about an advertisement of fashionable goods available through Internet shopping and
has a problem/solving rhetorical structure. First, frequent consumer problems are mentioned. It is not easy to find fashionable clothes and bags at reasonable prices at stores. Second, the body of the passage includes the solutions to the problem. The company’s Internet fashion shopping provides many fashionable brands at appropriate prices to consumers, and such various items are gathered from distributors around the world. The global network lowers the cost, reducing the prices of the fashionable goods. Finally, there is information about inquiries and details. The company’s email address is attached.
Three questions follow the passage. The first question concerns the passage topic. This passage is an advertisement for Internet fashion shopping. The correct answer is C. The second question is related to the advantages of Internet fashion shopping, which are explained in the second and third paragraphs, as the solutions to consumers’ problems. One major advantage is many brand items available at the on-line shop, and B is the answer. The third question is about the closing of the passage: shopping on the Internet, details on the Web site, and inquiries by email. For the answer to the third question, A is the best choice.
Analysis summary
Summarizing the analysis of text types, text structure, and questions in the two TOEIC reading
passages, the framework can be usefully applied to understand the passages and questions. The first passage is about a training session for employees. This notice is a typical text, consisting of an introduction, body and closing. At the beginning, the general statement is given, and specific information follows in the body. The closing has instructions for inquiries and miscellaneous information. The reading comprehension questions correspond to each part of the passage and details.
The second passage is an advertisement about shopping on the Internet. This characteristic advertisement has an introduction, body and closing. The passage is based on a typical problem/solution pattern, and these three parts of the passage indicate problems, solutions as advantages of the services from the on-line shopping, and inquiries to the store. The reading comprehension questions about the main idea and details are congruent with the flow of the passage.