TOEFL Excercise of Reading Comprehension

For Intermediate Level

Arranged by
Debi Irawan

Questions 1-4
Since the original sections of New Orleans had been built upon a natural levee, which had
been further heightened as the years passed, the natural drainage of all streets was away from
the river in the direction of the swamp leading ultimately to Lake Pontchartrain. Whatever
may have been the disadvantages of this drainage system, it was possible to flush the gutters
by means of hydrants located at the heads of those streets running diagonally from the river.
In its aim to keep the streets as clean as possible, the Board of Health ordered that public
hydrants on the main streets be opened for one hour each morning and evening. The sixtyinch annual rainfall in New Orleans originally had been sufficient to clean out the gutters, but
as the population grew and the dirt and refuse accumulated, the rainwater soon proved in
adequate. Whatever impact flushing the gutters may have had on health-and this is a
debatable point-the aesthetic results must have justified the practice.
1. The city of New Orleans seems...
a. to have been located in a valley
b. to have been located between a river and a lake
c. to have had no natural levee to help in its drainage
d. to have been built on hind so high that it needed no further heightening

2. The streets of New Orleans drained...

a. Into the river
b. Away from the lake
c. Into Lake Pontchartrain
d. Away from the swamp

3. New Orleans usually had...

a. Little rainfall
b. Sixty inches of rainfall a month
c. Sixty inches of rainfall a year
d. Enough rainfall to eliminate completely the need for extra drainage systems

4. The flushing of the gutters...

a. Definitely improved the health of the New Orleanians
b. Had no real effect on the health of the New Orleanians

c. May have made an improvement in the health of the New Orleanians

d. Had some effect on the health of the citizens of New Orleans, but no other
noticeable effect
Questions 5-9
By the end of the first quarter of the nineteenth century a number of our Eastern
institutions-Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Pennsylvania- had some of the necessary
ingredients of a university, but hardly yet the point of view. They were little clusters of
schools and institutes. Indeed, just after the Revolution, the schools of Pennsylvania and
Harvard had assumed the somewhat pretentious title of university, and, shortly after, the
University of Virginia was founded under the guidance of Thomas Jefferson. In the South,
Georgia and later North Carolina began to rise. The substance in all these was mainly
lacking, though the title was honored. There were rather feeble law, medical, and divinity
schools, somewhat loosely attached to these colleges. It has been commonly recognized,
however, that the first decade after the close of the War between the Between the States, thet
is, from about 1866 to 1876, was the great early flowering of the university idea in America.
5. In 1825...
a. No American educational institution called itself a university
b. All American higher educational institutions called themselves universities
c. Those institutions which called themselves universities were not justified in doing
so
d. No American institution of higher education had any of the necessary ingredients
of a university

6. Thomas Jefferson founded...

a. The University of Pennsylvania
b. Harvard
c. The University of Virginia
d. The University of Georgia

7. The War between the States ended...

a. About 1866
b. About 1878

c. About 1856
d. During the decade from 1866-1876

8. The words little clusters (line 6) most nearly means...

a. Small groups
b. Small colleges
c. Small buildings
d. Small organizations

9. The University idea really began to develop...

a. In the first quarter of the nineteenth century
b. Just after the Revolution
c. During the last quarter of the nineteenth century
d. Just after the War between the States
Questions 10-18
Lichens, of which more than twenty thousand species have been named, are complex
associations between certain algae. The lichen itself is not an organism: rather it is the
morphological and biochemical product of the association. Neither a fungus nor an alga alone
can produce lichen.
The intimate relationship between these two living components of lichen was once
erroneously though to represent mutualism. In mutual relationships, both participants benefit.
With

lichens,

however,

it

appears

the

fungus

actually

parasitizes

the

algae.

This is one of the conclusions drawn from experiments in which the two components of
lichens were separated and grown apart.
In nature, lichen fungi may encounter and grow around saveral kinds of algae. Some
types of algae the fungi may kill; other types it may reject. Lichen algae are autotrophic,
meaning they make their own food through photosynthesis. Lichen fungi are heterotrophic,
meaning they depend upon the algae within the lichen to supply their food. Up to ninety
percent of than food made by the green alga cell is transferred to the fungus. What, if
anything, the fungus contributes to the association is not well understood.

