TOEFL iBT Reading practice test 3

Fill in the missing letters in the paragraph.

From Games to Data

Graphics processors were first designed to draw detailed images for video games on home computers. Engineers later noticed that these chips could perform thousands of simple calculations at once, which made them ideal for training programs that learn from large amounts of data. Today, the same ability supports research in medicine, weather forecasting, and language translation. As a result, a part once built mainly for entertainment has moved to the center of modern computing and is now a major focus of business investment.

1. Engineers la{{1}} noticed th{{2}} these ch{{3}} could per{{4}} thousands o{{5}} simple calcul{{6}} at on{{7}}, which ma{{8}} them id{{9}} for trai{{10}} programs that learn from large amounts of data. Today, the same ability supports research in medicine, weather forecasting, and language translation. As a result, a part once built mainly for entertainment has moved to the center of modern computing and is now a major focus of business investment. (3 letters)

2. Engineers la{{1}} noticed th{{2}} these ch{{3}} could per{{4}} thousands o{{5}} simple calcul{{6}} at on{{7}}, which ma{{8}} them id{{9}} for trai{{10}} programs that learn from large amounts of data. Today, the same ability supports research in medicine, weather forecasting, and language translation. As a result, a part once built mainly for entertainment has moved to the center of modern computing and is now a major focus of business investment. (2 letters)

3. Engineers la{{1}} noticed th{{2}} these ch{{3}} could per{{4}} thousands o{{5}} simple calcul{{6}} at on{{7}}, which ma{{8}} them id{{9}} for trai{{10}} programs that learn from large amounts of data. Today, the same ability supports research in medicine, weather forecasting, and language translation. As a result, a part once built mainly for entertainment has moved to the center of modern computing and is now a major focus of business investment. (3 letters)

4. Engineers la{{1}} noticed th{{2}} these ch{{3}} could per{{4}} thousands o{{5}} simple calcul{{6}} at on{{7}}, which ma{{8}} them id{{9}} for trai{{10}} programs that learn from large amounts of data. Today, the same ability supports research in medicine, weather forecasting, and language translation. As a result, a part once built mainly for entertainment has moved to the center of modern computing and is now a major focus of business investment. (4 letters)

5. Engineers la{{1}} noticed th{{2}} these ch{{3}} could per{{4}} thousands o{{5}} simple calcul{{6}} at on{{7}}, which ma{{8}} them id{{9}} for trai{{10}} programs that learn from large amounts of data. Today, the same ability supports research in medicine, weather forecasting, and language translation. As a result, a part once built mainly for entertainment has moved to the center of modern computing and is now a major focus of business investment. (1 letter)

6. Engineers la{{1}} noticed th{{2}} these ch{{3}} could per{{4}} thousands o{{5}} simple calcul{{6}} at on{{7}}, which ma{{8}} them id{{9}} for trai{{10}} programs that learn from large amounts of data. Today, the same ability supports research in medicine, weather forecasting, and language translation. As a result, a part once built mainly for entertainment has moved to the center of modern computing and is now a major focus of business investment. (6 letters)

7. Engineers la{{1}} noticed th{{2}} these ch{{3}} could per{{4}} thousands o{{5}} simple calcul{{6}} at on{{7}}, which ma{{8}} them id{{9}} for trai{{10}} programs that learn from large amounts of data. Today, the same ability supports research in medicine, weather forecasting, and language translation. As a result, a part once built mainly for entertainment has moved to the center of modern computing and is now a major focus of business investment. (2 letters)

8. Engineers la{{1}} noticed th{{2}} these ch{{3}} could per{{4}} thousands o{{5}} simple calcul{{6}} at on{{7}}, which ma{{8}} them id{{9}} for trai{{10}} programs that learn from large amounts of data. Today, the same ability supports research in medicine, weather forecasting, and language translation. As a result, a part once built mainly for entertainment has moved to the center of modern computing and is now a major focus of business investment. (2 letters)

9. Engineers la{{1}} noticed th{{2}} these ch{{3}} could per{{4}} thousands o{{5}} simple calcul{{6}} at on{{7}}, which ma{{8}} them id{{9}} for trai{{10}} programs that learn from large amounts of data. Today, the same ability supports research in medicine, weather forecasting, and language translation. As a result, a part once built mainly for entertainment has moved to the center of modern computing and is now a major focus of business investment. (3 letters)

10. Engineers la{{1}} noticed th{{2}} these ch{{3}} could per{{4}} thousands o{{5}} simple calcul{{6}} at on{{7}}, which ma{{8}} them id{{9}} for trai{{10}} programs that learn from large amounts of data. Today, the same ability supports research in medicine, weather forecasting, and language translation. As a result, a part once built mainly for entertainment has moved to the center of modern computing and is now a major focus of business investment. (4 letters)

Answer questions about everyday reading material.

