U.S. English Basic Skills MCQs with Answers (FREE)

1: Choose the series of verbs that best completes the following sentence.

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

A. hit, were sleeping

B. had hit, slept

C. had hit, had slept

D. hit, slept

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

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

A. More, hardly, lately

B. Most, hardly, lately

C. Most, hard, lately

D. Many, hardly, later

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

bed we when have to to clock go strikes 10 the

A. We have to go to the clock when bed strikes 10.

B. When the clock strikes bed we have to go to 10.

C. We have to go to bed when the clock strikes 10.

D. When the clock strikes 10 to bed we have to go.

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

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

A. the, although

B. the, nonetheless

C. a, besides

D. the, instead

5: Which of the following sentences illustrates proper sentence structure?

A. Walking down the street, my eyes were drawn to a diamond in a store window.

B. A small red car pulled up behind the woman with tinted windows.

C. The man in the black cape mounted his powerful stallion and rode away.

D. The cats chased the birds around the yard with the yellow beaks.

6: Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.

"Be nice to your father," she said to me.

A. She said to me to be nice to your father.

B. She said to me that be nice to your father.

C. She asked me that I should be nice to your father.

D. She asked me to be nice to my father.

7: Choose the series of pronouns that best completes the following sentence.
That book is __________. __________ the same one __________ I gave you last year.

A. mine, it's, that

B. my, its, that

C. mine, its, which

D. my, it's, that

8: Choose the verb that best completes the following sentence.

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

A. have gone

B. have been going

C. will have been going

D. will be going

9: Read the original sentence below and then choose the rewritten sentence that illustrates proper sentence structure.

ORIGINAL SENTENCE:
Abu Dhabi Emirate possesses large oil reserves. Dubai does not.

REWRITTEN SENTENCES:

A. Unlike Abu Dhabi Emirate, Dubai does not possess large oil reserves.

B. Like Abu Dhabi Emirate, Dubai does not possess large oil reserves.

C. Dubai does not possess large oil reserves like Abu Dhabi Emirate.

D. Alike Abu Dhabi Emirate, Dubai does not possess large oil reserves.

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

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

A. well, well

B. good, good

C. better, good

D. good, well

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

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

A. a, therefore, an

B. the, in contrast, the

C. the, meanwhile, an

D. a, otherwise, an

12: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.

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

A. with, for

B. to, to

C. on, with

D. to, about

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

The results of the study were inconclusive __________.

A. therefore, more research needs to be done

B. :therefore more research needs to be done

C. - therefore more research needs to be done

D. ; therefore, more research needs to be done

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

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

A. extremely happy, fastly, late

B. extreme happy, fast, lately

C. extreme happy, fastly, lately

D. extremely happy, fast, late

15: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following passage.

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.

A. by, since, with

B. from, until, in

C. from, until, by

D. to, until, by

16: Fill in the blank.

I _______ my entire childhood in a village in India.

A. spend

B. spent

C. have spent

D. had spent

17: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.

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

A. To any rate, from

B. From any rate, with

C. In any rate, with

D. At any rate, with

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

animals business it an to after exotic is look expensive

A. An expensive business it is to look after exotic animals.

B. To look after exotic animals, it is an expensive business.

C. It is an expensive business to look after exotic animals.

D. After exotic animals, it is an expensive business to look.

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

will a letter not next week send you she

A. She will not next week send you a letter.

B. A letter she will not send you next week.

C. Next week, she will send you a letter not.

D. She will not send you a letter next week.

20: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.

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

A. in, on

B. in, in

C. of, for

D. at, into

21: Which of the following sentences illustrates correct verb and verb tense usage?

A. I have tried to find a job for over 6 months and I had over 20 job interviews, but nothing had come up yet.

B. Charles has been learning to drive since the end of March.

C. The students are writing the exam for over three hours now.

D. When Cassandra was arriving, her roommates drank the coffee.

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

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

A. It's the kitten that learns important to find its way home.

B. The kitten learns it's important that to find its way home.

C. It's important that the kitten learns to find its way home.

D. The kitten learns that its way home it's important to find.

23: Which of the following sentences illustrate(s) correct verb and verb tense usage?

A. Joan had never fallen in love until she had met Carl last year.

B. We have been waiting for the bus for nearly half an hour, but it has still not arrived.

C. When the old woman had heard that her son was arrested for robbery, she was shocked.

D. While the kids were playing by the pool, one of them was dropping his ball and trying to get it out himself.

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

ordinary accidents year items by every of are thousands caused

A. Thousands of accidents by ordinary items are caused every year.

B. Ordinary items every year are caused by thousands of accidents.

C. Every year thousands of accidents are caused by ordinary items.

D. Every year by ordinary items thousands of accidents are caused.

25: Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of parallel construction?

