EXERCISE 44: Sentences-Pronouns (TOEFL)

In some sentences in the Structure Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to identify the correct pronoun. A pronoun is a word that can be used instead of a noun, usually to avoid repeating the noun. A pronoun may be singular or plural; masculine, feminine, or neuter; and first, second, or third person to agree with the noun to which it refers. A pronoun may be used as the subject of a sentence or a clause or as the object of a sentence, a clause, or a preposition. In English, pronouns are also used to express possessives and reflexives. Choose the correct answer in the incomplete sentences. Choose the incorrect word or phrase in the underlined choices.

1.    The crime rate has begun to decline in New York City due to efforts on the part of both government and private citizens to curb _________

A.            them

B.            him

C.            its

D.           it

2.       Sloths spend most (A) of its (B) time hanging upside down from the trees and feeding (C) on leaves and fruit (D).

3.    When the European settlers came in the seventeenth century (A), the newcomers began a systematic effort to push (B) the Native Americans into the wilderness and to take their land (C) from their (D).

4.        Seals can _________ because they have a thick layer of blubber under their fur.

A.            keep them warm

B.            keep themselves warm

C.            they keep warm

D.           keep their warm

5.        After Dr. Werner Arber discovered(A) restriction enzymes, Drs. Daniel Nathan, Hamilton Smith, and him(B) were awarded(C) the Nobel Prize for their(D) research in that field.

6.      There are (A) not many (B) people which (C) adapt to a new culture without feeling (D) some disorientation at first.

7.        In order for people who speak different languages to engage in trade _________, they often develop a simplified language called pidgin.

A.            with each the other

B.            with each to the other

C.            with each another

D.           with each other

8.     Those of us who (A) have a family history of heart disease should make (B) yearly (C) appointments with their (D) doctors.

9.     Domestic cats often show loyalty to their owners by leaving freshly killed prey such as birds for _________ to find.

A.            they

B.            he

C.            them

D.           their

10.    The United States and Canada have many trade agreements that benefit _________.

A.            one the other

B.            other

C.            other one

D.           each other

11.    George Herman Ruth, which (A) was better (B) known as (C) Babe Ruth, began (D) his baseball career in 1914 with the Baltimore Orioles.

12.    The constellation Orion is easily recognized by _________ three vertical stars.

A.            your

B.            its

C.            their

D.           her

13.    The first (A) full – length animated movie, Snow White, was produced (B) by Walt Disney whom (C) creative genius also inspired such (D) animated classics as Bambi and Cinderella.

14.   Wolves, which are known to travel in packs, both provide for and defend _________ through group cooperation.

A.            himself

B.            themselves

C.            itself

D.           theirselves

15.    Although orchids give the appearance of being very fragile, they are actually very hardly plants _________ indoors during the winter months.

A.            which may be grown

B.            which may grow

C.            which may be grow

D.           which may be growing

16.    Hyperactivity in children may result from _________ some food additives.

A.            their eating

B.            they eat

C.            to eat

D.           them eating

17.    In advanced (A) stages of anorexia, the patient (B) is unable to feed (C) themselves (D).

18.    It is documented (A) that Custer led (B) his troops into a ravine near the Little Big Horn, where a huge army of Sioux Indians was waiting (C) for they (D).

19.    The seas horse is unique among (A) fish because (B) the female deposits their eggs (C) in a pouch that the male carries until the small sea horses are hatched (D).

20.  Hawkeye was a character _________ James Fenimore Cooper created for The Last of the Mohicans.

A.            who

B.            whom

C.            which

D.           whose

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