Complete Guide to TOEFL Reading Sentence Simplification Questions

1. Passage: With the emergence of the Sumerian civilization in about 3100 B.C., a new era in human experience began—one in which the economic, political, and social mechanisms created by humans began to affect the lives of cities, towns, and villages located hundreds and perhaps thousands of miles apart. In a real sense, a rapidly evolving world system linked hundreds of Southwest Asian societies all the way from modern-day eastern Iran to the eastern Mediterranean and the Nile Valley. This nascent world system developed as a result of insatiable demands for nonlocal raw materials in different ecological regions where societies were developing along very similar evolutionary tracks toward greater complexity. In each area, social developments and technological innovations were triggered not only by basic economic needs but also by the competitive instincts of newly urbanized elites, who used lavish display and exotic luxuries to reaffirm their social prestige and authority. Sumerian civilization is a mirror of this developing regional interdependence.

Highlighted sentence: "This nascent world system developed as a result of insatiable demands for nonlocal raw materials in different ecological regions where societies were developing along very similar evolutionary tracks toward greater complexity."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

2. Passage: Renewable energy sources have become increasingly important as concerns about climate change and fossil fuel depletion grow worldwide. Solar power, wind energy, hydropower, geothermal energy, and biomass are the main types of renewable energy currently utilized. Each has unique benefits and challenges associated with its production and implementation. While solar and wind energy are praised for their low emissions and decreasing costs, their dependence on weather conditions can limit reliability without effective storage solutions. Hydropower provides a steady and controllable energy supply but can disrupt aquatic ecosystems. Geothermal energy offers a constant source of heat, though it is geographically limited. Biomass energy can recycle organic waste but risks competing with food production if not managed carefully. Governments and industries are investing in research to improve technologies and infrastructure that maximize benefits while minimizing environmental impacts. The transition to renewables is complex and requires balancing energy needs, economic factors, and ecological preservation to create sustainable power systems for the future.

Highlighted sentence: "While solar and wind energy are praised for their low emissions and decreasing costs, their dependence on weather conditions can limit reliability without effective storage solutions."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

3. Passage: Throughout history, architectural structures have relied on support methods rooted in unchanging physical principles, even as the materials used to build them have evolved significantly. While early civilizations may have used mud brick or timber and today’s architects use steel and reinforced concrete, the strategies used to make buildings stable remain largely the same. In order for the structure to achieve the size and strength necessary to meet its purpose, architecture employs methods of support that, because they are based on physical laws, have changed little since people first discovered them—even while building materials have changed dramatically. Supporting a structure involves calculating how it can manage downward forces caused by gravity. Whether resisting compression, tension, or bending, the design must ensure that the entire system remains stable under the physical stress it will endure.

Highlighted sentence: "In order for the structure to achieve the size and strength necessary to meet its purpose, architecture employs methods of support that, because they are based on physical laws, have changed little since people first discovered them—even while building materials have changed dramatically."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

4. Passage: Humans likely first understood that seeds could provide a reliable food source through farming when they noticed plants growing in discarded waste or abandoned areas—perhaps fruit trees emerging along forest and jungle trails from seeds that had been dropped or passed through animals, or vegetables sprouting in refuse heaps at temporary camps. A more organized approach to agriculture began about eight to ten thousand years ago coincidentally at a number of locations around the globe. The richest variety of early farming took shape in the Near East, where legumes, grains, flax, sesame, and fruit trees were cultivated. At roughly the same time, indigenous peoples in the Americas grew beans, maize, squash, and potatoes, while Asian farmers started cultivating rice.

Highlighted sentence: Humans likely first understood that seeds could provide a reliable food source through farming when they noticed plants growing in discarded waste or abandoned areas—perhaps fruit trees emerging along forest and jungle trails from seeds that had been dropped or passed through animals, or vegetables sprouting in refuse heaps at temporary camps.

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

5. Passage: Hills and mountains are often regarded as the epitome of permanence, successfully resisting the destructive forces of nature, but in fact they tend to be relatively short-lived in geological terms. As a general rule, the higher a mountain is, the more recently it was formed; for example, the high mountains of the Himalayas are only about 50 million years old. Lower mountains tend to be older, and are often the eroded relics of much higher mountain chains. About 400 million years ago, when the present-day continents of North America and Europe were joined, the Caledonian mountain chain was the same size as the modern Himalayas. Today, however, the relics of the Caledonian orogeny (mountain-building period) exist as the comparatively low mountains of Greenland, the northern Appalachians in the United States, the Scottish Highlands, and the Norwegian coastal plateau.

