Traps in the TOEFL Inference Question Part 2

Just when you think you know how to avoid common traps in the Inference Question, another trap appears and you fall in it selecting the incorrect answer choice. Oh No!

Yes, there are more traps. But don’t be afraid! When you know how to see these traps, you can avoid them!

In an Inference Question, you are making a conclusion based on the information in the text. This conclusion should be 99% probably true. It is the MOST likely conclusion. When you look at the answer choices for this question, eliminate the following traps:

1. An answer choice that is a false causality.

This will add a cause/effect relationship that is not stated in the text.

2. An answer choice that is a false comparison.

This will add a more/less than relationship that is not stated in the text.

3. An answer choice that is a false combination. This will place two (or more) pieces of information from the text together and this new combination results in a false statement.

4. An answer choice that does NOT answer the question.

5. An answer choice that is highly possible. This may be the answer choice that you think could be the answer. However, there may be another choice that is MORE probable. Select the most probable choice. The correct answer choice is closest to the actual text. It might be so close that you will think it is too simple. Sometimes, TOEFL is simple!

Let’s Practice! Read the following text. Notice the different traps in the answer choices.