UK English Basic Skills Test

1. Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.

Rhonda says, 'I get to work early every day'.

Answers:

• Rhonda says she gets to work early every day.

• Rhonda said she gets to work early every day.

• Rhonda has said that she got to work early every day.

• Rhonda says she had gotten to work early every day.

2. Choose the series of verbs that best completes the following sentence.

If Harry __________ to the party too early, don't let him in; he __________ outside like everyone else.

Answers:

• gets, will have to wait

• got, waits

• gets, is waiting

• has gotten, must be waiting

3. Choose the verb that best completes the following sentence.

Do you know if Harlon ____________Japanese before moving to Japan?

Answers:

• has studied

• has been studying

• will have been studying

• will be studying

4. Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence below without creating a run-on sentence.

Mr. Peach has sent his four children to Ivy League colleges __________ he has sacrificed his health working day and night in that dusty factory.

Answers:

• however

• ;however,

• ,however

• however,

5. Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.

Jerry said, 'I saw my cousin at the fair'.

Answers:

• Jerry had said he'd seen his cousin at the fair.

• Jerry said he had seen his cousin at the fair.

• Jerry said he'd saw his cousin at the fair.

• Jerry says he saw his cousin at the fair.

6. Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.

I think Pamela deserves to be punished for her __________  stupid and __________ behaviour.

Answers:

• irresponsible, totally

• totally, irresponsibility

• totally, irresponsible

• total, irresponsibly

7. Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

Answers:

• "Come here," she said, and let me get a good look at you."

• Come here she said, and let me get a good look at you.

• 'Come here' she said. 'and let me get a good look at you.'

• "Come here", she said, "and let me get a good look at you."

8. Which of the following sentences is NOT punctuated correctly?

Answers:

• All of the apple's at the grocer's were rotten, so I bought oranges instead.

• "Seven canteens full of water should be enough for the hike," said Tabitha.

• Until the stove is fixed, there's no way I can bake a lemon meringue pie.

• The woman, whose name escapes me at the moment, disappeared into the limousine.

9. Which of the following sentences is NOT punctuated correctly?

Answers:

• We only expect three things from our dog: loyalty, affection and tail wagging.

• 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.

• Marcy, my parrot, squawked for an hour, before finally calming down.

• All of the above are punctuated correctly.

10. Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.

Carol has said, 'I am responsible for this project'.

Answers:

• Carol has said that she is responsible for this project.

• Carol says she is responsible for this project.

• Carol said that she was responsible for this project.

• Carol had said that she would be responsible for this project.

11. Choose the series of pronouns that best completes the following sentence.

After realising that our hosts hadn't actually invited ______ to ______ party, ______ excused ______ from the table and slipped out the back door.

Answers:

• us, their, we, ourselves

• ourselves, theirs, we, us

• them, our, they, themselves

• us, our, we, himself

12. Choose the series of pronouns that best completes the following sentence.

Victor, who stole _______ ideas and used them to make _______ a millionaire, never once offered _______ a word of thanks.

Answers:

• our, himself, we

• their, them, himself

• your, us, you

• our, himself, us

13. Choose the series of pronouns that best completes the following sentence.

_______  is the name of the opera, and _______ role did you say Maria would play?

Answers:

• This, which

• Who, that

• What, which

• Which, what

14. Choose the series of verbs that best completes the following sentence.

Everyone __________  too busy cooking and __________ the campsite __________ the family of bears __________ from the woods.

Answers:

• were, setting up, to notice, watch

• was, set up, noticing, to watch

• is, setting, to notice, watching

• was, setting up, to notice, watching

15. Choose the series of verbs that best completes the following sentence.

Alison regrets _________ you with her remarks; she never meant _________ so.

Answers:

• to hurt, doing

• to hurt, to do

• hurting, doing

• hurting, to do

16. Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of parallel construction?

Answers:

• Arthur failed when he tried to open the lock with a key, but succeeded when he tried to open it with a hammer.

• We painted the conference room yellow, hung a poster on the wall and are rearranging the chairs.

• No one in the room knew that the doors had been locked and that policemen will be running up the stairs.

• Andrea is incapable of walking and to talk at the same time.

17. Which of the following sentences illustrates proper sentence structure?

Answers:

• Unless the world controls its population, mankind will continue to face one problem after the other.

• Unless the world doesn't control its population, mankind will continue to face one problem after the other.

• Unless the world controls its population, until then mankind will continue to face one problem after the other.

