EXERCISES: STYLE Error Identification Directions: For the Error Identification questions, each sentence contains four underlined words or phrases. Select the one word or phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct. Circle your answer in the book or mark your answer on a separate sheet of paper. 1. The design for (A) the new community center combines (B) both refreshing origi- nality as well as (C) an impressive respect for the traditional architecture of (D) the area. 2. He described his best friend as being (A) adventuresome, witty (B) , and (C) successful, but very plane-looking. (D) 3. In order to earn (A) enough money to complete his education, John worked last summer like (B) a lifeguard at (C) a girls’ (D) camp. 4. When (A) I was at the grocery store, I realized (B) that the prices of (C) many items had been rised. (D) 5. The natives of (A) that region gathered plants and hunted small animals, but supplies were bought by them (B) in (C) the market-place, which they visited infrequently. (D) 6. Our trek (A) in the Sahara Dessert (B) was extremely (C) fascinating, totally challeng- ing, and enormously relaxing. (D) 7. The political polls indicated that most (A) people were not as (B) much in favor with (C) the new law as was previously thought. (D) 8. We did not hire him because (A) his only (B) experience was coaching a high school basketball team, leading a parochial (C) school choir, and to work (D) as a substi- tute teacher. 9. The new teacher was both (A) surprised and (B) delighted when she realized that her class consisted with (C) many students from faraway (D) countries. 10. According to my calculations, the cost of two dozen roses are (A) fifty dollars, which is (B) considerably less than the sixty-two (C) dollars I was charged. (D) exercises Chapter 7: Style 171 www.petersons.com 11. In contrast of (A) his earlier behavior, the young man demonstrated surprising (B) maturity in (C) the face of (D) severe stress. 12. I told them to take there (A) boots off (B) outside so they would (C) not bring in (D) a lot of snow. 13. Try to image (A) what life was like (B) for (C) the early settlers of that part of (D) the world. 14. Emergency relief, including (A) medicine, clothing, and foodstuffs (B) , were sent (C) to the earthquake zone immediately following (D) news of the disaster. 15. It was so ferociously (A) hot yesterday that our supposed (B) day of outdoor enjoyment ended with (C) everyone’s laying (D) in the shade. Sentence Completion Directions: In the Sentence Completion questions, one or more words are left out of each sentence. Under each sentence, you will see four words or phrases. Select the one word or phrase that completes the sentence correctly, then write it in the space provided in the book or on a separate sheet of paper. 1. The young couple liked to buy, redecorate, and ________ older homes for a profit. (A) resold (B) reselling (C) resell (D) to resell 2. The management was shocked to realize that its trusted employee was ________ of stealing a large sum of money from the company. (A) suspicioned (B) suspicioning (C) suspected (D) suspicion 3. Not only having graduated magna cum laude ________, Steve made his family very proud of him. (A) and also having finished first in the national competition (B) also having finished first in the national competition (C) but having finished first in the national competition (D) but also having finished first in the national competition 4. ________ his earlier study, Dr. Melon’s new study indicates a general warming trend in global weather. (A) In contrast of (B) In contrast to (C) In contrast by (D) In contrast as 172 PART III: TOEFLWriting Review www.petersons.com 5. The workers have finished pouring the floors, and ________ waiting for the house to be framed. (A) there (B) they’re (C) their (D) they 6. The reason he wants to take a leave of absence is ________. (A) because he is needing a complete rest (B) because he needs a complete rest (C) that he needs a complete rest (D) because a complete rest is needed by him 7. The teacher objected to the students’ ________ their opened umbrellas near the door. (A) sitting (B) having sat (C) setting (D) sat 8. He was a dynamic figure who inspired awe, devotion, and ________ in his followers. (A) love (B) loving feelings (C) feelings of love (D) loveliness 9. The rich young newlyweds bought a beautiful new home and ________. (A) their pool was installed (B) had a pool installed (C) had a pool being installed (D) a pool was installed 10. My boss ________ my taking two weeks’ leave without pay. (A) consented to (B) consented for (C) consented of (D) consented about 11. The students worked on the problem for several minutes before ________. (A) they came to the realization that this problem was one that had no solution (B) realizing that it was insolvable (C) they were able to understand that this problem which seemed merely difficult was, in reality, insolvable (D) the insolvability of the problem was realized by them 12. Henry went to the conference ________ about government con- tracts. (A) to learn (B) with the purpose of learning (C) in order to have the opportu- nity to learn (D) in order to be in a position to learn 13. Try as he might, he could never manage to get an ________ balance in his checkbook. (A) accuracy (B) accurately (C) accurate (D) accurateness 14. The professor asked the students ________. (A) not only to write a report or give a speech (B) either to write a report or give a speech (C) neither to write a report or give a speech (D) neither to write a report but give a speech 15. She writes such ________ poetry that it is hard to believe she has never had a formal education. (A) beauty (B) beautiful (C) beautifully (D) beautify exercises Chapter 7: Style 173 www.petersons.com ANSWER KEY AND EXPLANATIONS Some of the incorrect answers contain more than one kind of error. However, in general, we have limited our error-references to those points contained in this chapter. Error Identification 1. C 2. D 3. B 4. D 5. B 6. B 7. C 8. D 9. C 10. A 11. A 12. A 13. A 14. C 15. D 1. The correct answer is (C). (and). See Correlative Conjunctions, page 157. 2. The correct answer is (D). (plain- looking). See Words Often Confused, Group II, page 150. 3. The correct answer is (B). (as). See Prepositions (General Use), page 164. 4. The correct answer is (D). (had been raised). See Usage, page 142. 5. The correct answer is (B). (bought supplies). See Voice, page 129. 6. The correct answer is (B). (Sahara Desert). See Words Often Confused, Group I, page 146. 7. The correct answer is (C). (in favor of). See Prepositions in Combinations, page 167. 8. The correct answer is (D). (work- ing). See Parallelism, page 133. 9. The correct answer is (C). (con- sisted of). See Prepositions in Combi- nations, page 167. 10. The correct answer is (A). (is). See Subject/Verb Agreement , page 159. 11. The correct answer is (A). (contrast to). See Prepositions in Combinations, page 167. 12. The correct answer is (A). (their). See Words Often Confused, Group III, page 154. 13. The correct answer is (A). (to imagine). See Parts of Speech, page 162. 14. The correct answer is (C). (was sent). See Subject/Verb Agreement, page 159. 15. The correct answer is (D). (lying). See Usage, page 142. Sentence Completion 1. C 2. C 3. D 4. B 5. B 6. C 7. C 8. A 9. B 10. A 11. B 12. A 13. C 14. B 15. B 1. The correct answer is (C). Choices (A), (B), and (D), see Parallelism, page 133. 2. The correct answer is (C). Choices (A), (B), and (D), see Substandard, page 139. 3. The correct answer is (D). Choices (A), (B), and (C), see Correlative Con- junctions, page 157. 4. The correct answer is (B). Choices (A), (C), and (D), see Prepositions in Combinations, page 167. 174 PART III: TOEFLWriting Review www.petersons.com 5. The correct answer is (B). Choices (A), (C), and (D), see Words Often Confused, Group III, page 154. 6. The correct answer is (C). Choices (A), (B), and (D), see Substandard, page 139 and Voice, page 129. 7. The correct answer is (C). Choices (A), (B), and (D), see Usage, page 142. 8. The correct answer is (A). Choices (B), and (C), see Parallelism, page 133. Choice (D), The meaning of loveliness does not fit here. 9. The correct answer is (B). Choices (A) and (D), see Voice, page 129. Choice (C), see Chapter 4, “Verbs”—Verbals, page 77. 10. The correct answer is (A). Choices (B), (C), and (D), see Prepositions in Combinations, page 167. 11. The correct answer is (B). Choices (A) and (C) see Wordiness, page 136. Choice (D), see Voice, page 129. 12. The correct answer is (A). Choices (B), (C), and (D), see Wordiness, page 136. 13. The correct answer is (C). Choices (A), (B), and (D), see Parts of Speech, page 162. 14. The correct answer is (B). Choices (A), (C), and (D), see Correlative Conjunctions, page 157. 15. The correct answer is (B). Choices (A), (C), and (D), see Parts of Speech, page 162. answers exercises Chapter 7: Style 175 www.petersons.com SUMMING IT UP • In English, the active voice is more common than the passive voice, although the passive voice is acceptable and even preferred at times. • Items in a series must be parallel; that is, they must have the same grammatical form. • A general rule in English might be that “shorter is better.” When the same idea can be expressed directly in fewer words, choose the shorter version. 176 PART III: TOEFLWriting Review www.petersons.com P ART IV THREE PRACTICE TESTS PRACTICE TEST 2 PRACTICE TEST 3 PRACTICE TEST 4 . global weather. (A) In contrast of (B) In contrast to (C) In contrast by (D) In contrast as 172 PART III: TOEFL Writing Review www.petersons.com 5. The workers have finished pouring the floors, and. answer is (B). Choices (A), (C), and (D), see Prepositions in Combinations, page 167. 174 PART III: TOEFL Writing Review www.petersons.com 5. The correct answer is (B). Choices (A), (C), and. the same idea can be expressed directly in fewer words, choose the shorter version. 176 PART III: TOEFL Writing Review www.petersons.com P ART IV THREE PRACTICE TESTS PRACTICE TEST 2 PRACTICE