Mini Test Toefl (structure and written expression) 2

--- from horseback is a valid form of pest control has come under attack.

• that the hunting of foxes

• the hunting of foxes

• it is the hunting of foxes

• there is fox hunting

Answer explanation

(A) "Has come" is the main verb and "is" is the verb for the dependent clause used as a subject. only a subject is needed to complete the dependent clause.

The use of (B) makes an independent clause that cannot be used as a subject. (C) and (D) contain a subject and a verb.

---- by its previous owner explains why no one has searched for it.

• having cursed the treasure

• the treasure has been cursed

• it was the curse of the treasure

• the treasure's having been cursed

Answer explanation

(D) only a subject is needed for the verb "explains." The phrase "by its previous owner" indicates a passive voice. (D) is a gerund that can be used as a subject, and it is in the passive voice.

(B) and (C) contain both a subject and a verb. (A) is in the active voice.

---- that produced the famous Crab nebula, which is a favorite among astronomers.

• that is was a supernova

• it was a supernova

• a supernova

• there a supernova

Answer explanation

(B) a subject and a verb are needed to complete the sentence. (B) has both a subject, "it," and a verb, "was."

(A) is a clause that can only take the position of a subject in the sentence. (C) and (D) do not contain verbs.

---- unnecessary red tape and promote research were the main objectives of the committee.

• To circumvent

• That to circumvent

• The circumvention of

• Circumventing

Answer explanation

(A) the plural verb "were" indicates a plural subject. The infinitive form of (A) is parallel to the infinitive "promote" and makes a plural subject that agrees with the verb.

(B) is an incomplete clause that does not complete the subject. the simple subject in (C) and the gerund subject in (D) are not parallel to the second subject "promote," which is the infnitive form.

---- mixed with a base such as egg yolk was the exclusive medium for painting panels in the Middle Ages.

• Finely ground pigments

• It is a finely ground pigment

• A finely ground pigment

• That a finely ground pigment

Answer explanation

(C) a singular subject is needed to complete the sentence and agree with the singular verb "was." the plural subject "pigments" in (A) does not agree with the singular verb "was." (B) contains a subject and a verb. (D) is an incomplete clause that does not complete the subject.

---- toward animated cartoons with war-related topics has come under criticism from such groups as the National Coalition Against Television Violence.

• It is the trend

• Trends

• That the trend

• The trend

Answer explanation

(D) a subject that agrees with the singular verb is needed to complete the sentence.

(A) contains a verb. In (B) the subject is plural and does not agree with the singular verb "has." (C) is an incomplete clause and, therefore, cannot be used as a subject.

Today ----- the single largest organized industry in India.

• the cotton textile industry is

• it is the cotton textile industry

• the cotton textile industry

• there is the cotton textile industry

Answer explanation

(A) Both a subject and a verb are needed to complete the sentence.

(C) does not contain a verb. in (B) and (D) the phrase "the cotton textile industry" takes the object position, but the sentence already has the object "the single largest organized industry in India."

--- of the "Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam" earned Edward Fitzgerald fame.

• It is translating

• His translation

• its being translated

• In his translation

Answer explanation

(B) A singular subject is needed to complete the sentence.

(A) contains both a subject and a verb. Although (C) is a subject, it does not fit into the sentence because its verb "translated" cannot be modified by the prepositional phrase "of the 'Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.'" (D) is a prepositional phrase and cannot be used as a subject.

When we put on thick woolen clothing, --- in the woolen loops that protects us from the cold.

• it is the air

• that the air

• the air

• there is the air

Answer explanation

(A) can complete the sentence with the subject "it," the verb "is," and a noun in the object position. The relative clause in the given sentence indicates the structure used to emphasize the noun and clause.

(B) and (C) do not have verbs. (D) completes the sentence but is illogical because the article "the" indicates specific "air." However, air in general keeps out the cold.

---- in the frozen wastes of Antarctica takes special equipment.

• Survive

• It is survival

• That survival

• To survive

Answer explanation

(D) only subject is needed to complete the sentence. (D) is infinitive that can be used as a subject.

(A) is a verb. (B) containc both a verb and a subject. (C) is an incomplete clause. It needs to be complete to be used as a subject.