• Unless the world fails to control its population, mankind until then will continue to face one problem after the other.

18. Choose the series of pronouns that best completes the following sentence.

That house used to be ______ , but ______ have given it to ______.

Answers:

• my, I, her

• mine, me, her

• mine, I, her

• myself, she, her

19. 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!

Answers:

• , you never know when

• you never know when

• —you never know as

• ; you never know when

20. Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.

'Sharon must go to the bank today', said Albert.

Answers:

• Albert says Sharon will have to go to the bank today.

• Albert said Sharon has to go to the bank today.

• Albert says Sharon must go to the bank today.

• Albert said Sharon had to go to the bank today.

21. Choose the option that correctly changes the original sentence from active voice to passive voice.

ORIGINAL SENTENCE:

That tall man is carrying a lot of lumber.

REWRITTEN SENTENCES:

Answers:

• The tall man carries a lot of lumber.

• Is being carried by the tall man, the lumber.

• The lumber is carried by the tall man.

• A lot of lumber is being carried by the tall man.

22. Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of apostrophes?

Answers:

• Helga borrowed her friend's skates for the day; however, she failed to return them.

• Thousand's of bargains are available during the holiday season, but I cant find time to shop.

• The koala bear closed it's eyes and fell fast asleep.

• Although I like the Joneses, I'm angry at them for breaking all of Ralphs' tools.

23. Choose the series of verbs that best completes the following sentence passage.

I find it very hard to remember ________ letters that are entrusted to me. In fact, I remember _________ to do so scores of times!

Answers:

• to post, forgetting

• posting, to forget

• to post, to forget

• posting, forgetting

24. Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of commas?

Answers:

• Randy wanted to end the meeting, but Amy wanted to prolong it.

• After pouring herself a glass of water in silence, Nicky answered my question.

• The committee, which had failed to come to a consensus decided to meet again on Tuesday.

• Mr. Bridges is never home on the weekends, he always goes to his home in the country.

• a and b

• All of the above

25. 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?

Answers:

• you, his, he

• we, your, his

• he, his, he

• you, his, himself

26. Complete the following sentence by choosing the phrase with the best word order from the options given.

Only after they had completed an exhaustive study __________ how to adapt the technology to the needs of our company.

Answers:

• did they understand to begin

• did they begin to understand

• they did begin to understand

• to understand did they begin

27. Choose the series of verbs and phrases that best completes the following passage.

This dish _________ too spicy. Why __________ so much pepper?

Answers:

• is, did the chef have to use

• was, the chef is using

• is, did the chef use

• was, the chef used

• a and c

28. Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.

The archaeologists were ________ to discover such a __________ and __________ _________ artefact at that mostly uncovered site.

Answers:

• amazing, rarely, incredible, beautifully

• amazed, rare, incredibly, beautiful

• beautiful, rarity, amazingly, incredible

• amazingly, beautiful, rarely, incredible

29. Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.

The helium-__________ balloon rose __________ into the air; the villagers knew then that their __________ leader was off on another mission.

Answers:

• power, powerful, powered

• powered, powered, powerful

• powered, powerfully, powerful

• powerful, powered, powerfully

30. Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.

Jack, leaning casually ________ the tree, watched as Sally walked slowly ________ him.

Answers:

• against, towards

• toward, against

• upon, past

• off, beside

31. Read the following question and choose the response that uses the correct corresponding verb tense.

Will you be going to the company picnic this year?

Answers:

• Yes, I will have always gone every year.

• No, unfortunately I didn't have time this year.

• Yes, and I plan on swimming, fishing and eating all day!

• I might go if I had known about it sooner.

32. Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.

The deer ran quickly _______  the trees, its hooves pounding _______  the forest floor.

Answers:

• amid, from

• over, at

• through, on

• throughout, on

33. 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.

Answers:

• (no article required), an, the, but, the

• the, a, the, however, a

• a, an, (no article required), yet, a

• a, an, the, but, the

34. Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following passage.

Although Marvin said he had hidden 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:

• under, in, around

• in, with, at

• around, at, on

• beside, from, around

35. Which of the following sentences illustrates correct usage of articles and conjunctions?

Answers:

• The cake that I ate was better that the one you had.

• An house is not the home, or so the saying goes.

• For my birthday I would like a book, an hourglass and the keys to a new boat.

• Has a package I've been waiting for been delivered yet, nor must I wait longer?

36. Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.

The _______ , _______ odour was ________ coming from the chemistry lab up the street.

