Full TOEFL iBT Practice Exam
Time Number of
Section What You Do
Allotted Tasks/Questions
Read academic texts; answer
35–36 2 passages, 20
Reading multiple-choice, insert text, prose
min* questions
summary, and table-fill questions
3 lectures + 2 Listen to audio once; answer
Listening 36 min conversations (28 multiple-choice, multiple-answer,
questions) and reorder questions
Speak into microphone; prepare
4 tasks (1 independent
Speaking 16 min 15–30 sec, speak 45–60 sec per
+ 3 integrated)
task
2 tasks (1 integrated + 1 Read/listen, then write; respond to
Writing 29 min
academic discussion) professor’s post
,Section 1: Reading (36 minutes – 2 passages, 20
questions)
Passage 1: The Role of Mycorrhizal Networks in Forest
Ecosystems
In temperate and tropical forests, the health of individual trees is often
influenced by an underground network of fungi known as mycorrhizae. These
fungi form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, trading essential minerals
and water for carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis. Recent research
has revealed that these connections are not merely pairwise but form complex
webs that link multiple trees, sometimes of different species, into a single “wood
wide web.”
One of the most striking findings is the transfer of carbon, nitrogen, and
phosphorus between trees through fungal hyphae. In a landmark study,
scientists used isotopic tracers to demonstrate that older, dominant trees—
sometimes called “mother trees”—send nutrients to younger seedlings in
shaded understory areas. This transfer appears to be especially critical when
seedlings are stressed by low light or insect attack. The mechanism is not fully
understood, but it may involve chemical signaling that prompts the fungus to
prioritize resource delivery to struggling neighbors.
However, not all trees benefit equally from the network. Some species, such as
birches and pines, are more “connected” and share resources freely, while
others, like maples, tend to be more independent. Furthermore, parasitic plants
like Indian pipe have evolved to tap directly into mycorrhizal networks, stealing
carbon without giving anything in return. The ecological balance thus depends
on the specificity and regulation of these fungal partnerships.
Forest management practices such as clear-cutting disrupt mycorrhizal
networks. When mature trees are removed, the fungal mycelium degrades,
breaking the nutrient highways. Seedlings planted after clear-cutting often show
stunted growth compared to those in undisturbed forests, even when soil
nutrients appear adequate. Some ecologists now advocate for “retention
forestry,” where clusters of mother trees are left standing to preserve the
underground network and accelerate forest regeneration.
Critics argue that the importance of mycorrhizal networks has been overstated.
They point out that many experiments are conducted in controlled greenhouse
settings, not in the chaotic reality of a forest floor. Moreover, competition
among trees remains fierce; the same fungal hyphae that deliver nutrients to a
seedling can also transport allelopathic chemicals from a neighboring tree.
Nevertheless, the weight of evidence supports the view that mycorrhizal
symbiosis is a foundational feature of forest resilience, not merely a botanical
curiosity.
, Questions 1–10
1. Factual Information – According to the passage, what do mycorrhizal
fungi obtain from trees?
A) Water and minerals
B) Nitrogen and phosphorus
C) Carbohydrates
D) Allelopathic chemicals
2. Negative Fact – All of the following are mentioned as being transferred
through mycorrhizal networks EXCEPT:
A) Carbon
B) Oxygen
C) Nitrogen
D) Phosphorus
3. Inference – It can be inferred from the passage that “mother trees” are
most likely to:
A) Suppress nearby seedlings through chemical warfare
B) Support only their own offspring
C) Provide resources to young trees under environmental stress
D) Avoid forming connections with fungi
4. Rhetorical Purpose – Why does the author mention “Indian pipe” in
paragraph 3?
A) To give an example of a tree that shares resources generously
B) To illustrate a non-reciprocal use of mycorrhizal networks
C) To compare parasitic plants with pines and birches
D) To show how fungi defend themselves against exploitation
5. Vocabulary – The word “disrupt” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to:
A) Enhance
B) Measure
C) Interrupt
D) Follow
6. Reference – The word “they” in the final paragraph refers to:
A) Mycorrhizal networks
B) Forest ecologists
C) Critics
D) Seedlings
7. Sentence Simplification – Which sentence best expresses the essential
information in this sentence from paragraph 4?
“When mature trees are removed, the fungal mycelium degrades, breaking
the nutrient highways.”
A) Removing mature trees causes the fungal network to break down,
which cuts off nutrient movement.
B) Nutrient highways are broken when fungal mycelium degrades after
mature trees are added.
C) Fungal mycelium degrades only if mature trees are left in place.
D) The removal of trees has no effect on underground nutrient highways.
