STRUCTURE TOEFL
Directions
Questions 1-15 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. Fill in the space so that the letter inside the oval cannot be seen.
1. The cyclist …………………………………….he crossed the main street.
a. Looked with caution after
b. Had looked cautiously before
c. Was looked cautious when
d. Looks cautious when
Answer: B
Choice (A) is verbose, using with caution rather cautiously. Also, it would make no sense to look cautiously after crossing the street. Choice (A) also uses simple past when past perfect is required. Choice (C) is passive and the sentence does not call for a passive meaning. Also using the adjective cautious would indicate that look in the sentence is a stative verb meaning appear, and that is not the meaning of the sentence. (D) Uses an incorrect sequence of tenses. The verb crossed is in the past.
2. Here …………………………………….notebook and report that I promise you last week.
a. Is the
b. Are the
c. Was the
d. Has been a
Answer : B
The subject notebook and report is plural, and choices (A),(C),(D) all contain singular verbs.
3. Neither Jane nor her brothers …………………………………a consent form for tomorrow’s field trip.
a. Need
b. Needs
c. Is needing
d. Has need
Answer : A
The plural verb need is required here because if there is a plural noun after nor, the verb must be plural.
4. Cuba is …………………………………..sugar- growing areas in the world.
a. One of the larger
b. One of largest
c. One of the largest
d. Largest
Answer : C
Choice (A) is incorrect because the superlative, not the comparative, must be used when more than two are expressed. Choices (B) and (D) are incorrect because the definite article the must be used before superlative.
5. The skiers would rather ………………………..through the mountain than go by bus.
a. To travel on train
b. Traveled by train
c. Travel by train
d. Traveling by train
Answer : C
The correct form is would rather + [verb in simple form]
6. That magnificent …………………………………..temple was constructed by the Chinese.
a. Eight-centuries-old
b. Eight-century’s-old
c. Old-eight-centuries
d. Eight-century-old
Answers : D
Eight-century-old is functioning as an adjective and cannot be plural.
7. There were two small rooms in the beach house,……………………………...served as a kitchen.
a. The smaller of which
b. The smallest of which
c. The smaller of them
d. Smallest of that
Answer: A
Use the comparative when only two entities are involved. Choice (B) incorrectly uses the superlative. Choice (C) would be correct if the smaller of them began a new sentence, but it is not correct after the comma. (D) Incorrectly uses the relative pronoun that, which cannot be used with the preposition.
8. Pioneer men and woman endured terrible hardship, and……………………………………
a. So do their children
b. Neither did the children
c. Also the childs
d. So did their children
Answer: D
Choice (A) includes an incorrect sequence of tenses; do should be did to agree with endured. (B) uses negative agreement, and the sentence is positive. Choice (C) includes incorrect use of affirmative agreement. Also, the correct plural of child is children.
9. Last year, Matt earned …………………….his brother, who has a better position.
a. Twice as much as
b. Twice more than
c. Twice as many as
d. Twice as more as
Answer : A
This is a multiple number comparative. Choice (C) is also a multiple number comparative, but one earns money. Money is a non- count noun, and thus the sentence require much.
10. …………………………………, he would have been able to pass the exam.
a. If he studied more
b. If he were studying to a greater degree
c. Studying more
d. Had he studied more
Answer : D
This is a past condition. The correct sequence is had studied ………..would have been able. (B) is verbose.
11. Mr. Duncan does not know …………………………………the lawn mower after they had finished using it.
a. Where did they put
b. Where they did put
c. Where they put
d. Where to put
Answer : C
The correct structure for an embedded question is question word + subject + verb. Choice (A) and (B) incorrectly include did, and choice (D) incorrectly uses the infinitive to put.
12. The facilities of the older hospital…………………………..
a. Is as good or better than the new hospital
b. Are as good or better that the new hospital.
c. Are as good as or better than the new hospital
d. Are as good as or better than those of the new hospital
Answer : D
Choice (A) is incorrect because the subject facilities is plural and require a plural verb. Choice (B) uses an incorrect comparative. It should be better than. Choices (A),(B),(C) all use an illogical comparison. They seem to compare the facilities with the new hospital. Choice (D) is correct; those of = the facilities of.
13. Our fight from Amsterdam to London was delayed……………………………the heavy fog.
a. Because of
b. Because
c. On account
d. As result
Answer : A
Choice (B),(C),(D) are all missing necessary prepositions, because of, on account of, as a result of (notice that a necessary article was left out here as well).
14. The teacher suggested that her students …………………………..experiences with ESP.
a. Write a composition on their
b. To write a composition about the
c. Wrote some compositions of his or her
d. Had written any composition for his
Answer: A
In this subjunctive construction use suggest that + [verb in simple form].
15. Of the two new teachers, one is experienced and………………………….
a. The others are not
b. Another is unexperienced
c. The other is not
d. Other lacks experience
Answer : C
Choice (A) incorrectly uses others, which implies that there are more than one other. The sentence says there are two teachers. Choice (B) incorrectly uses another, which indicates the indefinite. A specific is required here. (D) is incorrect because in this sentence other requires the article the.
