TOEFL iBT Practice (Grammar & Vocabulary) — All Questions
22 questions
The number of applicants ___ increased sharply this year. Which choice is correct?
- a.has✓
- b.have
- c.are
- d.were
The phrase 'the number of' is treated as singular, so it takes the singular verb 'has'. (By contrast, 'a number of applicants have' would be plural.)
The scientist ___ discovered the vaccine received an award. Which relative pronoun is correct?
- a.which
- b.who✓
- c.whom
- d.what
The relative pronoun refers to a person ('the scientist') and is the subject of 'discovered', so 'who' is correct. 'Which' is for things, and 'whom' is for objects.
If it ___ tomorrow, we will cancel the outdoor event. Which choice is correct?
- a.will rain
- b.would rain
- c.rains✓
- d.rained
This is a first conditional about a real future possibility. The 'if' clause uses the present simple 'rains', while the main clause uses 'will cancel'.
She avoided ___ to the question directly. Which choice is correct?
- a.to respond
- b.respond
- c.responded
- d.responding✓
The verb 'avoid' is followed by a gerund (the -ing form), so 'responding' is correct. Verbs like enjoy, avoid, and finish take gerunds, not infinitives.
He enjoys reading, writing, and ___. Which choice keeps the sentence parallel?
- a.painting✓
- b.to paint
- c.paints
- d.painted
Items in a series must share the same grammatical form. Since 'reading' and 'writing' are gerunds, the third item must also be a gerund: 'painting'.
The evidence was so ___ that the jury reached a verdict within an hour. Which word best fits?
- a.trivial
- b.compelling✓
- c.reluctant
- d.vacant
'Compelling' means convincing or persuasive, which fits evidence that leads to a quick verdict. 'Trivial' means unimportant, the opposite of what the context needs.
His ___ remarks offended several guests at the dinner. Which word best fits?
- a.gracious
- b.timid
- c.tactless✓
- d.fluent
'Tactless' means lacking sensitivity, which explains why the remarks offended people. 'Gracious' would mean kind and polite, contradicting the result.
The lecture was ___, covering only the essential points in ten minutes. Which word best fits?
- a.verbose
- b.tedious
- c.ambiguous
- d.concise✓
'Concise' means brief and to the point, matching a lecture that covers only essentials quickly. 'Verbose' means using too many words, the opposite meaning.
The new medication helped ___ the patient's pain within minutes. Which word best fits?
- a.alleviate✓
- b.aggravate
- c.ignore
- d.prolong
'Alleviate' means to relieve or lessen, which fits reducing pain. 'Aggravate' means to make worse, and 'prolong' means to extend, both contradicting the context.
Despite several setbacks, the team stayed ___ about finishing the project on time. Which word best fits?
- a.doubtful
- b.optimistic✓
- c.indifferent
- d.hostile
The contrast word 'despite' signals a positive attitude in spite of problems, so 'optimistic' fits. 'Doubtful' and 'indifferent' would not match staying positive.
The company made a significant ___ in renewable energy last year. Which word form is correct?
- a.invest
- b.investing
- c.investment✓
- d.invested
After the article 'a' and adjective 'significant', a noun is needed. 'Investment' is the noun form, while 'invest' and 'invested' are verb forms.
She answered every question with great ___. Which word form is correct?
- a.confident
- b.confidently
- c.confide
- d.confidence✓
After 'with great', a noun is required. 'Confidence' is the noun; 'confident' is an adjective and 'confidently' is an adverb.
Please ___ attention to the safety instructions before takeoff. Which verb correctly collocates?
- a.pay✓
- b.make
- c.do
- d.give
The fixed collocation is 'pay attention'. English speakers do not say 'make attention' or 'do attention'.
The samples were ___ examined before the results were published. Which word form is correct?
- a.thorough
- b.thoroughly✓
- c.thoroughness
- d.more thorough
An adverb is needed to modify the verb 'examined'. 'Thoroughly' is the adverb; 'thorough' is an adjective and 'thoroughness' is a noun.
He was completely exhausted; ___, he finished the marathon. Which connector fits best?
- a.therefore
- b.moreover
- c.nevertheless✓
- d.meanwhile
The two clauses contrast (being exhausted vs. still finishing), so a contrast connector is needed. 'Nevertheless' signals that the second clause happened despite the first.
She prepared for months; ___, she passed the interview with ease. Which connector fits best?
- a.however
- b.otherwise
- c.instead
- d.consequently✓
The second clause is a result of the first, so a cause-and-effect connector is needed. 'Consequently' correctly signals the result of the preparation.
___ the heavy rain, the outdoor concert continued as planned. Which choice correctly begins the sentence?
- a.Despite✓
- b.Because
- c.Although
- d.Unless
'Despite' is a preposition followed by a noun phrase ('the heavy rain') and signals contrast. 'Although' would require a full clause with a verb, not just a noun phrase.
The proposal is expensive. ___, it could generate substantial long-term savings. Which connector fits best?
- a.Therefore
- b.However✓
- c.Thus
- d.Hence
The second sentence contrasts the cost with a benefit, so a contrast connector is needed. 'However' introduces that contrast; 'therefore', 'thus', and 'hence' all show results.
He has worked at this university ___ 2010. Which choice is correct?
- a.for
- b.from
- c.since✓
- d.during
'Since' is used with a specific starting point in time (2010) alongside the present perfect. 'For' would be used with a length of time, such as 'for ten years'.
We need ___ chairs than we currently have for the event. Which choice is correct?
- a.less
- b.lesser
- c.little
- d.fewer✓
'Chairs' is a countable noun, so 'fewer' is correct. 'Less' is used with uncountable nouns, such as 'less water'.
I look forward to ___ from you soon. Which choice is correct?
- a.hearing✓
- b.hear
- c.heard
- d.to hear
In 'look forward to', the word 'to' is a preposition, so it must be followed by a gerund: 'hearing'. This is a common usage trap.
Her research is closely related ___ climate science. Which preposition is correct?
- a.with
- b.to✓
- c.on
- d.at
The correct collocation is 'related to'. English speakers say something is 'related to' a topic, not 'related with' it.