TOEFL Exercise (Skills 24 – 26) - Quiz, Flashcards & Trivia

1. A bankruptcy may be either voluntary nor involuntary. ^{A B
C D}

A bankruptcy

May be

Voluntary

Nor

First you check your [subject] and [verb] agreement and find they are ok. Be careful not to let the underlines distract you. The key word to notice here is "either" which has a very specific counterpart, since it provides options in a positive way, meaning option "D" marks the incorrect fragment.

A bankruptcy may be either voluntary or involuntary.

Explanation

First you check your [subject] and [verb] agreement and find they are ok. Be careful not to let the underlines distract you. The key word to notice here is "either" which has a very specific counterpart, since it provides options in a positive way, meaning option "D" marks the incorrect fragment.

A bankruptcy may be either voluntary or involuntary.

2. Because bone loss occurs earlier in women than ________, the effects of osteoporosis are more apparent in women.

Men do

In men

As men

Similar to men

From the start you should notice this sentence is comparing. The blank is after "than" so you need the second comparison element. Option "A" is eliminated because is has the auxiliary; which is unnecessary. Option "C" and "D" are eliminated because they complete another type of comparison. Leaving option "B" as the correct option [preposition + noun]

Explanation

From the start you should notice this sentence is comparing. The blank is after "than" so you need the second comparison element. Option "A" is eliminated because is has the auxiliary; which is unnecessary. Option "C" and "D" are eliminated because they complete another type of comparison. Leaving option "B" as the correct option [preposition + noun]

3. Truman Capote´s In Cold Blood is neither journalistically accurate ________

A piece of fiction

Nor a fictitious work

Or written in a fictitious way

Nor completely fictitious

You should have noticed "neither" at the middle of the sentence. This word leads you to add elements in a negative way, and it´s counterpart is "nor". Options "A" and "C" are eliminated since they do not have "nor". To decide between "B" and "D", you look at the partly available list and notice the adverb "journalistically". Option "B" is eliminated. Leaving option "D" as the correct option.

Explanation

You should have noticed "neither" at the middle of the sentence. This word leads you to add elements in a negative way, and it´s counterpart is "nor". Options "A" and "C" are eliminated since they do not have "nor". To decide between "B" and "D", you look at the partly available list and notice the adverb "journalistically". Option "B" is eliminated. Leaving option "D" as the correct option.

4. Fire extinguishers can contain liquefied gas, dry chemicals, or watery. ^{A
B
C D}

Extinguishers

Can contain

Or

Watery

First you check [subject] and [verb] relation and find they are ok. After that, you notice their is a list of elements which should be in the same word type. "Gas" and "chemicals" are nouns, meaning option "D" marks the incorrect fragment.
Fire extinguishers can contain liquefied gas, dry chemicals or water.

Explanation

First you check [subject] and [verb] relation and find they are ok. After that, you notice their is a list of elements which should be in the same word type. "Gas" and "chemicals" are nouns, meaning option "D" marks the incorrect fragment.
Fire extinguishers can contain liquefied gas, dry chemicals or water.

5. The U.S. Congress consists of both the Senate as well as the House of ^{A B
C D} Representatives.

Consists

Of

The Senate

As well as

First you check [subject] and [verb] relation and find they are ok. You then notice the word "both" which has a very specific counterpart to add information. Option "D" marks the incorrect fragment.

The U.S. Congress consists of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Explanation

First you check [subject] and [verb] relation and find they are ok. You then notice the word "both" which has a very specific counterpart to add information. Option "D" marks the incorrect fragment.

The U.S. Congress consists of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

6. Vitamin C is necessary for the prevention and ______ of scurvy.

It cures

Cures

Cure

For curing

You initially detect the conjunciton "and" which adds information in a positive way. Additionally, you want to do a quick recognition of your sentence elements. You will find the [subject] and [verb] are in their correct place. Option "A" is eliminated because we don´t need another subject/verb combination. Option "D" is tricky because it includes "for", but it does not follow the sentence sequence - "for the + noun". Option "D" is eliminated. Option "B" is in verb form and we already have one; even if you think it´s a noun, it is in plurar and it doesn´t go with the sentence. Leaving option "C" as the correct option.

