English Grammar

 

​1. What is the feminine counterpart of a 'Hart'?

• ​(A) Roe
• ​(B) Hind
• ​(C) Pen
• ​(D) Filly

​Answer: (B) Hind

• ​(A) Roe: A specific small species of European deer, not the gender counterpart of a Hart.
• ​(B) Hind: Correct. A Hart is an adult male red deer (over five years old), and its exact official feminine form is a Hind.
• ​(C) Pen: The female swan (the male swan is a Cob).
• ​(D) Filly: A young female horse under four years old (the male is a Colt).




​2. ​A group of 'owls' is referred to as a ______ .

• ​(A) Convocation
• ​(B) Unkindness
• ​(C) Parliament
• ​(D) Murder

​Answer: (C) Parliament

• ​(A) Convocation: The collective noun for a group of eagles.
• ​(B) Unkindness: The collective noun for a group of ravens.
• ​(C) Parliament: Correct. The specific, classic collective noun for owls.
• ​(D) Murder: The collective noun for a group of crows.




​3.​Neither the principal nor the teachers ______ present at yesterday's committee meeting.

• ​(A) was
• ​(B) were
• ​(C) is
• ​(D) are

​Answer: (B) were

• ​(A) was: Singular past tense verb. Incorrect because under the Rule of Proximity, when subjects are connected by neither... nor, the verb must agree with the subject closest to it ("the teachers" \rightarrow plural).
• ​(B) were: Correct. Plural past tense verb agreeing with the nearest plural subject ("the teachers") for an event that happened yesterday.
• ​(C) is: Singular present tense verb. Incorrect both in number and tense.
• ​(D) are: Plural present tense verb. Incorrect because the sentence refers to a completed past event ("yesterday").




​4. ​______ I realized the significance of the SVOCA pattern earlier, I would have designed the lesson plan differently.

• ​(A) If
• ​(B) Had
• ​(C) Should
• ​(D) Were

​Answer: (B) Had

• ​(A) If: If "If" were used, the clause would require standard word order (If I had realized). Using If I realized changes it to a Type 2 conditional, which breaks the main clause structure (would have designed).
• ​(B) Had: Correct. Represents an inverted Type 3 conditional (Had + Subject + past participle ), which is grammatically equivalent to If I had realized.
• ​(C) Should: Used to invert Type 1 (real/possible) conditions (e.g., Should you need help...).
• ​(D) Were: Used to invert Type 2 (unreal present) conditions (e.g., Were I rich...).




​5. He seldom makes grammatical errors in his lectures, ______ ?

• ​(A) doesn't he?
• ​(B) does he?
• ​(C) is he?
• ​(D) isn't he?

​Answer: (B) does he?

• ​(A) doesn't he?: Incorrect. Seldom is a semi-negative adverb (like hardly, barely, rarely), making the main clause negative in meaning. Negative clauses strictly require a positive tag.
• ​(B) does he?: Correct. Positive tag matching the simple present tense auxiliary verb (does) for the subject he.
• ​(C) is he?: Auxiliary verb mismatch; the sentence uses the main verb makes (Simple Present), which takes does, not is.
• ​(D) isn't he?: Incorrect auxiliary and incorrect polarity.




​6. ​He is ______ honorably acquitted citizen and ______ European history scholar.

• ​(A) an, a
• ​(B) a, an
• ​(C) an, an
• ​(D) a, a

​Answer: (A) an, a

• ​(A) an, a: Correct. "Honorably" starts with a silent 'h' and opens with a vowel sound (/ˈɒn.ər.ə.bli/), requiring an. "European" starts with a vowel letter 'E' but is pronounced with a initial consonant sound (/jʊərəˈpiːən/), requiring a.
• ​(B) a, an: Reversed logic based on letters rather than speech sounds.
• ​(C) an, an: Incorrect because "European" does not begin with a vowel sound.
• ​(D) a, a: Incorrect because "honorably" opens with a vowel sound.




​7. ​She is proficient ______ phonetics, but her brother is addicted ______ video games.

• ​(A) in, to
• ​(B) at, with
• ​(C) with, for
• ​(D) about, in

​Answer: (A) in, to

• ​(A) in, to: Correct. The adjective proficient strictly takes the preposition in (when referring to an academic field, language, or subject). The adjective addicted strictly takes the preposition to.
• ​(B) at, with: Good at is valid, but proficient at is less preferred than proficient in, and addicted with is incorrect.
• ​(C) with, for: Mismatched prepositions for both adjectives.
• ​(D) about, in: Mismatched prepositions for both adjectives.




​8. ​The authorities decided to ______ the annual meeting due to bad weather.

• ​(A) put out
• ​(B) put off
• ​(C) call off
• ​(D) bring about

​Answer: (C) call off

• ​(A) put out: Means to extinguish a fire or light (e.g., put out the flame).
• ​(B) put off: Means to postpone or delay an event to a later date.
• ​(C) call off: Correct. Means to cancel an event completely.
• ​(D) bring about: Means to cause something to happen or bring about a result.




​9.Choose the word that means "lasting for a very short time":

• ​(A) Ephemeral
• ​(B) Eternal
• ​(C) Perpetual
• ​(D) Immutable

​Answer: (A) Ephemeral

• ​(A) Ephemeral: Correct. Meaning fleeting, momentary, or lasting for a very short time.
• ​(B) Eternal: Direct antonym; meaning lasting forever or without end.
• ​(C) Perpetual: Direct antonym; meaning never-ending or changing.
• ​(D) Immutable: Meaning unchanging over time or unable to be changed.




​10.What is the precise meaning of the Latin phrase "De jure"?

• ​(A) Existing in reality or fact, regardless of law
• ​(B) According to official or written law
• ​(C) For a specific, temporary purpose
• ​(D) Without setting a future date for reconvening

​Answer: (B) According to official or written law

• ​(A) Existing in reality or fact...: This describes the Latin phrase De facto.
• ​(B) According to official or written law: Correct. De jure translates to "by law" or "rightful by legal claim."
• ​(C) For a specific, temporary purpose: This describes the Latin phrase Ad hoc.
• ​(D) Without setting a future date...: This describes the Latin phrase Sine die.