Q1. Which sentence correctly uses the pair of words accept and except?
(a) I will accept the job offer, except I need to discuss the salary.
(b) I will accept the job offer, except for the salary discussion.
(c) I will accept the job offer, except I need to discuss the salary.
(d) I will except the job offer, accept I need to discuss the salary.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Accept” means to receive or agree to; “except” means excluding. Sentence (a) uses both correctly: I will accept the job offer, except I need to discuss the salary.
Q2. Choose the sentence that correctly uses affect and effect.
(a) The new policy will affect the employees’ morale, and its effect will be noticeable.
(b) The new policy will effect the employees’ morale, and its affect will be noticeable.
(c) The new policy will affect the employees’ morale, and its affect will be noticeable.
(d) The new policy will effect the employees’ morale, and its effect will be noticeable.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Affect” is a verb (to influence); “effect” is a noun (result). Sentence (a) uses affect as verb and effect as noun correctly.
Q3. Which sentence correctly uses principal and principle?
(a) The school principal believes in the principle of fairness.
(b) The school principle believes in the principal of fairness.
(c) The school principal believes in the principal of fairness.
(d) The school principle believes in the principle of fairness.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Principal” (noun) means head of school; “principle” (noun) means fundamental truth. Sentence (a) matches each meaning correctly.
Q4. Choose the sentence that correctly uses stationary and stationery.
(a) The car remained stationary while I bought some stationery from the shop.
(b) The car remained stationery while I bought some stationary from the shop.
(c) The car remained stationary while I bought some stationary from the shop.
(d) The car remained stationery while I bought some stationery from the shop.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Stationary” means not moving; “stationery” means writing materials. Sentence (a) uses each correctly.
Q5. Which sentence correctly uses complement and compliment?
(a) The wine complements the meal, and I received a compliment on my choice.
(b) The wine compliments the meal, and I received a complement on my choice.
(c) The wine complements the meal, and I received a complement on my choice.
(d) The wine compliments the meal, and I received a compliment on my choice.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Complement” means to complete or enhance; “compliment” means praise. Sentence (a) uses both correctly.
Q6. Choose the sentence that correctly uses cite, site, and sight (pair: cite/site).
(a) The researcher will cite several studies conducted at the excavation site.
(b) The researcher will site several studies conducted at the excavation cite.
(c) The researcher will sight several studies conducted at the excavation site.
(d) The researcher will cite several studies conducted at the excavation sight.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Cite” means to reference; “site” means location. Sentence (a) uses them correctly.
Q7. Which sentence correctly uses advice and advise?
(a) My teacher advised me to follow the advice given in the handbook.
(b) My teacher advice me to follow the advise given in the handbook.
(c) My teacher advised me to follow the advise given in the handbook.
(d) My teacher advice me to follow the advice given in the handbook.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Advise” is a verb (to recommend); “advice” is a noun (the recommendation). Sentence (a) uses advise as verb and advice as noun correctly.
Q8. Choose the sentence that correctly uses farther and further.
(a) We walked farther into the forest, and I need to discuss this further with the guide.
(b) We walked further into the forest, and I need to discuss this farther with the guide.
(c) We walked farther into the forest, and I need to discuss this farther with the guide.
(d) We walked further into the forest, and I need to discuss this further with the guide.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Farther” refers to physical distance; “further” refers to metaphorical or additional extent. Sentence (a) uses them correctly.
Q9. Which sentence correctly uses whose and who’s?
(a) Whose book is on the table? Who’s going to return it?
(b) Who’s book is on the table? Whose going to return it?
(c) Whose book is on the table? Whose going to return it?
(d) Who’s book is on the table? Who’s going to return it?
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Whose” is possessive; “who’s” is contraction of “who is” or “who has”. Sentence (a) uses each correctly.
Q10. Choose the sentence that correctly uses lay and lie (present tense).
(a) Please lay the books on the table; I need to lie down for a moment.
(b) Please lie the books on the table; I need to lay down for a moment.
(c) Please lay the books on the table; I need to lay down for a moment.
(d) Please lie the books on the table; I need to lie down for a moment.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Lay” (verb) means to place something down; “lie” (verb) means to recline. Sentence (a) uses lay transitively and lie intransitively correctly.
Q11. Which sentence correctly uses raise and rise?
(a) The manager will raise the salaries, and prices are expected to rise next month.
(b) The manager will rise the salaries, and prices are expected to raise next month.
(c) The manager will raise the salaries, and prices are expected to raise next month.
(d) The manager will rise the salaries, and prices are expected to rise next month.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Raise” is transitive (needs object); “rise” is intransitive. Sentence (a) uses raise with object “salaries” and rise without object correctly.
Q12. Choose the sentence that correctly uses past and passed.
(a) We walked past the museum, and the time has passed quickly.
(b) We walked passed the museum, and the time has past quickly.
(c) We walked past the museum, and the time has past quickly.
(d) We walked passed the museum, and the time has passed quickly.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Past” can be noun, adjective, adverb, or preposition; “passed” is the past tense/past participle of pass. Sentence (a) uses them correctly.
Q13. Which sentence correctly uses already and all ready?
(a) The team is all ready to leave, and they have already packed their bags.
(b) The team is already to leave, and they have all ready packed their bags.
(c) The team is all ready to leave, and they have all ready packed their bags.
(d) The team is already to leave, and they have already packed their bags.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “All ready” means completely prepared; “already” means before now. Sentence (a) uses each correctly.
