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English Usage
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Choose the word or set of words for each blank in the following questions that best fits the meaning of the
sentence.

1. The sugar dissolved in water .....; finally all that remained was an almost ..... residue on the bottom of the glass.
(1) quickly, lumpy (2) immediately, flagrant
(3) gradually, imperceptible (4) subsequently, glassy
(5) spectacularly, opaque

2. It is foolish to vent your spleen on ..... object; still, you make ..... enemies that way.
(1) an inanimate, fewer (2) an immobile, bitter (3) an interesting, curious (4) an insipid, dull
(5) a humane, more

3. Studded starfish are well protected from most ..... and parasites by ..... surface whose studs are actual modified
spines.
(1) dangers, a vulnerable (2) predators, an armoured
(3) threats, a fragile (4) challenges, an obtuse
(5) exigencies, a brittle

4. As ..... head of the organization, he attended social functions and civic meetings but had no .... in the formation of
company policy.
(1) titular, voice (2) hypothetical, vote (3) former, pride (4) nominal, competition
(5) actual, say

5. It is only to the vain that all is vanity; and all is .... only to those who have never been ..... themselves.
(1) arrogance, proud of (2) deception, sincere with
(3) cowardice, afraid for (4) indolence, bored by
(5) solitude, left to

Select the lettered answer that contains the best version of the underlined section.

6. When describing the accident, a tone of self-justification creeps into his voice.
(1) When describing (2) In describing
(3) When there is a description (4) When describing about
(5) When he describes

7. Expressing a radically different idea is Dorothy Sayers, who believes that women all through history have been
oppressed by men.
(1) Expressing a radically different idea is Dorothy Sayers, who believes
(2) Dorothy Sayers expresses a radically different idea–
(3) Expressing a radically different idea is Dorothy Sayers, believing
(4) Dorothy Sayers, expressing a radically different idea believes
(5) Dorothy Sayers is expressing a radically different idea

8. Robert did not want to set the table because he did not know what time they were coming home.
(1) he did not know what time they were coming home.
(2) he did not know what time they were coming home at.
(3) he did not know what time it would be when they came home.
(4) he did not know at what time they were coming home at.
(5) he did not know what the time was they were coming home.

9. Neither Marty or Christine knows how to speak French.

(1) or Christine Knows (2) or Christine knew
(3) nor Christine knows (4) nor Christine know
(5) or Christine know

IC : PTwebeu03 (1)
10. But I know of other people who found a bilingual education to be just what they needed, in fact it was essential to
their progress since their English was so limited.
(1) needed; in fact it being essential (2) needed, being that it was essential
(3) needed; in fact it was essential (4) needed; essential as it was in fact
(5) needed. In fact essential

Choose the lettered word or phrase that is most nearly similar in meaning to the word in capital letters.

11. BALEFUL
(1) doubtful (2) virtual (3) deadly (4) conventional
(5) virtuous

12. GLIB
(1) slippery (2) fashionable (3) antiquated (4) articulate
(5) anticlimactic

13. INTRINSIC
(1) extrinsic (2) abnormal (3) above (4) abandoned
(5) basic

14. ATROCITY
(1) endurance (2) fortitude (3) session (4) heinous act
(5) hatred

15. REPLENISH
(1) polish (2) repeat (3) reinstate (4) refill
(5) refuse

Choose the lettered word or phrase that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters.

16. RESTIVE
(1) buoyant (2) placid (3) remorseful (4) resistant
(5) retiring

17. PUISSANT
(1) pouring (2) fashionable (3) articulate (4) healthy
(5) weak

18. LACHRYMOSE
(1) cheering (2) smooth (3) passionate (4) curt
(5) tense

19. OBLOQUY
(1) praise (2) rectangle (3) circle (4) dialogue
(5) cure

20. SPURIOUS
(1) genuine (2) angry (3) mitigated (4) interrogated
(5) glorious

(2) IC : PTwebeu03
Select the lettered pair in the following analogy questions that best expresses a relationship similar to
that expressed in the original capitalised pair.

21. BUFFOON : DIGNITY

(1) braggart : modesty (2) blackguard : strength
(3) laughing stock : ridicule (4) imposter : identification
(5) gambler : risk

22. CALUMNY : ASPERSIONS

(1) approbation : praise (2) slander : mockery (3) approval : criticism (4) expectation : threats
(5) satire : lamentations

23. GROVEL : SERVILITY

(1) litter : arrogance (2) fume : anger (3) yawn : civility (4) preen : modesty
(5) snivel : hypocrisy

24. ELUSIVE : CAPTURE

(1) persuasive : convince (2) elastic : stretch (3) headstrong : control (4) sensible : decide
(5) gullible : trick

25. LAST : SHOE

(1) cuff : trousers (2) finale : curtain (3) pattern : glove (4) buckle : belt
(5) strap : slip

Objective Key
1.(3) 2.(1) 3.(2) 4.(1) 5.(2) 6.(5) 7.(2) 8.(1) 9.(3) 10.(3)
11.(3) 12.(4) 13.(5) 14.(4) 15.(4) 16.(2) 17.(5) 18.(1) 19.(1) 20.(1)
21.(1) 22.(1) 23.(2) 24.(3) 25.(3)

IC : PTwebeu03 (3)