BASIC GRAMMAR I

Time allocation: 45 minutes

I. Fill in the gap of each sentence with ONE word.

1. Ray often spent the …………… afternoon in the library.
2. I hope it won’t be too …………… before we meet again.
3. The restaurant is very busy at weekends, so it’s best to book in ……………
4. Sorry, I am .................. of sweets, so I can’t give you any.
5. All these different rules simply .................. confusion.

II. Fill in the gap of each sentence with a word from the BOLD word given.
6. My dad used to be really fit and was on his college .................. team. ATHLETE
7. When you were young, did you ever play in the street with other local ..................?
CHILD
8. You have to practice a lot if you want to work as a .................. MUSIC
9. Do you think you get a good .................. at your school? EDUCATE
10. I’m writing in .................. to your advertisement for a guitar teacher. REFER
11. I want .................. at all times during the exam. SILENT
12. Let’s fly in business class – it’s much more .................. than the cheap seats!
COMFORT
13. City authorities are cutting down trees for .................. parking space. ADDITION
14. Come on, be .................. . You can never win against them. REASON
15. We are very .................., so we enjoy playing strong teams. COMPETE

III. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the
word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between TWO and FIVE words,
including the word given.
16. It’s your decision whether we stay in or go out.
up
It’s .....................................................whether we stay in or go out.
17. Jerry and his boss work really well together.
relationship
Jerry has .....................................................with his colleagues.
18. I think that I’m going to win this competition.
feeling
I .....................................................that I’m going to win this competition.
19. My dad always talks when I’m watching my favourite TV programme.
habit
My dad has .....................................................when I’m watching my favourite TV
programme.
20. I usually say exactly what I’m thinking.
tendency

1
NPCB1-003
 I .....................................................say exactly what I’m thinking.
21. I played chess almost every day when I was young.
used
I ...................................................... chess almost every day when I was young.
22. I really hope you find a solution to the problem.
succeed
I really hope you ..................................................... a solution to the problem.
23. Who thought of that solution?
came
Who ..................................................... that solution?
24. My friend couldn’t decide where to go on holiday.
mind
My friend couldn’t ..................................................... where to go on holiday.
25. The restaurant bill was wrong.
mistake
The restaurant ..................................................... with our bill.
26. How long has he been a musician?
become
When ..................................................... a musician?
27. We’ve arranged to have a picnic next week.
having
We ..................................................... next week.
28. A week from now, I’ll be on a plane to New York.
flying
This time next week, I ..................................................... to New York.
29. John recently became the new football manager.
taken
Recently, John ..................................................... the job of the new football manager.
30. They must think of a better plan than that.
come
They will have to ..................................................... a better plan.

----- THE END -----

2
NPCB1-003