a very difficult handout for grammar review

1. I wish grammar _________ easier.

a. was b. are c. is d. were

2. These trees are _________ than those trees over there.

a. young b. younger c. youngest d. the youngest

3. The cost of the dinner plus the drinks and the tips ______ over $400.
a. were b. was c. are d. am

4. The Judge ordered that Steve ______ incarcerated for 25 years.

a. be b. is c. was d. had been

5. Henceforth, you must bring all of your books to class.

a. from now on b. from time to time c. sometimes d. now and then

6. Joe is a good worker. He works ________.

a. hard b. good c. quick d. rapid

7. There are dozens of fire trucks at the city library. There _______
be a big fire there.
a. will b. should c. have to d. must

8. Which of the following sentences is the most correct?

a. He asked me when will be the test.
b. He asked me when will the be test.
c. He asked me when the test will be.
d. He asked me when the test be will.

9. The guilty persons were ____________.

a. him and her b. he and she c. him and me d. him and I

10. I got us some doughnuts, a baker's dozen.

a. 6 b. 12 c. 13 d. 24

11. If today ___________ cold, we could have gone swimming.

a. is not b. has not been c. was not d. had not been

12. The bullet grazed his thigh. Where is the bandage?

a. his head b. his arm c. his leg d. his chest

13. This material is inflammable.

a. It will not burn easily. b. It will burn easily.
c. It is not combustible. d. It cannot be set on fire easily.

14. At least a score of innocent children were hurt in the crossfire.

a. 5 b. 10 c. 15 d. 20

15. Joe flunked the test.

a. He failed it. b. He wrote it. c. He graded it. d. He excelled on it.

16. This is a private conversation between __________________.

a. he and I b. Joe and I c. me and him d. he and she
17. Yesterday, I __________ a lot of fish at the lake.
a. catched b. cought c. catcht d. caught
18. You should eschew frequenting off-limits nightclubs.
a. start b. avoid c. enjoy d. try

19. There was a dead dog lying _______ the middle of the road.
a. on b. in c. by d. to

20. There _______ been a lot of serious accidents on Loop 1604 lately.
a. has b. have c. is d. was

21. He was maimed in the plane crash.

a. killed b. crippled c. spared d. dead

22. I went to bed around 9:30 last night.

a. turned out b. turned off c. turned in d. turned over

23. There has never been a major earthquake in San Antonio, ________?
a. is it b. has there b. is there d. hasn't there

24. We really clobbered that other team last night.

a. helped b. enjoyed c. defeated d. entertained

25. A margarita consists ________ tequila and lime juice.

a. in b. of c. with d. for

26. In no way will he ever marry again, ____________?

a. won't he b. will he c. is he d. isn't he

27. I don't like this exercise. It is _________.

a. boring b. bored c. bore d. bores

28. What ____________ last night?

a. did you b. did you do c. was you do d. you did

29. I was __________ tired to go to the movies last night.

a. so b. very c. enough d. too

30. This class ____________ by Mr. Smith last week.

a. is teached b. are teached c. was taught d. were teach

31. Make sure everybody has _________ I.D. card during the test.
a. their b. a c. your d. his or her

32. I am tired ________ doing homework every night.

a. to b. with c. for d. of

33. If Joe has dandruff, what should he probably buy?

a. shampoo b. toothpaste c. eyedrops d. acne cream

34. I would not have said that __________________.

a. if I was you b. had I been you c. if I are you d. were I in you place

35. Where _____________ tomorrow?

a. we gonna go b. are we going c. will we going d. we going to
36. Charles gave Maria a box of chocolates for her birthday.
a. Charles was given a box of chocolates.
b. Maria gave Charles a box of chocolates.
c. Maria was given a box of chocolates by Charles.
d. A box of chocolates was given to Charles by Maria.

37. It is very hot _________ I would like to go swimming.

a. , however, b. ; but c. ; therefore, d. ; and

38. I envy Joe.

a. I hate him. b. I wish I were in his place.
c. I despise him. d. I'm glad I'm not Joe.

39. He is a widower.
a. He never married. b. His wife is dead.
c. His parents are dead. d. He has no job.

40. Tom finked on his friends.

a. ratted on b. assisted c. stood by d. aided

41. If the boss is very mean, he is ______________.

a. kind b. cruel c. young d. middle-aged

42. Where are your shins located?

a. on your face b. in your legs
c. in your back d. near your wrists

43. Tom brags too much.

a. He eats too much. b. He boasts too much.
c. He spends too much. d. He sleeps too much.

