Grammar revision exercises

A. Gap-Filling I. Fill in the gap with an appropriate preposition a. Last night I was (1 ) the kitchen when I lost my glasses. I looked (2 ) all the shelves and (3 ) all the cupboards. I thought I’d put them (4 ) one of the drawers which are(5 ), but they weren’t there. They certainly weren’t (6 ) the table or (7 ) the floor. Had I left them (8 ) work? Were they (9 ) the car? Then I realized where they were. They were (10 ) my nose. b. I am fed up (11 ) this weather! Where’s the sunshine gone? - I haven’t heard (12 ) Mary for ages. I am a bit worried (13 ) her. - Are you good (14 ) literature? I am bad (15 ) it. II. I arrived (1 ) London at last. The railway station was big , black (2, ) dark. I did (3 ) know the way to my hotel, so I asked a porter. I not only spoke English very carefully , but very clearly as (4 ) The porter, however, couldn’t understand (5 ). I repeated my questions several times and (6 ) last he understood. He answered me neither slowly nor clearly.” I am a foreigner” I said. Then he (7 ) slowly, but I couldn’t understand him. My teacher never spoke English like that. The porter and (8 ) looked at each other (9 ) smiled. Then he said : “ you will soon learn English” he said. In England, each man speaks different language. The English understand each other, but I don’t understand (10 ) ! Do they speak English? III. Trees are useful (1 ) man in three important ways: They provide him (2 ) wood and other products: they gave him shade. And they help (3 ) prevent droughts and floods. Unfortunately, (4 ) many parts of the world, man has not realized that the third of these services is (5 ) most important. Two thousand years (6 ) a rich and powerful country cut down its trees to (7 ) warships, with which to gain itself and empire. It (8 ) the empire , but without its trees, its soil (9 ) hard and poor. When the empire feel to pieces, the home country found itself faced by floods and starvation. So, unless the government has a good system (10 ) control, or can educate the people, the forests will slowly disappear. IV. Postcards always spoil my holidays. Last summer, I went (1 ) Italy. I (2 ) museums and sat (3 ) public gardens. A friendly water (4 ) me (5 ) few words (6 ) Italian. Then he lent (7 ) a book. I read a (8 ) lines, (9 ) I did not understand a word. Every day I thought (10 ) postcards. My holidays (11 ) quickly, but I did not send any cards (12 ) my friends. On the last day I 1 (13 ) a big decision. I got up early and bought thirty seven cards. I ( 14 ) the whole day in my room, but did not write a (15 ) card! V. This country has a population (1 ) about 45 million. Of these, 76 percent (2 ) black and 12 percent are white. It has (3 ) warm climate. Either it never rains, (4 ) it rains a lot! It is (5 ) world’s biggest producer of gold, and it exports diamonds, (6 ). It grows a (7 ) of fruit, including oranges, pears and it makes wine. In the game reserves you can (8 ) a lot of wildlife , including lions, zebras, and elephants. VI. Andrea came (1 ) Acapulco to New York ten years (2 ) . At (3 ) he missed everything . But now he (4 ) a successful business (5 ) his brothers. He is living with his (6 ) and two children (7 ) go to American school . He certainly works hard . He’s (8 ) the store all day, then works (9 ) a driver in the evening. He can earn a (10 ) of money here. VII. The big tree at my gate was old and beautiful. I was saddened when it blew (1 ) in a winter storm. After the storm I sawed (2 ) the remains of the tree to level (3 ) the ground. Some of the wood was rotten. Pieces came away in my (4 ) But a good part of the wood was alive and strong. I did not dig (5 ) the roots of the tree. I (6 ) them in the ground. Three months (7 ) , in spring, the old tree began to grow again. It grew strong and beautiful, straight up (8 ) the side of the sawn –off part. The color and smell of its heart-shaped (9 ) were exactly the same as (10 ) of the old tree. I felt very happy. VIII. There (1 ) a bank robbery (2 ) central London yesterday. Just before the closing time yesterday, a man (3 ) the Butcher Street Branch (4 ) the National Westminster Bank. He was (5 ) a short gun, and (6 ) a stocking mask (7 ) his head. There were only a few (8 ) in the bank at the time. He made them (9 ) on the floor, and (10 ) the cashier (11 ) put the (12 ) in the sack. As he (13 ) leaving the security guard (14 ) to ring the alarm. The robber shot (15 ) and the guard is now (16 ) Patrick’s hospital. (17 ) are trying to save his life. Last night the police (18 ) a man in South of London. He is now helping the police (19 ) their (20 ) IX. A carpet of many colors 2 England is not a large (1 ). No town (2 ) England is very far (3 ) the sea, and (4 ) English families (5 ) their summer holidays at (6 ) seaside. There are no high mountains in England, no very (7 ) rivers and no very large forests. There are many towns in (8 ) . No town is far from (9 ) . The English between (10 )and the towns is like the (11 ) of many (12 ) . In (13 ) and summer, the fields, meadows and forests (14 ) light green and dark green and the gardens are green , red, blue, yellow and white with (15 ) X. Mr. And Mrs. Evans are driving (1 ) a busy street (2 ) they (3 ) an accident. A woman is knocked (4 ) when she crosses the street at a (5 ) crossing. Mr. Evans parks his car and they go to offer their help. A (6 ) arrives and asks a young woman to telephone for a patrol car and an (7 ) The policeman, tries to know what (8 ) . He talks to John Stoneham, the driver of the van (9 ) hit the woman, and orders him to report (10 ) his nearest (11 ) station with his driving license and his (13 ) certificate (14 ) two days . Finally , the policeman asks (15 ) there were any witnesses and Mr. Evans offers to tell the accident to him. XI. I was (1 )in Newcastle, a city in the north-east (2 ) England. Newcastle is (3 ) the bank of (4 ) River Tyne. It is quite big, with a population of (5 ) 200,000 people. There is a cathedral (6 ) a university. There are bridges over the River, (7 )link Newcastle to the next town Gateshead , (8 ) there is one of (9 ) biggest shopping centers in the world . A few years (10 ), the main industries were shipbuilding and coalmining, but now the chemical and soap (11 ) are (12 ) important. XII. Early each morning Jack left the house (1 ) he lived and walked to a newsagent’s. He bought the morning paper and then (2 ) home again. One day in 1954 Jack did that as usual, except (3 ) one thing: he did not return to the (4 ) . Mrs. Dobbins missed (5 ) husband, but she was a brave woman. She took a (6 ) in a shop , working there full time and earning enough money to live (7 ) . She (8 ) a lot of new friends and found new interests. Many years (9 ) , five, ten, twenty Mrs. Dobbins grew old. One morning in 1979 Jack came home. He held up the morning (10 ) “ Not much news today, “ he said to his wife. XIII. The Kemp family lived (1 ) door to me. They were interesting and intelligent people, but they (2 ) always getting into some sort of trouble. It was usually either illness (3 ) accident , but there were other things too. Their house (4 ) fire twice , and twice the whole family had to 3 stay (5 ) me while repairs were made. The Kemp were always losing things, important things (6 ) money or keys. Pictures often fell off the (7 ) in their house; the children often fell out of their (8 ) at night. I used to wake (9 ) in the mornings and think : “What strange thing will happen(10 ) that family today?” XIV. Jane is unhappy at home and unhappy (1 ) work. She has a boring job and she doesn’t (2 ) much money. Her boss says that he will give (3 ) a pay rise next month, (4 ) he is not sure yet. She does not have a car and she goes to work ( 5 ) crowded buses every day. She does not have a flat, she ( 6 ) in a small room above a noisy restaurant (7 ) the center of town. She finds it (8 ) to sleep because the restaurant does not close until after midnight. She thinks that she will go and live with her friend Wendy but she is not sure yet (9 ) she likes living (10 ) her own. XV. The first human beings probably lived about two and a half million years ago. But man did not begin to (1 ) history until he had invented writing only about 5,000 years ago. The period before man (2 ) to write is called “prehistory” and the (3 ) “prehistory” refers to (4 ) who lived during that period . Prehistory man (5 ) the first steps in building civilization. The (6 ) people were all hunters. In time (7 ) learnt to plant crops and (8 ) animals for food, and (9 ) became farmers. Prehistoric man (10 ) simple tools, and he discovered (11 ) to make a fire. He painted the first pictures and shaped the first (12 ) and he built and governed the cities. Because early man kept no records, scientists search for bones, tools, and other prehistoric (13 ) .They studied these objects to learn what early men looked (14 ) and how he lived and how he