English Language Proficiency Test: Grammar and Reading Comprehension

A comprehensive English language assessment covering error correction in passages and reading comprehension skills

14 Questions Published

Questions

Question 1 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This passage contains errors and an omission. Choose the correct option to correct the corresponding error and complete the passage.
I have noticed that ‘No Parking’ boards are appearing on all gates of our (9)
neighbourhood. They are also been pinned on all the tree trunks around here. (10)
On close inspection, I saw that they are actually advertisement boards. (11)
I am aghast as it seemed to have escaped the notice of everyone. (12)

Which word has been left out of line (9)?

  1. the
  2. of
  3. a
  4. compound
Question 2 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This passage contains errors and an omission. Choose the correct option to correct the corresponding error and complete the passage.
I have noticed that ‘No Parking’ boards are appearing on all gates of our (9)
neighbourhood. They are also been pinned on all the tree trunks around here. (10)
On close inspection, I saw that they are actually advertisement boards. (11)
I am aghast as it seemed to have escaped the notice of everyone. (12)

Which word(s) should replace ‘close’ in line (11)?

  1. closed
  2. closest
  3. closer
  4. close up
Question 3 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This passage contains errors and an omission. Choose the correct option to correct the corresponding error and complete the passage.
I have noticed that ‘No Parking’ boards are appearing on all gates of our (9)
neighbourhood. They are also been pinned on all the tree trunks around here. (10)
On close inspection, I saw that they are actually advertisement boards. (11)
I am aghast as it seemed to have escaped the notice of everyone. (12)

Which word(s) should replace “been” in line (10)?

  1. going to be
  2. have been
  3. being
  4. got
Question 4 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This passage contains errors and an omission. Choose the correct option to correct the corresponding error and complete the passage.
I have noticed that ‘No Parking’ boards are appearing on all gates of our (9)
neighbourhood. They are also been pinned on all the tree trunks around here. (10)
On close inspection, I saw that they are actually advertisement boards. (11)
I am aghast as it seemed to have escaped the notice of everyone. (12)

Which word(s) correctly replace(s) ‘am’ in line (12)?

  1. is
  2. was
  3. have been
  4. had been
Question 5 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: The numbered lines given below contain an error each. Choose the correct option to rectify the corresponding error.
Though I am averse to gamble, yet we went to the party (13)
Though everybody brought their children along with them, (14)
We left our baby in charge of a neighbour and (15)
Our son, who is elder than her, stayed at home. (16)

Which word(s) should replace ‘elder than’ in line (16)?

  1. elder to
  2. older than
  3. older to
  4. older
Question 6 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: The numbered lines given below contain an error each. Choose the correct option to rectify the corresponding error.
Though I am averse to gamble, yet we went to the party (13)
Though everybody brought their children along with them, (14)
We left our baby in charge of a neighbour and (15)
Our son, who is elder than her, stayed at home. (16)

Which phrase should replace ‘in charge of’ in line (15)?

  1. in the charge of
  2. by the charge of
  3. in the charge at
  4. by charge of
Question 7 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: The numbered lines given below contain an error each. Choose the correct option to rectify the corresponding error.
Though I am averse to gamble, yet we went to the party (13)
Though everybody brought their children along with them, (14)
We left our baby in charge of a neighbour and (15)
Our son, who is elder than her, stayed at home. (16)

Which phrase should replace ‘averse to gamble’ in line (13)?

  1. adverse to gamble
  2. adverse to gambling
  3. averse to be gambling
  4. averse to gambling
Question 8 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: The numbered lines given below contain an error each. Choose the correct option to rectify the corresponding error.
Though I am averse to gamble, yet we went to the party (13)
Though everybody brought their children along with them, (14)
We left our baby in charge of a neighbour and (15)
Our son, who is elder than her, stayed at home. (16)

Which phrase should replace ‘though everybody brought their children’ in line (14)?

  1. though everyone brought their children
  2. yet everybody brought their children
  3. though everybody brought his children
  4. yet everyone brought their children
Question 9 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

We can protect ourselves from trouble by

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the related question.

The stability of the system of living creatures is linked with the natural food chain. Plants produce carbohydrates and protein and are eaten by herbivorous animals. We know the importance of all the organisms involved in this predator-prey food chain. By introducing toxic chemicals, which will be passed on to man through the food chain, or by destroying any of the species, we are only creating trouble for ourselves.

An interesting example is the ladybird beetle brought from Australia to California to prevent cottony-cushion scale insects infecting citrus plants there. The beetle ate up the insects and the situation improved. But recently DDT sprayed to control the other pests in the citrus trees affected the beetle and the cottony-cushion scales are dangerously active again.

To save crops, we kill sparrows and the insects multiply. It is said that one of the European countries which did this had to import sparrows to control the insects. Kill all the snakes in India because they are dangerous, and tomorrow you may have to import snakes to kill rats.

  1. introducing suitable toxic chemicals into the food chain
  2. not destroying any of the species
  3. killing all the snakes
  4. killing sparrows which destroy crops
Question 10 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

The simplest yet the most comprehensive title for the passage is

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the related question.