44. The police ________ been investigating that case for months.
a. has b. were c. are d. have

45. You need to use coarse sandpaper on this wood because it is abrasive enough to do the
job.
a. smooth b. fine c. delicate d. rough

46. By the time you graduate from DLI, you ____________ 7 speeches.
a. will be give b. will have given
c. will be giving d. will have gave

47. The car stopped abruptly.

a. slowly b. cautiously c. quickly d. too late

48. The test was a breeze.

a. It was not very easy. b. It was a killer
c. It was a piece of cake. d. I had trouble with it.

49. I think she is absolutely gorgeous.

a. ugly b. intelligent c. affluent d. beautiful

50. He has many outstanding qualities, not the least of which is his affable personality.
a. He makes enemies. b. He is friendly.
c. He learns quickly. d. He lacks intelligence.
51. That material will not burn. It is _______________.
a. flammable b. inflammable
c. nonflammable d. combustible

52. Whether or not you get to graduate early depends ______ your ECL score.
a. on b. of c. with d. to

53. The meeting will resume at 0945.

a. summarize b. begin again
c. conclude d. wind up

54. My wife left _________ Puerto Rico this morning.

a. to b. for c. at d. on

55. Do not shirk your duties and responsibilities.

a. do b. perform c. avoid d. enhance

56. A series of meetings _______ going to be held next week, but it got canceled at the
last moment.
a. are b. is c. were d. was

57. She is very intelligent. She studied very hard last night.
She never gets low scores. Therefore, she ________ get a very good grade on the next
test. I always expect the best of her.
a. must b. will c. should d. might

58. This book is absolutely worthless.

a. It is new and helpful. b. It is antique and rare.
c. It has no value to anyone. d. It is valuable to collectors.

59. I made my son _______ to bed early.

a. to go b. going c. goes d. go

60. The teacher tries to thwart me all the time.

a. frustrate b. aid c. ignore d. improve

61. I had the maid ________ my bathroom again.

a. clean b. to clean c. cleans d. cleaned

62. I am an only child.

a. I have no parents. b. I have no children.
c. I have no siblings. d. I have sisters, but no brothers.

63. He had no qualms about writing the letter.

a. scruples b. reservations c. confidence d. inspiration

64. If I had been you, I __________________ differently.

a. would have answered b. would answer
c. would be answered d. would has answered

65. By the time I finally graduate from DLI, I ____________ 16 tests.

a. would have taken b. will be taken
c. would have doing d. will have taken

66. He went to pieces after the police arrested his son.

a. lost all control b. visited a lawyer
c. spent all of his money d. fled the area

67. The price of cars, boats, televisions, and VCRs _____ gone up a lot in the last two
years.
a. have b. is c. has d. are

68. I wish today _________ Saturday.

a. was b. is c. were d. am

69. I had the barber __________ my hair short on the sides.

a. to cut b. cuts c. cutted d. cut

70. If I _________ richer, I could buy a big mansion in Miami.

a. was b. had been c. were d. am
71. Before I could reach the scene of the accident, the victims
_____________________.
a. was already die b. were already die
c. have already died d. had already died

72. You train an animal best by ______________ kind to it.

a. be b. being c. been d. to be

73. A scythe is used __________ wheat.

a. for cut b. to cutting c. to cut d. cut

74. Steven was given a ticket for speeding by the policeman.

a. A policeman was given a ticket by Steven.
b. Steven gave the policeman a ticket.
c. A ticket was given to the policeman by Steven.
d. A ticket was given to Steven by the policeman.

75. I have checked my calculations a dozen times. I had three colleagues verify my
procedures. We ran it through the computer twice. This ______ be the correct answer.
a. will b. must c. might d. could

76. Our town has a 10 p.m. curfew for teens.

a. Teenagers must be in bed and asleep by 10 p.m.
b. Everyone younger than 20 years old must be at home before 10 p.m.
c. Parents must know exactly where their children are at 10 p.m.
d. No one is allowed to be outside of their homes after 10 p.m.

77. I paid $20 for this C.D. It won't play. The store refuses to give me my money back
or exchange it for another C.D. I guess I'm _______ $20.
a. out b. out of c. over d. off of

78. The repairman said that this kind of major repair ___________ at this shop any more.
a. are not been made b. is not being made
c. can not being made d. is not been making

79. We need a little respite.

a. help b. snack c. break d. loan

80. The police will, it has been reported, in no way, become involved in this serious
matter, _______________?
a. will they b. won't they c. will it d. won't it
81. I made the cat __________ in the garbage can all night.
a. to sleep b. sleeping c. sleeps d. sleep

82. Neither the Captain nor the lieutenants ________ going to be at the picnic.
a. are b. is c. was d. has been

83. I bought a bootleg video of "Saving Private Ryan" at the flea market.
a. pirated b. licensed c. authorized d. franchised