developed into model man. Most of the tools that have been found and studied are made of stone (15 ) the entire period during which early man lived had been called the Stone Age. XVI. Two rich ladies (1 ) sharing a taxi and talking (2 ) the high cost of going anywhere (3 ) taxi. One (4 ) the ladies said, “ taxis are terribly expensive these days. The owners get a lot of money ( 5 ) nothing.” “Yes. “ said the (6 ) lady, “ and the drivers get such big tips (7 ) they soon (8 ) rich. They ought ( 9 ) be ashamed of themselves” One of the ladies was (10 )a cigarette. After a minute (11 ) two she said (12 ) the other lady.” Can you see an ashtray (13 ) this taxi?. There is not (14 ) on my side “ “ No “ said the other “ there isn’t one on this side(15 ) Driver! Where is the ashtray in this (16 ) ?Why haven’t you ( 17. ) one?” The driver who ( 18 ) heard everything the ladies had said,(19 ), “ Oh, just drop the ashes on the carpet- I have a servant ( 20 ) comes in and cleans three days in a week! “ XVII. My home is (1 ) the air. I do an enormous amount of travelling. It is a fast life and full (2 ) work, but I like it and that is the only way (3 ) me. Everything is tiring music, travelling, but what can I do? I am not (4 ) to complain. It is hard ( 5 ) imagine now that I will ever be very long (6 ) one place. My hometown is (7 ) the Caspian sea. (8 ) is 4 sea, wind, sun and too many tourists and hotels. I (9 ) my own flat (10 ) four or five rooms but I’m seldom there. If I (11 ) there for a day (12 ) two I prefer to ( 13 ) with my mother (14 ) grandmother. They live (15 ) a small house, (16 ) it is very comfortable and my mother cooks (17 ) me. I like good, simple food. I have no wife , no brothers or sisters and my father died when I was ten. He was an engineer and I don’t (18 ) him very (19 ) . He liked music very much and wanted (20 ) to become a musician. XVIII. An old porter had been (l —) for the railway (2———) a very long time. He was standing in one of the big railway (3———) in London one morning, waiting for travelers to ask him to (4——) them with their luggage, when he saw a small man running towards the trains, (5——) a bag. The porter watched the man for a (6——) seconds, and then the man saw the porter. He ran up to him and ( 7—) "can I catch the 10.15 train to London, porter?" He was breathing and sounded worried. The old porter looked at him for a moment and then said politely "well, sir I'd like to help you, but I can't (8—) your question, because I don't (9—) how fast you can run along the rails”. “You see," he explained, “the 10.15 train to London (10——) five minutes ago”. XIX. The waltz is a well-known (1 ) popular dance, especially (2 ) adults. It is a dance (3 ) which dance partners whirl around the dance floor in times (4 ) the music. It is a graceful and elegant form (5 ) dance and has been popular many years. It was during (6 ) 18 th century that the waltz (7 ) became popular in Germany. Contrary (8 ) popular belief, the waltz was a (9 ) dance. Today, however, a slower (10 ) of the waltz has also become popular. XX. Marie Curie, the Polish-born chemist, was a courageous and determined woman. She (1 ) her home in (2 ) to pursue her interest (3 ) science. Living (4 ) poverty, she still managed (5 ) graduate at the top of the class. She (6 ) Pierre Curie shortly after graduation and (7 ) him a year later. Together, Pierre and Marie formed (8 ) most famous husband and wife partnership (9 ) science history. They discovered the radioactive elements, Polonium and Radium. They (10 ) awarded the Nobel Prize for physics in 1903. XXI. The (1 ) of modern life is a cause (2 ) concern as one’s lifestyle affects one’s ( 3 ) and mental health. A major (4 ) of heart disease is stress (5 ) overwork. Those who will invariably (6 ) hit with heart disease are those (7 ) are always (8 ) a hurry and who are highly conscious of the time. They work hurriedly and are (9 ) to relax; they are very competitive and bent on moving (10 ) in their studies or careers. 