Skill
Answer Transition Questions Correctly
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In the TOEFL ITP Reading Comprehension section, you may be asked questions about the connection between paragraphs. These are known as transition questions. Instead of asking about details directly stated in the text, these questions require you to determine:
- What the preceding paragraph most likely discussed, or
- What the following paragraph will most likely discuss.
Although you cannot see the other paragraphs, the passage itself gives clues. Good academic writing uses transitions to guide readers smoothly from one idea to another. Authors often:
- Begin a paragraph with a reference to a previous idea, or
- End a paragraph with an idea that prepares the reader for what comes next.
Your task is to use these clues to infer the missing information.
How Transition Questions Work
1. Questions about the Preceding Paragraph
These questions ask what probably appeared before the passage.
Look carefully at the first sentence of the passage. Authors commonly use words or phrases that signal a continuation, comparison, or shift in topic.
Common clues:
- Another…
- In addition…
- A second…
- Unlike the previous…
- Similarly…
These clues tell you the current paragraph is connected to something earlier.
2. Questions about the Following Paragraph
These questions ask what most likely comes after the passage.
Look at the last sentence. Authors often introduce an idea that will be developed in the next paragraph. It might:
- Introduce a new topic,
- Raise a question, or
- Hint at additional information.
Your job is to determine which answer choice logically extends from this final idea.
Strategy for Answering Transition Questions
- For preceding-paragraph questions:
Read the first line of the passage. Identify words that connect backward. - For following-paragraph questions:
Read the last line of the passage. Identify hints about what will come next. - Look for repeated ideas or new topics being introduced or summarized.
- Choose the answer that logically connects with the passage’s first or last sentence.
Remember:
You are not guessing randomly. You are making a logical conclusion based on the structure of the paragraph.
Exercise
Complete the following exercises to reinforce what you’ve learned:
Practice answering the following transition questions. Each passage is followed by two questions like those found on the TOEFL ITP.
PASSAGE ONE (Questions 1–2)
The rise of science documentaries in the late twentieth century greatly increased public interest in scientific topics. One of the most influential programs was Cosmos, a television series that explored ideas from astronomy, biology, physics, and anthropology. Written and presented by Carl Sagan, the series reached millions of viewers and became a landmark in science communication.
1. The paragraph preceding this passage most likely discussed
(A) early attempts to popularize science on television
(B) the educational background of Carl Sagan
(C) the history of astronomy as a discipline
(D) the awards received by Cosmos
2. The paragraph following this passage is most likely about
(A) the overall impact of Cosmos on the public
(B) the personal life of Carl Sagan
(C) the technical challenges of filming science programs
(D) the biography of other scientists featured in the series
PASSAGE TWO (Questions 3–4)
When an undersea earthquake occurs, the sudden movement of the ocean floor can displace enormous amounts of water. This displacement generates long, powerful waves known as tsunamis. These waves travel extremely quickly across deep ocean waters, but they grow much taller and more destructive as they approach shallow coastal regions.
3. The paragraph preceding this passage most likely discussed
(A) the causes of earthquakes
(B) the effects of tides on ocean waves
(C) major tsunami events in history
(D) efforts to predict underwater volcanoes
4. The paragraph following this passage is most likely about
(A) how coastal communities prepare for tsunamis
(B) differences between hurricanes and tsunamis
(C) how scientists measure water displacement
(D) the speed of ordinary ocean waves in deep water
PASSAGE THREE (Questions 5–6)
In the United States, marriage laws are determined by individual states rather than by the federal government. As a result, the legal age for marriage varies. In most states, individuals must be at least eighteen years old to marry without parental consent, while other states set the minimum at nineteen or twenty-one. Some states also permit marriage at younger ages if both parental and judicial approval are granted.
5. The paragraph preceding this passage most likely discussed
(A) differences between federal and state legal authority
(B) the legal consequences of early marriage
(C) the process for obtaining parental consent
(D) cultural variations in wedding traditions
6. The paragraph following this passage is most likely about
(A) debates surrounding the advantages and disadvantages of early marriage
(B) the documentation required to apply for marriage licenses
(C) reasons why some states have stricter marriage laws
(D) differences between civil and religious marriage ceremonies
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