Grammar Practice Exercises [ 18 ] Upper Intermediate

18 - ] Grammar Practice Exercises

Upper Intermediate

12 - ] Modal Auxiliaries [ Verbs ] , Modals

1 - ] Rewrite the following sentences using a modal . The underlined words can be written as subject + modal + verb [ or modal +subject + verb in questions ]. In some sentences ,more than one modal is possible .

[  can , could - may , might - will , would - shall , should - must , had to - ought to - need ]

Examples

1 . I promise to phone you next week .

I will / I’ll phone you next week .

2 . At the age of nine , he still didn’t know how to read .

At the age of nine ,he still couldn’t read .

3 . It’s essential that w leave on time tomorrow morning .

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4 . Are you able to come with me tonight ?

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5 . It’s not a good idea for you to work so hard .

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6 . It’s possible that they’ll be here soon .

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7 . Why don’t we go and see a film tonight ?

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8 . He said that he intended to write to me soon .

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9 . Is it possible for me to sit here ?

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10. He refuses to give me an answer .

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11 . It’s not necessary for you to apologize .

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12 . Am I allowed to smoke in here ?

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13 . He knew how to speak your languages by the time he was twelve .

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14 . I want to help you but I’m not able to .

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15 . I think it’s a good idea for me to stay in tonight : I’ve got a lot of work to do .

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16 . I don’t know who she is but it’s possible that she’s Ahmad’s sister .

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17 . Do not tell him any of this : it’s vital that it remains a secret .

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18 . I intend to finish this essay before I go to bed .

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19 . It’s 7 o’clock . I assume that Adel will be here soon .

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20. He’s in but he’s not answering the phone . I’m sure that he’s asleep .

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Ability : can, could , be able .

Complete the sentences with the correct form of can , could or be able to .If it is possible to use can / could or be able , use can / could .

Examples

1 . He is very fit for his age . He can run ( run ) really fast .

2 . I’d like to be able to work ( work ) with you one day .

3 . He ----------------------( not climb ) up to the top : he was too scared .

4 . If they hadn’t phoned for an ambulance , he ---------------------( die ) .   

5. I love --------------------( spend ) all morning in bed at the weekends.

6 . We -------------------------( go) to that concert tomorrow if the tickets haven’t sold out .

7 . I think you should go in spring : it -----------------( be ) very crowded there in the summer.

8 . I ----------------------( not understand ) what he says : he speaks too quickly .

9 . Do you know where Ali’s glasses are ? He -------------( not see ) very much without them .

10. ---------------------------( speak ) another language fluently is a great advantage when you’re looking for a job .

11 . Khalid -----------------------( not say ) anything until he was about three years old .

12 . We ----------------------( not phone her up ) because her phone had broken , but fortunately we ----------------------( get ) a message toher .

13 . Noura’s exam results weren’t very good . She -----------------( do) better .

14 . I -----------------------( not sleep ) very well for the last four nights . It’s been too hot .

15. She tried to think of other things but she ------------------------( not put ) that awful memory out of her mind .

16 . You should -------------------( gout ) when you want to .

17.-------------------------( you come ) to the party on Saturday ?

18 . I --------------------( ride ) this bike soon : I just need more time to practice .

19. He doesn’t do very much when he’s here . He --------------------( be ) more helpful .

20 . I --------------------------( play ) tennis really well a few years ago , but not anymore .

 

Vocabulary Tests [ 76 ] , Test Seventy Six

76 - ] Vocabulary Tests

Test Seventy Six

1 - ] Geography , Natural Phenomena

Read these sentences . If you find a mistake in a line , cross it out and suggest an alternative . If there is no mistake , put a tick (√) .

