TOEFL Reading Rhetorical Purpose Questions
This question asks why the author included a specific detail, example, or paragraph — not what it says, but what job it's doing in the argument. It tests whether you're following the passage's structure, not just its content.
What This Question Looks Like
"Why does the author mention the failed 1962 expedition in paragraph 3?"
How to Answer It
- Ask yourself what the surrounding paragraph is arguing, then ask how this specific detail supports, contrasts with, or illustrates that argument.
- Common correct-answer patterns: "to provide an example of," "to contrast with," "to explain a cause of," or "to cast doubt on."
- Ignore whether the detail itself is interesting or true — the question is about its function, not its content.
The Trap Most Students Fall Into
An answer that accurately restates what the detail says, rather than explaining why the author put it there. Content ≠ purpose.
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