PRETEST – Gen Ed - ENGLISH

NAME: __________________________________________________ DATE: _____________

I. GRAMMAR
1. Hello, what ______ your name?
a. is c. am
b. are d. be
2. ______ name is John, my ______ is Johnson.
a. Your / surname c. I / surname
b. My / surname d. I / name
3. My name is Lisa. ______ Lisa Peterson.
a. My am c. I am
b. I is d. I
4. ______ name is Apple. ______ Ann Apple.
a. His / She c. Her / She’s
b. His / He’s d. His/His
5. “Where ______ John from?” “______ from the US.”
a. is / He’s c. am / He’s
b. is / His d. is / She’s
6. ______ are you from? Japan.
a. What c. Where
b. Who d. When
7. ______ from Spain. I’m Rodriguez.
a. I’m c. You’re
b. He’s d. She’s
8. Pierre is a French boy. ______ from ______ .
a. He’s / France c. His / France
b. His / French d. He / France
9. Where ______ you ______ ?
a. is / from c. are / is
b. are / in d. are / from
10. Lisa and Max are Americans. ______ from U.S.A.
a. There c. They’re
b. Their d. Their’re
11. Cheryl likes apples, ______ she does not like oranges.
a. so c. but
b. for d. or
12. You were ___________ the New York office before 2 p.m.
a. suppose call c. suppose calling
b. supposed to call d. supposed call
13. The renaissance ___________ when scientific discoveries started.
a. cited c. ended
b. flourished d. commenced
14. After 7 depressing years, Mitch finally quit the job. She ____________________ along with her
superior for a long time before she finally decided to look for a new position.
 a. didn’t c. hasn’t been getting
b. isn’t getting d. hadn’t getting
15. The labourers are so happy that ________ now reaping the fruit ____ efforts.
a. they’re – their c. there – their
b. they’re – there d. their – their
16. The candy care smells ______________.
a. sweet c. sweeter
b. sweetly d. more sweet
17. Which word is accented on the first syllable?
a. Fifteen c. Understand
b. Outspeak d. Heaven
18. She is _______ a plane.
a.in c. at
b. on d. into
19. This tense connotes actions that are happening at present time, meaning right now.
a. Present Tense c. Progressive Tense
b. Past Tense d. Present Perfect
20. The underline word in the sentence below is an ___________?
“She took the early train.”
a. Adjective c. Apostrophe
b. Adverb d. Appositive
21. The family that _____ together, ___________ together.
a. prays – stays c. prayed – stayed
b. pray – stay d. praying – staying
22. Neither Jordan nor his brothers _____________ leaving the company
a. is c. was
b. are d. were
23. What makes the sentence erroneous? “I have written a letter yesterday.”
a. yesterday c. a
b. have d. letter
24. One third of the population ______________ poor.
a. is c. was
b. are d. were
25. The teacher was asked to speak for her students when they won the speech choir competition,
and so she says “ _________of my student, I want to thank you.”
a. on behalf c. because
b. in behalf d. for
26. In the cueing system, this pertains to the structure of grammar.
a. Phonology c. Morphology
b. Semantics d. Syntax
27. Traffic was heavy. Evan was afraid of not catching his flight so he ___________ with a taxi cab
and jumped at the door.
a. catch-up c. was catching
b. caught-up d. has caught
28. Ebett and Evan were mischievous children. They _________ tricks of their teachers which always
got them into a lot of trouble.
a. could have played c. could play
b. used to play d. may have played
 29. Samantha’s eyes are blurred and her hands were shaking. She ________ at the computer for 6
long hours. Finally she took a break.
a. was seated c. would have seated
b. has seated d. had been seated
30. “When will Mr. Padilla retire?” “Soon I think he _______ for a long time. He will probably retire
this year.”
a. have been working c. has been working
b. had been working d. is working
31. There are great movies that are worth watching once, there are some that are worth watching
twice, _____ there are movies that are worth watching over and over again.
a. but c. and
b. still d. nevertheless
32. If I ________ rich, i would gravel abroad every year.
a. were c. should be
b. am d. was
33. Whether or not a man likes what he _________ is the measure of choosing well.
a. choose c. chose
b. has chosen d. is choosing
34. Which ED end sound is different?
a. needed c. signed
b. granted d. wanted
35. Calf : Cow :: Puppy : ______
a. Dog c. Horse
b. Bitch d. Donkey
36. Paw : Cat :: Hoof : ________
a. Horse c. Lion
b. Lamb d. Elephant
37. Carpenter : Saw :: Tailor : ______
a. Measurement c. Cloth
b. Sewing d. Needle
38. Traveller : Journey :: Sailor : ______
a. Water c. Voyage
b. Ship d. Crew
39. Election : Manifesto :: Meeting : _______
a. Circular c. Preface
b. Agenda d. Cart

