Accuplacer Practice Test ESL Language Use — Questions and Answers

Question 1: The first six days of the week are workdays, during which we _______________ to provide food and other essentials.

working hard
worked harder
work hard (Correct answer)
worked hard

Correct answer: work hard

The sentence describes a general truth or habitual action that occurs during workdays. For such recurring actions, the simple present tense is required. 'Work hard' is the correct simple present tense form, indicating a regular activity performed to achieve a goal.

Question 2: Why don't you _____________ before we leave?

eating
eat (Correct answer)
ate
eaten

Correct answer: eat

The phrase 'Why don't you...' is a common idiomatic expression used to make a suggestion. This construction is always followed by the base form of the verb (the infinitive without 'to'). Therefore, 'eat' is the correct base form to complete the suggestion.

Question 3: Many parents apply Child Benefit monthly money to _____________ their total household budget.

supporting
support as
support (Correct answer)
support as

Correct answer: support

The infinitive form 'to + verb' is used to express purpose or intention. In this sentence, the purpose of applying Child Benefit money is to 'support' their total household budget. 'Support' is the correct base form of the verb to follow 'to' in this infinitive construction.

Question 4: Abraham Lincoln, a self-taught lawyer, politician, and vocal opponent of slavery, was _____________ as the 16th President of the United States.

rejected
designated
elected (Correct answer)
appointed

Correct answer: elected

Presidents in the United States are chosen by popular vote in an election. 'Elected' means to choose (someone) to hold public office or some other position by voting. This accurately describes how Abraham Lincoln became the 16th President, making it the most appropriate verb.

Question 5: Subtitles are normally provided for the ____________ of people who do not know Latin.

disadvantage
beneficiary
hindrance
benefit (Correct answer)

Correct answer: benefit

Subtitles are provided to help or be advantageous to people who do not understand the original language. 'Benefit' means an advantage or profit gained from something. The idiomatic phrase 'for the benefit of' perfectly conveys that subtitles are provided for the advantage or good of those who don't know Latin.

Question 6: Derek will ____________ this July with an engineering degree in computer engineering.

be graduating (Correct answer)
have graduating
was graduating
be graduate

Correct answer: be graduating

The phrase 'this July' indicates a future event that will be in progress or completed around that specific time. The future continuous tense, 'will be graduating,' is used to describe an action that will be ongoing at a particular point in the future. This tense correctly conveys that Derek's graduation process will be happening around July.

Question 7: Which is NOT an adverb?

here
quickly
small (Correct answer)
tomorrow

Correct answer: small

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, often answering questions like how, when, where, or to what extent. 'Here,' 'quickly,' and 'tomorrow' all function as adverbs. 'Small,' however, describes a noun (e.g., 'a small house'), making it an adjective, not an adverb.

Question 8: A sentence must contain the following words to be called a compound sentence:

There are two dependent clauses
There are two independent clauses (Correct answer)
A clause that is independent, followed by an dependent clause
Dependent clause is followed by an independent clause

Correct answer: There are two independent clauses

A compound sentence is formed by combining two or more independent clauses. An independent clause is a complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence. These clauses are typically joined by a coordinating conjunction (like 'and,' 'but,' 'or') or a semicolon.

Question 9: When a clause has both a subject and a verb that may stand on their own, this is referred to as:

Independent clause (Correct answer)
Run-on sentence
Fragment
Dependent clause

Correct answer: Independent clause

An independent clause contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought, meaning it can stand alone as a simple sentence. Unlike a dependent clause, it does not rely on another clause to make sense. For example, 'The dog barked' is an independent clause.

Question 10: Which of the following words is a gerund in the following sentence?<br/> Swimming is a pleasurable hobby.

hobby
swimming (Correct answer)
pleasurable
is

Correct answer: swimming

A gerund is a verb form ending in '-ing' that functions as a noun in a sentence. In the sentence 'Swimming is a pleasurable hobby,' 'swimming' acts as the subject, performing the role of a noun. Therefore, it is the gerund.

Question 11: Which is NOT a helping verb?

can
talk (Correct answer)
will
am

Correct answer: talk

Helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) assist the main verb in expressing tense, mood, or voice. 'Can,' 'will,' and 'am' are all common helping verbs that precede a main verb (e.g., 'I can run,' 'She will sing,' 'I am eating'). 'Talk,' however, is a main action verb itself, not a verb used to assist another verb.

