The Complete Guide To The TOEFL Test
.pdf146 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression
14.Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote four novels, ______ The Scarlet Letter, became an American literary classic.
___ (A) of which one,
___ (B) which one
___ (C) one of which,
___ (D) one was
15. about four years for a new aircraft model to move from the preliminary design stage to the full-production stage.
__ (A) It takes __ (B) Taking __ (C) That takes __ (D) To take
Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 147
LESSON 24
WORD ORDER ITEMS
All of the answer choices for a Structure item involving word order contain more or less the same words, but they are arranged in four different orders. The word order is "scrambled" in three choices: one is correct. Most items consist of three or four words.
(A)XY Z
(B)Y X Z
(C)ZY X
(D)X ZY
Word order problems are easy to identify because the answer choices are exactly-or almost exactly-the same length, so the answer choices form a rectangle.
(A) so far away from
(8)away so far from
(C)from so far away
(D)away from so far
Many different types of structures are used in word order problems. One of the most common is a phrase with a superlative adjective or adverb.
,/) Word order items are the only Structure items in which the dis tractors can be ungrammatical. In other Structure problems, distractors are always correct in some context. However, at least two of the choices may be grammatical. The correct choice depends on the context of the sentence.
It sometimes is easy to eliminate distractors in word order items by making sure they "fit" the rest of the sentence. If you are not sure which remaining answer is correct, use your "ear." Say the sentence to yourself (silently) to see which sounds best. Sometimes in word order problems, the answer that looks best doesn't always sound best. Don't, however, go just by the sound of the
answer choices; you must consider them as part of the whole sentence.
A special type of word order problem involves in.y:ersions~ This type of sentence uses question word order even though the sentence is not a question. When are inversio~s used?
•When the negative words listed below are placed at the beginning of a clause for emphasis
not only |
never |
not until |
seldom |
not once |
rarely |
at no time |
scarcely |
by no means |
no sooner |
nowhere |
|
Not once was he on time.
Seldom have I heard such beautiful music.
Not only did the company lose profits, but it also had to layoff workers.
•When the following expressions beginning with only occur at the beginning of a sentence (with these expressions, the subject and verb in that clause are inverted)
only in (on, at, by, etc.) |
only recently |
only once |
|
Only in an emergency should you use this exit.
Only recently did she return from abroad.
Only by asking questions can you learn.
148 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression
•When the following expressions beginning with only occur at the beginning of a sentence (with these expressions the subject and verb of the second clause are inverted)
only if |
only when |
only because |
only after |
only until |
|
Only if you have a serious problem should you call Mr. Franklin at home.
Only when you are satisfied is the sale considered final.
•When clauses beginning with the word so + an adjective or participle occur at the beginning of a sentence
So rare is this coin that it belongs in a museum.
So confusing was the map that we had to ask a police officer for directions.
•When clauses beginning with expressions of place or order occur at the start of a sentence (in these cases, the subject and main verb are inverted since auxiliary verbs are not used as they would be in most questions)
In front of the museum is a statue.
Off the coast of California lie the Channel Islands.
First came a police car; then came an ambulance.
... Sample Items
Andromeda is a galaxy containing millions of individual stars, but it is
______ Earth that it looks like a blurry patch of light.
(A)so far away from
(B)away so far from
(C)from so far away
(D)away from so far
Only choice (A) involves the correct word order for this sentence. Choices (B) and
(D) are incorrect word orders in any sentence. Choice (C) could be correct in certain sentences, but is not correct in the context of this sentence.
Not only ______ shade and beauty, but they also reduce carbon dioxide.
(A)do trees provide
(D)trees provide
(C)provide trees
(D)trees do provide
Only choice (A) correctly uses question word order after not on(y. Choices (B) and
(C) do not use an auxiliary verb, which is required after not only. Choice (D) does not follow the correct word order: auxiliary + adjective + main verb. ....
Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 147
LESSON 24
WORD ORDER ITEMS
All of the answer choices for a Structure item involving word order contain more or less the same words, but they are arranged in four different orders. The word order is "scrambled" in three choices; one is correct. Most items consist of three or four words.
(A)XY Z
(B)YX Z
(C)ZYX
(D)X ZY
Word order problems are easy to identify because the answer choices are exactly-or almost exactly-the same length, so the answer choices form a rectangle.
(A)so far away from
(B)away so far from
(C)from so far away
(D)away from so far
Many different types of structures are used in word order problems. One of the most common is a phrase with a superlative adjective or adverb.
c":.) Word order items are the only Structure items in which the dis tractors can be ungrammatical. In other Structure problems, distractors are always correct in some context. However, at least two of the choices may be grammatical. The correct choice depends on the context of the sentence.