Highlighted sentence: "Hills and mountains are often regarded as the epitome of permanence, successfully resisting the destructive forces of nature, but in fact they tend to be relatively short-lived in geological terms."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

6. Passage: In the competitive world of 19th-century American politics, both the Whigs and Democrats needed broad support to succeed, particularly from farmers and laborers—the two most influential social groups of the time. While neither party could rely solely on the wealthy or the impoverished, their appeal varied depending on economic interests. The Whigs found favor among urban businesspeople, commercial farmers looking to profit from surplus crops, and skilled workers seeking upward mobility. In contrast, Democrats drew support from individuals who either lived outside the growing market economy or felt excluded from its benefits, such as traditional farmers, disillusioned workers, and ambitious newcomers seeking to dismantle existing monopolies. The Whigs were strongest in the towns, cities, and those rural areas that were fully integrated into the market economy, whereas Democrats dominated areas of semisubsistence farming that were more isolated and languishing economically.

Highlighted sentence: "The Whigs were strongest in the towns, cities, and those rural areas that were fully integrated into the market economy, whereas Democrats dominated areas of semisubsistence farming that were more isolated and languishing economically."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

7. Passage: Loïe Fuller developed a form of performance dance that emphasized swirling fabrics and shifting lighting effects, creating an illusion of constantly morphing shapes. Rather than relying on complex choreography, she generated motion primarily through wide, sweeping arm movements, often extended by rods hidden within her elaborate costumes. Unlike classical ballet—which dominated the stage at the time and celebrated technical skill—Fuller’s approach required little formal training and instead emphasized visual experimentation. Although her early theatrical career had included stints as an actress, she was not primarily interested in storytelling or expressing emotions through dance; the drama of her dancing emanated from her visual effects.

Highlighted sentence: "Although her early theatrical career had included stints as an actress, she was not primarily interested in storytelling or expressing emotions through dance; the drama of her dancing emanated from her visual effects."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

8. Passage: Many ecologists now think that the relative long-term stability of climax communities comes not from diversity but from the “patchiness” of the environment; an environment that varies from place to place supports more kinds of organisms than an environment that is uniform. When a population disappears from one location, nearby communities often provide newcomers that can take its place. Even if the replacement is not the same species, it can usually perform a similar ecological role, helping maintain the overall structure and function of the ecosystem.

Highlighted sentence: "Many ecologists now think that the relative long-term stability of climax communities comes not from diversity but from the “patchiness” of the environment; an environment that varies from place to place supports more kinds of organisms than an environment that is uniform."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

9. Passage: The economic success of certain nations during the early industrial era can be traced to several key factors, one of which was widespread literacy. However, their real advantage lay in how they responded to global economic structures. The key factor in the success of these countries (along with high literacy, which contributed to it) was their ability to adapt to the international division of labor determined by the early industrializers and to stake out areas of specialization in international markets for which they were especially well suited. This strategy led to a strong reliance on global trade, which was prone to sharp fluctuations. Yet during periods of economic growth, these countries reaped substantial rewards in areas where they had competitive advantages. Sweden, for instance, derived 18 percent of its income from exports in 1870, a figure that rose to 22 percent by 1913. Similarly, Denmark exported more than half its farm output—especially butter, pork, and eggs—with most of its butter going to Great Britain, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the UK's butter imports.

Highlighted sentence: "The key factor in the success of these countries (along with high literacy, which contributed to it) was their ability to adapt to the international division of labor determined by the early industrializers and to stake out areas of specialization in international markets for which they were especially well suited."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

10. Passage: The Ogallala aquifer is a massive sandstone water reserve that lies beneath roughly 583,000 square kilometers of land, stretching from northwestern Texas all the way to southern South Dakota. Over the past 30,000 years, it has gradually been filled by precipitation and snowmelt. Estimates indicate that the aquifer contains enough water to fill Lake Huron, but unfortunately, under the semiarid climatic conditions that presently exist in the region, rates of addition to the aquifer are minimal, amounting to about half a centimeter a year.