The stability of the system of living creatures is linked with the natural food chain. Plants produce carbohydrates and protein and are eaten by herbivorous animals. We know the importance of all the organisms involved in this predator-prey food chain. By introducing toxic chemicals, which will be passed on to man through the food chain, or by destroying any of the species, we are only creating trouble for ourselves.

An interesting example is the ladybird beetle brought from Australia to California to prevent cottony-cushion scale insects infecting citrus plants there. The beetle ate up the insects and the situation improved. But recently DDT sprayed to control the other pests in the citrus trees affected the beetle and the cottony-cushion scales are dangerously active again.

To save crops, we kill sparrows and the insects multiply. It is said that one of the European countries which did this had to import sparrows to control the insects. Kill all the snakes in India because they are dangerous, and tomorrow you may have to import snakes to kill rats.

  1. Carnivores and Herbivores
  2. The Importance of the Ladybird
  3. The Ecosystem and the Food Chain
  4. Snake Worship
Question 11 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

The passage implies that

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the related question.

The stability of the system of living creatures is linked with the natural food chain. Plants produce carbohydrates and protein and are eaten by herbivorous animals. We know the importance of all the organisms involved in this predator-prey food chain. By introducing toxic chemicals, which will be passed on to man through the food chain, or by destroying any of the species, we are only creating trouble for ourselves.

An interesting example is the ladybird beetle brought from Australia to California to prevent cottony-cushion scale insects infecting citrus plants there. The beetle ate up the insects and the situation improved. But recently DDT sprayed to control the other pests in the citrus trees affected the beetle and the cottony-cushion scales are dangerously active again.

To save crops, we kill sparrows and the insects multiply. It is said that one of the European countries which did this had to import sparrows to control the insects. Kill all the snakes in India because they are dangerous, and tomorrow you may have to import snakes to kill rats.

  1. man is on the verge of extinction
  2. birds, animals and fish are created for man’s food
  3. food chain must remain unaltered
  4. one should be careful in disturbing the food chain
Question 12 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

The sentence “Kill all the snakes….” from the passage means

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the related question.

The stability of the system of living creatures is linked with the natural food chain. Plants produce carbohydrates and protein and are eaten by herbivorous animals. We know the importance of all the organisms involved in this predator-prey food chain. By introducing toxic chemicals, which will be passed on to man through the food chain, or by destroying any of the species, we are only creating trouble for ourselves.

An interesting example is the ladybird beetle brought from Australia to California to prevent cottony-cushion scale insects infecting citrus plants there. The beetle ate up the insects and the situation improved. But recently DDT sprayed to control the other pests in the citrus trees affected the beetle and the cottony-cushion scales are dangerously active again.

To save crops, we kill sparrows and the insects multiply. It is said that one of the European countries which did this had to import sparrows to control the insects. Kill all the snakes in India because they are dangerous, and tomorrow you may have to import snakes to kill rats.

  1. one should kill the snakes
  2. the snakes are poisonous and harmful
  3. that if the snakes are killed, the rats would multiply
  4. the snakes would need to be imported
Question 13 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

The main limiting factor on the population of organisms is

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the related question.

The stability of the system of living creatures is linked with the natural food chain. Plants produce carbohydrates and protein and are eaten by herbivorous animals. We know the importance of all the organisms involved in this predator-prey food chain. By introducing toxic chemicals, which will be passed on to man through the food chain, or by destroying any of the species, we are only creating trouble for ourselves.

An interesting example is the ladybird beetle brought from Australia to California to prevent cottony-cushion scale insects infecting citrus plants there. The beetle ate up the insects and the situation improved. But recently DDT sprayed to control the other pests in the citrus trees affected the beetle and the cottony-cushion scales are dangerously active again.

To save crops, we kill sparrows and the insects multiply. It is said that one of the European countries which did this had to import sparrows to control the insects. Kill all the snakes in India because they are dangerous, and tomorrow you may have to import snakes to kill rats.

  1. general climate
  2. sunlight
  3. soil condition
  4. food chain
Question 14 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

The example of the ladybird shows that

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the related question.

The stability of the system of living creatures is linked with the natural food chain. Plants produce carbohydrates and protein and are eaten by herbivorous animals. We know the importance of all the organisms involved in this predator-prey food chain. By introducing toxic chemicals, which will be passed on to man through the food chain, or by destroying any of the species, we are only creating trouble for ourselves.

An interesting example is the ladybird beetle brought from Australia to California to prevent cottony-cushion scale insects infecting citrus plants there. The beetle ate up the insects and the situation improved. But recently DDT sprayed to control the other pests in the citrus trees affected the beetle and the cottony-cushion scales are dangerously active again.

To save crops, we kill sparrows and the insects multiply. It is said that one of the European countries which did this had to import sparrows to control the insects. Kill all the snakes in India because they are dangerous, and tomorrow you may have to import snakes to kill rats.

  1. cottony-cushion scales should be allowed to eat citrus freely
  2. by destroying even one species we create problems
  3. rats must be protected from snakes
  4. lions should have limited access for hunting deer

Practice this chapter

Reading Comprehension (7656 questions)