Grammar Grab
Neither the teacher nor the students ___ (be) ready for the test.
Neither the teacher nor the students are ready for the test.
When subjects are joined by neither…nor, the verb agrees with the nearest subject. Here, students is plural, so we use are.
Which country is home to the ancient pyramids of Giza?
A) Mexico
B) Egypt
C) Peru
D) India
B) Egypt
The pyramids of Giza are located near Cairo, Egypt, and are among the most famous ancient monuments in the world.
She is very ___ about details; she checks everything twice.
A) careless
B) meticulous
C) lazy
D) confused
B) meticulous
Meticulous means extremely careful and precise.
Which planet is known as the Red Planet?
Mars
Mars looks red because of iron oxide (rust) on its surface.
If I ___ (have) more time, I would study harder.
If I had more time, I would study harder.
This is a conditional sentence (second conditional). The past tense had is used to express an unreal situation.
Which famous landmark is also called “The Statue of Liberty”?
A) Eiffel Tower
B) Big Ben
C) Liberty Enlightening the World
D) Colosseum
C) Liberty Enlightening the World
The Statue of Liberty’s official name is Liberty Enlightening the World, gifted by France to the United States in 1886.
This old phone is completely ___; nobody uses it anymore.
A) modern
B) obsolete
C) expensive
D) rare
B) obsolete
Obsolete means out of date or no longer in use.
Who painted the Mona Lisa?
Leonardo da Vinci
Painted in the early 1500s, it’s one of da Vinci’s most famous works.
The book, along with the magazines, ___ (be) on the table.
The book, along with the magazines, is on the table.
The main subject is book (singular). The phrase along with the magazines is extra information, so the verb remains singular.
Which country is known for the traditional dance called the Tango?
A) Brazil
B) Argentina
C) Spain
D) Portugal
B) Argentina
The Tango originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is now performed worldwide.
The instructions were so ___ that nobody understood them.
A) clear
B) ambiguous
C) strong
D) easy
B) ambiguous
Ambiguous means unclear or having more than one possible meaning.
Which city is famous for the landmark called Big Ben?
London
Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell at the Palace of Westminster.
She suggested that he ___ (arrive) earlier.
She suggested that he arrive earlier.
After verbs like suggest, recommend, insist, we use the subjunctive form (base verb without -s).
Which city hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics?
A) Beijing
B) London
C) Rio de Janeiro
D) Tokyo
B) London
London hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics, becoming the first city to host the Games three times (1908, 1948, 2012).
The scientist made a ___ discovery that changed modern medicine.
A) remarkable
B) ordinary
C) weak
D) small
A) remarkable
Remarkable means extraordinary or worthy of attention.
Which continent is the Amazon rainforest located on?
South America
The Amazon is mainly in Brazil, covering much of northern South America.
If she ___ (study) harder, she could pass the exam.
If she studied harder, she could pass the exam.
Which famous scientist developed the theory of relativity?
A) Isaac Newton
B) Albert Einstein
C) Galileo Galilei
D) Charles Darwin
B) Albert Einstein
Einstein’s theory of relativity revolutionized physics in the early 20th century.
The manager was ___ in making sure the project finished on time.
A) diligent
B) careless
C) lazy
D) confused
A) diligent
Diligent means hardworking and careful in effort.
What is the largest mammal in the world?
Blue Whale
Blue whales can grow over 30 meters long and weigh up to 200 tons.