300 STRUCTURE

3. Speech consists not merely of sounds but

i that follow various structural
patterns.
(A) of organized sound patterns
(B) organized sound patterns
(C) that sound patterns are organized
(D) in organizing sound patterns

Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.

___ 4. The latest medical report indicated that the patient’s temperature was near normal
W Y
and f
their lungs were
Y partially cleared.

i 5. Most oxygen atoms have eight neutrons, but a small amount have nine or ten.
A B C D
i 6. When Paine expressed belief in independence, he praised by the public.
A B C D
_; 7. A vast quantity of radioactive material is made when does a hydrogen bomb explode.
A B C 1)
i 8. Genes have several alternative _’
form or alleles, which
5 are produced b mutations.
A B C D
i 9. A star that has used up its energy and has lost its heat became a black dwarf.
A F C D
i_ 10. Each lines of poetry written in blank verse has ten syllables, which are alternately
_T\— T T W
stressed and unstressed.

PROBLEMS WITH ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS iii

Many different problems with adjectives and adverbs are possible in written expression
questions on the TOEFL test. To identify these problems, you must first be able to recog-
nize adjectives and adverbs.
Often adverbs are formed by adding -ly to adjectives, and these -ly adverbs are very
easy to recognize. The following examples show adverbs that are formed by adding -ly to
adjectives:

ADJECTIVE T l ‘IV ‘ i ADVERB

recent recently
public ‘ Publicly
evident A ' " evidently
 WRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS (Paper and Computer)

However, there are many adverbs in English that do not end in -ly. These adverbs can be
recognized from their meanings. They can describe when something happens (often, soon,
later), how something happens (fast, hard, well), or where something happens (here, there,
nowhere).
There are three -skills involving adjectives and adverbs that will help you on written
expression questions on the TOEFL test: (l) knowing when to use adjectives and adverbs,
(2) using adjectives rather than adverbs after linking verbs, and (3) positioning adjectives
and adverbs correctly.

SKILL 46: USE BASIC AD]ECTlVES AND ADVERBS CORRECTLY

Sometimes in written expression questions on the TOEFL test, adjectives are used in place
of adverbs, or adverbs are used in place of adjectives. Adjectives and adverbs have very dif-
ferent uses. Adjectives have only one job: they describe nouns or pronouns.

She is a beautiful woman.

AD]. NOUN

She is beautiful.
PRO. AD].

In the first example, the adjective beautiful describes the noun woman. In the second exam-
ple, the adjective beautiful describes the pronoun she.
Adverbs do three different things. They describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

She sings beautifully.

VERB ADV.

She is a beautifully dressed woman.

ADV. AD]. NOUN

She is a truly beautifully dressed woman.

ADV. ADV. AD]. NOUN

In the first example, the adverb beautifully describes the verb sings. In the second example,
the adverb beautifully describes the adjective dressed (which describes the noun woman). In
the third example, the adverb truly describes the adverb beautifully, which describes the
adjective dressed (which describes the noun woman).
The following are examples of incorrect sentences as they might appear on the TOEFL
test.
They were seated at a largeb'* table.
ADV. NOUN

The child talked quick* to her mother.

vans AD].

We read an extreme" long story.

AD]. AD].
302 STRUCTURE

In the first example, the adverb largely is incorrect because the adjective large is needed to
describe the noun table. In the second example, the adjective quiek is incorrect because the
adverb quickly is needed to describe the verb talked. In the last example, the adjective
extreme is incorrect because the adverb extremely is needed to describe the adjective long.
The following chart outlines the important information that you should remember
about the basic use of adjectives and adverbs:

BASIC USE OF ADIECTIVES AND ADVERBS

ADJECTIVES Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns.

ADVERBS Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

EXERCISE 46: Each of the following sentences has at least one adjective or adverb. Circle
the adjectives and adverbs, and label them. Draw arrows to the words they describe. Then
indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

_1 1 The mother was when her daughter came to visit.

NOUN AD]. AD].

L 2 The salespeople frequently visit the East Coast for trade shows.
ADV. VERB
__3 He was driving an expensively sports car.

