TOEFL Practice Test

TOEFL Practice Test #1 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: <p>1. A division of the bryophytes, liverworts are relatively small plants which</p><p>2. have adapted to different habitats. Two species of liverworts, Riella and</p><p>3. Ricciocarpus, thrive in aquatic habitats. Some are found in the company of</p><p>4. other vegetation such as mosses, lichens, and sedges in the tundra in</p><p>5. Antarctica, while most others prefer moist, shady floors and tree trunks of</p><p>6. tropical forests. Leafy liverworts, with two or three rows of lobe-shaped</p><p>7. leaves which overlap incompletely, are discovered plentifully in the</p><p>8. tropical forests. These plants develop water storage pockets which become</p><p>9. home to a host of very small animals. They have a prostrate growth, and</p><p>10. single-cell rhizoids -- hairlike projections -- anchor the plant but are</p><p>11. incapable of transporting nutrients to the plants. The absence of midrib is</p><p>12. quite common bryophytes. Sphaerocarpo, a Thallus liverwort,</p><p>13. sometimes produces round rosettes or extended, flattened lobes.</p><p>14. The bryophytes not only aid soil formation on rocky and unproductive land</p><p>15. but balance the moisture content of the soil. Their epidermal cells -- outer</p><p>16. cells of the plant -- fused with significant air pores enclose the</p><p>17. photosynthetic cells. These pores play a major role in the photosynthetic</p><p>18. process in which carbon dioxide is taken in and oxygen is given off.</p> <p>According to the passage, which of the following environments would LEAST likely promote</p>

Water
Extremely cold climates
Tropical forests
Desert (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Desert

The passage describes liverworts thriving in aquatic habitats, moist tropical forests, and even the tundra in Antarctica, all environments characterized by significant moisture. A desert, however, is an extremely arid environment with very little water. Given liverworts' need for moisture, a desert would be the least likely environment to promote their growth and survival.

Question 2: <p>1. A division of the bryophytes, liverworts are relatively small plants which</p><p>2. have adapted to different habitats. Two species of liverworts, Riella and</p><p>3. Ricciocarpus, thrive in aquatic habitats. Some are found in the company of</p><p>4. other vegetation such as mosses, lichens, and sedges in the tundra in</p><p>5. Antarctica, while most others prefer moist, shady floors and tree trunks of</p><p>6. tropical forests. Leafy liverworts, with two or three rows of lobe-shaped</p><p>7. leaves which overlap incompletely, are discovered plentifully in the</p><p>8. tropical forests. These plants develop water storage pockets which become</p><p>9. home to a host of very small animals. They have a prostrate growth, and</p><p>10. single-cell rhizoids -- hairlike projections -- anchor the plant but are</p><p>11. incapable of transporting nutrients to the plants. The absence of midrib is</p><p>12. quite common bryophytes. Sphaerocarpo, a Thallus liverwort,</p><p>13. sometimes produces round rosettes or extended, flattened lobes.</p><p>14. The bryophytes not only aid soil formation on rocky and unproductive land</p><p>15. but balance the moisture content of the soil. Their epidermal cells -- outer</p><p>16. cells of the plant -- fused with significant air pores enclose the</p><p>17. photosynthetic cells. These pores play a major role in the photosynthetic</p><p>18. process in which carbon dioxide is taken in and oxygen is given off.</p> <p>It can be inferred that tundra is well suited for which of the following?</p>

Deeply rooted vegetation
Only rosette producing plants
Surface vegetation with weak roots (Correct answer)
Plants with semicircular-shaped leaves

Correct answer: Surface vegetation with weak roots

The passage describes liverworts as having 'prostrate growth' and 'single-cell rhizoids' that 'anchor the plant but are incapable of transporting nutrients.' This indicates that liverworts, including those found in the tundra, do not rely on deep roots for nutrient absorption and grow along the surface. Therefore, the tundra is well suited for surface vegetation with weak roots, as deep roots are not necessary for these plants.

