Explanations for the TOEFL Structure/Written Expression, 1-15, (Grammar/Blanks), Test C from the 1997 Official TOEFL Kit

These are the answers, corrections, and explanations for the Written Expression section section of Test C of the 1997 Kit that we actually used in class.

You will notice that some of the explanations have extra questions or vocab. That's because these are the questions that TestMagic students actually asked in class for that particular question.

	Explanations These explanations were written by Erin Billy.
1. D	Simple sentence: microscope can reveal detail We need to make a comparison using more... than...
2. A	Simple sentence: bulbs should be planted We need a main verb here. We should use active voice because we have no object here.
3. B	Simple sentence: industrialization has been responsible We should use the when we have a superlative functioning as a pronoun.
4. D	Simple sentence: slope and topography do not permit rainfall to run off We need a main verb here.
5. A	Simple sentence: color and light influence impact This is a word order question. In this sentence, very modifies powerfully. Together, the adverb phrase very powerfully modifies the verb influence.
6. C	Simple sentence: it is likely B: We have a reduced adjective clause here. C: We should say that is a rare condition
7. B	Simple sentence: blindness is result Nothing is missing from this sentence, so we should add something optional and complete. In this case, we are adding a reduced adjective clause.
8. C	Simple sentence: experts believe [that wheel was invented and diffused] We need a subordinating conjunction here since we have two sentences.
9. A	Simple sentence: life is abundant We need a main complement here. We cannot use the abundance here because the meaning is illogical. S: What does abundant mean? T: plentiful. In other words we use this this word to say that we have a lot of something.
10. C	Simple sentence: Isadora Duncan was [what we would call woman] C: We have a noun clause functioning as a main complement.
11. B	Simple sentence: the smallest creates currents Nothing is missing from this sentence. Therefore, we should add something optional and complete. (B) is a great choice because it is a complete adverb clause.
12. B	Simple sentence: music has features D: The easiest way to see that this is wrong is to look at features and gives--they do not agree.
13. B	Simple sentence: most is based on studies We need a subordinate object here. In this case, we are using what in a noun clause. A: We would have a double verb here. C: which usually functions as a determiner in a noun clause. D: We would have a double verb here.
14. D	Simple sentence: novels demonstrate hazard First of all, we need a determiner for the singular count noun tendency. We have a reduced adjective clause here. C: We would have an extra verb here.
15. A	Simple sentence: one was coinciding We should see that we need a main verb. We should therefore choose (A) or (C). If we choose (C), we would have no main subject.