__4 There is a special program on television this evening.

__5 She was chosen for the leading part because she sings so well.

76 The car was not complete ready at 3:00.

i__7 It was difficult to believe that what we read in the newspaper was a truly story.

__8 Points will be subtracted for each incorrect answered question.

#9 The production manager quietly requested a completely report of the terribly

incident.

i10 The children finished their homework quickly so that they could watch television.

SKILL 47: USE AD]ECTlVES AFTER LINKING VERBS

Generally an adverb rather than an adjective will come directly after a verb because the
adverb is describing the verb.
She spoke nicely.
VERB ADV.
In this example, the verb spoke is followed by the adverb nicely. This adverb describes the
verb spoke.
 WRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS (Paper and Computer)

However, you must be very careful if the verb is a linking verb. A linking verb is followed
by an adjective rather than an adverb.

She looks nice.

sun. AD].

In this example, the linking verb looks is followed by the adjective nice. This adjective
describes the subject she.
You should be sure to use an adjective rather than an adverb after a linking verb. Be
careful, however, because the adjective that goes with the linking verb does not always
directly follow the linking verb.
Il
He seems unusually nice.
Iii
lil
sun. ADV. AD].
In this example, the adjective nice, which describes the subject he, is itself described by the
adverb unusually. From this example, you should notice that it is possible to have an adverb
directly after a linking verb, but only if the adverb describes an adjective that follows.
The following chart lists commonly used linking verbs and outlines the different uses
of adjectives and adverbs after regular verbs and linking verbs:

ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS AFTERvanes

(subject) -1-_V (regular verb) + (adverb)

A regular verb is followed by anadverb. The adverb describes the verb.
yj j gj f. .,.( |
(subject)“ + \.(Iinking verb)
\,(Iinking + (adjective)
A linking verb is followed by an adjective. The adjective describes the subject.

iv .~ Ii AE iii I
lira
(subject) + (linking yerlbj
verb) ;_];<; _ (adverb) + (adjective)
It is possible that a linking verb is followed byllan
bvkan adverbjand an adjective. The adverb describes the
adjective, and the adjective describes the subject. f ,. _

LINKINGVERBSI appear I. seem

be T ‘Q; look smell
become ,. ' pmve
1 V taste

EXERCISE 47: Each of the following sentences contains at least one adjective or adverb.
Circle the adjectives and adverbs, and label them. Draw arrows to the words they describe.
Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

ml 1. The parents seem about the child’s report card.

ADV.

mc_ 2.
L_ The speaker mlked knovfingly aboutils.
ADV. AD].

____ 3.
___ After she drank the lemonade, the cake tasted too sweetly to her.
 STRUCTURE

i 4. Throughout dinner we were bored because he spoke incessantly.

i
m 5. Sam felt terribly depressed after the accident.

__ 6. The neighbor appeared calm in spite of the fact that his house was on fire.

_
m 7. He looked quite unhappily at the thought of leaving his job.

i 8. Marla jumped up quick when she heard the gunshot.

_i
n 9. Even though we were not really hungry, the food smelled delicious.

i 10. The history course thatl

thatI took last semester proved more difficultly than I had
expected.

SKILL 48: POSITION AD]ECTlVES AND ADVERBS CORRECTLY

Adjectives and adverbs can appear in incorrect positions in written expression questions
on the TOEFL test. There are two common errors of this type that you should beware of:
(1) the position of adjectives with the nouns they describe, and (2) the position of adverbs
with objects.
In English it is correct to place a one-word adjective in front of the noun it describes.
On the TOEFL test, however, an incorrect sentence might have an adjective after the noun
it describes.
The information imp0rtant*
importanfl‘ is on the first page.
NOUN AD].

In this example, the adjective important should come before the noun information because
important describes information.
A second problem you should be aware of is the position of adverbs with objects of
verbs. When a verb has an object, an adverb describing the verb should not come between
the verb and its object.
He has taken recently*
recmtly* an English course.
ADV. onpzcr
OBJECT
This example is incorrect because the adverb recently comes between the verb has taken and
its object an English course. There are many possible corrections for this sentence.

Recently he has taken an English course.

