Further explanation - TOFEL prcatice

[easybreakable]

Teacher, would appreciate your help regarding explaining the answers here. We are asked to choose the underlined phrase which would not be appropriate for standard written English.


1- She indicated to me that she will get the job in spite of her inexperience.

2- It was inconsiderate of him not to have told Mary and us of his decision to call off the part.

3- I have recently read the article to which my linguistics professor referred to in his final lecture.

4- Although he only makes $500 monthly, he manages to support his family adequately.

5- If anyone happens to call while I am out of the office, please have them leave a message for me.

 

[bhaisahab]

Teacher, would appreciate your help regarding explaning the answers here. We are asked to choose the underlined phrase which would not be appropriate for standard written English.


1- She indicated to me that she will get the job in spite of her inexperience.

2- It was inconsiderate of him not to have told Mary and us of his decision to call off the part.

3- I have recently read the article to which my linguistics professor referred to in his final lecture.

4- Although he only makes $500 monthly, he manages to support his family adequately.

5- If anyone happens to call while I am out of the office, please have them leave a message for me.

Try again. #3 is OK.

 

[easybreakable]

Try again. #3 is OK.

I have already tried and checked my mistakes. The model answers are in red and I need someone to explain them to me.

 

[easybreakable]

Would anyone please help me with this?

 

[easybreakable]

Up :roll:

 

[emsr2d2]

Teacher, would appreciate your help regarding explaining the answers here. We are asked to choose the underlined phrase which would not be appropriate for standard written English.


1- She indicated to me that she will get the job in spite of her inexperience.

2- It was inconsiderate of him not to have told Mary and us of his decision to call off the part.

3- I have recently read the article to which my linguistics professor referred to in his final lecture.

4- Although he only makes $500 monthly, he manages to support his family adequately.

5- If anyone happens to call while I am out of the office, please have them leave a message for me.

#3 - Repetition of the word "to". It already says "to which" so you don't need "to" after "referred".

Either " ... which my linguistics professor referred to in his final lecture" or "... to which my linguistics professor referred in his final lecture".

 

[easybreakable]

What about the other answers, why they are wrong?

 

[bhaisahab]

I suppose that in #1 they might be looking for "would get" instead of "will get", but I can't see anything wrong with 2, 4, and 5.

 

[easybreakable]

Thank you

I have been thinking for the last two days, I can say it's the most confusing pattern of questions in the TOFEL regarding "Structure and Written Expression", indeed ONLY luck and guessing have to do with this

 

[emsr2d2]

Teacher, would appreciate your help regarding explaining the answers here. We are asked to choose the underlined phrase which would not be appropriate for standard written English.


1- She indicated to me that she will get the job in spite of her inexperience.

2- It was inconsiderate of him not to have told Mary and us of his decision to call off the part.

3- I have recently read the article to which my linguistics professor referred to in his final lecture.

4- Although he only makes $500 monthly, he manages to support his family adequately.

5- If anyone happens to call while I am out of the office, please have them leave a message for me.

As far as 2, 4 and 5 are concerned:

2: "It was inconsiderate of him not to tell Mary and us ..." is the only suggestion I can come up with.
4: No, actually, I can't work out what's meant to be wrong with "only". I was going to suggest that "adequately" might be redundant because it says he "manages to support". My one suggestion is word order. Perhaps they want it to read "Although he makes only $500 ..."
5. If "have them" had been underlined, I might have understood it because some teachers don't like that construction. It could have said "... please ask them to leave a message ..." but I can't see a problem with just the word "them".

 

[Tdol]

Where did you get these from? I agree with Bhai that some are OK. Are these from an exam paper or a book?

 

[easybreakable]

As far as 2, 4 and 5 are concerned:

2: "It was inconsiderate of him not to tell Mary and us ..." is the only suggestion I can come up with.
4: No, actually, I can't work out what's meant to be wrong with "only". I was going to suggest that "adequately" might be redundant because it says he "manages to support". My one suggestion is word order. Perhaps they want it to read "Although he makes only $500 ..."
5. If "have them" had been underlined, I might have understood it because some teachers don't like that construction. It could have said "... please ask them to leave a message ..." but I can't see a problem with just the word "them".

Thank you, you've been more than patient with me.

 

[easybreakable]

Where did you get these from? I agree with Bhai that some are OK. Are these from an exam paper or a book?

They are six exams collected in one TOFEL practice book, ARCO publications.

 

[Tdol]

Here's an Amazon page of an Arco book for the GRE with a number of people complaining that the book was inaccurate, so I am afraid it looks like a book you can't trust.

http://www.amazon.com/Arco-Teach-Yourself-Hours-Arcos/dp/0028626907

 

[easybreakable]

OMG!


In case there are any recommended publications, please share because I'm studying on my own. Thank you all.

 

[Tdol]

TOEFL: Paper-based Test: Prepare for the Test

Also, publications by the well-known publishers are more trustworthy.

And these sites might be worth browsing, but always take with internet stuff: TOEFL - ESL Web Directory - UsingEnglish.com

 

[easybreakable]

Thank you.


Teacher, do you think having doubts about my answers and posting here to know what's wrong exactly, is a good sign on the road?

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you.


Teacher, do you think having doubts about my answers and posting here to know what's wrong exactly, is a good sign on the road?

Definitely. At an early stage of studying a language, we tend to believe the answers given in a book immediately, without questioning them. A little further down the line, we may start to think that perhaps something sounds a little wrong or unusual, and then even later, we are able to spot errors. When you are able to spot the error, work out what the correct answer should be and explain why, you're doing very well!!

 

[easybreakable]

Thanks a million!

:up:

 

[Tdol]

Thank you.


Teacher, do you think having doubts about my answers and posting here to know what's wrong exactly, is a good sign on the road?

I'd say it is a very good sign- you were given answers and were not satisfied, which suggests a sound knowledge, and also had the drive to go and ask elsewhere rather than passively accept things. :up: