1.

Objective Tests

Objective tests are frequently criticized on the grounds that they are simpler to answer
than subjective tests. Items in an objective test can be made just as easy or difficult as the
test constructor wishes. The fact that objective tests may generally look easier is no
indication of at all that they are easier. The constructor of a standardised achievement or
proficiency test not only selects and constructs the items carefully but analyses student
performance on each item and rewrites the items where necessary so that the final version
of his or her test discriminates widely. Setting the pass-mark, or the cutting-off point, may
depend on the tester's subjective judgement or on a particular external situation. Objective
tests (and, to a smaller degree, subjective tests) can be pre-tested before being
administered on a wider basis: i.e. they are given to a small but truly representative
sample of the test population and then each item is evaluated in the light of the testees'
performance. This procedure enables the test constructor to calculate the approximate
degree of difficulty of the test. Standards may then be compared not only between
students from different areas or schools but also between students taking the test in
different years. Another criticism is that objective tests of the multiple-choice type
encourage guessing. However, four or five alternatives for each item are sufficient to
reduce the possibility of guessing. Furthermore, experience shows that candidates rarely
make wild guesses: most base their guesses on partial knowledge. A much wider sample
of grammar, vocabulary and phonology can generally be included in an objective test than
in a subjective test. Although the purposive use of language is often sacrificed in an
attempt to test students' ability to manipulate language, there are occasions (particularly in
class progress tests at certain levels) when good objective tests of grammar, vocabulary
and phonology may be useful - provided that such tests are never regarded as measures of
the students' ability to communicate in the language. It cannot be emphasised too
strongly, however, that test objectivity by itself provides no guarantee that a test is sound
and reliable. An objective test will be a very poor test if:

A. the test items are poorly written;

B. irrelevant areas and skills are emphasised in the test simply because they are 'testable';
and
C. it is confined to language-based usage and neglects the communicative skills
involved.

It should never be claimed that objective tests can do those tasks which they are not intended
to do. As already indicated, they can never test the ability to communicate in the target
language, nor can they evaluate actual performance. A good classroom test will usually
contain both subjective and objective test items.

Based on the above information,

Construct one multiple choice item containing four options for each of the following areas
of grammar.
 1. The Present Perfect Tense: Let’s go off now. The bus has already stopped.
2. Used to (past habit) : I used to play chess a lot but now I don’t.
3. Question tags : John never arrived early at school, did he?
4. WH-question words : How often do you visit your uncle?
5. Relative pronouns : That’s the house where my father was born.
6. Prepositions : Does anyone live on that island?

Answer 1(1)

1. The Present Perfect Tense:

What action has already happened according to the sentence "Let’s go off now. The bus has
already stopped"?
A) Starting
B) Continues
C) Completed
D) Future

2. Used to (past habit):

Which statement describes a change in behavior over time?
A) I used to play chess frequently.
B) I will use to play chess.
C) I use to play chess now.
D) I am using to play chess.

3. Question tags:
Which question tag correctly completes the sentence "John never arrived early at school,
_____"?
A) did he?
B) isn't it?
C) does he?
D) hasn't he?

4. WH-question words:
Which question word is used to inquire about frequency?
A) Where
B) Who
C) How often
D) When

5. Relative pronouns:
In the sentence "That’s the house where my father was born," what does "where" refer to?
A) Time
B) Purpose
C) Location
D) Manner

6. Prepositions:
Which preposition correctly completes the question "Does anyone live ____ that island?"
A) at
 B) over
C) in
D) by

Key

1. The Present Perfect Tense:

Answer: C) Completed
Reason: The sentence "The bus has already stopped" indicates an action that has been
completed in the past and has relevance to the present moment, which aligns with the usage
of the Present Perfect tense.

2. Used to (past habit):

Answer: A) I used to play chess frequently.
Reason: This option correctly expresses a past habit or behavior that is no longer true,
which is the typical usage of "used to."

3. Question tags:
Answer: A) did he?
Reason: The sentence is in the negative form ("John never arrived early at school"), so the
correct question tag is in the affirmative form ("did he?"). This maintains the correct
grammatical structure.

4. WH-question words:
Answer: C) How often
Reason: "How often" is the appropriate question word to inquire about frequency, which is
the context of the sentence "How often do you visit your uncle?"

5. Relative pronouns:
Answer: C) Location
Reason: In the sentence "That’s the house where my father was born," "where" is used to
indicate a location, specifically the place where the speaker's father was born.

6. Prepositions:
Answer: C) in
Reason: The sentence "Does anyone live on that island?" suggests inhabiting the interior of
the island, making "in" the suitable preposition to express location within a confined space.

Answer 1(2)

1. The Present Perfect Tense: Which sentence correctly uses the present perfect tense?
A) Let's go off now. The bus already stopped.
B) Let's go off now. The bus have already stopped.
C) Let's go off now. The bus has already stopped.
D) Let's go off now. The bus had already stopped.
2. Used to (past habit): In which sentence is "used to" used correctly to indicate a past habit?
A) I use to play chess a lot but now I don't.
B) I used to play chess a lot but now I don't.
C) I used to play chess a lot but now I didn't.
D) I used to play chess a lot but now I won't.