He has recently taken an English course.
He has taken an English course recently.

You can see from these examples that there are many possible correct positions for the
adverb. What is important for you to remember is that an adverb that describes a verb can-
not come between the verb and its object.
 WRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS (Paper and Computer) 305

The following chart outlines the key points that you should remember about the posi-
Lion of adjectives and adverbs:
tion

THE POSITION OF AD] ECTIVES AND ADVERBS

ADIECTIVES
ADJECTIVES I A one-word adjective comes before the noun it describes. It does not come directly
after.

ADVERBS l An adverb can appear in many positions. It cannot be used between a verb and its
obiect.
object.

EXERCISE 48: Each of the following sentences contains at least one adjective or adverb.
Circle the adjectives and adverbs, and label them. Draw arrows to the words they describe.
Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

_l_
7 1.
l. The store opened with a s
AD].

__C_ 2. The pharmacist has filled our order quickly.

ADV. ADV.
___.
7 3. The political candidates expressed their opposing views.

_ 4.
7 The lawyer has selected carefully a new case.

_ 5.
7 Frequently the coffee has tasted bitter.

i 6.
7 The wedding reception was held at a restaurant expensive.

j
7 7. The salesclerk has often traveled to New York. =

i 8.
7 Following the failure of the first set of plans, the manager has altered subsequently
them.

__ 9.
7 The students had to study many hours daily during the program intensive.

7 10. The naval officer was asked to transfer to a foreign country.

EXERCISE (Skills 46-48): Circle the adjectives and adverbs in the following sentences.
Draw arrows to the words they describe. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I).

_
7 1. They were unable to see where their friends were sitting in the theater because of the
lights dim.

i
7 2. After the comprehensive exam, she looked exhaustedly by the experience.

___
7 3. The project was remarkable close to being finished.

l 4.
7 Mark always does his homework careful.
306 STRUCTURE

5 The program proved far more interesting than I had imagined it would be.

6 The student had attended regularly all the lectures in the series.

7 The patient became healthy after the operation.

8 The grandparents speak proudly about all their offspring.

9 The manager seemed certainly that the project would be finished under budget.

10 The firefighters worked feverishly, and they put out immediately the fire.

TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 46-48): Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of
words that is not correct.

1 Modem art is on display at the Guggenheim Museum, a building with an unusually

A - B C D
design.

2 By the beginning of the 1980s fifteen states had adopted already no-fault insurance
A B C D
laws.

3 Heart attacks are fatally in 75 percent of occurrences.

A B C D
4 In spite of a tremendous amount of electronic gadgetry, air traffic control still
TAT __Bi C
depends heavy on people.
D

5 Only recently have Gooden’s industrially designers and engineers been able to
—__—Ai T‘
optimize Watertred’s unusual tread patterns for mass production.
C D
6 A baboon’s arms appear as lengthily as legs.
A B C D

7 A serious problem is how to communicate reliable with a submerged submarine.

A B C D
8 Americans are destroying rapidly wetlands, faster than an acre every two minutes.
A B C D

9 The central banking system of the United States consists of twelve banks district.
TY —Ci iDi_—
10 Telegraph service across the Atlantic was successful established in 1866.
A B C D
 WRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS (Paper and Computer)

TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-48): Choose the letter of the word or group of
words that best completes the sentence.

1. Patty Berg, the top tournament winner 2. m

2‘ _ with about fifteen times its weight
in women’s golf, _m eighty-three golf in air does gasoline allow the carburetor
tournaments from 1935 through 1964. to run smoothly.