Question 3: <p>1. A division of the bryophytes, liverworts are relatively small plants which</p><p>2. have adapted to different habitats. Two species of liverworts, Riella and</p><p>3. Ricciocarpus, thrive in aquatic habitats. Some are found in the company of</p><p>4. other vegetation such as mosses, lichens, and sedges in the tundra in</p><p>5. Antarctica, while most others prefer moist, shady floors and tree trunks of</p><p>6. tropical forests. Leafy liverworts, with two or three rows of lobe-shaped</p><p>7. leaves which overlap incompletely, are discovered plentifully in the</p><p>8. tropical forests. These plants develop water storage pockets which become</p><p>9. home to a host of very small animals. They have a prostrate growth, and</p><p>10. single-cell rhizoids -- hairlike projections -- anchor the plant but are</p><p>11. incapable of transporting nutrients to the plants. The absence of midrib is</p><p>12. quite common bryophytes. Sphaerocarpo, a Thallus liverwort,</p><p>13. sometimes produces round rosettes or extended, flattened lobes.</p><p>14. The bryophytes not only aid soil formation on rocky and unproductive land</p><p>15. but balance the moisture content of the soil. Their epidermal cells -- outer</p><p>16. cells of the plant -- fused with significant air pores enclose the</p><p>17. photosynthetic cells. These pores play a major role in the photosynthetic</p><p>18. process in which carbon dioxide is taken in and oxygen is given off.</p> <p>It can be inferred from the first paragraph that leafy liverworts

are very rare
grow in horizontal positions (Correct answer)
have strong stems
are aromatic

Correct answer: grow in horizontal positions

The passage states in line 9 that liverworts 'have a prostrate growth.' Prostrate growth means growing flat along the ground or surface. Since leafy liverworts are a type of liverwort, it can be inferred that they also exhibit this horizontal growth pattern.

Question 4: <p>1. A division of the bryophytes, liverworts are relatively small plants which</p><p>2. have adapted to different habitats. Two species of liverworts, Riella and</p><p>3. Ricciocarpus, thrive in aquatic habitats. Some are found in the company of</p><p>4. other vegetation such as mosses, lichens, and sedges in the tundra in</p><p>5. Antarctica, while most others prefer moist, shady floors and tree trunks of</p><p>6. tropical forests. Leafy liverworts, with two or three rows of lobe-shaped</p><p>7. leaves which overlap incompletely, are discovered plentifully in the</p><p>8. tropical forests. These plants develop water storage pockets which become</p><p>9. home to a host of very small animals. They have a prostrate growth, and</p><p>10. single-cell rhizoids -- hairlike projections -- anchor the plant but are</p><p>11. incapable of transporting nutrients to the plants. The absence of midrib is</p><p>12. quite common bryophytes. Sphaerocarpo, a Thallus liverwort,</p><p>13. sometimes produces round rosettes or extended, flattened lobes.</p><p>14. The bryophytes not only aid soil formation on rocky and unproductive land</p><p>15. but balance the moisture content of the soil. Their epidermal cells -- outer</p><p>16. cells of the plant -- fused with significant air pores enclose the</p><p>17. photosynthetic cells. These pores play a major role in the photosynthetic</p><p>18. process in which carbon dioxide is taken in and oxygen is given off.</p> <p>In line 9, the word "host"could best replaced by which of the following?

Mob
Group (Correct answer)
Colony
Band

Correct answer: Group

In the context 'home to a host of very small animals,' the word 'host' refers to a large number or collection of something. Among the given options, 'Group' is the most appropriate synonym for a collection of animals, implying a multitude without the specific connotations of 'mob,' 'colony,' or 'band'.

Question 5: <p>1. A division of the bryophytes, liverworts are relatively small plants which</p><p>2. have adapted to different habitats. Two species of liverworts, Riella and</p><p>3. Ricciocarpus, thrive in aquatic habitats. Some are found in the company of</p><p>4. other vegetation such as mosses, lichens, and sedges in the tundra in</p><p>5. Antarctica, while most others prefer moist, shady floors and tree trunks of</p><p>6. tropical forests. Leafy liverworts, with two or three rows of lobe-shaped</p><p>7. leaves which overlap incompletely, are discovered plentifully in the</p><p>8. tropical forests. These plants develop water storage pockets which become</p><p>9. home to a host of very small animals. They have a prostrate growth, and</p><p>10. single-cell rhizoids -- hairlike projections -- anchor the plant but are</p><p>11. incapable of transporting nutrients to the plants. The absence of midrib is</p><p>12. quite common bryophytes. Sphaerocarpo, a Thallus liverwort,</p><p>13. sometimes produces round rosettes or extended, flattened lobes.</p><p>14. The bryophytes not only aid soil formation on rocky and unproductive land</p><p>15. but balance the moisture content of the soil. Their epidermal cells -- outer</p><p>16. cells of the plant -- fused with significant air pores enclose the</p><p>17. photosynthetic cells. These pores play a major role in the photosynthetic</p><p>18. process in which carbon dioxide is taken in and oxygen is given off.</p> <p>According to the passage, the main function of a rhizoid is to

support the plant (Correct answer)
carry water and minerals from the roots
aid in preserving water
accelerate prostrate growth

Correct answer: support the plant

Lines 9-11 explicitly state that 'single-cell rhizoids -- hairlike projections -- anchor the plant but are incapable of transporting nutrients to the plants.' The word 'anchor' directly means to hold or support the plant in place. This clarifies that their primary function is support, not nutrient transport or water preservation.

