Structure and Written Expression
Structure and Written Expression
Structure and Written Expression
STRUCTURE
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DIAGNOSTIC PRE-TEST
SECTION 2
STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Time - 25 minutes
(including the reading of the directions)
Now set your clock for 25 minutes.
This section is designed to measure your ability to recognize language that is appropriate for standard
written English. There are two types of questions in this section, with special directions for each type.
Structure
Directions: These questions are incomplete sentences. Beneath each sentence you will see four words
or phrases, marked (A), (B), (C), and (D). Choose the one word or phrase that best completes the
sentence. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space that
corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.
The sentence should read, “The president won the election by a landslide.” Therefore, you should
choose answer (A).
The sentence should read, “When did the doctor attend the conference?” Therefore, you should choose
answer (B).
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1. In the early 1 900s, Eastman _____ 7. Researchers have begun studying what
inexpensive Brownie box cameras. _____ is on human circadian rhythms.
(A) it developed (A) it is the effect of light
(B) it was developed (B) the light affects
(C) developed (C) is affecting the light
(D) developing (D) the effect of light
2. _____ the discovery of the fossilized 8. If calcium oxide remains exposed to air,
remnants of tides in one-billion-year-old _____ to calcium carbonate.
rocks. (A) turning
(A) Geological reports (B) turns
(B) Geologists report (C) it turns
(C) The reports of geologists (D) the turn
(D) Geologists’ reports
9. Some early batteries used concentrated
3. The Brooklyn Bridge _____ took thirteen nitric acid, ____gave off poisonous
years to complete. fumes.
(A) in New York (A) they
(B) is in New York (B) then they
(C) it is in New York (C) but they
(D) which New York (D) but they had
4. Genes control all of the physical _____ 10. The sound produced by an object______
we inherit. in a periodic way involves more than the
(A) that traits simple sine wave.
(B) that are traits (A) it vibrates
(C) traits that (B) vibrating
(D) traits are that (C) is vibrating
(D) vibrates
5. Indigo can be extracted from a plant, and
then _____ to dye cloth blue. 11. Prior to the discovery of anesthetics in
(A) it 1846, surgery was done _____ was still
(B) using conscious.
(C) using it (A) while the patient
(D) it can be used (B) the patient felt
(C) during the patient’s
6. _____ in the United States spends 900 (D) while patiently
hours per year in class and 1,170 hours in
front of the television.
(A) The average third-grader
(B) The third grade is average
(C) There are three grades
(D) Three average grades
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12. The drastic decline of the beaver helps to 14. A yacht is steered with a rudder, _____
illustrate what _____ to the ecosystems of the flow of water that passes the hull.
the North American continent. (A) which deflecting
(A) happening (B) deflects
(B) the happening (C) it deflects
(C) has happened (D) which deflects
(D) about happening
15. For top speed and sudden acceleration, the
13. The use of shorthand died out in the accelerator pump feeds additional
Middle Ages because of _____ with gasoline from the float chamber into
witchcraft. _____ above the venturi tube.
(A) the association was imagined (A) the air flows
(B) associate the imagination (B) the air flow
(C) imagine the association (C) the air is flowing
(D) the imagined association (D) flows the air
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Written Expression
Directions: In these questions, each sentence has four underlined words or phrases. The four
underlined parts of the sentence are marked (A), (B), (C), and (D). Identify the one underlined word or
phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct. Then, on your answer sheet, find
the number of the question and fill in the space that corresponds to the letter of the answer you have
chosen.
in fifths.
The sentence should read, “The four strings on a violin are tuned in fifths.” Therefore, you should
choose answer (B).
The sentence should read, “The research for the book Roots took Alex Haley twelve years.” Therefore,
you should choose answer (C).
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16. In 1732, coach travelers could got from New York to Philadelphia in about two days.
A B C D
19. The Paul Revere House was built in 1676, and today its the oldest wooden building in Boston.
A B C D
20. Conifers such as cedars, firs, and pines bear its seeds in cones.
A B C D
22. Succulents suck up water in just a few hour, but they can store it in their stems for months.
A B C D
23. Flying buttresses enabled builders to put up tall but thinnest stone walls.
A B C D
24. Weather forecasters monitor barometric pressures and record they on charts as isobars.
A B C D
25. In many languages the forms of a word varies to express such contrasts as number, gender, and tense.
A B C D
26. A Milky Way object that erupted in the constellation Scorpius has provides information to
A B
astronomers since July.
C D
28. When salt is added to ice, this mixture becomes coldly enough to freeze ice cream.
A B C D
29. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Long Island was chiefly an agricultural region
A B C
with fishing, whaling, and build ships as the important industries.
D
30. No one who has studied the Battle of Little Bighorn know the exact route that Custer and his
A B C
detachment took.
D
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31. The folktales which the brothers Grimm had collecting were translated into English in 1823.
A B C D
32. In our solar system, nine planets, fifty-seven moons, several dozen comets, several million
A B
asteroids, and billions of meteorites have so far been discover.
C D
33. From the 1 850s until after the turn of the century, many of America’s super-rich families made
A B C
Newport his favorite summer resort.
D
34. Mars may looks red because it is covered with a layer of soft red iron oxide.
A B C D
35. The radioactive substances that pose the greatest harm to humanity have neither very short or
A B C
very long half lives.
D
36. A robin cocks its head to peer at a worm with one eyes and not to hear it, as was once thought.
A B C D
37. Film sound is often record by an analog system which like the compact disc, uses light.
A B C D
38. The scribes of the Middle Ages used quill pens to produce their high decorated manuscripts.
A B C D
39. The principles of physics described by Christian Doppler in 1842 for the movement of stars has
A B
been adapted to evaluate the movement of blood within the heart.
C D
40. The Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft were the first vehicles of humankind to venture beyond the
A B
limits of ours solar system.
C D
This is the end of the Structure and Written Expression Diagnostic Pre-Test.
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When you finish the test, you may do the following:
Turn to the Progress Chart on page 353, and add your score
to the chart.
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STRUCTURE AND
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
The second section of the TOEFL test is the Structure and Written Expression section. This section
consists of forty questions (some tests may be longer). You have twenty-five minutes to complete the
forty questions in this section.
There are two types of questions in the Structure and Written Expression section of the
TOEFL test:
1. Structure (questions 1—15) consists of fifteen sentences in which part of the sentence has been
replaced with a blank. Each sentence is followed by four answer choices. You must choose the
answer that completes the sentence in a grammatically correct way.
2. Written Expression (questions 16—40) consists of twenty-five sentences in which four words or
groups of words have been underlined. You must choose the underlined word or group of words
that is not correct.
GENERAL STRATEGIES
1. Be familiar with the directions. The directions on every TOEFL test are the same, so it is
not necessary to spend time reading the directions carefully when you take the test. You
should be completely familiar with the directions before the day of the test.
2. Begin with questions 1 through 15. Anticipate that questions 1 through 5 will be the
easiest. Anticipate that questions 11 through 15 will be the most difficult. Do not spend too
much time on questions 11 through 15. There will be easier questions that come later.
3. Continue with questions 16 through 40. Anticipate that questions 16 through 20 will be
the easiest. Anticipate that questions 36 through 40 will be the most difficult. Do not spend
too much time on questions 36 through 40.
4. If you have time, return to questions 11 through 15. You should spend extra time on
questions 11 through 15 only after you spend all the time that you want on the easier
questions.
5. Never leave any questions blank on your answer sheet. Even if you are not sure of the
correct response, you should answer the question. There is no penalty for guessing.
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THE STRUCTURE QUESTIONS
Questions I through 15 in the Structure and Written Expression section of the TOEFL test measure
your knowledge of the correct structure of English sentences. The questions in this section are
multiple-choice questions in which you must choose the letter of the answer that best completes the
sentence.
Example
In this example, you should notice immediately that the sentence has a verb, greeted, and that the verb
needs a subject. Answers (A), (B), and (D) are incorrect because parental, if, and them are not
subjects. The correct answer is answer (C).
1. First study the sentence. Your purpose is to determine what is needed to complete the
sentence correctly.
2. Then study each answer based on how well it completes the sentence. Eliminate answers
that do not complete the sentence correctly.
3. Do not try to eliminate incorrect answers by looking only at the answers. The incorrect
answers are generally correct by themselves. The incorrect answers are generally incorrect
only when used to complete the sentence.
4. Never leave any answers blank. Be sure to answer each question even if you are unsure of
the correct response.
5. Do not spend too much time on the Structure questions. Be sure to leave adequate time
for the Written Expression questions.
The following skills will help you to implement these strategies in the Structure section of the TOEFL
test.
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SKILL 1: SUBJECTS AND VERBS______________________________
You know that a sentence in English should have a subject and a verb. The most common types of
problems that you will encounter in the Structure section of the TOEFL test are related to subjects and
verbs; perhaps the sentence is missing either the subject, or the verb, or both; perhaps the sentence has
an extra subject or verb.
Example I
(A) Loudly
(B) In the morning
(C) The phone
(D) The bells
In this example, you should notice immediately that there is a verb, was ringing, but there is no
subject. Answer (C) is the best answer because it is a singular subject that agrees with the singular
verb was ringing. Answer (A), loudly, and answer (B), in the morning, are not subjects, so they are not
correct. Although answer (D), bells, could be a subject, it is not correct because bells is plural and it
does not agree with the singular verb was ringing.
Example II
(A) delivery
(B) are delivered
(C) on time
(D) regularly
In this example, you should notice immediately that the sentence has a subject, newspapers, but that
there is no verb. Because answer (B), are delivered, is a verb, it is the best answer. Answers (A), (C),
and (D) are not verbs, so they are not correct.
