Monday, March 3, 2014

U.S. English Basic Skills Test



Question 1:
Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
Charlotte knew ________the secret investigation _________her past, but she closed her eyes to it and pretended it wasn’t happening.
Answer: a. of, about

Question 2:
Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.
I think Pamela deserves to be punished for her________ stupid and________ behavior.
Answer: b. totally, irresponsible


Question 3:
Which of the following sentences punctuated correctly?
a. Tracy bought three suits; seven scarves; and ten pairs of shoes.
Answer: b. We are expecting a hurricane this afternoon, therefore we have closed the school early.



Question 4:
Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.
While_________ of our relatives live on the __________hill in the county, _________of our friends live in the _________areas of the valley.
Answer: c. many, windiest, most, more, protected

Question 5:
Complete the following sentence by choosing the phrase with the best word order from the options given.
Those who are not wise_____________.
Answer: d. does not need to be necessarily stupid.

Question 6:
Choose the series of pronouns that best completes the following sentence.
Don’t _________think Larry should call __________wife if ______________is going to be late for dinner?
Answer: a. you, his, he

Question 7:
Rearrange the following words to create most logical and grammatically correct sentence.
days for last has good weather few The been the not
Answer:d. The weather has not been good for the last few days

Question 8:
Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.
Knowing that February was the ___________ month of the year, Cheryl planned her vacation ____________.
Answer: b. shortest, accordingly

Question 9:
Rearrange the following words to create most logical and grammatically correct sentence.
Answer: e. Whenever I can’t spend time with my friend, I always speak to him on the phone.

Question 10:
Read the following question and choose the response that uses the correct corresponding verb tense.
Does Jack wear that furry hat often?
Answer: d. No, he only wears it when his ears are cold.

Question 11:
Which of the following sentence illustrates correct pronoun usage?
a. is those the set of plates the bride wanted, or did she want this set?
d.Whose book is that-his or our?
Answer: e. None of the above

Question 12:
Which of the sentence illustrates proper sentence structure?
a. Everyone knows that a mango is much sweeter to an orange
Answer: d. The queen had hardly finished her speech when the people began to disperse.

Question 13:
Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.
“It may snow tomorrow.” he said.
Answer: d. He said it might snow tomorrow.

Question 14:
Which of the following sentence punctuated correctly?
Answer: d. “Come here.” she said, “and let me get a good look at you.”

Question 15:
Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.
“Sharon must go to the bank today.” said Albert.
Answer: d. Albert said Sharon had to go to the bank today.

Question 16:
Choose the option that correctly changes original sentence from active to passive.
ORIGINAL SENTENCE: That tall man is carrying a lot of lumber.
REWRITTEN SENTENCES: 
Answer: d. A lot of lumber is being carried by that tall man.

Question 17:
Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
I placed my notes__________my desk and referred to them____________ the meeting.
Answer: b. beside, during

Question 18:
Rearrange the following words to create most logical and grammatically correct sentence.
Sleeping likes the . midday Katie until on weekends
Answers: Katie likes sleeping until midday on the weekends.

Question 19:
Choose the series of verbs that best completes  the following sentence.
Everyone ____________too busy cooking and __________ the campsite ____________ the family _________ from the woods.
Answers: d. was, setting up, to notice, watching

Question 20:
Choose the series of verbs that best completes  the following sentence.
I find it very hard to remember ______________ letters that are entrusted to me. In fact, I remember _____________to do so dozens of times!
Answer: d. mailing, forgetting

Question 21:
Choose the series of articles and conjunctions that best completes  the following sentence.
Lilacs ___________ violets are usually purple, I have seen some _________ are white.
Answer: c. and, although, that

Questions 22:
Complete the following sentence by choosing the phrase with the best word order from the options given.
Only after they had an exhaustive study__________ how to adapt the technology to the needs of our company.
Answer: c. they did begin to understand

Question 23:
Which of the following sentence illustrates proper use of comma?
a. Randy wanted to end the meeting, but Amy wanted to prolong it.
e. a and b
answer: f. All of the above

Question 24:
Which of the following sentence does NOT illustrates correct verb and tense usage?
Answer: b. Clarabelle’s mother absolutely hated nicknames and always calls her daughter by her full name.

