LEXICAL-GRAMMAR TEST 1

1. Open the brackets putting the verbs in the appropriate tense form.
A father asked the headmaster for help, informing him that his son (1) ____________ (get) the gambling
habit and that he (2) ________(be) anxious for the boy to grow out of it. I (3) __________(see) what I can
do, (4) ____________(reply) the headmaster.
When the father (5) _________________ (call) for his boy at the end of the term the headmaster (6)
__________ (say); I (7) ____________ (think) that I (8) _______________ (cure) your son of the gambling
habit. I (9) _________ (tell) you what (10) ____________ (happen). One day I (11) _________ (see) he (12)
__________________ (look) at my beard and he (13) __________ (say), Sir, (14) ______ (be) it a real beard?
I wouldnt mind betting five pounds that it (15) _____ (be) false. All right, I (16) _____________ (reply), I
(17) ___________ (take) your bet. Now pull it and see. Of course I (18) ____________ (make) the boy pay
me the five pounds, so I (19) ___________ (think) I (20) _________________ (cure) him all right.
Oh, dear, (21) _____________ (groan) the father. He (22) ________ (bet) me ten pounds that he (23)
__________________ (pull) your beard before the term (24) ______________ (end)!
2. Insert the correct article.
(25) ____ Masai live in (26) ____ area between (27) ____ Kenyan mountains and (28) ____ Mount
Kilimanjaro in Africa. Their origin date back to (29) ____ prehistoric times. In (30) ___ fact, (31) ___life of
these people is based on breeding of (32) ____ cows. Their daily food is derived from these cows. (33) ___
another very important element in their life is (34) ____ land. (35) ____ land is sacred to them. It is prohibited
to offend it in any way. It is for this reason they dont cultivate their land. They dont bury (36) ____ dead.
The life of (37) ____ Masai warrior is full of (38) ____ discipline. If (39) _____ woman sees him eating (40)
____ meat, he must throw it away. If (41) ____ boy kills (42) ___ lion, he gets (43) ____ right wear its skin.
Today (44) ____ Masai dont kill (45) ___ lions because they are protected by (46) ___ law.
3. Complete the sentences by choosing the correct variant.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.

There were over 30, 000 _______ at the match.

a) spectators
b) viewers
c) witnesses
d) watchers
The car had a ______ tyre, so we had to change the wheel.
a) broken
b) cracked
c) bent
d) flat
It was impossible for her to tell the truth so she had to ______ a story.
a) invent
b) combine
c) manage
d) lie
When the manager went to Canada on business his _____ took over all his duties.
a) caretaker
b) officer
c) deputy
d) commander
He stood on one leg, ______ against the wall while he took off his shoes.
a) stopping
b) staying
c) leaning
d) supporting
I must tell you about my ____ when I first arrived in London.
a) incidents
b) happenings
c) experiences
d) events
The discovery was a major _____ for research workers.
a) breakout
b) breakdown
c) break-in
d) breakout

4. Identify and circle the part, which is not correct.

54.
The main clause of the contract concerns the amount of the money to be paid and all the when and
wherefore
1
2
3
are supplementary to it.
4
55.
He aimed himself for the long night drive by drinking black coffee.
1
2
3
4
56.
No feeding these lions on carrots, boys! They are carnivores.
1
2
3
4
57.
I told her to stop making a fuss about nothing and said she was luckily to have got a seat at all.
1
2
3
4
58.
Many huntsmen find the chase more exciting than killing.
1
2
3
4
5. Fill in the gaps with the suitable derivatives of the word given in capitals on the right.
59
.
60
.
61
.
62
.
63
.
64
.
65
.

A good dictionary can aid the student by _______________________ his LARGE

vocabulary.
________________________ is one his nicest characteristics.
TACT
Dont __________________ her piano-playing just because you are jealous.

LITTLE

The director has a complete_____________________ over the whole DOMINATE

committee.
An idiot has an_____________________ IQ.
NORM
I am alarmed by your ________________________ attitude.

RESPONSE

The food in this canteen is hardly_____________________.

EAT

6. Choose and circle the right form.

66. A number of (was /were) gathering round the bar.
67. The audience (was / were) dressed in a variety of ways, some in suits and dresses, some in jeans.
68. Youth often (question / questions) the contentions of society.
69. Bacteria (is / are) in the air we breathe and in the food we eat.
70. There (was / were) only five pounds in my purse.
71. All the furniture (was / were) destroyed in the fire.
72. Economics (is/ are) a very broad subject.
7. Insert the right preposition where necessary.
73. Businessmen hope ____ a continuance of prosperity.
74. He was accused ____ committing robbery.
75. The meeting ended ____ friendly agreement.
76. My father influenced ______ me to accept the job.
77. A good student hungers ____ knowledge.
78. An intruder broke ____ the house last night.

79. Oscar Wilde was known ____ his wit.

8. Guess the noun by filling in the blanks using the spelling clues given.
80. Winning $ 2 million on the football pools made it possible for him to live in __ __ __ __ __ t for the rest
of his life.
81. We decided to leave at d __ __ __ in order to get there before midday.
82. I cant carry it on my o__ __; its too heavy.
83. The car came round the corner at full __ p __ __ __.
84. I see that long hair is in __ a __ __ o __ again.
85. This wasnt an accident! You did it on __ __ r __ __ __ e.