind
• imagine v. to form a mental image of something
8. Factual Information I (D)
Q. According to paragraph 6, what was the most significant achievement of the red-figure style?
Why? «-See Clue 8(D)[lines 94-101]
► By then painting details directly on the red clay instead of etching lines to remove slip, artists were able to make finer, more precise accents that increased the realism of figures’ hair, muscles, and skin. This style’s potential for naturalism led to a focus on facial expressions and motion that enriched the narrative …
Why Not? (A) Incorrect **See lines 94-96/(B) Mentioned in lines 91-94, but not the most significant achievement / (C) Not mentioned
9. Factual Information I (C)
Q. According to the passage, a sense of depth in pottery paintings
Why? -See Clue 9<C) lines 87-89]
Why Not? (A), (B) Incorrect —See lines 87-89/(D) Not mentioned
10. Vocabulary I (D)
Q. The word apex in the passage is closest in meaning to
Why? summit can replace apex in this context. —See Clue 10)D)[lines 101-102]
• apex n. top or highest peak
• summit n. highest state or degree
11. Insert Text | (C)
Q. Look at the four squares [|] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
Why? [A] Early pottery decorations were composed of abstract shapes and lines that did not represent human activities. [B]Then,… the Greeks began to decorate their pottery using more realistically painted human and animal figures. [C] This shift from abstract decoration to the first human figure drawing was important in the evolution toward the more sophisticated styles of pottery painting that appeared later. It was not until Greek artists began producing black-figure-style paintings, however, that Greek pottery gained maturity as a fine art. [D]
► “This shift” in the given sentence refers to the preceding information that pottery decorations changed from abstract shapes to realistic shapes.
12. Schematic Table
Q. Directions: Complete the table by matching the phrases below. Select the appropriate phrases from the answer choices and match them to the style of pottery painting to which they relate. TWO of the answer choices will NOT be used. This question is worth 4 points.
Why?
Why Not? (D) Mentioned in lines 30-34, but true of before the black-figure style, so belongs to neither of the two styles / (G) Mentioned in lines 27-30, but true of before the black-figure style, so belongs to neither of the two styles
| Correct answer choices | Clues in the passage | |
| Black-figure Style | (B) Featured solid black silhouettes rather than outlined figures | Clue 12(B)[lines 42-44] Abandoning the practice of drawing outlined images, artists working in the black-figure style created silhouettes, figures that were completely black
[lines 47-49] By creating solid figures … artists working in the black-figure style created human forms |
| (H) Created details by carving into slip to expose a clay surface | Clue 12(H)[lines 60-61] by etching details into the silhouettes painted in slip, artists exposed the clay beneath | |
| (1) Required etching tools for drawing images on the pottery | Clue 12(1 Klines 64-67] The primary drawback of the black-figure style was the constraints imposed by the tools used to etch designs in the black slip | |
| Red-figure Style | (A) Was practically the reverse of the style that preceded it | Clue 12(A)[lines 90-91] In essentially the reverse of the black-figure-style process, red-figure-style artists |
| (C) Employed a technique that created a sense of depth on a flat surface | Clue 12(C)[lines 75-77] Artists began to create an illusion of depth on a two-dimensional surface | |
| (E) Produced images by painting the background but not the figures | Clue 12(E)[lines 91-94] red-figure-style artists painted the backgrounds of their pictures black and let the red clay show through as shapes in the foreground | |
| (F) Is considered the finest development in Greek pottery painting | Clue 12(F)[lines 98-102] This style(red-figure styleKs potential for naturalism led to a focus on facial expressions and motion that enriched the narrative, advancing Greek pottery design to its apex. |
KEY FOR READING PASSAGE 2
13. Sentence Simplification 1 (B)
Q. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
Why? Specific evidence was discovered during the excavation of ancient Babylon (modern-day Iraq), when ancient soapy matter was found in clay containers bearing inscriptions that indicated the contents were made by boiling fats with ashes—a method of soap making.
Why Not? (A) Information about the soapy matter is left out. (C) Information that the soapy matter was discovered and a method of soap making was inscribed on the clay containers is left out. (D) Not mentioned.
