具體分析起來，新託福的基礎理解題除插話題和修辭目的題外，主要仍是現行託福中使用的傳統題型。
基礎理解題定義：基礎理解題重點考查讀者對基礎項目的理解，特別是託福 閱讀讀者根據文章的.詞彙、句法和語義內容，理解把握重要信息的能力。它包括以下八個具體題型：
詞彙題(Vocabulary)：考查讀者根據上下文理解特定詞和短語的能力。這種題型雖難度不大，但佔每篇文章後所有題目的三分之一，故考生仍應重視起來。
例題1 Passage:
"In the animal world the task of moving about is fulfilled in many ways. For some animals locomotion is
accomplished by changes in body shape..."The word locomotion in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. evolution
B. movement
C. survival
D. escape
正確答案是B。
例題2 Passage:
"Some poisonous snake bites need to be treated immediately or the victim will suffer paralysis..."
In stating that the victim will suffer paralysis the author means that the victim will
A. lose the ability to move
B. become unconscious
C. undergo shock
D. feel great pain
正確答案是A。