TOEFL iBT Preparation Course: The Reading section

Untimed topic quiz: 19 questions on The Reading section, with an explanation after each answer. Questions and answers are shuffled every time.

Course
United States
93 questions
Checked October 13, 2026
Fact-checked October 13, 2026

Start with the lessonsTOEFL iBT Preparation Course: Lessons: about 300 minutes of reading. Every test question is covered in the lessons.

Topic quiz 2: The Reading section

Question 1 of 19
What do you do in the Complete the Words task?
- Fill in the missing letters of words in a short academic paragraph
- Write a short summary of a lecture you heard
- Correct all of the spelling mistakes in a short email from a professor
- Choose the best title for a long academic article
Show answer
Answer: A. Fill in the missing letters of words in a short academic paragraph
In Complete the Words, the second half of some words in a short academic text is missing, and you complete them.
Question 2 of 19
How many words have missing letters in each Complete the Words text?
- 20
- 5
- 10
- 15
Show answer
Answer: C. 10
Each Complete the Words text is about 70–100 words long and has 10 words with missing letters.
Question 3 of 19
Which text is most like a Read in Daily Life text?
- A forum post you write for a class
- A 200-word passage about volcanoes
- A recorded talk by a professor
- A notice about new cafeteria hours
Show answer
Answer: D. A notice about new cafeteria hours
Read in Daily Life uses short everyday texts such as notices, menus, receipts, emails and social media posts.
Question 4 of 19
How long is a Read an Academic Passage text, and how many questions follow it?
- About 200 words, with five questions
- About 700 words, with ten questions
- About 70–100 words, with ten questions
- About 15 words, with one question
Show answer
Answer: A. About 200 words, with five questions
Academic passages are about 200 words long and are followed by five questions.
Question 5 of 19
Do you need background knowledge about a topic to answer TOEFL Reading questions?
- Yes, questions test facts you learned in school
- Only for the Complete the Words task
- No, all the information you need is in the text
- Yes, but only for science topics
Show answer
Answer: C. No, all the information you need is in the text
ETS says no prior knowledge is needed: all the information to answer the questions is in the text.
Question 6 of 19
Which complete word fits "fr___" in the passage?
Honeybees live in large groups called colonies. Each colony has one queen, and she lays almost all of the eggs. Worker bees collect nectar fr___ flowers and turn it into honey. They also build the comb, a wax struc___ with six-sided cells. When a worker finds a rich source of food, it per___ a short dance. The dance shows other bees which direction to fly.
(In this course, ___ marks missing letters. It does not show how many letters are missing.)
- free
- from
- front
- fresh
Show answer
Answer: B. from
"Collect nectar from flowers" is correct: a preposition is needed between the noun "nectar" and "flowers".
Question 7 of 19
Which complete word fits "struc___" in the passage?
Honeybees live in large groups called colonies. Each colony has one queen, and she lays almost all of the eggs. Worker bees collect nectar fr___ flowers and turn it into honey. They also build the comb, a wax struc___ with six-sided cells. When a worker finds a rich source of food, it per___ a short dance. The dance shows other bees which direction to fly.
(In this course, ___ marks missing letters. It does not show how many letters are missing.)
- structural
- structurally
- structures
- structure
Show answer
Answer: D. structure
After "a wax" we need a singular noun: "a wax structure". "Structures" is plural and cannot follow "a".
Question 8 of 19
Which complete word fits "per___" in the passage?
Honeybees live in large groups called colonies. Each colony has one queen, and she lays almost all of the eggs. Worker bees collect nectar fr___ flowers and turn it into honey. They also build the comb, a wax struc___ with six-sided cells. When a worker finds a rich source of food, it per___ a short dance. The dance shows other bees which direction to fly.
(In this course, ___ marks missing letters. It does not show how many letters are missing.)
- performed
- performing
- perform
- performs
Show answer
Answer: D. performs
The subject "it" is singular and the sentence is in the present ("finds"), so the verb is "performs".
Question 9 of 19
Why will the Science Library close early that week?
NOTICE: Science Library Hours
The Science Library will close early, at 6 p.m., from Monday, March 9, to Friday, March 13, while new shelves are installed. During this week, the study rooms on the second floor will stay open until 10 p.m. Enter them through the side door on Grant Street. Books that are due this week can be returned at the Main Library at any time.
- The study rooms are being painted
- The staff have a training day
- New shelves are being installed
- It is a holiday week
Show answer
Answer: C. New shelves are being installed
The notice says the library will close early "while new shelves are installed".
Question 10 of 19
What can students do at the Science Library after 6 p.m. that week?
NOTICE: Science Library Hours
The Science Library will close early, at 6 p.m., from Monday, March 9, to Friday, March 13, while new shelves are installed. During this week, the study rooms on the second floor will stay open until 10 p.m. Enter them through the side door on Grant Street. Books that are due this week can be returned at the Main Library at any time.
- Borrow books at the front desk
- Return books at the main entrance
- Use the second-floor study rooms
- Use the study rooms until midnight
Show answer
Answer: C. Use the second-floor study rooms
The study rooms stay open until 10 p.m., with entry through the Grant Street side door. Books can be returned at the Main Library.
Question 11 of 19
What is the main purpose of this email?
