11 questions. Try each one, then open the answer to check yourself and read the explanation.
Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: The frightening explosion in the factory ________ whole wing
Answer: B (wiped out)
To wipe out is to destroy completely, which is what an explosion does to a wing of a building.
Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: If this had happened to you, what ________?
Answer: C (would you have done)
A past unreal condition ('If this had happened') is followed by 'would have + past participle': 'what would you have done?'
Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: There were so many children ________
Answer: A (that she couldn't feed them all)
'So many ... that' introduces a result, and 'feed' needs an object: 'so many children that she couldn't feed them all'.
Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: A nursery rhyme is used to teach pupils how to spell the word ________
Answer: D (hippopotamus)
The correct spelling is h-i-p-p-o-p-o-t-a-m-u-s: double p after 'hi', single p after 'po', and '-tamus'.
Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: Yesterday, my mother asked me ________
Answer: D (if I was tired?)
In reported speech the question becomes a statement and the tense moves back: 'asked me if I was tired'.
Choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap: Don't study on the examination day? What did he tell you? He told me ________ on the examination day.
Answer: D (not to study)
A negative command in reported speech becomes 'told me not to + verb': 'He told me not to study'.
Choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap: They said that ________ about 20 candidates for the job of a shorthand typist.
Answer: C (there were)
'There were' introduces the existence of a plural number of things: 'there were about 20 candidates'.
Choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap: The invigilator ________ to know how long the examination ________ going on
Answer: D (wanted/ had been)
In reported speech after a past verb ('wanted'), the second verb moves back to the past perfect: 'had been going on'.
Choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap: What is the jury's ________ the matter?
Answer: A (verdict on)
We give a verdict on a matter; 'verdict on' is the correct collocation.
Choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap: The Secretary-General was shocked at the number of ________
Answer: D (child soldiers)
When a noun describes another noun it stays singular: 'child soldiers', like 'girl students'.
Choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap: I was often angry ________ Oche since he differed ________ me often.
Answer: D (with/with)
We are angry with a person, and we differ with a person when we disagree with them.