(A) she won (A) It is mixed

(B) winning (B) To mix it
(C) won (C) \'Vhen mixed
(D) who won (D) Only when mixed

Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.

v The Colorado River reaches their maximum height during April and May.
_K— T’ iC'— if’
i4 Plant proteins tend to have few amino acids than proteins from animal sources.
A B C D
if) The Viking spacecraft has landed on Mars in July of 1976.
—A— T C F
D
___6 Admiral Byrd commanded airplane expeditions over both the Arctic or the Antarctic.
A hT
E 3
D
7. The advertising campaign will be based on the recent completed study.
A B C D
8. Coronary occlusion results from a disease in which fatty substances with a large
A B
amount of cholesterol is deposited in the arteries.
C §
D
.___ 9. Her money gave back as soon as she threatened to take the matter to court.
___
A B C D
i 10. Other sites of fossil discoveries throughout Wyoming, ranging from the fiery
A B
Tyrannosaurus rex to g
the milder Triceratops, have proven m
m equally excite.
308 STRUCTU RE

MORE PROBLEMS WITH ADJECTIVES

The previous section dealt with various problems related to both adjectives and adverbs.
This section deals with a few problems that are related only to adjectives: (1) -ly adjectives,
(2) predicate adjectives, and (3) -ed and -ingadjectives.

SKILL 49: RECOGNIZE -LY ADIECTIVES

Generally when a word ends in -ly in English, it is an adverb. However, there are a few
words ending in -bi that are adjectives, and these -ly adjectives can cause confusion in writ-
ten expression questions on the TOEFL test.

The manager turned in his weekly report.

AD]. NOUN

This example is correct, but it appears to be incorrect; it appears that there is an -ly adverb
in front of the noun report. However, weekly is an adjective that describes the noun report.
The following chart lists common -ly adjectives that can appear in English:

-LY ADJECTIVES , , .

costly likely daily _ quarterly northerly

early lively hourly , weekly easterly
friendly lonely monthly yearly southerly
kindly manly nightly lovely westerly

EXERCISE 49: Each of the following sentences contains at least one adjective or adverb
ending in -ly. Circle the -ly words, and label them as either adjectives or adverbs. Draw
arrows to the words they describe. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I).

L 1. Federal taxes are taxes which must be paid every April.

AD].

ii 2. At the fashion show, the new fashions will be shown.

mv.
__._. 3. Do you want to go to the early movie or the lately movie?

__ 4. She offered me some friendly advice about how to deal with the terribly problem.

_ 5. The quarterly reports need to be turned in at the next weekly meeting.

i 6. He did not have a manly reaction to the negatively comments.

___ 7. The likely outcome of the purchase of the costly car is that he will not be able to pay
his monthly bills.

i 8. The days she spent at the beach house were lonely and solitarily.
 WRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS (Paper and Computer)

__ 9. She takes her daily medication on a regularly schedule.

i 10. The kindly neighbor paid hourly visits to her unhealthily friend.

SKILL 50: USE PREDICATE AD]ECTIVES CORRECTLY

Certain adjectives appear only in the predicate of the sentence; that is, they appear after a
linking verb such as be, and they cannot appear directly in front of the nouns that they
describe.
The snake on the rock was alive.
The alive“ snake was lying on the rock.

In the first example, the predicate adjective alive is used correctly after the linking verb was
to describe the subject snake. In the second example, the predicate adjective alive is used
incorrectly in front of the noun snake. In this position, the adjective live should be used.
The following chart lists some common predicate adjectives and the corresponding
forms that can be used in front of the noun:

PREDICATE AD] ECTIVES

PREDICATE ADIECTIVES ~ ‘ FORMS USED IN FRONT OF A NOUN

alike like, similar

alive live, living
alone lone
afi-aid frightened
asleep ~ = sleeping

A predicate adjective appears after a linking verb such as be. It cannot appear directly in front of
the noun that it describes.

EXERCISE 50: Each of the following sentences contains a predicate adjective or its related
form. Circle the predicate adjectives or related forms. Then indicate if the sentences are
correct (C) or incorrect (I).

L l. The two brothers do not look at all

il 2. My friend brought the lobster to my house and expected me to cook it.

Are you going to be lone in the house tonight?

The afraid child cried for his mother.

Everyone else was asleep by the time I arrived home.

We completed our two projects in a like manner.

All of the crash w'ctims were alive when they were found.

She tried to walk quietly by the asleep dogs without waking them.
3l0 STRUCTURE

i 9. Were you feeling afraid when you heard the noise?

___ 10. According to the report, the president was shot by an alone gunman.

SKILL 5 I: USE -ED AND -ING AD]ECTlVES CORRECTLY

Verb forms ending in -ed and -ing can be used as adjectives. For example, the verbal adjec-
tives cleaned and cleaning come from the verb to clean.
The woman cleans the car.
VERB

The cleaningwoman worked on the car.