Example III
(A) it is
(B) it really is
(C) is descending
(D) will be
This sentence has a subject, plane, and has part of a verb, landing; to be correct, some form of the verb
be is needed to make the verb complete. Answers (A) and (B) are incorrect because the sentence
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already has a subject, plane, and does not need the extra subject it. Answer (C) is incorrect because
descending is an extra part of a verb that is unnecessary because of landing. Answer (D) is the best
answer; will be together with landing is a complete verb.
The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about subjects and verbs.
EXERCISE 1: Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice in each of the following sentences.
Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
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SKILL 2: OBJECTS OF PREPOSITIONS______________________
An object of a preposition is a noun or a pronoun that comes after a preposition such as in, at, of to,
by, behind, and on to form a prepositional phrase.
The trip (to the island) (on Saturday) will last (for three hours).
This sentence contains three objects of prepositions. Island is the object of the preposition to; Saturday
is the object of the preposition on; hours is the object of the preposition for.
An object of a preposition can cause confusion in the Structure section of the TOEFL test
because it can be mistaken for the subject of a sentence.
Example
(A) really
(B) the party
(C) funny
(D) when
In this example, you should look first for the subject and the verb. You should notice the verb was and
should also notice that there is no subject. Do not think that Mike is the subject; Mike is the object of
the preposition to, and one noun cannot be both a subject and an object at the same time. Because a
subject is needed in this sentence, answer (B), the party, is the best answer. Answers (A), (C), and (D)
are not correct because they cannot be subjects.
The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about objects of
prepositions.
OBJECTS OF PREPOSITIONS
A preposition is followed by a noun or pronoun that is called an object of the preposition. If a word is
an object of a preposition, it is not the subject.
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EXERCISE 2: Each of the following sentences contains one or more prepositional phrases. Underline
the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the prepositional phrases that come before the verb. Then
indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
4. Because of the heavy rain throughout the night, the walkways are muddy.
8. In a box on the top shelf of the cabinet in the hallway of the house.
10. At 1:00 in the morning the alarm clock on the table beside the bed rang.
EXERCISE (Skills 1—2): Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the prepositional
phrases that come before the verb. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
6. In the office of the building across the street from the park on the corner.
8. In a moment of worry about the problem with the cash in the account.
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9. The plane from New York circling the airport.
10. On a regular basis the plants in the boxes under the window in the kitchen are watered and
fed.
TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 1-2): Choose the letter of the word or group of words that best completes
the sentence.
1. Mark Twain _____ the years after the 6. The large carotid artery ____ to the main
Civil War the “Gilded Age.” parts of the brain.
(A) called (A) carrying blood
(B) calling (B) blood is carried
(C) he called (C) carries blood
(D) his calls (D) blood carries
2. Early ____ toes instead of hooves on their 7. _____ radio as the first practical system of
feet. wireless telegraphy.
(A) horses (A) Marconi’s development
(B) had horses (B) The development by Marconi
(C) horses had (C) Developing Marconi
(D) horses having (D) Marconi developed
3. ______ grow close to the ground in the 8. In 1975, the first successful space probe
short Arctic summer. to ____ beginning to send information
(A) Above tundra plants back to Earth.
(B) Tundra plants (A) Venus
(C) Tundra plants are found (B) Venus the
(D) For tundra plants (C) Venus was
(D) Venus it was
4. In 1867, ____ Alaska from the Russians
for $7.2 million. 9. The two biggest resort _____ Arkansas
(A) purchased the United States are Hot Springs and Eureka Springs.
(B) to purchase the United States (A) in
(C) the United States’ purchase of (B) towns in
(D) the United States purchased (C) towns are
(D) towns are in
5. Between 1725 and 1750, New England
witnessed an increase in the specialization 10. NASA’S Lyndon B. Johnson Space
of _____. Center _________ control center for the
(A) occupations Mercury Gemini, and Apollo space
(B) occupies flights.
(C) they occupied (A) it was at the
(D) it occupied them (B) it was the
(C) was the
(D) the
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SKILL 3: PRESENT PARTICIPLES______________________________
Present participles can-cause confusion in the Structure section of the TOEFL test because a present
participle can be either an adjective or a part of the verb. A present participle is the - ing form of the
verb. It is part of the verb when it is pre— ceded by some form of the verb be.
In this sentence, arriving is an adjective and not part of the verb because it is not accompanied by
some form of be. The verb in this sentence is is.
The following example shows how a present participle can be confused with the verb in the
Structure section of the TOEFL test.
Example
In this example, if you look at only the first words of the sentence, it appears that film is the subject
and appearing is part of the verb. If you think that appearing is part of the verb, you might choose
answer (B), is, or answer (D), was, to complete the verb. However, these two answers are incorrect
because appearing is not part of the verb. You should recognize that appearing is a participial adjective
rather than a verb because there is another verb in the sentence, is. In this sentence, there is a complete
subject, film, and a complete verb, is, so this sentence does not need another subject or verb. The best
answer to this question is answer (A).
The following chart outlines the key information you should remember about present
participles.
PRESENT PARTICIPLES
A present participle is the -ing form of the verb. The present participle can be (1) part of the verb or
(2) an adjective. it is part of the verb when it is accompanied by some form of the verb be. It is an
adjective when it is not accompanied by some form of the verb be.
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EXERCISE 3: Each of the following sentences contains one or more present participles. Underline
the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the present participles, and label them as adjectives or
verbs. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
I 2. The clothes are lying the floor should go into the washing machine.
VERB
10. The fast-moving clouds are bringing freezing rain to the area.
Past participles can cause confusion in the Structure section of the TOEFL test because a past
participle can be either an adjective or a part of the verb. The past participle is the form of the verb that
appears with have or be. It often ends in -ed, but there are also many irregular past participles in
English.
In the first sentence, the past participle left is part of the verb because it is accompanied by has. In the
second sentence, the past participle taught is part of the verb because it is accompanied by were.
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A past participle is an adjective when it is not accompanied by some form of be or have.
In the first sentence, left is an adjective rather than a verb because it is not accompanied by a form of
be or have (and there is a verb, was, later in the sentence). In the second sentence, taught is an
adjective rather than a verb because it is not accompanied by a form of be or have (and there is a verb,
were, later in the sentence).
The following example shows how a past participle can be confused with the verb in the
Structure section of the TOEFL test.
Example
(A) has
(B) was
(C) it
(D) just
In this example, if you look only at the first few words of the sentence, it appears that bread is the
subject and baked is either a complete verb or a past participle that needs a helping verb. But if you
look further in the sentence, you will see the verb smelled. You will then recognize that baked is a
participial adjective and is therefore not part of the verb. Answers (A) and (B) are incorrect because
baked is an adjective and does not need a helping verb such as has or was. Answer (C) is incorrect
because there is no need for the subject it. Answer (D) is the best answer to this question.
The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about past
participles.
PAST PARTICIPLES
A past participle often ends in -ed, but there are also many irregular past participles. For many verbs,
including -ed verbs, the simple past and the past participle are the same and can be easily confused.
The -ed form of the verb can be (1) the simple past, (2) the past participle of a verb, or (3) an
adjective.
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EXERCISE 4: Each of the following sentences contains one or more past participles. Underline the
subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the past participles, and label them as adjectives or verbs.
Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
9. The tree was blown over in the storm was cut into logs.
10. The students registered in this course are listed on that sheet of paper.
EXERCISE (Skills 3 - 4): Each of the following sentences contains one or more participles.
Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the participles, and label them as adjectives or
verbs. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
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9. The students are completing the course will graduate in June.
10. The dissatisfied customer is returning the broken toaster to the store.
TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 3 - 4): Choose the letter of the word or group of word that best
completes the sentence.
1. The first _____ appeared during the last 6. Robert E. Lee ____ the Confederate army
period of the dinosaurs’ reign. to General Grant in 1865 at the
(A) flowers are plants Appomattox Courthouse.
(B) plants have flowers (A) surrendered
(C) plants flowers (B) he surrendered
(D) flowering plants (C) surrendering
(D) surrender
2. The earliest medicines _____ from plants
of various sorts. 7. The pituitary gland, _____ the brain,
(A) obtaining releases hormones to control other glands.
(B) they obtained (A) found below
(C) were obtained (B) it is found below
(D) they were obtained (C) its foundation below
(D) finds itself below
3. Simple sails were made from canvas
_____ over a frame. 8. At around two years of age, many
(A) a stretch children regularly produce sentences
(B) stretched _____ three or four words.
(C) was stretched (A) are containing
(D) it was stretched (B) containing
(C) contain.
4. Pluto’s moon, Charon, _____ in a slightly (D) contains planet.
elliptical path around the planet.
(A) moving 9. Multinational companies ________ it
(B) is moving increasingly important to employ
(C) it was moving internationally acceptable brand names.
(D) in its movement (A) finding
(B) are finding
5. Techniques of breath control form an (C) they find
essential part of any _____ program to (D) they are finding
improve the voice.
(A) it trains 10. The cornea is located under the
(B) train conjunctiva, on ______ of the eye.
(C) trains (A) the part is exposed
(D) training (B) exposed the part
(C) the exposed part
(D) exposes the part
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TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1 - 4): Choose the letter of the word or group of words that
best completes the sentence.
1. _____ first settled the Hawaiian Islands 6. The Earth’s plates meet each other at
between A.D. 300 and 750. cracks in the Earth _____ faults.
(A) The Polynesians (A) were called
(B) The Polynesians arrived (B) calls
(C) Because of the Polynesians (C) called
(D) It was the Polynesians (D) it was called
7. The first plant-like organisms probably
2. In 1066, a bright comet _____ in the sky _____ in the sea, perhaps 3 billion years
attracted much attention. ago.
(A) was appearing (A) life
(B) appears (B) living
(C) it appeared (C) lived
(D) appearing (D) it was living
4. In the Stone Age, stone tools _____ with 9. In Watch the Skies, Curtis Peebles
other rock materials. ______attempt to explain America’s
(A) polishing belief in flying saucers.
