Reading Comprehension Test in TOEFL iBT

Inference questions require you to draw a conclusion based on facts or details presented in the passage. While the answer is not directly stated, it is implied, meaning you need to use reasoning to arrive at the correct conclusion. These questions often focus on one or two sentences in a paragraph, but sometimes they require you to consider information spread throughout the entire passage. 

Typically, these questions contain words like "infer," "imply," or "suggest." To answer an inference question, start by identifying the key words in the question and then scanning the relevant paragraph for these words, their synonyms, or related ideas. Once you find the relevant information, read the sentence carefully and consider the surrounding context if necessary. 

Then, make an inference based on the stated facts and choose the answer that logically follows from them. Be sure to eliminate choices that contradict the passage or merely repeat words or phrases without being valid inferences. 

The correct answer will always represent a logical conclusion drawn from the explicitly stated facts in the passage. Key points to remember: inference questions include forms of the words "infer," "imply," or "suggest," and the answer will never be directly stated. 

Instead, you must rely on common sense and logical reasoning to deduce the answer. Inference questions may focus on information within a single paragraph or scattered throughout the passage.

 Incorrect answers typically repeat words from the passage but do not logically follow from the facts or contradict the information provided. Examples of such questions include: "What can be inferred about X?", "The author implies that...", or "What is the likely result of X?"

Negative Factual Information

Negative factual information questions are easily identifiable because they ask you to identify which statement is NOT true based on the passage. 

These questions may also be phrased as "All of the following are true except..." To answer these questions, you must verify that three of the answer choices are true, while one is either false or not mentioned in the passage. This type of question can be more time-consuming to answer compared to others. 

To effectively answer negative factual information questions, begin by scanning the passage for key words or phrases from the question. In some cases, you may find all the relevant information in a single sentence, but it's also possible that the details will be spread throughout a paragraph or even the entire passage. 

If necessary, scan for each answer choice individually. Once you locate the relevant section, carefully read it to determine if the answer choice is true or untrue according to the passage. Eliminate the answer choices that are true, and select the one that is either untrue or not mentioned. Be sure to double-check to confirm your selection.