U.S. English Basic Skills Test - 2

 More Questions and Answers for Upwork U.S. English Basic Skills Test updated on Oct - 2015


Question 1: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
Charlotte knew ________ the secret investigation ________ her past, but she closed her eyes to it and pretended it happening.
Ans: a. of, about
b. about, into
c. about, on
d. of, after

Question 2: Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.
I think Pamela deserves to be punished for her________stupid and________behavior.
Answer: b. totally, irresponsible

Question 3: Which of the following sentences punctuated correctly?
a. Tracy bought three suits; seven scarves; and ten pairs of shoes.
Answer: b. We are expecting a hurricane this afternoon, therefore we have closed the school early.

Question 4: Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.
While __________ of our relatives live on the __________ hill in the county, __________ of our friends live in the __________ __________ areas of the valley.
a.     more, windy, many, most, protection
ans :  b.     most, windier, more, most, protectivec.     many, windiest, most, more, protected
d.     many, winding, more, most, protected

Question 5: Choose the series of pronouns that best completes the following sentence.
Don't ________ think Larry should call ________ wife if ________ is going to be late for dinner?
Ans:    a.     you, his, he
b.     we, your, his
c.     he, his, he
d.     you, his, himself

Question 6: Question 24: Rearrange the following words to create the most logical and grammatically correct sentence.
days . for last has good weather few The been the not
a.         weather for The last few good has not been the days.
b.         The good days has not been for the last few weather.
c.         The few days has not been good for the last weather.
Answers:  d.         The weather has not been good for the last few days.

Question 7: Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence. Knowing that February was the___________month of the year, Cheryl planned her vacation____________.

a.     short, in accordance
Answers:    b.     shortest, accordingly
Ans: c.     shorter, according
d.     shortness, accordion

Question 8: Rearrange the following words to create most logical and grammatically correct sentence.
Answer: e. Whenever I can’t spend time with my friend, I always speak to him on the phone.
Which of the following sentence does NOT illustrates correct verb and tense usage?
Answer: b. Clarabelle’s mother absolutely hated nicknames and always calls her daughter by her full name.

Question 9: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
Victor, who stole ____________ ideas and used them to make _________ a millionaire, never once offered ______________ a world of thanks.
Answer: d. our, himself, us



Question 10: Which of the following sentence uses correct pronoun usage?
a. to whom are your employees going to report while you’re gone?
Answer: e. All of the above

Question 11: Choose the series of verbs that best completes the following sentence.
If Harry _____to the party too early, don't let him in; he _____ outside like everyone else.
Ans: a.     gets, will have to wait
b.     got, waitsc.     gets, is waiting
 d.     has gotten, must be waiting

Question 12: Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence below without creating a run-on sentence.
Mr. Peach has sent his four children to Ivy League colleges __________ he has sacrificed his health working day and night in that dusty factory.
a.     however
Ans: b.     ; however,
c.     , however
d.     however,

Question 13: Complete the following sentence by choosing the phrase with the best word order from the options given.
Those who are not wise ____________  .
Ans: a.     do not need be necessarily stupid
b.     need not necessarily be stupid
c.     need not to be necessarily stupid
d.     does not need to be necessarily stupid

Question 14: Which of the following sentences illustrates correct pronoun usage?
Answer: e (None of the above)

Question 15: Complete the following sentences by choosing the phrase with the best word order from the option given.
Only after they had completed an exhaustive study ________ how to adapt the technology to the needs of our company.
Answer: c (they did begin to understand)

Question 16: Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of commas?
Answer: e (a and b)

Question 17: Which of the following sentence illustrates correct pronoun usage?
Answer:  e. None of the above

Question 18: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
________ is the name of the opera, and ________ role did you say Maria would play?
a.     This, which
b.     Who, that
Answers: c.     What, which
d.     Which, what

Question 19: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
The deer ran quickly ______  the trees, its hooves pounding ______  the forest floor.
Answers: a.     amid, from
b.     over, at
c.     through, on
d.     throughout, on

