This grammar exercise is designed for students preparing for National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) English Paper.\u00a0The questions here test your knowledge of English Grammar. Each question consists of a short written conversation, part of which has been omitted. Four words or phrases, labeled a, b, c, and d, are given below the conversation. Choose the word or phrase that will correctly complete the conversation.<\/p>\n
1. This paper is inferior —————– that.<\/p>\n
a) than
\nb) to
\nc) from
\nd) off<\/p>\n
Answer: to<\/p>\n
2. Do you prefer ————— of meat pie?<\/p>\n
a) this sort
\nb) these sort
\nc) these sorts
\nd) this sorts<\/p>\n
Answer: this sort
\n(The words kind, class, sort, type etc. are all singular and should be used with this or that to modify a singular noun. The words kinds, sorts etc. are used with these and those to modify a plural noun)<\/p>\n
3. The book —————– on the chest of the drawers.<\/p>\n
a) was lain
\nb) was laid
\nc) was lied
\nd) have lied<\/p>\n
Answer: was laid<\/p>\n
4. The garden shears ————— used to clip the hedge.<\/p>\n
a) was
\nb) were
\nc) has
\nd) have<\/p>\n
Answer: were
\n(Nouns like tongs, shears, tweezers, scissors etc. are always plural and should be used with plural verbs, unless of course the singular aspect is indicated by using \u2018a pair of\u2019)<\/p>\n
5. Each of the boys ————— given a medal today.<\/p>\n
a) was
\nb) were
\nc) has
\nd) have<\/p>\n
Answer: was<\/p>\n
6. A strimmer is a machine —————– grass and weeds.<\/p>\n
a) to cut
\nb) for cutting
\nc) to cutting
\nd) none of these<\/p>\n
Answer: for cutting<\/p>\n
7. To ————–, he failed his exam.<\/p>\n
a) noone\u2019s surprise
\nb) no one\u2019s surprise
\nc) no ones surprise
\nd) no ones\u2019 surprise<\/p>\n
Answer: no one\u2019s surprise<\/p>\n
8. The circus ——————- round of applause for the perfectly timed acrobatic stunt.<\/p>\n
a) audience received a well-deserved
\nb) audience gave a well deserved
\nc) audience did receive a well deserved
\nd) audience gave a well-deserved<\/p>\n
Answer: audience gave a well-deserved<\/p>\n
9. Because of its warm tropical climate, Hawaii __________ subzero temperatures.<\/p>\n
a) almost experiences never
\nb) experiences never almost
\nc) experiences almost never
\nd) almost never experiences<\/p>\n
Answer: almost never experiences<\/p>\n
10. You ——————– working hard.<\/p>\n
a) definitely have been
\nb) have definitely been
\nc) have been definitely
\nd) definitely been have<\/p>\n
Answer: have definitely been<\/p>\n