Question 12: Which of the following is NOT a linking verb?

look
taste
become
may (Correct answer)

Correct answer: may

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that renames or describes the subject. Common linking verbs include forms of 'to be' and verbs related to the senses or states of being (look, taste, become, feel, seem). 'May' is a modal helping verb, indicating possibility or permission, and does not link a subject to a description.

Question 13: Which of the following verbs is an action word?

see (Correct answer)
will
is
can

Correct answer: see

An action verb describes an action that the subject of the sentence performs. 'See' is an action that a person or thing can do. In contrast, 'will,' 'is,' and 'can' are helping or linking verbs that do not express a direct action.

Question 14: Which of the following is an example of a collective noun?

government (Correct answer)
cats
mother's
30th Street

Correct answer: government

A collective noun refers to a group of people, animals, or things as a single unit. 'Government' represents a group of individuals working together as one entity. 'Cats' is a plural common noun, 'mother's' is a possessive noun, and '30th Street' is a proper noun.

Question 15: Merge the sentences together.<br/> Diego enjoys playing soccer. Luis, his pal, also likes soccer.

Diego enjoys playing soccer and his pal Luis too.
Diego loves soccer and Luis too enjoys soccer.
Both Diego and his pal Luis enjoy playing soccer. (Correct answer)
Diego and his pal Luis enjoys playing soccer.

Correct answer: Both Diego and his pal Luis enjoy playing soccer.

The original sentences state that Diego enjoys soccer and Luis also likes soccer. Option C combines these two ideas efficiently by using 'Both...and' to indicate shared enjoyment and correctly uses the plural verb 'enjoy' for the compound subject. This makes the sentence concise and grammatically sound.

Question 16: Because light ______________ than sound, you may see lightning before hearing thunder.

travels faster (Correct answer)
having travelled faster
will travel faster
travelling faster

Correct answer: travels faster

This sentence describes a general scientific truth or a habitual action, which requires the simple present tense. 'Travels faster' correctly uses the simple present tense for the singular subject 'light.' The other options use incorrect verb forms or tenses for this context.

Question 17: Merge the sentences together.<br/> When dining in a Japanese restaurant, do not pour your own drink. It is seen as disrespectful.

In Japan, do not pour your own drink when eating in a restaurant if it seen as disrespectful.
Because it seen as disrespectful, do not pour your own drink when eating in a restaurant in Japan. (Correct answer)
Do not pour your own drink when eating in a restaurant in Japan while it seen as disrespectful.
Pouring your own drink seen as disrespectful in Japan in a restaurant, so you should not do it.

Correct answer: Because it seen as disrespectful, do not pour your own drink when eating in a restaurant in Japan.

The original sentences present a rule and its reason. Option B effectively merges these by using 'Because' to clearly establish the cause-and-effect relationship, placing the reason for the action first. Although there is a grammatical error ('it seen' instead of 'it is seen'), its structure is the most logical and concise for combining the given information compared to the other options.

Question 18: Merge the sentences together.<br/> Kim plays the violin. Her sister Jane plays the violin, too

Both Kim and her sister Jane play the violin. (Correct answer)
Kim and Jane too play the violin.
Kim and her sister Jane plays the violin.
Kim plays the violin and Jane plays the violin.

Correct answer: Both Kim and her sister Jane play the violin.

The original sentences state that both Kim and her sister Jane perform the same action: playing the violin. Option A effectively combines these two ideas into a single, clear sentence using 'Both...and' and correctly uses the plural verb 'play' for the compound subject. This makes the sentence concise and grammatically sound.

Question 19: Water ____________ at zero degrees Celsius.

freezes (Correct answer)
having frozen
freezing
freeze

Correct answer: freezes

This sentence describes a scientific fact or a universal truth, which requires the simple present tense. 'Freezes' correctly uses the simple present tense for the singular subject 'Water.' The other options use incorrect verb forms or tenses for describing a constant physical property.

Accuplacer Practice Test ESL Language Use

The first six days of the week are workdays, during which we _______________ to provide food and other essentials.