TOEFL Mini-test (skills 1-5)

1. 2. _________ Biloxi received its name from a Sioux word meaning "first people."

The city of

Located in

It is in

The tour included

In the sentence we can locate the verb "received" and after it a series of phrases. Before the verb there is only a name of a place with a blank before it.This leads us to understand that we need a phrase to complete the subject.

1. It is not letter (D) because it has a complete subject and verb.
2. It is not letter (C) because it is not a completing phrase; it also has a verb.
3. It is not letter (B) because the phrase only established the place, but the sentence would need another subject reference such as a name of a local monument.
4. It is letter (A).

Explanation

In the sentence we can locate the verb "received" and after it a series of phrases. Before the verb there is only a name of a place with a blank before it.This leads us to understand that we need a phrase to complete the subject.

1. It is not letter (D) because it has a complete subject and verb.
2. It is not letter (C) because it is not a completing phrase; it also has a verb.
3. It is not letter (B) because the phrase only established the place, but the sentence would need another subject reference such as a name of a local monument.
4. It is letter (A).

2. 1. The North Platte River _________ from Wyoming into Nebraska.

It flowed

Flows

Flowing

With flowing water

In the sentence there is a clear subject, the blank and two phrases. So, there is no main verb.

1. It is not letter [D] because it is a phrase since it starts with a preposition "with".
2. It is not letter [C] because it is really not a verb. We need a form of BE to make it a verb. Additionally, the sentence expresses a fact, so we cannot use a progressive form.
3. It is not letter [A] because it includes a subject (it) reference, and we already have the subject.
4. It is letter [D]

Explanation

In the sentence there is a clear subject, the blank and two phrases. So, there is no main verb.

1. It is not letter [D] because it is a phrase since it starts with a preposition "with".
2. It is not letter [C] because it is really not a verb. We need a form of BE to make it a verb. Additionally, the sentence expresses a fact, so we cannot use a progressive form.
3. It is not letter [A] because it includes a subject (it) reference, and we already have the subject.
4. It is letter [D]

3. 4. _________ tea plant are small and white.

The

On the

Having flowers the

The flowers of the

The sentence include a form of BE as the main verb. Before the verb there is a subject with a blank. This means we need a phrase which completes the subject.

1. It is not letter (A) because it is only the article. This means the subject "plant" would not match the verb "are".
2. It is not letter (B) because it is the same as letter (A) with the variation of the preposition.
3. It is not letter (C) because it is still not completing a subject phrase like the two previous letter.
4. It is letter (D).

Explanation

The sentence include a form of BE as the main verb. Before the verb there is a subject with a blank. This means we need a phrase which completes the subject.

1. It is not letter (A) because it is only the article. This means the subject "plant" would not match the verb "are".
2. It is not letter (B) because it is the same as letter (A) with the variation of the preposition.
3. It is not letter (C) because it is still not completing a subject phrase like the two previous letter.
4. It is letter (D).

4. 5. The tetracyclines, _________ antibiotics, are used to treat infections.

Are a family of

Being a family

A family of

Their family is

It is clear to see the two commas and the blank inside of them. Also, there is a verb "are" in the main sentence. This means we have a phrase which gives additional information, so a phrase starter is needed.

1. It is not letter (A) because it has a main verb
2. It is not letter (B) because it does not have a connecting preposition at the end.
3. It is not letter (D) because it has a subject and verb
4. It is letter (C).

Explanation

It is clear to see the two commas and the blank inside of them. Also, there is a verb "are" in the main sentence. This means we have a phrase which gives additional information, so a phrase starter is needed.

1. It is not letter (A) because it has a main verb
2. It is not letter (B) because it does not have a connecting preposition at the end.
3. It is not letter (D) because it has a subject and verb
4. It is letter (C).

5. 8. The major cause _________ the pull of the Moon on the Earth.

The ocean tides are

Of ocean tides is

Of the tides in the ocean

The oceans tides

In the sentence there is a subject, which seems broken. After the blank there is a series of phrases. This means we need the main verb and the actual noun of the subject.

1. It is not letter (A) because it has the article "the" and it does not include a connecting preposition.
2. It is not letter (C) because it does not have a verb.
3. It is not letter (D) because it does not have a connecting prepositions nor verb.
4. It is letter (B).

Explanation

In the sentence there is a subject, which seems broken. After the blank there is a series of phrases. This means we need the main verb and the actual noun of the subject.

