TOEFL Reading: Rhetorical Purpose Questions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A TOEFL rhetorical purpose question typically begins with which phrase?
- Why does the author mention... (Correct answer)
- What is the meaning of the word...
- According to paragraph 2, what...
- Which sentence can be inferred...
Correct answer: Why does the author mention...
Rhetorical purpose questions ask why the author includes a detail, often phrased 'Why does the author mention...'.
Question 2: When an author provides a specific example right after a general claim, the example's purpose is usually to:
- Illustrate or support the claim (Correct answer)
- Contradict the claim
- Define a technical term
- Summarize the whole passage
Correct answer: Illustrate or support the claim
Examples placed after a claim are used to illustrate and support that claim.
Question 3: The phrase 'In contrast' signals that the author intends to:
- Show a difference between two ideas (Correct answer)
- Add another supporting detail
- Repeat the previous point
- Give a chronological sequence
Correct answer: Show a difference between two ideas
'In contrast' introduces a difference or opposition between ideas.
Question 4: If a passage introduces a surprising statistic, the author's likely rhetorical purpose is to:
- Emphasize the scale or importance of a point (Correct answer)
- Confuse the reader deliberately
- End the discussion of the topic
- Provide an exact definition
Correct answer: Emphasize the scale or importance of a point
Striking statistics are used to stress how significant or large something is.
Question 5: An author quotes a leading scientist primarily in order to:
- Lend authority and credibility to a claim (Correct answer)
- Introduce an unrelated topic
- Show personal opinion only
- Replace the need for evidence
Correct answer: Lend authority and credibility to a claim
Citing an expert adds authority and credibility to the argument.
Question 6: A rhetorical question inserted into a paragraph is most often used to:
- Engage the reader and introduce the next point (Correct answer)
- Provide a final answer
- List factual data
- Define vocabulary
Correct answer: Engage the reader and introduce the next point
Rhetorical questions draw the reader in and set up the discussion that follows.
Question 7: When the author writes 'For instance,' the following information serves to:
- Give a concrete example of the preceding idea (Correct answer)
- Disagree with the preceding idea
- Conclude the paragraph
- Introduce a counterargument
Correct answer: Give a concrete example of the preceding idea
'For instance' introduces an example that supports the previous statement.
TOEFL Reading: Rhetorical Purpose Questions 2
A TOEFL rhetorical purpose question typically begins with which phrase?