Highlighted sentence: "Estimates indicate that the aquifer contains enough water to fill Lake Huron, but unfortunately, under the semiarid climatic conditions that presently exist in the region, rates of addition to the aquifer are minimal, amounting to about half a centimeter a year."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

11. Passage: The Venetians made a significant discovery in trade: buying and selling salt proved far more lucrative than producing it themselves. Starting in 1281, the Venetian government provided merchants with a subsidy for salt brought into Venice from other regions. This financial support made shipping salt to Venice so profitable that salt merchants could afford to transport other goods at prices lower than their rivals. Growing fat on the salt subsidy, Venice merchants could afford to send ships to the eastern Mediterranean, where they picked up valuable cargoes of Indian spices and sold them in western Europe at low prices that their non-Venetian competitors could not afford to offer. Although Venetians paid high prices for salt, they accepted the cost because it allowed them to dominate the spice trade and lead the grain market. During grain shortages in Italy, Venice used income from salt to subsidize grain imports, thereby controlling the Italian grain supply.

Highlighted sentence: "Growing fat on the salt subsidy, Venice merchants could afford to send ships to the eastern Mediterranean, where they picked up valuable cargoes of Indian spices and sold them in western Europe at low prices that their non-Venetian competitors could not afford to offer."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

12. Passage: Coral reefs would not exist if it were not for the ability of coral polyps to secrete limestone or calcium carbonate. Sea water surrounding a coral is very rich in dissolved calcium carbonate, but the fluid inside the polyp cannot retain a large quantity of calcium carbonate, so it is laid down as microscopic needle-shaped crystals beneath and around the polyp. This process occurs in two stages. As the polyp expands to feed with its tentacles at night, it lifts off the skeleton, rather like a glove coming part way off a hand. At this stage, the calcium carbonate crystals form ridges. During the following day (when the coral polyp is retracted and lying on its new structure), the valleys between the ridges fill in with more calcium carbonate and the skeleton takes on a smoother appearance. Because the skeleton of hard corals is made of limestone or calcium carbonate, it is pure white.

Highlighted sentence: "Sea water surrounding a coral is very rich in dissolved calcium carbonate, but the fluid inside the polyp cannot retain a large quantity of calcium carbonate, so it is laid down as microscopic needle-shaped crystals beneath and around the polyp."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

13. Passage: Cheap print was public policy in America. While European governments taxed newspapers and other publications, the United States let them go tax free and even subsidized them, to a degree, through the postal system. The rise of cheap books and other forms of cheap print in the United States also reflected distinctive patterns of nineteenth-century American consumer markets. As the economic historian Nathan Rosenberg remarks, citing the cases of cutlery, guns, boots, and clothing, "Americans readily accepted products which had been deliberately designed for low cost, mass production methods" at a time when handmade goods persisted in Britain. Books fit this pattern. Americans had not been primarily responsible for introducing new manufacturing technology to the production of books. On the contrary, most of the key advances in printing and papermaking before 1850 had traveled west across the Atlantic rather than the reverse. But the industrialization of book production proceeded more rapidly in the United States, where the market by the middle decades of the century was not only larger than in Britain but also apparently more sensitive to price than to quality, perhaps because elite readers constituted a smaller proportion of book buyers.

Highlighted sentence: "But the industrialization of book production proceeded more rapidly in the United States, where the market by the middle decades of the century was not only larger than in Britain but also apparently more sensitive to price than to quality, perhaps because elite readers constituted a smaller proportion of book buyers."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

14. Passage: Although the nucleus is of the order of a few kilometers in size, the diameter of the coma may be tens or hundreds of thousands of kilometers; the tails typically extend out tens or hundreds of millions of kilometers away from the coma. A comet leaves a trail of matter behind it as it moves through the inner solar system. Some of this debris may get strewn across Earth's orbit around the Sun. When Earth passes through this part of its annual path, it sweeps through the dust trail. The particles enter Earth's atmosphere at high velocity. The air friction can cause one of these bits of matter to produce a brief streak of light as it burns up in the atmosphere.

Highlighted sentence: "Although the nucleus is of the order of a few kilometers in size, the diameter of the coma may be tens or hundreds of thousands of kilometers; the tails typically extend out tens or hundreds of millions of kilometers away from the coma."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

15. Passage: Today, we often describe different types of crafts by the materials used to make them—such as wood, fiber, glass, metal, or clay. In the past, however, crafts were more commonly grouped by their function, earning them the title “applied arts.” From a functional perspective, crafts generally fall into three main types: things that contain, things that protect or shelter, and things that support. These categories demand practicality. Because of this, applied arts must conform to physical principles that govern both the materials used and the items or people being housed, supported, or contained. These physical laws apply universally, regardless of cultural traditions, location, or environment. A pot that lacks a base or has holes along the sides, for instance, can’t truly fulfill the role of a container. 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. For example, roofless structures are rarely seen because they conflict with the basic expectations of shelter. Even so, not all objects serving the same function look identical; a vase from China’s Shang Dynasty will clearly differ from one made by the Inca. The differences are mostly in surface decoration or secondary features, not in core structure.

