Short Term Memory - TOEFL Reading Practice Questions with Answer Key

Mastering academic texts in English is crucial for success in the TOEFL Reading section. This segment mirrors the challenges of reading in English-speaking academic environments, assessing skills like identifying main ideas, extracting details, making inferences, and recognizing text structure.

Consistent practice is the key to excelling in this section. Our practice tests closely mimic the format and writing style of the actual exam, ensuring that you feel prepared and self-assured on test day. Utilize our practice tests to improve your skills and thrive in the TOEFL Reading section.

Join us in taking the TOEFL Practice Test centered on the passage 'Short Term Memory' to familiarize yourself with the test format and note the areas for improvement!

Reading Instructions

• You have 15 minutes to read the following passage and answer all 9 questions related to it.  
• Most questions are worth 1 point, but the last question is worth more. The directions indicate how many points you will receive for that specific question. 
• The specific section/paragraphs have been provided again with the question for ease of understanding and quick solution.
• Some questions include a word or phrase that is highlighted in the question as well as in the paragraph for quick reference. 

Short Term Memory 

Directions: Once you have read the passage, answer the following questions.

Paragraph 1

The average person can retain a phone number for approximately thirty seconds. After this brief duration, the numbers are typically forgotten. But how does this information initially enter the memory? Data that enters the short-term memory (STM) does so through the sensory storage area. The brain acts as a filter, permitting only stimuli deemed immediately relevant to proceed to the STM, also referred to as the working memory.

1. Based on the passage, how are memories transferred to the STM?
   1. They return from the long-term memory.
   2. They are sieved from the sensory storage area.
   3. They undergo chunking upon entering the brain.
   4. They ingress through the nervous system.

1. In paragraph 1, the word "sensory" is most similar in meaning to:
   1. perceptive
   2. tangible
   3. palpable
   4. intuitive

Paragraph 2

There is ongoing discussion regarding the capacity and duration of short-term memory. The prevailing theory, proposed by cognitive psychologist George A. Miller, posits that humans can typically retain around seven meaningful units of information, termed as "chunks." A chunk, in this context, refers to a cohesive piece of information, like a word or a name, rather than individual letters or numbers. Contemporary scholars suggest that the capacity of short-term memory can be expanded through chunking, which involves grouping similar pieces of information together. By structuring information in this manner, individuals can enhance the efficiency of short-term memory, thereby increasing the likelihood of transferring memories to long-term storage.

1. Based on the passage, what implication can be drawn about the role of chunking in enhancing short-term memory efficiency?
   1. Chunking is only effective for certain types of information.
   2. Short-term memory capacity is fixed and cannot be altered.
   3. The process of chunking may facilitate the transfer of memories to long-term storage.
   4. Contemporary scholars disagree with George A. Miller's theory on short-term memory capacity.

1. Why does the author introduce the concept of short-term memory capacity and chunking in the paragraph?
   1. To contrast different theories on memory retention
   2. To illustrate the complexity of cognitive psychology
   3. To emphasize the importance of efficient memory strategies
   4. To challenge George A. Miller's prevailing theory on memory retention

Paragraph 3

When consciously committing information to memory, such as for an exam, many individuals resort to "rote rehearsal." This method involves repeated recitation to maintain memory retention. However, rote rehearsal is vulnerable to interruptions; once rehearsal ceases, the information tends to fade quickly. For instance, when trying to remember a phone number without pen and paper, if interrupted by external stimuli like a doorbell or a dog's bark, the number is likely forgotten instantly. Consequently, rote rehearsal proves inefficient for transferring information from short-term to long-term memory. A more effective approach is "elaborate rehearsal," which entails attributing semantic significance to information and facilitating its integration with existing long-term memories.

1. Based on the passage, what inference can be made about the limitations of rote rehearsal for memory retention?
   1. Rote rehearsal is more effective than an elaborate rehearsal for transferring information to long-term memory.
   2. External interruptions significantly impact the effectiveness of rote rehearsal.
   3. Rote rehearsal enhances short-term memory capacity.
   4. Elaborate rehearsal is the primary method for maintaining memory retention.

1. In the passage, the word "elaborate" is closest in meaning to:
   1. complex
   2. brief
   3. minimal
   4. basic

Paragraph 5

Moreover, the effectiveness of retrieval cues in memory recall underscores the importance of context-dependent memory. Memories are often tied to specific contexts or environments in which they were formed. Therefore, the presence of familiar cues or stimuli can significantly aid in memory retrieval. For instance, individuals may find it easier to recall information studied in a particular room or during a specific activity when they revisit that same environment. Understanding the interplay between encoding, retrieval, and contextual cues can enhance memory performance and optimize learning strategies.

1. Based on the passage, what can be inferred about the relationship between context-dependent memory and memory recall?
   1. Context-dependent memory is solely dependent on familiar cues.
   2. Memory recall is not influenced by the environment in which the information was encoded.
   3. Familiar cues or stimuli play a negligible role in memory retrieval.
   4. Understanding the interplay between encoding, retrieval, and contextual cues is essential for optimizing memory performance.

