English Grammar and Language Usage

The comparative form of 'good' is 'better'. Options A and B incorrectly use double comparatives ('more nice' and 'more better'). Option C 'best' is the superlative form, not comparative, so it doesn't fit the sentence structure.

After 'one of,' we use a plural noun because it refers to one person/item from a larger group. 'Friends' is plural, while 'friend' is singular. 'Best friend' and 'good friend' are incorrect because they don't show the required plural form.

'Criteria' is the correct plural form of 'criterion' (from Greek/Latin). 'Criterias' is incorrect because 'criteria' is already plural - it's like saying 'datas' instead of 'data'. 'Requirement' and 'method' are singular and don't fit the context.

'Personnel' refers to a department or staff involved in employment/hiring. The sentence means that addressing an application to the personnel manager (HR) instead of an academic department head would not help get a professor position. 'Personal' means private/individual, 'person' is a human being, and 'personification' is a literary device.

'Except' is a preposition or conjunction meaning 'apart from' or 'but'. It fits the context of not taking copies unless a specific condition (necessity) is met. 'Accept' means to receive, and 'expect' means to anticipate.

'Stationery' with an 'e' refers to writing materials like paper and envelopes. 'Stationary' with an 'a' means not moving or fixed in one place. Daniel couldn't find the paper shop because of the parked van.

'Revert' means to return to a previous state or to respond. Using 'revert back' is redundant because 'revert' already includes the meaning of 'back'. Option B is the clean, correct expression. Option C repeats the redundancy with 'be reverting back'.

'Return' means to give something back, so adding 'back' again is redundant ('return back'). Option B is correct: 'If you return my book, I will not repeatedly ask you.' Options A and D add the redundant 'back'. Option C adds unnecessary 'again' at the end.

The noun 'zest' is idiomatically followed by the preposition 'for' when meaning great enthusiasm or enjoyment (e.g., a zest for life).

'Rather' is used with adjectives to express degree or that something is surprisingly true. 'Rather small' means 'quite small' or 'somewhat small'. 'Bit' needs 'a bit', 'even' is used with comparatives, and 'much' is typically used with comparatives ('much smaller').

The phrase 'in case' is used to express preparation for a possible future situation. We bought food as a precaution for the possibility that the friends might stay over.

The word 'whereas' is a conjunction used to highlight a contrast between two facts or ideas. In this sentence, it effectively contrasts the past (animal-driven carts) with the present (motor vehicles).

The negative purpose structure uses 'so as not to' followed by the base verb. 'I took a cab so as not to be late' is correct. Option B 'in order to not' is awkward - standard English prefers 'in order not to'. Option C 'to avoid' would need 'being' late. Option D is colloquial and grammatically incomplete.

The sentence contrasts a benefit (faster travel) with a drawback (parking problems). 'However' is the correct transition word to show contrast. 'Moreover' adds information, 'although' introduces a subordinate clause, and 'besides' means 'in addition to' - none fit the sentence structure.

'Therefore' shows a logical consequence or result. The increasing population causes the need for more food. 'So' is less formal, 'then' suggests sequence in time, and 'since' introduces a reason (used at the start, not mid-sentence in this structure).

The verb 'to lie' (meaning to recline) has the past tense 'lay'. 'Laid' is the past tense of 'to lay' (meaning to put something down), which requires a direct object. Since the King is reclining himself, 'lay' is correct.

'A few' is used with countable nouns like apples, and means 'some' or 'a small number'. 'Few' (without 'a') has a negative meaning meaning 'hardly any'. 'Little' and 'a little' are used with uncountable nouns like water or money.

The verb 'let' is followed by the object pronoun 'me' and then the bare infinitive (base form of verb without 'to'). So 'let me take' is correct. 'Let me taking' and 'let me having' are grammatically wrong. 'Let me have' doesn't fit the context of taking a dog for a walk.

The phrasal verb "put someone up" means to provide accommodation or lodging for them. In this context, the speaker is asking if someone can accommodate them for the weekend. Options like "put me down" (criticize) or "put me away" (imprison/kill) don't fit this social context.

The present perfect tense "have increased" is used here to show a change from past to present. "During" is the correct preposition for a time period that continues to the present. "Since" requires a specific point in time (e.g., "since 2009"), not a duration. "For" could work but is less idiomatic with "the last 15 years."