IELTS Practice (Grammar & Vocabulary) — All Questions
22 questions
I ___ my keys; I cannot find them anywhere. Which choice is correct?
- a.lost
- b.was losing
- c.had lost
- d.have lost✓
The present perfect 'have lost' links a past action to its present result (the keys are still missing now). The simple past 'lost' would not stress that present consequence.
By next June, she ___ here for ten years. Which choice is correct?
- a.will have worked✓
- b.works
- c.will work
- d.has worked
The future perfect 'will have worked' describes an action that will be completed by a point in the future ('by next June'). It is used with a deadline plus a duration.
While I ___ dinner, the telephone rang. Which choice is correct?
- a.was cooking✓
- b.have cooked
- c.cook
- d.cooked
The past continuous 'was cooking' describes an ongoing background action that was interrupted by a shorter past action ('rang'), which takes the simple past.
They ___ to London three times this year. Which choice is correct?
- a.went
- b.are going
- c.have been✓
- d.had been
The present perfect 'have been' fits an unfinished time period ('this year') where the number of experiences up to now is counted. 'Went' would need a finished past time.
If I ___ you, I would apologize immediately. Which choice is correct?
- a.were✓
- b.am
- c.had been
- d.was
In the second conditional giving advice, standard usage uses the subjunctive 'were' for all persons: 'If I were you'. This pairs with 'would apologize'.
The government intends to ___ strict measures to reduce air pollution. Which verb collocates best?
- a.put
- b.make
- c.impose✓
- d.do
The natural collocation is 'impose measures'. 'Make measures' and 'do measures' are not standard English combinations.
Tourism plays a vital ___ in the country's economy. Which word completes the collocation?
- a.act
- b.role✓
- c.place
- d.position
The fixed collocation is 'play a role'. Something that 'plays a vital role' is very important; 'play a place' or 'play a position' are not idiomatic here.
Scientists have made a major ___ in cancer research this decade. Which word best fits?
- a.breakup
- b.breakdown
- c.breakthrough✓
- d.breakout
A 'breakthrough' is an important discovery or advance, which fits research progress. A 'breakdown' is a failure or collapse, and 'breakup' refers to ending a relationship.
The new findings ___ doubt on the original theory. Which verb completes the collocation?
- a.set
- b.put
- c.cast✓
- d.give
The established collocation is 'cast doubt on'. English speakers say new evidence 'casts doubt on' an idea, not 'puts' or 'gives' doubt on it.
Traffic congestion is a ___ problem in most large cities. Which word best fits?
- a.deep
- b.tall
- c.common✓
- d.wide
'A common problem' means one that occurs frequently and widely, which fits city traffic. 'Wide', 'tall', and 'deep' do not naturally describe a problem in this sense.
She is one of ___ most talented musicians in the orchestra. Which choice is correct?
- a.the✓
- b.no article
- c.an
- d.a
A superlative ('most talented') takes the definite article 'the'. The phrase 'one of the most talented' is a fixed pattern.
He has been interested ___ astronomy since childhood. Which preposition is correct?
- a.at
- b.for
- c.on
- d.in✓
The correct collocation is 'interested in'. English speakers are 'interested in' a subject, not 'interested on' or 'interested at' it.
We arrived ___ the airport two hours before the flight. Which preposition is correct?
- a.at✓
- b.on
- c.in
- d.to
Use 'arrive at' for a specific point or building like an airport. 'Arrive in' is used with larger areas such as cities or countries, and 'arrive to' is incorrect.
I took ___ umbrella because it looked like rain. Which article is correct?
- a.a
- b.the
- c.no article
- d.an✓
'Umbrella' begins with a vowel sound, so it takes 'an'. The choice of 'a' or 'an' depends on the sound that follows, not the spelling alone.
Report the direct speech: 'I will call you tomorrow,' she said. → She said she ___ the next day. Which choice is correct?
- a.called
- b.calls
- c.would call✓
- d.will call
In reported speech, 'will' shifts back to 'would', and 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day'. So 'I will call you tomorrow' becomes 'she would call me the next day'.
Rewrite in the passive: 'Someone stole my bicycle.' → My bicycle ___. Which choice is correct?
- a.was stealing
- b.has stolen
- c.was stolen✓
- d.is stole
The passive of the past simple 'stole' is 'was/were + past participle'. The past participle of 'steal' is 'stolen', giving 'My bicycle was stolen'.
Keep the meaning: 'This is the best film I have ever seen.' → I have never seen ___ film. Which choice is correct?
- a.the better
- b.a better✓
- c.a good
- d.best
'The best I have ever seen' can be rephrased as 'I have never seen a better film', using the comparative 'better' after the negative to express the same idea.
Keep the meaning: 'He is too young to drive.' → He is not ___ to drive. Which choice is correct?
- a.too old
- b.old enough✓
- c.as old
- d.enough old
'Too young to drive' means he is not old enough. The adverb 'enough' follows the adjective, giving 'old enough', not 'enough old'.
The number of students in the class ___ increasing every year. Which choice is correct?
- a.have
- b.is✓
- c.are
- d.were
The subject 'the number of students' is singular (it is 'the number' that is increasing), so it takes the singular verb 'is'.
I have been living in this city ___ five years. Which choice is correct?
- a.since
- b.from
- c.for✓
- d.during
Use 'for' with a length of time ('five years'). 'Since' would be used with a starting point, such as 'since 2019'.
Each of the students ___ a laptop for the course. Which choice is correct?
- a.have
- b.are
- c.has✓
- d.having
'Each' is singular and controls the verb, even when followed by 'of the students'. The singular verb 'has' is therefore correct.
She suggested ___ a short break before continuing. Which choice is correct?
- a.take
- b.took
- c.taking✓
- d.to take
The verb 'suggest' is followed by a gerund ('taking'), not an infinitive. 'Suggested to take' is a common error.