262 STRUCTURE 5. One difference between mathematics 6, Your criticism ofthe three short stories and language is that mathematics is should not be less than 2,000 words, nor precise more than 3,000, (A) language is not (A) should itbe (B)_ while language is not (B) icshould be (©) but language not (©) itis (D) while is language {D) should be it Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct, —— 7. In 1870, the attorney general was ade head of the Department of Justice, given an hee enlarged staff, and endow with clearcut law-enforcement functions B c D —— & The General Sherman Tree, the largest of all the giant sequoias, are reputed to be B ace the world’s largest living thing. Ting —— 9 The skeleton ofa shark is made of cartilage rather than having bone, ages ae oer ee Dae 10. Atleast one sample ofeach of the brands contains measurable amounts of aflatoxin, x E th exceed the maximum, v PROBLEMS WITH COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES __ Sentences with incorrect comparatives and superlatives can appear on the TOEFL test. Itis therefore important for you to know how to do the following: (1) form the comparative and superlative correctly; (2) use the comparative and superlative correctly; and (3) use the irregular -e; erstructure that has been appearing frequently on the TOEFL test ‘Skit. 27: FORM COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES CORRECTLY ‘The problem with some of the comparative and superlative sentences on the TOEFL test is that the comparative or superlative is formed incorreetly. You should therefore understand. how to form the comparative and superlative to answer such questions correctly. ‘The comparative is formed with either -er or mare and than. In the comparative, ris used with short adjectives such as tall, and more is used with longer adjectives such as beautiful Bob is taller than Ron, Sally is more beautiful than Sharon,WRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS (Paper and Computer) 263 ‘The superlative is formed with the, either -estor most, and sometimes in, of, ora thatclause. In the superlative, esis used with short adjectives such as tall, and mast is used with longer adjectives such as beautiful Bob isthe tallest man in the room, Sally i she most beautiful ofall the women atthe party. ‘The spider over there is the largestone that Ihave ever seen. ‘Thefastes runner wins the race. (n0 in, of, oF that) ‘The following chart outlines the possible forms of comparatives and superlatives: ‘THE FORM OF COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES, wens ay [eee then ae en EXERCISE 27: Each of the following sentences contains a comparative or superlative. Cir- cle the comparative or superlative. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or ineor- rect (1). 1. Oxygen is @bundanter than) nitrogen: £2 Thedirections to the exercise say to choose ((he most appropriat® response, 3, The lesson you are studying now isthe most importantest lesson that you will have, 4. Fashions this year are shorter and more colorful than they were last year —— 5. The professor indicated that Anthony's research paper was more long than the other students’ papers. —— 6 Alaska isthe coldest than all the states in the United States. 7. ‘The workers on the day shift are more rested than the workers on the night shift. —— 8 She was more happier this morning than she had been yesterday, 9, ‘The quarterback on this year’s football team is more versatile than the quarterback on last year’s team, 10. She always tres to do the best and most efficient job that she can do.264 STRUCTURE ‘Skit 28: USE COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES CORRECTLY Another problem with the comparative and superlative on the TOEFL testis that they can be used incorrectly. The comparative and superlative have different uses, and you should understand these different uses to answer such questions correctly. The comparative is used to compare two equial things. ‘The history clas is larger than the math clas Mary is more idelligent than Sue. In the first example the history class is being compared with the math class. In the second example Mary is being compared with Sue. ‘The superlative is used when there are more than two items to compare and you want to show the one that is the best, the biggest, or in some way the most outstanding. ‘The history class isthe lagestin the school Mary is the mot ineligent ofall the students in the class. In the first example the history class is compared with all the other classes in the school, and. the history class is larger than each of the other classes. In the second example, Mary is compared with all the other students in the class, and Mary is more intelligent than each of the other students. ‘The following chart outlines the uses of comparatives and superlatives: “THE USES OF COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES ‘The COMPARATIE is used to compare two equal things. “The suPeRATVE is used to show which one of mony i in some way the most outstanding. EXERCISE 28: Each of the following sentences contains a comparative or superlative, Circle the comparative or superlative. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (1). £1, Harvard is probably (he mos prestigions university in the United Stats, —L. 2. Rhonda is Gore hard working) of the cas. _— 5. The engineers hired this year have more experience than those hired lst year. —— 4. The graduate assistant informed us that the first exam ithe most difficult of the wo. —— 5 Hebought the more powerful stereo speakers that he could fin. —— 6. Theafternoon seminar was much more interesting than the morning lecture. _—— 7. The food in this restaurant is the best ofthe restaurant we visited last week. —— 8 The plants that have been sitting in the sunny window are far healthier than the other plants —— 9% The photocopies are the darkest that they have ever been. —— 10. The first journal article isthe longest of the second article.WRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS (Paper and Computer) 265 Skit 29: USE THE IRREGULAR -ER, -ER STRUCTURE CORRECTLY An irregular comparative structure that has been appearing frequently on the TOEFL test consists of two parallel comparatives introduced by the The harder be wied, the further fell behind. The older the children are, the more their parents expect from them. ‘The first example contains the two parallel comparatives, the harderand the further. The sec- ‘ond example contains the two parallel comparatives, the olderand the more. In this ype of sentence, theand the comparison can be followed by a number of differ- cent structures. The more children you have, the bigger the house you need. The harder you work, the more you accomplish. ‘The greater the experience, the higher the salary In the first example, the more is followed by the noun children and the subject and verb you have, while the bigger is followed by the noun the house and the subject and verb you need In the second example, the harderis followed by the subject and verb you work, while the moreis followed by the subject and verb you accomplish. In the third example, the greater is followed only by the noun the experience, while the higher is followed only by the noun the salary. You should note that this last example does not even contain a verb, yet itis a correct structure in English ‘The following chart outlines this irregular -ey er structure: ‘THE-ER,-ER STRUCTURE ne (ama server, me [%] ome scuccre) ‘This type of sentence may or may not include a ver, EXERCISE 29: Each of the following sentences contains the irregular ey er structure. Cir le the two comparisons with the. Underline the parts that should be parallel. Then ind cate ifthe sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I) 11 Getoit) the food i © 2, (re warmer) the weather, (he great the attendance atthe outdoor concert —— 8 The more you say, the worst the situation will be. cis to eat —— 4 The more time they have to play, the happier the children are. '5. The thicker the wall, che noise that comes through is less. 6. Ifyou run faster, the earlier you'll arrive. 7. ‘The more you use the phone, the higher the bill willbe. —— 8 The harder you serve, the easier itis to win the point.266 STRUCTURE —— 9 Thea st you send in your tax forms, the sooner you will receive your refund ——10. The more people there are atthe party, you'll have a good time. EXERCISE (Skills 27-29): Circle the comparatives and superlatives in the following sen- tences. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I). 1. The coffee is more stronger today than it was yesterday, —— 2% The tree that was struck by lightning had been the tallest of the two trees we had in. the yard, 3 He will buy the most fuel-efficient car that he can afford, —— 4. The closest it gets to summer, the longer the days are. _—— 5. The business department is bigger of the departments in the university, —— 6. Treally do not want to live in the Southeast because iis one of the most hot areas in the United States, —— 7. Itis preferable to use the most efficient and most effective method that you can. _—— 8. Tonight's dinner was more filling than last night's, —— 9 The sooner the exam is scheduled, the less time you have to prepare. —— 10. The house is now the cleanest that it has ever been. ‘TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 27-29): Choose the letter of the word or group of words that best completes the sentence. 1. The speed of light is ___ the speed of in Stevenson’s landscapes, the sound. ‘more vitality and character the paintings (A) faster seem to possess (B) much faster than (A). The brushwork is loose (©) the fastest (B)_ The looser brushwork (D) asfast (©) The loose brushwork is (D) The looser the brushwork is 2, The use of detail is___ method of developing a controlling idea, and almost all students employ this method. (A) more common (B) common (©) mostcommon (D) the most commonWRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS (Paper and Computer) 267 Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct. 4. Certain types of snakes have been known to survive fasts more as a year long, x D E ‘The grizzly bear, which can grow up to eight feet tll, has been called a more x © D ‘dangerous animal of North America Climate, soil ype, and availability of water are the most critical factors than selecting, & * aca the best ype of grass fora lawn, a Peter Abelard, logician and theologian, was the controverilest teacher of his rr “pe Protein molecules ae the most complex than the molecules of carbohydeates. cae c v ‘The eck, member ofthe lily family, has a mildest taste than the onion. a me ‘The widely used natural fiber ofall is cotton, ohare Scat: TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-29): Choose the letter of the word or group of ‘words that best completes the sentence. 1 liberal arts college specifically 3, While the discovery that many migratory for deaf people, is located in songbirds can thrive in deforested Washington, D.C. wintering spots the fact remains cme. that hese bids are dying at unusual (B) Gallaudet College is 7 (©) About Gallaudet College (A) itisheartening (D) Because of Gallaudet College (B)hearten (C) heartening _—— sarieties of dogs atthe show, (D) isheartening including spaniels, poodles, and colles. (A) The several (B) Those (©) Several (D) There were several Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct. _— 4. The coyote is somewhat smaller in size than a timber wolf xB CD —— 5. The weather reports all showed that there were a tremendous storm front moving in. * @ c D —— 6 Seldom cactus plants are found outside of North America, x Saco: