How to answer Insert Text Questions? | Reading for TOEFL PDF Download

Insert Text Questions

In this type of question, you are given a new sentence and are asked where in the passage it would best fit. You need to understand the logic of the passage, as well as the grammatical connections (like pronoun reference) between sentences. Not every set includes an Insert Text question. There is never more than one in a set.

How to Recognize Insert Text Questions

In the passage, you will see four black squares. The squares are located at the beginnings or ends of sentences. Sometimes all four squares appear in one paragraph.  Sometimes they are spread across the end of one paragraph and the beginning of another.

You are then asked this question:
Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.

• [You will see a sentence in bold.]

Where would the sentence best fit?
Your job is to click on one of the squares and insert the sentence in the text.

Tips for Insert Text Questions

• Try the sentence in each of the places indicated by the squares. You can place and replace the sentence as many times as you want.
• Look at both the structure of the sentence you are inserting and the logic. Pay special attention to logical connecting words; they can provide important information about where the sentence should be placed.
• Frequently used connecting words:
  • On the other hand
  • For example On the contrary Similarly In contrast
  • Further, or Furthermore
  • Therefore
  • In other words
  • As a result
  • Finally
• Make sure that the inserted sentence connects logically to both the sentence before it and the sentence after it.

Example

Passage excerpt with example squares: “Scholars offer three related but different opinions about this puzzle.
■ One opinion is that the paintings were a record of the seasonal migrations made by herds. M Because some paintings were made directly over others, obliterating them, it is probable that a painting’s value ended with the migration it pictured.
■ Unfortunately, this explanation fails to explain the hidden locations, unless the migrations were celebrated with secret ceremonies. ■”
Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.

Q. All three of them have strengths and weaknesses, but none adequately answers all of the questions the paintings present.
Where would the sentence best fit?
(a) Scholars offer three related but different opinions about this puzzle. All three of them have strengths and weaknesses, but none adequately answers all of the questions the paintings present. One opinion is that the paintings were a record of the seasonal migrations made by herds. ■ Because some paintings were made directly over others, obliterating them, it is probable that a painting’s value ended with the migration it pictured. ■ Unfortunately, this explanation fails to explain the hidden locations, unless the migrations were celebrated with secret ceremonies. ■
(b) Scholars offer three related but different opinions about this puzzle. ■ One opinion is that the paintings were a record of the seasonal migrations made by herds. All three of them have strengths and weaknesses, but none adequately answers all of the questions the paintings present. Because some paintings were made directly over others, obliterating them, it is probable that a painting’s value ended with the migration it pictured. ■ Unfortunately, this explanation fails to explain the hidden locations, unless the migrations were celebrated with secret ceremonies. ■
(c) Scholars offer three related but different opinions about this puzzle, ■ One opinion is that the paintings were a record of the seasonal migrations made by herds. ■ Because some paintings were made directly over others, obliterating them, it is probable that a painting’s value ended with the migration it pictured. All three of them have strengths and weaknesses, but none adequately answers all of the questions the paintings present. Unfortunately, this explanation fails to explain the hidden locations, unless the migrations were celebrated with secret ceremonies. ■
(d) Scholars offer three related but different opinions about this puzzle. ■ One opinion is that the paintings were a record of the seasonal migrations made by herds. ■ Because some paintings were made directly over others, obliterating them, it is probable that a painting’s value ended with the migration it pictured. ■ Unfortunately, this explanation fails to explain the hidden locations, unless the migrations were celebrated with secret ceremonies. All three of them have strengths and weaknesses, but none adequately answers all of the questions the paintings present.

Explanation
In this example, choice a is the correct answer. The new sentence makes sense only if it occurs in the first position, after the first sentence. In that place, “All three of them” refers back to “three related but different opinions." The information in the sentence is a commentary on all three of the “opinions”; the opinions are related, but none is a complete explanation. Logically, this evaluation of all three opinions must come either as an introduction to the three opinions or as a conclusion about all three. Only the introductory position is available because the paragraph does not include all three opinions.