(B) they polished (A) makes a fascinating
(C) for polish (B) making a fascinating
(D) were polished (C) fascination with making
(D) fascination made a
5. The first steamship to cross the Atlantic
____ Savannah, in 1819. 10. The irregular coastline of _____ a
(A) was the succession of bays and inlets, with the
(B) it was the hook of the Cape Cod peninsula in the
(C) the southeast.
(D) in it the (A) Massachusetts
(B) Massachusetts is
(C) Massachusetts it is
(D) Massachusetts on
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SKILL 5: COORDINATE CONNECTORS________________________
Many sentences in English have more than one clause. (A clause is a group of words containing a
subject and a verb.) When you have two clauses in an English sentence, you must connect the two
clauses correctly. One way to connect two clauses is to use and, but, or, or so between the clauses.
In each of these examples, there are two clauses that are correctly joined with a coordinate
connector—and, but, or, or so—and a comma (,).
The following example shows how this sentence pattern could be tested in the Structure
section of the TOEFL test.
Example
In this example, you should notice quickly that there are two clauses, I forgot my coat and I got very
cold. This sentence needs a connector to join the two clauses. Then, later, and as a result are not
connectors, so answers (A), (C), and (D) are not correct. The best answer is answer (B) because so can
connect two clauses in this manner.
The following chart lists the coordinate connectors and the sentence pattern used with them.
COORDINATE CONNECTORS
and but or so
S V , S V
Was
It , but Bill went Out to play
raining
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EXERCISE 5: Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause. Underline the
subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences are correct ‘(C)
or incorrect (I).
4. The material has been cut, and the pieces have been sewn together.
5. The patient took all the medicine, he did not feel much better.
6. The bill must be paid immediately, or the electricity will be turned off.
8. The dress did not cost too much, but the quality it seemed excellent.
9. The leaves kept falling off the trees, and the boys kept raking them up, but the yard was
still covered.
10. The mail carrier has already delivered the mail, so the letter is not going to arrive today, it
probably will arrive tomorrow.
In each of these examples, there are two clauses: he is tired and he has been working so hard. The
clause he has been working so hard is an adverb clause that is introduced with the connector because.
In the first example, the connector because comes in the middle of the sentence, and no comma (,) is
used. In the second example, the connector because comes at the beginning of the sentence. In this
pattern, when the connector comes at the beginning of the sentence, a comma (,) is required in the
middle of the sentence.
The following example shows how this sentence pattern could be tested in the Structure
section of the TOEFL test.
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Example
In this example, you should recognize easily that the verb arrived needs a subject. There is also
another clause, he started to work immediately. If you choose answer (A) or answer (C), you will have
a subject for the verb arrived, but you will not have a connector to join the two clauses. Because you
need a connector to join two clauses, answers (A) and (C) are incorrect. Answer (B) is incorrect
because there is no subject for the verb arrived. Answer (D) is the best answer because there is a
subject, student, for the verb, arrived, and there is a connector, after, to join the two clauses.
The following chart lists common adverb connectors and the sentence patterns used with
them.
EXERCISE 6: Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause. Underline the subjects
once and the verbs twice. Circle the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I).
C 1. After the plane circled the airport, it landed on the main runway.
I 2. The registration process took many hours since the lines so long.
3. This type of medicine can be helpful, it can also have some bad side effects.
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4. The waves were amazingly high when the storm hit the coastal town.
6. Just as the bread came out of the oven, while a wonderful aroma filled the kitchen.
7. Everyone has spent time unpacking boxes since the family moved into the new house.
8. Although the area is a desert many plants bloom there in the springtime.
9. The drivers on the freeway drove slowly and carefully while the rain was falling heavily
because they did not want to have an accident.
10. If you plan carefully before you take a trip, will have a much better time because the small
details will not cause problems.
EXERCISE (Skills 5—6): Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause. Underline
the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences are correct
(C) or incorrect (I).
1. The lawyer presented a strong case, but the client was still found guilty.
2. After the children read some stories before they went to bed.
3. The report needed to be completed, the workers stayed late every night for a week.
4. If you do not turn on the lights, you will trip in the dark.
6. All of the shoes are on sale until the current stock is gone.
7. The ship leaving the dock even though some passengers were not on board.
8. The outline must be turned in to the teacher a week before the paper is due, and must
approve it.
9. Because the food was cold when it was served the diners sent it back to the kitchen.
10. You should slow down while you are driving, or the police will pull your car over.
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TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 5—6): Choose the letter of the word or group of words that best
completes the sentence.
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TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1—6): Choose the letter of the word or group of words that
best completes the sentence.
1. _____ of the Pueblo Indians centered on 7. During the late 1880s, urban streetcars
intensive agriculture. were electrified through ______ large
(A) The economic activity motors.
(B) Because the economic activity (A) they used
(C) The economy was active (B) used
(D) When the economic activity (C) the use of
(D) when they used
2. In popular terminology, any long
snowstorm with ____ is called a blizzard. 8. _____ almost 274 square miles, but 96
(A) the amount of wind is large percent of the park is under water.
(B) a large amount of wind (A) Although Biscayne National Park
(C) it is very windy encompasses
(D) very windy (B) Biscayne National Park encompasses
(C) Biscayne National Park encompassing
3. Nuclear power can be produced by fusion, (D) Biscayne National Park
_____ produced by fission.
(A) it can also be 9. Legislation _______ in 1916 and 1917
(B) it can also gave the Wilson administration authority
(C) and it can also be to intervene in the national economy if it
(D) and it can also proved necessary.
(A) it was passed
4. _____, igneous rocks may be changed (B) was passed
into gneisses. (C) passed
(A) The temperature is high (D) passes
(B) If the temperature is high
(C) High temperatures 10. Because a family of birds set up
(D) If high temperature housekeeping in Joel Chandler Harris’s
mailbox when the birds were in need of a
5. In 1905, Henry Flagler _____ his plans to place to stay, ______ the Wren’s Nest.
extend his Florida East Coast Railway out (A) the home is named
across the sea to Key West. (B) so the home is named
(A) it was announced (C) naming the home
(B) announcement (D) the home’s name
(C) the announcement of
(D) announced
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SKILL 7: NOUN CLAUSE CONNECTORS_________________________
A noun clause is a clause that functions as a noun; because the noun clause functions as a noun, it can
be used in a sentence as an object of a verb (if it follows a verb) or an object of a preposition (if it
follows a preposition). Study the clauses and connectors in the following sentences.
In the first example, there are two clauses, I don’t know and he said such things. These two clauses are
joined with the connector why. Why changes the clause he said such things into a noun clause which
functions as the object of the verb don’t know.
In the second example, the two clauses I am thinking and he said such things are also joined
by the connector why. Why changes the clause he said such things into a noun clause which functions
as the object of the preposition about.
The following example shows how these sentence patterns could be tested in the Structure
section of the TOEFL test.
Example
In this example, the sentence contains the main subject and verb, the citizens worry, and it also
contains an additional verb, is doing. The sentence needs a subject for the verb is doing and a
connector to join the two clauses. The best answer is answer (A) because it has the connector what and
the subject government. Answer (B) is incorrect because it does not have a connector. Answer (C) is
incorrect because it does not have a subject for is doing. Answer (D) is incorrect because it has two
subjects for is doing.
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The following chart lists the noun clause connectors and the sentence patterns used with them.
EXERCISE 7: Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause. Underline the subjects
once and the verbs twice. Circle the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I).
10. Can you tell me why was the mail not delivered today?
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I know what happened yesterday
NOUN CLAUSE AS OBJECT OF VERB
In the first example, there are two clauses: I know and what happened yesterday. These two clauses
are joined by the connector what. It is important to understand that in this sentence the word what
serves two functions. It is both the subject of the verb happened and the connector that joins the two
clauses.
In the second example, there are two clauses. In the first clause we is the subject of are
thinking. In the second clause what is the subject of happened. What also serves as the connector that
joins the two clauses. The noun clause what happened yesterday functions as the object of the
preposition about.
The following example shows how this sentence pattern could be tested in the Structure
section of the TOEFL test.
Example
The company was prepared for ________ happened with the economy.
(A) it
(B) the problem
(C) what
(D) when
In this example, the sentence contains the main clause the company was prepared and another verb,
happened. The sentence needs a subject for the verb happened and a connector to join the two clauses.
Answer (C) is the best answer because what is both a connector and a subject. Answer (A) is incorrect
because it is a subject, but there is no connector. Answer (B) is incorrect because the problem is a
subject, but there is no connector. Answer (D) is incorrect because why is a connector, but it is not a
subject.
The following chart lists the noun clause connector/subjects and the sentence pattern used with
them.
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EXERCISE 8: Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause. Underline the subjects
once and the verbs twice. Circle the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I).
EXERCISE (Skills 7—8): Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause.
Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences
are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
6. I would like to ask if you could come over for dinner this weekend.
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TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 7—8): Choose the letter of the word or group of words that best
completes the sentence.
5. Lack of clarity about ____ the party in the 10. The process of photosynthesis explains
coming year will be removed at the how ____ able to use the energy in
party’s convention. sunlight to manufacture foods from the
(A) will lead simple chemicals in air and water.
(B) lead (A) green plants
(C) they will lead (B) green plants are
(D) who will lead (C) planting greens
(D) with green plants are
6. We do not ____ the bow drill was first
developed for woodworking or fire
making.
(A) whether it
(B) know whether it
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TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1 - 8): Choose the letter of the word or group of words
that best completes the sentence.
1. Air near the equator ____ a faster west-to- 6. The Moon’s gravity pulls water on the
east motion than air farther from the near side of the Earth toward the Moon,
equator. and this is what _____ tides to occur.
