______
second in size to Jupiter, Saturn has a mass much smaller than that of Jupiter.
When While
Difficulty level: Medium
TestMagic
Explanation: First, we have a reduced adverb clause here. The original
clause would be While it is second in size to Jupiter. Second, we need
to show contrast between being second in size (which sounds like it is close in
size) and having a much smaller mass. In other words, from the sentence, it sounds
like Saturn is similar in size (even though it is not in reality) but much smaller
in mass.
Despite
Nevertheless
013.
[Given]
the difficulty [of mastering] the subtleties of the violin, there is [not] difficulty
understanding why there are few children proficient [in] playing it.
Given
of mastering not
Correction: no or not any
Difficulty
level: Hard
TestMagic Explanation:
This is a hard one! Basically, since difficulty is a noun, we can only
use a determiner
with it, or we can change the sentence to not any difficulty. Remember,
no = not any. Are you starting to see how important determiners
are?
in
014.
What
is known as the Homestead Act of 1862 granted those who ventured westward ______
.
to
receive needed and desired land the
land they both needed and desired
Difficulty level:
Hard
TestMagic Explanation: Essentially,
granted is a transitive verb that needs to objects (a direct object and
an indirect object), just like the verb gave. In this case, the two objects
are those and the land.
needing
and desiring land where
they most needed and desired land
015.
Almost
ninety per cent of [American] high school [students] claim they know [how to read],
yet this figure is probably [somewhat lower].
American
Correction:
all American
Difficulty level: Hard
TestMagic Explanation: This is a tough one! I
bet if you show it to a native speaker of English, she might not be able to notice
that there's anything wrong. And, in fact, maybe this question would be too hard
for the real TOEFL, but I thought it would be good to put it on here, at least
to teach you the rule.
If we look at these examples, we can see the grammar rule very clearly:
most
of the people, NOT X most of people X
half
of my money, NOT X half of money X
students how
to read somewhat
lower
016.
From
the simplest single-cell organism floating in prehistoric oceans ______ all forms
of life now inhabiting the earth.
evolved
Difficulty level: Hard
TestMagic Explanation: We have inversion
in this sentence. Click the link to see why this sentence has inversion
and what other types of inversion
are possible. Here's what the original sentence would look like:
All forms of life now inhabiting the earth evolved from the simplest single-cell
organism floating in prehistoric oceans .
had
evolved evolve evolving
017.
Zirconium
is [a] [metallic element] with a high [melting] point that is widely [used] alloys.
a metallic
element melting used
Correction:
used in
Difficulty level: Hard
TestMagic
Explanation: If you study at TestMagic, you will learn why we need a preposition
after used, but it takes a little while to explain. I think this one is
easier to understand just by seeing the correction.
018.
______ is the earthquake
that is most widely remembered, it was actually the fire that ensued that caused
the most damage in San Francisco in 1906.
It
Being that
Although Whereas
it
Difficulty level: Hard
TestMagic
Explanation: This one is hard not because of the grammar but because of
the vocabulary. Whereas means although, both of which are adverb
clause subordinating conjunctions.
019.
After
the Gold Rush in California in 1849 came [dramatically] higher number of [immigrants]
than [had been] [seen in] the previous year.
dramatically
Correction:
a dramatically
Difficulty level: Hard
TestMagic Explanation: Remember, if you
see a singular count noun with no determiner,
it is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. In this case, number is the singular count noun
with no determiner.
Why is this one so hard? Simple--the underline is so far from the singular count
noun; by the time we get to the singular count noun, we've already forgotten!
immigrants
had been seen
in
020.
[Architect
and founder] of the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson [built] his house
Monticello [overlooking] the campus [in] Charlottesville, Virginia.
Architect and founder built overlooking
Correction:
to overlook
Difficulty level: Hard
TestMagic Explanation: In this case, we need
to use the infinitive of purpose to explain why Thomas Jefferson built
his house. Some TestMagic students have pointed out that overlooking is
grammatically correct. Yes, this is true; it is grammatically correct,
but the meaning is completely wrong. If we say overlooking, then it means
that the house was already overlooking the campus of the University of Virginia,
which is impossible since the house didn't exist before it was built!
Are you wondering why Architect and founder don't need determiners?
They are, after all, singular count nouns, right? Yes, in fact, they are, but
determiners
are optional with certain job titles.
