Structure and Written Expression Toefl

Structure Directions

Questions 1–4 are incomplete sentences. Below 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.

Examples
Geysers have sometimes been compared to volcanoes __________ they both emit hot liquids from below Earth's surface.
a. despite
b. because
c. in regard to
d. as a result of

The sentence should read, "Geysers have sometimes been compared to volcanoes because they both emit hot liquids from below Earth's surface." Therefore, you should choose B.

During the early period of ocean navigation, __________ any need for sophisticated instruments and techniques.

1. so that hardly
2. when there hardly was
3. hardly was
4. there was hardly

The sentence should read, "During the early period of ocean navigation, there was hardly any need for sophisticated instruments and techniques." Therefore, you should choose D.

As you're going through the questions below, select the appropriate answer for each by clicking on it. When you have answered all the questions, click "Show all answers" at the end of the page to highlight the correct answer for each question.

Now begin work on the questions.

Practice Questions

1. Refrigerating meats ________ the spread of bacteria.
1. A. slows
2. B. slowing
3. C. to slow
4. D. is slowed
2. Throughout the animal kingdom, ________ bigger than the elephant.
   1. A. whale is only the
   2. B. is the whale only
   3. C. only whale is the
   4. D. only the whale is
3. The fact ________ credit cards are widely available has made them a popular form of payment.
   1. A. of
   2. B. that
   3. C. is that
   4. D. which is
4. The Constitution gave the legislative branch of government ________ to pass laws.
1. A. the power
2. B. has the power
3. C. the power is
4. D. of the power

Written Expression

Directions

In questions 5–10, each sentence has four highlighted words or phrases. The four highlighted parts of the sentence are marked A, B, C and D. Identify the one highlighted word or phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct.

Examples

1. Guppies are sometimes (A) call rainbow fish (B) due to the (C) bright colors of (D) the males.

The sentence should read, "Guppies are sometimes called rainbow fish due to the bright colors of the males." Therefore, you should choose A.

1. (A) Serving several (B) term in the Congress, Shirley Chisholm (C) became a (D) respected political figure.

The sentence should read, "Serving several terms in the Congress, Shirley Chisholm became a respected political figure." Therefore, you should choose B.

As you're going through the questions below, select the appropriate answer for each by clicking on it. When you have answered all the questions, click "Show all answers" at the end of the page to highlight the correct answer for each question.

Now continue to work on the questions.

5. The gopher (A) digs not only with the (B) claws strong of its two front feet (C) but also with its (D) overhanging front teeth.
6. Granville Woods is (A) credited with (B) inventing a steam boiler (C) furnaces in (D) the 1880s.
7. A (A) deficient of folic acid is (B) rarely a problem in humans (C) because the vitamin is present in a (D) wide variety of foods.
8. (A) Electrical disturbances on Earth (B) are frequently caused (C) for storms (D) on the surface of the Sun.
9. The (A) internationally famous dancer Maria Tallchief (B) demonstrate that (C) the quality of ballet in North America could equal (D) that of the ballet in Europe.
10. (A) As two nuclei move closer together, (B) their mutual electrostatic potential energy (C) becomes (D) more large and more positive.

ANSWERS:

1.   A

2.   D

3.   B

4.   A

5.   B

6.   C

7.   A

8.   C

9.   B

10. D

1.