(A) to have (A) the cause
(B) it has (B) causes
(C) has (C) causing
(D) having (D) the cause of
2. About 4000 B.C., humans discovered that 7. ____, they pick up fragments of rock
____ obtained from special rocks called which become frozen into the base of the
ores. ice.
(A) metals could be (A) Glaciers move
(B) the ability of metallic (B) Glaciers moving
(C) possibly metallic (C) They were glaciers
(D) could metals be (D) As glaciers move
3. ____ quickly after an animal dies. 8. The tape measure first evolved from ____
(A) In the degradation of DNA used by the Egyptians.
(B) Degrading DNA (A) the chains measure
(C) DNA degrades (B) the chains are measured
(D) For DNA to degrade (C) the chains are measuring
(D) the measuring chains
4. ____ aerodynamic design has contributed
greatly to reducing resistance to motion. 9. A typical Atlantic hurricane starts as a
(A) Improved low pressure system near _____.
(B) It improves (A) Africa coasts
(C) Improvement (B) coast to Africa
(D) They improve (C) the African coast
(D) Africa has a coast
5. The southern part of Florida is much
warmer in the winter than the northern 10. It is not clear whether the subdivisions of
part, so more _____ to the south. the neocortex _____ units.
(A) flocking tourists (A) individual
(B) touring flocks (B) are individual
(C) flocks of tourists (C) they are individual
(D) tourists flock (D) individually
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SKILL 9: ADJECTIVE CLAUSE CONNECTORS________________________________
An adjective clause describes a noun. Because the clause is an adjective, it is positioned directly after
the noun that it describes.
In the first example, there are two clauses: this is the subject of the verb is, and I is the subject of the
verb want. That is the adjective clause connector that joins these two clauses, and the adjective clause
that I want to buy describes the noun house.
In the second example, there are also two clauses: house is the subject of the verb is, and I is
the subject of the verb want. In this sentence also, that is the adjective clause connector that joins these
two clauses, and the adjective clause that I want to buy describes the noun house.
The following example shows how these sentence patterns could be tested in the Structure
section of the TOEFL test.
Example
In this example, you should notice quickly that there are two clauses: job is the subject of the verb
was, and the verb started needs a subject. Because there are two clauses, a connector is also needed.
Answers (A) and (C) have connectors, but there are no subjects, so these answers are not correct.
Answer (B) changes started into a passive verb; in this case the sentence would have one subject and
two verbs, so answer (B) is not correct. The best answer to this question is answer (D). The correct
sentence should say: The job that he started yesterday was rather difficult. In this sentence job is the
subject of the verb was, he is the subject of the verb started, and the connector that joins these two
clauses.
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The following chart lists the adjective clause connectors and the sentence pat terns used with them.
NOTE: The adjective connectors can be omitted. This omission is very common in spoken English or
in casual written English. It is not as common in formal English or in the Structure section of the
TOEFL test.
EXERCISE 9: Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause. Underline the subjects
once and the verbs twice. Circle the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I).
I 2. Ms. Brown, whom did you recommend for the job, will start work tomorrow.
6. She is able to solve all the problems which did she cause.
7. The day that she spent on the beach left her sunburned.
8. Next week I am going to visit my cousins, whom have not seen in several years.
10. The teacher whom the students like the most is their history teacher.
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SKILL 10: ADJECTIVE CLAUSE CONNECTOR/SUBJECTS___________________
In Skill 9 we saw that adjective clause connectors can be used to introduce clauses that describe nouns.
In Skill 10 we will see that in some cases an adjective clause connector is not just a connector; an
adjective clause connector can also be the subject of the clause at the same time.
In the first example, there are two clauses: we is the subject of the verb are looking, and that is the
subject of the verb is. These two clauses are joined with the connector that. Notice that in this example
the word that serves two functions at the same time: it is the subject of the verb is, and it is the
connector that joins the two clauses. The adjective clause that is quite expensive describes the noun
house.
In the second example, there are also two clauses: house is the subject of the verb seems, and
that is the subject of the verb is. In this example, that also serves two functions: it is the subject of the
verb is, and it is the connector that joins the two clauses. Because that is quite expensive is an
adjective clause describing the noun house, it directly follows house.
The following example shows how these sentence patterns could be tested in the Structure
section of the TOEFL test.
Example
In this example, you should notice immediately that the sentence has two verbs, dropped and is, and
each of them needs a subject. The only answer that has two subjects is answer (B), so answer (B) is the
correct answer. The correct sentence should say: The woman who just dropped off a package for you
is my sister. In this sentence woman is the subject of the verb is, and who is the subject of the verb
dropped. Who is also the connector that joins the two clauses.
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The following chart lists the adjective clause connector/subjects and the sentence patterns used
with them.
NOTE: Although adjective clause connectors (Skill 9) can be omitted in informal English, adjective
clause connector/subjects (Skill 10) can never be omitted.
EXERCISE 10: Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause. Underline the
subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C)
or incorrect (I).
I 2. I did not vote for the politician who he just won the election.
5. We rented an apartment from the landlord who does he own the buildings on Maple Street.
7. Any student who does not turn in the paper by Friday will fail the class.
9. The courses that satisfy the graduation requirements they are difficult.
10. After dinner she went to visit her parents, who were living down the street.
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EXERCISE (Skills 9—10): Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause.
Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences
are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
6. The children are playing with the toys which their mother told them to put away.
8. The students have to read all the chapters which are on the test.
10. The stones that they were set in the ring were quite valuable.
TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 9-40): Choose the letter of the word or group of words that best
completes the sentence.
1. Modern humans, who first appeared about 3. _____ drought-resistant plants which
600,000 years ago, _____ Homo sapiens. store water in fleshy tissue.
(A) calling (A) Succulents are
(B) were called (B) Succulents
(C) they called (C) They are succulents
(D) they were called (D) Succulents which are
2. The first writing _____ evidence of is on 4. Benjamin Kabelsky, whom ____ as Jack
Mesopotamian clay tablets. Benny, was a famous comedian in
(A) we vaudeville and on radio and television.
(B) that we (A) most people’s knowledge
(C) has (B) most people know
(D) that we have (C) knowing most people
(D) the knowledge of most people
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5. _____ that hunted other animals tended to 8. _____ that accompany recurring bouts of
have very narrow, sharp, curved claws. severe depression reduce bone density.
(A) For dinosaurs (A) It changes hormones
(B) Dinosaurs are known (B) Hormonal changes
(C) Dinosaurs (C) The hormones change
(D) Like dinosaurs (D) The change in hormones is
6. The first eyeglasses had convex lenses for 9. Willa Cather is an author _____ for her
the aged who ____ farsighted. evocative and memorable vision of
(A) had become frontier prairie life.
(B) they had become (A) whom readers
(C) becoming (B) the praise of readers
(D) it became (C) whom praisings
(D) whom readers praise
7. Chimney Rock, ____ 500 feet above the
North Platte River, has eroded 10. Mars’s tiny moon Phobos is a small
considerably in the last two centuries, mountain of rock that _____ from the
(A) stands asteroid belt by Mars’s gravitational pull.
(B) is standing (A) was probably captured
(C) it stands (B) it probably
(D) which stands (C) the probable capture
(D) probably the capture
TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1 - 10): Choose the letter of the word or group of words that
best completes the sentence.
1. _____ is famous as the home of the U.S. 3. With _____ of sophisticated oil lamps,
Naval Academy. elaborate tools were made to cut the
(A) Annapolis wicks.
(B) Because of Annapolis (A) appeared
(C) Why Annapolis (B) the appearance
(D) Because Annapolis (C) the appearance was
(D) it appeared
2. Some scientists think _____ be a planet
but a moon of Neptune. 4. Fort Union was the site of what ____
(A) that Pluto does not seem. principal fur-trading post on the upper
(B) not Pluto Missouri River.
(C) Pluto that might not (A) the
(D) that Pluto might not (B) being the
(C) was the
(D) it was the
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5. Since _____ commercial risk, it has to 8. Genes, _____ the blueprints for cell
appeal to a large audience to justify its construction, exist in tightly organized
cost. packages called chromosomes.
(A) the face of the movie (A) are
(B) moving faces (B) they are
(C) a movie faces (C) which
(D) to face a movie (D) which are
6. A current of water known as the Gulf 9. The Earth’s atmosphere consists of gases
Stream comes up from the Gulf of _____ in place around the Earth by the
Mexico, and then ____ the North Atlantic gravitational pull of the planet.
toward Europe. (A) held
(A) it crosses (B) hold
(B) crossing (C) it holds
(C) with its crosses (D) the hold
(D) crosses it
10. Oscar Hammerstein II collaborated with a
7. Systems ____ the two symbols 0 and 1 number of composers including Jerome
are called binary number systems. Kern, whom _____ in writing the musical
(A) use Show Boat.
(B) they use (A) joined
(C) uses (B) was joined
(D) using (C) he joined
(D) joining
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THE WRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS
Questions 16 through 40 in the Structure and Written Expression section of the TOEFL test measure
your knowledge of the correct way to express yourself in English writing. Each question in this section
consists of one sentence in which four words or groups of words have been underlined. You must
choose the letter of the word or group of words that is not correct.
Example
If you look at the underlined words in this example, you should see that the verb are is not correct. The
verb should be the singular is because the subject result is singular. Therefore, you should choose
answer (C) because (C) is not correct.
1. First look at the underlined word or groups of words. You want to see if you can spot
which of the four answer choices is not correct.
2. If you have been unable to find the error by looking only at the four underlined
expressions, then read the complete sentence. Often an underlined expression is incorrect
because of something in another part of the sentence.
3. Never leave any answers blank. Be sure to answer each question even if you are unsure of
the correct response.
The following skills will help you to implement these strategies in the Written Expression questions.