Explanation

You initially detect the conjunciton "and" which adds information in a positive way. Additionally, you want to do a quick recognition of your sentence elements. You will find the [subject] and [verb] are in their correct place. Option "A" is eliminated because we don´t need another subject/verb combination. Option "D" is tricky because it includes "for", but it does not follow the sentence sequence - "for the + noun". Option "D" is eliminated. Option "B" is in verb form and we already have one; even if you think it´s a noun, it is in plurar and it doesn´t go with the sentence. Leaving option "C" as the correct option.

7. A baby´s development is influenced by both heredity and _________.

By environmental factors

Environmentally

The influence of the environment

Environment

You should notice the word "both" which adds to a list in a positive way. You look for sentence form and detect that the [subject] and [verb] are in their place. it is important to understand that "heredity" is a noun. Option "A" is eliminated since it repeats too much information. Option "B" is eliminated because it is an adverb. Option "C" is eliminated because it is similar to "A". Leaving option "D" as the correct option.

Explanation

You should notice the word "both" which adds to a list in a positive way. You look for sentence form and detect that the [subject] and [verb] are in their place. it is important to understand that "heredity" is a noun. Option "A" is eliminated since it repeats too much information. Option "B" is eliminated because it is an adverb. Option "C" is eliminated because it is similar to "A". Leaving option "D" as the correct option.

8. A well-composed baroque opera achieves a delicate balance by focusing alternatevly             ^{A
B
C} on the aural, visual, emotional, and philosophy elements.             ^D

Well-composed

Achieves

Focusing

Philosphy

In long sentences always be aware of the main [subject] and [verb]. Once you establish their relation is ok, you move on. You should notice the word "by" which is leading you into a list. All list elements must be of the same word type, or follow the same syntax. The current list is made up of nouns, meaning option "D" marks the incorrect fragment.

A well-composed baroque opera achieves a delicate balance by focusing alternatvely on the aural, visual, emotional, and philosophical elements.

Explanation

In long sentences always be aware of the main [subject] and [verb]. Once you establish their relation is ok, you move on. You should notice the word "by" which is leading you into a list. All list elements must be of the same word type, or follow the same syntax. The current list is made up of nouns, meaning option "D" marks the incorrect fragment.

A well-composed baroque opera achieves a delicate balance by focusing alternatvely on the aural, visual, emotional, and philosophical elements.

9. Manufacturers may use food additives for preserving, to color, to flavor, or to fortify                          ^{A
B
C} foods.    ^D

May use

For preserving

Fortify

Foods

First you check your [subject] and [verb] agreement and find they are ok. It is very obvious that most of the sentence is a list. Once you identify the list syntax, you realize they are infinitives, meaning option "B" marks the incorrect fragment.

Manufacturers may use food additives to preserve, to color, to flavor, or to fortify foods.

Explanation

First you check your [subject] and [verb] agreement and find they are ok. It is very obvious that most of the sentence is a list. Once you identify the list syntax, you realize they are infinitives, meaning option "B" marks the incorrect fragment.

Manufacturers may use food additives to preserve, to color, to flavor, or to fortify foods.

10. The prison population in this state, now at an all time high, is higher than any state. ^{A B C
D}

Population

At an all time high

Is higher

Any state

First you check [subject] and [verb] relation and find they are ok. Careful with the appositive phrase so it doesn´t confuse you. You should notice this sentence is a comparison which means you need to compare to elements in the same way. Element 1 is "population (in this state)". You then go to element 2 and realize it is not following the same pattern, meaning option "D" marks the incorrect fragment.

The prison population in this state, now at an all time high, is higher than in any state.

Explanation

First you check [subject] and [verb] relation and find they are ok. Careful with the appositive phrase so it doesn´t confuse you. You should notice this sentence is a comparison which means you need to compare to elements in the same way. Element 1 is "population (in this state)". You then go to element 2 and realize it is not following the same pattern, meaning option "D" marks the incorrect fragment.

The prison population in this state, now at an all time high, is higher than in any state.