Question 20: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
Jeremy drove his motorcycle _______ the bridge, _______ the hill, and _______ the diner before finally parking it _______ two police cars.
a. beside, among, behind, near
b. beneath, over, under, on
Answers: c. across, down, past, between
d. under, around, through, into

Question 21: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
Jack, leaning casually ________ the tree, watched as Sally walked slowly ________ him.
Answers: a.) against, towards
b.) toward, against
Answers: c.) upon, past
d.) off, beside
e.) against, toward

Question 22: Choose the series of prepositions that best completes the following sentence.
Although the issue was very serious, the committee disposed ______ it in a few minutes and moved _______ to other business.
a.     onto, off
Answers:   b.     of, away
c.     on, out
d.     of, on

Question 23: Choose the series of pronouns that best completes the following sentence.
That house used to be ______ , but ______ have given it to ______.
a.     my, I, her
b.     mine, me, her
Answers:    c.     mine, I, her
d.     myself, she, her

Question 24: Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.
Of the two books, Sam’s is definitely the __________ ; however, even though Sandra’s didn’t turn out as __________ as expected, she still did a __________ job of writing it.
Answers: a.         better, well, good
b.         best, good, good
c.         better, good, better
d.         best, well, well
Question 25: Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.
The helium _______ balloon rose ________ into the air; the villagers knew then their _______ leader was off on another mission.
Ans: c (powered, powerfully, powerful)

Question 26: Rearrange the following words to create most logical and grammatically correct sentence.
your company name? of what the is
a.     What is the company of your name?
b.     your company What is the name of?
Answers: c.     What is the name of your company?
d.     The name of your company What is?

Question 27: Rearrange the following words to create most logical and grammatically correct sentence.
Sleeping likes the Midday Katie until on weekends
a. sleeping Katie likes until midday on the weekends.
b. Katie likes sleeping until weekends on the midday.
c. Katie likes on sleeping until the midday weekends.
d. Katie likes sleeping on midday until the weekends.
Answers: e. Katie likes sleeping until midday on the weekends.

Question 28: Read the following question and choose the response that uses the correct corresponding verb tense.
Does Jack wear that furry hat often?
a.         No, he just liked to wear it for fun sometimes.
b.         Yes, but don’t said anything about it to him.
c.         Yes, and it can so annoying!
Ans: d.         No, he only wears it when his ears are cold.

Question 29: Read the following question and choose the response that uses the correct corresponding verb tense.
Did you see the show last night?
Answers: a. No, because by the time I got there all the tickets had already been sold.
b. Yes, and it was one of the best shows I had ever seen.
c. Yes, but my seat was behind a pole so I couldn't barely see anything.
d. No, but I am hope to see it tonight.

Question 30: Read the following question and choose the response that uses the correct corresponding verb tense.
Did you hear the weather report for tomorrow?
a. Yes, it will to clear up by noon.
Answers: b. No, I wasn't listening to the radio.
c. Yes, they have said it will have snowed.
d. No, but I think it had snowed.

Question 31: Which of the following sentence illustrates correct pronoun usage?
a. is those the set of plates the bride wanted, or did she want this set?
d. Whose book is that-his or our?
Answers: e. None of the above

Question 32: Which of the following sentences illustrates proper sentence structure?
a. Everyone knows that a mango is much sweeter to an orange.
b. I saw the girl with my own eyes who said she had been abducted by aliens.
c. Either one of you should try and to fix their broken fence.
Answers:  d. The queen had hardly finished her speech when the people began to disperse.

Question 33: Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.
Rhonda says, "I get to work early every day."
Answers:     a.     Rhonda says she gets to work early every day.
b.     Rhonda said she gets to work early every day.
c.     Rhonda has said that she got to work early every day.
d.     Rhonda says she had gotten to work early every day.

Question 34: Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.
Jerry said, “I saw my cousin at the fair.”
a.         Jerry had said he’d seen his cousin at the fair.
Answers:  b.         Jerry said he had seen his cousin at the fair.
c.         Jerry said he’d saw his cousin at the fair.
Ans: d.         Jerry says he saw his cousin at the fair.

