What Are the Rules?
Red beans and rice is my mom's favorite
1. Subjects and verbs must agree in
number. This is the cornerstone rule
that forms the background of the
concept. In these examples the
subject is underlined and the verb is
in italics
The dog growls when he is angry.
The dogs growl when they are angry.
2. Don't get confused by the words
that come between the subject and
verb; they do not affect agreement.
The dog, who is chewing on my
jeans, is usually very good.
3. Prepositional phrases between
the subject and verb usually do not
affect agreement.
The colors of the rainbow are beautiful.
4. When sentences start with "there"
or "here," the subject will always be
placed after the verb, so care needs
to be taken to identify it correctly.
There is a problem with the balance
sheet. Here are the papers you
requested.
5. Subjects don't always come before
verbs in questions. Make sure you
accurately identify the subject before
deciding on the proper verb form to
use.
Where are the pieces of this puzzle?
6. If two subjects are joined by "and,"
they typically require a plural verb
form.
The cow and the pig are jumping over
the moon.
7. The verb is singular if the two
subjects separated by "and" refer to
the same person or thing.
dish.
8. If one of the words "each," "every,"
or "no" comes before the subject, the
verb is singular.
No smoking or drinking is allowed.
Every man and woman is required to
check in.
9. If the subjects are both singular
and are connected by the words "or,"
"nor," "neither/nor," "either/or," and
"not only/but also" the verb is
singular.
Jessica or Christian is to blame for the
accident.
10. The only time when the object of
the preposition factors into the
decision of plural or singular verb
forms is when noun and pronoun
subjects like "some," "half," "none,"
"more," or "all" are followed by a
prepositional phrase. In these
sentences, the objectof the
preposition determines the form of
the verb.
All of the chicken is gone. All of
the chickens are gone.
11. The singular verb form is usually
used for units of measurement or
time.
Four quarts of oil was required to get the
car running.
12. If the subjects are both plural and
are connected by the words "or,"
"nor," "neither/nor," "either/or," and
"not only/but also"the verb is plural.
Dogs and cats are both available at the
pound.
13. If one subject is singular and one
plural and the words are connected
by the words "or," "nor,"
"neither/nor," "either/or," and "not
only/but also", you use the verb form
of the subject that is nearest the
verb.
Either the bears or the lion has escaped
from the zoo. Neither the lion nor
the bears have escaped from the zoo.
14. Indefinite pronouns typically take
singular verbs. *
Everybody wants to be loved.
15. * Except for the pronouns "few,"
"many," "several," "both," "all," and
"some" that always take the plural
form.
Few were left alive after the flood.
16. If two infinitives are separated by
"and" they take the plural form of the
verb.
To walk and to chew gum require great
skill.
17. When gerunds are used as the
subject of a sentence, they take the
singular form of the verb; but, when
they are linked by "and," they take
the plural form.
Standing in the water was a bad
idea. Swimming in the ocean and playing
drums are my hobbies.
18. Collective nouns like "herd,"
"senate," "class," and "crowd,"
usually take a singular verb form.
The herd is stampeding.
19. Titles of books, movies, novels,
etc. are treated as singular and take a
singular verb.
The Burbs is a movie starring Tom Hanks.
20. Final Rule - Remember, only the
subject affects the verb!
For more examples, check
out Examples of Subject Verb
Agreement.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Basic Rule. A singular subject (she, Bill, car) takes a
singular verb (is, goes, shines), whereas a plural
subject takes a plural verb.
Example: The list of items is/are on the desk.
If you know that list is the subject, then you
will choose is for the verb.
Rule 1. A subject will come before a phrase
beginning with of. This is a key rule for
understanding subjects. The word of is the culprit
in many, perhaps most, subject-verb mistakes.
Hasty writers, speakers, readers, and listeners
might miss the all-too-common mistake in the
following sentence:
Incorrect: A bouquet of yellow roses lend color
and fragrance to the room.
Correct: A bouquet of yellow roses lends . . .
(bouquet lends, not roses lend)
Rule 2. Two singular subjects connected by or,
either/or, or neither/nor require a singular verb.
Examples:
My aunt or my uncle is  arriving by train
today.
Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.
Either Kiana or Casey is  helping  today with
stage decorations.
Rule 3. The verb in an or,
either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the
noun or pronoun closest to it.
 Examples:
Neither the plates nor the
serving bowl goes on that shelf.
Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on
that shelf.
This rule can lead to bumps in the road. For
example, if I is one of two (or more) subjects, it
could lead to this odd sentence:
Awkward: Neither she, my friends, nor I am
going to the festival.
If possible, it's best to reword such grammatically
correct but awkward sentences.
Better:
Neither she, I, nor my friends are going to the
festival.
OR
She, my friends, and I are not going to the
festival.
Rule 4. As a general rule, use a plural verb with two
or more subjects when they are connected by and.
Example: A car and a bike are my means of
transportation.
But note these exceptions:
Exceptions:
Breaking and entering is against the law.
The bed and breakfast was charming.
In those sentences, breaking and entering and bed
and breakfast are compound nouns.
Rule 5a. Sometimes the subject is separated from
the verb by such words as along with, as well as,
besides, not, etc. These words and phrases are not
part of the subject. Ignore them and use a singular
verb when the subject is singular.
Examples:
The politician, along with the newsmen, is
expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the
cause of her shaking.
Rule 5b. Parentheses are not part of the subject.
Example: Joe (and his trusty
mutt) was always welcome.
If this seems awkward, try rewriting the sentence.
Rule 6. In sentences beginning
with here or there, the true subject follows the
verb.
Examples:
There are four hurdles to jump.
There is a high hurdle to jump.
Here are the keys.
NOTE:
The word there's, a contraction of there is, leads to
bad habits in informal sentences like There's a lot
of people here today, because it's easier to say
"there's" than "there are." Take care never to
use there's with a plural subject.
Rule 7. Use a singular verb with distances, periods
of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a
unit.
Examples:
Three miles is too far to walk.
Five years is the maximum sentence for that
offense.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
BUT
Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on
the floor.
Rule 8. With words that indicate portions—e.g., a
lot, a majority, some, all—Rule 1 given earlier in
this section is reversed, and we are guided by the
noun after of. If the noun after of is singular, use a
singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.
Examples:
A lot of the pie has disappeared.
A lot of the pies have disappeared.
A third of the city is unemployed.
A third of the people are unemployed.
All of the pie is gone.
All of the pies are gone.
Some of the pie is missing.
Some of the pies are missing.
NOTE
In recent years, the SAT testing service has
considered none to be strictly singular. However,
according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of
English Usage: "Clearly none has been both
singular and plural since Old English and still is. The
notion that it is singular only is a myth of unknown
origin that appears to have arisen in the 19th
century. If in context it seems like a singular to you,
use a singular verb; if it seems like a plural, use a
plural verb. Both are acceptable beyond serious
criticism." When none is clearly intended to mean
"not one," it is followed by a singular verb.
Rule 9. With collective nouns such
as group, jury, family, audience, population, the
verb might be singular or plural, depending on the
writer's intent.
 Examples: spoken English but should still be used in formal
All of my family has arrived OR have arrived. speech and writing.
Most of the jury is here OR are here.
A third of the population was not in
favor OR were not in favor of the bill.
NOTE
Anyone who uses a plural verb with a collective
noun must take care to be accurate—and also
consistent. It must not be done carelessly. The
following is the sort of flawed sentence one sees
and hears a lot these days:
The staff is deciding how they want to vote.
Careful speakers and writers would avoid assigning
the singular is and the plural they to staff in the
same sentence.
Consistent: The staff are deciding
how they want to vote.
Rewriting such sentences is recommended
whenever possible. The preceding sentence would
read even better as:
The staff members are deciding how they want to
vote.
Rule 10. The word were replaces was in sentences
that express a wish or are contrary to fact:
Example: If Joe were here, you'd be sorry.
Shouldn't Joe be followed by was, not were, given
that Joe is singular? But Joe isn't actually here, so
we say were, not was. The sentence demonstrates
the subjunctive mood, which is used to express
things that are hypothetical, wishful, imaginary, or
factually contradictory. The subjunctive mood pairs
singular subjects with what we usually think of as
plural verbs.
Examples:
I wish it were Friday.
She requested that he raise his hand.
In the first example, a wishful statement, not a fact,
is being expressed; therefore, were, which we
usually think of as a plural verb, is used with the
singular it. (Technically, it is the singular subject of
the object clause in the subjunctive mood: it were
Friday.)

Normally, he raise would sound terrible to us.

However, in the second example, where a request
is being expressed, the subjunctive mood is correct.

Note: The subjunctive mood is losing ground in

 9. The books might arrive next next
week as promised by the teacher.
10. The jewelries that her mother
bought are all fake.
11. Can I have the key of Room 103?
12. The boy was sidesweeped by a
speeding car.
13. What kind of perfume did you use
this morning?
14. She forgot her TIN number.
15. Form a queue and claim your
identification card one by one.
16. To settle the matter, let us go to
votation.
17. I prefer a glass of ice tea over milk.
18. After having passed the rigid
training, he is now a full-pledged pilot.
19. The doctor’s advices came at an
opportune time.
20. I will bring you to the airport.
21. I will sue you to court.
22. The concert will be held at the
closed gymnasium.
23. The can goods that she gave me
have expired for a long time.
24. Attached herewith are pertinent
English Proficiency Test (EPT) Reviewer with documents for your perusal.
Answers – Part 1 25. The scavenger was assassinated by
BY ONLI NE E LE ARN ON FE BRUARY 1 3 , 2 01 8 an unidentified assailant.
Direction: Read the sentences carefully. Find the 26. There are hundreds of terminologies
error/errors in each sentence and rewrite them that I don’t understand.
with the correct answer/answers. 27. Weaving is her past time.
1. Aren’t you going to use heavy make- 28. Even before the wedding, he already
up today? congratulated the groom and the bride.
2. That elementary student is quite 29. Some vocabularies have evolved
brilliant. from foreign words.
3. In here, the point is you don’t have a 30. She has to cope up with her lessons
point. to get a high grade in Math.
4. Are there any questions? 31. The trainor failed to meet the
5. On behalf of the organization, we expectations of the participants.
would like to express our gratitude to all who took 32. I am clueless why I am allergic to
part in this event. chalks.
