44

MULTIPLE CHOICE EXERCISES

I.

Choose the most appropriate words:

1. . . . . . War and Peace this morning. a) Ive read b) I read c) Ive been reading 2. Despite their initial objections, we soon . . . . . them all playing football together. a) convinced b) had c) persuaded 3. He has escaped . . . . . a) from being punished. b) being punished. c) to be punished. 4. Shall we a) b) c) go to the seaside next week?, Yes, . . . . . lets. we shall. we ought.

5. The food . . . . . worse now. You have put too much salt in it. a) is tasting b) tastes c) has tasted 6. The lawyer insisted that his client . . . . . never have been arrested in the first place. a) should b) must c) ought 7. He doesnt agree . . . . . I suggested yesterday. a) to what b) at what c) with what 8. Everybody a) b) c) should get used to . . . . . from time to time. working hardly working hard work hard

9. Not until it was too late . . . . . to call Nick. a) I remembered b) did I remember c) had I remembered

45 10. . . . . . his love of swimming, its hardly surprising he enjoys spending his holidays by the sea. a) Providing b) Granted c) Given 11. A counter is . . . . . a) a long table in shops. b) a man who counts. c) a special kind of copy-book. 12. At last weve arrived! But for the mans help, we . . . . . our way here. a) mustnt ever have found b) would never have found c) could never find 13. Im sure Tom will be here . . . . . a) after a while. b) for a while. c) before long. 14. George . . . . . to school yesterday. He was abroad. a) cant have come b) might not have come c) should not have come 15. I suggested that we . . . . . a) helped the poor man. b) should help the poor man. c) would help the poor man. 16. If youve a) b) c) got flu, you . . . . . go to work. would not have to had better not had better not to

17. No member of the association . . . . . remove official documents from these premises without written permission. a) must b) mustnt c) shall 18. You . . . . . more careful when transcribing the text last night. a) need have been b) could be c) should have been 19. I asked him when . . . . . a) was he able to lend me the tape-recorder. b) he is able to lend me the tape-recorder. c) he would be able to lend me the tape-recorder. 20. My watch is broken. I have . . . . . it . . . . . a) to have; repairing. b) to have; repaired. c) to have repair.

46

II.
1.

Instructions as above:
What do you mean . . . . . about the leaky pipe? a) doing b) to do c) he does To answer accurately is more important than . . . . . a) a quick finish b) to finish quickly c) finishing quickly The exhibition is worth . . . . . a) being seen. b) seeing. c) having been seen. I . . . . . to be present then. a) was happening b) happen c) happened There are times when winters . . . . . be very frosty here. a) can b) could c) may Your knowledge together with your money . . . . . very useful in the past few months. a) have been b) has been c) was being The opposite of to lie is . . . . . a) to sit. b) to stand. c) to stay. There is debt. a) b) c) no point in . . . . . to force him . . . . . the try; repay trying; to repay trying; repaying

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

At no time . . . . . of anything unusual. a) I was aware b) was I aware c) shall I be aware

10. The moment Mary . . . . . her novel, she . . . . . abroad. a) will finish; goes b) finishes; had gone c) has finished; will go 11. The doctor told him that . . a) he mustnt b) he had not c) he neednt . . . drink so much. to drink so much. drink so much.

47 12. It was only . . . . . he told me his surname that I realised that we had been to the same school. a) then b) since c) when 13. Dont worry about the lunch. Ill . . . . . to it. a) devote b) see c) look 14. It is very appropriate that the prize . . . . . go to such a young artist. a) could b) should c) might 15. I prevented him . . . . . a) to go to the cinema that night. b) from going to the cinema that night. c) in going to the cinema that night. 16. Theres no point in telephoning him. He is certain . . . . by now. a) to leave b) to have left c) having left 17. Margaret was slow at school, but she went on . . . . . Prime Minister. a) to be b) being c) been 18. Im afraid Ill never . . . . . starting work at seven a.m. a) get used to b) be accustomed to c) have used 19. I asked him if the acoustics of the hall . . . . . a) was good. b) were good. c) are good. 20. My neighbour . . a) says to b) is said c) is said . . . a very clever lawyer. be to being to be

III.
1.

Choose the right answer:

The police tried to blame the accident . . . . . a) on Harry. b) for Harry. c) to Harry. Ill try to come . . . . . I havent much hope of success. a) though b) as well as c) else

2.

