SKILL 14: DETERMINE WHERE TO INSERT A PIECE OF INFORMATION LONGMAN COMPLETE COURSE FOR THE TOEFL READING

LONGMAN COMPLETE COURSE FOR THE TOEFL

READING

SKILL 14: DETERMINE WHERE TO INSERT A PIECE OF INFORMATION

On the computer TOEFL test, there may be a question following a particular paragraph or at the end of the reading passage that asks where a particular piece of information should be inserted. In this type of question, you must click on one of a number of squares in a passage to indicate that the piece of information should be inserted in that position. Look at an example from the computer TOEFL test that asks where to insert a piece of information.

Example from the Paper TOEFL Test The passage: The origins of the game of chess are not known with certainty, and traditional stories in a number of cultures claim credit for developing the game. 1A One legend claims that chess was invented during the Trojan Wars. IB According to another legend, chess was developed to depict the battle between two royal brothers for the crown of Persia. 1C In a third legend, chess was the creation of the mythical Arab philosopher Sassa. ID Whatever its origins, chess was known to exist in India as early as 500 B.C., and it eventually spread from India to Persia, where it took on much of the terminology that today is part of the game. Foot soldiers in the Persian army were called piyadah, which became the pawns of today’s game, and the Persian chariot was a rukh, which became the rook. The Persian king was the shah, which evolved into the name chess. Shahmat, which means ‘the king is dead’ became the expression checkmate.

The question: The following sentence could be added to paragraph 1. When one brother was killed, the remaining brother had the game invented to explain the tragic events to his mother. Where would it best fit in the passage? Click on the square (      ) to add the sentence to the passage.

This question asks you to decide where a sentence could be added to one of the paragraphs. To answer this question, you should study the sentence to be inserted and then look at the context before and after each insertion box. The sentence mentions one brother and the remaining brother,  and the context before insertion box IC mentions two royal brothers. From this, it can be determined that the sentence should be added at insertion box 1C. You should click on 1C to answer this question.

The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember when you are trying to determine where to insert a particular sentence;

TOEFL EXERCISE 14: Study each of the passages and choose the best answers to the questions that follow.

PASSAGE ONE (Questions 1-3)

1A Something unusual about lions is that they hunt in groups. 1B Group hunting is beneficial to lions because it means that much larger prey can be captured by the lions and that individual lions expend much less energy during a hunt. 1C There is a standard pattern to the process of hunting in groups. 2A The process is initiated by a single female, who stations herself at a raised elevation to serve as a lookout to spot potential prey. 2B When prey is spotted, a group of young lionesses advances on the herd and pushes the herd in the direction of a different lioness who has hidden herself downwind. 2C It is up to this concealed female to choose the weakest member of the herd for the kill. 2D 3A As can be seen from this description of the process, it is the females rather than the male or males in the pride that take part in the kill. 3B While the young and strong females are on the attack, the males stay behind to protect the rest of the pride from attack from predators such as hyenas. 3C

1	The following sentence could be added to paragraph 1. Other cats do not. Where would it best fit into the paragraph? Click on the square to add the sentence to the paragraph.	3	The following sentence could be added to paragraph 3. The males have a defensive rather than an offensive role. Where would it best fit into the paragraph? Click on the square to add the sentence to the paragraph.
2	The following sentence could be added to paragraph 2. This is usually accomplished by knocking the prey to the ground and breaking its neck. Where would it best fit into the paragraph? Click on the square to add the sentence to the paragraph.

PASSAGE TWO (Questions 4-5)

A number of products that we commonly use today were developed quite by accident. Two of many possible examples of this concept are the leotard and the popsicle, each of which came about when an insightful person recognized a potential benefit in a negative situation. The first of these accidental inventions is the leotard, a close fitting, one-piece garment worn today by dancers, gymnasts, and acrobats, among others. 4A In 1828, a circus performer named Nelson Hower was faced with the prospect of missing his performance because his costume was at the cleaners. 4B Instead of cancelling his part of the show, he decided to perform in his ling underwear. 4C Soon, other circus performers began performing the same way. 4D When popular acrobat Jules Leotard adopted the style, it became known as the leotard. 5A Another product invented by chance was the popsicle. 5B In 1905, eleven-year-old Frank Epperson stirred up a drink of fruit-flavored powder and soda water and then mistakenly left the drink, with the spoon in it, out on the back porch overnight. 5C As the temperature dropped that night, the soda water froze around the spoon, creating a tasty treat. 5D Years later, remembering how enjoyable the treat had been, Epperson went into business producing popsicles. 5E

4	The following sentence could be added to paragraph 2. They enjoyed the comfort of performing in underwear rather than costumes. Where would it best fit into the paragraph? Click on the square to add the sentence to the paragraph.	5	The following sentence could be added to paragraph 3. It was a taste sensation that stayed on his mind. Where would it best fit into the paragraph? Click on the square to add the sentence to the paragraph.

PASSAGE THREE (Questions 6-7)

Uranium, a radioactive metal named after the planet Uranus, is a primary source of energy in nuclear power plants and certain nuclear weapons. It occurs naturally in three different isotopes, which differ in their facility in undergoing nuclear fission. 6A The three naturally occurring isotopes of uranium are U-234, U-235, and U-238. 6B Each of these isotopes has the same atomic number of 92, which is the number of protons in the nucleus. 6C However, each has a different number of neutrons and thus has a different atomic mass, which is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons. 6D Of these naturally occurring isotopes of uranium, U238 is by far the most common, while U-235 is the most capable of undergoing nuclear fission. 7A More than 99% of all naturally occurring uranium is U-238, while U-234 and U-235 each make up less than 1%. 7B Nuclear fission can occur when a U-235 nucleus is struck by a neutron, and the nucleus splits, releasing energy and releasing two more neutrons. 7C However, nuclear fission rarely involves a U-238 nucleus or a U-234 nucleus because it is unusual for either of these nuclei to break apart when struck by a neutron. 7D

6	The following sentence could be added to paragraph 2. U-234 has 92 protons and 142 neutrons for an atomic mass of 234, U-235 has 92 protons and 143 neutrons for a total of 235, and U-238 has 92 protons and 146 neutrons for a total of 238. Where would it best fit into the paragraph? Click on the square to add the sentence to the paragraph.	7	The following sentence could be added to paragraph 3. These neutrons can create a chain reaction by causing other U-235 nuclei to break up. Where would it best fit into the paragraph? Click on the square to add the sentence to the paragraph.

ANSWER KEY

1	B
2	D
3	B
4	D
5	D
6	D
7	C