Rules of Subject Verb Agreement in Standard English

1. The dog ____ when he ___ angry. The dogs _____ when they ___ angry.
a. (growl, is) (growls, are)
b. (growls, is) (growls, are)
c. (growls, is) (growl, are)
d. (growl, is) (growl, are)
2. The dog, who is chewing on my jeans, ____ usually very good.
a. are
b. was
c. were
 d. is
3. The colors of the rainbow ____ beautiful.
a. is
b. are
4. There ___ a problem with the balance sheet. Here ___ the papers you requested.
a. is, are
b. is, is
c. are, is
d. are, are
5. Does Lefty usually ___ grass? Where ___ the pieces of this puzzle.
a. eats, are
b. eat, are
c. eats, is
d. eat, is
6. The cow and the pig ___ jumping over the moon.
a. are
b. was
c. were
d. is
7. Red beans and rice ___my mom's favorite dish.
a. is
b. are
8. No smoking and drinking is allowed. Every man and woman is required to check in.
a. is, are
b. is, is
c. are, is
d. are, are
9. Jessica or Christian ___ to blame for the accident.
a. is
b. are
10. All of the chicken __ gone. All of the chickens ___ gone.
a. is, are
b. is, is
c. are, is
d. are, are
11. Four quarts of oil ___ required to get the car running.
a. are
b. was
c. were
d. is
12. Dogs and cats ___ both available at the pound.
a. is
b. are
13. Alvin’s sisters or his girlfriend ____ pizza.
a. want
b. wants
14. Everybody ______to be loved.
a. want
 b. wants
15. Few ___ left alive after the flood.
a. was
b. were
16. To walk and to chew gum _____ great skill.
a. requires
b. is require
c. require
d. are require
17. Standing in the water ___ a bad idea. Swimming in the ocean and playing drums ___ my
hobbies.
a. is, are
b. is, is
c. are, is
d. are, are
18. The herd of horses ___ stampeding.
a. is
b. are
19. The Burbs ____ a movie starring Tom Hanks.
a. is
b. are
20. Final Rule – Remember, only the subject affects the _____.

II. ENGLISH VOCABULARY

1. The rate of ________ has been fluctuating wildly this week.
a. money c. coins
b. bills d. exchange
2. The bus _________ arrives late during bad weather.
a. every week c. yesterday
b. later d. always
3. Do you _____ where the nearest grocery store is?
a. know c. not
b. no d. now
4. Jerry Seinfeld, the popular American comedian, has his audience ___________.
a. putting too many irons in the fire
b. keeping their noses out of someone’s business
c. rolling in the aisles
d going to bat for someone
5. The critics had to admit that the ballet ___________ was superb.
a. procrastinate c. pathology
b. performance d. psychosomatic
6. The hurricane caused _________ damage to the city.
a. extend c. extensive
b. extended d. extension
7. The DepEd Secretary admits that text messaging keeps parents aware of their children’s
whereabouts. He registered concerns with the effects on:
 a. spelling of words
b. correct communication
c. structural distortion
d. vocabulary limitation
8. After hearing the campaign commercial, a voter remarked, “I am used to the same tales”. This
means:
a. This is very original
b. There is nothing new in the story
c. There is miscommunication
d. Vocabulary limitation
9. When a president is succeeded by another president, the former is referred to as:
a. replaced c. deposed
b. elected d. dethroned
10. Venus is an exemplification of feminine pulchritude. Pulchritude means:
a. plain c. power
b. beauty d. wealth
11. What is the biggest hindrance in learning a second language?
a. grammar c. imagery
b. structure of language d. cross-cultural issues
12. Audiolingualism is a new language teaching approach that mainly focuses on _________
a. Syntax c. Reading
b. Structure d. Pronunciation
13. A comma indicates:
a. Pause c. Longer pause
b. Slight pause d. No pause
14. What do we call the last two lines of the sonnet?
a. Heroic couplet c. Coupled
b. Couplet d. Couply
15. What figure of speech is used in the sentenced below? “I can eat a whole cow!”
a. Simile c. Personification
b. Metaphor d. Hyperbole
16. Complete the statement using context clues: The flowers _________ in the spring.
a. weaken c. bloom
b. die d. wither
17. Nowadays, mobile phone manufacturers have begun to automate their assembly lines by using
the concept of robotics. Automate means:
a. assemble machines c. produce more efficient cars
b. operate through machines d. operate through human workers
18. The National Heroes Day Celebration reminds us about historical personalities worth:
a. emanating c. studying
b. appreciating d. emulating
19. This one is made from ersatz coloring. ERSATZ means
a. real c. authentic
b. genuine d. artificial

