U.S. English Basic Skills Test

 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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Answers: • of, away