CliffsTestPrep TOEFL CBT PRACTICE TEST 3 STRUCTURE SECTION (1)

CliffsTestPrep TOEFL CBT

PRACTICE TEST 3

STRUCTURE SECTION (1)

Directions: This section measures your ability to recognize language appropriate for standard written English. One type of question consists of incomplete sentences, with a blank showing where information is to be filled in. Choose the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence. A second type of question consists of sentences with four underlined words or phrases. For each sentence, choose the one underlined word or phrase that is incorrect in standard written English. Mark the answer in your book or on a separate piece of paper.

1	Overeating, in addition to lack (A) of attention to nutrition, are (B) said to be (C) the major cause (D) of obesity in the United States.	6	The committee has met and __________. A.    have approve the budget B.    budget was approved C.    its approval of the budget D.    approved the budget
2	Once the employees had begun receiving financial information on the company, __________ income. A.   they diligently assisted in reducing costs and increasing B.   it made the employees more eager to assist in reduce costs and increase C.   diligently they assist to reduce costs and increase D.   with extreme diligence helped lower costs and increase	7	Hardly the plane had (A) landed when Adam realized (B) that he had (C) left the file that he needed (D) at his office.
3	Because (A) the students showed they had read (B) the materials so thorough, (C) the instructor decided not to administer (D) an exam.	8	After Michelle had taken control of the Accounts Receivable department, the financial situation improved dramatically; her fiscal and management capabilities __________ to the success. A.       should contribute B.       should have contributed C.       must have contributed D.       must contribute
4	The plumber attempted to loosen the nut with regular pliers but then decided he needed to retrieve his toolbox in order to use __________. A.   another pliers B.   others pliers C.   the others ones D.   another pair	9	The consultant said management had better to formalize (A) its (B) employment policies and procedures in order to avoid (C) adverse (D) employment claims in the future.
5	Judy decided to wait (A) until after she had taken (B) her exams before having (C) her wisdom teeth pull. (D)	10	Having been presented the financial aspects of the proposed agreement, __________. A.       legal terms were addressed by the board members B.       the board members turned their attention to the legal terms C.       they were begun to discuss legal terms D.       they were begun to discuss legal terms

ANSWER KEY

1	B	are. The subject is overeating, and a gerund as a subject is singular, so the verb should be is. Ignore the words between the commas.
2	A	they diligently assisted in reducing costs and increasing. The pronoun they must appear after the comma because the employees is the subject of the first clause. The correct order is subject + adverb + verb. Also, after the preposition in, verbs must appear in the gerund (verb+ing).
3	C	thorough. The correct word is thoroughly, an adverb, because it modifies the verb had read.
4	D	another pair. Pliers is a plural noun, so it would have to appear with the adjective other. The pronoun others replaces the noun, so it cannot appear with a noun. The noun pair, as in pair of pliers, is singular, and therefore can be used with another.
5	D	pull. This is a passive structure. The dentist pulls the wisdom teeth. The wisdom teeth are pulled. Passive voice is formed by using a form of the verb be + verb in past participle.
6	D	approved the budget. The sentence must continue with the same subject and format. The committee met, and it approved the budget. It is not correct to turn the second clause around as a passive structure, making the budget the subject. A has an incorrect verb structure because have cannot be followed by the verb in simple form. C would have no conjugated verb in the second clause of the sentence.
7	A	Hardly the plane had. When a sentence begins with one of the reversed order limiting words like hardly, the order is: limiting word + auxiliary + subject + verb. The correct order would be Hardly had the plane landed. . . .
8	C	must have contributed. This question deals with meaning as much as it deals with simple grammar. The present perfect construction with should means something much different than the same construction with must. Should have contributed means the person was supposed to contribute but did not. Must have contributed means that one can conclude logically that the person did contribute, which is more in line with the meaning of this sentence.
9	A	to formalize. The phrase had better is just like its alternate, should, and must be followed by the simple form of the verb: had better formalize.
10	B	the board members turned their attention to the legal terms. Because the sentence begins with the participial phrase having been presented, the subject of that clause must appear after the comma.