1 . The whole mountainside is full of caves .                               1 . ------------------

2 . An earthquake is a physical event .                                        2 .-------------------

3 . Melted lava flows down the slopes .                                        3.------------------

4 . What’s the next frontier in exterior space ?                          4 .------------------

5 . Which explorer discovered the source of the Nile ?              5 .------------------

6 . Can you imagine a journey to the center of the earth ?        6 . -----------------

7 . Anything will grow in this dark rich soil .                             7 . -----------------

8. The Kalahari covers a very large district .                              8.------------------

9 . There’s a lot of shipping in the English Canal .                     9 .----------------

10 . They’re showing the film on a different canal .                   10 . ----------------

11 . Britain has an enormous cost line .                                        11 . -----------------

12 . In Kuwait , sweet water is more precious than oil .             12 . -----------------

13 . Titanium is a rare substance .                                                13 . ----------------

14 . How many states are there in America ?                              14 . ----------------

15 . Urbane development needs to be controlled .                       15 . ---------------

16 . You can’t calculate the amount of matter in the universe .16 . ----------------

17 . An eclipse is a wonderful phenomena .                                 17 . -----------------

18 . They had to blast through solid rock to build this road .    18 .-----------------

19 . The Amazon is fed by interior rivers .                                   19 . ---------------

20 . The Sahara has a very harsh weather .                                  20 . ---------------

Answer Key

1 . √ 2 . physical / natural 3 . Melted / Molten 4 . exterior / outer 5 . √ 6 . √ 7 . √

8 . district / area 9 . Canal / Channel 10. canal / channel 11 . cost / coast 12 . sweet / fresh

13 . √ 14 . √ 15 . Urbane / Urban 16 . √ 17 . phenomena / phenomenon 18 . √

19 . interior / inland 20 . weather / climate

2 - ] Communicating

Supply the best word or words .

1 . Business people might arrange a meeting in order to have ------------------ .

(A) a discussion (B) a conversation (C) an argument (D) a dialogue

2 . If you’ve disagreed very strongly with someone , you’ve probably been --------------- .

(A) conversing (B) disputing (C) quarrelling (D) discussing

3 . If you make a remark , you are probably --------------------something .

(A) noticing (B) regarding (C) observing (D) saying

4 . You might pin this on a notice board -------------------- .

(A) a notice (B) a placard (C) a sign (D) a cartel

5 . If you nodded , you would probably be ------------------ .

(A) agreeing (B) disagreeing (C) accepting

6. You see someone you know across the street , so you -------------------them .

(A) salute (B) wave to (C) welcome

7 . You probably think carefully before deciding how to ----------------- a business letter .

(A) respond to (B) respond (C) reply (D) answer to

8 . You are driving and want to turn left , so you -------------------- .

(A) do a sign (B) sign (C) signal (D) signify

9. You and your friend spent the afternoon talking . You had a nice --------------- .

(A) speech (B) chat (C) speak

10 . Someone asks you for a favor and you -----------------to do it .

(A) accept (B) agree

11 . I’m not opposed to what you’re saying -------------------, I completely agree with you .

(A) Contrary (B) The contrary (C) In contrast (D) On the contrary

12 . You never feel comfortable until you have ----------------------an argument .

(A) sorted (B) settled (C) arranged

13 . In normal circumstances when you are asked if it’s hot outside , you say , ‘------------!’

(A) Of course (B) Naturally (C) Yes , it is (D) Indeed

14 . If a discussion or argument becomes intense , we may describe it as ----------------- .

(A) hot (B) warm (C) heat (D) heated (D) hotted

15. If we have the same point of view , we are -------------------- .

(A) agreeable (B) in agreement

Answer Key

 1. A 2 . C 3 . D 4 . A 5 . A 6 . B 7 . A 8 . C 9 . B 1011 . D 12 . B 13 . C 14 . D 15  B 

Vocabulary Tests [ 75 ] Test Seventy Five

75 - ] Vocabulary Tests

 

Test Seventy Five

1 - ] Health

Supply the words asked for in the clues . The first one has been done for you .

o . What verb beginning with B means ‘take air into the lungs and put out again’ ?

( 7 letters)                                                                                                        0 . breathe

1 . What noun beginning with C and ending - TION describes the way the blood travels round the body ? (11 letters)                                                                        1 . ----------------

2 . A noun beginning with P and ending with E that describes a substance that forms on the teeth . (6 letters)                                                                                             2. -----------------

3 . What verb beginning with S (5 letters) describes what boiling water does to you if it comes in contact with your skin ?                                                                3 . -----------------

4 . A noun beginning with P (6 letters) that describes an infectious disease borne by rats and common in the Middle Ages .                                                                4 . -----------------

5 . What noun beginning with M describes having a baby too early so that it doesn’t survive ? (11 letters)                                                                                      5 .-------------------

6 .What 6-letter adjective beginning with P means ‘unwell’ ?                 6 . ------------------

