ACCUPLACER ESL Language Use Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: ______________ washing his sweater, Jacob hung it up to dry.

After (Correct answer)
Before
By
Until

Correct answer: After

The sentence describes a logical sequence of actions: first the sweater is washed, then it is hung up to dry. The word 'After' correctly establishes this temporal order, indicating that the washing action precedes the hanging action. This makes the sentence clear and grammatically correct.

Question 2: Dr. O’Hara is certain that some day, men and women will _______ to Mars.

travel (Correct answer)
travels
traveling
traveled

Correct answer: travel

This sentence uses the modal auxiliary verb 'will,' which is always followed by the base form of the main verb (the infinitive without 'to'). 'Travel' is the correct base form of the verb. Options like 'travels,' 'traveling,' or 'traveled' are incorrect verb forms to follow 'will.'

Question 3: Water _________at a temperature of zero degrees Celsius.

having frozen
freezing
freeze
freezes (Correct answer)

Correct answer: freezes

This sentence states a scientific fact, which requires the simple present tense. Additionally, 'Water' is a singular, non-count noun, so the verb must agree with it in the third person singular form. Therefore, 'freezes' is the correct verb, as it is in the simple present tense and agrees with the singular subject.

Question 4: __________you get a new haircut?

Have
Does
Are
Did (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Did

The question asks about a past action ('get a new haircut'). To form a question in the simple past tense, the auxiliary verb 'did' is used, followed by the base form of the main verb. 'Did' correctly indicates that the action occurred in the past.

Question 5: Jacques Cousteau will be remembered for his inventions and for______ to marine science.

dedication
his dedication (Correct answer)
being dedicated
his being dedicated

Correct answer: his dedication

This sentence requires parallel structure. The phrase 'for his inventions' uses a possessive pronoun ('his') followed by a noun ('inventions'). To maintain this parallelism, the second part of the phrase should also use a possessive pronoun followed by a noun. 'His dedication' correctly mirrors the structure, ensuring grammatical consistency.

Question 6: The children, who were tired of traveling, kept asking, “When _______we get to the hotel?”

have
will (Correct answer)
did
are

Correct answer: will

The children are asking about a future event – their arrival at the hotel. The auxiliary verb 'will' is used to form questions and statements about future actions or events. Therefore, 'will' is the correct choice to complete the future tense question.

Question 7: \t Galileo is most famous__________ that Earth revolves around the Sun, rather than the other way around

for having discovered (Correct answer)
for discovery
his discovery
in discovering

Correct answer: for having discovered

The phrase 'famous for' requires a gerund or a perfect gerund to follow it. 'Having discovered' is a perfect gerund, which correctly indicates a completed action in the past that led to Galileo's fame. This construction accurately expresses the reason for his renown.

Question 8: Men and women sometimes have difficulty understanding each other because they________ differently.

communicate (Correct answer)
communicated
\t have communicated
communicates

Correct answer: communicate

This sentence describes a general truth or a habitual action, which requires the simple present tense. The subject 'they' is plural, so the verb must be in its base form to agree with it. 'Communicate' is the correct simple present tense form that agrees with the plural subject 'they.'

Question 9: _________you can speak more than one language, you have the opportunity to make more new friends.

So
Before
When (Correct answer)
Though

Correct answer: When

The sentence establishes a condition under which a certain opportunity arises. 'When' is the most appropriate conjunction to introduce a conditional or temporal clause that sets the circumstance for the main clause. It indicates that the opportunity to make friends exists *at the time* or *under the condition* of speaking multiple languages.

Question 10: Light _________\tfaster than sound, which is why you see lightning before you hear the thunder.

traveling
travels (Correct answer)
having traveled
will travel

Correct answer: travels

This sentence states a scientific fact, which requires the simple present tense. 'Light' is a singular, non-count noun, so the verb must agree with it in the third person singular form. 'Travels' is the correct simple present tense form that agrees with the singular subject and expresses a universal truth.

Question 11: Lisa plays the piano. Her sister Kelly plays the piano, too.

Lisa and her sister Kelly plays the piano.
Both Lisa and her sister Kelly play the piano. (Correct answer)
Lisa plays the piano and Kelly plays the piano.
Lisa and Kelly too play the piano.

Correct answer: Both Lisa and her sister Kelly play the piano.

To combine the two sentences concisely while indicating that both individuals perform the action, 'Both...and' is the appropriate construction. When 'Both Lisa and her sister Kelly' form a compound subject, it is plural, requiring the plural verb form 'play.' This creates a grammatically correct and efficient sentence.

Question 12: Kazuko took her dog for a walk. They went to the park.

Kazuko, going to the park, took her dog for a walk.
Kazuko took her dog for a walk to the park. (Correct answer)
Kazuko took her dog for a walk because they went to the park
Kazuko and her dog went to the park, where she and the dog walked.

Correct answer: Kazuko took her dog for a walk to the park.

This question tests sentence combining for conciseness and clarity. Option B effectively combines the two original sentences by using a prepositional phrase ("to the park") to indicate the destination of the walk. This creates a single, grammatically correct, and more efficient sentence without losing any information or changing the meaning.

Question 13: We knew it might get chilly at the football game. We brought along some extra blankets.

We knew it might get chilly at the football game when we brought along some extra blankets
Bringing along some extra blankets, we knew it might get chilly at the football game
We brought along some extra blankets because we knew it might get chilly at the football game. (Correct answer)
It got chilly at the football game and we brought along some extra blankets.

Correct answer: We brought along some extra blankets because we knew it might get chilly at the football game.

This question assesses the ability to identify cause and effect relationships between sentences. Option C correctly uses the subordinating conjunction "because" to clearly establish that the knowledge of potential chilliness was the reason for bringing the blankets. This accurately reflects the logical connection between the two original statements.

Question 14: . Juan loves to play baseball. His friend Miguel enjoys baseball, too.

Both Juan and his friend Miguel enjoy playing baseball. (Correct answer)
Juan and his friend Miguel enjoys playing baseball.
Juan enjoys playing baseball and his friend Miguel, too.
Juan loves baseball and Miguel too enjoys baseball.

Correct answer: Both Juan and his friend Miguel enjoy playing baseball.

This question focuses on combining sentences to express shared information concisely and grammatically. Option A uses the correlative conjunction "Both...and" to effectively combine the two subjects and their shared enjoyment of baseball into a single, clear, and grammatically correct sentence. It avoids redundancy and maintains proper subject-verb agreement ("enjoy" for a plural subject).

Question 15: Wolves are pack animals. They are rarely spotted alone.

Wolves are rarely spotted alone if they are pack animals.
Being pack animals, wolves are rarely spotted alone (Correct answer)
After being pack animals, wolves are rarely spotted alone
Wolves are rarely spotted alone, although they are pack animals.

Correct answer: Being pack animals, wolves are rarely spotted alone

This question tests the ability to combine sentences using participial phrases to show a cause-and-effect or descriptive relationship. Option B uses the present participial phrase "Being pack animals" to concisely explain *why* wolves are rarely spotted alone. This construction clearly links the characteristic of being pack animals to the consequence of their solitary sightings, creating a more sophisticated and efficient sentence.

ACCUPLACER ESL Language Use Test

______________ washing his sweater, Jacob hung it up to dry.