48 3. The opposite of narrow is . . . . . a) large. b) broad. c) wide. . . . . . of the two girls is my sister. a) None b) Neither c) No one That must be the end of the first part of the performance. What . . . . . now? a) happens b) is happening c) has happened It is important that the Office . . . . . your registration. a) will confirm b) confirm c) confirms I would rather . . . . . the other day. a) he would not change his mind b) he did not change his mind c) had not changed his mind I wished I . . . . . so many mistakes. a) didnt make b) hadnt done c) hadnt made I was having a bath . . . . . , so I didnt hear the phone. a) that time b) in the time c) at the time

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10. . . . . . do the trolley busses stop here? Every ten minutes. a) What times b) How much c) How often 11. Is it possible that your friend . . . . . a) maynt have read Hamlet? b) shouldnt have read Hamlet? c) might have not read Hamlet? 12. You must not communicate in . . . . . way with anyone . . . . . in this case. a) no; involving b) any; involved c) any; involving 13. I have always envied . . . . . a) you your courage. b) you for your courage. c) you for being so courageous. 14. One of these days there will be a terrible accident on this corner. I . . . . . a) dont hope it. b) dont hope so. c) hope not.

49 15. I asked them to leave but they . . . . . a) couldnt. b) wouldnt. c) cannot. 16. Lightning . . . . . the house during the storm last week. a) struck b) stricken c) stroke 17. Do you happen to know where . . . . . a) the post office is? b) is the post office? c) will be the post office? 18. Youll be willing to help, . . . . . you? a) wouldnt b) wont c) dont 19. . . . . . early in the morning. a) He used to get up b) He is used to getting up c) he is used to get up 20. You . . . . . invitations, Jane has already done it. a) neednt send b) mustnt send c) dont need sending

IV. Instructions as above:

1. He keeps complaining that his wife doesnt want . . . . his trousers. a) to sow b) to sew c) to saw 2. Last year he played hockey much better than he . . . . . now. a) played b) plays c) does 3. To see to is . . . . . a) to look after. b) to examine. c) to look at. 4. Put it back, how . . . . . you? a) could b) may c) dare 5. You . . . . . I should have brought it anyway. a) didnt have to remind me of the book b) didnt need to remind me of the book c) neednt have reminded me of the book 6. In my childhood I . . . . . a very naughty boy. a) were

50 b) have been c) was 7. I havent congratulated her . . . . . a) on the success of the performance she plays in. b) for the success of the performance she plays in. c) at the success of the performance she plays in. 8. If you . . . . . me, just say so. a) disagree with b) disagree to c) differ with 9. A camera is . . . . . a) a large room. b) a useful instrument. c) a wild animal. 10. They had to leave earlier, . . . . . they? a) had b) didnt c) hadnt 11. He told me . . . . . to drink a glass of wine than one of brandy. a) he preferred b) he was preferring c) he prefered 12. Chris has got . . . . . English books than I have. a) much many b) as many c) many more 13. Its almost three years since he . . . . . a) hasnt had a new suit made. b) last had a new suit made. c) didnt have a new suit made. 14. Try as I . . . . . , I . . . . . understand the code. a) may; cannot b) might, will not c) could; would not 15. How wholesome . . . . . a) drinking milk is! b) is to drink milk! c) is drinking milk! 16. Supposing we . . . . . to pay, what . . . . . happen? a) will refuse; will b) would refuse; would c) refused; would 17. Genial is to . . . . . a) be a genius. b) be a coward. c) be a kindly, sociable man. 18. The company is suspected . . . . . the trade embargo. a) having broken b) to have broken c) of breaking 19. I told him not to throw stones . . . . . a) at the poor animal.

