TOEFL Junior Reading Comprehension section measures your ability to understand both academic and non-academic texts within a school context. To prepare effectively using materials aligned with the 2021 standards, focus on the following passage types and question formats. Common Passage Types The test typically includes: Non-academic Texts
: Emails, short notices, announcements, and school-related stories. Academic Texts
: Magazine articles or short textbook passages on subjects like science, history, or art (e.g., the Lascaux cave paintings). Typical Question Types
Each passage is followed by multiple-choice questions (usually 4 options) that test specific skills: Reading Comprehension Sample Questions - TOEFL Junior
1. B. To describe the discovery and importance of an ancient device Explanation: The passage discusses the discovery (Paragraph 1), what the device does (Paragraph 2), and why it is historically significant (Paragraph 3). It is not primarily about diving, pottery, or general computer history.
2. C. Eaten away or damaged Explanation: "Corroded" refers to metal that has been slowly destroyed by chemical action (like rust), usually over a long time underwater. This matches the condition of the object found in a shipwreck.
3. C. It could process data to make predictions. Explanation: Paragraph 2 states that by turning gears, the mechanism could predict positions and eclipses. This ability to calculate and predict makes it an "analog computer." toefl junior reading comprehension practice test pdf 2021
4. B. They did not exist until much later in history. Explanation: Paragraph 3 says historians believed complex gear systems "did not exist until the 14th century, over a thousand years later."
5. C. Measuring the depth of the ocean Explanation: This is a "Not" question. Paragraph 2 lists predicting astronomical positions, lunar phases, and eclipses. It was found in the ocean, but there is no mention of it measuring depth.
6. B. It challenges what we knew about ancient engineering. Explanation: The text states the discovery "proved that ancient engineers were far more advanced than previously thought," implying that previous historical beliefs were incorrect.
7. C. The device's Explanation: The sentence reads: "Although the technology was seemingly lost for centuries, its discovery highlights the incredible ingenuity..." In this context, the discovery refers back to the Antikythera Mechanism (the device).
Based on official 2021 specifications, the reading section typically contains 42 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 50 minutes. The passages are divided into three bands of difficulty:
To prove the value of a 2021 practice PDF, here is an original passage written in the exact style of that year’s test. What to Expect from the 2021 Reading Section
Passage (Nonfiction – Science, 2021 Topic)
In 2020, urban planners noticed a dramatic drop in noise pollution levels across major cities. Lockdowns reduced traffic by up to 60%, allowing researchers to study a phenomenon called “anthropogenic quiet.” Seismologists, who normally struggle to detect small earthquakes due to human-generated vibration, reported a 50% increase in sensitivity. This period, though born of crisis, offered a rare baseline for how cities might sound if electric vehicles and pedestrian zones become widespread. By 2021, several municipalities had adopted “quiet hour” policies based on this temporary data.
Questions (Multiple Choice)
Main Idea: What is the primary purpose of this passage?
Inference: Why were seismologists able to work better in 2020?
Vocabulary: The word “anthropogenic” in line 2 most nearly means: vocabulary in context
Author’s Purpose: Why does the author mention “quiet hour” policies?
Answer Key: 1-B, 2-B, 3-C, 4-B
Notice the 2021 characteristics: contemporary context (lockdowns, 2020-2021 timeline), academic vocabulary (anthropogenic), and application-based inference (quiet hour policies).
The 2021 version of the TOEFL Junior Reading section aligns with CEFR levels A2 to B2. It consists of 42 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 50 minutes. The passages are divided into three main tiers:
The 2021 PDF practice tests reflect these exact proportions, making them authentic simulations.
A: ETS releases different "Forms" (versions) to prevent cheating. Form 1 and Form 2 from 2021 have different passages but identical difficulty. Practice with both.
Before you download any PDF, you need to understand what you are practicing. The TOEFL Junior Reading Comprehension section is divided into four main question types.
The TOEFL Junior Reading Comprehension section evaluates middle-school–age learners’ ability to understand short passages and answer questions about main ideas, details, vocabulary in context, inference, and organization. A "TOEFL Junior Reading Comprehension Practice Test PDF 2021" would typically include several passage types (narrative, expository, and paired passages), a balanced mix of question types, answer keys, and brief explanations to help students and teachers review performance.