Read an email.

To: copycenter-staff@marrowbrook.edu From: Dana Ruiz, Copy Center Manager Date: January 8 Subject: Update on spring pay Hi everyone, Thanks to all of you, the Hollis Library Copy Center had its best semester ever. Unfortunately, the raise we promised you for January will now begin in the fall. Campus Services, which runs all campus shops including ours, is short of money because the dining halls went over budget. Exam week shift bonuses will still be paid. Thanks again, Dana

Read a social media post.

Marcus Lee Good news, riders! The Bike Kitchen in the basement of Carver Hall is no longer a Saturday-only thing. Starting this week, we're also open Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 9. Saturdays have been a zoo. On some weekends, people waited over an hour to get a turn at one of our four work stands. Our new weekday shifts should spread things out. If you've never been, here's how it works. You bring your own bike, and one of our student volunteers walks you through the repair so you learn to do it yourself. Tools are free to use, and we sell parts for exactly what they cost us. I'm helping out most Thursday evenings, so come say hi! And if you'd like to lend a hand, we can always use more people. No experience needed.

11. What is the main purpose of the email?

A) To tell student staff that a promised pay raise will start later than planned

B) To announce that the copy center will close because of budget problems

C) To explain how student staff can earn exam week bonuses

D) To ask student staff to take extra shifts in the dining halls

12. According to the email, what is true about the copy center?

A) It earned less money than in earlier semesters

B) It had its most successful semester so far

C) It shares its budget with Hollis Library

D) It is run separately from the other campus shops

13. What is the main purpose of the post?

A) To let students know that a bike repair space is now open on more days

B) To recruit experienced mechanics to work at the Bike Kitchen

C) To advertise used bicycles and parts for sale

D) To complain about long waiting times on Saturdays

14. The phrase “a zoo” in the post is closest in meaning to

A) crowded and hectic

B) fun and relaxed

C) noisy because of building work nearby

D) open to the public

15. What can be inferred about Marcus Lee?

A) He is a professional bike mechanic

B) He helps run the Bike Kitchen sessions

C) He works at the front desk of Carver Hall

D) He can only come to the Saturday sessions

Answer questions about academic passages.

Logging and Biodiversity

Many people assume that logging and protecting wildlife are in conflict, and untouched forests are often seen as the ideal. Yet ecologists have found that some North American mountain forests harvested for generations still support a remarkable range of species. When foresters remove only a few trees at a time in different places, the forest gradually becomes a mosaic of patches, with young, middle-aged, and old trees growing side by side. This approach, called selective harvesting, takes out single trees or small groups, opening small clearings. Sunlight then reaches the forest floor, allowing flowering plants that need light to grow there, and these plants draw insects and the animals that feed on them. Careful managers also leave fallen logs and some standing dead trees in place. Fungi and beetles feed on the decaying wood, while woodpeckers and other birds nest in upright dead trunks. Old trees, clearings, and dead wood each serve different species. Clear-cutting works very differently. It removes every tree across a large area at once, leaving a stand of young trees that are all the same age. Such a forest loses the mixed patches, old trees, and dead wood that many species need. The effect of logging on wildlife, therefore, depends less on whether trees are cut than on how they are taken.

16. Which of the following best states a main idea of the passage?

A) Forests that are harvested carefully can still support a wide variety of species

B) Small clearings are more valuable to forest wildlife than dead wood is

C) Forests need to be left untouched for their full variety of species to survive

D) Most forest species depend on very old trees that harvesting removes

17. The word “mosaic” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A) mixture

B) boundary

C) picture

D) sequence

18. According to paragraph 2, why do small clearings benefit certain species?

A) They let rainwater reach the ground, so the soil stays moist for small animals

B) They let sunlight reach the ground, so flowering plants that need light can grow

C) They remove sick trees, so disease spreads less to the healthy ones

D) They leave more water for the remaining trees, so these trees live longer

19. According to the passage, all of the following are true about dead wood EXCEPT:

A) It provides food for fungi and beetles

B) Some birds nest in dead trees that are still standing

C) Careful forest managers leave some of it in the forest

D) It slows the growth of young trees nearby

20. Why does the author mention clear-cutting in paragraph 3?

A) To suggest that clear-cutting benefits species that need open land

B) To give another example of a method that creates the clearings described in paragraph 2

C) To show that the effect of logging on wildlife depends on how the trees are removed

D) To explain why managed forests produce more timber than untouched forests

Fill in the missing letters in the paragraph.

Vulnerability of Rail Networks

Rail networks are often described as systems in which a small local problem can disrupt journeys across an entire region. Because trains travel along fixed rails, they cannot simply detour around blocked sections the way road vehicles do. When a single line is closed for repairs or a safety inspection, passengers may face delays of several hours. Planners therefore study which links carry the most traffic and whether alternative routes exist nearby. Building extra connections is expensive, but it can make a network far more resilient when unexpected closures occur.