6. The birthday celebrant surprised his 33. I was asked to xerox the documents
guests with his remarkable speech. before handing them to the principal.
7. The debator trained hard for the 34. With regards to that defective item,
competition but he lost to a more experienced foe. the management is willing to replace it.
8. She is now a matured person as 35. How many questionnaires did you
evidenced by how she handles life’s pressure. float to the respondents?
36. I agree with your brilliant idea.
37. I agree to you when you said that 12. The boy was sidesweeped by a speeding
nobody is perfect. car.
38. His plans are in conformity with his 13. What kind of perfume did you use this
brother’s. morning?
39. Upon reaching the gas station, the 14. She forgot her TIN number.
man got out of the bus then never came back. 15. Form a queue and claim your identification
40. The speaker emphasized three card one by one.
major causes of Climate Change. Firstly,… 16. To settle the matter, let us go to votation.
41.  Though he speaks fluent English, he 17. I prefer a glass of ice tea over milk.
was actually raised in the barrio. 18. After having passed the rigid training, he is
42. I extended my condolence to the now a full-pledged pilot.
bereaved family. 19. The doctor’s advices came at an opportune
43. We would like to thank those who in time.
a way or another contributed to this event. 20. I will bring you to the airport.
44. Is there something wrong with the 21. I will sue you to court.
word Acknowledgement? 22. The concert will be held at
45. Let us abide with the rules and the closed gymnasium.
regulations of the school. 23. The can goods that she gave me have
46. I want to follow the footsteps of my expired for a long time.
sister. 24. Attached herewith are pertinent documents
47. The traffic policeman apprehended for your perusal.
the driver who didn’t notice the sign, NO PARKING 25. The scavenger was assassinated by an
ON BOTH SIDES. unidentified assailant.
48. The next part of the program is the 26. There are hundreds of terminologies that I
induction of newly elected officers. don’t understand.
49. He is the Chair of the Board of 27. Weaving is her past time.
Judges. 28. Even before the wedding, he already
50. We just celebrated our 15th year congratulated the groom and the bride.
wedding anniversary at the Manila Hotel. 29. Some vocabularies have evolved from
ANSWERS: foreign words.
1. Aren’t you going to use heavy make-up 30. She has to cope up with her lessons to get a
today? high grade in Math.
2. That elementary student is quite brilliant. 31. The trainor failed to meet the expectations
3. In here, the point is you don’t have a point. of the participants.
4. Are there any questions? 32. I am clueless why I am allergic to chalks.
5. On behalf of the organization, we would 33. I was asked to xerox the documents before
like to express our gratitude to all who took part in handing them to the principal.
this event. 34. With regards to that defective item, the
6. The birthday celebrant surprised his guests management is willing to replace it.
with his remarkable speech. 35. How many questionnaires did you float to
7. The debator trained hard for the the respondents?
competition but he lost to a more experienced foe. 36. I agree with your brilliant idea.
8. She is now a matured person as evidenced 37. I agree to you when you said that nobody is
by how she handles life’s pressure. perfect.
9. The books might arrive next next week as 38. His plans are in conformity with his
promised by the teacher. brother’s.
10. The jewelries that her mother bought are 39. Upon reaching the gas station, the man
all fake. got out of the bus then never came back.
11. Can I have the key of Room 103?
40. The speaker emphasized three major causes
of Climate Change. Firstly,…
41.  Though he speaks fluent English, he was
actually raised in the barrio.
42. I extended my condolence to the bereaved
family.
43. We would like to thank those who in a way
or another contributed to this event.
44. Is there something wrong with the
word Acknowledgement?
45. Let us abide with the rules and regulations
of the school.
46. I want to follow the footsteps of my sister.
47. The traffic policeman apprehended the
driver who didn’t notice the sign, NO PARKING
ON BOTH SIDES.
48. The next part of the program is the
induction of newly elected officers.
49. He is the Chair of the Board of Judges.
50. We just celebrated our 15th year wedding
anniversary at the Manila Hotel.
 Click here for numbers 51-100 questions with
answers
English Proficiency Test (EPT) Reviewer with
Answers – Part 2
BY ONLI NE E LE ARN ON FE BRUARY 1 4 , 2 01 8
Direction: Read the sentences carefully. Find the
error/errors in each sentence and rewrite them
with the correct answer/answers.
51. I will meet you at the library by and by.  country.
52. He was riding in a bus when they met a tragic
accident.
53. My father died yesterday. He is 55.
54. I came from Buguias, Benguet. Every summer, I
help my parents work in the farm.
55. I graduated at Sipsipnget National High School
in 2010.
56. The scissor that I bought at SM Baguio is quite
expensive.
57. Many informations have been divulged by the
secret agent.
58. His line of business is selling computer gadgets
and equipments.
59. He was hospitalized due to electrocution.
60. After the traumatic incident, I think she is
alright.
61. She is an impregnable woman.
62. She already casted her vote yesterday.
63. Based from the survey, NAIA is one of the five
dirtiest airports in the world.
64. She was taken cared of by her foster parents.
65. My parents work in the garden.
66. I was been the President of the Arts Guild when
I was in high school.