Question 6: <p>1. A division of the bryophytes, liverworts are relatively small plants which</p><p>2. have adapted to different habitats. Two species of liverworts, Riella and</p><p>3. Ricciocarpus, thrive in aquatic habitats. Some are found in the company of</p><p>4. other vegetation such as mosses, lichens, and sedges in the tundra in</p><p>5. Antarctica, while most others prefer moist, shady floors and tree trunks of</p><p>6. tropical forests. Leafy liverworts, with two or three rows of lobe-shaped</p><p>7. leaves which overlap incompletely, are discovered plentifully in the</p><p>8. tropical forests. These plants develop water storage pockets which become</p><p>9. home to a host of very small animals. They have a prostrate growth, and</p><p>10. single-cell rhizoids -- hairlike projections -- anchor the plant but are</p><p>11. incapable of transporting nutrients to the plants. The absence of midrib is</p><p>12. quite common bryophytes. Sphaerocarpo, a Thallus liverwort,</p><p>13. sometimes produces round rosettes or extended, flattened lobes.</p><p>14. The bryophytes not only aid soil formation on rocky and unproductive land</p><p>15. but balance the moisture content of the soil. Their epidermal cells -- outer</p><p>16. cells of the plant -- fused with significant air pores enclose the</p><p>17. photosynthetic cells. These pores play a major role in the photosynthetic</p><p>18. process in which carbon dioxide is taken in and oxygen is given off.</p> <p>What does the statement "The absence of a midrib is quite common in the bryophytes" in lines 11-12 mean?

The bryophytes do not have the middle vein. (Correct answer)
The bryophytes' midrib is rather noticeable.
The bryophytes rather commonly display a midrib.
The lack of a midrib in the bryophytes is not widespread.

Correct answer: The bryophytes do not have the middle vein.

A 'midrib' in botany refers to the main vein of a leaf. The statement 'The absence of a midrib is quite common in the bryophytes' means that it is typical or widespread for bryophytes not to possess this central vein. Therefore, it implies that bryophytes generally do not have a middle vein.

Question 7: <p>1. A division of the bryophytes, liverworts are relatively small plants which</p><p>2. have adapted to different habitats. Two species of liverworts, Riella and</p><p>3. Ricciocarpus, thrive in aquatic habitats. Some are found in the company of</p><p>4. other vegetation such as mosses, lichens, and sedges in the tundra in</p><p>5. Antarctica, while most others prefer moist, shady floors and tree trunks of</p><p>6. tropical forests. Leafy liverworts, with two or three rows of lobe-shaped</p><p>7. leaves which overlap incompletely, are discovered plentifully in the</p><p>8. tropical forests. These plants develop water storage pockets which become</p><p>9. home to a host of very small animals. They have a prostrate growth, and</p><p>10. single-cell rhizoids -- hairlike projections -- anchor the plant but are</p><p>11. incapable of transporting nutrients to the plants. The absence of midrib is</p><p>12. quite common bryophytes. Sphaerocarpo, a Thallus liverwort,</p><p>13. sometimes produces round rosettes or extended, flattened lobes.</p><p>14. The bryophytes not only aid soil formation on rocky and unproductive land</p><p>15. but balance the moisture content of the soil. Their epidermal cells -- outer</p><p>16. cells of the plant -- fused with significant air pores enclose the</p><p>17. photosynthetic cells. These pores play a major role in the photosynthetic</p><p>18. process in which carbon dioxide is taken in and oxygen is given off.</p> <p>The author defines all of the following words EXCEPT

"Liverworts" (line 1)
"Vegetation" (line 4) (Correct answer)
"Rhizoids" (lines 9-10)
"Epidermal cells" (line 15-17)

Correct answer: "Vegetation" (line 4)

The author defines 'Liverworts' as 'A division of the bryophytes' (line 1), 'Rhizoids' as 'hairlike projections' (line 10), and 'Epidermal cells' as 'outer cells of the plant' (lines 15-16). However, the word 'Vegetation' in line 4 is used without any explicit definition or explanation of its meaning within the passage.

