Vocabulary · Free lesson
TOEFL Reading: expected result or observed result?
A passage can mention two opposite outcomes without contradicting itself: one was predicted, and the other happened.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
Expected, predicted and assumed describe an expectation, not proof of a result. Read what was observed next. “Researchers expected attendance to fall. However, attendance rose” reports a rise, even though fall appeared first.
Label the status of each claim.
Find the expectation verb and its subject, then locate evidence words such as observed, recorded or found. However or instead can signal a difference. Do not choose an answer just because it repeats a keyword from the first sentence. Also read sentences in either order: “Attendance rose, although the team had expected a decline” still reports a rise.
Compare the examples
The team expected the shorter opening hours to reduce visits.
However, the number of visits remained stable during the trial.
Visits did not fall as the team had expected.
A different result does not automatically explain why the prediction failed.
Build the meaning step by step
Mark the prediction
expected visits to fall
Check the reported observation
visits remained stable
Try it now
Separate prediction and evidence
Read all answers and explanations
“The team expected visits to fall. However, visits remained stable.” What was observed?
Visits stayed at a similar level.Remained stable is the observation; a fall was only expected.
“The seedlings grew more slowly, although the team had predicted faster growth.” What was the prediction?
Faster growth.Had predicted marks faster growth as the earlier expectation, despite its later position.
“The team predicted fewer visitors, but recorded more.” Does this sentence establish why?
No, it reports the difference without giving a cause.No cause is supplied. Do not invent advertising or make the prediction the cause.
Put it into practice
Repair the mistaken report
Original passage: Staff expected online reminders to reduce missed appointments. The trial records showed no change in the number of missed appointments.
Online reminders reduced missed appointments during the trial.
See a model answer
Staff expected fewer missed appointments, but the trial records showed no change.
No change does not prove that reminders can never help elsewhere. Keep the conclusion inside this trial.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Is the last clause always the observed result?
No. The writer can put the result first and the old expectation second. Use the verbs, not position alone.
Visits rose, although staff had expected a decline.
Does however always mean a prediction failed?
No. It can connect many kinds of contrast. Identify the relationship expressed in the actual sentences.
The room is small. However, it is comfortable.
Take it into your day
An expectation can be wrong while the paragraph remains consistent.
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