EXERCISE 49: Sentences-Point of View

EXERCISE 49: Sentences-Point of View

In some sentences in the Structure Section of the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to identify errors in point of view. Point of view is the relationship between the verb in the main clause of a sentence and other verbs, or between the verbs in a sentence and the adverbs that express time. Choose the correct answer in the incomplete sentences. Choose the incorrect word or phrase in the underlined choices.

1.      Although there are (A) approximately (B) 120 intensive language institutes in (C) the United States in 1970, there are more than four times as many (D) now.

2.     Cartographers cannot make an accurate map because the political situation in many areas changes so (A) rapidly that they were (B) not able to draw (C) the boundaries correctly (D).

3.      Although Emily Dickinson publishes (A) only (B) three of her verses before she dies, today there are  (C) more than (D) one thousand of her poems printed in many important collections.

4.    Dew usually (A) disappeared (B) by (C) seven o’clock in the morning (D) when the sun comes up.

5.     Before the 1800s, when William Young made different shoes for right and left feet, shoes ________ on either foot.

A.                  can wear

B.                  are wearing

C.                  could be worn

D.                 worn

6.       Seven months before the stock (A) market crashed in (B) 1929, President Hoover said that the economy of the nation is (C) secure (D).

7.       In the Middle Ages, the word “masterpiece” referred to a work that ________ by a journeyman in order to qualify as a master artisan.

A.                  completed

B.                  is completed

C.                  was completed

D.                 complete

8.       Most (A) archaeologists agree that humans are living (B) in the area around Philadelphia for (C) about (D) twelve thousand years.

9.       Although we once thought that Saturn has (A) only seven rings, we now know that it (B) has hundreds of rings extending (C) for thousands of miles (D).

10.  Before his death in 1943, in an effort to encourage less dependence on one crop by the South, George Washington Carver ________ for developing hundreds of industrial uses for peanuts and sweet potatoes.

A.                  has responsibility

B.                  were responsibility

C.                  is responsible

D.                 was responsible

11.   The Greek historian Herodotus reported that one hundred thousand men ________ for twenty years to build the Great Pyramid at Gizeh.

A.                  employ

B.                  employed

C.                  are employed

D.                 were employed

12. In 1975, according (A) to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average life expectancy for people born (B) during (C) that year is (D) 72.4 years.

13.   Champlain founded (A) a base at Port Royal in 1605 (B), and builds (C) a fort at Quebec (D) three years later.

14.   According to (A) the Congressional Record, almost one third of all new laws (B) in 1991 are passed (C) to celebrate (D) some day, week, or month for a special interest group’s purposes, such as Music Week.

15.   The first (A) significant engagement of the American Revolution occurs (B) on june 17, 1775 (C) and has been referred to (D) as the Battle of Bunker Hill.

16.    Evolutionary changes in the speech organs probably ________ the development of language in humanoids.

A.                  to contribute

B.                  contribute to

C.                  contribution to

D.                 contributed to

17.    Originally (A), the purpose of a sampler is (B) to record (C) complex stitches so that they (D) could be duplicated later.

18. Before he died, Armand Hammer ________ an extraordinarily diverse business empire, including interests in oil, livestock, cattle, grain, and art.

A.                  established

B.                  establishing

C.                  establishes

D.                 establish

19.    Many (A) ancient cultures begin (B) their (C) spiritual life by worshipping (D) the sun.

20.    People under thirty years old cannot remember when ________ without a computer terminal.

A.                  they have to work

B.                  they had to work

C.                  their working

D.                 working

ANSWER KEY

1.        (A) The adverbial phrase in 1970 establishes a point of view in the past. Are should be were to maintain the point of view.

2.        (B) The verb cannot make establishes a point of view in the present. Were should be are to maintain the point of view.

3.        (A) The reference to an activity before the subject's death establishes a point of view in the past. Publishes should be published to maintain the point of view.

4.        (B) The adverbial phrase seven o 'clock in the morning when the sun comes up establishes a point of view in the present. Disappeared should be disappears to maintain the point of view.

5.        (C) The adverbial phrase Before the 1800s establishes a point of view in the past. The modal could in Choice (C) maintains the point of view. Choices (A) and (B) are present, not past. Choice (D) is a participle without a verb.

6.        (C) The adverbial phrase seven months before the stock market crashed in 1929, and the verb said establish a point of view in the past. Is should be was to maintain the point of view.

7.        (C) The adverbial phrase In the Middle Ages establishes a point of view in the past. The verb was in Choice (C) maintains the point of view. Choice (A) is also a past verb, but it is an active, not a passive, verb. A passive is required by the agent by a journeyman. Choice (B) is a present, not a past, verb. Choice (D) is an active verb.

8.        (B) The adverbial phrase for about twelve thousand years establishes a point of view that begins in the past. Are Living should be have been living to maintain the point of view.

9.        (A) The adverbial clause although we once thought establishes a point of view in the past. Has should be had to maintain the point of view.

10.    (D) Activities of the dead logically establish a point of view in the past. Choice (D) maintains the point of view. Choices (A) and (C) are present, not past, verbs. Choice (B) is a past verb with a noun, not an adjective, to describe Carver.

11.    (D) Activities of historical figures known to be dead logically establish a point of view in the past. The verb reported further establishes that point of view. Choices (A) and (C) are present, not past, verbs. Choice (B) is a past verb, but it is an active verb.

12.    (D) The adverbial phrase In 1975 establishes a point of view in the past. Is should be was to maintain the point of view.

13.    (C) The adverbial phrase in 1605 and the verb founded establish a point of view in the past. Builds should be built to maintain the point of view.

14.    (C) The adverbial phrase in 1991 establishes a point of view in the past. Are passed should be were passed to maintain the point of view.

15.    (B) The adverbial phrase on June 17, 1775 establishes a point of view in the past. Occurs should be occurred to maintain the point of view.

16.    (D) The development of language is a historical event that logically establishes a point of view in the past. Choice (D) is a past verb that maintains the point of view. Choice (A) is an infinitive, not a past verb. Choice (B) is a present verb. Choice (C) is a noun.

17.    (B) The adverb originally establishes a point of view in the past. Is should be was to maintain the point of view.

18.    (A) Activities of the dead logically establish a point of view in the past. Choice (A) is a past verb. Choice (B) is an -ing form, not a past verb. Choice (C) is a present verb. Choice (D) is a verb word.

19.    (B) The phrase ancient cultures establishes a point of view in the past. Begin should be began to maintain the point of view.

20.    (B) The phrase remember when establishes a point of view in the past. Choice (B) is a past verb. Choice (A) is a present, not a past, verb. Choices (C) and (D) are –ing forms.