Inside the TOEFL® Test - Reading Insert Text Question
 


Transcript

Video duration: 2:14

People in this video

Michael

Intro

[music playing]

Michael: Hi, I'm Michael from ETS. Today on Inside the TOEFL Test, we're going inside the TOEFL iBT Reading section. Specifically, the Insert Text questions. 

On-screen:
Inside the TOEFL® Test – Reading
Insert Text

Michael: The Insert Text questions are designed to show that you understand the logical order of ideas in a reading passage.

On-screen: Insert Text- understand the logical order of ideas in a reading passage

Michael: In the reading section, every reading passage has one Insert Text question. But instead of choosing from a list of 4 choices, like with most Reading questions, you will click on one of the 4 black squares to insert the text into the paragraph.

On-screen:
Insert Text- one for each reading passage

Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the passage.

Some companies in the power industry are aware of this wider possibility and are planning sizable wind-farm projects in states other than California.

Where would the sentence best fit?

Since 1980, the use of wind to produce electricity has been growing rapidly. Some companies in the power industry are aware of this wider possibility and are planning sizable wind-farm projects in states other than California. In 1994 there were nearly 20,000 wind turbines worldwide, most grouped in clusters called wind farms that collectively produced 3,000 megawatts of electricity. ■ Most were in Denmark (which got 3 percent of its electricity from wind turbines) and California (where 17,000 machines produced 1 percent of the state's electricity, enough to meet the residential needs of a city as large as San Fransico). ■ In principle, all the power needs of the United States could be provided by exploiting the wind potential of just three states – North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas. ■
Large wind farms can be built in six months to a year and then easily expanded as needed. With a moderate to fairly high net energy yield, these systems emit no heat-trapping carbon dioxide or other air pollutants and need no water for cooling; manufacturing them produces little water pollution. The land under wind turbines can be used for grazing cattle and other purposes, and leasing land for wind turbines can provide extra income for farmers and rachers.

Click a square to insert text
Change location as needed

 

Michael: During the real test, you can change the location of the sentence as many times as you need to, so you can see how it works in each of the four places.

On-screen: Since 1980, the use of wind to produce electricity has been growing rapidly. ■ In 1994 there were nearly 20,000 wind turbines worldwide, most grouped in clusters called wind farms that collectively produced 3,000 megawatts of electricity. Some companies in the power industry are aware of this wider possibility and are planning sizable wind-farm projects in states other than California Most were in Denmark (which got 3 percent of its electricity from wind turbines) and California (where 17,000 machines produced 1 percent of the state's electricity, enough to meet the residential needs of a city as large as San Fransico). ■ In principle, all the power needs of the United States could be provided by exploiting the wind potential of just three states – North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas. ■
Large wind farms can be built in six months to a year and then easily expanded as needed. With a moderate to fairly high net energy yield, these systems emit no heat-trapping carbon dioxide or other air pollutants and need no water for cooling; manufacturing them produces little water pollution. The land under wind turbines can be used for grazing cattle and other purposes, and leasing land for wind turbines can provide extra income for farmers and rachers.

On-screen: Sample question

Michael: Here's a sample Insert Text question, and the corresponding paragraph.
Note that the sentence says "This is the criterion…" And it's important to look for pronouns. The pronoun here is "this," so there is probably something about a criterion in the previous sentence.
If we insert the sentence at square number 4, the previous sentence talks about "the standard criterion," and the following sentence says "Yet an equally important criterion". So that's a likely choice. And when you read those sentences together, the sentences do flow logically. So this is the correct answer.

On-screen: Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the passage.

This is the criterion emphasized by Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.

Where would the sentence best fit?

Impacts by meteorites represent one mechanism that could cause global catastrophes and seriously influence the evolution of life all over the planet. ■ According to some estimates, the majority of all extinctions of species may be due to such impacts. ■ Such a perspective fundamentally changes our view of biological evolution. ■ The standard criterion for survival of a species is its success in competing with other species and adapting to slowly changing environments. This is the criterion emphasized by Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. Yet an equally important criterion is the ability of a species to survive random global ecological catastrophes due to impacts.

Michael: One tip for improving your reading is to really know your pronouns, and to practice matching them to the words they refer to in a text. Here are a few of the most common pronouns that you will see when you read.

On-screen: Skill Building Tip – know your pronouns

  • This/these
  • That/those
  • They/them
  • Him/her
  • He/she/it
  • Which

Michael: There are lots of ways to improve your English skills. Whatever you do, keep practicing. And good luck on your TOEFL test.

On-screen: For more information about the TOEFL® test and to register, visit the TOEFL® website at www.toeflgoanywhere.org
[END]