2. Major Details
Major details are information that is subordinate to,
or beneath, topics stated in headings. Sometimes the
major details in the passage are underlined
A heading in a textbook may be followed by an
introduction that names the major details presented
in following paragraphs
Topic sentence, find the main idea from first, last or
at center of the sentence
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3. Example 1
A nuclear family consists of a married couple and
their children. Most people are born into a nuclear
family –their family of orientation-and then go on
establish a nuclear family of their own-their family of
procreation. The only possible members of a family
of orientation are a mother, father, brothers, and
sisters. Your family of procreation may include your
husband or wife, sons and daughters.
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4. Large number questions on reading comprehension
section on TOEFL ask about the details and facts in
reading passage
These questions are usually asked in the order that
the information appears in the passage
Understanding of the topic and main idea and the
overall organization of the passage will help you to
answer these questions
There are two types of fact and detail questions on he
TOEFL. What is TRUE or what is NOT TRUE
according the information
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5. Answer choices for questions about facts and details may
use the exact words of the passage but more often they
are restatements of the information and require that you
know synonyms and related words.
Questions : about that IS in the passage
a. According to the passage,
who/why/where/when/how......?
b. According the author,....
c. The author states in the passage that
d. The author indicates that....
e. The author refers to which of the following as....
f. It is stated in the passage that......
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6. About information that IS NOT in the passage
1. All of the following are mentioned in the passage
as....EXCEPT.....
2. According to the passage all of the following are
true about.....EXCEPT......
3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the
passage as......?
4. Which of the following is NOT stated in the passage
?
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7. Steps
Read the question and identify the key words and
controlling idea. REMEMBER that the questions will be
in order of the information in the passage
Scan the passage for the key words and controlling ideas.
REMEMBER that you should look for synonyms and
related words as well as exact words
Carefully read this part of the passage to answer the
question
Scan the answer choices to match the information in the
passage with the correct answer choice
Be careful to look for the information that is not true in a
TOEFL question worded with NOT and EXCEPT
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8. Exercise 1
Throughout the year, chimpanzee food is quite
varied, but it is mainly vegetable material. At times,
however, Gombe Park is loaded with insects-
termites, ants, carterpillars-and the chimpanzees will
eat huge numbers of them. The chimpanzees realy
remarkable behavior appears when they gather
termites. According to Suzuki and van Lawick-
Goodall, when chimpanzees see that termites have
pushed open their tunnels on the surface, they will
go off to find a suitable termiting tool. It may look
simple, but the job takes skill and practice.
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9. 1. According to the passage, which of the following are
NOT mentioned as part of the chimpanzees diet ?
a. Termites
b. Vegetable material
c. Ants
d. Mosquitoes
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10. 2. The author states in the passage that the
chimpanzees most reamarkable behavior can best be
seen
a. When they are hungry
b. As they are resting
c. When they are looking for termites
d. In the spring
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11. 3. According the author, when chimpanzees gather
termites they show
a. A dependence on each other
b. Remarkable strength
c. Understanding and caring
d. Ability and persistence
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