1. Because tra{{1}} travel al{{2}} fixed ra{{3}}, they can{{4}} simply det{{5}} around blo{{6}} sections t{{7}} way ro{{8}} vehicles d{{9}}. When a sin{{10}} line is closed for repairs or a safety inspection, passengers may face delays of several hours. Planners therefore study which links carry the most traffic and whether alternative routes exist nearby. Building extra connections is expensive, but it can make a network far more resilient when unexpected closures occur. (3 letters)

2. Because tra{{1}} travel al{{2}} fixed ra{{3}}, they can{{4}} simply det{{5}} around blo{{6}} sections t{{7}} way ro{{8}} vehicles d{{9}}. When a sin{{10}} line is closed for repairs or a safety inspection, passengers may face delays of several hours. Planners therefore study which links carry the most traffic and whether alternative routes exist nearby. Building extra connections is expensive, but it can make a network far more resilient when unexpected closures occur. (3 letters)

3. Because tra{{1}} travel al{{2}} fixed ra{{3}}, they can{{4}} simply det{{5}} around blo{{6}} sections t{{7}} way ro{{8}} vehicles d{{9}}. When a sin{{10}} line is closed for repairs or a safety inspection, passengers may face delays of several hours. Planners therefore study which links carry the most traffic and whether alternative routes exist nearby. Building extra connections is expensive, but it can make a network far more resilient when unexpected closures occur. (3 letters)

4. Because tra{{1}} travel al{{2}} fixed ra{{3}}, they can{{4}} simply det{{5}} around blo{{6}} sections t{{7}} way ro{{8}} vehicles d{{9}}. When a sin{{10}} line is closed for repairs or a safety inspection, passengers may face delays of several hours. Planners therefore study which links carry the most traffic and whether alternative routes exist nearby. Building extra connections is expensive, but it can make a network far more resilient when unexpected closures occur. (3 letters)

5. Because tra{{1}} travel al{{2}} fixed ra{{3}}, they can{{4}} simply det{{5}} around blo{{6}} sections t{{7}} way ro{{8}} vehicles d{{9}}. When a sin{{10}} line is closed for repairs or a safety inspection, passengers may face delays of several hours. Planners therefore study which links carry the most traffic and whether alternative routes exist nearby. Building extra connections is expensive, but it can make a network far more resilient when unexpected closures occur. (3 letters)

6. Because tra{{1}} travel al{{2}} fixed ra{{3}}, they can{{4}} simply det{{5}} around blo{{6}} sections t{{7}} way ro{{8}} vehicles d{{9}}. When a sin{{10}} line is closed for repairs or a safety inspection, passengers may face delays of several hours. Planners therefore study which links carry the most traffic and whether alternative routes exist nearby. Building extra connections is expensive, but it can make a network far more resilient when unexpected closures occur. (4 letters)

7. Because tra{{1}} travel al{{2}} fixed ra{{3}}, they can{{4}} simply det{{5}} around blo{{6}} sections t{{7}} way ro{{8}} vehicles d{{9}}. When a sin{{10}} line is closed for repairs or a safety inspection, passengers may face delays of several hours. Planners therefore study which links carry the most traffic and whether alternative routes exist nearby. Building extra connections is expensive, but it can make a network far more resilient when unexpected closures occur. (2 letters)

8. Because tra{{1}} travel al{{2}} fixed ra{{3}}, they can{{4}} simply det{{5}} around blo{{6}} sections t{{7}} way ro{{8}} vehicles d{{9}}. When a sin{{10}} line is closed for repairs or a safety inspection, passengers may face delays of several hours. Planners therefore study which links carry the most traffic and whether alternative routes exist nearby. Building extra connections is expensive, but it can make a network far more resilient when unexpected closures occur. (2 letters)

9. Because tra{{1}} travel al{{2}} fixed ra{{3}}, they can{{4}} simply det{{5}} around blo{{6}} sections t{{7}} way ro{{8}} vehicles d{{9}}. When a sin{{10}} line is closed for repairs or a safety inspection, passengers may face delays of several hours. Planners therefore study which links carry the most traffic and whether alternative routes exist nearby. Building extra connections is expensive, but it can make a network far more resilient when unexpected closures occur. (1 letter)

10. Because tra{{1}} travel al{{2}} fixed ra{{3}}, they can{{4}} simply det{{5}} around blo{{6}} sections t{{7}} way ro{{8}} vehicles d{{9}}. When a sin{{10}} line is closed for repairs or a safety inspection, passengers may face delays of several hours. Planners therefore study which links carry the most traffic and whether alternative routes exist nearby. Building extra connections is expensive, but it can make a network far more resilient when unexpected closures occur. (3 letters)

Answer questions about everyday reading material.