From: Campus Housing Office
To: All residents of Maple Hall
Subject: Water shut-off on Thursday
Hello residents,
On Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the water in Maple Hall will be turned off so that plumbers can replace an old pipe. Please fill a water bottle before 9 a.m. Showers in the gym building will be open to Maple Hall residents all day. If the water is still off after 1 p.m., call the housing desk at extension 4410.
Thank you for your patience,
Campus Housing Office
- To ask residents to help the plumbers replace a pipe
- To announce that the gym has new showers
- To invite residents to a building meeting
- To tell residents about a planned water shut-off
Show answer
Answer: D. To tell residents about a planned water shut-off
The subject line and first sentence say the water will be turned off on Thursday so a pipe can be replaced.
Question 12 of 19
The water is still off at 2 p.m. on Thursday. What should a resident do?
From: Campus Housing Office
To: All residents of Maple Hall
Subject: Water shut-off on Thursday
Hello residents,
On Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the water in Maple Hall will be turned off so that plumbers can replace an old pipe. Please fill a water bottle before 9 a.m. Showers in the gym building will be open to Maple Hall residents all day. If the water is still off after 1 p.m., call the housing desk at extension 4410.
Thank you for your patience,
Campus Housing Office
- Report it at the gym
- Wait until Friday morning
- Email the plumbers directly
- Call the housing desk
Show answer
Answer: D. Call the housing desk
The email says to call the housing desk at extension 4410 if the water is still off after 1 p.m.
Question 13 of 19
A student shows her student ID and buys a chicken rice bowl and a tea. How much does she pay?
Campus Café: Lunch menu (served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Students who show a student ID save $1.00 on any wrap or bowl. Free refills on coffee and tea.
Item Price
Soup of the day $4.50
Veggie wrap $7.25
Chicken rice bowl $9.00
Coffee or tea $2.00
- $9.00
- $11.00
- $10.00
- $8.00
Show answer
Answer: C. $10.00
The bowl is $9.00 minus the $1.00 ID saving, plus $2.00 for tea: $8.00 + $2.00 = $10.00. The saving is only on wraps and bowls.
Question 14 of 19
What has changed about Saturday's run?
Posted in the Westside Running Club group:
Hi all! Saturday's 5 km group run is moving from Lake Park to the track behind North High School, because the park path is flooded. Same time: 8 a.m. Bring water, since the fountain at the track is broken. - Dana
- How long the run is
- What time the run will start
- Which day it is on
- Where it will take place
Show answer
Answer: D. Where it will take place
Dana says the run is moving from Lake Park to the track. The time stays the same (8 a.m.) and it is still 5 km on Saturday.
Question 15 of 19
What is the passage mainly about?
Cities are often warmer than the countryside around them. Scientists call this effect an urban heat island. On a summer evening, the center of a large city can be several degrees warmer than nearby farmland.
Several features of cities cause this difference. Dark surfaces such as asphalt roads and roofs absorb much of the sunlight that hits them. They store this energy during the day and release it slowly as heat after sunset. Cities also have fewer trees and less open soil. In the countryside, plants give off water vapor through their leaves, and this process cools the air around them. Finally, cars, air conditioners and factories add waste heat.
The extra heat is more than a matter of comfort. During heat waves, it can increase the risk of illness, especially for older people. It also raises the demand for electricity, because more people run air conditioners.
Some cities are now testing solutions. Painting roofs white or light gray helps them reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it. Planting trees along streets adds shade and cooling. Neither method can remove the effect completely, but together they can make neighborhoods noticeably cooler.
- What urban heat islands are, why they happen and how cities can reduce them
- Why farmland is always cooler than cities, even in winter
- Why white roofs can remove the heat island effect completely in every city
- How air conditioners use electricity during heat waves
Show answer
Answer: A. What urban heat islands are, why they happen and how cities can reduce them
The paragraphs define the effect, give its causes, describe its problems and describe solutions.
Question 16 of 19
According to the passage, why do dark surfaces make cities warmer?
Cities are often warmer than the countryside around them. Scientists call this effect an urban heat island. On a summer evening, the center of a large city can be several degrees warmer than nearby farmland.
Several features of cities cause this difference. Dark surfaces such as asphalt roads and roofs absorb much of the sunlight that hits them. They store this energy during the day and release it slowly as heat after sunset. Cities also have fewer trees and less open soil. In the countryside, plants give off water vapor through their leaves, and this process cools the air around them. Finally, cars, air conditioners and factories add waste heat.
The extra heat is more than a matter of comfort. During heat waves, it can increase the risk of illness, especially for older people. It also raises the demand for electricity, because more people run air conditioners.
Some cities are now testing solutions. Painting roofs white or light gray helps them reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it. Planting trees along streets adds shade and cooling. Neither method can remove the effect completely, but together they can make neighborhoods noticeably cooler.
- They block the wind from the countryside
- They give off water vapor during the day
- They absorb sunlight and release the heat slowly after sunset
- They reflect sunlight onto nearby buildings and the people walking below