Question 25:
Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
Victor, who stole ____________ ideas and used them  to make _________ a millionaire, never once offered ______________ a world of thanks.
Answer: d. our, himself, us

Question 26:
Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
______________ is the name of the opera, and ___________ role did you say Maria would play?
Answer: c. What, which

Question 27:
Choose the verbs and phrases that best completes the following sentence.
This dish _____________ too spicy. Why ___________ so pepper?
Answer: e. a and c

Question 28:
Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.
Carol has said, “I am responsible for this project.”
Answer: a. Carol has said that she is responsible for this.

Question 29:
Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
Although Marvin said he had the keys___________ the flower pot, we were unable to find them___________ the dark. In the end, we waited for him at the coffee shop ____________the corner.
Answer: a. under, in. around

Question 30:
Complete the following sentence by choosing the phrase with the best word order from the options given.
The excited children who had run toward the loud _______________.
Answer:d. music, told the others about the ice cream truck outside.

Question 31:
Rearrange the following words to create most logical and grammatically correct sentence.
your company name? of what the is
Answer: c. What is the name of your company?

Question 32:
Which of the following sentences NOT punctuated correctly?
a. All of the apple’s at the grocers were rotten so I bought oranges instead.
Answer: b. “Seven canteens full of water should enough for the hike,” said Tabitha.

Question 33:
Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
After realizing that our hosts hadn’t actually invested _________ to ____________ party. ____________ excused ____________ from the table and slipped out the back door.
Answer: a. us, their, we, ourselves.

Question 34:
Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of parallel construction?
Answer: b. We painted the conference room yellow, hung a poster on the wall, and are rearranging the chairs.

Question 35:
Which of the following sentence uses correct pronoun usage?
a. to whom are your employees going to report while you’re gone?
Answer: e. All of the above

Question 36:
Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.
The archeologists were_____________ to discover such a __________ and__________ ____________ artifact at that mostly uncovered site.
Answer: b. amazed, rare, incredibly, beautiful

Question 37:
Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.
“I’m not feeling well,” Agatha said.
Answer: a. Agatha has said that she doesn’t feel well.

Question 49: Complete the following sentence by choosing the phrase with the best word order from the options given.
The excited children, who had run toward the loud _____________ .
Answer:  a. music and then told the others about the ice cream truck outside
b. music, are telling to the others about the ice cream truck outside
c. ice cream truck to tell the others about the music outside
d. music, told the others about the ice cream truck outside

Question 50: Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.
“I can meet with you at noon,” said Peter.
a.         Peter says he can meet with me at noon.
b.         Peter said he will meet with me at noon.
Answers:  c.         Peter said he could meet with me at noon.
d.         Peter can meet with me at noon, so he said.

Question 51: Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.
The archeologists were_____________ to discover such a __________ and__________ ____________ artifact at that mostly uncovered site.
a.     amazing, rarely, incredible, beautifully
Ans:   b.     amazed, rare, incredibly, beautiful
c.     beautiful, rarity, amazingly, incredible
d.     amazingly, beautiful, rarely, incredible

Question 52: Which of the following sentence illustrates proper use of comma?
a. Randy wanted to end the meeting, but Amy wanted to prolong it.
b. After pouring herself a glass of water in silence, Nicky answered my question.
Answers:  c. The committee, which had failed to come to a consensus decided to meet again on Tuesday.
d. Mr. Bridges is never home on the weekends, he always goes to his home in the country.
e. a and b
f. All of the above

Question 53: Which of the following sentences illustrates proper sentence structure?
a.     Walking down the street, my eyes were drawn to a diamond in a store window.
b.     A small red car pulled up behind the woman with tinted windows.
Answers:  c.     The man in the black cape mounted his powerful stallion and it galloped away.
d.     The cats chased the birds around the yard with the yellow beaks.