Answers:

• pungent, nastily, clearness

• pungently, nastily, clearly

• pungently, nasty, clear

• nasty, pungent, clearly

37. Which of the following sentences does NOT illustrate proper use of articles and conjunctions?

Answers:

• I thought about keeping an orang-utan as a pet; however, my apartment complex does not allow exotic animals on the premises.

• Bertha decided to change a locks of her house after burglars stole a computer or an oil painting.

• After thinking about the problem for half an hour, Glen finally came up with a perfect solution.

• Arlene loves nature and the outdoors in general, yet she spends most of her time inside because of her job.

38. Rearrange the following words to create the most logical and grammatically correct sentence.

work . is always to brother willing not My

Answers:

• My brother is not willing to work always.

• My brother is not always willing to work.

• is not willing to work always My brother.

• My work is not willing to always brother.

39. Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.

Although the issue was very serious, the committee disposed ______ it in a few minutes and moved _______ to other business.

Answers:

• onto, off

• of, away

• on, out

• of, on

40. Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.

'I can meet you at noon', said Peter.

Answers:

• Peter says he can meet me at noon.

• Peter said he will meet me at noon.

• Peter said he could meet me at noon.

• Peter can meet me at noon, so he said.

41. Choose the series of articles and conjunctions that best completes the following sentence.

Neither we ________ Sal, our neighbour, could understand ________ it had been our dog Rover or Sal's cat Mittens _________ had destroyed all the flower beds in the middle of _______ night.

Answers:

• nor, whether, that, the

• or, if, who, the

• and, whether, than, a

• nor, if, that, a

42. Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.

We were surprised when the ________ parade ________ turned into a ________ party!

Answers:

• dull, suddenly, wild

• duller, all of a sudden, wilder

• dullest, suddenly, wildest

• dull, sudden, wild

43. Rearrange the following words to create the most logical and grammatically correct sentence.

days . for last has good weather few The been the not

Answers:

• weather for The last few good has not been the days.

• The good days has not been for the last few weather.

• The few days has not been good for the last weather.

• The weather has not been good for the last few days.

44. Choose the series of articles and conjunctions that best completes the following sentence.

_______ she was feeling ill, Teresa wanted to eat only _____ apple _____ some soup.

Answers:

• Yet, the, or

• After, an, and

• Because, an, or

• If, a, and

45. 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.

Answers:

• of, about

• about, into

• about, on

• of, after

46. Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.

I placed my notes _______ my desk and referred to them _______ the meeting.

Answers:

• at, among

• beside, during

• with, at

• upon, around

47. Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.

Jeremy rode his motorcycle _______ the bridge, _______ the hill and _______ the hospital before finally parking it _______ two police cars.

Answers:

• beside, among, behind, near

• beneath, over, under, on

• across, down, past, between

• under, around, through, into

48. Read the following question and choose the response that uses the correct corresponding verb tense.

Does Jack wear that furry hat often?

Answers:

• No, he just liked to wear it for fun sometimes.

• Yes, but don't said anything about it to him.

• Yes, and it can so annoying!

• No, he wears it only when his ears are cold.

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 _____________ .

Answers:

• music and then told the others about the ice cream truck outside

• music, are telling to the others about the ice cream truck outside

• ice cream truck to tell the others about the music outside

• music, told the others about the ice cream truck outside

50. Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.

Of the two books, Sam's is definitely the __________ ; however, even though Sandra's didn't turn out as __________ as expected, she still did a __________ job of writing it.

Answers:

• better, well, good

• best, good, good

• better, good, better

• best, well, well

51. Complete the following sentence by choosing the phrase with the best word order from the options given.

Those who are not wise ____________  .

Answers:

• do not need be necessarily stupid

• need not necessarily be stupid

• need not to be necessarily stupid

• does not need to be necessarily stupid

52. Which of the following sentences illustrates correct verb and verb tense usage?

Answers:

• Until the snow is melting, the train is not able to move.

• Until the snow does not melt, the train will not be able to move.

• Until the snow melts, the train will not be able to move.

• Until the snow will melt, the train will not be able to move.

53. Rearrange the following words to create the most logical and grammatically correct sentence.

your company name ? of What the is

Answers:

• What is the company of your name?

• your company What is the name of?

• What is the name of your company?

• The name of your company What is?

54. Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.

'It may snow tomorrow', he said.

Answers:

• He said it should snow tomorrow.

• He might say it will snow tomorrow.

