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Types of READING
COMPREHENSION
questions
H.M. Suparman, M.A., Ph.D.
ENGLISH STUDY PROGRAM UNIVERSITY OF LAMPUNG
ENGLISH EDUCATION POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM
MUHAMMADIYAH UNIVERSITY OF PROF. DR. HAMKA JAKARTA
e-mail: suparman@unila.ac.id
Mobile phone: 08127236836

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Types of reading comprehension
questions
There are ten kinds of questions
generally found on the TOEFL.
 The first five types are asked most
frequently (75 to 80% of all questions).
 the last five types are asked less
frequently (20 to 25% of all questions).

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Most frequently asked questions:
1. Main idea questions
2. Factual questions – positive
3. Factual questions – negative
4. Inference questions – specific
applications
5. Inference questions – general
applications
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Less frequently asked questions:
6. Analogy questions
7. Written expression questions
8. Organization questions
9. Following-on questions
10.View point questions

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 Main idea questions
Purpose
 You will be asked to identify the main
idea or topic of the whole passage.
There is usually onloy one main idea.
 This is a very important question type,
because each passage usually has one
main idea question.
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Words/Phrase to look for

 main point
 mainly discuss
 main idea
 best title
 main purpose
 mainly concerned
 main topic

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Sample questions
What is the main idea of the passage?
With which of the following is the passage
mainly concerned?
What is the main part of the passage?
Whih of the following does the author
mainoy discuss?
Which of the following would be the best
title?
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 Factual questions – positive
Purpose
You will be asked for specific
information discussed in the
passage.
This is a very important question type,
because each passage usually has
several factual questions.
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Words/Phrase to look for

According to the author, …

According to the passage, …
Who, what, when, where, why, how
which

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Sample questions
 Which of the following questions
does the passage answer?
 According to the passage, which
statement is true?
 When did ‘something” happen?
 Who did “something”?

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Factual questions – negative
Purpose
 You will be asked to identify
information NOT discussed in the
passage.
 This is a very important question type,
because each passage usually has
several factual questions.
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Words/Phrase to look for

NOT
EXCEPT
LEAST
MOST
 These words are always capitalized on
the TOEFL.

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Sample questions
 The author discussed all the
following in the passage EXCEPT …
 According to the passage, which is
the most likely reason?
 Which of the following is NOT
mentioned in the passage?

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 Inference questions – specific
applications

Purpose

You will be asked to form a

conclusion based on information
discussed in the passage.

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Words/Phrase to look for
It can be inferred that …
The author implied that …

Sample questions
Which of the following does the author
imply?
Which of the following can be inferred from
the passage?
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Inference questions – general
applications

Purpose
You will be asked to apply
information from the passage to
general situations outside the
passage.

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Words/Phrase to look for
Likely agree with…
Most likely to …
Sample questions
How does the author feel about the
characters mentioned in the passage?
Which of the following best describes the
author’s purpose?
What is the general tone of the passage?
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Analogy questions

Purpose

You will be asked to compare the

question’s answer choices to ideas
discussed in the passage.

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Words/Phrase to look for
Similar to
Compare to
Analogous to
like

Sample questions
Which of the following is like “the main
idea?”
Doing “something” is analogous to which of
the following?
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 Written expression questions

Purpose

You will be asked the meaning of

words in the context of a passage or
the referents (antecedents) for
pronouns

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Words/Phrase to look for
refers to
means in this contect

Sample questions
The wotd this in the last sentence refers to...
What does “word” mean in the context of
this passage?

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Organization questions
Purpose
You will be asked to determine how the
author presented the information.

Words/Phrase to look for

which details
present this dioscussion

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Following-on questions
Purpose
You will be asked to guess what information
might follow the passage.

Words/Phrase to look for

In the next paragraph, ...
Next sentence

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Sample questions
In the next paragraph, the
author will most likely
mention....
How might the author
conclude the discussion?

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View point questions
Purpose
You will be asked to determine the author’s
tone, attitude or purpose.
Words/Phrase to look for

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Words/Phrase to look for
point of view
author’s purpose
author’s attitude
general tone
feel

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Sample questions
How does the author feel about the
characters mentioned in the
passage?
Which of the following best
describes the author’s purpose?
What is the general tone of the
passage?
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 Individual assignment
To practice this knowledge, please make the
10 types of reading comprehension
questions, 2 questions for each type.
Therefore, you have to make 20 reading
questions that should be handed in to me
next week, in the following meeting.
The passage should be taken from the
Jakarta Post or Indonesian Times.
Use the most current issues as presented in
the newspaper.

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THANK YOU

Mobile phones: 0812 7236836 (Simpati); 087886481614 (XL); 07217386876

(Fleksi) and 08972558022 (3 Mau?)

suparman@unila.ac.id
ujang.suparman2010@gmail.com
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