Question 54: Choose the series of verbs and phrases that best completes the following passage.
This dish _________ too spicy. Why __________ so much pepper?
a.     is, did the chef have to use
b.     was, the chef is using
c.     is, did the chef use
d.     was, the chef used
Answers:     e.     a and c

Question 55: Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.
Carol has said, “I am responsible for this project.”
Answers:  a. Carol has said that she is responsible for this.

Question 56: Which of the following sentences does NOT illustrate correct pronoun usage?
ans:  a.     The wet dog shook itself off, wagged its tail, and proceeded on its way.
b.     Don’t take the silver goblet out of its protective case or you’ll ruin it.
Ans: c.     You should wear that jacket to their wedding because it’s the nicest one you have.
d.     It’s not too late to answer their ad for a waitress, is it?
e.     All are correct

Question 57: Which of the following sentences NOT punctuated correctly?
a. All of the apple’s at the grocers were rotten so I bought oranges instead.
Answers:  b. “Seven canteens full of water should enough for the hike,” said Tabitha.

Question 58: Which of the following sentence uses correct pronoun usage?
a. To whom are your employees going to report while you're gone?
b. Each monkey had its own bunch of bananas to munch on.
c. Neither of us had any idea that the Robinsons were selling their beach house.
d. Delilah congratulated herself on a job well done.
Answers:  e. All of the above

Question 59: Which of the following activities can you accomplish with the Remote Desktop feature in Windows XP?
a. You can get a miniature view of your desktop by clicking on the Desktop icon.
b. You can automatically clear up unwanted Desktop icons.
Answers: c. You can view files and documents on your computer's desktop from a coworker's computer.
d. You can view files and documents on any computer's desktop from your computer.

Question 60: Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence below without creating a run-on sentence.
It's never too late to learn how to swim ________________ you may fall off a boat!
a., you never know when
b. you never know when
Answers:  c. —you never know as
d.; you never know when

Question 61: Which of the following sentences illustrates correct usage of articles and conjunctions?
a.     The cake that I ate was better that the one you had.
b.     An house is not the home, or so they saying goes.
Answers:  c. For my birthday, I would like a book, an hourglass, and the keys to a new boat.
d.   Has a package I've been waiting for been delivered yet, nor must I wait longer?

Question 62: Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of parallel construction?
a.         Arthur failed when he tried to open the lock with a key, but succeeded when he tried to open it with a hammer.
b. We painted the conference room yellow, hung a poster on the wall, and are rearranging the chairs.
c.   No one in the room knew that the doors had been locked and that policemen will be running up the stairs.
Answers:  d.   Andrea is incapable of walking and to talk at the same time.

Question 63: Which of the following sentences does NOT illustrate proper use of articles and conjunctions?
a.         I thought about keeping an orangutan as a pet; however, my apartment complex does not allow exotic animals on the premises.
Answers:  b.         Bertha decided to change a locks of her house after burglars stole a computer or an oil painting.
c.         After thinking about the problem for half an hour, Glen finally came up with a perfect solution.
d.         Arlene loves nature and the outdoors in general, yet she spends most of her time inside because of her job.

Question 64: Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of parallel construction?
a. Terry hoped to find a new job that would let him earn extra cash in the summer and to work fewer hours.
Answers:  b. Although Tommy was failing his biology class at college, he was passing his chemistry class.
Ans:  c. Trina loved to sail, skate, swim, and surfing.
d. Tatiana declared that the people in her office are smarter than the people who work in Tad's office.

Question 65: Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of apostrophes?
Answers:  a. Helga borrowed her friend's skates for the day; however, she failed to return them.
b. Thousand's of bargains are available during the holiday season, but I cant find time to shop.
c. The koala bear closed it's eyes and fell fast asleep.
d. Although I like the Joneses, I'm angry at them for breaking all of Ralphs' tools.