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SKILL 11: AGREEMENT AFTER PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES_______
Subject/verb agreement is simple: if the subject of a sentence is singular, then the verb must be
singular; if the subject of the sentence is plural, then the verb must be plural. An s on a verb usually
indicates that a verb is singular, while an s on a noun usually indicates that the noun is plural. (Do not
forget irregular plurals of nouns such as women, children, and people.)
In the first example, the singular subject dog requires a singular verb, barks. In the second example,
the plural subject dogs requires a plural verb, bark.
Sometimes prepositional phrases can come between the subject and the verb on the TOEFL
test, and this can cause confusion. If the object of the preposition is singular and the subject is plural,
or if the object of the preposition is plural and the subject is singular, there can be a problem in making
the subject and verb agree.
In the first example, you might think that rooms is the subject because it comes directly in front of the
verb are. However, rooms is not the subject because it is the object of the preposition to. The subject
of the sentence is door, so the verb should be is. In the second example, you might think that room is
the subject because it comes directly in front of the verb is. You should recognize in this example that
room is not the subject because it is the object of the preposition to. Because the subject of the
sentence is doors, the verb should be are.
The following chart outlines the key information that you should understand about
subject/verb agreement with prepositional phrases.
S (prepositional phrase) V
When a prepositional phrase comes between the subject and the verb, be sure that the
verb agrees with the subject.
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EXERCISE 11: Each of the following sentences has one or more prepositional phrases between the
subject and verb. Put parentheses around the prepositional phrases. Underline the subjects once and
the verbs twice. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
3. The chairs under the table in the dining room is quite comfortable.
4. The players on the winning team in the competition were very talented.
5. The food for the guests at the party are on the long tables.
7. The rugs in the front rooms of the house are going to be washed today.
9. The lights in the corner of the room need to be kept on all night.
10. The meeting of the members of the council begins at 3:00 in the afternoon.
In the first example, the subject most refers to the singular noun meal, so the correct verb is therefore
the singular verb was. In the second example, the subject most refers to the plural noun meals, so the
correct verb is the plural verb were. In the third example, the subject most refers to the uncountable
noun food, so the correct verb is therefore the singular verb was.
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These sentences contain examples of the types of problems that are common on the TOEFL test.
In the first example, the plural verb were should be the singular verb was because the subject all refers
to the singular noun book. In the second example, the singular verb is should be the plural verb are
because the subject half refers to the plural noun students.
The following chart outlines the key information that you should understand about
subject/verb agreement after expressions of quantity.
all
most
some of the (object) V
half
part
When an expression of quantity using of is the subject, the verb agrees with the object.
EXERCISE 12: Each of the following sentences has a quantity expression as the subject. Underline
the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the objects that the verbs agree with. Then indicate if the
sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
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9. The first half of the class consists of lecture and note taking.
Certain words in English are always grammatically singular, even though they might have plural
meanings.
Even though we understand from this example that a lot of people are watching the film, everybody is
singular and requires a singular verb. The plural verb are watching should be changed to the singular
verb is watching.
The following chart lists the grammatically singular words that have plural meanings.
EXERCISE 13: Each of the following sentences contains one of the words that is grammatically
singular but has a plural meaning. Underline these words once and underline the verbs twice. Then
indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
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8. Nobody in the class have completed the assignment on time.
10. Everybody know the rules, but somebody is not following them.
EXERCISE (Skills 11—13): Each of the following sentences may have a problem with
subject/verb agreement. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Then indicate if the
sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
1. The receptionist in the entryway to the offices is able to answer your questions.
7. The drinks in the pitchers on the table in the ballroom is for everyone.
10. The sauce on the vegetables in the yellow bowl taste really delicious.
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TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 11—13): Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words
that is not correct.
3. Part of the electricity used in the United States today come from hydroelectric sources.
A B C D
4. The languages of the world presents a vast array of structural similarities and differences.
A B C D
5. The rise of multinationals have resulted in a great deal of legal ambiguity because
A B
6. All of the east—west interstate highways in the United States has even numbers while
A B
7. When a massive star in the large Magellanic Cloud exploded in 1987, a wave of neutrinos
A B
8. Some of the agricultural practices used today is responsible for fostering desertification.
A B C D
9. Every open space in the targeted area that has grass and a few bushes are occupied by the
A B C D
white-crowned sparrow.
10. Krakatoa is remembered as the volcano that put so much ash into the air that sunsets
A B
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TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-13): Choose the letter of the word or group of words
that best completes the sentence.
1. _____ the earliest system of writing. 3. The Earth’s one-year revolution around
(A) The constitution of pictograms the Sun changes how _____ on one
(B) Pictograms in the constitution hemisphere or the other.
(C) Constitute the pictograms (A) falling sunlight
(D) Pictograms constitute (B) the fall of sunlight
(C) sunlight in the fall
2. At temperatures _____ absolute zero, (D) sunlight falls
substances possess minimal energy.
(A) approach 4. Though sporadic interest in regional
(B) approaches dialects _____ for centuries, the first
(C) approaching large-scale systematic studies did not take
(D) they approach place until the nineteenth century.
(A) has existed
(B) it existed
(C) has it existed
(D) existing with it
Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.
____ 6. The first set of false teeth similar to those in use today it was made in France in the 1780s.
A B C D
____ 7. The term “Yankee” was originally a nickname for people from New England, but now anyone
A
from the United States are referred to as a Yankee.
B C D
____ 8. A network of small arteries, mostly sandwiched between the skin and the underlying muscles,
A B
supply blood to the face and scalp.
C D
____ 9. Mesquite is a small tree in the Southwest who can withstand the severest drought.
A B C D
____ 10. At the end of the Revolution, most of the army units of the young nation was almost entirely
A B
disbanded, leaving a total national military force of 80 men
C D
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SKILL 14: PARALLEL STRUCTURE WITH COORDINATE
CONJUNCTIONS____________________________________
The job of the coordinate conjunctions (and, but, or) is to join together equal expressions. In other
words, what is on one side of these words must be parallel to what is on the other side. These
conjunctions can join nouns, or verbs, or adjectives, or phrases, or clauses; they just must join together
the same structures. Here are examples of equal structures correctly joined by coordinate conjunctions:
There are meetings in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening
You can do the work because you want to do it or because you have to do it
In the first example, two nouns are joined by the coordinate conjunction and. In the second example,
two adjectives are joined by the coordinate conjunction but. In the third example, three verbs are
joined by the coordinate conjunction or. In the fourth example, three phrases are joined by the
coordinate conjunction and. In the last example; two clauses are joined by the coordinate conjunction
or.
The sentences that follow show the types of errors in parallel structure that are common on the
TOEFL test.
The student reads each chapter, takes a lot of notes, and memories* the material.
In the first example, the coordinate conjunction but joins the noun beauty and the adjective expensive.
The adjective beautiful is needed in place of beauty. In the second example, the coordinate conjunction
and joins the verb reads, the verb takes, and the plural noun memories. The verb memorizes is needed
in place of memories.
The following chart outlines the use of parallel structures with coordinate con junctions.
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PARALLEL STRUCTURE WITH COORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS
and
(same structure) (same structure)
but
and
(same structure), (same structure), (same structure)
but
EXERCISE 14: Each of the following sentences contains words or groups of words that should be
parallel. Circle the word that indicates that the sentence should have parallel parts. Underline the parts
that should be parallel. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
I 1. The pastries in that shop are very expensive but quite deliciously
C 2. You can find some change to buy a paper in the drawer, on top of the dresser, or in the jar
____ 3. The living room was decorated with expensive paintings and elegance lamps.
____ 4. He knew that the financial problems were serious, that the situation was not going to improve,
and that he needed to get a job.
____ 5. All day long during the trip to the mountains, they were skiing, sledding, or played in the
snow.
____ 6. The car needs new tires but not a new engine.
____ 7. He stops working when he gets too tired to continue or when he has finished.
____ 8. To get to the office, you should go through this door, turn to the left, and continuation down
the hall.
____ 9. For dessert we could serve lemon pie, fruit tarts, chocolate cake, or butter cookies.
____ 10. The sick child needs some medicine, some juice, and to rest.
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SKILL 15: PARALLEL STRUCTURE WITH PAIRED
CONJUNCTIONS. ___________________________________
The paired conjunctions both …… and, either …… or; neither …… nor; and not only ….. but also
require parallel structures.
The missing papers are neither on his desk nor in the file
It is not correct because to play tennis is not parallel to golf It can be corrected in different ways.
When you are using these paired conjunctions, be sure that the correct parts are used together. The
following are incorrect:
These sentences are incorrect because the wrong parts of the paired conjunctions are used together. In
the first example, and should be used with both. In the second example, or should be used with either.
The following chart outlines the use of parallel structure with paired conjunctions.
Both and
Neither nor
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EXERCISE 15: Each of the following sentences contains words or groups of words that should be
parallel. Circle the word or words that indicate that the sentence should have parallel parts. Underline
the parts that should be parallel. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
C 2. The music at the concert was neither well played nor well liked.
_____ 4. The play that we saw last night was not only rather delightful but also quite meaningful.
_____ 5. He married her neither for her ability to cook nor her ability to clean house.
_____ 7. He withdrew all the money not only from the checking account but also from the savings
account.
_____ 8. Neither the teacher or the students are ready to leave the classroom.
_____ 9. You can meet with me either in the next few minutes or at 4:00.
_____ 10. John is an adventurous person who enjoys not only skydiving but also goes parasailing.
EXERCISE (Skills 14 - 15): Each of the following sentences contains words or groups of words
that should be parallel. Circle the word or words that indicate that the sentence should have parallel
parts. Underline the parts that should be parallel. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I).