Question 35: Change the following sentences from a question to indirect speech.
“I will be moving soon.” said Alma
Answers:  a. Alma said she would be moving soon.
b. Alma said she will move soon.
c. Alma says she'll be moving soon.
d. Alma says she would move soon.

Question 36: Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.
“I’m not feeling well,” Agatha said.
a.     Agatha has said that she doesn't feel well.
b.     According to Agatha, she isn't feeling well.
Answers:     c.     Agatha said she wasn't feeling well.
d.     Agatha says she isn't feeling well.

Question 37: Change the following sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.
“Sharon must go to the bank today.” said Albert.
a.     Albert says Sharon will have to go to the bank today.
b.     Albert said Sharon has to go to the bank today.
Ans: c.     Albert says Sharon must go to the bank today.
Answers: d.     Albert said Sharon had to go to the bank today.

Question 38: Choose the option that correctly changes the original sentence from active voice to passive voice.
ORIGINAL SENTENCE:
That tall man is carrying a lot of lumber.
REWRITTEN SENTENCES:
a.     The tall man carries a lot of lumber.
b.     Is being carried by that tall man, the lumber.
Ans: c. the lumber is carried by the tall man.
Answers:     d. a lot of lumber is being carried by that tall man.

Question 39: Choose the series of verbs that best completes the following sentence.
Everyone ____________too busy cooking and __________ the campsite ____________ the family _________ from the woods.
a. were, setting up, to notice, watch
b. was, set up, noticing, to watch
c. is, setting, to notice, watching
Answers:  d. was, setting up, to notice, watching

Question 40: Choose the series of verbs that best completes the following sentence.
I find it very hard to remember _____ letters that are entrusted to me. In fact, I remember_____to do so dozens of times!
a.     to mail, forgetting
b.     mailing, to forget
c.     to mail, to forget
Answers:  d. mailing, forgetting

Question 41: Choose the series of articles and conjunctions that best completes the following sentence.
Lilacs ___________ violets are usually purple; I have seen some _________ are white.
a. and, however, that
Answers:  b. or, yet, which
c. and, although, that
d. or, but, and

Question 42: Which of the following sentences does not illustrates correct pronoun usage?
Ans: e (all are correct)

Question 43: Which of the following sentences illustrates correct usage of articles and conjunctions?
Answers:  a.         Celine lives on Arthur Street; however, she works on Beatrice Boulevard.
b. I would eat a peach every day if I could, nor the doctor told me I couldn’t.
c. Will Gertrude play the piano or an harp at the concert?
d. Although she is angry at them, neither her son and her father will be at the party.

Question 44: Choose the series of articles and conjunctions that best completes the following sentence.
_______ she was feeling ill, Teresa wanted to eat only _____ apple _____ some soup.
a.     Yet, the, or
b.     After, an, and
Answers:     c.     Because, an, or
d.     If, a, and

Question 45: opt for the series of verbs that best completes the subsequent sentences.
If Harry certain to the party too early, don’t let him in; he's outside like everybody else.
Answers:    a.     gets, will have to wait
or = Ans: a (gets, can have to be compelled to wait)
b.     got, waits
c.     gets, is waiting
d.     has gotten, must be waiting

Question 46: Choose the series of articles and conjunctions that best completes the following sentence.
I think Fran could be _____ great public speaker, ______ she is still too shy to try it.
a.     the, although
Answers:     b.     a, but
c.     an, however
d.     a, and

Question 47: Choose the series of adjectives and adverbs that best completes the following sentence.
We were surprised when the ________ parade ________ turned into a ________ party!
Answers: a.) dull, suddenly, wild
b.) duller, all of a sudden, wilder
c.) dullest, suddenly, wildest
d.) dull, sudden, wild

Question 48: amendment the subsequent sentence from a quotation to indirect speech.
 “It might snow tomorrow,” He said.
 Ans: d (He said it would snow tomorrow.)