67. Calcium is not only good for the bones but for
the heart.
68. He revenged the killing of his father.
69. I was advised to cover my PIN when
withdrawing money in an ATM machine.
70. She is taking up Nursing for her second course.
71. Hand me your USB so I can save those files.
72. Anyways, that has been the final report to the
group.
73. I went to the library to get as many information
as I could.
74. The teacher forgot to give the direction in the
test.
75. When you go to Manila, better ask for
directions so you won’t get lost.
76. Despite of the oil price increase, the drivers
remained hopeful for a better 2012.
77. I could not illicit response from her.
78. He is in jail for smuggling elicit drugs into the
79. At this juncture, we would like to introduce the
Board of Judges.
80. Burn the chicken and cook “pinikpikan”.
81. The BSU gymnasium was filled up with people.
82. I will see you on February for the Panagbenga
craze.
83. What I need is a money to pay for my bills.
84. My father and mother are supportive to my
studies.
85. The host for the BSU Charter Celebration is he.
86. Her obese father is high blood.
87. It is ethical to say, Thank you in a request letter.
88. I left a note on my sister’s pocket.
89. Our mother has shown an unconditional love to
us.
90. The fugitive was apprehended in March 3 of
2010.
91. Her father is a military so people respect him.
92. His father, who is a police, was killed in a gun
battle.
93. The garbages on the street have not been
picked up.
94. Throw your garbage properly.
95. She was unaware of the morning glory in her
eyes.
96. The English term for dogmeat is azucena.
97. The English term for sayote is chayote.
98. The symbol (/) used to separate alternatives is
slash.
99. The technical term for the symbol & is and.
100. The pound key sign # is called number.
ANSWERS:
51. I will meet you at the library by and by.  introduce the Board of Judges.
52. He was riding in a bus when they met a tragic
accident.
53. My father died yesterday. He is 55.
54. I came from Buguias, Benguet. Every summer, I
help my parents work in the farm.
55. I graduated at Sipsipnget National High School
in 2010.
56. The scissor that I bought at SM Baguio is quite
expensive.
57. Many informations have been divulged by the
secret agent.
58. His line of business is selling computer gadgets
and equipments.
59. He was hospitalized due to electrocution.
60. After the traumatic incident, I think she
is alright.
61. She is an impregnable woman.
62. She already casted her vote yesterday.
63. Based from the survey, NAIA is one of the five
dirtiest airports in the world.
64. She was taken cared of by her foster parents.
65. My parents work in the garden.
66. I was been the President of the Arts Guild when
I was in high school.
67. Calcium is not only good for the bones but
for the heart.
68. He revenged the killing of his father.
69. I was advised to cover my PIN when
withdrawing money in an ATM machine.
70. She is taking up Nursing for her second course.
71. Hand me your USB so I can save those files.
72. Anyways, that has been the final report to the
group.
73. I went to the library to get
as many information as I could.
74. The teacher forgot to give the direction in the
test.
75. When you go to Manila, better ask
for directions so you won’t get lost.
76. Despite of the oil price increase, the drivers
remained hopeful for a better 2012.
77. I could not illicit response from her.
78. He is in jail for smuggling elicit drugs into the
country.
79. At this juncture, we would like to
80. Burn the chicken and cook “pinikpikan”.
81. The BSU gymnasium was filled up with people.
82. I will see you on February for the Panagbenga
craze.
83. What I need is a money to pay for my bills.
84. My father and mother are supportive to my
studies.
85. The host for the BSU Charter Celebration is he.
86. Her obese father is high blood.
87. It is ethical to say, Thank you in a request
letter.
88. I left a note on my sister’s pocket.
89. Our mother has shown an unconditional love
to us.
90. The fugitive was apprehended in March 3 of
2010.
91. Her father is a military so people respect him.
92. His father, who is a police, was killed in a gun
battle.
93. The garbages on the street have not been
picked up.
94. Throw your garbage properly.
95. She was unaware of the morning glory in her
eyes.
96. The English term for dogmeat is azucena.
97. The English term for sayote is chayote.
98. The symbol (/) used to separate alternatives
is slash.
99. The technical term for the symbol & is and.
100. The pound key sign # is called number.
 English Proficiency Test (EPT) Reviewer –
STRUCTURE
BY ONLI NE E LE ARN ON FE BRUARY 1 5 , 2 01 8
Part 1 – STRUCTURE
Directions: This test measures your ability to
recognize language that is appropriate for standard
written English.
Items 1-15 are incomplete sentences. Beneath
each sentence, you will see four words or phrases
marked A, B, C, and D. Choose the word or phrase
that best completes the sentence, then shade the
letter corresponding to your answer in the Answer
Sheet.
English Proficiency Test (EPT) Reviewer –
STRUCTURE with Answers
1.