7 . A 9-letter verb beginning with S and ending -IZE describes what a dentist does to his instruments to make them germ-free .                                                        7 . ------------------

8. What verb beginning with DIS describes what a nurse does to a wound to make it germ-free ? ( 9 letters)                                                                                             8 .------------------

9 . A 10-letter noun beginning with S that describes a medically qualified person with detailed knowledge about a subject .                                                           9. -----------------

10 .What noun beginning with I describes a tool used for scientific and technical purposes ? (10 letters)                                                                                                      10 . -----------------

11 . What adjective beginning with IM and ending -ILE means ‘completely without movement’ ? (8 letters)                                                                                 11 . -----------------

12 . What 12-letter noun beginning with P describes an order for medicine made by a doctor and supplied by a chemist ?                                                              12 . ----------------

13 . A noun beginning with D that has two meanings : a medicine or a narcotic .

(4 letters)                                                                                                         13 . ---------------

14 . What noun beginning with S is the name of a doctor’s consulting room ? 

(7 letters)                                                                                                          14 . --------------

15 . What two-word noun beginning O and T describes the special room where a surgeon does his / her work ?                                                                                       15 . --------------

16 . A technical , medical noun beginning with PRO that refers to a medicine or injection that prevents disease . (12 letters)                                                                 16 . --------------

17 . What noun beginning with S describes emotional and physical stress that might follow a car accident ? (5 letters)                                                                               17 . ----------------

18 . What 11-letter adjective beginning with H describes a person who suffers from a physical or mental disadvantage ?                                                                 18 . ---------------

19 . A two-word adjective beginning L-S that describes a person who can see things well at a distance .                                                                                                         19 . --------------

20 . What adjective beginning with I often goes in front of ‘pain’ to mean ‘acute’ ?

(7 letters)                                                                                                            20 . --------------

21 . What adjective beginning with G means ‘very serious’ when we use it to describe an illness ? (5 letters )                                                                                            21 . ----------------

Answer Key

1 . circulation 2 . plaque 3 . scald 4 . plague 5 . miscarriage 6 . poorly 7 . sterilize

8 . disinfect 9 . specialist 10 . instrument 11 . immobile 12 . prescription 13 . drug

14 . surgery 15 . operating theater 16 . prophylactic 17 . shock 18 . handicapped

19 . long-sighted 20 . intense 21 . grave      

2 - ] War and Peace

Read these sentences . If you find a mistake in a line , cross it out and suggest an alternative . If there is no mistake , put a tick (√) . The first two have been done for you .

0 . The object of war is to do peace .                                             0 make

0 . The soldier sprang to attention .                                              0 √

1 . The terrorists planned to burst the bridge .                           1. -------------------

2 . After the war , many enemy collaborators were arrested .   2 . -----------------

3 . The Romans carried out the total destroy of Carthage .       3 . ----------------

4 . How will the escaped prisoners get past the guardians ?          4 . ------------------

5 . The military have surrounded the building .                              5 .------------------

6 . Members of the Special Services are highly trained .                 6. ------------------

7 .  Members of the Special Services are highly drilled .                 7. ------------------

8 . The soldiers are drilled every morning on the parade ground . 8 . ----------------

9 . Good war pensions should be paid to all the invalids .                9 . -----------------

10 . Did Alexander the Great set out to defeat the world ?             10 .-----------------

11 . Who commanded the soldiers to fire ?                                      11 . ----------------

12 . A great power should have a large marine .                             12 . ---------------

13 . Every village has its own War Memorial .                                13 . ---------------

14 . The losing side always has to pay reparations .                        14 . ---------------

15 . I’m not a member of the armed powers .                                  15 .----------------

16 . When were you discharged from the army ?                            16 . ----------------

17. Few people oppose the execution of traitors .                             17 .----------------

18 . The army have put a cord round the city .                                18 . ---------------

19 . It is defended for anyone to go out after dark .                         19 . ----------------

Answer Key     

1 . burst / blow up 2 .  3 . destroy / destruction 4 . guardians / guards 5 . √ 6 . √

7 . drilled / trained 8 . √ 9. invalids / war-wounded 10 . defeat / conquer 11 . commanded/

ordered 12 . marine / navy 13 . √ 14 . √ 15 . powers / forces 16 . √ 17. √ 18 . cord / cordon

