Grammar Detectives
Complete: “The witness spoke ___ the police officer.”
Answer: to
Explanation: We speak/reveal information to someone.
“Anna ___ in this company since 2022.”
Answer: has worked
Explanation: “since 2022” → present perfect
Which word means “prove false”?
A. debunk B. expose
Answer: debunk
Explanation: Expose means “reveal” or “show publicly,” not “prove false.”
A worker said heavy traffic made him late. However, security cameras showed his car entering the parking lot 45 minutes before work started.
Which conclusion is more reasonable?
A. He may not be telling the truth.
B. Traffic was definitely the problem.
Answer: A. He may not be telling the truth.
Explanation: The camera evidence conflicts with his explanation.
Which sentence is correct?
A. “She has worked here since 2021.”
B. “She worked here since 2021
Answer
A. “She has worked here since 2021.”
Explanation We use present perfect with since for actions that started in the past and continue now.
Complete: “Her explanation is consistent ___ the report.”
Answer: with
Explanation: The collocation is consistent with.
“They ___ soccer when it started raining.”
Answer: had been playing
Explanation: Past continuous action before another past event
Which word means “avoid or go around”?
A. bypass B. forefront
Answer: A. bypass
Explanation: Forefront means “leading position” or “most important position,” not avoiding something.
An influencer claimed she interviewed a famous actor in person. Later, people discovered the “interview” used old online clips and edited audio.
What most likely happened?
A. The interview was staged.
B. The actor forgot the interview.
Answer: A. The interview was staged.
Explanation: The evidence suggests the interview was artificially created.
Correct the sentence: “The article exposed him with a criminal.”
Answer: “The article exposed him as a criminal.”
Explanation: The correct collocation is:
expose someone as
Complete: “The article exposed him ___ a liar.”
Answer: as
Explanation: We use expose someone as something.
“He ___ for the train for over an hour.”
Answer: has been waiting
Explanation: Duration continuing until now
Which word means “make more efficient”?
A. streamline B. unravel
A. streamline
Explanation: Unravel means “become clear” or “fall apart,” especially for mysteries or plans.
The fire alarm suddenly activated during an important exam. Teachers later discovered that one student had searched online:“How to trigger a fire alarm without fire”
Which is the strongest evidence?
A. The student’s online search
B. The difficult exam questions
Answer A. The student’s online search
Explanation The search is directly connected to the suspicious event.
Make a sentence using:
streamline
Streamline means:
to make a system, process, or organization simpler and more efficient.
Example Answer
“The company streamlined its online system to save time.”
Complete: “Spies often operate ___ different countries.”
Answer: in
Explanation: Use in for countries and places.
“My family ___ to Japan last summer.”
Answer: went
Explanation: “last summer” = finished past time
The mystery slowly ___ after more investigation.
A. unraveled
B. streamlined
Answer
A. unraveled
Explanation: Streamlined is usually used for systems, processes, or organizations becoming more efficient.
A woman reported that her necklace was stolen during a party. However:
- no doors were forced open
- no strangers entered the house
- security footage showed her removing the necklace earlier that evening
What is the best conclusion?
A. She may have misplaced the necklace.
B. A thief secretly entered the house.
Answer: A. She may have misplaced the necklace.
Explanation: The evidence does not support the idea of a break-in.
Make a sentence using present perfect continuous.
Clues for present perfect continuous:
for, since, actions continuing until now, duration of time, has/have been + -ing
Example Answer
“She has been studying for three hours.”
Correct the mistake: “His story is not consistent to the evidence.”
Answer: “His story is not consistent with the evidence.”
Explanation: Correct collocation = consistent with
She have been studying for three hours.”
Answer: “She has been studying for three hours.”
Explanation: Use has with singular subjects
Which word means “center of activity”?
A. hub B. bypass
A. hub
Bypass means “avoid” or “go around” something.
A priceless painting disappeared from a museum overnight. Police found:
Who is MOST likely involved?
A. Someone inside the museum
B. A random tourist
Answer: A. Someone inside the museum
Explanation: The evidence suggests the criminal had insider knowledge and access.
Explain the difference between:
expose and debunk
under 30 second
Answer
expose = reveal or show publicly
debunk = prove something is false
Explanation
A story can be exposed first, then later debunked with evidence.