Show answer
Answer: C. They absorb sunlight and release the heat slowly after sunset
Paragraph 2 says dark surfaces absorb sunlight, store the energy and release it slowly as heat after sunset.
Question 17 of 19
In paragraph 2, the word "release" is closest in meaning to
Cities are often warmer than the countryside around them. Scientists call this effect an urban heat island. On a summer evening, the center of a large city can be several degrees warmer than nearby farmland.
Several features of cities cause this difference. Dark surfaces such as asphalt roads and roofs absorb much of the sunlight that hits them. They store this energy during the day and release it slowly as heat after sunset. Cities also have fewer trees and less open soil. In the countryside, plants give off water vapor through their leaves, and this process cools the air around them. Finally, cars, air conditioners and factories add waste heat.
The extra heat is more than a matter of comfort. During heat waves, it can increase the risk of illness, especially for older people. It also raises the demand for electricity, because more people run air conditioners.
Some cities are now testing solutions. Painting roofs white or light gray helps them reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it. Planting trees along streets adds shade and cooling. Neither method can remove the effect completely, but together they can make neighborhoods noticeably cooler.
- give off
- block
- hold back
- keep
Show answer
Answer: A. give off
To release heat is to let it out, or give it off. The sentence says the stored energy comes out slowly after sunset.
Question 18 of 19
What can be inferred about a city street with many trees?
Cities are often warmer than the countryside around them. Scientists call this effect an urban heat island. On a summer evening, the center of a large city can be several degrees warmer than nearby farmland.
Several features of cities cause this difference. Dark surfaces such as asphalt roads and roofs absorb much of the sunlight that hits them. They store this energy during the day and release it slowly as heat after sunset. Cities also have fewer trees and less open soil. In the countryside, plants give off water vapor through their leaves, and this process cools the air around them. Finally, cars, air conditioners and factories add waste heat.
The extra heat is more than a matter of comfort. During heat waves, it can increase the risk of illness, especially for older people. It also raises the demand for electricity, because more people run air conditioners.
Some cities are now testing solutions. Painting roofs white or light gray helps them reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it. Planting trees along streets adds shade and cooling. Neither method can remove the effect completely, but together they can make neighborhoods noticeably cooler.
- It is likely hotter, because the trees trap warm air near the ground
- It has more dark surfaces than other streets
- It needs more electricity for air conditioning
- It is likely cooler than a similar street without trees
Show answer
Answer: D. It is likely cooler than a similar street without trees
The passage says plants cool the air and street trees add shade and cooling, so a tree-lined street is likely cooler.
Question 19 of 19
Why does the author mention older people in paragraph 3?
Cities are often warmer than the countryside around them. Scientists call this effect an urban heat island. On a summer evening, the center of a large city can be several degrees warmer than nearby farmland.
Several features of cities cause this difference. Dark surfaces such as asphalt roads and roofs absorb much of the sunlight that hits them. They store this energy during the day and release it slowly as heat after sunset. Cities also have fewer trees and less open soil. In the countryside, plants give off water vapor through their leaves, and this process cools the air around them. Finally, cars, air conditioners and factories add waste heat.
The extra heat is more than a matter of comfort. During heat waves, it can increase the risk of illness, especially for older people. It also raises the demand for electricity, because more people run air conditioners.
Some cities are now testing solutions. Painting roofs white or light gray helps them reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it. Planting trees along streets adds shade and cooling. Neither method can remove the effect completely, but together they can make neighborhoods noticeably cooler.
- To give an example of a solution that some cities are testing
- To compare cities with the countryside
- To explain how heat islands form
- To show that the extra heat can be a health risk
Show answer
Answer: D. To show that the extra heat can be a health risk
The author mentions older people as an example of who faces a higher risk of illness during heat waves.

Item	Price
Soup of the day	$4.50
Veggie wrap	$7.25
Chicken rice bowl	$9.00
Coffee or tea	$2.00

Related tests

The official exam

Questions: 120
Parts: Reading: Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Read an Academic Passage (about 50 items, about 30 minutes, adaptive), Listening: Listen and Choose a Response, Listen to a Conversation, Listen to an Announcement, Listen to an Academic Talk (about 47 items, about 29 minutes, adaptive), Writing: Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Write for an Academic Discussion (12 tasks, about 23 minutes), Speaking: Listen and Repeat, Take an Interview (11 tasks, about 8 minutes)
Time limit: about 90 (allow about 2 hours) minutes
Scoring: Each section and the overall score are reported on a 1–6 scale in half-point steps; the overall score is the average of the four sections rounded to the nearest half band, and for two years after January 2026 reports also show a comparable 0–120 score.
Run by: ETS

Study from: ETS: TOEFL iBT Test Content Book the test

Checked against official sources on October 13, 2026.