Lichens are hardly. The grow in many habitats and are often pioneers in hostile
environments where few other organisms can flourish.
They have been known to grow endolithically, having been discovered thriving inside
of rocks in Antartica. Lichen help reduce erosion by stabilizing soil. Saveral kinds of insects
glue lichens to their exoskeletons for camouflage.
Many species of birds use lichens as building materials for nests. Human have used
lichens for dyes and antibiotics.
10. Which of the following best describes lichens association?
a. Simple plants made of two different autotrophic organims.
b. A mutual association between a fungus and an alga
c. A parasitic association between two fungi, one autotrophic, the second autotrophic
d. A union between a parasitic fungus and an autotrophic alga

11. The word "hardly" in line 26 is closest in meaning to...

a. Tender
b. Durable
c. Armed
d. Beneficial

12. In Biology, mutualism occurs when two different organism live close together and...
a. One organism parasitizes the other
b. Both organism benefit from the association
c. Both organism are harmed by the association
d. One organism benefits while the other does not or is harmed by the association

13. In line 7, the word "intimate" is nearest in meaning to...

a. Living
b. Extraordinary
c. Biological
d. Close

14. Lichen serves as camouflage for which of the following?

a. Insects
b. Birds
c. Reptiles
d. Mammals

15. The true nature of the relationship between the lichen components was clarified by...
a. Examining lichens with a microscope
b. Observing lichens palced in the dark
c. Observing the lichen component when grown apart
d. Decreasing the amount of nutrients available to the lichens

16. In line 27, the word "hostile" is clossest the meaning to...
a. Unusual
b. Cool
c. Untraveled
d. Inhospitable

17. An endolithic lichen is one that...

a. Grows in the canopies of trees
b. Grows inside rocks
c. Grows at very high altitudes
d. Grows inside other organism, including other lichens

18. Many lichens contribute at the communities they in habits by...

a. Removing pollutants from the air
b. Controlling wood-rotting fungi
c. Slowing the spread of viruses
d. Reducing soil erosion
Questions 19-24

When buying a house, you must be sure to have it checked for termites. A termite is much
like an ant in its communal habits, although physically the two insects are distinct. Like
those ants, termite colonies consist of different classes, each with its own particular job. The
most perfectly formed termites, both male and female, make up the productive class. They
have eyes, hard body walls and fully developed wings. A pair of reproductive termites found
the colony. When new reproductive termites develop, they leave to form another colony.
They use their wings only this on time and then break them off.
The worker termites are small, blind and wingless, with soft bodies. They make up the
majority of the colony and do all the work. Soldiers are eyeless and wingless but are larger
than

the

workers

and

have

hard

heads

and

strong

jaws

and

legs.

They

defend the colony and are cared for by the workers.

The male and female of the reproductive class remain inside a closed-in cell when the
female lays thousands of eggs. The workers place the eggs in cell and care for them. Even if
one colony is treated with poison, if a male and female of the reproductive class escape, they
can form a new colony.
Pest control companies can inspect a house for infestation of termites. Often, of lay
person can not spot the evidence, so it is critical to have the opinion of a proffesional.
Treatments vary depending upon the type of termite.
19. How are termites like ants?
a. They live in communities, and each class has a specific duty
b. Their bodies are the same shape
c. The king and queen are imprisoned
d. The females' reproductive capacities are the same

20. The word "communal" in line 3 is closest in meaning to...

a. Eating
b. Reproducing
c. Organizational
d. Social

21. Which of the following is not true?

a. All termites have eyes

b. Some termites cannot fly
c. Workers are smaller than soldiers
d. Termites do not fly often

22. In line 4, the word "distinct" is closest in meaning to...

a. Similar
b. Different
c. Genetically related
d. Strong

23. In line 6, "classes" is closest in meaning to...

a. Sexes
b. Colonies
c. Courses
d. Categories

24. Which of the following statements is probably true?

a. Thousands of termites may move together to develop a new colony
b. The male and female reproductions do not venture outdoors except to form a new
colony.
c. There are more soldiers than workers
d. A worker could easily kill a soldier
Questions 25-32
For a century before the Erie Canal was built, there was much discussion among
general population of the Northeast as to the need for connecting the waterways of the Great
Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. A project of such monumental proportions was not going to
be undertaken and completed without a supreme amount of effort.
The man who was instrumental in accomplishing the feat that was the Erie Canal was
DeWitt Clinton. As early as 1812, he was in the nations capital petitioning the federal

