U.S. English Basic Skills Test Answers
1. Choose the series of verbs and phrases that best completes the following passage.
This dish _________ too spicy. Why __________ so much pepper?
1. Choose the series of verbs and phrases that best completes the following passage.
This dish _________ too spicy. Why __________ so much pepper?
Answers: • is, did the chef use
2. Choose the series of articles and conjunctions that best completes the
following sentence.
Neither we ________ Sal, our neighbor, could understand ________ it had been our dog Rover or Sal's cat's kittens _________ had destroyed all the flower beds in the middle of _______ night.
Neither we ________ Sal, our neighbor, could understand ________ it had been our dog Rover or Sal's cat's kittens _________ had destroyed all the flower beds in the middle of _______ night.
Answers: • nor, whether, that, the
3. Choose the series of verbs that best completes the following sentence.
Alison regrets _________ you with her remarks; she never meant _________ so.
Alison regrets _________ you with her remarks; she never meant _________ so.
Answers: • hurting, to do
4. Which of the following sentences is NOT punctuated correctly?
Answers: • I need you to pick up several boxes of
paperclips, pens, and pencils; three pounds each of potatoes, carrots, and peas;
and my dry cleaning.
5. Which of the following sentences illustrates the proper use of apostrophes?
Answers: • Helga borrowed her friend's skates for the
day; however, she failed to return them.
6. Which of the following sentences does NOT illustrate correct verb and verb
tense usage?
Answers: • Clarabelle's mother absolutely hated
nicknames and always calls her daughter by her full name.
7. Which of the following sentences illustrates incorrect pronoun usage?
Answers: • None of the above
8. Which of the following sentences illustrate(s) the proper use of commas?
Answers: • a and b
9. Choose the series of pronouns that best completes the following sentence.
Victor, who stole _______ ideas and used them to make _______ a millionaire, never once offered _______ a word of thanks.
Victor, who stole _______ ideas and used them to make _______ a millionaire, never once offered _______ a word of thanks.
Answers: • our, himself, us
10. 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.
Although the issue was very serious, the committee disposed ______ it in a few minutes and moved _______ to other business.
Answers: • of, away