ADJECTIVE

The woman put the cleaned car back in the garage.

- ADJECTIVE

In the first example, cleans is the verb of the sentence. In the second example, cleaning is a
verbal adjective describing woman. In the third example, cleaned is a verbal adjective
describing car
Verbal adjectives ending in -ed and -ing can be confused in written expression questions
on the TOEFL test.
The cleaning* car...
The cleaned* woman...

The difference between an -ed and an -ing adjective is similar to the difference between the
active and the passive (see Skills 37 and 38). An -ing adjective (like the active) means that
the noun it describes is doing the action. The above example about the cleaning car is not
correct because a car cannot do the action of cleaning: you cannot say that a car cleans itseyi
An -ed adjective (like the passive) means that the noun it describes is receiving the action
from the verb. The above example about the cleaned woman is not correct because in this
example a woman does not receive the action of the verb clean: this sentence does not
mean that someone cleaned the woman.
The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about -ed
and -ing adjectives:

-so AND -inc ADjlE(;TlVES' . A _ .

TYPE MEANING x J: @ 1“ >1. EXAMPLE

-ING active It does the action ofthe verb. ~ j ~*. . zthe happily playing children . . .
g qj ., g._ ‘The children play.)

-ED passive It receives the action of the verb.: I ‘ . .the frequently played record . ..
' _ * .§ . Q (Someone plays the record.)
 WRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS (Paper and Computer)

EXERCISE 51: Each of the following sentences contains either an —ed or an -ing verbal
adjective. Circle the verbal adjectives. Draw arrows to the words they describe. Then indi-
cate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

ill The teacher gave a quiz on the just completing lesson.

i2 There is a movie at the theater tonight.

is They thought that it had been a very satisfied dinner.

i4 The empty bottles are to the left, and the filling bottles are to the right.

is For lunch at the restaurant she ordered a mixed salad.

is The students thought that it was an interesting assignment.

i7 The shoppers were impressed by the reducing prices.

is He can't afford to mke long vacations to exotic places because he is a worked man.

i9 I recently received several annoying phone calls from the insurance agent.

i10 Today the bookkeeper will work on the unpaying bills.

EXERCISE (Skills 49-51): Circle the adjectives in each of the following sentences. Draw
arrows to the nouns or pronouns they describe. Then indicate if the sentences are correct
(C) or incorrect (I).

i I Her kindly words of thanks made me feel appreciating.

i2 After the earthquake, assistance was sent to the damaging areas.

i3 Your view has some validity; however, we do not have alike opinions on the matter.

___._4 It is likely that the early seminar will not be the most interested.

i5 I prefer a live theater show to a movie.

i6 The thesis of your essay was not very well developed.

i7 The asleep children were wakened by the loud sound of the crashing thunder.

i8 During the nightly news show there was a lively and fascinating debate.

__._ 9 His car was struck by an uninsured motorist.

i_l0. The girl was all alone and feeling lonely in the darkened, frightened house.
3 I2 STRUCTURE

TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 49-51): Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of
words that is not correct.

i 1 As the only major American river that flowed in a west direction, the Ohio was the
A B C
preferred route for settlers.
D

i 2 During the annually salmon migration from the sea to fresh water, Alaska’s McNeil
A B
River becomes a gathering place for brown bears waiting eagerly to catch their fill.
C D

i 3 Edelman stresses the mounting evidence showing that greatly variation on a

A B C
microscopic scale is likely.
D
i 4 Perhaps the most welcoming and friendly of the park’s wild places is the live oak
A B T
forest that surrounds the district’s i
alone visitors’ center in Gulf Breeze.

i5 Halley’s comet, viewing through a telescope, was quite impressive.

