TOEFL Practice Test (#3) – Reading

COURSE DESCRIPTION

TOEFL

TOEFL is an exam required by most US and Canadian university to prove proficiency(especially international students coming from countries where English is not native language) in English. It measures your listening, reading, speaking and writing skills to perform academic tasks in English. Many Universities in Europe and other countries also accept TOEFL (IELTS is popular outside USA). Popularity of TOEFL is growing.

Connection Through Technology

Today, we are so connected to the outside world through our phones, computers, televisions and various types of portable devices.  It’s amazing how quickly news can travel.  One minute, something could be happening in Africa and the next minute, we in North America will hear about it. We are so aware of everything that is happening thousands of miles away, yet we are so unaware of things that are happening right in front of us.  Technology, are we lucky or unfortunate?

What is a real connection?  Is it turning on a computer screen and writing to a friend who lives in the Middle East?  Or is it picking up the phone and chatting with a family member in England?  There was a time when mobile devices and computers didn’t exist.  How did people connect then?  They took the time to go to each other’s homes and talk face to face.  Does that type of connection still exist?  Maybe humans are looking for validation through numbers.  How many times does their phone ring?  How many times are they ‘remembered’ throughout the day?  How important do they look if they show this off?  People now days are so caught up in checking the next message or text or email, that they could be sitting in front of someone, yet still not allow a real connection to be made.  So again I pose the same question; what is a real connection?

Technology has been a blessing in the advancement of the modern world.  It has allowed for medical operations to be conducted in India while the head surgeon is sitting at a desk in California.  It has allowed a family in Switzerland to share photos of their newborn child with their cousins who are working in Japan.  These are examples of the benefits of technology in our modern society.  However, what is technology doing to benefit the human connection?  Is it really benefiting our relationships?  Or is it destroying them?  We look for instant gratification when it comes to human connections.  It’s an easy method of connection, but nothing goes beyond that. We send a message and we’re done.  We have connected.  We have become satisfied with the mediocrity of relationships. 

The real success is found in how we use technology to enhance our human connections.  Sure, sending a message or chatting on the phone is a great way to connect, but old-school methods such as meeting in person and really making the time to ‘know’ another person’s energy is what makes those initial connections worthwhile.  If we do not make the time or the effort to connect with each other on a higher level, then the initial connections are a complete waste of time.  Life is so much more special when you really build bonds.  We are so consumed with quantity in our lives, that we no longer understand the concept of quality.  We connect ‘technologically’ because it is faster and we can connect more in a shorter period of time.

So what do we do to make this better?  How do we find a solution?  First of all, we need to be aware of how we are connecting.  We need to accept that we are causing harm by not really being in the moment with our loved ones.  We must stop trying to find validation and importance through the number of messages we receive per day and focus on creating real connections with the people who should matter.

Technology is a beautiful thing; but we as a society are coming back from this phenomenon and taking a more simplistic approach to the technological era. We cannot allow technology to take over our existence but it’s how we use it to enhance our lives that make it worth having. 

Now you answer the question; technology… are we lucky or unfortunate?

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1. Answered
2. Review

1. Question 1 of 10

   1. Question

   In paragraph two, the word pose is closest in meaning to:

   • Ask
   • Think
   • Claim
   • Assume
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   

   The words ‘ask’ and ‘pose’ are interchangeable in this context.
2. Question 2 of 10

   2. Question

   Why does the author ask the reader questions, rather than stating fact after fact?

   • The author doesn’t know the answers
   • The author wants the reader to think and create original ideas on the subject which then create discussion points
   • The author is making the written piece more difficult for the reader to understand
   • None of the above make sense on why the author would choose this writing style
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   

   Even if the author has an opinion on this subject, she wanted the reader to develop their own thoughts by asking questions.
3. Question 3 of 10

   3. Question

   The word ‘phenomenon’ in paragraph six, is closest in meaning to

   • Illusion
   • Continuous
   • Imaginary
   • Occurrence
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   

   A phenomenon in the context of this written piece is an observance of a situation that is happening.  In this case, the technological era is the phenomenon.
4. Question 4 of 10

   4. Question

   The term ‘portable devices’ is made up of two grammatical parts.  What are they?

   • Verb, Adverb
   • Verb, Adjective
   • Adjective, Noun
   • Verb, Noun
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   

   Devices’ is a noun and ‘Portable’ is an adjective.  Portable is describing the noun.
5. Question 5 of 10

   5. Question

   The word ‘mediocrity’ in paragraph 3, is similar in meaning to

   • Media
   • Beauty
   • Averageness
   • Excellence
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   

   A person of mediocre ability is a person who is average in skill.
6. Question 6 of 10

   6. Question

   In paragraph two, the author states that technology can enhance our modern day living.  How is that?

   • By creating a necessary connection between two people in order to relay vital information.
   • By making social media easier to use and therefore people can share more information, faster.
   • By allowing doctors to travel less and sit behind a desk more.
   • By creating a connection between countries across the world.
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   

   The doctors need to exchange information in order to complete a surgery.  The families are able to share personal photos and stories from opposite ends of the world.  The connections between these parties are helpful to exchange important information.
7. Question 7 of 10

   7. Question

   When the author uses the term ‘technological era’ what is she referring to?

   • A picture on her computer
   • An area on the map
   • A moment in time
   • An electronic device
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   

   The word ‘era’ is defined as:  a long and distinct period of time with a particular feature or characteristic.  – The feature or characteristic of this moment in time is when humans have been using and depending on technology.  Therefore the term ‘technological era’ is used.
8. Question 8 of 10

   8. Question

   In paragraph 3, the word gratification is similar in meaning to

   • Fulfillment
   • Sadness
   • Grades
   • Recognition
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   

   A feeling of satisfaction comes when a desire is fulfilled.  The author explains that it is gratifying to know that one’s friends and family remember them and want to hear from them.
9. Question 9 of 10

   9. Question

   This piece is written by the author in

   • Formal writing
   • Informal writing
   • Modern writing
   • Classic writing
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   

   The tone, the choice of words and the way the words are put together vary between the two styles of formal and informal writing. Formal language is less personal than informal language.
10. Question 10 of 10

    10. Question

    Out of the following four statements, what does the author believe about connecting through technology?

    • Technology has allowed society to make advances in many aspects of life, however if we depend too much on it, we begin to lose the human connection and our relationships deteriorate.
    • Technology is good for doctors but patients are having a hard time communicating with their families in Japan.
    • Humans are more consumed than ever with the appearance of having numerous friends and constant stimulation on their phones. It is becoming a form of addiction and even mental illness, to be focused on our mobile devices and constantly seeking validation.
    • A and C are correct
    Correct
    

    Incorrect
    

    The author is trying to get the point across, that people these days are focusing more on their electronic gadgets than the people who are deserving of their time.  Although technology is helpful to our daily lives, we must be cautious of how much we depend on it.

Nonnative English speakers at the 11th-grade level or above should take the TOEFL test to provide evidence of their English proficiency before beginning academic work.

Please contact institution to find out if you are required to complete the TOEFL examination before applying.