_____ 4. The coffee is too hot, too bitter, and too strength.
_____ 5. He not only passed the test but also receiving the highest score in the class.
_____ 6. Your ideas are neither more important or less important than the ideas of the others.
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_____ 7. The meeting lasted only an hour but still seeming too long.
_____ 9. Either the counselor or her secretary can help you with that problem.
_____ 10. The leaves from the tree fell in the yard, in the pool, the driveway, and on the sidewalk.
TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 14 - 15): Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words
that is not correct.
_____ 1. Ballpoint pens are less versatile but more population than fountain pens
A B C D
_____ 3. Blood pressure is measured by feeling the pulse and apply a force to the arm.
A B C D
_____ 5. The first matches were too hard to ignite, a mess or too dangerously easy to ignite.
A B C D
_____ 6. A 1971 U.S. government policy not only put warnings on cigarette packs but
A B
also banning television advertising of cigarettes.
C D
_____ 7. Demand beauty, durability, rare, and perfection of cutting determine the value of a gemstone.
A B C D
_____ 8. The Harvard Yard, which was Harvard’s original campus, is still a major attraction for both
A B C
students and visiting
D
_____ 9. In 1862, the American Confederacy raised the Merrimack, renamed it the Virginia, covered it
A B
with iron plates and an outfit it with ten guns.
C D
_____ 10. The liquid crystals in a liquid crystal display (LCD) affect the polarized light so that it is
A B C
either blocked and reflected by the segments of the display.
D
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TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-15): Choose the letter of the word or group of words
that best completes the sentence.
1. Most cells in multicelled organisms 3. 3. The Sun uses up over 4 million tons of
perform _____ functions. hydrogen per second, ____still has
(A) specialize enough hydrogen to last for the next 5
(B) specialized billion years.
(C) they specialize (A) it does not
(D) specialization (B) it
(C) but it
2. The big island of Hawaii, in the middle of (D) to it
the Pacific Ocean, ____ by five volcanoes
(A) creation 4. For Katherine L. Bates, who _____ the
(B) it was created top of Pikes Peak in 1893, the view
(C) creating provided the inspiration for her hymn
(D) was created America the Beautiful.
(A) reached
(B) she reached
(C) reaching
(D) she was reaching
Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.
____ 5. Coal, petroleum, and natural gaseous are all fossil fuels
A B C D
____ 6. The mass of neutron stars generally range from one-tenth to twice the mass of the Sun.
A B C D
____ 7. Grasses grow in ways that help them to survive being nibbled, chilly or dried.
A B C D
____ 8. Most of Hemingway’s novels glorifies heroic exploits such as bullfighting or boxing
A B C D
____ 9. Paleographers study ancient and medieval handwriting in order to establish not only its age
A B C
and also its background.
D
____ 10. The sounds produced by bullfrogs and toads vary greatly because each species have its own
A B C
particular call.
D
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SKILL 16: PAST PART1CIPLES AFTER HAVE _______________________________
Whenever you see the verb have in any of its forms (have, has, having, had), be sure that the verb that
follows it is in the past participle form.
In the first example, complete should be the past participle completed because it is after had. In the
second example, went should be the past participle gone because it is after have.
The following chart outlines the use of verb forms after have.
EXERCISE 16: Each of the following sentences contains a verb formed with have. Underline the
verbs twice. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
I 1. We have already hearing the good news.
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SKILL 17: PRESENT PARTICIPLES OR PAST PARTICIPLES
AFTER BE__________________________________________
The verb be in any of its forms (am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being) can be fol lowed by another
verb. This verb should be in either the present participle or the past participle form.
In the first example, turn on should be turning on because it is after are. In the second example, lock
should be locked because it is after is.
The following chart outlines the use of verb forms after be.
EXERCISE 17: Each of the following sentences contains a verb formed with be. Underline the verbs
twice. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
____ 3. Today the teacher is allow the students to leave class a few minutes early.
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SKILL 18: BASE FORM VERBS AFTER MODALS __________________
Whenever you see a modal such- will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, or must, you
should be sure that the verb that follows it is in its base form.
In the first example, telling should be the base form tell because it follows must. In the second
example, comes should be the base form come because it follows may.
The following chart outlines the use of verb forms after modals.
EXERCISE 18: Each of the following sentences contains a verb formed with a modal. Underline the
verbs twice. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
____ 5. You can look at the book, but you cannot borrow it.
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EXERCISE (Skills 16—18): Each of the following sentences contains a verb formed with several
parts. Underline the verbs twice. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) r incorrect (I).
____ 4. She must have feel sorry about her bad behavior.
____ 8. The package might had been deliver by an express mail service.
____ 10. The car should not have be drive anymore today.
TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 16—18): Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words
that is not correct.
____ 2. Fish farming has rose in the United States in recent years.
A B C D
____ 3. In areas of volcanic activity, beach sand may contains dark minerals and little quartz.
A B C D
____ 4. Cro-Magnon man was names after the caves in southwest France where the first remains were
A B C
discovered.
D
____ 5. Lassie, the famous collie who made her first screen appearance in 1943, has always be played
A B C D
by a male dog.
____ 6. A blue bigwig lizard stakes out a territory and will defending females within it against
A B C
courting males.
D
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____ 7. President George Washington was inaugurates on the steps of the Federal Building in New
A B C D
York City
____ 8. By 1627, Plymouth had became a viable and growing community of 50 families, 25 goats,
A B C
15 cows, and more than 50 pigs.
D
____ 9. Tobacco was the crop on which the eminence of Williamsburg and the prosperity of Virginia
A B C
were base.
D
____ 10. Because there may be scores of genes in each suspect DNA region, scientists
A
must identifying and sequence the actual genes contributing to Type I diabetes.
B C D
TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1—18): Choose the letter of the word or group of words that
best completes the sentence.
1. _____ the deepest valleys and canyons on 3. Some composers, such as Richard
the Earth. Wagner, have felt that _____ the action of
(A) In the Pacific Ocean with the opera too much and have written
(B) In the Pacific Ocean operas without them.
(C) The Pacific Ocean (A) arias interrupt
(D) The Pacific Ocean has (B) interrupt arias
(C) the interruption of arias
2. In the United States, the participation of (D) areas of interruption
females in the labor force _____ from 37
percent in 1965 to 51 percent in 1980.
(A) it jumped
(B) jump
(C) jumping
(D) jumped
Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.
____ 5. Our universe may continue to expand as it gets colder, empty and deader.
A B C D
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____ 6. Every form of matter in the world are made up of atoms.
A B C D
____ 7. The lens and cornea are supply with nutrients and oxygen by the aqueous fluid.
A B C D
____ 8. Dodge City, laid out in 1872, owed both its prosperity and its famous to the buffalo in its
A B C
early years
D
____ 9. The amount of the two kinds of cholesterol in the blood have been shown to have an effect
A B C D
on the risk of heart attack.
____ 10. By the time Noah Webster reached his mid-twenties, he had already publish an elementary
A B C D
speller.
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SKILL 19: SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS_______________________________
A problem that is common in the Written Expression section of the TOEFL test is a singular noun
used where a plural noun is needed, or a plural noun used where a singular noun is needed.
In the first example, several indicates that the plural books is needed. In the second example, each
indicates that the singular chapter is needed.
In the Written Expression section of the TOEFL test you should watch very carefully for key
words such as each, every, a, and single that indicate that a noun should be singular. You should also
watch carefully for key words such as many, several, and three that indicate that a noun should be
plural.
The following chart lists the key words that indicate to you whether a noun should be singular
or plural.
EXERCISE 19: Each of the following sentences contains at least one key word to tell you if a noun
should be singular or plural. Circle the key words. Draw arrows to the nouns they describe. Then
indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
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____ 8. She tried several times to call me.
In English, nouns are classified as countable or uncountable. For certain questions on the TOEFL test,
it is necessary to distinguish countable and uncountable nouns in order to use the correct modifiers
with them.
As the name implies, countable nouns are nouns that can be counted. Count able nouns can
come in quantities of one, or two, or a hundred, etc. The noun book is countable because you can have
one book or several books.
Uncountable nouns, on the other hand, are nouns that cannot be counted because they come in
some indeterminate quantity or mass. A noun such as milk or happiness cannot be counted; you cannot
have one milk or two milks, and you cannot find one happiness or two happinesses. Uncountable
nouns are often liquid items such as water oil, or shampoo. Uncountable nouns can also refer to
abstract ideas such as security, friendship, or hope.
It is important for you to recognize the difference between countable and uncountable nouns
when you come across such key words as much and many.
In the first example, much is incorrect because trips is countable. This sentence should say many trips.
In the second example, many is incorrect because water is uncountable. This sentence should say
much water.
The following chart lists the key words that indicate to you whether a noun is countable or
uncountable.
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EXERCISE 20 : Each of the following sentences contains at least one key word to tell you if a noun
is countable or uncountable. Circle the key words. Draw arrows to the nouns they describe. Then
indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
EXERCISE (Skills 19—20): Each of the following sentences contains at least one key word to tell
you if a noun is singular, plural, countable, or uncountable. Circle the key words. Draw arrows to the
nouns they describe. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
____ 5. Various new law go into effect on the first of the year.
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____ 10. He only smokes a small amount of cigarettes.
TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 19—20): Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words
that is not correct.
____ 1. Cone shells live in much different seas and feed mainly on small fish and worms
A B C D
____ 2. The leaves of the common sunflower are rough to the touch on both side.
A B C D
____ 3. Hemoglobin enables the red blood cells to carry oxygen and small numbers of carbon dioxide.
A B C D
____ 4. Those with narcolepsy experience the uncontrollable desire to sleep, perhaps several time in
A B C
one day.
D
____ 5. Another great artists of the time and possibly the most gifted silversmith in the colonies was
A B C D
Paul Revere.
____ 6. Alzheimer’s disease afflicts two in ten person over the age of seventy in the
A B C D
United States.