A B C D

i6 The state of deep asleep is characterized by rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep.
DD DD
i7 Among the disputing sections of the Monteverdi opera are the sinfonia, the
A B c T
prologue, and the role of Ottone.

i8 Most probably because of the likable rapport between anchors, the night newscast on
A B C
the local ABC affiliate has iDi
recently moved well beyond its competitors in the ratings

battle.

i9 Signing at the outset of a business deal, a contract offers the participants a certain
A B C
degree of legal protection from i
costly mistakes.

il0 The story presented by Fischer is a headlong tale told so effectively that
A B
its momentum carries the reader right through the live endnotes.
D D
 WRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS (Paper and Computer) 3I3

TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-51): Choose the letter of the word or group of
words that best completes the sentence.

l. During the early nineteenth century, the 3. The daughters ofjoseph LaFlesche were
Spanish missions in Alta, California born into the generation of Omaha
i to be an integral part of the forced to abandon tribal traditions,
economy and productive capacity of the i on the reservation, and to adapt to
region. the white man’s ways.

(A) proved (A) they matured

(B) they proved (B) to mature
(C) they proved it (C) maturing
(D) proved it (D) to maturity

2. Still other hurdles remain before i 4 Among the most revealing aspects of
suitable for private cars. mining towns i their paucity of
public open space.
(A) fuel cells
(B) become (A) was
(C) fuel cells become (B) were
(D) that fuel cells become (C) it was
(D) so

Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.

i 5. Factor analysis is used to discover how many abilities are involve in intelligence test
DD D D
performance.

i 6. One of the T
early orders of marine mammals, manatees i
have evolved more than fifty

million years ago i

ici from land animals.

i 7. Dolphins and chimps are like in that they have been shown to have language skills.
A B C D

i 8. In the appendix at the end of the chapter are the instructions to be used for the
A T c
completion correct of the form.
_iiDi

i 9. Used sound that var‘ ‘s ot only in time but

i in space, whales at close range may
T T n
communicate with sonarlike “pictures.”
D
i IO. The I898 Trans-Mississippi International Exposition has the distinction of being the
T B
last major fair which held during the Victorian period.
DD
3 sraucruae

PROBLEMS WITH ARTICLES

Articles are very difficult to learn because there are many rules, many exceptions, and
many special cases. It is possible, however, to learn a few rules that will help you to use arti-
cles correctly much of the time.
Nouns in English can be either countable or uncountable. If a noun is countable, it
must be either singular or plural. In addition to these general types of nouns, there are two
types of articles: definite (specific) and indefinite (general).

COUNTABLE COUNTABLE UNCOUNTABLE

ARTICLES SINGULAR NOUNS PLURAL NOUNS NOUNS

INDEFINITE a dollar Q_.__._ dollars ___. money

(General) an apple __ apples ijuice

DEFINITE the dollar , the dollars the money

(Specific) the apple A . , the apples y the iuice

SKILL 52: USE ARTICLES WITH SINGULAR NOUNS

You can see from the chart that if a noun is either countable plural or uncountable, it is
possible to have either the definite article the or no article (indefinite). With all countable
singular nouns, however, you must have an article (unless you have another determiner
such as my or each).
I have money. (uncountable — no article needed)
I have books. (countable plural — no article needed)
I have a book. (countable singular — article needed)

The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about arti-
cles with singular nouns:

ARTICLES WITH SINGULAR‘ NOUNS ‘

A singular noun must have an article (a, an, the) or some other determiner such as my or each.
(A plural noun or an uncountable noun may or may not have an article.)

EXERCISE 52: The following sentences contain different types of nouns. Circle only the
countable singular nouns. Mark where articles (or determiners) have been omitted. Then
indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

ii 1. She is takingv with friends.

L 2. In my there are flowers, trees, and grass.

_ 3. The manager sent memo to his employees.

i 4. There is car in front of the building.

i 5. The child and his friends are having milk and cookies.
 WRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS (Paper and Computer)

i 6. She is studying to be an actress in films.

_i 7. My neighbor was arrested for throwing rocks through windows.

_ 8. We have machinery that prints ten pages each minute.

i 9. Teacher has many students during a semester.

