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1. What is Read in Daily Life?
Read in Daily Life is the second task in the TOEFL 2026 reading section. Instead of long academic passages, you read short, realistic texts such as:
- Business notices and emails
- Social media posts and comments
- Messages, flyers, and advertisements
You then answer multiple-choice questions about the purpose of the text, important details, and simple inferences.
Quick facts
- Task name in official materials: Read in Daily Life.
- Everyday reading: real-world texts, not long articles.
- Question focus: purpose, audience, details, and inferences.
2. Task details & timing
Number of questions & sets
- 4–6 questions per set.
- 1–2 sets in the entire test.
- Each set is based on one or more short texts on the same topic.
How much time?
- Recommended time: about 3–4 minutes per set.
- This is roughly 45–60 seconds per question.
- The task appears inside the adaptive reading module, so pacing is important.
Points
- Each question = 1 point; there is no partial credit.
- Every question carries equal weight, so don't spend too long on any single item.
3. What Read in Daily Life tests
This task checks how well you can use reading skills in everyday situations. According to the training slides, it focuses on practical comprehension, purpose, detail, and inference.
Purpose & audience
- Why was this text written? To promote, inform, warn, invite, or instruct?
- Who is supposed to read and act on it (customers, students, neighbors)?
Important details
- Can you quickly find specific facts such as dates, prices, locations, or steps?
- Can you distinguish required information from optional extras?
Inference from evidence
- Can you read between the lines to understand reasons or consequences?
- Can you tell which option is supported by the text, even if the words are paraphrased?
4. Core strategies for Reading Task 2
Identify purpose & audience first
The slides recommend starting with the title and the first and last lines of the text to see what the writer is trying to do.
- Ask: Is this text announcing something, promoting a service, giving instructions, or warning about a problem?
- Notice who is mentioned: "customers", "students", "residents", "members", etc.
- For main-idea questions like "What is the notice mainly about?", this step often gives the answer immediately.
Scan & verify details
For detail questions, do not re-read the whole text slowly. Instead, scan for keywords, then confirm by reading closely around that line.
- Underline or note key items: dates, times, prices, locations, names, and numbers.
- When a question mentions "Saturday", "$20", or "Main Street", quickly scan for those exact words.
- Always read one sentence before and after the keyword to confirm you did not miss a negative or condition.
Watch for wording traps
Slides for Strategy 3 warn about NOT / EXCEPT / FALSE in question stems and options.
- If you see "NOT" or "EXCEPT", first find the options that are clearly true; the remaining one is usually the answer.
- Be careful with paraphrases that change meaning: "sign up" vs. "visit", "optional" vs. "required".
- Modal verbs like may, should, must change the strength of an instruction; match them precisely.
Manage time & guess wisely
Strategy 4 in the slides suggests keeping to about 60 seconds per question.
- Answer global questions (purpose, main idea) first, then detail questions.
- If you are stuck, eliminate options that contradict the text and choose from the remaining ones.
- Never spend too long on one difficult question; move on and come back only if there is time.
5. Example Read in Daily Life sets & explanations
The official slides include two full practice sets: a business notice about online statements and a social media post about a farmers' market. Below is a simplified version of each set with answer explanations.
Example Set 1 – Business notice: paperless billing
Text (summarized):
A notice from Municipal Charter invites customers to sign up for paperless savings-account statements. It explains that statements will arrive as PDF files, and that customers can enroll by opening the mobile banking app and choosing account preferences in the upper-right corner.
Question 1. What type of business posted this notice?
- A) Internet provider
- B) Computer manufacturer
- C) Paper supplier
- D) Bank
Correct answer: D) Bank.
Explanation: The notice talks about savings accounts and monthly statements, which clearly points to a bank. None of the other businesses typically send account statements like this.
Question 2. How can customers sign up for paperless billing?
- A) Visit a branch office
- B) Use the company website
- C) Use the mobile app
- D) Call customer service
Correct answer: C) Use the mobile app.
Explanation: The text clearly states that customers should log in through the mobile app and adjust their account preferences. Options about visiting an office or calling customer service are not mentioned.
Example Set 2 – Social media post: farmers' market
Text (summarized):
In the slide's post, "Sofia Baker" describes a lively Saturday farmers' market. She highlights fresh produce, a popular organic stall run by the Thompson family, a busy bakery stall, handmade crafts, and live music that creates a friendly atmosphere.
Question 1. What is the main purpose of the post?
- A) Explain the health benefits of organic farming
- B) Describe the variety of products at the market
- C) Compare several markets in the area
- D) Give advice on starting a market stall
Correct answer: B) Describe the variety of products at the market.
Explanation: The writer talks about many different stalls: produce, bakery items, crafts, and music. The goal is to show how much the market offers, not to give farming advice or business tips.
Question 2. Why is the Thompson family's stall especially popular?
- A) They give cooking tips and recipes.
- B) They sell items at the lowest prices.
- C) They offer excellent organic produce and friendly service.
- D) Their stall design is especially beautiful.
Correct answer: C) They offer excellent organic produce and friendly service.
Explanation: The post describes the Thompson family's stall as a "must-visit" because of its high-quality produce and cordial service, not because of low prices or decoration.
Question 3. Why do customers visit the bakery stall early?
- A) To get free samples in the morning
- B) To buy freshly baked goods before they sell out
- C) To meet a famous baker
- D) To receive early-morning discounts
Correct answer: B) To buy freshly baked goods before they sell out.
Explanation: The text says that the smell of fresh bread fills the air and that the treats disappear quickly, so people arrive early to be sure they can get them.
Key lesson from the examples
Both sets show how questions are closely tied to the purpose of the text and to clear evidence (what the notice or post actually says). Correct answers never rely on outside knowledge; they always match details or paraphrases from the text itself.
6. Practice routine for Read in Daily Life
Step 1 – Collect everyday texts
- Save screenshots of real notices, emails, website banners, and social media posts.
- Choose items around 80–150 words to match TOEFL-style length.
Step 2 – Write your own questions
- For each text, write:
- one purpose / main-idea question,
- two detail questions (time, price, action),
- one inference question ("Why does the writer mention…?").
Step 3 – Use exam pacing
- Give yourself 3–4 minutes per set — the same timing used on the real test.
- Practise answering each question in about one minute or less.
Step 4 – Review wording traps
- After checking answers, mark questions that used NOT / EXCEPT / FALSE.
- Rewrite them in your own words so you become comfortable spotting these traps quickly.
7. Frequently asked questions
Where to practice Read in Daily Life?
More than 100+ Read in Daily Life samples with scoring and explanations you can find on testsucceed.com.
Is Read in Daily Life easier than the academic reading tasks?
Many students find the language easier because the texts are short and practical. However, the timing is tight and wording traps can be tricky. Good strategy is still essential.
Do I need to know special vocabulary for this task?
Most vocabulary is everyday English (billing, discount, schedule, stall). If you regularly read emails, notices, and web pages in English, you are already training for this task.
Can I answer using general knowledge if I'm not sure?
Use common sense only after checking the text. The official slides remind you to use evidence from the text and avoid assumptions that are not supported.
What should I do if I run out of time?
Never leave questions blank. Quickly eliminate obviously wrong options and guess from the remaining ones. Because every item is worth one point, even a lucky guess can help your score.
How does Reading Task 2 fit into the whole exam?
Read in Daily Life appears inside the adaptive reading module along with other tasks. Doing well here is a great way to collect points quickly before moving to longer passages.