____ 7. The red cardinal spends many of its time feeding on the ground.
A B C D
____ 8. In the 1920s, Tulsa had a higher number of millionaire than any other U.S. city
A B C D
____ 9. Because Washington is a district and not a state, its residents have less rights than other
A B C D
citizens.
____ 10. Implosive consonants occur in many different language but they are particularly common in
A B C D
American Indian and African languages.
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TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1—20): Choose the letter of the word or group of words
that best completes the sentence.
1. _____ the second most common metal in 3. _____ which climatologists have
the Earth’s crust, and it always occurs in determined is the wettest place on Earth
combination with other substances. not under water is a spot on the island of
(A) Iron Kauai.
(B) Iron is (A) The place
(C) With iron (B) It is the place
(D) With iron is (C) The place is
(D) In the place is
2. In most parts of the globe, the _____ not
exceed roughly 31 degrees centigrade.
(A) ocean surface
(B) ocean has a surface
(C) ocean surface does
(D) ocean has surfaced
Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.
____ 4. A single protein molecule may being composed of tens of thousands of atoms
A B C D
____ 5. Less plants grow in the poor taiga soils beneath the trees.
A B C D
____ 6. Vast reserves of oil and gas is located in the Gulf of Mexico.
A B C D
____ 7. Helium is a colorless, odorless, taste element often used to inflate balloons.
A B C D
____ 8. The common was the heart of every New England villages built in the eighteenth century
A B C D
____ 9. Some of the regulations that bind U.S. institutions allows foreign banks to package loans at
A B C
hard-to-beat interest rates.
D
____ 10. In angioplasty, a catheter is thread through an artery and guided through the body to the
A B C
blocked area.
D
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SKILL 21: SUBJECT AND OBJECT PRONOUNS___________________
Pronouns are words such as he, she, or it that take the place of nouns. One common problem with
pronouns on the TOEFL test is that subject and object pronouns are confused, so you should be able to
recognize these two types of pronouns.
SUBJECT OBJECT
I Me
You You
He Him
She Her
It It
We Us
They Them
A subject pronoun is used as the subject of a verb. An object pronoun can be used as the object of a
verb or the object of a preposition. Compare the following two sentences.
In the second sentence, the subject pronoun she is replacing the noun Marie. The object of the verb it
is replacing the noun phrase the film, and the object of the preposition him is replacing the noun Barry.
The following are examples of the types of subject or object pronoun errors that you might see
on the TOEFL test.
In the first example, the object pronoun me is incorrect because this pronoun serves as the subject of
the sentence. The object pronoun me should be changed to the subject pronoun I. It can be difficult to
recognize that me is the subject because the verb are has a double subject, me and my friend. In the
second example, the subject pronoun I is incorrect because this pronoun serves as the object of the
preposition with. The subject pronoun I should be changed to the object pro noun me. It can be
difficult to recognize that I is the object of the preposition with because the preposition with has two
objects: the correct object you and the incorrect object I.
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EXERCISE 21: Each of the following sentences contains at least one subject or object pronoun.
Circle the pronouns. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
____ 5. He opened the refrigerator and took some food from it.
Possessive adjectives and pronouns both show who or what “owns” a noun. However, possessive
adjectives and possessive pronouns do not have the same function, and these two kinds of possessives
can be confused on the TOEFL test. A possessive adjective describes a noun: it must be accompanied
by a noun. A possessive pronoun takes the place of a noun: it cannot be accompanied by a noun.
Notice that in the first example the possessive adjective her is accompanied by the noun television. In
the second example, the possessive pronoun hers is not accompanied by a noun.
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The following chart outlines the possessives and their uses.
These examples show the types of errors that are possible with possessive adjectives and possessive
pronouns on the TOEFL test.
In the first example, the possessive pronoun theirs is incorrect because it is accompanied by the noun
papers, and a possessive pronoun cannot be accompanied by a noun. The possessive adjective their is
needed in the first example. In the second example, the possessive adjective your is incorrect because
it is not accompanied by a noun, and a possessive adjective must be accompanied by a noun. The
possessive pronoun yours is needed in the second example.
EXERCISE 22: Each of the following sentences contains at least one possessive pronoun or
adjective. Circle the possessives in these sentences. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I).
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____ 9. Your friends and my friends are coming to our party
____ 10. You don’t have yours gloves with you, but I have mine.
After you have checked that the subject and object pronouns and the possessives are used correctly,
you should also check each of these pronouns and possessives for agreement. The following are
examples of errors of this type that you might find on the TOEFL test.
In the first example, the singular pronoun it is incorrect because it refers to the plural noun cookies.
This pronoun should be replaced with the plural pronoun them. In the second example, the plural
possessive adjective their is incorrect because it refers to the singular each person. This adjective
should be replaced with the singular his or his or her.
The following chart outlines what you should remember about checking pro-. noun reference.
PRONOUN AGREEMENT
1. Be sure that every pronoun and possessive agrees with the noun it refers to.
2. You generally check earlier in the sentence for agreement.
EXERCISE 23: Each of the following sentences contains at least one pronoun or possessive. Circle
the pronouns and possessives. Draw arrows to the nouns they refer to. Then indicate if the sentences
are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
I 1. If my friend calls, please tell them that I will return the call.
____ 3. The tables at the restaurant are so large that it can seat 12 people.
____ 4. The soup needs more salt because he does not taste very good.
____ 5. The girls ran too fast, and she fell down.
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____ 8. The travelers lost their way in the storm.
____ 10. The woman left their earrings at home, so she wasn’t wearing them.
EXERCISE (Skills 2 1—23): Each of the following sentences contains at least one pronoun or
possessive. Circle the pronouns and possessives. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I).
____ 4. Martha was happy when her boss gave her a pay raise.
____ 9. The student left his notebooks in the class, so he went back to get it.
____ 10. If they don’t have their car, we will lend them ours.
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TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 2 1—23): Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words
that is not correct.
____ 1. Animals like frogs have waterproof skin that prevents they from drying out quickly in air,
A B C
sun, or wind
D
____ 2. Because of its ability to survive close to human habitations, the Virginia deer has actually
A B C
increased their range and numbers.
D
____ 3. John D. Rockefeller was the founder of the Standard Oil Company, and he was the richest
A B
man in the world at the time of her retirement.
C D
____ 4. The aorta arches out of the heart, and then its moves down toward the lower body.
A B C D
____ 5. Global average temperatures are now .6 degrees Celsius warmer than we were 100 years ago
A B C D
____ 6. During the Civil War, Clara Barton became known as the “Angel of the Battlefield” for hers
A B C
fearless care of wounded soldiers.
D
____ 7. Our Sun is a medium-sized star orbiting near the edge of a collection of stars that our call the
A B C D
Milky Way.
____ 8. Francis Scott Key wrote the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner” as they stood alone
A B C D
watching the British bombardment of Fort McHenry.
____ 9. Some scallops can open and close theirs valves and swim away rapidly when they are disturbed
A B C D
____ 10. Pearl S. Buck began her first novel, East Wind, West Wind, in 1925, while her was traveling
A B C D
between the United States and China.
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TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-23): Choose the letter of the word o group of words
that best completes the sentence.
1. Although knives and forks ____ of 3. A dip pen’s nib is split into two
prehistoric origin, spoons are relatively halve_____ at the point of the nib.
new. (A) who meet
(A) are (B) which meet
(B) they are (C) they meet
(C) are they (D) meet
(D) which are
Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.
____ 4. In 1785 Henry Knox was appoint the new republic’s first secretary of war.
A B C D
____ 6. Unlike many great writers, Longfellow was an enormously popular poet in him day.
A B C D
____ 7. After Lincoln’s assassination, Ford’s Theater was closed and parts of it was converted to
A B C
government office space
D
____ 8. Most of the Earth’s ice is found either in the two great ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland and
A B C D
on the tall mountains of the world.
____ 9. Except for a few species, such as the spotted salamander, the courtship of salamanders are
A B
secretive and not often observed.
C D
____ 10. Unlike most mollusks, crustaceans outgrow their shells and need to build several completely
A B C
new casings throughout they lives.
D
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SKILL 24: ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS_________________________
Sometimes in the Written Expression section of the TOEFL test, adjectives are incorrectly used in
place of adverbs, or adverbs are incorrectly used in place of adjectives. Adjectives and adverbs have
very different uses in sentences. Adjectives have only one job: they describe nouns or pronouns.
It is a delicious meal.
ADJ. NOUN
It is delicious.
PRON. ADJ.
In the first example, the adjective delicious describes the noun meal. In the sec ond example, the
adjective delicious describes the pronoun it.
Adverbs have three different uses. They can describe verbs, adjectives, or other
adverbs.
In the first example, the adverb quickly describes the verb writes. In the second example, the adverb
quickly describes the adjective written (which describes the noun letter). In the third example, the
adverb extremely describes the adverb quickly, which describes the adjective written (which describes
the noun letter).
The following are examples of incorrect sentences as they might appear on the
TOEFL test.
In the first example, the adverb largely is incorrect because the adjective large is needed to describe
the noun table. In the second example, the adjective soft is incorrect because the adverb softly is
needed to describe the verb talked. In the third
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example, the adjective extreme is incorrect because the adverb extremely is needed to describe the
adjective long. In the last example, the adjective unbelievable is incorrect because the adverb
unbelievably is needed to describe the adverb quickly.
The following chart outlines the important information that you should remember about the
use of adjectives and adverbs.
EXERCISE 24: Each of the following sentences has at least one adjective or adverb. Circle the
adjectives and adverbs, and label them. Draw arrows to the words they describe. Then indicate if the
sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
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SKILL 25: ADJECTIVES AFTER LINKING VERBS_________________
Generally an adverb rather than an-adjective will come directly after a verb because the adverb is
describing the verb.
