Pardon intrusion into this discussion, but since you are using Mac and the remote hosting package is more than likely linux, why are you downloading the .zip? Would think the more appropriate would be the .tar.gz (it's not only packaged for 'linux flavored' platforms, it's smaller).
In your CPanel, there should be a tool for working with DB's - phpmyadmin. Can you interact with the DB for Moodle using that tool using the same db user and db password as during Moodle install? Does that user have the ability to create temporary tables? (there is a tool in phpmyadmin for users ... check).
And, I wonder about the hosting provider being able to support a Moodle version 2 ... from their FAQ page (which I hope is in need of updating):
What servers do you run?
Dual 2.4GHz Intel Xeons, Red Hat Linux 7.3 and 9.0, 512 - 2048 MB of Ram
https://www.totalchoicehosting.com/faqs.html
On this page:
https://www.totalchoicehosting.com/faq/support-tools-scripts.html
they describe how customers can upload a phpinfo page. Suggest doing that with your account.
This example page they provide:
https://www.totalchoicehosting.com/faq/phpinfo.php
Indicates php version 5.2.17
Moodle => 2.2.7 Requires: PHP 5.3.2
Could run a 1.9, however - at least until Dec. 2013.
'spirit of sharing', Ken