General U.S. English Basic Skills MCQs

1. The earthquake __________the city at four in the morning. Most people __________ in their houses.

2. __________ people in this company have been working very __________ __________.

3. bed we when have to to clock go strikes 10 the

4. I love _______ color red; _________, this shade seems a little too bright.

5. Which of the following sentences illustrates proper sentence structure? Walking down the street, my eyes were drawn to a diamond in a store window.

6. 'Be nice to your father,' she said to me.

7. That book is __________. __________ the same one __________ I gave you last year.

8. Thomas and Marlene ____________ out with each other for two years now.

9. Abu Dhabi Emirate possesses large oil reserves. Dubai does not.

10. Anita lived in Japan for several years. She speaks __________ Japanese and knows the culture very ________.

11. Natalie wanted to bake _______ cake but didn't have flour; _________, she decided to make _______ omelette.

12. Pete is addicted _______ gambling. His wife insists that he quit, but he doesn't care _______ her opinion.

13. The results of the study were inconclusive __________.

14. Peter was __________ after buying his new bike. He rode it __________ because he didn't want to reach the class __________.

15. Carol's father is very strict. He prohibits her ___________having a boyfriend ___________ she graduates from high school. She spends most of her time in the library, surrounded ___________ books.

16. I _______ my entire childhood in a village in India.

17. __________, he finally decided to go ahead __________ the new marketing project.

18. animals business it an to after exotic is look expensive

19. will a letter not next week send you she

20. My headphones are ________ bad shape. I need to invest ________ some new ones.

21. Which of the following sentences illustrates correct verb and verb tense usage? I have tried to find a job for over 6 months and I had over 20 job interviews, but nothing had come up yet.

22. home learns its it's that the to find important kitten way

23. Which of the following sentences illustrate(s) correct verb and verb tense usage? Joan had never fallen in love until she had met Carl last year.

24. ordinary accidents year items by every of are thousands caused

25. Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of parallel construction? Yesterday I cleaned up the bedroom, the living room, and painted the balcony.

26. My mother is often angry ________ me. I don't know why she's always upset. It depends ________ her mood, I guess.

27. His boss told him to finish the report _______ 5 pm. After that, he could go _______ vacation.

28. Rochelle felt ___________about forgetting her ___________ friend's birthday.

29. Which of the following sentences illustrates correct usage of articles and conjunctions? You have to be on time; otherwise, you'll miss the train.

30. The residents believe that the development in their city isn't __________ keeping __________ the rest of the country.

31. One thing I know about him ____________ .

32. easily question the way understood can most in this be

33. Nicole grew ________ from the hours of overtime at work. It became quite ________ that she needed a long vacation.

34. Start exercising now. You and ________ partner need to prepare ________ for next month's marathon.

35. _____________, I try to keep a positive attitude

36. I want to start writing books ________________ one this year!

37. Will you be able to translate this document ______ French?

38. Mark _________ us yesterday.

39. The________ ________ flower has bloomed and smells very________.

40. I will not oppose your decision. I cannot, _________, approve it.

41. _______ decided to buy the house because _______ location would allow _______to get to work very easily.

42. Have you ever been to East Asia?

43. The young girl sings _______ well for someone her age. Her performance was _______ to say the least.

44. Only when I filled my glass __________.

45. I _________ on a road in the mountains when I _________ out of petrol.

46. Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of apostrophes? In two weeks' time you'll have to begin school again.

47. Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly? Sam' dad's truck was found without its wheels in that old derelict garage.

48. The holiday was too __________; the time went very __________. We left the resort with a __________ heart.

49. My brother will apply ___________ some local companies _________ a job as a video editor after graduation.

50. Which of the following sentences illustrates correct pronoun usage? Him and I are going to see a movie tomorrow.

51. He said, I like this song.

52. Select the sentence that is punctuated most accurately. Mushrooms grow very quickly; in fact, after a good rain, it takes only a few hours and you can start picking them.

53. I visit _______ Grand Canyon _________ I go to Arizona.

54. Was there no one in the office last night?

55. _________ had I taken my shoes off _________ I found out we had to leave for _________ office again.

56. 'Are you coming with me?' he asked them.

57. I__________ until I __________ all the exam topics.

58. company products enable a to another those distinguish company trademarks its from of

59. Your friends host a party and someone leaves behind a phone. Which of the following is correct?

60. ______ cannot see through translucent materials, but light can pass through______.

61. She looked __________ at the __________-looking man.

62. I need to take care _______ my little sister. She is discriminated _______ at school because she has red hair. Yesterday, a bully punched her. However, my sister didn't tell _______ the bully.