In this example, the verb spoke is followed by the adverb nicely. This adverb describes the verb spoke.
However, you must be very careful if the verb is a linking verb. A linking verb is followed by
an adjective rather than an adverb.
In this example, the linking verb looks is followed by the adjective nice. This adjective describes the
subject she.
You should be sure to use an adjective rather than an adverb after a linking verb. Be careful,
however, because the adjective that goes with the linking verb does not always directly follow the
linking verb.
In this example, the adjective nice, which describes the subject he, is itself described by the adverb
unusually. From this example, you should notice that it is possible to have an adverb directly after a
linking verb, but only if the -adverb describes an adjective that follows.
These sentences show the types of errors with linking verbs that are common on the TOEFL
test.
In the first example, the linking verb looks should be followed by the adjective easy rather than the
adverb easily. In the second example, the linking verb feels is followed by the adjective happy. The
incorrect adjective unbelievable should be the adverb unbelievably because it describes the adjective
happy.
The following chart lists commonly used linking verbs and outlines the differ ent uses of
adjectives and adverbs after regular verbs and linking verbs.
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ADJECTLVES AND ADVERBS AFTER VERBS
EXERCISE 25: Each of the following sentences contains at least one adjective or adverb. Circle the
adjectives and adverbs, and label them. Draw arrows to the words they describe. Then indicate if the
sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
____ 10. In the late afternoon, the sun set slow in the west.
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EXERCISE (Skills 24—25): Each of the following sentences contains at least one adjective or
adverb. Circle the adjectives and adverbs, and label them. Draw arrows to the words they describe.
Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
____ 10 The job applicant dressed carefully for the important interview.
TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 24—25): Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words
that is not correct.
____ 1. Sounds quieter than 10 decibels are impossibly for the human ear to hear
A B C D
____ 2. Often the best farmland is next to a river that floods periodical
A B C D
____ 5. The telephone works by changing the voice’s sound waves into electrically signals.
A B C D
____ 6. In the northern United States, two European species of small white birch are extensive planted
A B C
as ornamentals.
D
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____ 7. Fifty million Americans continue to smoke despite abundant evidence that smoking is
A B
extremely unhealthfully
C D
____ 8. The U.S. Military Academy sits on scenic heights overlooking a strategically bend in the
A B C D
Hudson River.
____ 9. The Erie Canal became so successfully at providing cheap transportation that it was greatly
A B C
enlarged between 1835 and 1862.
D
____ 10. The Infra-Red Astronomy Satellite (IRAS), launched in 1983, contained a special coded
A B C
reflecting telescope that detected infrared rays.
D
TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-25): Choose the letter of the word or group of words
that best completes the sentence.
1. On December 17, 1903, the Flyer ____ 3. Researchers have long debated about
near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, with _____ moon Titan contains hydrocarbon
Orville Wright as pilot. oceans or lakes.
(A) took off (A) Saturn’s
(B) it took off (B) whether it is Saturn’s
(C) taking off (C) whether Saturn’s
(D) took it off (D) whether Saturn is a
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Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.
____ 4. The abrasively action of the wind wears away softer layers of rock.
A B C D
____ 5. There are two way of making a gas condense: cooling it or putting it under pressure.
A B C D
____ 6. Researchers have discovered that the application of bright light can sometimes be uses to
A B C
overcome jet lag.
D
____ 7. Salmon migrations may include having to jump up waterfalls, swim up rapids, or climbing
A B C
fish ladders at dams.
D
____ 8. If a strike is called in violation of an existing contract between labor and management, its a
A B C D
wildcat strike.
____ 9. Snapping turtles are easily recognized because of the large head, the long tail, and the shell
A B C
that seems insufficiently to protect the body.
D
____ 10. The long string of genes making up a chromosome have been likened to a string of pearls.
A B C D
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TOEFL POST-TEST
SECTION 2
STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Trme—25 minutes
(including the reading of the directions)
Now set your clock for 25 minutes.
This section is designed to measure your ability to recognize language that is appropriate for standard
written English. There are two types of questions in this section, with special directions for each type.
Structure
Directions: These questions are incomplete sentences. Beneath each sentence you will see four words
or phrases, marked (A), (B), (C), and (D). Choose the one word or phrase that best completes the
sentence. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space that
corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.
(A) won
(B) he won
(C) yesterday
(D) fortunately
The sentence should read, “The president won the election by a landslide.” Therefore, you should
choose answer (A).
The sentence should read, “When did the doctor attend the conference?” Therefore, you should choose
answer (B).
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1. _____ lived on Earth for nearly 150 6. The ear is a flexible organ, _____ simply
million years. was not designed to withstand the noise of
(A) Dinosaurs modern living.
(B) Dinosaurs who (A) but it
(C) If dinosaurs (B) it
(D) Since dinosaurs (C) but
(D) its
2. Early printers arranged type into _____ a
small, flat composing stick. 7. In 1934, chemist Wallace Carothers
(A) words produced a plastic which _____ nylon.
(B) are words on (A) his call
(C) words on (B) he called
(D) the words are on (C) to call him
(D) calling
3. ____ along most of its length into an
upper chamber and a lower chamber. 8. As _____ grows, the shell in which it
(A) The divided cochlea lives grows, too.
(B) Dividing the cochlea (A) a mollusk
(C) The cochlea is divided (B) a mollusk it
(D) With a divided cochlea (C) has a mollusk
(D) it has a mollusk
4. Yeast is an organic catalyst _____ known
to prehistoric humanity. 9. The first _____ the Civil War was fired
(A) was from Fort Johnson upon Fort Sumter on
(B) which was April 12,
(C) which it 1861.
(D) which (A) shot
(B) shot in
5. Many communities _____ a complex (C) shot was in
system of linguistic levels in order to (D) it was shot
show respect.
(A) useful 10. Stalactites are formed in caves by
(B) use already made groundwater ______ dissolved lime.
(C) making it useful (A) it contains
(D) make use of (B) containing
(C) contains
(D) containment
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11. By studying the movements of the Sun 14. A group of winged reptiles pterosaurs is
and Moon, even early astronomers could believed to have been the first vertebrates
_____ eclipses would take place. with the power of flight.
(A) predicting when (A) call
(B) when it predicts (B) calls
(C) the prediction when (C) called
(D) predict when (D) is called
12. Coffee probably originally grew wild in 15. On November 23, 1863, Grant stunned
Ethiopia in the province of Kaffe, and the Confederates on Missionary Ridge
from there _____ to southern Arabia. with what _____ to be a full-dress
(A) bringing it military parade of troops who
(B) it was brought unexpectedly opened fire.
(C) brought it (A) appeared
(D) brought with it (B) appearing
(C) appearance
13. Alabama was occupied by the French and (D) apparent
Spanish before _____ to England in 1763.
(A) was ceded
(B) ceded to it
(C) it was ceded
(D) ceded it
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Written Expression
Directions: In these questions, each sentence has four underlined words or phrases. The four
underlined parts of the sentence are marked (A), (B), (C), and (D). Identify the one underlined word or
phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct. Then, on your answer sheet, find
the number of the question and fill in the space that corresponds to the letter of the answer you have
chosen.
The sentence should read, “The four strings on a violin are tuned in fifths.” Therefore, you should
choose answer (B).
The research for the book Roots taking Alex Haley twelve years
A B C D
The sentence should read, “The research for the book Roots took Alex Haley twelve years.” Therefore,
you should choose answer (C).
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16. Vast flows of information is carried on hair-thin fiber-optic cables
A B C D
17. The crafting of fine violins has been proceeding for several century as a secret art.
A B C D
18. Linguistic conflicts due to divided ethnic and national loyalties can be both bitter or violent
A B C D
19. In 1851, with the publication of hers antislavery novel, Harriet Beecher Stowe rocketed to fame
A B C
20. The smallest and simple living organisms on Earth are bacteria.
A B C D
21. The effort to determine the exact numerical value of pi has now reach 2.16 billion decimal digits.
A B C D
23. Princeton University, which was establish in 1746, is one of the oldest universities in the United States.
A B C D
24. According to a World Resources Institute report, a significant part of forest acreage disappear each year.
A B C D
25. The Earth’s crust is composed of 15 plates which float on the partially molten layer below they.
A B C D
26. As one climbs high up a mountain, the air becomes both colder or thinner.
A B C D
27. When a bone is broke into several pieces doctors may pin the pieces together for proper healing
A B C D
28. The long necks of much plant-eating dinosaurs were useful for reaching up to the treetops to feed.
A B C D
29. Hippocrates believed that good health was dependently on the balance of the four fluids of the body.
A B C D
30. A jet stream is a flat and narrow tube of air that moves more rapid than the surrounding air.
A B C D
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31. Because mistletoe berries are poisonous everyone with Christmas decorations containing mistletoe
A B
need to be aware of the potential danger
C D
32. When Pierre L`Enfant designed the national capital in 1791, her envisioned a broad boulevard
A B C
linking the White House and the Capitol.
D
33. In a copperhead snake the venom flows from a single venom glands to a pair of hollow teeth.
A B C D
34. A hawk swallows its food in large pieces digests some of it, and regurgitating the rest.
A B C D
35. Defects can occurring when liquid helium undergoes a phase transition to its super fluid phase.
A B C D
36. Cavemen created a large amount of early works of art using a mixture of clay, chalk, and burned
A B C
wood and bones.
D
37. Variations in melody, rhythm and tone of voice becomes a major feature of child speech toward
A B C D
the end of the first year.
38. As a protective protein molecule, an antibody can combines with a foreign virus protein.
A B C D
39. The water moccasin is a high venomous and extremely dangerous pit viper.
A B C D
40. Though aluminum is more common than iron, it is extremely difficult to break their hold on
A B C
other atoms.
D
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