EXERCISE 48: Sentences-Sentences and Clauses

EXERCISE 48: Sentences-Sentences and Clauses

In some sentences in the Structure Section of the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to distinguish between a sentence, also called a main or independent clause, and a subordinate or dependent clause that is attached to a sentence. Choose the correct answer in the incomplete sentences. Choose the incorrect word or phrase in the underlined choices.

1.        Some ancient units such as the day, the foot, and the pound, ________ today.

A.                  are still in use

B.                  that are still in use

C.                  which are still in use

D.                 still in use

2.   Paper money ________ by the Continental Congress in order to finance the American Revolution.

A.                  which was issued

B.                  was issuing

C.                  issued

D.                 was issued

3.       The (A) plastic arts, mainly (B) sculpture and ceramics, that are (C), produced by modelling or molding (D) the materials into interesting shapes.

4.    The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) ________ by high school students as a requirement for admission to many colleges.

A.                  which is taken

B.                  is taken

C.                  taken

D.                 is taking

5.     Ocean currents that (A) help transfer heat (B) from the equator to the poles, thereby creating (C), a more balanced (D) global environment.

6.        Camp David ________ the official country home of the U.S presidents.

A.                  that is

B.                  that it is

C.                  it is

D.                 is

7.      Gas and dust (A) that stream (B) away from a comet forming (C) one or more tails that may extend (D) for millions miles

8.      The Northwest Ordinances which (A) regulated the sale and settlement of land between (B) the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, territories still occupied (C) by American Indian nations (D).

9.      ________ considered strong and reliable,  and in favoured by investors who are interested in security.

A.                  That blue chip stock

B.                  Blue chip stock is

C.                  It is blue chip stock

D.                 Which is blue chip stock

10.   Most botanists have observed ________ a period of dormancy, even when conditions may be favourable for growth.

A.                  that seed exhibiting

B.                  that seed exhibit

C.                  seeds that exhibiting

D.                 seeds that they exhibit

11.   La Guardia Airport in New York City ________ for Fiorello La Guardia, one of New York’s most popular mayors.

A.                  which is named

B.                  named

C.                  which named

D.                 is named

12.    In a meritocracy, intelligence and ability ________ more than social position or wealth.

A.                  which value

B.                  that are valued

C.                  valuing

D.                 are valued

13.    The larva (A) of the boll weevil, which it feeds (B) on the immature pods of the cotton plant (C) often destroying (D) an entire crop.

14.    Of all the lawsuits in the world, ________ in U.S courts.

A.                  filed 95 percent of them

B.                  95 percent of them are filed

C.                  That filed are 95 percent of them

D.                 Which of them 95 percent are filed

15.    “Chicago” is a poem ________ in praise of one of the busiest industrial centers in the U.S.

A.                  which by Carl Sandburg

B.                  which was written by Carl Sandburg

C.                  was written by Carl Sandburg

D.                 Carl Sandburg who wrote it

16.    ________ are kept as pets in almost every country in the world.

A.                  Cats and dogs which

B.                  Which cats and dogs

C.                  Cats and dogs

D.                 That cats and dogs

17.   By studying (A) the fossils of pollen, which (B) extremely resistant to decay, researchers can gain (C) useful information (D) about the vegetation of the past.

18.  The PTA ________ parents and teachers who support the school by fund-raising and other activities.

A.                  It is a group of

B.                  That is a group of

C.                  Which group of

D.                 is a group of

19.    The attribution (A) of human characteristics to animals or inanimate objects appears (B) in the mythologies of many cultures (C) is a literary device called (D) anthropomorphism.

20.   The jet stream  ________ usually occurs at about thirty-five to sixty degrees latitude.

A.                  a narrow band of wind that

B.                  is a narrow band of wind that

C.                  a narrow band of wind

D.                 it is a narrow band of wind that

ANSWER KEY

1.     (A) Are is the main verb of the subject some ancient units. Choices (B), (C), and (D) are all part of subject classes that would require a main verb after today.

2.      (D) Was issued is the main verb of the subject paper money. Choices (A) and (C) are part of subject clauses that would require a main verb after American Revolution. Choice (B) is an active verb before a passive agent.

3.      (C) That are should be are to provide a main verb for the subject the plastic arts.

4.     (B) Is taken is the main verb of the subject The Scholastic Aptitude Text. Choices (A) and (C) are part of subject clauses that would require a main verb after many colleges. Choice (D) is an active verb before a passive agent.

5.      (A) That should be deleted to provide a main verb [help] for the subject ocean currents.

6.      D) Is is the main verb of the subject Camp David. Choice (A) is part of a subject clause that would require a main verb after U.S. presidents. Choices (B) and (C) are redundant because the subject pronoun it is used consecutively with the subject noun Camp David.

7.        (C) Forming should be form to provide a main verb for the subject gas and dust.

8.        (A) Which should be deleted to provide a main verb [regulated] for the subject ordinances.

9.    (B) The subject blue chip stock and the verb is are simple and direct. In addition, is considered provides for parallelism with is favored. Choices (A), (C), and (D) are redundant.

10.  (B) That introduces a subject and verb in the clause. Exhibiting in Choices (A) and (C) cannot be used as a verb without a form of BE. Choice (D) is redundant because the pronoun they is used consecutively with the noun seed.

11.    (D) ls named is the main verb of the subject La Guardia Airport. Choices (A) and (B) are part of subject clauses that would require a main verb after most popular mayors. The active verb in Choice (C) is not logical because it implies that the airport did the naming.

12.  (D)Are valued is the main verb of the subject intelligence and ability. Choices (A) and (C) are not logical because they imply that the intelligence and ability can value something or someone. Choice (B) is part of a subject clause that would require a main verb after social position or wealth.

13.    (B) Which it feed should be feeds to provide a main verb for the subject the larva.

14. (B) 95 percent of them is the subject, and are filed is the verb. The usual word order of subject and verb is not followed in Choice (A). Choices (C) and (D) are redundant, and the usual word order is not followed.

15.  (B) Choice (B) is an example of a dependent clause. Choice (A) is incomplete without the verb was written in the clause. Choice (C) is incomplete without which, the subject of the clause. Choice (D) is a clause that is not connected to the main clau e by a clause marker.

16.   (C) Cats and dogs is the subject of the verb are kept. Choices (A) and (D) are part of a subject clause that would require a main verb after in the world. The word order in Choice (B) would be correct for a question, but not for a sentence with a period.

17.    (B) Which should be which are to provide a verb for the clause.

18.  (D) Is is the main verb of the subject PTA, and a group is the complement. Choice (A) is redundant because the subject pronoun it is used consecutively with the subject noun PTA. Choice (B) is part of a subject clause that would require a main verb after other activities. Which in Choice (C) requires a verb in the clause.

19.  (B) Appears should be which appears to provide a subject for the clause. The sentence is also correct without the verb appears.

20.    (B) Choice (B) is the main clause that introduces a dependent clause. Choice (A) is part of a subject clause that would require a main verb after latitude. The appositive in Choice (C) would be correct with a comma before it and a comma after it. Choice (D) is redundant because the subject pronoun it is used consecutively with the subject noun the jet stream.