1. Why does the author discuss the interplay between encoding, retrieval, and contextual cues in the paragraph?
   1. To illustrate the limitations of memory recall in certain environments
   2. To highlight the significance of familiar cues in memory retrieval
   3. To challenge existing theories on memory formation
   4. To emphasize the importance of understanding memory processes for effective learning strategies

Paragraph 4

Encoding information semantically enhances its retrievability. (A) Retrieval of information can occur through recognition or recall. (B) Memories stored in long-term memory and frequently accessed are easily recalled by humans. (C) However, seemingly forgotten memories can be prompted for retrieval over time. Providing more cues, such as visual aids, increases the likelihood of memory retrieval. (D) This explains the common use of multiple-choice tests for subjects demanding extensive memorization.

1. Directions: Review the excerpt from the passage provided above. The letters (A), (B), (C), and (D) denote where the subsequent sentence could be incorporated.
   
   Their effectiveness in assessing memorization proficiency is evident in their widespread use across educational institutions.
   
   Where would the sentence most appropriately belong?
   1. Choice A
   2. Choice B
   3. Choice C
   4. Choice D

Hold on!  Before checking your answers and matching them, explore what is a good TOEFL score!

Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Reading Passage - Short Term Memory

1.  Answer: D
Explanation: This is a factual question. This question requires understanding the process of memory transfer to short-term memory (STM) as discussed in the passage. While the passage does not explicitly mention the process of memory transfer, it does provide information about how memories are encoded and organized, suggesting that memories enter the STM through the nervous system, which is responsible for transmitting sensory information to the brain. Therefore, the correct answer is D) They ingress through the nervous system.

2. Answer: A
Explanation: This question assesses vocabulary understanding based on the context provided in paragraph 1. The word "sensory" is used in the passage to describe the storage area from which memories are filtered. In this context, "sensory" refers to the perception of external stimuli through the senses. Among the given options, "perceptive" is the closest in meaning to "sensory" as it also relates to perception or awareness through the senses. Therefore, the correct answer is A) perceptive.

3. Answer: C
Explanation: This is an inference question that requires understanding the implication of chunking in enhancing short-term memory efficiency, as discussed in the passage. The passage suggests that chunking, the process of grouping similar pieces of information together, can enhance the efficiency of short-term memory. While the passage does not explicitly mention the transfer of memories to long-term storage, it implies that chunking aids in organizing information in a meaningful way, which may facilitate the transfer of memories to long-term storage by optimizing memory processes. Therefore, the correct answer is C) The process of chunking may facilitate the transfer of memories to long-term storage.

4. Answer: C
Explanation: This question assesses the rhetorical purpose behind introducing the concept of short-term memory capacity and chunking in the paragraph. The author introduces these concepts to emphasize the importance of efficient memory strategies. By discussing how chunking enhances short-term memory efficiency, the author highlights the significance of organizing information in a meaningful way to improve memory retention and recall. Therefore, the correct answer is C) To emphasize the importance of efficient memory strategies.

5. Answer: B
Explanation: This question requires inferring the limitations of rote rehearsal for memory retention based on the third paragraph. The passage suggests that rote rehearsal, the method of repeated recitation, is vulnerable to interruptions and tends to result in quick forgetting once rehearsal ceases. Therefore, external interruptions significantly impact the effectiveness of rote rehearsal, leading to limitations in memory retention. Thus, the correct answer is B) External interruptions significantly impact the effectiveness of rote rehearsal.

6. Answer: C
Explanation: This question assesses vocabulary understanding based on the context provided in the passage. The word "elaborate" is used in the passage to describe a rehearsal method that involves attributing semantic significance to information. Among the given options, "complex" is the closest in meaning to "elaborate" as it also refers to something intricate or detailed. Therefore, the correct answer is A) complex.

7. Answer: D
Explanation: This question requires inferring the relationship between context-dependent memory and memory recall based on the fifth paragraph. The passage suggests that familiar cues or stimuli in a specific context or environment significantly aid in memory retrieval. Therefore, understanding the interplay between encoding, retrieval, and contextual cues is essential for optimizing memory performance. Thus, the correct answer is D) Understanding the interplay between encoding, retrieval, and contextual cues is essential for optimizing memory performance.

8. Answer: B
Explanation: This question assesses the rhetorical purpose behind discussing the interplay between encoding, retrieval, and contextual cues in the paragraph. The author introduces this concept to highlight the significance of familiar cues in memory retrieval. By discussing how familiar cues or stimuli in specific contexts aid in memory recall, the author emphasizes the importance of understanding memory processes for effective learning strategies. Therefore, the correct answer is B) To highlight the significance of familiar cues in memory retrieval.

9. Answer: D
Explanation: This is an Insert Text question where you are required to select the appropriate place to insert the provided sentence within the passage. Among the four possible answer choices provided in paragraph 4, the sentence "Their effectiveness in assessing memorization proficiency is evident in their widespread use across educational institutions" is most fittingly inserted in choice D. 

This additional sentence provides additional information about memory retrieval processes. It follows logically, reinforcing the explanation of why multiple-choice tests are used by stating their effectiveness and prevalence in educational institutions. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

Choices (A), (B), and (C) are incorrect because they do not provide relevant information, and none of them directly address memorization proficiency and rather disrupt the flow.

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