One of the podcasts I love to listen to is “Even the Rich.” The phrase "Even the Rich" is used to emphasize that significant life drama, challenges, or difficulties occur not only among common people but also among wealthy individuals. It highlights the universality of facing trials and tribulations, regardless of one's socioeconomic status. The word "even" in this context serves to underscore this point or to express surprise that affluent individuals also experience their share of life's struggles and setbacks. These are more examples with “even.”
He didn’t even have enough money to buy groceries (--> He was that poor!)
My friends threw me such a memorable birthday party. They even invited some clowns to perform at the party! (--> The party was that memorable!)
Even you, Brutus! (--> I can’t believe you betrayed me!)
The phrase “Even you, Brutus!” expresses Caesar's surprise of the betrayal by someone he least expected, emphasizing the shock and betrayal felt in such situations.
Many TOEFL reading questions utilize the word “even” as it conveys emphasis or surprise. Today, we examine TOEFL questions that essentially test whether you understand this implicit meaning of “even.” Ace the TOEFL Reading Section with the Dr. Byrnes' TOEFL Reading guidebook.
Question 1 (easy)
What can be inferred from the paragraph about fish?
A. Most fish feed on plankton.
B. Fish tend to avoid well-illuminated areas.
C. Most fish species are not filter-feeders.
D. Few fish species are successful in the near-surface layers.
Analysis
A is false; The majority of fish are carnivores.
B is not mentioned
C: read this sentence closely:
Even fish can become successful filter-feeders in some circumstances.
The sentence conveys a surprise with “even.” The fact that fish can become successful filter-feeders in some circumstances is a surprise. This implies that in a normal situation, fish are not filter feeders.
D is not true: sardines and anchovies are the counterexamples.
Answer: C
Questions 2 - 5
Question 2 (very hard)
According to the paragraph, which of the following statements is true of both Jovian and terrestrial planets?
The thicker the atmosphere, the smaller the planet’s mass
The more varied the gasses in the atmosphere, the higher the temperature
The higher the surface gravity, the higher the escape velocity
The less the atmosphere contributes to the total mass, the lower the temperature
Analysis
A: We can infer that the Jovian planets have thicker atmospheres since they retain even the lightest gasses, According to the passage, they can retain the lightest gasses for two reasons:
strong gravitational fields + frigidly cold
From the Newtons’ mechanics (you need this background knowledge,) we know that gravity and mass are positively correlated. So A cannot be true.
B is false since if the Jovian planets retain even the lighter gasses, they must have more varied gasses than the terrestrial planets. And we know that the Jovian planets are cold.
C: From the passage we learned all of the following:
escape velocity = the speed needed for gasses to break free from the planet's gravitational pull
The gasses of the terrestrial planets can reach the escape velocity far easier than the Jovian planets. (--> terrestrial planets have lower escape velocity than the the Jovian planets, from 1)
The Jovian planets have stronger gravitational fields than the terrestrial planets.
From 2 and 3, we can infer that there is a positive relationship between gravity and escape velocity: that is, the higher the surface gravity, the higher the escape velocity. So C is correct.
D has to be false. The Jovian planets have a thick atmosphere, and cold, so the correct relationship should be that, the more the atmosphere contributes to the total mass, the lower the temperature.
Answer: C
Question 3 (medium)
Based on the passage, which of the following must be true?
The Jovian planets have stronger gravitational fields than the terrestrial planets
The lightest gasses cannot escape from the Jovian planets, but heavy gasses can
The terrestrial planets can hold light glasses
The thick atmospheres of the Jovian planets result in high escape velocity
Analysis
A: If “even the lightest gasses struggle to acquire the necessary speed to escape the (Jovian) planet's gravitational influence,” we can infer A.
B: “Even” indicates a surprise that the Jovian planets can hold the lightest glasses. This entails that it is not to mention that the Jovian planets can hold heavy gasses. That is, we can infer that the Jovian planets can hold lightest glasses as well as heavy gasses. So B is false.
C: The fact that the Jovian planets can hold even the lightest glasses imply that the terrestrial planets cannot hold light glasses.
D: It is true that the Jovian planets have thick atmospheres and high escape velocity. But the cause and effect is reversed. That is, the high escape velocity resulted in the thick atmospheres of the Jovian planets. So D is false.
Answer: A
Question 4 (easy)
According to the paragraph, what is a major reason that Jovian planets have much thicker atmospheres than terrestrial planets do?
Jovian planets have lower surface gravities
Jovian planets have lower temperatures
Jovian planets have lower escape velocities
Jovian planets’ gas molecules have higher average speeds
This is an easy one because the information is explicit in the passage.
Answer: B
Question 5 (very hard)
The paragraph supports which of the following statements about the ability of planets to retain gasses?
More-massive planets are less able to retain gasses than less-massive ones.
Planets are more likely to retain heavy gasses than light gasses.
Jovian planets are unlikely to retain the lightest gasses.
Only terrestrial planets have been able to retain carbon dioxide.
Analysis
A is false. The opposite is true.
B: On the terrestrial planets, light gasses can escape the gravitational pull, which means that they can escape the surfaces. So, the terrestrial planets have only heavy gasses. The Jovian planets, by contrast, can retain even the lightest gasses. This means that the Jovian planets, of course, retain heavy gasses. So we can infer B.
C is false.
D is also false. “Only” is another word you need to pay attention to for its absoluteness. Options that are not property qualified (hedged) can be false.
Question 6 (medium)
During the 1830s and 1840s, there were substantial price reductions for newspapers and books in the United States, marking the onset of an era characterized by affordable printed content. Daily newspapers that previously cost 6 cents per copy were now sold for a mere penny or two. Similarly, novels that used to be priced at $2 were now available for 25 cents or less, in stark contrast to their counterparts in Britain, which cost more than $7. So steep were the declines in the price of print over such a short period that they amounted to an information-price revolution, the first of several such episodes of declining prices that have profoundly affected information and culture during the past two centuries. Two mid-nineteenth-century American cultural innovations, the "penny press" and the "dime novel," were actually named for their low price These were criticized for being cheap in both senses of that word low in price and low in taste But low price did not necessarily mean lowbrow. Increasingly, book publishers issued even the most esteemed works in cheap as well as expensive editions to reach as wide a public as possible. The information-price revolution also affected religious and political publishing, as reading became a basis of mass persuasion for the first time in history.
Which of the following claims is made about the information-price revolution during the 1830s and 1840s in the US?
Inexpensive novels did not actually have a wide readership
The criticism that cheap novels lacked taste was valid.
Only the most highly regarded books were unavailable in cheap editions.
Book publishers issued fewer number of esteemed works in cheap than un-esteemed works
Analysis
A: “ profoundly affected information and culture” So A is false
B: “These ( = dime novels) were criticized for being cheap in both senses of that word, low in price and low in taste. But low price did not necessarily mean lowbrow.” So B is false.
C: Increasingly, book publishers issued even the most esteemed works in cheap as well as expensive editions to reach as wide a public as possible. So C is false.
D: “Even” is the clue. “Even esteemed books were published in cheap editions” implies that “esteemed works are not usually issued cheaply.
Answer: D