Question 8: <p>1. A division of the bryophytes, liverworts are relatively small plants which</p><p>2. have adapted to different habitats. Two species of liverworts, Riella and</p><p>3. Ricciocarpus, thrive in aquatic habitats. Some are found in the company of</p><p>4. other vegetation such as mosses, lichens, and sedges in the tundra in</p><p>5. Antarctica, while most others prefer moist, shady floors and tree trunks of</p><p>6. tropical forests. Leafy liverworts, with two or three rows of lobe-shaped</p><p>7. leaves which overlap incompletely, are discovered plentifully in the</p><p>8. tropical forests. These plants develop water storage pockets which become</p><p>9. home to a host of very small animals. They have a prostrate growth, and</p><p>10. single-cell rhizoids -- hairlike projections -- anchor the plant but are</p><p>11. incapable of transporting nutrients to the plants. The absence of midrib is</p><p>12. quite common bryophytes. Sphaerocarpo, a Thallus liverwort,</p><p>13. sometimes produces round rosettes or extended, flattened lobes.</p><p>14. The bryophytes not only aid soil formation on rocky and unproductive land</p><p>15. but balance the moisture content of the soil. Their epidermal cells -- outer</p><p>16. cells of the plant -- fused with significant air pores enclose the</p><p>17. photosynthetic cells. These pores play a major role in the photosynthetic</p><p>18. process in which carbon dioxide is taken in and oxygen is given off.</p> <p>Why are the air pores important?

They restrain the flow of the gases.
They maximize the moisture loss.
They facilitate the photosynthetic action. (Correct answer)
They absorb the soil's nutrients.

Correct answer: They facilitate the photosynthetic action.

The passage states in lines 17-18 that the 'air pores play a major role in the photosynthetic process in which carbon dioxide is taken in and oxygen is given off.' This directly indicates that these pores are crucial for facilitating the exchange of gases necessary for photosynthesis. Therefore, they facilitate the photosynthetic action.

Question 9: <p>Read the following paragraph and answer the question at the bottom</p><p>1. The leading causes of amnesia are either physical or psychological. In</p><p>2. antergrade amnesia, the subject is unable to recall the events that occur after</p><p>3. a shock or an injury to the brain; however, past memories will not be lost. In</p><p>4. retrograde amnesia, the patient is capable of recalling events that occurs after the</p><p>5. trauma; interestingly enough, information stored before the shock, is lost and</p><p>6. cannot be retrieved. In paraamnesisa, established memories are contorted. In</p><p>7. psychogenic fugue, the subject may venture into a new lifestyle, trying to</p><p>8. repress memories which lead to trepidation. The events happening during</p><p>9. psychogenic fugue are non-retrievable. Nonetheless, the experiences that</p><p>10. happened before the onset can be recovered. Among the most popular</p><p>11. treatments for psychologically related amnesia are psychotherapy, the use of</p><p>12. drugs, and hypnosis.</p><p>What is the main topic of the passage?</p>

The major causes of amnesia
Popular treatments for amnesia
Interference of amnesia with our memory
Different types of amnesia. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Different types of amnesia.

The passage primarily describes different categories of amnesia, such as antergrade amnesia, retrograde amnesia, paraamnesia, and psychogenic fugue. It details the unique characteristics and effects of each type. Therefore, the main topic is the different types of amnesia.

Question 10: Shortening the travel distance between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean by more than 7800 miles, the Panama Canal is ______ canal in the world.

the busier
the busiest (Correct answer)
the most busy
as busy as a

Correct answer: the busiest

The sentence compares the Panama Canal to *all* other canals in the world, indicating a superlative degree. 'The busiest' is the correct superlative form of the adjective 'busy,' used to describe the canal that is more busy than any other.

Question 11: Carl Sandburg <u>he elicited</u> controversy with <u>his</u> candid, <u>realistic</u> free <u>verse</u>.

he elicited (Correct answer)
his
realistic
verse

Correct answer: he elicited

The phrase 'Carl Sandburg he elicited' contains a redundant pronoun. 'Carl Sandburg' is already the subject of the sentence, so the pronoun 'he' is unnecessary. The sentence should correctly read 'Carl Sandburg elicited controversy...'