Highlighted sentence: "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."

Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

16. Passage: The construction of Gothic cathedrals in medieval Europe was as much an expression of religious devotion as it was a demonstration of engineering brilliance. These soaring structures, characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, allowed for unprecedented height and the inclusion of vast stained-glass windows that bathed interiors in colored light. The design was not merely aesthetic—each architectural feature served a functional purpose in distributing the immense weight of stone walls and roofs. What made these cathedrals revolutionary was the way structural innovations like flying buttresses redistributed forces outward and downward, enabling builders to reduce wall thickness and incorporate expansive windows without compromising stability. This blend of artistry and functionality transformed cathedrals into awe-inspiring spaces that evoked both spiritual wonder and technical admiration. While construction often spanned decades or even centuries, the result was a lasting symbol of communal effort, religious fervor, and architectural mastery that still draws millions of visitors each year.

Highlighted sentence: "What made these cathedrals revolutionary was the way structural innovations like flying buttresses redistributed forces outward and downward, enabling builders to reduce wall thickness and incorporate expansive windows without compromising stability."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

17. Passage: Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water. This process involves the conversion of light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose molecules, which serve as fuel for plant growth and metabolism. Though often described simply as “plants making food,” photosynthesis is a complex biochemical reaction essential for life on Earth, providing the foundation for most food chains. Additionally, photosynthesis releases oxygen into the atmosphere, which is critical for the survival of aerobic organisms.

Highlighted sentence: "Though often described simply as “plants making food,” photosynthesis is a complex biochemical reaction essential for life on Earth, providing the foundation for most food chains."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

18. Passage: The study of animal communication has revealed complex behaviors that often rival human language in their sophistication. Many species use vocalizations, gestures, or chemical signals to convey information about danger, territory, or mating readiness. Among these, certain bird species display remarkable abilities to mimic sounds from their environment and even human speech, which researchers believe helps strengthen social bonds and improve survival. Such mimicry is not merely imitation but is often contextually appropriate, serving specific functions in social interaction. Understanding these communication methods provides insight into the evolution of language and cognition across species. It also raises questions about how intelligence and social structures influence communication strategies in the animal kingdom.

Highlighted sentence: "Among these, certain bird species display remarkable abilities to mimic sounds from their environment and even human speech, which researchers believe helps strengthen social bonds and improve survival."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

19. Passage: Successive generations of North Americans have viewed their continent's natural environment in different ways. From the vantage point of the present, it is clear that perceptions of the land have changed dramatically from the first years of settlement to the Civil War. Not only have such visions often shifted, but also different peoples have used their particular perspective to reshape the land itself and make it fit their own sense of what nature should be. If the consequences of some changes, such as cutting forests and filling in lowlands, have been deliberate and purposeful—to open the landscape and create sweeping vistas, for example—other human undertakings, such as mining and dam building, have produced results neither anticipated nor intended. Native peoples, no less than the first colonists and subsequent immigrants to North America, have reshaped the natural environment to meet their physical wants and spiritual needs. Indeed, much of the landscape we know today reflects patterns of use and abuse that began several centuries ago.

Highlighted sentence: "If the consequences of some changes, such as cutting forests and filling in lowlands, have been deliberate and purposeful—to open the landscape and create sweeping vistas, for example—other human undertakings, such as mining and dam building, have produced results neither anticipated nor intended."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

20. Passage: The concept of zero, a numeral representing the absence of quantity, has a surprisingly complex history that spans continents and centuries. Ancient civilizations such as the Babylonians used placeholders in their number systems, but it wasn't until Indian mathematicians formally defined zero as both a symbol and a number with its own properties that its mathematical power was fully realized. This breakthrough allowed for more efficient calculations and the development of algebra. Initially resisted by European scholars who were skeptical of a symbol representing 'nothing,' zero eventually gained acceptance through the translation of Arabic mathematical texts, becoming essential to arithmetic, calculus, and computer science. Its integration into Western mathematical thinking marked a pivotal shift in numeracy, enabling a wide range of modern scientific and technological advancements. Without the zero, positional notation systems such as the decimal system would not function, and entire fields of mathematics would be radically different or nonexistent.

Highlighted sentence: "Initially resisted by European scholars who were skeptical of a symbol representing 'nothing,' zero eventually gained acceptance through the translation of Arabic mathematical texts, becoming essential to arithmetic, calculus, and computer science."

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.