A company has just launched what it calls “the world’s first free standardized English test” recently. Anyone can take the test for free. The new exam is called the EFSET, which is short for Education First Standardized English Test. The company, Education First, is known by the letters EF.
It is estimated that there are two billion English language learners worldwide. Many of them are interested in attending an American college or university. To do so, foreign students need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language — better known as TOEFL. However, many foreigners are not wealthy enough to take the TOEFL. In addition, test-takers often have to travel overnight to reach an official testing site. The World Bank says an average Cambodian worker earns only about $1,000 per year. Approximately the cost of taking the TOEFL is 17.5 percent of the average worker’s yearly wage.
It is not just individuals who find the test pricey. Some governments also find it prohibitive. What’s more, not everyone needs official results from the TOEFL or IELTS — the International English Language Testing System. In the future, it’s likely that the government may use the EFSET to test millions of employees and students.
Experts believe that the EFSET meets the highest value in language testing. It uses special computer software that makes the questions easier or harder, depending on one’s performance. The EFSET measures all the English learners’ levels while the IELTS and TOEFL only measure learners’ levels from moderate (中等的) to advanced. The EFSET is unique in the sense that it gives free online access to anyone interested in measuring their English level.
There is a 50-minute and a two-hour version of the test, which its developers are calling the EFSET Plus. Both versions test only reading and listening skills. It’s hopeful that speaking and writing skills will be tested in the future. The IELTS and the TOEFL still use humans to rate the speaking and writing sections. It’s a huge deal for students who are in areas where they can’t get to the TOEFL or the IELTS. However, it is too early to know whether the EFSET results are acceptable for colleges and universities in America.
【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了雅思托福和英孚测试的区别，雅思托福都是付费考试而且学费较贵，而英孚考试是每一个人都可以通过网络平台免费参加。英孚考试目前只测试读和听的能力。
29. Why do many foreign students take the TOEFL?
30. What can we infer from Paragraph 2?
31. What can we learn about the EFSET?
32. What’s the best title for the passage?
确定题目关键词take the TOEFL，在文章中找到对应部分，回到题目逐一对照。A更好的学英语，B被重点大学录取，D能够找到好工作，赚大钱，都不符合题意，因此选C
事实细节题，直接信息理解题。根据第二段“Many of them are interested in attending an American college or university. To do so, foreign students need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language — better known as TOEFL.” 可知，很多学生想要考入美国的大学，他们就必须去参加像托福这样的外语测试考试 。所以选择C。
把握不住细节信息。
抓取文章大意，综合事实。A只有富人才可以才参加托福考试，C世界上有很多托福的官方考试点。D在柬埔寨付的起托福考试花费的人不多，结合文章，选择B。
主旨大意题。根据文章第二段描述，世界银行称在柬埔寨平均每位员工的年收入是1000美元，，而参加托福考试的花费大约就占他们年收入的17.5%，可以判断B。
把握不住文章中心。
确定题目关键词 EFSET，在文章中找到对应部分，回到题目逐一对照。A英孚与托福，雅思一样，C英孚测试包括听说读写四种技能，D美国的大学主要看英孚测试成绩录取学生，都不符合题意,所以选择B
事实细节题，直接信息理解题。根据“The EFSET is unique in the sense that it gives free online access to anyone interested in measuring their English level.” 可知，只要有人想要了解他们的英语水平就可以参加英孚标准英文水平测试 。所以选择B。
把握不住细节信息。
抓取文章大意，综合事实。句意：A怎样准备英孚考试。B面对世界上不同的英语学习者，测试的方式也不一样，C这种新型软件首先在教育行业得到发展，结合文章，选择D。
主旨大意题。根据文章整体描述，可知：英孚为每一位英语学习者提供了免费的网络测试平台所以选择D。
把握不住文章中心。