5 XXII. The food we (1 ) is converted into energy and used (2 ) the body for its different functions. These functions include the continuous process (3 ) growth and repair as well (4 ) the ability to do physical activities, like running. (5 ) is divided into three main types: Carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Carbohydrates and fats can (6 ) used (7 ) fuelling all the body functions, while protein is (8 ) as the building material for the tissues . Vitamins , minerals and fiber too (9 ) required (10 ) ensure a balance and nutritious meal. XXIII. The country is (1 ) beautiful than a town and pleasanter (2 ) live in. Many people think so and go to the country(3 ) the summer holidays though they can’t live (4 ) all the year round. English villagers are not all alike, but (5 ) some ways they are not very different (6 ) each other. Almost every village has a church, the round or square tower of (7 ) can be seen many miles around. Surrounding (8 ) church is the church yard (9 ) people are buried. The green village (10 ) a wide stretch of grass, and houses or cottages are (11 ) to it. Country life is now fairly comfortable and many villages (12 ) water brought through pipes each (13 ) Most villages are so close to some small towns (14 ) people can go there to buy (15 ) they can’t find in the village shop. XXIV. Public transport (1 ) London (2, ) expensive. The fare depends (3 ) the distance of the journey: you can’t buy books of tickets (4 ) advance. Children (5 ) sixteen pay half, and those under five (6 ) free. (7 ) the underground railway you buy your tickets (8 ) a machine or a ticket office, and give it (9 ) at the (10 ) of the journey. XXV. Freddy liked to go to the countryside to draw animals and plants. One day, while (1 ) across a field, looking (2 ) rabbits to draw, he was so (3 ) in thought that he did not (4 ) a bull running towards him . About a hundred metres (5 ) was a tree under (6 ) he usually sat to draw. Suddenly, he heard a (7 ) noise behind him. It was the bull ! he knew that a bull could run much (8 ) than a man, but he also knew a bull could 6 not see very (9 ) and noticed only shape and movement. To (10 ) the bull, he threw his bag away (11 ) him. The bull saw the sudden (12 ) and headed (13 ) the bag. Freddy quickly climbed up the tree and watched the bull (14 ) his bag. (15 ) the bull was satisfied and had gone away, he got down from the tree and ran as fast as he could. Everything in the bag was completely ruined. B. Choose a suitable word or phrase to complete each sentence I. A. Control B. deficient C. devote D. generation E. lead F. necessary G. was H. Plentiful I. Produce J. Proper K. Proposing L. Providing M. Scarce N. Seek O. Solution P. take Q. Time R. more S. usually T. scientific U. Been Food (1 ) an important part in the development of nations. In countries where food is (2 ), people have to spend most of their (3 ) getting enough to eat. This (4 ) slows down progress, because men have little time to (5 ) to science, industry, government and art. In nations where food is (6 ) and easy to get men have (7 ) time to spend in activities that (8 ) to progress, human betterment, enjoyment of leisure. The problem of (9 ) good food for everybody has not yet (10 ) solved. Many wars have been fought for the (11 ) of rich food- producing land. But it is no longer (12 ) to go to war for food. Countries are beginning to put (13 ) knowledge to work for a (14 ) for their food problems. They work together in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to help hungry nations (15 ) more food. II. 1.much 2. out 3. difficult 4.his 5. gave 6. make 7. so 8. singing 9. needn’t 10. more 11. retired 12. oldest 13. took 14. although 15. who 16. made 17. for 18. any 19. unless 20. did 1. There are no trains today ,…………… we have to go by car. 2. The teacher says we……………… go to school tomorrow. 3. Hunger and lack of sleep ……………… bad-tempered. 4. We needn’t take……………equipment ,the school provides it. 5. Tropical regions receive …………… rain. 6. Tom is the …………… of the three brothers. 7 7. I didn’t need to catch the bus this morning , because Vic ……………me a lift 8. The woman …………….I spoke to wasn’t very polite. 9. I admire people who can speak …………….than one language. 10. ……………he seemed a friendly person , I didn’t like him. 11. He wanted to know why I took ………… wallet. 12. He started work…………….the company two months ago. 13. It…………… me the whole evening to finish the report. 14. My company……………. a lot of profits 5 years ago. 15. The more famous he was the more …………….for him to avoid reporters. 16. …………… someone puts more coal on , the fire will go out. 17. A …………….person is paid a pension. 18. Now men and women remain single longer than they once …………… 19. Have you got a light ? My cigarette’s gone……………… 20. Will you stop …………… while I am talking ? III. 1. at the end. 2. off 3 .on 4.air-conditioned 5.all my life 6.used to 7. seasons 8. in 9.in the back 10. handsome 11.between 12 .careful 13. on 14.trip 15.tired of 16.have you 17. at 18.up 19.good-looking 20.from 1. The Atlantic Ocean is ………………….the United States and Europe. 