Question 66: Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence below without creating a run-on sentence.
Mr. Peach has sent his four children to lvy league colleges _______ he has sacrificed his health working day and night dusty factory.
a.     however
Answers:    b.     ; however,
c.     , however
d.     however,

Question 67: Choose the series of verbs that best completes the following sentences.
Alison regrets _______ you with her remarks; she never meant ______ so.
a. to hurt, doing
Answers:  b. to hurt, to do
c. hurting, doing
d. hurting, to do

Question 68: Complete the following sentence by choosing the phrase with the best word order from the options given.
Only after they had an exhaustive study__________ how to adapt the technology to the needs of our company.
a. did they understand to begin
b. did they begin to understand
Answers:  c. they did begin to understand
d. to understand did they begin

Question 69: Which of the following sentences is NOT punctuated correctly?
Answers:     a.     We expect only three things from our dog: loyalty, affection, and tail wagging.
b.     I need you to pick up several boxes of paperclips, pens, and pencils; three pounds each of potatoes, carrots, and peas; and my dry cleaning.
c.     Marcy, my parrot, squawked for an hour, before finally calming down.
Answers: d.     All of the above are punctuated correctly.

Question 70: Which of the following sentences is NOT punctuated correctly?
Answers:  a. All of the apple's at the grocer's were rotten, so I bought oranges instead.
b. "Seven canteens full of water should be enough for the hike," said Tabitha.
c. Until the stove is fixed, there's no way I can bake a lemon meringue pie.
d. The woman, whose name escapes me at the moment, disappeared into the limousine.

Question 71: The left side of the Start menu contains two parts, separated by a thin horizontal line. The Windows XP term for manually inserting a shortcut to one of your chosen applications into the top part of the left side (by using the right-context menu of the application in Windows Explorer) is called:
Answers:  a. Attaching an application to the Start menu.
b. Pinning an application to the Start menu
c. Placing an application into the Start menu.
d. Porting an application to the Start menu

Question 72: Choose the series of articles and conjunctions that best completes the following sentence.
Neither we ________ Sal, our neighbor, could understand ________ it had been our dog Rover or Sal's cat's kittens _________ had destroyed all the flower beds in the middle of _______ night.
Answer: a. nor, whether, that, the
b. or, if, who, the
c. and, whether, than, a
d. nor, if, that, a


Question 73: Choose the series of articles and conjunctions that best completes the following sentence.
Julia, who is studying to be ________ foreign correspondent, is currently doing ______ internship in ______ Middle East _____ will return before the end of _______ year.
a. (no article required), an, the, but, the
b. the, a, the, however, a
c. a, an, (no article required), yet, a
Answers:  d. a, an, the, but, the

Question 74: Which of the following sentences does NOT illustrate correct verb and verb tense usage?
a.) These repetitive and misleading guidelines could easily be interpreted in several different ways.
Answers:  b.) Clarabelle's mother absolutely hated nicknames and always calls her daughter by her full name.
c.) The Imagist movement in poetry is commonly regarded as having begun in the early twentieth century.
d.) We all danced across the lawn and lifted Zoe above our heads in triumph.

Question 75: Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?
a.     ‘Come here, she said, and let me get a good look at you.’
And: b.     Come here she said, and let me get a good look at you.
c.     “Come here,” she said. “and let me get a good look at you.”
Ans: d.     “Come here,” she said, “and let me get a good look at you.”

Question 76: Read the original sentence below and then choose the rewritten sentence that illustrates proper sentence structure.
ORIGINAL SENTENCE:
It is easy to carry solid objects, but the same cannot be said of liquids.
REWRITTEN SENTENCES:
a. Unlike liquids, solid objects are easy to carry.
Answers:  b. Unlike liquids, we can easily carry solid objects.
c. Unlike liquids; solid objects can easily be carried.
d.     Unlike liquids, solid objects easy to be carried.

