TOEFL ITP and Pre-TOEFL Sample Questions
Both tests have items with a range of difficulty. This range is much greater on the ITP TOEFL. The Pre-TOEFL test has very few hard questions; the majority are easy-medium difficulty.SECTION 1 — Listening Comprehension
STATEMENTS (PRE-TOEFL ONLY)
1. On the recording, you will hear:
(narrator) To tell the truth, I’m not much interested in ancient
history.
In the test book, you will read:
(A) There’s great interest shown in my ancient history class.
(B) It’s hard to tell which facts are true in ancient history.
(C) It isn’t easy to read ancient history texts.
(D) I really don’t care much for ancient history.
The correct choice is (D).
SHORT CONVERSATIONS
These types of items might appear on both Pre-TOEFL and TOEFL ITP.
2. On the recording, you will hear:
(MA) You can borrow this novel if you like.
(WA) Are you done with it, Marty?
(N) What is the woman asking Marty?
In the test book, you will read:
(A) If he’s written the novel
(B) If he’s finished the novel yet
(C) When he’s going to read the novel
(D) Where he’s put the novel
The correct choice is (B).
3. On the recording, you will hear:
(MA) Did you see the sketches that Jason did of the lake?
(WA) How he can capture so much with just a few lines is more than I can figure out!
(N) What does the woman think of Jason’s sketches?
In the test book, you will read:
(A) She prefers the ones of hunting scenes.
(B) She admires them.
(C) She can’t understand what they represent.
(D) She dislikes those that lack detail.
The correct choice is (B).
MINI-TALK
This type of mini-talk might appear on both Pre-TOEFL and TOEFL ITP.
(narrator) Listen to the talk.
(woman) Although I think the United States generally has an excellent system of transportation, I do not think that it does a good job of transporting people between cities that are only a few hundred miles apart. A person commuting between Detroit and Chicago, or between San Francisco and Los Angeles, so-called strip cities, may spend only a relatively short time in the air while spending several hours getting to and from the airport. This situation makes flying almost as time-consuming as driving. Moreover, airplanes use a lot of their fuel just getting into the air. They simply are not fuel-efficient on short trips. High-speed trains may be an answer. One fairly new proposal for such a train is for something called a “maglev,” meaning a magnetically levitated train. Maglevs will not actually ride on the tracks, but will fly above tracks that are magnetically activated. This
will save wear and tear on the tracks. These trains will go faster than one hundred fifty miles per hour — at that speed, conventional trains have trouble staying on the tracks. As you can see, maglevs offer exciting possibilities for the future.
1. On the recording, you will hear:
(narrator) What is the main topic of the talk?
In the test book, you will read:
(A) Energy conservation.
(B) A new kind of transportation.
(C) Strip cities.
(D) Advantages of air transportation over railroads.
The correct choice is (B).
2. On the recording, you will hear:
(narrator) When are airplanes not fuel-efficient?
In the test book, you will read:
(A) On short trips.
(B) On long trips.
(C) When flying over cities.
(D) When flying at high altitudes.
The correct choice is (A).
3. On the recording, you will hear:
(narrator) How does a maglev operate?
In the test book, you will read:
(A) It uses nuclear energy.
(B) It rests on a cushion of pressurized air.
(C) It flies over magnetically activated tracks.
(D) It uses a device similar to a jet engine.
The correct choice is (C).
SECTION 2 — Structure and Written Expression:
These types of items might appear on both Pre-TOEFL and TOEFL ITP.
STRUCTURE
The examinee must choose the one word or phrase that best completes the sentence.
1. Mt. Hood ______ in the state of Oregon.
(A) although
(B) and
(C) is
(D) which
The correct choice is (C).
2. During the early period of ocean navigation, -------- any need for
sophisticated instruments and techniques.
(A) so that hardly
(B) where there hardly was
(C) hardly was
(D) there was hardly
The correct choice is (D).
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
The examinee must identify the one underlined word or phrase that must be changed for the sentence to be correct.
How many people (A) know that the Brooklyn Bridge, (B) built in 1883,
(C) were the world’s first suspension (D) bridge?
The correct choice is (C).
2. Seven (A) of planets rotate in the same direction (B) as their orbital motions, (C) while
Venus and Uranus rotate in the (D) opposite direction.
The correct choice is (A).
SECTION 3 — Reading Comprehension
VOCABULARY (PRE-TOEFL ONLY)
The examinee must choose the one word or phrase that best keeps the meaning of the original word or phrase underlined.
1. It is difficult to get young people to plan for their old age, which seems
very distant to them
(A) impossible
(B) faraway
(C) observable
(D) fearful
The correct choice is (B).
READING COMPREHENSION:
This type of item might appear on both Pre-TOEFL and TOEFL.
A new atomic clock being developed for navigation satellites will perform better than previous devices. The clock, which incorporates a hydrogen maser, will use a new microwave cavity design to provide a compact and lightweight package, and new electronic techniques to maintain long-term stability. The clock can provide precise navigation information because it is stable to one second in three million years. The differences in the time when signals from four satellites arrive at one location can be used to calculate that position to within a few yards.
1. From the passage, it can be inferred that which of the
following characteristics of the clock mentioned will be
most impressive?
(A) Its compact size
(B) Its weight
(C) Its accuracy
(D) Its ability to measure distance
The correct choice is (C).
2. It can be inferred from the passage that the new clock will be
(A) long-lasting
(B) harmful to humans
(C) produced in great numbers
(D) very attractive looking
The correct choice is (A).
3. According to the passage, signals from how many satellites will be
used to calculate a position?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
The correct choice is (D).
4. What is the primary purpose of the passage?
(A) To teach a lesson
(B) To sell a product
(C) To support a theory
(D) To provide information
The correct choice is (D)
