A
Choose the correct option.
If I ___ more time, I would take up another language.
A) have
B) had
C) would have
D) will have
Answer: B) had
Explanation: Second conditional: unreal present situation.
Choose the correct option.
She insisted ___ paying for dinner.
A) in
B) to
C) on
D) at
Answer: C) on
Explanation: The correct dependent preposition is insist on.
Choose the best word.
He has a very ___ knowledge of classical literature.
A) wide
B) broad
C) large
D) heavy
Answer: B) broad
Explanation: The natural collocation is broad knowledge.
Complete the sentence.
By the time we arrived, the film ___.
A) already started
B) has already started
C) had already started
D) was already starting
Answer: C) had already started
Explanation: Past perfect is used for the earlier of two past actions.
Choose the correct option.
There’s no point ___ about something you can’t change.
A) worry
B) to worry
C) worrying
D) worried
Answer: C) worrying
Explanation: The expression is there’s no point doing something.
Choose the correct word.
Her answer was so ___ that nobody knew what she really meant.
A) vague
B) steady
C) rigid
D) sensible
Answer: A) vague
Explanation: Vague means unclear or imprecise.
Choose the correct option.
I’d rather you ___ me before borrowing my car.
A) ask
B) asked
C) had asked
D) would ask
Answer: B) asked
Explanation: After I’d rather you..., we often use past simple for present/future preference.
Choose the best collocation.
The company decided to ___ an investigation into the incident.
A) do
B) make
C) carry out
D) set
Answer: C) carry out
Explanation: The natural collocation is carry out an investigation.
Complete the sentence.
Hardly ___ the door when the phone rang.
A) I had closed
B) had I closed
C) I closed
D) did I close
Answer: B) had I closed
Explanation: After hardly, formal inversion is used.
Choose the correct option.
He apologized ___ being rude.
A) of
B) on
C) for
D) about
Answer: C) for
Explanation: We say apologize for something / for doing something.
Word formation.
She answered all the questions with great ___ .
(accurate)
Answer: accuracy
Explanation: After with great, we need a noun.
Choose the best option.
The witness’s statement was not entirely ___ with the evidence.
A) consistent
B) reliable
C) dependent
D) suitable
Answer: A) consistent
Explanation: Consistent with is the correct phrase.
Choose the correct option.
If only I ___ what to say at the time.
A) knew
B) had known
C) know
D) would know
Answer: B) had known
Explanation: If only + past perfect expresses regret about the past.
Choose the best word.
The speaker gave a very ___ explanation, so even weaker students understood.
A) lucid
B) harsh
C) scarce
D) shallow
Answer: A) lucid
Explanation: Lucid means clear and easy to understand.
Complete the sentence.
No sooner ___ sitting down than the meeting began.
A) I had
B) had I
C) I was
D) was I
Answer: B) had I
Explanation: The structure is No sooner had + subject + past participle + than...
Choose the correct option.
She is capable ___ much better work than this.
A) to do
B) of doing
C) for doing
D) doing
Answer: B) of doing
Explanation: The phrase is capable of doing.
Word formation.
His refusal came as a complete ___ .
(surprise)
Answer: surprise
Choose the best word.
The new rules were introduced gradually to avoid causing too much ___.
A) disruption
B) collapse
C) damage
D) failure
Answer: A) disruption
Choose the correct option.
Not until much later ___ the truth.
A) she discovered
B) did she discover
C) she had discovered
D) had she discovered
Answer: B) did she discover
Explanation: Negative adverbials at the beginning trigger inversion.
Choose the most appropriate word.
He’s extremely ___ and always notices even the smallest detail.
A) careless
B) meticulous
C) casual
D) vague
Answer: B) meticulous
Explanation: Meticulous means very careful and precise.
Complete the sentence.
Had I known about the problem, I ___ something earlier.
A) did
B) would do
C) would have done
D) had done
Answer: C) would have done
Explanation: This is an inverted third conditional.
Choose the correct option.
Her success was partly due ___ hard work and partly to luck.
A) on
B) with
C) to
D) from
Answer: C) to
Word formation.
The government was criticized for its ___ to respond quickly enough.
(fail)
Answer: failure
Choose the best option.
His comments were so ___ that several people felt offended.
A) tactful
B) abrasive
C) coherent
D) mild
Answer: B) abrasive
Explanation: Abrasive means harsh or unpleasant in manner.
Choose the correct sentence.
A) Rarely we see such dedication in younger students.
B) Rarely do we see such dedication in younger students.
C) Rarely we do see such dedication in younger students.
D) Rarely such dedication we see in younger students.
Answer: B) Rarely do we see such dedication in younger students.
Explanation: After rarely, inversion is required.