14. Vocabulary I (A)
Q. The word administered in the passage is closest in meaning to »
Why? given can replace administered in this context. »See due 14(A)[lines 19-21]
• administer v. to give or apply a remedy
• give v. to present something in assistance or as a treatment
15. Vocabulary I (D)
Q. The word authenticity in the passage is closest in meaning to
Why? truth can replace authenticity in this context. It is also a clue that the story in line 39 is paraphrased to legend in line 37, and myth in line 40. ^See Clue 15(D)[lines 37-40]
• authenticity n. quality of being real
• truth n. undisputable fact
16. Rhetorical Purpose I (D)
Q. Why does the author mention the legend in paragraph 2?
Why? Legend is mentioned in order to support that the origin of soap is not clear in paragraph 1. **See Clue 16(D)[lines 38-39]
17. Inference I (B)
Q. What can be inferred from paragraph 4 about epidemics in the Middle Ages?
Why? (B) can be inferred from the information in lines 53-56. See Clue 17(B)
Why Not? (A)# (C), (D) Not supported
18. Reference I (B)
Q. The word its in the passage refers to
Why? … one kind of olive-oil soap—castile soap, believed to be named for the region in Spain where it originated—was widely exported throughout Europe, becoming famous for its quality. ‘■’See Clue 18(B)[lines 66-70]
Why Not? (A) its refers to olive-oil soap—castile soap, not olive oil.
19. Inference I (A)
Q. What can be inferred from paragraph 5 about Castile?
Why? (A) can be inferred from the information in lines 66-69. ~See Clue 19(A)
Why Not? (BHD) Not supported
20. Vocabulary I (C)
Q. The word Regulations in the passage is closest in meaning to
Why? Rules can replace Regulations in this context. **See Clue 20(C)[lines 77-79]
• regulation n. principle, rule, or law designed to control or govern conduct
• rule n. principle governing action
21. Factual Information I (D)
Q. According to paragraph 6, soap in England was not initially available to the masses because
_ Why? See Clue 21(D)]lines 80-82]
► Regulations and taxation made soap an expensive luxury that was not accessible to most people.
Why Not? (A), (B) Incorrect / (C) Not mentioned
22. Inference I (D)
Q. What can be inferred from paragraph 7 about colonists’ attitudes toward soap before the Civil War?
Why? (D) can be inferred from the information in lines 90-93. **See Clue 22(D)
Why Not? (A)-(C) Not supported
23. Vocabulary I (B)
Q. The word concern in the passage is closest in meaning to
Why? affairs can replace concerns in this context. **See Clue 23(B)[lines 92-93]
• concern n. matter that relates to or affects you
• affair n. matter of personal concern
24. Insert Text I [A]
Q. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
Why? Virtually any vegetable oil could be used to make soap—palm, coconut, and almond oil were some of the more popular choices. [A] Soaps made with oils such as these were gentler on the skin than soaps made with animal fats, so vegetable-oil soaps quickly became desirable products. In particular, soap made from olive oil came to be regarded as a superior product. [B]
► “these” in the given sentence refers to “palm, coconut, and almond oil.” In particular was used to highlight olive oil soaps from among the various oil soaps.
25. Prose Summary
Q. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.
Why? Believed to date back thousands of years, the origin of soap is not entirely known, but it is clear that throughout its history, soap has varied in both composition and application depending on the cultures who used it.
| Correct Answer Choices | Clues in the passage |
| (B) The first soaps were made from ash and animal fat, but later soaps used different types of vegetable oils. | Clue 25<B)[lines 9-12] ancient soapy matter was found in clay containers bearing inscriptions that indicated the contents were made by boiling fats with ashes
[lines 57-60] Overtime, cultures experimented with soap-making recipes and eventually discovered that the animal fat they used could be replaced by vegetable oils. |
| (C) Some historians believe that the earliest soaps were used mainly for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. | Clue 25(C)[lines 16-21] Early soaps were not commonly used for bathing … among other uses, soap was administered as a wound medicament and applied as a hair dye. |
| (F) Gradually, soap became the product it is today, a cleanser used for bathing and for personal hygiene. | Clue 25(F)[lines 98-101] This resulted in a change in the way society viewed sanitation issues, leading to the installation of indoor bathrooms and sinks and introducing a demand for soap. |
► The whole passage focuses on the change in components and the uses of soap throughout the history. And it follows that <(B) Change in the components of soap — (C) Uses of early soaps — (F) Change in the uses of soap) «~See on p. 423 mm Why Not? (A), (D), (E) Not mentioned
KEY FOR READING PASSAGE 3
26. Vocabulary I (D)
Q. The word ojoctod in the passage is closest in meaning to
Why? thrown can replace ejected in this context [eject = e(x)(out) + ejct(throw)] —See Clue 26(D)[lines 11-13]
• eject v. to suddenly send something out 9
throw v,: to put something somewhere quickly and carelessly
27. Inference I (D)
Q. What can be inferred from paragraph 1 about Earth’s core temperature?
Why? (D) can be inferred from combining the information in lines 1-3 and lines 5-11. —See Clue 27(D) m
Why Not? (A), (C) Not supported / (B) Incorrect —See lines 6-11
28. Sentence Simplification I (B)
Q. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
Why? Scientists had anticipated that lo’s surface, // like those of most other rock-based bodies that inhabit our solar system, would display the typical craters and impact marks from countless collisions over time with meteors and other objects adrift in space.