It sometimes is easy to eliminate distractors in word order items by making sure they "fit" the rest of the sentence. If you are not sure which remaining answer is correct, use your "ear." Say the sentence to yourself (silently) to see which sounds best. Sometimes in word order problems, the answer that looks best doesn't always sound best. Don't, however, go just by the sound of the
answer choices; you must consider them as part of the whole sentence.
A special type of word order problem involves in"ersions~ This type of sentence uses question word order even though the sentence is not a question. When are inversio~s used?
•When the negative words listed below are placed at the beginning of a clause for emphasis
not only |
never |
not until |
seldom |
not once |
rarely |
at no time |
scarcely |
by no means |
no sooner |
nowhere |
|
Not once was he on time.
Seldom have I heard such beautiful music.
Not only did the company lose profits, but it also had to layoff workers.
•When the following expressions beginning with only occur at the beginning of a sentence (with these expressions, the subject and verb in that clause are inverted)
only in (on, at, by, etc.) |
only recently |
only once |
|
Only in an emergency should you use this exit.
Only recently did she return from abroad.
Only by asking questions can you learn.
148 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression
•When the following expressions beginning with only occur at the beginning of a sentence (with these expressions the subject and verb of the second clause are inverted)
only if |
only when |
only because |
only after |
only until |
|
Only if you have a serious problem should you call Mr. Franklin at home.
Only when you are satisfied is the sale considered final.
•When clauses beginning with the word so + an adjective or participle occur at the beginning of a sentence
So rare is this coin that it belongs in a museum.
So confusing was the map that we had to ask a police officer for directions.
•When clauses beginning with expressions of place or order occur at the start of a sentence (in these cases, the subject and main verb are inverted since auxiliary verbs are not used as they would be in most questions)
In front of the museum is a statue.
Off the coast of California lie the Channel Islands.
First came a police car; then came an ambulance.
... Sample Items
Andromeda is a galaxy containing millions of individual stars, but it is
______ Earth that it looks like a blurry patch of light.
(A)so far away from
(B)away so far from
CC)from so far away CD) away from so far
Only choice CA) involves the correct word order for this sentence. Choices CB) and CD) are incorrect word orders in any sentence. Choice (C) could be correct in certain sentences, but is not correct in the context of this sentence.
Not only ______ shade and beauty, but they also reduce carbon dioxide.
(A)do trees provide
(B)trees provide
CC)provide trees CD) trees do provide
Only choice (A) correctly uses question word order after not only. Choices (B) and
(C) do not use an auxiliary verb. which is required after not on~y. Choice CD) does not follow the correct word order: auxiliary + adjective + main verb. ..
Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 149
Exercise 24
Focus: Completing structure problems involving word order. (Note: All the items in this exercise focus on word order problems.)
Directions: Choose the one option-(A), (B), (C), or (D)-that correctly completes the sentence, and then mark the appropriate blank. The first one is done as an example.
1. Hills known as land islands, or salt domes, are ______ Louisiana's marshlands. ~ (A) extremely interesting features of
of extremely interesting features interesting extremely features of extremely interesting of features
2. of chamber music is the string quartet. The famous most form
The most famous form The form most famous Most the form famous
3.Not until the seventeenth century ______ to measure the speed of light.
___ (A) did anyone even attempt
___ (B) anyone did even attempt
___ (C) did anyone attempt even
___ (D) did even attempt anyone
4. Alfalfa is |
for livestock. |
___ (A) a primarily grown crop |
|
___ (B) grown primarily a crop |
|
___ (C) |
a crop grown primarily |
___ (D) |
a grown crop primarily |
5.The Franklin stove, which became common in the 1790's, burned wood ______ an open fireplace.
___ (A) efficiently more than much
___ (B) much more efficiently than
___ (C) much more than efficiently
___ (D) more efficiently much than
6.Reinforced concrete is concrete that is strengthened by metal bars ______
___ (A) in it that are embedded
___ (B) embedded that are in it
___ (C) are that it embedded in
___ (D) that are embedded in it
7.The type of clothing people wear tells others a lot about ______
__ (A) who they are __ (B) are they who __ (C) they are who __ (D) who are they
8.Most Southern states had set up primary school systems by the late eighteenth century, but only
in New England |
and open to all students. |
|
___ (A) |
primary schools were free |
|
___ (B) |
were primary schools free |
|
___ (C) free were primary schools
___ (D) were free primary schools
150 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression
9.Fungi. ______ , do not produce chlorophyll.
___ (A) as such mushrooms
___ (B) mushrooms as such
_____ (C) such as mushrooms
___ (D) mushrooms such as
10. Seldom more than twenty minutes a night.
___ (A) sleep giraffes
___ (B) do giraffes sleep
___ (C) giraffes do sleep
___ (D) giraffes sleep
11. |
of the early years of space exploration was the discovery of the Van Allen radiation |
belt in |
19':;8. |
___ (A) Perhaps the greatest triumph
___ (B) The triumph perhaps greatest
___ (C) The greatest perhaps triumph
___ (D) The triumph greatest perhaps
12. Today major new products \yithout conducting elaborate market research.
___ (A) corporations hardly introduce ever
___ (8) hardly tTer corporations introduce
___ (C) hardly ever introduce corporations
____ (D) corporations hardly ever introduce
1:). Across the Chesapeake Bay from the rest of the state ______ , whose farms produce beans, tomatoes. and other garden vegetables.