51 b) in the poor animal. c) to the poor animal. 20. When Queen Victoria died in 1901, she . . . . . for over sixty years. a) would reign b) had been reigning c) had reigned

V.

Choose the most appropriate words:

1. A tart is . . . . . a) a cake. b) a prostitute. c) a flower. 2. I have told her that Im not going ahead with my plans . . . . . she may think. a) whatever b) however c) despite 3. The tap for warm water . . . . . a) was just repaired. b) has just been repaired. c) will just be repairing. 4. Collect me at eight oclock, I . . . . . my bath by then. a) will have b) have had c) will have had 5. Since he learned that . . . . . a) he is the happiest man in the world. b) he has been the happiest man in the world. c) he was the happiest man in the world. 6. He . . . . . at the gate for hours every day and watch the dog. a) will stay b) stays c) has stayed 7. No sooner had I ordered coffee . . . . . the waiter brought it to me. a) that b) than c) when 8. I shall remind you of this . . . . . you should forget. a) if b) lest c) even if 9. Only then . . . . .that we had been taken in. a) we realised b) did we realise c) we will realise 10. I am a nice girl, . . . . . a) am I not? b) isnt it true? c) arent I?

52 11. He doesnt like sweets. . . . . . a) Neither I do. b) I dont either. c) Neither do I. 12. I would like . . . . . the rest of my holidays in the countryside. a) spending b) to spend c) having spent 13. This coffee tastes too . . . . . to be to his liking. a) bitter b) bitterly c) biterly 14. She told him . . . . . any longer. a) not to interrupt her b) to not interrupt her c) not interrupt 15. He has always given us . . . . . a) valuable informations. b) valorous information. c) valuable information. 16. The large lake is known to contain . . . . . thousands of fish. a) few b) much c) many 17. . . . . . since I arrived here, half an hour ago. a) They are waiting for you b) They were waiting for you c) They have been waiting for you 18. Hardly . . . . . I watered the garden . . . . . it began to rain. a) did; that b) had; then c) had; when 19. You must punish him however much . . . . . a) you may dislike it. b) you should dislike it. c) you had disliked it. 20. The teacher is too . . . . . with the difficulties caused by disruptive students. a) used b) interested c) familiar

VI. Choose the most appropriate solution:

1. What . . . . . a) a fine weather we have today! b) fine weather we have today! c) fine weather have we today! 2. Shell never speak English unless she . . . . . a) studied.

53 b) studies. c) will study. 3. He should . . . . . a long time ago. a) have stopped his tooth b) stop his tooth c) have had his tooth stopped 4. If he . . . . . surprised at our visiting the museum, he didnt show it. a) was b) had been c) has been 5. I wish . . . . . when I was younger. a) I had married b) I married c) I would marry 6. He got an excellent grade in his examination . . . . . the fact that he had not worked particularly hard. a) on account of b) because of c) in spite of 7. I . . . . . the story when the bomb went off. a) have been telling b) was being told c) was said 8. I like this job . . . . . it is badly paid. a) even though b) however c) as though 9. The chairman said there . . . . . a meeting in the evening. a) would have been b) was going to be c) will be 10. We enjoyed . . . . . at the fancy dress party. a) us b) each other c) ourselves 11. She would rather he . . . . . home early. a) came b) comes c) will come 12. Several of the washers and dryers are out of order and . . . . . a) need to be repairing b) require that they be repaired c) need to be repaired 13. We . . . . . cross the street till the light is green. a) must b) might c) must not 14. Every Christmas of my childhood was the same. My father . . . . . late for lunch, weighed down with presents for the family. a) has arrived b) would arrive