1. The enterprising daughter who
____________ a vast fortune from her super rich
and powerful father is going to Europe to venture
into other business deals.
a. Inherit                        b. inherited                 c. is
inheriting                d. was inherited
2. Helium, a new element in the sun, is the ash left
______________ atoms of hydrogen are fused in
the furnace of the sun.
a. while                          b. unless                      c. when
d. until
3. To everybody’s surprise, the captain, looking
_____________, eas there ahead of all the rest.
a. his best                      b. at his best                 c. in
his best                     d. for his best
4. People _________ Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
damage were not necessarily those who had
smoked the longest but those who began smoking
at a young age.
a. of worst                   b. of worse                c. within
the worse             d. within in the worst
5. The primordial purpose _________ schooling is
ultimately to learn how to learn.
a. in                          b. for                          c. of                 information and discoveries.
d. at
6. Before the seeds germinated, I did not know
what kind of plants the _________________.
a. will be                           b. would be                          
c. can be                             d. could be
7. In April 1906, an earthquake never before
equaled in violence ___________ a part of the
United States, particularly San Francisco, California.
a. striked                           b. stroke                           c.
strikes                           d. struck
8. Ballooning revenue collections, mushrooming
infrastructures and expanding transportation and
communication facilities conspicuously manifest
the _________ of the city.
a. speedily growing economy                                   b.
speedy economic growing
c. speedy growing economic                                     d.
growing economic speed
9. The latest addition to the year – round regional
cultural showcase is the new, state-of-the-art light
and sound museum which _________ the country’s
past and its present.
a. exhibit                       b. exhibits                         c.
exhibited                 d. is exhibiting
10. Oral rehydration ________________ attempted
to replace lost body fluids in the early stages of
fever.
a. is                        b. would be                     c. was        
d. has been
11. It _______ be gleaned from the article that
mass media have both positive and negative
influence to society.
a. would                               b. could                             
c. must                            d. might
12. Of all the sports that _________________
strong bodies, swimming is the best.
a. develops                    b. developed                          c.
develop                 d. is developing
13. The legalization of divorce, until such time, has
been _____________ in our society.
a. a hotly-contested issues                                            
c. the hot contested issue
b. a hotly-contesting issue                                              
d. the hot contesting issue
14. A website is limited _____________ you to
other websites where you can access for more
a. until it is linking              b. because it links             
c. since it linked           d. while it link
15. The happy children, ________, paraded in the
busy streets in celebration of their school
foundation.
a. majestic costumes                                   c.
majestically costumes
 b. majestic costumed                                  d.
majestically costumed
Answers
BY ONLI NE E LE ARN ON APRIL 5 , 2 0 18
English Proficiency Test (EPT) Reviewer –
STRUCTURE
Answers Part 1
Part 1 – STRUCTURE
 
1.
1. The enterprising daughter
who inherited a vast fortune from her super rich
and powerful father is going to Europe to venture
into other business deals.
2. Helium, a new element in the sun, is the ash
left when atoms of hydrogen are fused in the
furnace of the sun.
3. To everybody’s surprise, the captain, looking  at
his best, as there ahead of all the rest.
4. People of worst  Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
damage were not necessarily those who had
smoked the longest but those who began smoking
at a young age.
5. The primordial purpose of schooling is ultimately
to learn how to learn.
6. Before the seeds germinated, I did not know
what kind of plants the would be.
7. In April 1906, an earthquake never before
equaled in violence stroke  a part of the United
States, particularly San Francisco, California.
8. Ballooning revenue collections, mushrooming
infrastructures and expanding transportation and
communication facilities conspicuously manifest
the speedily growing economy of the city.
9. The latest addition to the year – round regional
cultural showcase is the new, state-of-the-art light
and sound museum which exhibits the country’s
past and its present.
10. Oral rehydration is attempted to replace lost
body fluids in the early stages of fever.
11. It could be gleaned from the article that mass
media have both positive and negative influence to
society.
12. Of all the sports that develop strong bodies,
swimming is the best.
13. The legalization of divorce, until such time, has
been a hotly-contested issues in our society.
 
14. A website is limited because it links you to
other websites where you can access for more
information and discoveries.
15. The happy children, majestically costumed,
paraded in the busy streets in celebration of their
school foundation.
English Proficiency Test (EPT) Reviewer – Reading
Comprehension Practice Part 1
Answers 
Directions: In this test you will read several
passages. Answer all the questions that follow by
encircling the correct answer
Passage A
1. One reason that so many people fail is that
they lack confidence in themselves. If you think of
yourself as being unworthy of great achievement,
you will never achieve greatness. If, on the other
hand, you know yourself and understand what
your abilities are, and if then you are determined
to accomplish and gain confidence in yourself.
2. One of the surest ways to accomplish this is
for you to associate with persons who have really
achieved greatness. It is impossible, however, for
most people to come frequently into the actual
presence of the great. The next best thing,
perhaps, is for you to spend part of your time in
reading about great achievers. Biography is a
powerful stimulant to action.
3. But these processes will not work unless
you rid yourself of a sense of inferiority and
determined to do the best that you possibly can.
One of the great philosophers expressed the idea
in a single sentence when he said that each
individual should hitch his wagon to a star.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the main idea of the selection?
a. Self-confidence is hard to achieve
b. Many people suffer from an inferiority complex
c. Knowing oneself leads to great achievement in
life
d. Self-confidence is the key factor in achieving
success in life
2. Which paragraph/s gives/give specific
suggestions on how to develop confidence in 
oneself?
a. Paragraph 1            b. Paragraph 2          c.
Paragraph 1 and 3         d. Paragraph 2 and 3
 3. What word is synonymous or closest in meaning
to the word “hitch” as used in the last sentence of
the selection?
a. drive            b. fasten          c. detach             d.
remove
4. Successful people are different from those who
are not because they
a. Work hard at having faith in their abilities.
b. Persevere to achieve greatness.
c. Hesitate to take risk by themselves.
d. Disregard the opinions of others.
5. What does the saying “Each individual should
hitch his wagon to a star” mean?
a. One should try to fulfill all his ambitions in life.
b. A person should emulate his ideal person.
c. A person should aim as high as he could reach.
d. One should wish upon a star to make his dreams
come true.
6. What literary technique was used by the writer
in presenting his ideas?
a. Narration                                         c. Comparing
ideas
b. Detailed analysis                            d. Giving
suggestions
7. According to the author, what is one of the
surest ways to achieve self-confidence?
a. Read lots of informative books
b. Deal with people who have achieved greatness
c. Be-friend people who are self-sufficient
d. Develop a strong and independent personality
8. Based on the selection, what conclusion may be
drawn?
a. Confidence in oneself is crucial in achieving
success
b. Associating with well-known individuals is
enough to propel one to succeed
c. Reading the biographies of great people is
essential for one to become successful
d. Confidence in the ability of others is needed to
boost one’s chances of succeeding
English Proficiency Test (EPT) Reviewer – Reading
Comprehension Practice Part 2
Answers  varied dreams and ambitions
Directions: In this test you will read several
passages. Answer all the questions that follow by
encircling the correct answer.
Passage B
1. Asia’s new generation of kids has more than
just youth in common. Whether in Manila,
Hongkong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta or
Tokyo, whether rich or poor, urban or rural,
delinquent or not, Asia’s youngsters share many
things. They go to schools, sing-along bars, fast
food outlets, rock concert and rallies. They are
dressed in wild costumes of screaming colors or
black, leather jackets, outsize t-shirts and candy-
colored sneakers.
2. In Manila, they are particularly called
“bagets”. Their pursuits, though seemingly inane
are innocent – singing-along with the gang at the
malls, sharing cheeseburgers and sodas or cruising
the commercial center of Cubao and Makati.
3. In Bangkok, they will wander about the
Siam Shopping Center, in Singapore, in the
shopping complexes of Orchard Road. They are kids
of Asia’s great cities, avant-garde, rebellious,
modernized. They are exposed to imported
television that usher in international values.
4. In Hongkong, the kids have been described
as precocious, world-wise, and materialistic,
governed less by teachers and parents than by the
omnipresent television. Peer group influence is
great. Their trademarks are smoking, foul language,
bizarre and attention-getting appearance, and rude
mannerisms.
5. In Japan, they look like different race to the
old generation. There is rising drug abuse, sexual
freedom, crime and homosexuality among the
youth. There’s less respect given to parents and to
the aged.
QUESTIONS:
9. The passage is about Asia’s
a. lost generation                                                c.
urbanized society
b. delinquent youth                                             d. new
generation of youth
10. It can be inferred from the passage that Asia’s
youth
a. have senseless pursuits                               c. have
been influenced by western culture
b. share many common goals                        d. have
11. What is worth observing and good about the
youth beneath the modern image and westernized
lifestyle?
a. The youth are still the easy-go-lucky type.
b. Many of them still believe in traditional values.
 c. They share a common character as influenced by 2.
the media.
d. The values of the new generation have been
modified by modernization.
12. When the author said that Asian youth are
avant-garde, it means that they
a. are behind the times                                     c. are
promiscuous and stubborn
b. have old-fashioned thoughts                      3.
d. practice new and experimental ideas
13. What conclusion can be drawn out of the
passage? 4.
a. Peers are just companions, they don’t influence
others.
b. Print and broadcast media have a great
influence on the youth.
c. Discipline at home has nothing to do with the
character of the youth today.
d. Character is hereditary, the environment has
nothing to do with what was become of the youth 5.
today.
14. If the youth are exposed to too much western
television they will likely
a. Develop foreign values and forget traditional
ones.
b. Become complacent and indifferent. 1.
c. Become aggressive and violent.
d. Develop an independent mind.
15. What literary technique was used by the author
in writing the selection?
a. Comparing                b. Describing              c.
Making profile               d. Narrating events
English Proficiency Test (EPT) Reviewer – Reading
Comprehension Practice Part 3
Answers  1.
Directions: In this test you will read several
passages. Answer all the questions that follow by
encircling the correct answer.
Passage C 1.
1.
1. In the year 1799, an officer of the
French Army was stationed in a small fortress on
the Rosetta River, a mouth of the Nile, near 1.
Alexander, Egypt. He was interested in the ruins of
the ancient Egyptian civilization, and had seen the
sphinx and the pyramids, those mysterious
structures that were erected by men of another
era.
One day, as a trench was being dug,
he found a piece of black slate on which letters had
been carved. He had studied Greek in school, and
knew this was an inscription written in that
language. There were two more lines carved into
the stone: one on the Egyptian characters he had
seen on the ruins , the other in completely
unfamiliar characters.
The officer realized the importance
of such a find, and relinquished it to scholars who
had been puzzling over Egyptian inscriptions.
