LanguageCert International ESOL — All Questions

Choose the correct option: 'She asked me where ___.'

• a.did I live
• b.I lived✓
• c.do I live
• d.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.has repaired
• c.was 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.don't
• b.won't
• c.not
• d.didn'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.far more difficult✓
• b.far difficulter
• c.more difficulter
• d.the most difficult

'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.have worked
• d.am working

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.impact of
• c.effect✓
• d.reaction

'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 colours.'

• a.say
• b.speak
• c.talk
• d.tell✓

'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.compromise✓
• b.comprise
• c.composure
• d.component

'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.information
• d.informative

'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.strong
• b.stiff
• c.strict✓
• d.severe

'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.willing
• b.willingly
• c.will
• d.willingness✓

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.significantly✓
• b.significant
• c.significance
• d.signify

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.practical✓
• c.practically
• d.practise

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.opened
• b.opens
• c.opening✓
• d.openly

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 of
• b.so that
• c.unless
• d.in case✓

'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.in
• c.on
• d.for

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.in contrast
• b.as a result✓
• c.on the other hand
• d.even so

'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.from
• b.of
• c.by✓
• d.with

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 work night shifts.
• b.She used to working night shifts.
• c.She is use to work night shifts.
• d.She is used to working 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 information available online.✓
• b.There are a lot of informations available online.
• c.There is a lot of informations available online.
• d.There are much information 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 were better than we had expected.
• b.The news was better than we had expected.✓
• c.The news are better than we had expected.
• d.The news have been better than we 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 would be you, I would apply for the job.
• c.If I were you, I would apply for the job.✓
• d.If I am you, I will 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'.