84. It's high time that my brother _______ a new car.

a. buying b. bought c. is bought d. buys

85. There _______ been a lot of robberies in the dorms lately.

a. has b. are c. have d. is

86. Neither the lieutenants nor the Captain _________ going to be at the picnic.
a. are b. were c. have been d. is

87. A margarita consists _______ tequila, lime juice and triple sec.
a. in b. with c. to d. of e. by

88. There ______ a big difference between a derringer and a pistol.

a. are b. were c. is d. its

89. I asked him ____________ me.

a. for help b. to help c. for helping d. help

90. Tom pilfered several computer parts.

a. repaired b. purchased c. ordered d. stole

91. Which of these sentences is the BEST grammatically?

a. Is difficult to write in English. b. Writing in English it is difficult.
c. To write is difficult in English. d. Writing in English is difficult.

92. I thanked him _________ me.

a. for help b. to help c. help d. for helping

93. Tom is an only child.

a. His parents are dead. b. He has no children.
c. He has no siblings. d. He has sisters, but no brothers.

94. Which of the following would be the BEST answer to this question?
How often have you been to XXX-rated movie theaters?

a. Never I have been to those kinds of theaters.

b. I have been never to those kinds of theaters.
c. I have been to those kinds of theaters never.
d. I have never been to those kinds of theaters.

95. ______________ went fishing last Saturday.

a. My brother and me b. Him and me
c. Me and him d. He and I

96. Some big wigs are coming to DLI next week.

a. VIPs b. problem students
c. new Enlisted d. smart students

97. If my father had not lost all of our money last year betting on the ponies, we
_________________ in Monaco right now.
a. could have lived b. could be live
c. could be living d. could have live

98. The opposite of "veracity" is _____________.

a. truth b. mendacity c. altitude d. speed

99. The reason for his repeated absences from all of his classes ______ a continuing
illness that renders him incapable of walking.
a. are b. is c. were d. am

100. Lt. Smith admitted committing plagiarism.

a. He robbed a bank.
b. He murdered a child.
c. He lied on an application.
d. He copied somebody else's writing and turned it in as his own work.

101. The teacher guffawed when he read the last sentence of the letter.
a. laughed b. grimaced c. hid a smile d. sighed

102. I wish I __________________.

a. had been born never b. was never been born
c. had never been born d. were never been born
e. had been never born f. never was been born

103. I would appreciate ________ not speaking so loudly please.

a. your b. he c. they d. you

104. It is not polite to eavesdrop like that.

a. to throw things at other people
b. to take something from someone else
c. to accuse someone falsely of doing something bad
d. to listen secretly to a private conversation

105. The city has ordered that all fire trucks ________ parked outside the fire stations
during the night.
a. are b. be c. were d. is

106. He received a 3/3 on his exit OPI, thereby __________ him to be a Distinguished
Graduate.
a. enable b. enabled c. enabling d. enables

107. If he is a botanist, he is a scientist specializing in ________.

a. animals b. fish c. the stars d. plants

108. Lt. Smith is unhappy because ______________.

a. he failed from the test b. he failed of the test
c. he failed to the test d. he failed the test

109. It's high time that I _________ a new car.

a. buying b. bought c. buys d. do buy

110. Which of these military terms is an acronym?

a. ammo b. AWOL c. latrine d. FTX

111. Which of the following is NOT an emergency vehicle that would probably be equipped
with a siren?
a. a fire truck b. a taxi cab
c. an ambulance d. a police car

112. The blaze could be seen for miles.

a. fire b. storm cloud c. bridge d. tollway

113. I could not grasp the main idea of the paragraph.

a. jest b. gist c. pest d. fist e. gust

114. The jury’s verdict triggered rioting in the streets of East L.A.
a. decreased b. ended c. videotaped d. initiated

115. I considered the colonel’s order to be vague.

a. illegal b. concise c. unclear d. stupid

116. _______________, the student handed it in to the teacher.

a. Finished the exercise b. Being finish the exercise
c. Having finish the exercise d. Having finished the exercise

117. He tied his belt around his upper arm, thereby _____________ the flow of blood.
a. stanch b. stanching c. to stanch d. stanches

118. He might be a very nice individual. Don’t jump _______ conclusions.

a. at b. on c. in d. into e. to

119. Neither Joe nor his brothers ______ going to be at the party.
a. is b. are c. was d. has decided to be

120. It is I who _____ scheduled to be your next teacher.

a. is b. are c. am d. are

121. ______________, the phone rang.

a. While taking a shower
b. Taking a shower
c. When taking a shower
d. As I was taking a shower