Why Not? (A) Incorrect
(C) Information that scientists had expected collision craters is left out
(D) Not mentioned
29. Rhetorical Purpose I (A)
Q. Why does the author mention Probes in paragraph 3?
Why? Probes are mentioned in order to explain how scientists could gather definitive information about lo. -See Clue 29{A)[lines 28-31]
30. Factual Information I (C)
Q. According to paragraph 3, how do scientists determine the ages of rock-based moons?
Why? —See Clue 30(C)[lines 44-48]
► They planned to use those marks to estimate the age of the moon’s surface by recording the amount of craters—the more craters, the older the surface, impact marks ms Why Not? (A), (B), (D) Not mentioned
31. Vocabulary I (C)
Q. The word trace in the passage is closest in meaning to
wm Why? evidences can replace traces in this context. –See Clue 31(C)[lines 60-63]
• trace n. small sign showing that something was present
• evidence n. facts or signs that show clearly that something exists or is true
32. Rhetorical Purpose I (D)
Q. Why does the author mention lava flows and volcanic geyser in paragraph 5?
Why? Lava flows and volcanic geysers are mentioned as evidences that other celestial bodies exist with hot cores like Earth’s. The author lists observations that allowed scientists to confirm the nature of the cores of other celestial bodies. **See Clue 32(D)[lines 70-76]
33. Vocabulary I (C)
Q. The word speculated in the passage is closest in meaning to
Why? imagined can replace speculated in this context It can be inferred that speculate is opposite in meaning to confirm in line 73. <*-See Clue 33(C)[lines 72-74]
• speculate v. to make a guess about something
• imagine v. to form a mental picture
34. Reference I (B)
Q. The word them in the passage refers to
Why? … the cores of other moons and planets: like Earth’s, some of them are hot See Clue 34(B)[lines 74-761
35. Factual Information I (A)
Why? –See Clue 35(A)]lines 86-89]
Why Not? (B) Not mentioned / (C) The passage talks about the gravitational forces of Jupiter and other moons, not lo’s own. **See lines 82-85! (D) Volcanoes are the result from lo’s hot interior, not the cause.
See lines 88-90
36. Inference I (C)
Q. What can be inferred from paragraph 6 about lo?
Why? (C) can be inferred from the information in lines 82-85. See Clue 36(C)
Why Not? (A), (B), (D) Not supported
37. Insert Text | [B]
Q. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
Why? [A] However, these processes are not unique to our world. [B] Most of the rocky planets and moons in our solar system experience similar events. In fact, lo, one of the largest moons orbiting the planet Jupiter, is the most volcanically active celestial body known to exist. [C]
► “similar events” in the given sentence refers to “these processes(tectonic shifts, earthquakes, and volcanoes}.” continued ^
38. Prose Summary
Q. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.
Why? Since the discovery that lo is the most volcanically active location in our solar system, scientists have been using it to learn about conditions on the early Earth.
| Correct Answer Choices | Gues in the passage |
| (A) Instead of observing craters on lo’s surface, NASA’s probes revealed the presence of volcanic activity on the moon. | Clue 38(A)[lines 48-50] When scientists saw the probes’ images, however, they were shocked to see an absence of impact craters.
[line 55] lo’s surface is covered with volcanoes. |
| (B) The volcanic activity on lo is so intense that the moon’s surface is constantly being recycled and renewed, similar to theories about what happened on Earth. | Clue 38(B)[lines 55-60] It is constantly changing as new volcanoes emerge, others become extinct, and magma deposits accumulate or disappear. Just like on Earth, these processes continually renew the moon’s surface |
| (F) Because of the peculiarities in the orbiting patterns of Jupiter’s moons, lo experiences intense gravitational forces that heat its core. | Clue 38{F)[lines 77-79] Part of the reason for its fiery interior, and hence also for its volcanic activity, has to do with lo’s somewhat unique orbital position. |
► The whole passage focuses on the volcanic activities on lo and their importance in learning about ancient Earth. And it follows that «A) Observations of lo’s volcanic activities — (B) Characteristics of volcanic activities on lo — <F) The reason why lo’s core is hot) –See