In 1802, a french professor by the
name of Champollion began studying the stone in
an attempt to decipher the two unknown sets of
characters using the Greek letters as a key. He
worked with the stone for over twenty years, and
in 1823, announced that he had discovered the
meaning of the fourteen signs, and in doing so, had
unlocked the secret of ancient Egyptian writing.
Some 5000 years after an unknown
person had made those three inscriptions, the
Rosetta Stone became a key, unlocking the written
records of Egypt and sharing the history of that
civilization with the rest of the world.
QUESTIONS:
What is the main idea of the selection?
a. French scholars worked hard in studying ancient
history.
b. Ancient Egyptians wrote and preserved their
history in stones.
c. The discovery of the Rosetta Stone led to a better
understanding of the history of    Egypt.
d. A French Army officer studied the Rosetta Stone
and the inscriptions carved into it.
In which country was the Rosetta Stone
found?
a. Egypt                       b. Greece                   c.
France                  d. Alexandra
What word would best describe ancient
Egyptians based on the selection?
a. dedicated                b. resourceful           c.
wise                     d. gifted
What might have happened if the Rosetta
Stone were not found?
a. Egyptian civilization would have flourished.
b. Ancient Egypt would have not reached the peak
of its glory.
c. Ancient Egyptians would have not known of their
cultural heritage.
 d. Egyptian civilization would have not been fully
understood by the modern world.
1. What does the lone sentence in the third
paragraph mean?
a. The owner of the Rosetta Stone tried to sell it to
scholars.
b. The Egyptians scholars were puzzled by the
inscriptions found in the Rosetta Stone.
c. The founder of the Rosetta Stone knew of its
value and turned it over to the proper authorities.
d. The officer did not think the Rosetta Stone had
much value and therefore gave it away.
1. What literary technique was used by the
writer in developing the passage?
a. Detailed analysis                             c. Narrative
chronological order of events
b. Comparison and contrast of ideas
d. Repetition of important points for emphasis
22. What conclusion may be drawn from the
passage?
a. Egypt has a rich civilization dating back to the
earliest times.
b. Egypt has a mysterious culture which remained
unknown.
c. Egypt was an ancient country with no significant
history.
d. Egypt’s civilization benefited only those in
ancient times.
English Proficiency Test (EPT) Reviewer – Writing
Part 1
with ANSWERS
Directions: Read the sentences carefully. Each
sentence is divided into 4 parts marked A, B, C, and
D. Identify the part that must be changed to make
the sentence correct.
1.
a. Marc Chaggall, a painter,
b. was considered a forefather of the art of
surrealism
c. an art (on how) that can be characterized by
incongruous imagery
d. produced by unnatural juxtapositions and
combinations.
2.
a. Since the time the World Wide Fund for nature
reported
b. that more than 22 species of wild felines have
(declining) declined.
c. different non-government agencies have given
their support
d. to the program that would protect the species.
3.
a. The threat of deculturation
b. now hangs over many small ethnic
(minority) minorities.
c. that are scattered
d. in the depths of many forests.
4.
a. Unclean water and improper disposal of waste
b. can (be carried) carry highly communicable
diseases
c. because of their injurious effects
d. to human life.
5.
a. Language was brought into the spotlight
b. as a crucial factor
c. (for) in Nigeria’s social, economic, and the
political future
d. because multilingualism inevitably results in
communication problems.
6.
a. The failure of tree-planting project was due to
the inconsistent reforestation program
b. haphazard community tree-planting schemes,
and meddling practices of
(indifference) indifferentindividuals
c. who reduced the anti-erosion fences
d. just to benefit their pasture land businesses
7.
a. Because of new coffee growers
b. flooding the global market,
c. the official price of a pound of coffee in the
United States
d. crashed (into) from $6 in 1977 to 42 cents in
2001
8.
a. The navy contributes
b. to the protection of the environment and
preservation of natural resources
c. by (scuttle) scuttling out cylindrical blocks
d. to serve as artificial reefs.
9.
a. Trinh XuanThuan, an astrophysicist from
Vietnam
b. wrote The Birth of the Universe: The Big Bang
and After, in 1993,
c. a book (on how it) that elucidates
d. the information and evolution of galaxies.
10.
a. Susana earned money for her vacation
b. by working in an antique store all summer
c. but the amount was (inefficient) insufficient
d. for all that she needed
11.
a. The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991
b. was one of the many misfortunes
c. to wreak havoc
d. in Central Luzon.
12.
a. After participating (the) in fertility rites,
b. the childless woman,
c. who was blessed with a healthy baby
d. experienced a blissful and contented life.
13.
a. Media produce
b. a (sociology) sociological phenomenon
c. such as psychological, moral, and academic
confusion
d. about the present culture.
14.
a. Concentrating on the physical intricacies
b. of different (pose) parts of the body
c. (forced) forces one to filter out
d. physiological anxieties.
15.
a. Any nation
b. that aspires to elevate morality
c. will have difficulty
d. (stamp) stamping out prostitution
Directions: Read the sentences carefully. Each
sentence is divided into 4 parts marked A, B, C, and
D. Identify the part that must be changed to make
the sentence correct.