2. In the tropics there are only two …………………. 3. You will burn yourself if you aren’t……………… 4. The ………………… over the mountains was dangerous and difficult. 5. A……………………person has a nice face . 6. He has a nice face . He’s very …………………. 7. The bus is ……………………….It’s cool in summer. 8. I’ve worked hard ……………………and I’m now old enough to retire. 9. I’m ………………….seeing her. 10. I sometimes stay ………………bed until lunchtime. 11. The shops close ……………… Saturday afternoon. 12. The driver got out of the car and began shouting…………… me. 13. There is an extra wheel ……………………of the car. 14. They help me to lift ……………… the table. 15. Glass is made ………………….sand and lime. 16. Take …………………your shoes and put……………your slippers. 17. I knocked the bottle…………………the table and broke it. 18. Tom collects his salary ……………………of each month. 19. You haven’t seen Ann today, ………………… ? 20. She ……………………drinking cold water. IV. 1. of 2.went on 5. had 6. wrote 9. someone 10. qualification 13. package 14. terrible 17. on 18. for 8 3. enough for 4.reserve 7. reduced 8. a 11. anyone 12. make 15. ashore 16. inflation 19. included 20. has 1. Mr Foster will get back from Chicago ……………the tenth of January. 2. I ………………2 letters this morning . 3. If I …………… a day off tomorrow , I would go to the beach. 4. Listen! there is ………………at the front door now. 5. Mr. Brown didn’t talk to ……………… about his problem . 6. Is the river deep …………………swimming ? 7. You didn’t have to pay any airport taxes . They are ……………….in the price. 8. It’s an excellent ……………………holiday. 9. I can’t give you the job because you no ……………………. 10 Every country ………………….an army to defend the people. 11. Taxes are much too high in this country . They should be………………… 12. More and more oil has been found and being brought …………………. 13. Because of ……………………prices are rising quickly. 14. You are making a ………………… mistake. 15. Hello! Can I ………………….an appointment to see the doctor. 16. Five thousand men ………………….strike. 17. That is ………………… very unusual stamp. 18. These rings are made ………………….gold. 19. I was ten minutes late ……………………the interview. 20. You should …………………. a single room with a private bathroom. 9 V. 1.them 2.heavy 3.to spend 4.seeing 5. hanging 6. space 7.on 8.open 9.take off 10.the chemist’s 11. for 12. ticket 13. are 14.is 15. wardens 16.out of 17. make 18.can 19.rich 20.strong 1.We look forward to ……………… you . 2. I was lucky enough to find a parking ……………… outside the bank. 3. There is a lot of traffic ……………… this road today. 4. She is going to …………………a new secondary school . 5. The horses are ready ………………….today’s big race. 6. You will get a parking ……………… if you leave the car here . 7. All the traffic ………………….have gone home . 8. I’ve run ………………….cash. 9. I’ve got a spare……………… of petrol in my truck. 10. After you…………… the speech , we’ll have the lunch . 11. There may be …………………showers . 12. We need ……………… tea tonight . 13. We aren’t ……………….enough to travel everywhere by taxi. 14. Why don’t you ………………your coat ? It’s rather hot in here . 15. If a person wants to get a tube of toothpaste , he’ll probably go to ……………. 16. I checked the answers . Two of ……………… were wrong. 17. All the food …………………on the table now . 18. These parts of the road ………………… dangerous in wet weather . 19. I told him not ………………….all the money . 20. I saw something …………………from the ceiling . VI. 1. so many 2.hasn’t 3.put off 4. so 5.an appointment 6. possible 7.inherited 8.announced 9. soil 10.such people 11.selfish 12.could be 13.surgent 14. were 15.behind 16. great 17.mustn’t 18.to leave 19.score 20.see her off 1. You ……………….go to bed late tonight .You have to get up early tomorrow. 2. He would enjoy the concert if he …………….present . 3. If you …………………someone else , who would you like to be . 4. I have finished my work , but Mary ……………… 5. I hate …………………….so early, but I’m afraid I have to . 6. You should not speak to ……………………. 7. He ran …………………quick that I could not catch him . 8. You should not make …………………….mistakes . 9. The young woman was sitting in front of him . He was sitting …………….her . 10. She’s got an average of 9.5 points . That the best …………………today . 11. They had to ………………… the match because of heavy rains . 12. We went to the airport to…………………………… 13. The result of the match will be …………………….immediately. 10