1. It is not letter (A) because it has the article "the" and it does not include a connecting preposition.
2. It is not letter (C) because it does not have a verb.
3. It is not letter (D) because it does not have a connecting prepositions nor verb.
4. It is letter (B).

6. 6. Any possible academic assistance from taking stimulants _________ marginal at best.

It is

There is

Is

As

Once we read the sentence, we identify there is no real main verb; it is only a series of phrases.

1. It is not letter (A) because it has a subject.
2. It is not letter (B) because it has the adverb "there" in a subject position.
3. It is not letter (D) because it is not a verb.
4. It is letter (C).

Explanation

Once we read the sentence, we identify there is no real main verb; it is only a series of phrases.

1. It is not letter (A) because it has a subject.
2. It is not letter (B) because it has the adverb "there" in a subject position.
3. It is not letter (D) because it is not a verb.
4. It is letter (C).

7. 7. Henry Adams, born in Boston, _________ famous as a historian and novelist.

Became

And became

He was

And he became

By reading the sentence, we can identify it has a complimentary phrase between commas. The main subject is complete. After the blank there are phrases only. This means it does not have a main verb.

1. It is not letter (D) because it has a conjunction and subject.
2. It is not letter (C) because it has a subject.
3. It is not letter (B) because it has a conjunction.
4. It is letter (A).

Explanation

By reading the sentence, we can identify it has a complimentary phrase between commas. The main subject is complete. After the blank there are phrases only. This means it does not have a main verb.

1. It is not letter (D) because it has a conjunction and subject.
2. It is not letter (C) because it has a subject.
3. It is not letter (B) because it has a conjunction.
4. It is letter (A).

8. 3. A pride of lions _________ up to forty lions, including one to three males, several females, and cubs.

Can contain

It containing

Contain

Containing

The subject is clearly established before the blank. After the bland there is a phrase. This means we need the main subject of the sentence.

1. It is not letter (D) because it is not really a verb. The "ing" must have a form of BE before it.
2. It is not letter (C) because it does not match the number form of the subject.
3. It is not letter (B) because it has a subject reference.
4. It is letter (A).

Explanation

The subject is clearly established before the blank. After the bland there is a phrase. This means we need the main subject of the sentence.

1. It is not letter (D) because it is not really a verb. The "ing" must have a form of BE before it.
2. It is not letter (C) because it does not match the number form of the subject.
3. It is not letter (B) because it has a subject reference.
4. It is letter (A).

9. 9. Still a novelty in the late nineteenth century, _________ limited to the rich.

Was

Was photography

It was photography

Photography was

The sentence starts with a series of phrases and a comma. After the blank there is what could be a verb and its object. This means we need the main subject and possibly the other part of the verb.

1. It is not letter (A) because it is only a verb.
2. It is not letter (B) because it would create a question in the sentence we have.
3. It is not letter (C) because it does have a connector at the end.
4. It is letter (D).

Explanation

The sentence starts with a series of phrases and a comma. After the blank there is what could be a verb and its object. This means we need the main subject and possibly the other part of the verb.

1. It is not letter (A) because it is only a verb.
2. It is not letter (B) because it would create a question in the sentence we have.
3. It is not letter (C) because it does have a connector at the end.
4. It is letter (D).

10. 10. A computerized map of the freeways using information gathered by sensors embedded in the pavement _________ on a local cable channel during rush hour.

Airs

Airing

Air

To air

We should notice that everything before the blank is a series of phrases; "using," "gathered," and "embedded" are not verbs because they don't have a preceding BE verb. After the blank we have more phrases. This means we need the main verb of the sentence.

1. It is not letter (D) because the verb is in infinitive form.
2. It is not letter (C) because it does not match the number form of the main subject "map"
3. It is not letter (B) because it is not a verb; it doesn't have a preceding BE verb.
4. It is letter (A).

Explanation

We should notice that everything before the blank is a series of phrases; "using," "gathered," and "embedded" are not verbs because they don't have a preceding BE verb. After the blank we have more phrases. This means we need the main verb of the sentence.

1. It is not letter (D) because the verb is in infinitive form.
2. It is not letter (C) because it does not match the number form of the main subject "map"
3. It is not letter (B) because it is not a verb; it doesn't have a preceding BE verb.
4. It is letter (A).

TOEFL Mini-test (Skills 1-5)