LanguageCert International ESOL — All Questions
22 questions
Choose the correct option: 'She asked me where ___.'
- a.do I live
- b.I live
- c.I lived✓
- d.did I live
In reported questions, word order is statement order (subject + verb) with no auxiliary, and the tense shifts back, so 'where I lived' is correct.
Complete the sentence: 'The bridge ___ last year after the storm.'
- a.repaired
- b.was repaired✓
- c.has repaired
- d.is repairing
A passive form is needed because the bridge received the action. With the past time marker 'last year', the past simple passive 'was repaired' is correct.
Select the correct form: 'I'd rather you ___ smoke in here.'
- a.didn't✓
- b.not
- c.don't
- d.won't
After 'I'd rather + subject', an unreal past form is used, so 'didn't' is correct even though it refers to the present.
Choose the correct comparative: 'This exam was ___ than the last one.'
- a.the most difficult
- b.far more difficult✓
- c.far difficulter
- d.more difficulter
'Difficult' forms its comparative with 'more', and 'far' intensifies it: 'far more difficult'. 'Difficulter' is not a valid form.
Complete: 'By next June, I ___ here for ten years.'
- a.will work
- b.will have worked✓
- c.am working
- d.have worked
The future perfect 'will have worked' describes a duration completed by a future point ('by next June').
Choose the best word: 'The medicine had an immediate ___ on her headache.'
- a.affect
- b.reaction
- c.impact of
- d.effect✓
'Effect' is the noun meaning a result, and 'have an effect on' is the fixed collocation. 'Affect' is normally a verb.
Select the best fit: 'I can't ___ the difference between the two colors.'
- a.talk
- b.speak
- c.tell✓
- d.say
'Tell the difference' is the fixed expression for distinguishing between things. 'Say', 'speak', and 'talk' do not collocate here.
Which word fits best? 'They reached a ___ after hours of negotiation.'
- a.comprise
- b.component
- c.composure
- d.compromise✓
'Reach a compromise' means to settle by mutual concession, which fits a negotiation. The other words mean to consist of, calmness, and a part.
Choose the correct word: 'Please keep me ___ of any changes.'
- a.informing
- b.informed✓
- c.informative
- d.information
'Keep someone informed' is a fixed pattern using the past participle 'informed' as an adjective.
Select the best word: 'The rules are quite ___; there is no room for exceptions.'
- a.severe
- b.strict✓
- c.strong
- d.stiff
'Strict' rules allow no exceptions. 'Strong' and 'stiff' do not collocate naturally with rules, and 'severe' more often describes punishment or weather.
Choose the correct form: 'His ___ to help was greatly appreciated.'
- a.willingly
- b.willing
- c.willingness✓
- d.will
A noun is needed after the possessive 'His'. 'Willingness' is the noun form of the adjective 'willing'.
Complete: 'The results were ___ different from what we expected.'
- a.signify
- b.significance
- c.significant
- d.significantly✓
An adverb is needed to modify the adjective 'different'. 'Significantly' is the adverb form.
Select the right form: 'We must find a ___ solution to the problem.'
- a.practice
- b.practically
- c.practical✓
- d.practice
An adjective is needed before the noun 'solution'. 'Practical' is the adjective form.
Choose the correct form: 'The company announced the ___ of a new branch.'
- a.opening✓
- b.opened
- c.openly
- d.opens
A noun is needed after 'the' and before 'of'. The gerund-noun 'opening' fits, meaning the act of starting the branch.
Choose the correct connector: 'We took an umbrella ___ it might rain.'
- a.in case✓
- b.unless
- c.so that
- d.in case of
'In case' introduces a clause describing a possibility you prepare for. 'In case of' is followed by a noun, not a clause.
Select the correct preposition: 'She is very good ___ solving problems.'
- a.at✓
- b.for
- c.in
- d.on
The adjective 'good' is followed by 'at' when describing an ability or skill: 'good at solving problems'.
Choose the best linker: 'He studied hard; ___, he passed with distinction.'
- a.even so
- b.in contrast
- c.as a result✓
- d.on the other hand
'As a result' shows a consequence: hard study led to distinction. The other options signal contrast.
Select the correct preposition: 'The decision was made ___ the board of directors.'
- a.with
- b.from
- c.by✓
- d.of
In a passive structure, the agent that performs the action is introduced by 'by': 'made by the board'.
Which sentence is correct?
- a.She is used to working night shifts.✓
- b.She used to working night shifts.
- c.She is use to work night shifts.
- d.She is used to work night shifts.
'Be used to' (meaning accustomed to) is followed by a gerund: 'used to working'. This differs from 'used to + infinitive' for past habits.
Identify the error-free sentence.
- a.There is a lot of informations available online.
- b.There are much information available online.
- c.There is a lot of information available online.✓
- d.There are a lot of informations available online.
'Information' is uncountable, so it has no plural 's' and takes a singular verb: 'There is a lot of information'.
Choose the correct sentence.
- a.The news have been better than we expected.
- b.The news were better than we had expected.
- c.The news was better than we had expected.✓
- d.The news are better than we had expected.
'News' is an uncountable noun that takes a singular verb, so 'The news was' is correct despite the final 's'.
Which sentence has no error?
- a.If I was you, I would applied for the job.
- b.If I were you, I would apply for the job.✓
- c.If I am you, I will apply for the job.
- d.If I would be you, I would apply for the job.
In the second conditional, the past subjunctive 'were' is standard after 'if I', and the result clause uses 'would + base verb'.