54 c) was arriving 15. At first I found it difficult to get used . . . . . on the other side of the road. a) to drive b) being driven c) to driving 16. They see no point . . . . . the same task all over again. a) in having them do b) to have them do c) to have them to do 17. I wish my mother . . . . . here when I broke my leg. a) was b) had been c) has been 18. Guess who was the first . . . . . a) leave the room. b) leaving the room. c) to have left the room. 19. Not until the company announced a raise in their pay . . . . . their work. a) the strikers had resumed b) did the strikers resume c) the strikers resumed 20. In our days it is important that everyone . . . . . at least one foreign language. a) should study b) studies c) is studying

VII. Instructions as above:

1. When friends insist on . . . . . expensive gifts, it makes most Americans uncomfortable. a) their accepting b) them to accept c) their acceptance 2. You might have broken your leg if you . . . . . over the fence. a) jumped b) have jumped c) had jumped 3. If it . . . . . for the Chairmans diplomacy, there . . . . . a serious argument between the committee members. a) wasnt; wont be b) hadnt been; would have been c) wouldnt have been; hadnt been 4. . . . . . more seats! Standing room only! a) No b) None c) Some 5. Nothing can be more lovely . . . . . these white roses. a) that b) than c) such as

55 6. Not until a student has mastered algebra . . . . . the principles of geometry and trigonometry. a) he can begin to understand b) begins to understand c) can he begin to understand 7. If you hurry, you might get there . . . . . to catch the plane. a) on time b) at time c) in time 8. This impressive . . . . . tower was constructed by the Romans. a) ten-century-old b) ten-centuries-old c) ten-centuries-old 9. Nothing . . . . . the ordinary ever happens here. a) from b) out of c) within 10. Neither my sister nor I . . . . . at home at that time yesterday. a) were b) have been c) was 11. We . . . . . in the shade for an hour on that sunny afternoon. a) lay b) lie c) laid 12. Harold would rather we . . . . . hold the meeting on Friday. a) wouldnt b) shouldnt c) didnt 13. . . . . . it not for your help, I would never be able to manage. a) Had b) Were c) Should 14. However good Schoenberg . . . . . have been, I still find his modern music very difficult to appreciate. a) could b) may c) would 15. Will you wash the plate as soon as you . . . . . ? a) will eat b) have eaten c) will have eaten 16. Its about time you . . . . . your hair cut. a) have b) had c) should have 17. As he was curious, he wanted to make sure that oil . . . . on water. a) floated b) would float

56 c) will float 18. Its not worth . . . . . angry at him. a) to get b) getting c) having got 19. Now the bus was travelling . . . . . a) very much faster b) so much fast c) much faster 20. Lately she has taken a liking . . . . . to concerts. a) to going out b) to going c) to go

VIII. Point out the correct explanation of the following:

1. I should have bought that car means: a) If only I bought that car. b) If only I had bought that car. c) If only I would have bought that car. 2. There is a great deal means: a) it is a real bargain b) there is very little c) there is very much 3. Our profits this year are higher than they have ever been means: a) Never before have our profits been higher. b) Never this year have our profits been higher. c) Never are our profits higher than before. 4. You ought to have finished means: a) you may have finished b) you should have finished c) you would have finished 5. Why dont you have a barbecue? said Tim to his mother means: a) Tim suggested his mother to have a barbecue. b) Tim suggested his mother having a barbecue. c) Tim suggested his mother has a barbecue. 6. Eagerly means: a) curiously b) unwillingly c) impatiently 7. I had better leave now means: a) Its time I should leave now. b) Its time I have left now. c) Its time I left now. 8. Staring hard means: a) looking with difficulty b) looking fixed and intensely

57 c) taking a short look at 9. We expect he will arrive by tomorrow means: a) He will be expected to arrive by tomorrow. b) He is expected that he will arrive by tomorrow. c) He is expected to arrive by tomorrow. 10. John shouldnt have behaved so badly, said Janet means a) Janet objected to John behaving so badly. b) Janet objected to John having behaved so badly. c) Janet objected at John having behaved so badly.