Use indefinite pronouns as clues for TOEFL sentence insertion
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that refers to a person or a thing without being specific. An indefinite pronoun often does not refer to any specific person, thing or amount. It is rather vague and "not definite". Examples of indefinite pronouns are all, another, few, a few, little, a little, many, nobody, none, one, several.
Most indefinite pronouns can serve as determiners modifying a noun. The most important aspect relating to the use of indefinite pronouns is the agreement in number. Also when they are used as determiners, they need to agree in countability. Most indefinite pronouns are fixed either as singular pronouns or plural pronouns. For example, ‘few’ is a plural pronoun and ‘someone’ is a singular pronoun. But some others can be singular in one context and plural in another, depending on what they refer to. These indefinite pronouns are used as clues in TOEFL sentence insertion questions:
Most, either, other and such
Most
"Most" is usually used as an adjective like “Most stories are boring," But it can be used as a pronoun, replacing plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns. For example,
Most attendees are students.
Most water is gone.
Most are students.
Most is gone.
This is a sentence insertion question with "most."
Example (medium)
Where would the sentence best fit?
Practical and unimpressive, most were barely taller than the average adult.
‘Most’ is the clue word. The sentence says most were unimpressive. Due to “were,” “most" refers to plural things that were unimpressive. With this information, let’s look at the options.
The spaces inside even the largest roundhouses were modest, and the use of rounded shapes and organic building materials gave buildings a human scale.
But the effect of Roman civil architecture was significant.
The sheer size of space enclosed within buildings like the basilica of London must have been astonishing.
This was an architecture of dominance in which subject peoples were literally made to feel small by buildings that epitomized imperial power. D
Analysis
Z talks about the modesty of roundhouses.
modest
= 1. humble, unpretentious, unassuming, low-key, shy, bashful, self-conscious
= 2. moderate, fair, tolerable, passable, adequate, satisfactory, acceptable, unexceptional, small, limited
So,
modest = unimpressive
So, ‘most’ must refer to roundhouses.
So the target sentence should come after Z. let’s place it after Z and read the rest. Target sentence: Practical and unimpressive, most were barely taller than the average adult.
A talks about Roman architecture which is significant, that is, impressive and extraordinary. A contrast from the target sentence. B and C also talk about impressive Roman architecture. So before A is the correct answer.
Answer：A
Example (easy)
When the Romans came to Britain they already had years of building experience
Architecture in Britain prior to Roman rule was merely functional.
The Romans transformed mundane, practical buildings into works of art. D
Target sentence
Sadly, most have been reduced to foundations and walls
Analysis
‘Sadly’ and ‘most’ are clue words. Let’s first look for the antecedent of ‘most’. Since “most have been,” we know that the antecedent of ‘most’ must be a plural noun. Also, since “most have been reduced to foundations and walls,” we know that ‘most’ must be referring to some houses or structures. With these pieces of information, let’s look at each option.
A has plural nouns (Romans, years), but they are not about structures.
B has no plural noun.
C has plural nouns, ‘buildings,’ which are structures. So ‘buildings’ can be the antecedent of ‘most.’ So after C is a good place for the target sentence. So let’s place the target sentence after C and examine the flow of ideas:
C: Roman buildings were works of art.
Target sentence: Sadly, most of the buildings were destroyed and what remains are foundations and walls.
Since “sadly” is a transitional word for a contrast, and C and the target sentence are contrasting, ideas flow naturally.
Answer: D
Either
“Either’ means (this) one or the other one of two options (things or ideas). So when ‘either’ is used, there must be a mention of two of something.
As said, when there are two alternatives, in the sense of any one of two, either is used. When there are more than two alternatives, in the sense of “one of many”, any is used instead.
Neither means "not either,” which is to say, not this one and not the other one. So neither is used when there are two alternatives and both alternatives are rejected. When there are more than two alternatives and all of them are rejected, ‘not any,’ which is the same as ‘none,’ is used.
These are example sentences:
Do you want coffee or tea?
Either is fine. (= I can have either coffee or tea)
Neither. I will have water. ( I do not want coffee and not tea)
He made me two offers, but I did not accept either. (= I accepted neither)
He made me several offers, but I did not accept any ( = I accepted none)
Example (easy)
The company is convicted of defrauding customers.
If the CEO knew about the fraud, then he is corrupt.
If he didn’t know about it, he is incompetent. D
Where would the sentence best fit?
In either case, he needs to be fired.
Analysis
B and C together mention two cases. So the target sentence should come after C.
Answer: D
Example (hard)
Geothermal energy becomes available in a practical form when underground heat is transferred by water that is heated as it passes through a subsurface region of hot rocks (a heat reservoir) that may be hundreds or thousands of feet deep.
The water is usually naturally occurring groundwater that seeps down along fractures in the rock; less typically, the water is artificially introduced by being pumped down from the surface.
The water is brought to the surface, as a liquid or steam, through holes drilled for the purpose. D
Where would the sentence best fit?
In either case, the heated water will usually be under considerable pressure, and so may have a temperature that is well above its sea-level boiling point of 100°centigrade.
Analysis
‘Either’ and ‘the heated water’ are clue words. ‘Either case’ indicates that the target sentence must come after an explanation of two cases. ‘The heated water’ indicates that the target sentence must come after an explanation of how water is heated. Combining the two, the target sentence should come after the descriptions of two ways heated water is produced.
A describes that geothermal energy is possible thanks to heated water. It does not talk about two ways heated water can be made.
B talks about two ways heated water can be made: either naturally occurring or artificially introduced. So after B is a good place for the target sentence.
Target sentence: in either case, the heated water is normally above the boiling point.
C: the water is brought to the surface through drilled holes.
With this, the passage reads logically, so the answer is after A.
Answer：C