TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language General 1

Question 1

By the time we arrived at the theater, the show _____ already started.

Accepted Answer

had

Answer

'Had started' is the past perfect tense, used to describe an action that was completed before another past action. Since 'arrived' is simple past, the earlier event (the show starting) requires past perfect.

Question 2

The professor, along with her two assistants, _____ conducting research on climate change.

Accepted Answer

is

Answer

When a subject is followed by a phrase like 'along with,' 'as well as,' or 'together with,' the verb agrees with the main subject — 'the professor' (singular) — so 'is' is correct.

Question 3

She would have passed the exam if she _____ more carefully.

Accepted Answer

had studied

Answer

This is a third conditional sentence expressing an unreal past situation. The structure requires 'would have + past participle' in the main clause and 'had + past participle' in the if-clause.

Question 4

I am looking forward _____ you at the conference next month.

Accepted Answer

to seeing

Answer

'Look forward to' is a fixed phrasal verb where 'to' is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. A preposition must be followed by a noun or gerund (-ing form), so 'to seeing' is correct.

Question 5

The number of students enrolling in online courses _____ increased significantly over the past decade.

Accepted Answer

has

Answer

'The number of' takes a singular verb because 'number' is the head noun, not 'students.' This contrasts with 'a number of,' which takes a plural verb.

TOEFL Practice Test

TOEFL Practice Test

TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language General 1