A. Yesterday I cleaned up the bedroom, the living room, and painted the balcony.

B. Your responsibilities include sorting the mail, answering the phone, and organizing files.

C. It was both a long lecture and very boring.

D. His salary is less than his wife.

26: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.

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

A. against, on

B. with, with

C. about, with

D. with, on

27: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.

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

A. at, during

B. on, on

C. by, on

D. after, into

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

Rochelle felt ___________about forgetting her ___________ friend's birthday.

A. badly, better

B. bad, better

C. badly, best

D. bad, best

29: Which of the following sentences illustrates correct usage of articles and conjunctions?

A. You have to be on time; otherwise, you'll miss the train.

B. Dennis wore his rain boots; moreover, his feet stayed dry during the storm.

C. He is a weak leader; instead, he has plenty of supporters.

D. She has an incredible voice; similarly, she will go far in her music career.

30: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
The residents believe that the development in their city isn't __________ keeping __________ the rest of the country.

A. no preposition, with

B. in, with

C. in, throughout

D. for, with

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

One thing I know about him ____________ .

A. is that he reads often books.

B. that is he reads often books.

C. that is he often reads books.

D. is that he often reads books.

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

easily question the way understood can most in this be

A. The question can be easily understood most way in this.

B. The question can be most easily understood in this way.

C. In this way, the question most easily can be understood.

D. In this way, the question be most easily can understood.

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

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

A. tired, obviously

B. tired, obvious

C. tiredly, obvious

D. tiredly, obviously

34: Choose the series of pronouns that best completes the following sentence.

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

A. my, themselves

B. your, yourselves

C. your, themselves

D. my, yourself

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

_____________, I try to keep a positive attitude

A. Either I am feeling happy or sad

B. Whenever I am feeling happy or sad

C. Whether I am feeling happy or sad

D. Neither I am feeling happy nor sad

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

I want to start writing books ________________ one this year!

A. , I hope I write

B. I hope I write

C. : I hope I write

D. ; I hope I write

37: Fill in the blank.

Will you be able to translate this document ______ French?

A. to

B. in

C. into

D. Any of the above can be used.

38: Fill in the blank.

Mark _________ us yesterday.

A. called out

B. called in

C. called on

D. called into

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

The________ ________ flower has bloomed and smells very________.

A. large dull, sweet

B. largest dull, sweetly

C. larger dull, sweetly

D. largest dullest, sweetly

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

A. however

B. but

C. yet

D. therefor

41: Choose the series of pronouns that best completes the following sentence.

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

A. they, their, them

B. them, their, their

C. them, its, it

D. they, its, them

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

Have you ever been to East Asia?

A. No, but I had been to East Africa.

B. Yes, I have been to four East Asian countries.

C. Yes, I am going to be in Japan next month.

D. No, I can't because it's very far from here.

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

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

A. amazingly, spectacular

B. amazing, spectacular

C. amazingly, spectacularly

D. amazing, spectacularly

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

Only when I filled my glass __________.

A. I did notice that it was broken

B. did I notice that it was broken

C. I noticed that it was broken

D. I notice that it is broken

45: Choose the series of verbs that best completes the following passage.

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

A. am driving, ran

B. had driven, had run

C. was driving, ran

D. drove, ran

46: Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of apostrophes?

A. In two weeks' time you'll have to begin school again.

B. Its such a beautiful day that Ive decided to take skip work.

C. The dogs bark was far worse than its bite.

D. Bristols' harbour is one of the countrys' most beautiful.

47: Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

A. Sam' dad's truck was found without its wheels in that old derelict garage.

B. Sam's dad's truck was found without its wheels in that old, derelict garage.

C. Sams dads truck was found without its wheels in that old, derelict garage.

D. Sam's dad's truck was found without it's wheels in that old, derelict garage.

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

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

A. short, quick, heavy

B. short, quickly, heavy

C. shortly, quickly, heavily

D. shortly, quickly, heavy

49: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.

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

A. for, for

B. with, to

C. to, for

D. with, for

50: Which of the following sentences illustrates correct pronoun usage?

A. Him and I are going to see a movie tomorrow.

B. Who's coming to the party tonight?

C. Isabel and Ben are married and he has been married for 30 years.

D. A student can do almost anything they want without interference.

U.S. English Basic Skills MCQs

U.S. English Basic Skills MCQs

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