Toefl exam esentials 9 docx

32 TOEFL EXAM ESSENTIALS

d. When the immune system breaks down, it can be dev￾astating.

Choice c is correct—it gives the main idea or point that the

instructor is trying to express. It’s a general statement that

holds together all of the information in the passage. Choice

a is too specific to be the main idea. Choice b is too general

to be the main idea. Choice d may be true, but the passage

does not give this information.

2. Find the supporting details. Supporting details are

facts or specific examples that give proof of a speaker’s

main idea. The next question asks you to find a

supporting detail from the mini-lecture about the

immune system.

Question: The body’s immune system consists of

a. swarming bees

b. billions of cells

c. a complex organization

d. a communication network

The correct answer is b. You can easily eliminate choice a—

it’s a silly answer choice used to distract you. Choices c and

d are too general to be supporting details.

Supporting detail: a specific fact or example that supports

the main idea