___ (A) there lies Maryland's Eastern Shore
___ (B) lies Maryland's Eastern Shore
___ (C) Maryland's Eastern Shore lies there
_ __ (D) Maryland's Eastern Shore lies
14.Acidophilus bacteria are ______ in an acid medium.
___ (A) those that grow best
___ (8) those grow best that
___ (C) that those grow best
___ (D) grow best those that
I .:;. |
of great apes, the gibbon is the smallest. |
|
___ (A) Four of the types |
|
___ (B) The four of types |
___ (C) Four types of the
___ (D) Of the f()Ur types
16. It is difficult |
through swamps because of tangled roots and shallow waterways. |
___ (A) to navigate even for small boats |
|
_ (B) for even small boats to navigate
___ (C) even small boats for to navigate
___ (D) even to navigate for small boats
P. A lodestone is ____
___ (A) an occurring naturally magnet
___ (B) a magnet naturally occurring
___ (C) naturally a magnet occurring
___ (D) a naturally occurring magnet
|
Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 151 |
18. So complicated |
that consumers who use a product are seldom aware of where all |
its components come from.
___ (A) today trade is international
___ (B) today international trade is
___ (C) is international trade today
___ (D) international trade is today
19. The snow bunting is |
winter birds in Canada. |
___ (A) one most of the common |
|
___ (B) the most common one of |
|
___ (C) one of the most common |
|
___ (D) the one of most common |
|
20. Nashville has |
the capital of country music. |
___ (A) as long been known
___ (B) been known long as
___ (C) long been known as
___ (D) long as been known
152 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression
LESSON 25
ITEMS INVOLVING VERB PROBLEMS
The answer choices for this type of problem are all or almost all different forms of the same verb. From the context of the sentence stem, you'll have to decide which form works best in the sentence. Distractors are generally incorrect for one of these reasons:
•The "verb" is not really a verb.
Used alone, an infmitive, gerund, or participle cannot be a main verb.
•The verb is active but should be passive, or it is passive but should be active.
If the subject of the sentence performs the action, the verb must be in the active voice. If the subject of the sentence receives the action, the verb must be in the passive.
The architect designed the building. (active verb)
The building was designed by the architect. (passive verb)
•The verb does not agree with its subject.
Singular subjects require singular verbs; plural subjects require plural verbs.
•The verb is not in the right tense.
According to the time words or ideas in the sentence, the appropriate tense must be used.
•An unnecessary element comes before the verb.
Personal pronouns (he, she, it), relative pronouns (who, which, that, and so on), or conjunctions (and, but, and so on) may be used unnecessarily before verbs in some sentences.
.... Sample Item
Before the late eighteenth century, most textiles ______ at home.
(A)produced
(B)was produced
(C)producing
(D)were produced
Choice (D) is the best answer. (A) can be considered either an active verb in the past tense or a past participle; both are incorrect. An active verb is incorrect because a passive verb is needed; a past participle is incorrect because a past participle cannot serve as a main verb. (B) is incorrect because the plural subject textiles requires a plural verb, were. (C) is incorrect because, by itself, an -ing form can never be a main verb. ...
Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 153
Exercise 25
Focus: Completing structure problems involving verb forms. (Note: One or two items in this exercises do not focus on finite verb forms. These items are marked in the answer key with asterisks.)
Directions: Choose the one option-(A), (B), (C), or (D)-that correctly completes the sentence, and then mark the appropriate blank. The first one is done as an example.
1.R. M. Bartlett of Philadelphia ______ the first private business college in the United States in 1843.
__ (A) founding
~ (B) founded __ (C) was founded __ (D) founds
2.In 1989 the space probe Voyager 2 ______ by the planet Neptune. __ (A) fly
__ (B) having flown __ (C) flying __ (D) flew
3.A cupful of stagnant water may ______ millions of microorganisms.
___ (A) contains
___ (B) to contain
___ (C) contain
___ (D) containing
4.Computers and new methods of communication ______ revolutionized the modern office.
__ (A) have
___ (B) to have __ (C) that have __ (D) has
5.Sarah Knight ______ a fascinating account of a journey she made from Boston to New York in 1704.
___ (A) written
___ (B) write
___ (C) wrote
___ (D) writing
6.All animals ______ on other animals or plants. __ (A) feed
__ (B) feeds __ (C) fed __ (D) feeding
7.Chromium ______ in the manufacture of stainless steel. __ (A) using
___ (B) is used __ (C) uses
___ (D) is using