Time Number of
Section What You Do
Allotted Tasks/Questions
Read academic texts; answer
35–36 2 passages, 20
Reading multiple-choice, insert text, prose
min* questions
summary, and table-fill questions
3 lectures + 2 Listen to audio once; answer
Listening 36 min conversations (28 multiple-choice, multiple-answer,
questions) and reorder questions
Speak into microphone; prepare
4 tasks (1 independent
Speaking 16 min 15–30 sec, speak 45–60 sec per
+ 3 integrated)
task
2 tasks (1 integrated + 1 Read/listen, then write; respond to
Writing 29 min
academic discussion) professor’s post
,Section 1: Reading (36 minutes – 2 passages, 20
questions)
Passage 1: The Role of Mycorrhizal Networks in Forest
Ecosystems
In temperate and tropical forests, the health of individual trees is often
influenced by an underground network of fungi known as mycorrhizae. These
fungi form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, trading essential minerals
and water for carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis. Recent research
has revealed that these connections are not merely pairwise but form complex
webs that link multiple trees, sometimes of different species, into a single “wood
wide web.”
One of the most striking findings is the transfer of carbon, nitrogen, and
phosphorus between trees through fungal hyphae. In a landmark study,
scientists used isotopic tracers to demonstrate that older, dominant trees—
sometimes called “mother trees”—send nutrients to younger seedlings in
shaded understory areas. This transfer appears to be especially critical when
seedlings are stressed by low light or insect attack. The mechanism is not fully
understood, but it may involve chemical signaling that prompts the fungus to
prioritize resource delivery to struggling neighbors.
However, not all trees benefit equally from the network. Some species, such as
birches and pines, are more “connected” and share resources freely, while
others, like maples, tend to be more independent. Furthermore, parasitic plants
like Indian pipe have evolved to tap directly into mycorrhizal networks, stealing
carbon without giving anything in return. The ecological balance thus depends
on the specificity and regulation of these fungal partnerships.
Forest management practices such as clear-cutting disrupt mycorrhizal
networks. When mature trees are removed, the fungal mycelium degrades,
breaking the nutrient highways. Seedlings planted after clear-cutting often show
stunted growth compared to those in undisturbed forests, even when soil
nutrients appear adequate. Some ecologists now advocate for “retention
forestry,” where clusters of mother trees are left standing to preserve the
underground network and accelerate forest regeneration.
Critics argue that the importance of mycorrhizal networks has been overstated.
They point out that many experiments are conducted in controlled greenhouse
settings, not in the chaotic reality of a forest floor. Moreover, competition
among trees remains fierce; the same fungal hyphae that deliver nutrients to a
seedling can also transport allelopathic chemicals from a neighboring tree.
Nevertheless, the weight of evidence supports the view that mycorrhizal
symbiosis is a foundational feature of forest resilience, not merely a botanical
curiosity.
, Questions 1–10
1. Factual Information – According to the passage, what do mycorrhizal
fungi obtain from trees?
A) Water and minerals
B) Nitrogen and phosphorus
C) Carbohydrates
D) Allelopathic chemicals
2. Negative Fact – All of the following are mentioned as being transferred
through mycorrhizal networks EXCEPT:
A) Carbon
B) Oxygen
C) Nitrogen
D) Phosphorus
3. Inference – It can be inferred from the passage that “mother trees” are
most likely to:
A) Suppress nearby seedlings through chemical warfare
B) Support only their own offspring
C) Provide resources to young trees under environmental stress
D) Avoid forming connections with fungi
4. Rhetorical Purpose – Why does the author mention “Indian pipe” in
paragraph 3?
A) To give an example of a tree that shares resources generously
B) To illustrate a non-reciprocal use of mycorrhizal networks
C) To compare parasitic plants with pines and birches
D) To show how fungi defend themselves against exploitation
5. Vocabulary – The word “disrupt” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to:
A) Enhance
B) Measure
C) Interrupt
D) Follow
6. Reference – The word “they” in the final paragraph refers to:
A) Mycorrhizal networks
B) Forest ecologists
C) Critics
D) Seedlings
7. Sentence Simplification – Which sentence best expresses the essential
information in this sentence from paragraph 4?
“When mature trees are removed, the fungal mycelium degrades, breaking
the nutrient highways.”
A) Removing mature trees causes the fungal network to break down,
which cuts off nutrient movement.
B) Nutrient highways are broken when fungal mycelium degrades after
mature trees are added.
C) Fungal mycelium degrades only if mature trees are left in place.
D) The removal of trees has no effect on underground nutrient highways.