Question: 77  Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
Whiskey, my pet squirrel, jumped ________ my head and ________ the windowsill.
Answers:a.          over, onto
b.          through, into
c.          from, under
d.          into, onto

Question 78: Rearrange the following words to create the most logical and grammatically correct sentences.
Last what ! It’s did you night, over After
a. After what night, it's over you did last!
Answers:  b. After what you did last night, it's over!
c. over what you did last night, it's After!
d. After, it's over what you did last night!

Question 79: Rearrange the following words to create the most logical and grammatically correct sentence.
would I have it anything if had . I you known said would not bother
a.         Would I have not said anything if you had known it would bother I?
Answers:  b.         I would not have said anything if I had known it would bother you.
c.         Had I known if it would bother you I would not have said anything.
d.         If I had known it would not bother you I would have said anything.

Question 80: Which of the following statements is true if you open an existing file, make changes to it, and save it with a new name?
a. The original file will be deleted.
Answers:  b. The original file remains unchanged.
c. The changes will be saved in the original file
d. The original file is sent to the Recycle Bin

Question 81: Which of the following sentences illustrates proper sentence structure?
a. Unless the world controls its population, mankind will continue to face one problem after another.
Answers:  b. Unless the world doesn't control its population, mankind will continue to face one problem after another.
c. Unless the world controls its population, until then mankind will continue to face one problem after another.
d. Unless the world fails to control its population, mankind until then will continue to face one problem after another.

Question 82: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
Victor, who stole ____________ ideas and used them  to make _________ a millionaire, never once offered ______________ a world of thanks.
a.         our, himself, we
b.         their, them, himself
c.         your, us, you
Answer: d. our, himself, us

Question 83: Scan the subsequent question and opt for the response that uses the right corresponding verb tense.
Ans: a (No, as a result of by the time I got there all the tickets had already been sold.)

Question 84: Rearrange the subsequent words to form the foremost logical and grammatically correct sentences.
Would I actually have it something if had, I you known said wouldn't hassle
Ans: b (I wouldn't have said something if I had known it might hassle you)

Question 85: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
I placed my notes__________my desk and referred to them____________ the meeting.
a. at, among
ans:b. beside, during
c. with, at
d. upon, around

Question 86: Choose the verb that best completes the following sentence.
Do you know if Harlon ____________Japanese before moving to Japan?
Answers:  a. has studied
b. has been studying
c. will have been studying
d. will be studying

Question 87: opt for the phrase that best completes the sentence below while not making a run-on sentence.
Its never too late to find out the way to swimming make sure you might fall off a boat!
Ans: b (you never grasp when)

Question 88: Rearrange the subsequent words to form the foremost logical and grammatically correct sentence.
 With can’t phone, on whenever continually to the time pay I speak I my friend, him
Ans: e (Whenever I can’t pay time with my friend. I continually speak to him on the phone.)

Question 89: Which of the following sentences illustrates correct verb and verb tense usage?
a. Did Annabel knowingly lie on the witness stand?
Answers:  b. we think the judge will have noticed something strange in her behavior.
c. The lawyers had decided to keep her testimony a secret.
d. Somehow, all of the newspapers gotten hold of the story.

Question 90: Rearrange the subsequent words to form the foremost logical and grammatically correct sentence.
days . for last has sensible weather few The been the not
Ans: d (The weather has not been sensible for the previous few days)

Question 91: that of the subsequent sentences illustrates correct sentence structure?
Ans: d (The queen had hardly finished her speech when the individuals began to disperse.)

Question 92: that of the subsequent sentences is punctuated correctly?
Ans: d (“Come here,” she said, “and let me get an honest check up on you.”)