III. ENGLISH READING COMPREHENSION

 1. Manuel Arguilla is one of the most important Filipino writers of all time. He wrote the Juan
Tamad series and the short story “ How my brother Leon brought Home a wife.” He is famous in
injecting themes with ________ in his story.
a. Urbanity c. Local Color
b. Cosmopolitanism d. Ranch life
2. Who wrote the novel “ The jungle Book”
a. Victor Hugo c. William March
b. Rudyard Kipling d. K.L Mansfield
3. This Victor Hugo’s Masterpiece that talks about the French revolution.
a. Les Miserables c. Annakarenina
b. Hunchback of Notre Dame d. Fathers and Sons
4. Read the poem below: What is the cause of death of Annabel Lee?
“That the wind seraphs of heaven
Coveted here and me
That is the reason, not so long ago
In a kingdom by the sea
A wind blew out of a cloud
Chillin and Killin my Annabel Lee”
a. Consumption c. HIV
b. Dengue d. Hepatitis
5. What is considered the oldest epic in England?
a. Beowulf c. Song of Roland
b. Neibulgid d. El Cid
6. Jose Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere is inspired by the novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe
titled
a. Uncle Tom’s Cabin c. Tom Sawyer
b. Les Miserables d. War of the Roses
7. English Sonnet: Shakespeare , Italian Sonnet:
a. Alighieri c. Boccaccio
b. Petrarch d. Dante
8. Mark Twain’s novel Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are set in the ___________ river.
a. Nile c. Amazon
b. Mississippi d. Rio Grande

Passage A

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.
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.
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.
9. What is the main idea of the selection?
 a. Self-confidence is hard to achieve
b. Many people suffer from an inferiority complex
c. Many people suffer from an inferiority complex
d. Self-confidence is the key factor in achieving success in life
10. Which paragraph/s gives/give specific suggestions on how to develop confidence in oneself?
a. Paragraph 1 c. Paragraph 1 and 3        
b. Paragraph 2 d. Paragraph 2 and 3
11. What word is synonymous or closest in meaning to the word “hitch” as used in the last sentence
of the selection?
a. drive c. detach
b. fasten d. remove
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. What literary technique was used by the writer in presenting his ideas?
a. Narration
b. Comparing ideas
c. Detailed analysis
d. Giving suggestions
15. 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
16. 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

IV. FINDING ERRORS

1. He was riding in a bus when they met a tragic accident.
a. riding c. met
b. accident d. in
2. The fugitive was apprehended in March 3 of 2010.
a. fugitive c. in
b. was d. of
3. Calcium is not only good for the bones but for the heart.
a. is c. not only
b. but for d. for the
4. I was advised to cover my PIN when withdrawing money in an ATM machine.
 a. was advised c. money
b. withdrawing d. machine
5. My father died yesterday. He is 55.
a. my c. yesterday
b. is d. died
6. The can goods that she gave me have expired for a long time.
a. can c. have expired
b. gave d. for