Read a notice.

Maple Court Residence Hall Grocery Delivery Starts Soon From November 16, residents can order groceries online from Hilltop Pantry for delivery to the hall every Tuesday and Friday. It's an easy way to stock up if you cook in the shared kitchens. Drivers will leave orders in the refrigerated lockers in the lobby, and you'll get a locker code by text when yours arrives. Unlike regular packages, grocery orders skip the mailroom. If your code fails, see the front desk.

Read an email.

To: t.okafor@larkspur-u.edu From: dwhitfield@larkspurtheater.org Date: 10/12/2026 Subject: Ushers needed for The Lantern Keeper Dear Mr. Okafor, Our fall play, The Lantern Keeper, opens soon at Larkspur Hall Theater, with evening performances on October 29, 30, and 31. The cast is set and rehearsals are going well. We need volunteer ushers to scan tickets and help audience members find their seats. Please pick a shift using the sign-up link below. Shifts fill up fast, so don't sleep on this! Ushers start at 6:30 PM and should be friendly and alert with guests. New volunteers attend a short training session before their first shift, but since you helped us at the spring musical, you already know the routine and can skip it. After your shift, you'll receive a free ticket to another performance. www.larkspurtheater.org/ushers Best, Dana Whitfield Stage Manager, Larkspur Hall Theater

11. What is the main purpose of the notice?

A) To announce a new way for residents to receive grocery orders

B) To advertise a grocery store that is opening on campus

C) To explain changes to the residence hall meal plan

D) To ask residents to keep the shared kitchens clean

12. How will residents get the groceries they order?

A) By picking them up at the hall mailroom with their student ID

B) By meeting the driver at the hall's front entrance at a set time

C) By opening a cooled locker with a code sent to their phone

D) By collecting them from the front-desk refrigerator after a text alert

13. Why did Dana Whitfield write the email?

A) To invite Mr. Okafor to audition for a role in the fall play

B) To ask Mr. Okafor to sign up for a volunteer usher shift

C) To thank Mr. Okafor for buying tickets to the spring musical

D) To tell Mr. Okafor about a change in the performance schedule

14. What does Dana Whitfield mean when she writes, “don't sleep on this”?

A) Mr. Okafor should rest well before a long evening

B) Mr. Okafor should not reply late at night

C) Mr. Okafor should stay alert during the performance

D) Mr. Okafor should act soon before the spots are gone

15. What can be inferred about Mr. Okafor?

A) He has helped at the theater before

B) He is a member of the cast of the fall play

C) He must attend a training session before the performance

D) He has already received a free ticket for the fall play

Answer questions about academic passages.

The Value of Screen-Used Objects

When a talking car from a popular 1980s television series goes up for auction, the bidding can climb far beyond what its steel, glass and electronics would cost. The same pattern appears with costumes, props and vehicles from many films and shows: buyers pay a premium over the material worth of the object. One reason is scarcity: studios usually built only a few copies of such items, so supply is limited. In addition, an object connected to a scene that viewers remember well tends to attract higher bids than one that appeared only briefly. Documentation also matters. Collectors want records, such as production notes or photographs from the set, that tie an object to the actual filming. For this reason, an exact replica can be physically identical to the original and still sell for a small fraction of its price. A scratched or worn original often outsells a flawless copy, because its marks may date from the production. Finally, nostalgia plays a central role. Many buyers are paying less for an object than for memories of a series they watched in childhood. Demand therefore tends to peak when that audience reaches middle age and has money to spend. Items linked to the childhood memories of earlier generations have tended to lose value as those buyers leave the market.

16. What is the passage mainly about?

A) How television studios built special vehicles and props in past decades

B) Why objects used in popular entertainment can sell for far more than their material worth

C) How auction companies check whether a collectible object is genuine

D) Why collectors increasingly prefer exact copies to original objects

17. The word “premium” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A) award

B) high quality

C) insurance payment

D) additional amount

18. According to paragraph 2, why does an exact replica usually sell for much less than a screen-used original?

A) It has no documented connection to the actual production

B) It is usually made from cheaper materials than the original

C) It is less likely to be in good working condition

D) Few buyers know that replicas are available

19. According to the passage, all of the following can raise the auction price of a screen-used object EXCEPT:

A) Only a small number of copies of it were ever built

B) It appeared in a scene that viewers remember well

C) It was shown in a public museum exhibition before the sale

D) Buyers connect it with their own childhood

20. What can be inferred about the prices of objects from a series once most of its childhood viewers have grown old?

A) They are likely to keep rising because the objects become rarer over time

B) They are likely to fall as demand from that generation weakens

C) They are likely to stay the same because the objects' documented history does not change

D) They are likely to rise because younger collectors will discover the series