Question 93: Complete the subsequent sentence by selecting the phrase with the most effective word order from the choice given.
people who aren't wise 2nd.
Ans: d (does not got to be essentially stupid)

Question 94: scan the subsequent question and opt for the response that uses the right corresponding verb tense.
Will Jack wear that furry hat often?
Ans: d (No, he solely wears it when his ears are cold.)

Question 95: opt for the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the subsequent sentence.
The archaeologists were befits discover such a rest room and an area 2nd artifact at that principally uncovered website.
Ans: b (amazed rare incredibly beautiful)

Question 96: that of the subsequent sentences illustrates the right use of parallel construction?
Ans: b (Although Tommy was failing his biology category at school, he was passing his chemistry class)

Question 97: Which of the following sentences illustrates correct verb and verb tense
Ans: b, d {(We assume the choose can have noticed one thing strange in her behavior.), (Somehow, all of the newspapers gotten hold the story.)}
Ans: e (All of the above)

Question 98: that of the subsequent sentences is punctuated correctly?
Ans: b (We predict a hurricane this afternoon; thus we've closed the varsity early.)

Question 99: amendment the subsequent sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.
Rhonda says, “I get to figure early on a daily basis.”
Ans: c (Rhonda has said that she have to be compelled to work early on a daily basis.)

Question 100: Rearrange the following words to create the most logical and grammatically correct sentence.
work . is always to brother willing not My
a.         My brother is not willing to work always.
Answers:  b.         My brother is not always willing to work.
c.         is not willing to work always My brother.
d.         My work is not willing to always brother.

Question 101: Which of the following sentences does NOT illustrate correct verb and verb tense usage?
a. Frank and Marjorie have opened a new chocolate shop on the corner.
b. By the time I get there, all the best candy will have been eaten already.
Answers:  c. They was going to sell pastries as well, but then decided against it.
d. Have you ever wondered how many jelly beans there are in the world?

Question102: Rearrange the following words to create the most logical and grammatically correct sentence.
with can't phone . on Whenever always to the time spend I speak I my friend , him
a. Whenever I always phone on my friend to speak, I can't spend the time with him.
b. Whenever I spend time on the phone to him, I can't always speak with my friend.
c. Whenever I speak to him, I can't always spend time with my friend on the phone.
d. Whenever I can't speak to him on the phone, I always spend time with my friend.
Answers:  e. Whenever I can't spend time with my friend, I always speak to him on the phone.

Question103: Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.
“It may snow tomorrow.” he said.
a. He said it should snow tomorrow.
b. He might say it will snow tomorrow.
c. He says it may snow tomorrow.
Answers: d. He said it might snow tomorrow.

Question 104: Which of the following sentences illustrates correct verb and verb tense usage?
a.      Let’s wait until seven to leave; the traffic should be much lighter by then.
b.      My boss says I have to stay late tonight because I was sleeping during office hours.
c.      I would call them, but I think they have left for the day.
d.      Have you seen the cookies that were on my desk? They seem to have disappeared.
Answers:  e.      All of the above

Question 105: Which of the following sentences illustrates correct verb and verb tense usage?
a.         Until the snow is melting, the train is not able to move.
b.         Until the snow does not melt, the train will not be able to move.
Answers:  c.         Until the snow melts, the train will not be able to move.
d.         Until the snow will melt, the train will not be able to move.

Question 106: Which of the following sentences illustrates correct verb and verb tense usage?
Answer: b, d 


Question 107: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
Although Marvin said he had the keys____ the flower pot, we were unable to find them_____ the dark. In the end, we waited for him at the coffee shop _____ the corner.
Answers:  a.     under, in, around
b.     in, with, at
c.     around, at, on
d.     beside, from, around

Question 108: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
After realizing that our hosts hadn’t actually invested _________ to ____________ party. ____________ excused ____________ from the table and slipped out the back door.
a.     us, their, we, ourselves
b.     ourselves, theirs, we, us
Answers: c.     them, our, they, themselves
d.     us, our, we, himself 


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