Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Bread and butter ___ his usual breakfast.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
Correct Answer: C
When two nouns joined by 'and' refer to one combined idea or dish, a singular verb may be used.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Ten kilometers ___ a long distance to walk in this heat.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have been
Correct Answer: C
A measurement considered as one unit takes a singular verb.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The news ___ surprising.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
Correct Answer: C
'News' is grammatically singular despite ending in -s.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Mathematics ___ my favorite subject.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have been
Correct Answer: B
Names of academic subjects ending in -s, such as 'mathematics', normally take a singular verb.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The number of applicants ___ increasing every year.
A. are
B. have been
C. is
D. were
Correct Answer: C
'The number of' is treated as singular, so 'is increasing' is correct.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
A number of students ___ absent today.
A. is
B. was
C. are
D. has
Correct Answer: C
'A number of + plural noun' takes a plural verb: 'are'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Each of the players ___ a certificate.
A. have received
B. has received
C. were receiving
D. receive
Correct Answer: B
'Each' is singular and takes a singular verb: 'has received'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Either the teachers or the principal ___ attending the meeting.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
Correct Answer: C
With 'either...or', the verb agrees with the nearer subject. 'Principal' is singular, so 'is' is correct.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Neither Ali nor his friends ___ ready.
A. is
B. was
C. are
D. has
Correct Answer: C
With 'neither...nor', the verb usually agrees with the nearer subject. 'Friends' is plural, so 'are' is correct.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. The list of items are on the table.
B. The list of items is on the table.
C. The list of items were on the table.
D. The list of items have been on the table.
Correct Answer: B
The subject is 'list', which is singular; the phrase 'of items' does not change the number of the subject.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the grammatically correct sentence.
A. He go to college every day.
B. He goes to college every day.
C. He going to college every day.
D. He gone to college every day.
Correct Answer: B
A singular third-person subject in the simple present takes a verb ending in -s/-es: 'He goes'.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “My heart sank when I saw the difficult final question.”, what is the meaning of “One's heart sinks”?
A. forced to choose between two difficult options
B. to strongly annoy or emotionally affect someone
C. one suddenly feels disappointed, worried, or discouraged
D. in very good health and physical condition
Correct Answer: C
“One's heart sinks” means one suddenly feels disappointed, worried, or discouraged. Example: My heart sank when I saw the difficult final question. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Wrap things up”?
A. to take a short rest
B. the whole of something; everything involved
C. to examine detailed conditions carefully
D. to finish or complete something
Correct Answer: D
“Wrap things up” means to finish or complete something. Example: Let us wrap things up before lunch. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “a completely different situation with new conditions”?
A. Whole new ball game
B. Get down to business
C. Pick someone's brain
D. Make light of
Correct Answer: A
“Whole new ball game” means a completely different situation with new conditions. Example: Managing a large team is a whole new ball game. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Wet behind the ears”?
A. someone finally understands something
B. young and inexperienced
C. rare and not often found
D. a tendency toward cowardice
Correct Answer: B
“Wet behind the ears” means young and inexperienced. Example: The recruit is still wet behind the ears. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Up the creek without a paddle”?
A. to watch very carefully for something
B. to destroy someone's happy but unrealistic belief
C. in serious trouble without an easy solution
D. to strongly annoy or emotionally affect someone
Correct Answer: C
“Up the creek without a paddle” means in serious trouble without an easy solution. Example: Without backup files, we were up the creek without a paddle. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “His sarcastic remarks really got under her skin.”, what is the meaning of “Under one's skin”?
A. extremely irritated or close to losing patience
B. to begin doubting a decision already made
C. to destroy someone's happy but unrealistic belief
D. to strongly annoy or emotionally affect someone
Correct Answer: D
“Under one's skin” means to strongly annoy or emotionally affect someone. Example: His sarcastic remarks really got under her skin. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Touch base”?
A. to make brief contact to exchange information
B. to watch or pressure someone very closely
C. to reveal one's deepest thoughts and feelings
D. one suddenly feels disappointed, worried, or discouraged
Correct Answer: A
“Touch base” means to make brief contact to exchange information. Example: Let us touch base tomorrow about the schedule. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to think creatively in an unconventional way”?
A. Spare no expense
B. Think outside the box
C. Cut someone down to size
D. Fight fire with fire
Correct Answer: B
“Think outside the box” means to think creatively in an unconventional way. Example: The problem requires us to think outside the box. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Take its toll”?
A. to produce very good or surprising results
B. beyond one's authority, responsibility, or level of expertise
C. to cause damage, suffering, or exhaustion over time
D. to give permission for something to proceed
Correct Answer: C
“Take its toll” means to cause damage, suffering, or exhaustion over time. Example: Long working hours began to take their toll. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.