How to answer Reference Questions? | Reading for TOEFL PDF Download

Reference Questions

These questions ask you to identify referential relationships between the words in the passage. Often, the relationship is between a pronoun and its antecedent (the word to which the pronoun refers). Sometimes other kinds of grammatical reference are tested (like which or this).

How to Recognize Reference Questions

Reference questions look similar to vocabulary questions. In the passage, one word or phrase is highlighted. Usually the word is a pronoun. Then you are asked

• The word X in the passage refers to 

The four answer choices will be words or phrases from the passage. Only one choice is the word to which the highlighted word refers.

Tips for Reference Questions

• If the reference question is about a pronoun, make sure your answer is the same number (singular or plural) and case (first person, second person, third person) as the highlighted pronoun.
• Substitute your choice for the highlighted word or words in the sentence. Does it violate any grammar rules? Does it make sense?

Examples

(i) Passage Excerpt: “. . . These laws are universal in their application, regardless of cultural beliefs, geography, or climate. If pots have no bottoms or have large openings in their sides, they could hardly be considered containers in any traditional sense. Since the laws of physics, not some arbitrary decision, have determined the general form of applied-art objects, they follow basic patterns, so much so that functional forms can vary only within certain limits ...”
Q. The word they in the passage refers to
(a) applied-art objects
(b) the laws of physics
(c) containers
(d) the sides of pots

Explanation
This is an example of a simple pronoun-referent item. The highlighted word they refers to the phrase “applied-art objects,” which immediately precedes it, so choice a is the correct answer.
Often the grammatical referent for a pronoun will be separated from the pronoun. It may be located in a preceding clause or even in the preceding sentence.

(ii) Passage Excerpt: ''...The first weekly newspaper in the colonies was the Boston Gazette, established in 1719, the same year that marked the appearance of Philadelphia’s first newspaper, the American Mercury, where the young Benjamin Franklin worked. By 1760 Boston had 4 newspapers and 5 other printing establishments; Philadelphia, 2 newspapers and 3 other presses; and New York, 3 newspapers. The distribution, if not the sale, of newspapers was assisted by the establishment of a postal service in 1710, which had a network of some 65 offices by 1770, serving all 13 colonies ...”
Q. The word 'which' in the passage refers to
(a) distribution
(b) sale
(c) newspaper
(d) postal service

Explanation
In this example, the highlighted word is a relative pronoun, the grammatical subject of the relative clause “which had a network of some 65 offices . . .'' The Relative clause is describing the postal service, so choice d is the correct answer. 

(iii) Passage Excerpts: "..Roots anchor the plant in one of two ways or sometimes by a combination of the two. The first is by occupying a large volume of shallow soil around the plant’s base with a fibrous root system, one consisting of many thin, profusely branched roots. Since these kinds of roots grow relatively close to the soil surface, they effectively control soil erosion. Grass roots are especially well suited to this purpose. Fibrous roots capture water as it begins to percolate into the ground and so must draw their mineral supplies from the surface soil before the nutrients are leached to lower levels...”
Q. The phrase this purpose. in the passage refers to
(a) combining two root systems
(b) feeding the plant
(c) preventing soil erosion
(d) leaching nutrients

Explanation
In the example, the highlighted words are a phrase containing a demonstrative article (this) and a noun (purpose). Because a fibrous root system can keep soil in place, it can be used to stop erosion, and grassroots are a fibrous root system. The sentence could be reworded as "Grassroots are especially well suited to preventing soil erosion,” so choice c is the correct answer.