Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Look at the example.

"Why do you always want to use _____ pens?"

1) to one
2) of my
3) that my
4) one of my

We would say: "Why do you always want to use one of my pens?" Therefore you should press "4."

Click the answer button to see the correct answer.

1. "We will order merchandise now."
   "But payment should be made _____."
   1) for advance
   2) advancing
   3) in advance
   4) to advance
   Answer 3
   hint What is the idiomatic expression for "prior?"
2. "Where do you live now?"
   "I live in Kansas City; my _____."
   1) parents too do
   2) parents do
   3) parents do, too
   4) parents also do
   Answer 3
   hint The speaker's parents live in Kansas City, the same town that the speaker lives in. This is an affirmative sentence. Think about which word is used where.
3. I cannot hear every word in her lecture. I wish she would _____.
   1) speak clearer
   2) clearer speak
   3) more clearly speak
   4) speak more clearly
   Answer 4
   hint "Clear" cannot modify "speak." You can say "Speak clearly" but not "Clearly speak."
4. "Why do you walk so fast?"
   "I'm _____."
   1) must be hurry
   2) in hurry
   3) in a hurry
   4) hurrying
   Answer 3
   hint "Am" and "must" are not used together. What is an idiomatic expression meaning "to hurry?"
5. We have a large selection of men's clothes for sale. We _____ many women's clothes in stock.
   1) also have
   2) have too
   3) too have
   4) have further
   Answer 1
   hint This means that the store has many women's clothes for sale, too. What could you use with "have" in this context?
6. This is our new library. _____ like it?
   1) How do you
   2) How
   3) What you
   4) What do you
   Answer 1
   hint This is a question. The speaker is asking you whether you like the new library.
7. I have to go now. I have _____ the dentist.
   1) appointments to
   2) an appointment to
   3) appointment with
   4) an appointment with
   Answer 4
   hint You can make many appointments, but you make one appointment each time. What preposition is used with "appointment?"
8. We can meet at Grand Central Station. Will _____?
   1) convenient for you
   2) that convenient
   3) that be convenient
   4) you be convenient
   Answer 3
   hint "Will" needs a verb. The speaker is asking whether this arrangement is convenient for you.
9. This store does not have any oranges today. It _____ tomorrow.
   1) have any
   2) may have any
   3) have some
   4) may have some
   Answer 4
   hint The speaker is not sure whether the store will have oranges tomorrow. "Some" is used when the meaning is positive, and "any" is used when it is negative.
10. She doesn't want anything alcoholic now. She would rather _____ a soft drink.
    1) have
    2) to have
    3) prefer
    4) prefer to have
    Answer 1
    hint "Would" is used with a verb. She prefers soft drinks to liquor.
11. "Where _____ this afternoon?"
    "I went to a department store."
    1) are you go
    2) do you go
    3) have you went
    4) did you go
    Answer 4
    hint Judging from the use of "went" in the answer "I went to a department store," the first sentence refers to something that happened in the past.
12. "That news came very fast. They'll be surprised _____ it."
    1) hearing
    2) to hearing
    3) at hearing
    4) to hear
    Answer 4
    hint They will be surprised at the news. However, you need to use "hear" in this sentence.
13. "Why _____ she arrived early?"
    "I think that she wanted to see him as soon as possible."
    1) are you think
    2) are you imagine
    3) do you think
    4) you think
    Answer 3
    hint This is a question. Both "think" and "imagine" are verbs, and they are not used with a "be" verb.
14. It was very cold yesterday. The winter is just around the corner." "I think that today will be _____ yesterday."
    1) as cold as
    2) so cold as
    3) as cold like
    4) so cold like
    Answer 1
    hint We use as --- as in a positive construction, but so --- as is possible in a negative construction. A is as cold as B. A is not so cold as B.
15. "Why couldn't they come to the hotel before 6 o'clock?"
    "Because they were delayed by _____."
    1) a heavy traffic
    2) heavy traffic
    3) some heavy traffic
    4) traffic being heavy
    Answer 2
    hint "Traffic" is a noun, and it is not countable. In this context, "some" sounds strange as a modifier for "heavy traffic."
16. The sky is getting cloudy. It _____ rain.
    1) looks
    2) looks like
    3) seems to
    4) will be
    Answer 2
    hint This is a colloquial expression. It is not usually used in formal English.
17. Would you do me a favor? I _____ very much.
    1) appreciate it
    2) would appreciate
    3) would be appreciative
    4) would appreciate it
    Answer 4
    hint The hearer has not agreed to do the favor yet. You need to refer to what you appreciate.
18. I am familiar with the Grand Hotel. I don't know _____ times I've been there.
    1) how many
    2) how often
    3) how much
    4) many often
    Answer 1
    hint "Times" is a countable noun. "Many" and "often" are not used together.
19. "When _____ leave for Washington, D.C.?"
    "We are planning to leave at 8 o'clock."
    1) are we
    2) will we
    3) will us
    4) are us
    Answer 1
    hint They are talking about a future event. They are leaving; someone is not leaving them.
20. I asked Tom when he could finish his homework. He said that he would finish it _____.
    1) as much as possible
    2) as possible as he could
    3) as fast as he could possibly
    4) as soon as possible
    Answer 4
    hint The speaker asked the time when Tom can finish his homework. Which of the alternatives is an idiomatic expression?
21. "Do you know _____ that woman is?"
    "I would say that she is at least sixty."
    1) old
    2) how age
    3) how old
    4) which age
    Answer 3
    hint How do you ask someone's age? How age is she? How old is she? Or which age is she?
22. The conductor told us that the train would arrive _____.
    1) at eight thirty
    2) at eight thirty o'clock
    3) in eight thirty
    4) in eight thirty o'clock
    Answer 1
    hint in 1988, in December, in this week, on Wednesday, _____ 4 o'clock "O'clock" is used on the hour.
23. "How _____ a crowd had gathered at the movie theater?"
    "I don't know exactly, but there were a lot of people."
    1) large
    2) often
    3) many
    4) much
    Answer 1
    hint This question asks the size of the crowd.
24. I can point out Mr. Johnson even in a large group. He is the man _____ long beard.
    1) on the
    2) in the
    3) with the
    4) for the
    Answer 3
    hint Which preposition is used to refer to a person and part of his/her body, clothing, etc.?
25. "Where shall I put this suitcase?"
    "Why don't you _____ it on the shelf?"
    1) hang
    2) deposit
    3) sit
    4) put
    Answer 4
    hint "Sit" is usually intransitive. You can hang something on a hook, but not on a shelf.