Q14. Choose the sentence that correctly uses loose and lose.
(a) If you lose the loose screw, the chair will wobble.
(b) If you loose the lose screw, the chair will wobble.
(c) If you lose the lose screw, the chair will wobble.
(d) If you loose the loose screw, the chair will wobble.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Loose” (adjective) means not tight; “lose” (verb) means to misplace. Sentence (a) uses lose as verb and loose as adjective correctly.
Q15. Which sentence correctly uses capital and capitol?
(a) The capital of the state is located near the capitol building.
(b) The capitol of the state is located near the capital building.
(c) The capital of the state is located near the capital building.
(d) The capitol of the state is located near the capitol building.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Capital” means city serving as seat of government; “capitol” means the building where legislature meets. Sentence (a) uses each correctly.
Q16. Choose the sentence that correctly uses desert (noun/verb) and dessert.
(a) After crossing the hot desert, we enjoyed a sweet dessert.
(b) After crossing the hot dessert, we enjoyed a sweet desert.
(c) After crossing the hot desert, we enjoyed a sweet desert.
(d) After crossing the hot dessert, we enjoyed a sweet dessert.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Desert” (noun) = arid land; “dessert” = sweet course. Sentence (a) uses them correctly.
Q17. Which sentence correctly uses elicit and illicit?
(a) The detective tried to elicit information about the illicit trade.
(b) The detective tried to illicit information about the elicit trade.
(c) The detective tried to elicit information about the elicit trade.
(d) The detective tried to illicit information about the illicit trade.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Elicit” = to draw out; “illicit” = illegal. Sentence (a) uses elicit as verb and illicit as adjective correctly.
Q18. Choose the sentence that correctly uses discreet and discrete.
(a) She made a discreet inquiry about the discrete categories of expenses.
(b) She made a discrete inquiry about the discreet categories of expenses.
(c) She made a discreet inquiry about the discreet categories of expenses.
(d) She made a discrete inquiry about the discrete categories of expenses.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Discreet” = careful and prudent; “discrete” = separate and distinct. Sentence (a) uses each correctly.
Q19. Which sentence correctly uses emigrate and immigrate?
(a) Many people emigrate from rural areas to immigrate to cities for better jobs.
(b) Many people immigrate from rural areas to emigrate to cities for better jobs.
(c) Many people emigrate from rural areas to emigrate to cities for better jobs.
(d) Many people immigrate from rural areas to immigrate to cities for better jobs.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Emigrate” = leave one’s country/region; “immigrate” = enter another. Sentence (a) uses emigrate (leave rural) and immigrate (enter cities) correctly.
Q20. Choose the sentence that correctly uses among and between.
(a) The profits were divided among the three partners, and the negotiation took place between the CEO and the CFO.
(b) The profits were divided between the three partners, and the negotiation took place among the CEO and the CFO.
(c) The profits were divided among the three partners, and the negotiation took place among the CEO and the CFO.
(d) The profits were divided between the three partners, and the negotiation took place between the CEO and the CFO.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Among” used for more than two; “between” for two distinct parties. Sentence (a) uses among for three partners and between for two individuals correctly.
Q21. Which sentence correctly uses whether and if in formal contexts?
(a) I am not sure whether the train will arrive on time, but I will wait if it is delayed.
(b) I am not sure if the train will arrive on time, but I will wait whether it is delayed.
(c) I am not sure whether the train will arrive on time, but I will wait whether it is delayed.
(d) I am not sure if the train will arrive on time, but I will wait if it is delayed.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Whether” presents alternatives; “if” introduces a condition. Sentence (a) uses whether for doubt and if for condition correctly.
Q22. Choose the sentence that correctly uses imply and infer.
(a) The speaker implied that the policy would change, and the audience inferred that cuts were coming.
(b) The speaker inferred that the policy would change, and the audience implied that cuts were coming.
(c) The speaker implied that the policy would change, and the audience implied that cuts were coming.
(d) The speaker inferred that the policy would change, and the audience inferred that cuts were coming.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Imply” = to suggest indirectly (speaker); “infer” = to deduce meaning (listener). Sentence (a) matches each role correctly.
Q23. Which sentence correctly uses fewer and less?
(a) There are fewer applicants this year, and less paperwork to process.
(b) There are less applicants this year, and fewer paperwork to process.
(c) There are fewer applicants this year, and fewer paperwork to process.
(d) There are less applicants this year, and less paperwork to process.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Fewer” with countable nouns (applicants); “less” with uncountable nouns (paperwork). Sentence (a) uses each correctly.
Q24. Choose the sentence that correctly uses number and amount.
(a) The number of errors has decreased, and the amount of work required has also fallen.
(b) The amount of errors has decreased, and the number of work required has also fallen.
(c) The number of errors has decreased, and the number of work required has also fallen.
(d) The amount of errors has decreased, and the amount of work required has also fallen.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Number” with countable nouns (errors); “amount” with uncountable nouns (work). Sentence (a) uses each correctly.
Q25. Which sentence correctly uses assure, ensure, and insure (pair: assure/ensure)?
(a) I assure you that the document will ensure compliance with the regulations.
(b) I ensure you that the document will assure compliance with the regulations.
(c) I assure you that the document will assure compliance with the regulations.
(d) I ensure you that the document will ensure compliance with the regulations.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Assure” = to give confidence to a person; “ensure” = to make certain. Sentence (a) uses assure with object “you” and ensure with action “compliance” correctly.