___._ 10. Can you heat water for tea?

SKILL 53: DISTINGUISH A AND AN

The basic difference between a and an is that a is used in front of consonants and an is
used in front of vowels (a, e, i, 0, u):
a book an orange
a man an illness
a page an automobile

There are two exceptions to this rule: u and h. When u is pronounced like the consonant y
(as in usual), it is preceded by the article a rather than an. When h is not pronounced (as
in honor), it is preceded by the article an rather than a. Pronounce the following
examples:
a university an unhappy man a hospital an honor
a unit an understanding a heart an herb

The following chart outlines the key information about the use of a and an:

‘ RAND AN
A I A_is used in front of a singular noun with a consonant sound.

AN I An is used in front of a singular noun with a vowel sound.

Be careful of nouns beginning with H or U. They may have a vowel or a consonant sound.

EXERCISE 53: Each of the following sentences contains a or an. Circle each a or an.
Underline the beginning of the word that directly follows. Pronounce the word. Then indi-
cate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

A 1. The dishwasher quit his job because he was making only four dollars @ hour.

L 2. It was unexpected disappointment to receive @ rejection letter from the

university.

___ 3. It is raining, so you should bring a umbrella.

i 4. He bought a half gallon of milk and a box of a hundred envelopes.

_; 5. An objection was raised because it was such a unacceptable idea.

3I6 STRUCTURE

The workers at the plant do not belong to a union.

The police officer was not wearing an uniform when she arrested the suspect.

If you do not give me a hand, finishing the project on time will be an impossibility.

She was upset when a honest mistake was made.

She opened a account at a local department store.

SKILL 54: MAKE ARTICLES AGREE WITH NOUNS

The definite article (the) is used for both singular and plural nouns, so agreement is not a
problem with the definite article. However, because the use of the indefinite article is dif-
ferent for singular and plural nouns, you must be careful of agreement between the indef-
inite article and the noun. One very common agreement error is to use the singular
indefinite article (a or an) with a plural noun.
He saw a* new movies.
They traveled to a* nearby mountains.
Do you have another* books?

In these examples, you should not have a or an because the nouns are plural. The follow-
ing sentences are possible corrections of the sentences above.
He saw a new movie. (singular)
He saw new movies. (plural)

They traveled to a nearby mountain. (singular)

They traveled to nearby mountains. (plural)

Do you have another book? (singular)

D0 you have other books? (plural)

The following chart states the key point for you to remember about the agreement of
articles with nouns:

AGREEMENT 5

You should never use a or ah witliiaiplilitieil noun. Y

EXERCISE 54: Each of the following sentences contains a or an. Circle each a or an.
Draw an arrow to the noun it describes. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I).

L She went to school in I local community.

ll The doctor used 6 other pills.

It is necessary to have a farm or land of your own.

He must contact a members of the club.

 WRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS (Paper and Computer)

7 5. You will need a pen or a pencil.

_.___ 6. He is responsible for bringing a number ofitems.

i 7. You must write a report on a subjects of your choice.

__._ 8. They crossed through several forests and a stream.

__ 9. There will be another important lessons tomorrow.

___ 10. He could not give me a good reasons for what he did.

SKILL 55: DISTINGUISH SPECIFIC AND GENERAL IDEAS

With countable singular nouns it is possible to use either the definite or the indefinite arti-
cle, but they have different meanings. The definite article is used to refer to one specific
noun.
Tom will bring the book tomorrow.
(There is one specific book that Tom will bring tomorrow.)

He will arrive on the first Tuesday in_]uly.

(There is only one first Tuesday in July.)

He sailed on the Pacific Ocean.

(There is only one Pacific Ocean.)

The indefinite article is used when the noun could be one of several different nouns.
Torn will bring a book tomorrow.
(Tom will bring any one book.)

He will arrive on a Tuesday in July.

(He will arrive on one of four Tuesdays in_]uly.)

He sailed on an ocean.
(He sailed on any one of the world’s oceans.)

The following chart outlines the key information that you should understand about
specific and general ideas:

SPECIFIC AND GENERAL IDEAS

ARTICLE MEANING I USES

A or AN general idea Use when there are many, and you do not know which one it is.
Use when there are many, and you do not core which one it is.

THE specific idea Use when it is the only one.

