Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Structure (6)

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Directions: The questions here test your knowledge of the grammatical structure of English. Each question consists of a short written conversation, part of which has been omitted. Four words or phrases, labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4, are given below the conversation. You are to choose the word or phrase that will correctly complete the conversation. Click the answer button to see the correct answer. If you need a hint, press the arrow button next to the hint.

Look at the example.

"Why do you always want to use _____ pens?"

1) to one
2) of my
3) that my
4) one of my

We would say: "Why do you always want to use one of my pens?" Therefore you should press "4."

Click the answer button to see the correct answer.

1.

Even as a joke, don't aim the gun _____ anybody.
1) at
2) to
3) into
4) off
Answer 1
hint Which preposition is used with "aim"?

2.

Was my roommate polite _____ you?
1) at
2) from
3) to
4) with
Answer 3
hint Which preposition is used with "polite"?

3.

If the first and second plans are carried _____ now, we will be able to solve that problem.
1) out
2) up
3) upon
4) through
Answer 1
hint Which preposition is used with "carried"?

4.

Tom's team didn't lose the last game, _____?
1) didn't they
2) did it
3) did they
4) didn't it
Answer 2
hint This is a tag question. The main sentence is in the negative form. "Team" is treated as a singular noun.

5.

It _____ the day before yesterday.
1) snowed
2) was snow
3) has snowed
4) was snowed
Answer 1
hint Pay attention to the tense. "Snow" is a verb.

6.

Have you ever _____ on a horse? We are planning to go horseback riding this afternoon.
1) rode
2) rid
3) to ride
4) ridden
Answer 4
hint The speaker is asking whether you have had the experience of horseback riding. Pay attention to "have".

7.

He is learning French _____ Mr. Bodart.
1) through
2) by
3) to
4) from
Answer 4
hint Mr. Bodart is teaching him French.

8.

In the United States, a teacher may sit on a desk, but the students are supposed to sit _____ their desks.
1) at
2) beside
3) to
4) beneath
Answer 1
hint This means that students are supposed to sit in chairs behind their desks.

9.

"Where is the drug store?"
"It's _____ your left."
1) in
2) on
3) at
4) by
Answer 2
hint This means that the drug store is to be left of the first speaker.

10.

Tom is very short tempered, and he _____.
1) always gets angry
2) gets always angry
3) always angry gets
4) angry always gets
Answer 1
hint This means that Tom frequently becomes angry.

11.

"How many post cards did you need?"
"_____ than I had expected."
1) Less
2) Lesser
3) Few
4) Fewer
Answer 4

12.

It's not easy. However, please make him _____ it.
1) do
2) to do
3) doing
4) have to do
Answer 1
hint This means that he should be forced to do it. "Make" is the main verb in this sentence.

13.

I would like to apply _____ the position of a sales clerk you advertised in the newspaper.
1) for
2) to
3) with
4) in
Answer 1
hint Which preposition is used with "apply"?

14.

It's difficult for a small child _____ clothes.
1) wearing
2) to wear
3) putting on
4) to put on
Answer 4
hint What is the difference between "wear" and "put on"?

15.

This knife is very sharp. We use it _____.
1) for to cut the bread
2) to cut with the bread
3) cutting with the bread
4) to cut the bread
Answer 4
hint What is the knife used to do?

16.

I could have bought it for you if you _____.
1) ask to me to
2) asked me to
3) had asked me
4) had asked me to
Answer 4
hint The speaker did not buy anything for the hearer. Pay attention to the tense.

17.

Jim _____.
1) likes football best
2) likes best football
3) best likes football
4) likes play football best
Answer 1
hint The main verb of this sentence is "likes".

18.

My mother went _____ yesterday.
1) to shopping
2) shopping
3) to shop
4) shopped
Answer 2
hint What form of the verb is used to mean "went and did (something)".

19.

Jack is _____ comics.
1) interested
2) interesting
3) interested in
4) interest in
Answer 3
hint This means that Jack finds comics interesting.

20.

Tom loved Linda better than Bill _____.
1) did
2) do
3) has done
4) done
Answer 1
hint Pay attention to the tense of this sentence.

21.

_____ Nancy's tapes are jazz.
1) Almost
2) Almost all
3) Most
4) Most of all
Answer 2
hint This means that not all Nancy's tapes are jazz, but most are.

22.

_____ are you speaking? I don't understand.
1) Who
2) Whom
3) Of who
4) Of whom
Answer 4
hint The speaker does not understand who is being discussed.

23.

_____ will be invited to join us for tea.
1) Whoever will come
2) Whoever come
3) Whoever comes
4) Whoever would come
Answer 3
hint Pay attention to the tense of the sentence.

24.

_____ Tom hates to do it, he has to.
1) Much as
2) As much
3) So much as
4) So much
Answer 1
hint This means that Tom hates to do it, but he has to.

25.

I'll give you five minutes _____.
1) making your mind up
2) making up your mind
3) make up your mind
4) to make up your mind
Answer 4

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