Reading: Rhetorical Purpose Questions Flashcards
7 cards from real TOEFL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Reading: Rhetorical Purpose Questions flashcards as text
A TOEFL rhetorical purpose question typically begins with which phrase?
Answer: Why does the author mention...
Rhetorical purpose questions ask why the author includes a detail, often phrased 'Why does the author mention...'.
When an author provides a specific example right after a general claim, the example's purpose is usually to:
Answer: Illustrate or support the claim
Examples placed after a claim are used to illustrate and support that claim.
The phrase 'In contrast' signals that the author intends to:
Answer: Show a difference between two ideas
'In contrast' introduces a difference or opposition between ideas.
If a passage introduces a surprising statistic, the author's likely rhetorical purpose is to:
Answer: Emphasize the scale or importance of a point
Striking statistics are used to stress how significant or large something is.
An author quotes a leading scientist primarily in order to:
Answer: Lend authority and credibility to a claim
Citing an expert adds authority and credibility to the argument.
A rhetorical question inserted into a paragraph is most often used to:
Answer: Engage the reader and introduce the next point
Rhetorical questions draw the reader in and set up the discussion that follows.
When the author writes 'For instance,' the following information serves to:
Answer: Give a concrete example of the preceding idea
'For instance' introduces an example that supports the previous statement.