• He says it may snow tomorrow.

• He said it might snow the next day.

55. 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.

Answers:

• more, windy, many, most, protection

• most, windier, more, most, protective

• many, windiest, most, more, protected

• many, winding, more, most, protected

56. Rearrange the following words to create the most logical and grammatically correct sentence.

to sleep likes . midday Katie until at weekends

Answers:

• To sleep Katie likes midday until at weekends.

• Katie likes to sleep until weekends at midday.

• Likes to sleep Katie until midday at weekends.

• Katie likes to sleep at midday until weekends

• Katie likes to sleep until midday at weekends.

57. 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

Answers:

• Would I have not said anything if you had known it would bother I?

• I would not have said anything if I had known it would bother you.

• Had I known if it would bother you I would not have said anything.

• If I had known it would not bother you I would have said anything.

58. Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.

Whiskey, my pet squirrel, jumped ________ my head and ________ the windowsill.

Answers:

• over, onto

• through, into

• from, under

• into, onto

59. Choose the series of articles and conjunctions that best completes the following sentence.

I think Fran could be ______ great public speaker, _______ she is still too shy to try it.

Answers:

• the, although

• a, but

• an, however

• a, and

60. Which of the following sentences does NOT illustrate correct pronoun usage?

Answers:

• The wet dog shook itself off, wagged its tail and proceeded on its way.

• Don't take the silver goblet out of it's protective case or you'll ruin it.

• You should wear that jacket to their wedding because it's the nicest one you have.

• It's not too late to answer their ad for a waitress, is it?

• All of the above

61. Read the following question and choose the response that uses the correct corresponding verb tense.

Did you hear the weather forecast for tomorrow?

Answers:

• Yes, it will to clear up by noon.

• No, I wasn't listening to the radio.

• Yes, they have said it will have snowed.

• No, but I think it had snowed.

62. Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.

'I will be moving soon', said Alma.

Answers:

• Alma said she would be moving soon.

• Alma said she will move soon.

• Alma says she'll be moving soon.

• Alma says she would move soon.

63. Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.

'I'm not feeling well', Agatha said.

Answers:

• Agatha has said that she doesn't feel well.

• According to Agatha, she isn't feeling well.

• Agatha said she wasn't feeling well.

• Agatha says she isn't feeling well.

64. 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:

Answers:

• Unlike liquids, solid objects are easy to carry.

• Unlike liquids, we can easily carry solid objects.

• Unlike liquids; solid objects can easily be carried.

• Unlike liquids, solid objects easy to be carried.

65. 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

Answers:

• Whenever I always phone on my friend to speak, I can't spend the time with him.

• Whenever I spend time on the phone to him, I can't always speak with my friend.

• Whenever I speak to him, I can't always spend time with my friend on the phone.

• Whenever I can't speak to him on the phone, I always spend time with my friend.

• Whenever I can't spend time with my friend, I always speak to him on the phone.

66. Rearrange the following words to create the most logical and grammatically correct sentence.

last what ! it's did you night , over After

Answers:

• After what night, it's over you did last!

• After what you did last night, it's over!

• over what you did last night, it's After!

• After, it's over what you did last night!

67. Which of the following sentences illustrates correct pronoun usage?

Answers:

• Whom are your employees going to report to while you're gone?

• Each monkey had its own bunch of bananas to munch on.

• Neither of us had any idea that the Robinsons were selling their beach house.

• Delilah congratulated herself on a job well done.

• All of the above

68. Choose the series of articles and conjunctions that best completes the following sentence.

Lilacs ______ violets are usually purple, ______ I have seen some ______ are white.

Answers:

• and, however, that

• or, yet, which

• and, although, that

• or, but, and

69. Which of the following sentences does NOT illustrate correct verb and verb tense usage?

Answers:

• Frank and Marjorie have opened a new chocolate shop on the corner.

• By the time I get there, all the best candy will have been eaten already.

• They was going to sell pastries as well, but then decided against it.

• Did you ever wonder how many jelly beans there are in the world?

70. Read the following question and choose the response that uses the correct corresponding verb tense.

Did you see the show last night?

Answers:

• No, because by the time I got there all the tickets had already been sold.

• Yes, and it was one of the best shows I had ever seen.

• Yes, but my seat was behind a pole so I couldn't barely see anything.

• No, but I am hope to see it tonight.

71. 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 ___________.

Answers:

• short, in accordance

• shortest, accordingly

• shorter, according

• shortness, accordion