16.
a. He (is) has been living in this country
b. ever since he came
c. but he makes no
d. attempt to speak our language.
17.
a. Some doubt about the state of truth of those
who do not share their faith,
b. but they leniently tolerate the situation
c. even if they (are) hinder
d. the motives of others.
18.
a. Human beings
b. have this natural inclination
c. for fending off (lonely) loneliness, exile, and
death
d. by dressing up the passing moment as a miracle.
19.
a. Costing more than $40 million and grossing $20
million in the first two weeks,
b. Pinocchio is one of the most expensive
(film) films
c. Made in Italy
d. To help put Rome back to the filmmakers’ maps.
20.
a. Oil prices have (shaping) shaped the world
economy for many years
b. but the emergence of the New Economy and the
rise of service industries
c. have supposedly made oil
d. increasingly less vital to economic growth.
21.
a. The movie we have seen
b. is a precision-carved jigsaw puzzle
c. that (it) took us inside the head
d. of a deeply disturbed, isolated schizophrenic
man.
22.
a. The most popular (alumnae) alumni
b. of a barangay high school
c. is now serving a president
d. of a well-known state university in manila.
23.
a. As of January 2003,
b. Okinawa has the highest proportion of
centenarians in the word
c. but its ranking of male life expectancy
d. fell (into) from first rank in 1985 to fourth rank
in 1995.
24.
a. Any government
b. should implement certain policies
c. which would cater (to) the economic, political,
moral,
d. and the social needs of the nation.
25.
a. The indication
 b. of social (distinct) distinctiveness
c. or the credibility of a piece of information
d. can lead to interesting state of perplexity.
E NG LISH P RO FIC IE NC Y TE ST (E PT)
RE VIE W E R – RE AD ING CO MPRE HE NSIO N
P RAC TIC E PART 4
ANSW E RS   catastrophe can hopefully still be averted.
Directions: In this test you will read several
passages. Answer all the questions that follow by
encircling the correct answer.
Passage D
1.
1. The complacent Filipino majority
may not have been awakened yet to the reality of a
ravaged environment; nonetheless, the evidence
must be overemphasized. Automotive vehicles for
one, reportedly contribute 94.6 million tons of
waste released into the air each year, a commuter
can only imagine how polluted the air that gets into
his respiratory system is.
2. Pollution experts are inclined to
single out man as the culprit of his own
destruction. Man, rightly referred to as a “messy
animal,” has helped being about untold
environmental decay.
3. Imperiled by the pollution of air,
water and land are not only human lives. The
marine species as well as the flora and fauna are
just adversely affected. Mass suicides of fishes and
whales have been witnessed along Australian and
American shorelines.
4. The mushrooming of factories and
plants along river banks have been largely
responsible for the pollution of the different bodies
of water, indiscriminate disposal of industrial waste
makes festering sinks of the rivers. Too much
dumping of industrial waste renders to water
stagnant. Many of the rivers that used to flow
along industrial banks can use some dredging. And
yet what good will dredging of a river do if in no
time at all it will serve again as dumping basin? The
initiative has to come from the factory owners.
5. A great number of scientists like or
think that new technology can be called upon to
check the impending pollution disaster, others are
of the opinion that fewer births and less gadgetry
may yet provide the answer to the devastating
dilemma. It cannot be denied, however, that man’s
wasteful ways call for some measure of discipline.
6. Man’s brutality toward his
environment will only lead to his unmarking. It is
ironical, indeed, that he who was created to have
dominion over every living creature on earth
should one day be overpowered by an
environment he has helped to pollute. The
QUESTIONS:
23. What does the selection generally urge man to
realize?
a. The threat of environmental pollution to each
country
b. The necessity of taking immediate steps to solve
the pollution problem
c. The scope of the problem of environmental
pollution
d. The steps to take in checking the impending
pollution disaster
24. The phrase “mushrooming of factories” are
used in the fourth paragraph of the selection refers
to factories which are
a. built           b. destroyed                  c.
maintained                       d. abandoned
25. In what part of the passage can you read of the
ways we can prevent pollution?
a. First paragraph         b. Fourth paragraph         c.
Fifth paragraph         d. Last paragraph
26. Who is referred to in the phrase “a messy
animal” in the second paragraph of the passage?
a. Fishes and whales         b. Flora and fauna          c.
Scientist              d. Man
27. What is implied in the last paragraph of the
passage?
a. Man failed to realize the seriousness of the
pollution problem.
b. Pollution, if unchecked, can bring about the
destruction of man.
c. Man does not deserve to be the master of His
creation.
d. There is no need to be alarmed of the pollution
problem.
28. What would be the likely outcome if we
continue polluting our environment?
a. Man will be destroyed by an environment he had
polluted.
b. Less births and less gadgetry will save the world
from catastrophe  .
c. Technology can help check the problem on
environmental pollution.
d. Man’s wasteful ways will contribute more to the
pollution of the environment.
29. Which of the following statements show a
cause and effect relationship?

a. Man’s wasteful ways are a perennial problem.

b. Man’s brutality toward his destruction.
c. The marine species and the flora and fauna are
adversely affected.
d. Mass suicide of fishes and whales have been
seen along coastlines.