TOEFL Reading Practice Test sample questions

These starter questions help you launch a english mock test quickly. Swap them with your own worksheet, notebook, or textbook questions any time.

1. According to the passage, the primary cause of urban heat islands is:
A) increased car traffic  B) replacement of vegetation with heat-absorbing surfaces  C) industrial pollution  D) changes in wind patterns
2. The word "precipitous" in paragraph 2 most nearly means:
A) gradual  B) sudden and steep  C) predictable  D) uncertain
3. Which of the following can be inferred about early farming communities?
A) They had no concept of trade  B) They were more advanced than hunters  C) Surplus food production enabled social specialisation  D) They moved more frequently than nomadic groups
4. Why does the author mention the 1883 Krakatoa eruption in paragraph 3?
A) To introduce the main argument  B) To show how volcanic events affect global temperature  C) To compare ancient and modern volcanism  D) To argue against a scientific consensus
5. Which sentence best expresses the essential meaning of: "Although biodiversity loss has accelerated dramatically in recent decades, the long-term consequences for ecosystem stability remain poorly understood."
A) Scientists do not study ecosystem stability.  B) Biodiversity loss is accelerating and its long-term effects are not yet well understood.  C) Ecosystems are stable despite biodiversity loss.  D) Scientists understand that biodiversity loss will stabilise ecosystems.
6. The author includes the discussion of irrigation techniques in paragraph 4 primarily to:
A) argue that ancient farming was superior  B) illustrate how resource management affected settlement patterns  C) define what constitutes a civilisation  D) introduce a counterexample to the main thesis
7. Based on the passage, what can be inferred about the relationship between trade and urbanisation?
A) Trade caused population decline in cities  B) Urban centres grew partly because they served as trade hubs  C) Trade was less important than agriculture for urban growth  D) Urbanisation developed independently of trade networks
8. The word "expedient" as used in the passage most nearly means:
A) slow and careful  B) practical and convenient  C) morally correct  D) traditionally accepted
9. Which of the following statements would best complete the Prose Summary of the passage?
A) The study was conducted at three different universities.  B) Technological innovation accelerated the collapse of ancient civilisations.  C) Climate change and resource depletion were key factors in the decline of early societies.  D) Most ancient people lived in rural rather than urban areas.
10. The author's primary purpose in the passage is to:
A) argue for a specific environmental policy  B) explain the factors that contributed to the rise and fall of ancient civilisations  C) compare ancient and modern farming techniques  D) describe the geography of the ancient world