STRUCTURE 51
3. Frank Lloyd Wright, by designing the low-cost “Usonian”
A B
house in the 1930s, wanting to make American architec- C
D ture more “democratic” and affordable to everyone.
a. A b. B
c. C d. D
4. A lack in vitamin D, which comes from fortified milk or
A B
sunshine, can decrease the body’s ability to absorb calcium. C
D
a. A b. B
c. C d. D
Answers: 3. c 4. a
COMPUTER TEST VS. PAPER TEST
You will find some key differences between the computer-based test CBT and the paper-and-pencil exam. Although the ques-
tions will cover the same type of material, you will answer fewer questions about each on the CBT. The structure section of the
CBT is also computer adaptive, meaning that the computer selects questions based on your ability level. Your first question
will be of average difficulty. If you answer it correctly, your next
52 TOEFL EXAM ESSENTIALS
question will be harder. If you answer incorrectly, your next question will be easier. Here is an overview of the differences
between the two tests:
Computer Test: Paper-and-Pencil:
Structure Structure and Written
Expression
15–20 minutes 25 minutes
20–25 questions 40 questions
Computer adaptive: the Test takers answer the same
level of difficulty of ques- questions.
tions is based on each test-taker’s ability.
Question types are mixed Question types fall into two
together and presented sections:
at random. Part A—15 sentence-
completion questions Part B—25 questions in
which you identify grammar mistakes
Once you submit an answer, You can return to previous you cannot change it.
questions and change your answers.
Your score on the structure Your score on this section is
section is combined with not combined with another
your score in the writing part of the test.
portion of the test.
STRUCTURE 53
MAKING SENSE OF SENTENCES
The grass grows. This is an example of the basic unit of thought in the English language: the sentence. Sentences must have two
key parts—a subject and a predicate—and express a complete thought. The subject grass names what the sentence is talking
about. The predicate is a verb or verb phrase grows that tells us something about the subject. The subject of a sentence may be
singular, meaning that there is only one subject. Subjects may also be compound, meaning they have more than one subject:
The grass and the flowers grow.
The predicate may also be singular or compound. For exam- ple, here the predicate is singular: I ate a bowl of spaghetti. In the
following example, the predicate is a compound: I ate a bowl of spaghetti and drank two glasses of milk.
WHAT IS A CLAUSE?
Like sentences, clauses are groups of words that have a subject and a predicate. Clauses may be independent or dependent. An
independent clause stands alone and expresses a complete idea as in this example: Ximena walked on the grass. When a sentence
has more than one independent clause, it is called a compound sentence. In compound sentences, independent clauses are joined
by a connecting word or conjunction and, but, or, for, nor, so, or yet. In the following example, the independent clauses are under-
lined: Ximena walked on the grass, but she didn’t get her new shoes wet.
A dependent clause does not express a complete thought:
though it was wet. When a dependent clause stands alone, it is called a sentence fragment. To make a complete thought, a dependent
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