Information mapping skills - Locating evidence by paragraph

Learning Outcomes

After reading this article, you will know how to find supporting evidence in TOEFL Reading by using paragraph references. You will practice responding efficiently to questions targeting specific paragraphs. You will be able to scan for relevant information, spot paraphrased or restated ideas, and match passage content to TOEFL question types with confidence.

TOEFL iBT Syllabus

For TOEFL, you are required to use information mapping skills to locate evidence efficiently using paragraph references and scan for details in targeted areas. For revision, focus on these syllabus points:

• Identify questions that specify a paragraph for locating evidence and restrict your search to that paragraph.
• Apply scanning to quickly find words, phrases, or ideas within a paragraph matching those in a question.
• Recognize restated or paraphrased ideas, not just identical wording, to accurately answer questions.
• Justify answers using only information from the referenced paragraph, even if your memory of the passage differs.

Test Your Knowledge

Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision.

1. If a TOEFL Reading question says "According to paragraph 3...", where should you focus your search for the answer?
2. True or false: When a question targets a specific paragraph, details from other paragraphs should also be used to select the correct answer.
3. What skill do you use when you move your eyes quickly through a paragraph to spot relevant words or ideas?
4. If a question points to a paragraph but the answer is phrased differently from the passage, what must you identify?

Introduction

On the TOEFL Reading section, many questions direct you to a particular paragraph or a numbered section. To answer these efficiently, you need strong information mapping skills—locating evidence quickly and matching passage content to the question. This saves you time, keeps your answer focused, and limits errors.

Key Term: Paragraph Reference
A marker in a TOEFL question that tells you which paragraph contains evidence for the answer. Always follow this guidance when searching for details.

Key Term: Scanning
Rapidly moving your eyes through a paragraph to find specific words, numbers, or ideas needed to answer the question.

How Paragraph References Guide Evidence Search

Most TOEFL passages have clear organization. Each paragraph usually concentrates on a single main idea or supporting point. Recognizing this makes your evidence search faster. When a question tells you to consult a specific paragraph, it means the best evidence will be there.

Why Restrict Your Search?

• Searching only the paragraph specified prevents confusion with unrelated facts elsewhere in the passage.
• You avoid wasting time rereading the whole passage.
• You minimize mistakes based on memory, not the actual text.

Key Term: Paraphrasing
Saying the same idea in different words. On TOEFL, both questions and answer choices often use paraphrased wording.

Steps to Locate Evidence by Paragraph

1. Identify the paragraph number or reference in the question.
2. Scan that paragraph for keywords, synonyms, or ideas that match the question.
3. Find sentences or phrases that, even when restated differently, clearly support one answer over others.
4. Choose the answer based only on what is present in the referenced paragraph.

Paraphrased vs. Direct Evidence

TOEFL sometimes restates the correct answer using synonyms or new sentence structures. Do not be fooled—matching the meaning is more important than matching the exact words.

Worked Example 1.1

Read this short passage:

Paragraph 2:
Rainforests are unique environments containing many species of plants and animals. These forests, located mainly in tropical areas, experience high temperatures and heavy rainfall year-round. Their dense vegetation offers shelter, food, and protection, making them home to the great majority of Earth's biodiversity.

Question:
According to paragraph 2, what makes rainforests unique?

A) They are located in cold, dry regions.
B) They contain few plant and animal species.
C) They are rich in biodiversity and dense vegetation.
D) They have poor soil and little rainfall.

Answer:
C) is correct. "Home to the great majority of Earth's biodiversity" and "dense vegetation" are direct evidence found in paragraph 2. The other choices are contradicted or unsupported by the paragraph.

Worked Example 1.2

Examine this:

Paragraph 3:
Early steam engines required constant supervision. Because of this, engineers worked long hours ensuring correct operation. As technology improved, these machines became more reliable and could function unattended for longer periods.

Question:
According to paragraph 3, what was an effect of improvements in steam engine technology?

A) Engineers had to work even more hours.
B) Machines required less attention as reliability increased.
C) Supervision became stricter over time.
D) Early steam engines were rarely used in industry.

Answer:
B) is correct. The paragraph explains that machines "became more reliable and could function unattended for longer periods." Only paragraph 3 provides this cause-and-effect detail. Other choices are not supported by the paragraph.

Exam Warning

Many students lose marks by choosing answers based on what they remember generally about the passage, or by searching outside the targeted paragraph. On TOEFL, always check whether the question refers to a specific paragraph and limit your search accordingly.

Revision Tip

When practicing, highlight or underline paragraph references in questions. Then draw a box around the corresponding paragraph as you read.

Summary

Locating evidence by paragraph in TOEFL Reading means responding directly to paragraph references. Focus your search by scanning only the assigned section, identify details even when restated, and base your answer solely on the text presented in that paragraph.

Key Point Checklist

This article has covered the following key knowledge points:

• Explain the purpose and function of paragraph references in TOEFL questions.
• Identify how to scan a given paragraph for key information, using synonyms and paraphrased ideas.
• Match questions and answer choices to evidence found only in the referenced paragraph.
• Recognize that restated ideas and synonyms are frequently used instead of identical wording.
• Avoid searching outside the designated paragraph or relying on memory.

Key Terms and Concepts

• Paragraph Reference
• Scanning
• Paraphrasing