Use when there are many, and you know which one it is.
3l8 STRUCTURE

EXERCISE 55: Each of the following sentences contains one or more articles. Circle the
articles. Draw arrows to the nouns they describe. Then indicate if the sentences are correct
(C) or incorrect (I).

Z11. He tookgrvip on e River.

L2. I’ll meet you at ary

later.

_s. The ball hit a child on a head.

Z4. He had a best grade in the class on the exam.

i 5 The people who came here yesterday were here again today.

i 6 She was a most beautiful girl in the room.

i 7 The trip thatl took last year to the Bahamas was the only vacation I had all year.

i 8 I need a piece of paper so that I can finish the report that I am working on.

i 9 A basketball player threw the ball to a center of the court.

i10 The siXth—grade class went on a field trip to visit a Lincoln Memorial.

EXERCISE (Skills 52-55): Circle the articles in the following sentences. Then indicate if
the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

il He took a money from his wallet to pay for sweater.

____2 The notebook that he left had an important assignment in it.

ii’) Because of previous disagreements, they are trying to arrive at an understanding.

i4 The appearance of room could be improved by adding a green plants.

i5 The Senate passed law banning smoking in public workplaces.

if» Each chemistry student should bring laboratory manual to a next class.

i7 She admitted that she made mistake but said that she had made a honest effort.

i8 His absence from the board meeting was a strong indications of his desire to leave the
company.

____._9 The car needed gas, so the driver stopped at a service station.

i 10. Anyone taking group tour to the Hawaiian Islands must pay fee before a first of the
month.
 WRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS (Paper and Computer) 3|?

TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 52-55): Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of
words that is not correct.

___ 1 On a trip down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, the equipment will in all
__A_’ ABC i*Ci‘_*
probability be carried by a burros.
E
72 Ford designed the first large-scale assembly line at plant in Highland Park, Michigan.
A B C D
if} In the human body, blood flows from a heart through the arteries, and it returns
T E C
through the veins.
T
__4 The scholarship that Wilson received to study history at Cambridge presented an
A B C F
unique opportunity.

i5 Observations from Earth indicate that at the solar surface, the outward magnetic field
T E
is a strongest at the polar regions.
C i_i5___—
if} A radar images of Venus add details about a planet dominated by volcanoes and lava.
T‘ _T3—_ C E
i7 In 1863 and 1864, the U.S. Congress passed the National Bank Acts, which set up a
CFC E
system of i_Ci___
privately owned banks chartered by E3?
a federal government.

i8 An human ear responds to a wide range of frequencies.

T T C E
i9 Bacteria that live in soil and water play a vital role in recycling carbon, nitrogen,
A E
sulfur, and another chemical elements used by living things.
C D
i10 During the U.S. Civil War, an American balloonist organized a balloon corps in Army.
A i'B—___ ?C__ T

TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-55): Choose the letter of the word or group of
words that best completes the sentence.

1. In economics, “diminishing returns“ 2. When lava reaches the surface, its

describes i resource inputs and temperature can be ten tjmes i
production. boiling water.

(A) among (A) the temperature

(B) when it is (B) that of
(C) among them (C) it is
(D) the relationship between (D) more
320 STRUCTURE

3. ,, Rarely i remove the entire root ofa

dandelion because of its length and
sturdiness.

(A) can the casual gardener

(B) the casual gardener
(C) the casual gardener will
(D) does the casual gardener’s

Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.

i4 Operas can be broadly classified as either comedies or they are tragedies.

A —Bi C il5'___"
L5 Tungsten has _?A_
the highest melting point of all metals, and for this reason it is often

use in equipment that must withstand high temperatures.

T c _ D
76 VVhereas there are forty-three ant species in Great Britain, the same amount of ant
A B C
species can be found in a single tree in Peru.
D
i7 People voice theirs opinions first in small groups or among friends and
A B C
acquaintances.
D

_____8 Inside the Lincoln Memorial a large statue of Lincoln make from white marble.
A B C D

if) Detailed photometric data of the area just north of Triton’s equatorial region
g
indicate the existence of a thin, transparent layers of frost.
B C D
10. U.S. census figures indicate that people with only an elementary education can earn
A F
just half as much as college graduations.
C D