3. Question tags: Which question tag correctly completes the sentence? John never arrived
early at school, __________?
A) did he?
B) does he?
C) didn't he?
D) isn't he?

4. WH-question words: Which question word is used to inquire about frequency?

A) What often do you visit your uncle?
B) When do you visit your uncle?
C) How often do you visit your uncle?
D) Why do you visit your uncle?

5. Relative pronouns: In the sentence "That's the house where my father was born," what is
the function of "where"?
A) Demonstrative pronoun
B) Relative pronoun
C) Interrogative pronoun
D) Possessive pronoun

6. Prepositions: Which preposition correctly completes the question? Does anyone live
__________ that island?
A) at
B) in
C) on
D) by

Key

Sure, here's the answer key:

1. The Present Perfect Tense: Correct answer is C) Let's go off now. The bus has already
stopped.
Reason: Option C uses the present perfect tense ("has already stopped") correctly to
indicate an action that happened in the past and has relevance to the present moment.

2. Used to (past habit): Correct answer is B) I used to play chess a lot but now I don't.
Reason: Option B correctly uses "used to" to indicate a past habit, followed by the correct
form of the verb "don't" to indicate the present.

3. Question tags: Correct answer is A) did he?

Reason: The sentence is in the negative past tense ("never arrived early"), so the
appropriate question tag is the auxiliary verb "did" in the past tense, making "did he?" the
correct choice.

4. WH-question words: Correct answer is C) How often do you visit your uncle?
Reason: The question word "How often" is used to inquire about frequency, making option
C the correct choice.

5. Relative pronouns: Correct answer is B) Relative pronoun

Reason: "Where" is used as a relative pronoun to introduce a subordinate clause modifying
"house" in the sentence.

6. Prepositions: Correct answer is C) on

Reason: The correct preposition to use with the word "island" in this context is "on,"
indicating location, making option C the correct choice.

Answer 1(3)

Multiple Choice Grammar Test

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.

1. The Present Perfect Tense: John says he ____________ his homework already.
a) finished
b) has finished (Correct Answer)
c) will finish
d) is finishing
Explanation: The sentence uses "already" which indicates a completed action before now in
the present. "Has finished" is the present perfect tense that shows a completed action in the
past.

2. Used to (past habit): She ___________ walk to school every morning, but now she takes
the bus.
a) would
b) used to (Correct Answer)
c) will
d) does
Explanation: "Used to" indicates a past habit that no longer applies in the present.

3. Question Tags: It's a beautiful day, ____________?

a) isn't it (Correct Answer)
b) it is
c) don't it
d) doesn't
Explanation: Question tags are used to check information and confirm a statement. In this
positive sentence, the question tag uses the opposite auxiliary verb (isn't) to create a rising
intonation.

4. WH-question words: ___________ did you start learning French?

a) Where
b) Why (Correct Answer)
c) When
d) How
Explanation: "Why" is a wh-question word used to ask about the reason for something.

5. Relative pronouns: The book ___________ I'm reading is about history.

a) whose (Correct Answer)
b) which
c) what
d) that
Explanation: "Whose" is a relative pronoun referring back to "book" and indicates
possession.

6. Prepositions: I can't believe we live ____________ the same street!

a) in (Correct Answer)
b) at
c) for
d) with
Explanation: "On" wouldn't be appropriate for a street. "In" indicates location within a
street.
Answer 1(4)
1. The Present Perfect Tense:
The bus _____ already stopped.
a) has
b) have
c) had
d) is

2. Used to (past habit):

I _____ play chess a lot when I was younger.
a) use to
b) used to
c) use for
d) used for

3. Question tags:
John never arrived early at school, _____?
a) didn't he
b) does he
c) did he
d) doesn't he

4. WH-question words:
_____ do you visit your uncle?
a) When
b) Why
c) How often
d) How long

5. Relative pronouns:
That's the house _____ my father was born.
a) where
b) which
c) who
d) that

6. Prepositions:
Does anyone live _____ that island?
a) in
b) at
c) on
d) to

Key
Here's the answer key along with the reasons for the correct options being the most
appropriate:

1. The Present Perfect Tense: a) has

Reason: The present perfect tense is formed with "has" (for third-person singular subjects) or
"have" + the past participle of the verb. In this case, "the bus" is a singular subject, so "has" is
correct.

2. Used to (past habit): b) used to

Reason: The phrase "used to" is used to express a past habit or state that is no longer true in
the present.

3. Question tags: a) didn't he

Reason: The question tag for a negative statement is formed with a positive auxiliary verb
(didn't) and a subject pronoun (he).

4. WH-question words: c) How often

Reason: The question asks about the frequency of an action, so "How often" is the
appropriate WH-question word.
5. Relative pronouns: a) where
Reason: "Where" is a relative pronoun used to introduce a clause that modifies a place or
location, which is appropriate in this context.

6. Prepositions: c) on
Reason: The preposition "on" is used to indicate location, specifically for an island or other
land formation surrounded by water.