Question 12: On the Welland Canal of the St. Lawrence, the locks are <u>set in</u> pairs, letting <u>vessels</u> move both up <u>or</u> down <u>the water</u> concurrently.

set in
vessels
or (Correct answer)
the water

Correct answer: or

The phrase 'both up or down' is grammatically incorrect. When using the correlative conjunction 'both,' it must be paired with 'and' to indicate two elements. The correct phrasing should be 'both up and down the water concurrently.'

Question 13: <u>The most</u> gignatic planet of the <u>solar system</u>, Jupiter <u>is</u> about 11 times <u>as larger as</u> Earth.

The most
solar system
is
as larger as (Correct answer)

Correct answer: as larger as

The comparison 'as larger as' is grammatically incorrect. For comparisons of equality, the correct structure is 'as + adjective (base form) + as.' Therefore, it should be 'as large as Earth,' not 'as larger as Earth.'

Question 14: ROM is <u>a chip</u> memory whose contents are <u>permanently stored</u> in a computer and <u>it</u> cannot be altered by <u>any user.</u>

a chip
permanently stored
it (Correct answer)
any user

Correct answer: it

The pronoun 'it' in 'and it cannot be altered' is redundant. The subject of the second clause is still 'contents' (referring to ROM's contents), which is implied from the first clause. The sentence should be 'ROM is a chip memory whose contents are permanently stored in a computer and cannot be altered by any user.'

Question 15: The Blue Mountains <u>in</u> Washington <u>are</u> neither as tall <u>not</u> as <u>rocky</u> as the Cascades.

in
are
not (Correct answer)
rocky

Correct answer: not

The sentence uses the correlative conjunction 'neither... not,' which is incorrect. The proper correlative conjunction pair is 'neither... nor.' Therefore, the sentence should read 'neither as tall nor as rocky as the Cascades.'

Question 16: Select the right response. By far the most noticeable blemishes on the surface of the Sun _____ sunspots.

are (Correct answer)
that are
the
in the

Correct answer: are

In this inverted sentence structure, the true subject is 'sunspots,' which is plural. Therefore, the verb must agree with the plural subject. 'Are' is the correct plural form of the verb 'to be' that agrees with 'sunspots.'

Question 17: Choose the correct answerNearly all the brown bears in the United States _____ in Alaska, which has an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 brown bears, also called grizzlies.

Are resident
reside
Live (Correct answer)
inhabit

Correct answer: Live

The most natural and idiomatic verb to describe where animals permanently exist or make their home is 'live.' While 'reside' is also grammatically correct, 'live' is a more common and concise choice in this context. 'Are resident' is awkward, and 'inhabit' typically takes a direct object (e.g., 'inhabit Alaska').

Question 18: Choose the correct answer. The problems of squaring a pan-European agenda with the national interests of 25 separate countries _____ the process of integration a slow, complex and at times divisive one.

causes
Have made (Correct answer)
Often affect
Resulting in

Correct answer: Have made

The subject of the sentence is 'The problems' (plural). Therefore, the verb must be plural. 'Have made' is the correct plural verb form, and the present perfect tense is appropriate to describe an ongoing effect of these problems on the integration process.

TOEFL Practice Test #1

1.
A division of the bryophytes, liverworts are relatively small plants which2. have adapted to different habitats.
Two species of liverworts, Riella and3.
Ricciocarpus, thrive in aquatic habitats.
Some are found in the company of4. other vegetation such as mosses, lichens, and sedges in the tundra in5.
Antarctica, while most others prefer moist, shady floors and tree trunks of6. tropical forests.
Leafy liverworts, with two or three rows of lobe-shaped7. leaves which overlap incompletely, are discovered plentifully in the8. tropical forests.
These plants develop water storage pockets which become9. home to a host of very small animals.
They have a prostrate growth, and10. single-cell rhizoids -- hairlike projections -- anchor the plant but are11. incapable of transporting nutrients to the plants.
The absence of midrib is12. quite common bryophytes.
Sphaerocarpo, a Thallus liverwort,13. sometimes produces round rosettes or extended, flattened lobes.14.
The bryophytes not only aid soil formation on rocky and unproductive land15. but balance the moisture content of the soil.
Their epidermal cells -- outer16. cells of the plant -- fused with significant air pores enclose the17. photosynthetic cells.
These pores play a major role in the photosynthetic18. process in which carbon dioxide is taken in and oxygen is given off.
According to the passage, which of the following environments would LEAST likely promote