63. The cake is delicious. Can I have ____________?

64. _________ books are available in _________ local store _________ not online

65. When I _________ another look I _________my shirt_________.

66. My friend said, 'I must leave as soon as possible.'

67. Are _______ _______ kids? I haven't met _______ for ages!

68. Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly? No, the taxi driver said rudely. I cannot get you to the airport in fifteen minutes.

69. Which of the following sentences illustrates proper sentence structure? The basket was carried by a boy full of fruits.

70. That car, __________ owner was arrested by the police, has been parked there ever since. Two of __________ tyres have been stolen.

71. There's always a risk _______ an earthquake in Japan. It's difficult to concentrate _______ your work, when you know there could be a disaster any minute.

72. Mary couldn't help _______ at John's joke.

73. I said, 'She has been working in this office since 2007.'

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

75. Those who are not wise ____________ .

76. Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly? 'Come here, she said, and let me get a good look at you.'

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

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

79. Which of the following sentences is NOT punctuated correctly? We expect only three things from our dog: loyalty, affection, and tail wagging.

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

81. Jeremy drove his motorcycle _______ the bridge, _______ the hill, and _______ the diner before finally parking it _______ two police cars.

82. Which of the following sentences illustrates proper sentence structure? Unless the world controls its population, mankind will continue to face one problem after another.

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

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

85. That tall man is carrying a lot of lumber.

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

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

88. Which of the following sentences illustrates correct usage of articles and conjunctions? The cake that I ate was better that the one you had.

89. Does Jack wear that furry hat often?

90. Which of the following sentences illustrates correct pronoun usage? Is those the set of plates the bride wanted, or did she want this set?

91. Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of apostrophes? Helga borrowed her friend's skates for the day; however, she failed to return them.

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

93. Charlotte knew ___________ the secret investigation _________ her past, but she closed her eyes to it and pretended it wasn't happening.

94. sleeping likes the . midday Katie until on weekends

95. Do you know if Harlon ____________Japanese before moving to Japan?

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

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

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

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

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

101. Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of parallel construction? Arthur failed when he tried to open the lock with a key, but succeeded when he tried to open it with a hammer.

102. It is easy to carry solid objects, but the same cannot be said of liquids.

103. Which of the following sentences illustrate(s) the proper use of commas? Randy wanted to end the meeting, but Amy wanted to prolong it.

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

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

106. Julia, who is studying to be _______foreign correspondent, is currently doing _______ internship in _______ Middle East _______ will return before the end of _______ year.

107. 'I will be moving soon,' said Alma.

108. Knowing that February was the _________ month of the year, Cheryl planned her vacation ___________.

109. While __________ of our relatives live on the __________ hill in the county, __________ of our friends live in the __________ __________ areas of the valley.

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

111. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

117. 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.

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

119. Which of the following sentences does NOT illustrate correct verb and verb tense usage? These repetitive and misleading guidelines could easily be interpreted in several different ways.

120. Did you see the show last night?

121. Did you hear the weather report for tomorrow?

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

123. 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.

124. It's never too late to learn how to swim ________________ you may fall off a boat!

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

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

127. work . is always to brother willing not My

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

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

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

131. Which of the following sentences does NOT illustrate proper use of articles and conjunctions? I thought about keeping an orangutan as a pet; however, my apartment complex does not allow exotic animals on the premises.

132. Will you be going to the company picnic this year?

133. Which of the following sentences illustrates incorrect pronoun usage? The wet dog shook itself off, wagged its tail, and proceeded on its way.

134. Don't _____ think Larry should call _____ wife if _____ is going to be late for dinner?

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

136. your company name ? of What the is

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

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

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

140. Which of the following sentences illustrates correct pronoun usage? To whom are your employees going to report while you're gone?

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

142. Which of the following sentences is NOT punctuated correctly? All of the apple's at the grocer's were rotten, so I bought oranges instead.

143. Which of the following sentences illustrates correct verb and verb-tense usage? Until the snow is melting, the train is not able to move.

144. It may snow tomorrow, he said.

145. Which of the following sentences illustrates correct verb and verb tense usage? Did Annabel knowingly lie on the witness stand

146. Which of the following sentences does NOT illustrate correct verb and verb tense usage? Frank and Marjorie have opened a new chocolate shop on the corner.

147. Carol said, I am responsible for this project.

148. Knowing that February is the _________ month of the year, Cheryl planned her vacation ___________.

149. Who is ____________ , sara or janet?