government for financial assistance on the project, emphasizing what a boon to the economy
of the country the canal would be; his efforts with the federal goverment, however, were not
successful.
In 1816, Clinton asked the New York State Legislature for the funding for the canal,
and this time he did succeed. A canal commission was instituted, and Clinton himself was
made head of it. One year later, Clinton was elected governor of the state, and soon after
construction of the canal was started.
The canal took eight years to complete, and Clinton was on the first barge to travel the
length of the canal, the Seneca Chief, which departed from Buffalo on October 26, 1825, and
arrived in New York City on November 4. Because of the success of the Erie Canal,
numerous other Canals were built in other parts of the country.
25. The information in the passage...
a. Gives a cause followed by an effect
b. Is in chronological order
c. Lists opposing viewpoints of a problem
d. Is organized spatially

26. When did Clinton ask the U.S. government for funds for the canal?
a. One hundred years before the canal was built
b. In 1812
c. In 1816
d. In 1825

27. The word boon in line 7 is closest in meaning to which of the following?
a. Detriment
b. Disadvantages
c. Benefit
d. Cost

28. The pronoun it in line 10 refers to which of the following?

a. The New York State Legislature
b. The canal

c. The commission
d. The state governor

29. In what year did the actual building of the canal get underway?
a. In 1812
b. In 1816
c. In 1817
d. In 1825

30. The Seneca Chief was...

a. The name of the canal
b. The name of a boat
c. Clintons nickname
d. The nickname of Buffalo

31. Where in the passage does the author mention a committee that worked to develop the
canal?
a. The first paragraph
b. The second paragraph
c. The third paragraph
d. The fourth paragraph

32. The paragraph following the passage most probly discusses...

a. The century before the building of the Erie Canal
b. Canals in different U.S. locations
c. The effect of the Erie Canal on the Buffalo area
d. Clintons career as governor of New York
Questions 33-36
How to Transplant a Tree
In most cases, you can transplant a tree successfully, at any time, if you follow the
instructions for planting a tree. The most important thing is to dig out enough roots, but this
process is difficult with a large tree. When you dig out the tree take a ball of earth measuring

about a foot wide for every inch of diameter of the tree trunk. Dig deep enough to avoid
cutting off too many taproots.
It is wise to call a professional tree expert to transplant a tree more than a few inches
in trunk diameter.
33. Transplanting a tree is...
a. Very different from planting
b. So difficult that an expert should always be called in
c. Much like planting a tree
d. Done successfully in the right person

34. A tree trunk one-halft foot in diameter should have...

a. A twelve-foot wide ball of earth
b. A three-foot wide ball of earth
c. A six-foot wide ball of earth
d. A four-foot wide ball of earth

35. The taproots are...

a. The heaviest roots
b. The principal, deepest roots
c. The ball of earth
d. The same widht as the trunks diameter

36. The best time for transplanting a tree is...

a. Spring
b. Fall
c. Winter
d. Any season

37. To decide whether you can successfully transplant a tree yourself, you should...
a. Select your location carefully
b. Measure the ball of earth around the roots
c. Measure the diameter of the tree trunk

d. Cut off as many taproots as you can reach

Questions 38-40
The early expansion of the sugar industry was based on cane transported from two
different parts of Orient, first from India and second from the islands of Southwest Pacific.
From India, sugar cane was carried through the western regions of Asia into Arabia and later
into the countries bordering on the Mediterranean. It was established in Sicily in about 703
a.d. and was carried to Spain about 755 a.d. As early as 1150 a.d., Spain had at least 75,000
acres of cane. During this early period sugar cane was grown largely to supply local wants.
The Crusades were partly responsible for the further expansion and improvement of the sugar
industry and for interesting Europeans in the use of sugar.
38. From this selection, it appears that sugar cane was first grown in...
a. Europe
b. The Orient
c. Arabia
d. Sicily

39. Sugar cane was first intriduced into Spain in...

a. 703 a.d
b. 755 a.d
c. 1150 a.d
d. 1419 a.d

40. In the twelfth century, most cane was grown...

a. For exportation
b. For industrial uses
c. For sale in the large market cities
d. For local use

Answer Key
1. B
2. C
3. C
4. C
5. C
6. C
7. A
8. A
9. D
10. B
11. B
12. B
13. D
14. A
15. C
16. A
17. C
18. A
19. A
20. D
21. B
22. B
23. D
24. E
25. B
26. B
27. C
28. C
29. C
30. B
31. C
32. B

33. C
34. C
35. B
36. D
37. C
38. B
39. B
40. D