19 . defended / forbidden

Vocabulary Tests [ 74 ] Test Seventy Four

74 - ] Vocabulary Tests

 

Test Seventy Four

1- ] Food

1 -] Supply the best words

1 . Tomatoes are very nice -------------------------                  (A) filled           (B) stuffed

2 . A ---------------is a piece of furniture in a dining room . (A) sideboard   (B) buffet

3 . A light meal ---------------                                                   (A) a collation  (B) a snack

4 . We can speak of the con --------------of food .                  (A) summation(B) sumption

5 . The first course is --------------- .                                       (A) an entrée   (B) a starter

6 . A large meal for important guests ---------------- .          (A) a feast        (B) a banquet

7. Weigh it on the kitchen ----------------- .                            (A) scales         (B) balance

8 . Boil the milk in this small -------------------- .                   (A) saucepan   (B) casserole

9 . Food becomes this in a deep freeze ------------------ .       (A) congealed   (B) frozen

10 . ---------------- a little butter in a pan .                              (A) Dissolve     (B) melt

11 . The salad has been dressed ----------------oil .                  (A) in                (B) with

12 . Vegetables should be stored in a -----------------place .     (A) fresh          (B) cool  

13 . I love -----------------salmon .                                               (A) smoked      (B) fumed

14 . I have a very good --------------------for onion soup .         (A) receipt        (B) recipe

15 . Please ----------------- a couple of lemons for me                (A) squeeze      (B) press

16 . I must consult the -----------for the food mixer .                (A) directions  (B) instructions

17 . -------------------some of that pie for me , won’t you ?        (A) Reserve     (B) Save

18 . What shall I do with the ----------------------?                      (A) remainders(B) leftovers

19 . Do you want your food ----------------or not ?                     (A) with sauce  (B) saucy

20 . The toast has been --------------- .                                         (A) scalded        (B) burnt

answer Key

1 . B 2 . A 3 . B 4 . B 5 . B 6 . B 7 . A 8 . A 9 . B 10 . B 11 . B 12 . B 13 . A 14 . B 15 . A

16 . B 17 . B 18 19 . A 20 . B

2 -] Supply the best words

1 . --------------- two egg whites until they’re stiff .                       (A) Hit          (B) Heat

2 . -----------------------some butter on your toast while it’s hot . (A) Spread    (B) Stretch

3 . You can’t stop ----------------coming out of a kettle !              (A) steam       (B) vapor

4 . Here’s a packet of ---------------biscuits .                                 (A) assorted  (B) matching

5 . These apples have ------------- .                                                 (A) gone bad (B) decayed

6 . These peaches are the finest . They’re ---------------- .           (A) extra       (B) best quality

7 . That fruit salad smells ------------------ .                                  (A) delicate  (B) delicious

8 . You should avoid all -----------------foods .                              (A) processed(B)artificial

9 . These peaches need a couple of days to -------------- .            (A) mature   (B) ripen

10 . Get me some -----------steak from the butcher’s .                (A) lean        (B) meagre

11 . Don’t pour --------------sauce over everything .                    (A) hot         (B) piquant

12 . I prefer ----------------grilled fish without sauce .                 (A) plain      (B) simple

13 . This milk has ---------------- .                                                  (A) gone sour(B) soured

14 . You can’t live --------------a diet of nuts .                              (A) with         (B) on

15 . We felt quite --------------after a good meal .                        (A) rejuvenated(B)restored

16 . You’ll rot your teeth ------------sweets !                                (A) licking         (B) sucking  

17 . An excellent meal ! My compliments to the ----------------- (A) chief            (B) chef

18 . Shall we ----------------- a pudding ?                                       (A) order          (B) command

19 . -------------- the dish first before you comment .                   (A) Taste           (B) Probe

20 . --------------------- the dish first before you comment .          (A) Try              (B) Try on

Answer Key

1 . B 2 . A 3. A 4 . A 5 .A 6 . B 7 . B 8. A 9. B 10 . A 11 . A 12 . A 13 . A 14 . B 15 . B

16 . B 17 . B 18 . A 19 . A 20 . A

2 - ] Behavior

3 - ] Choose  the best explanation IN EACH CASE

1 . If you call a person an ass .  

(A) you might be saying that he or she is a silly fool .

(B) you are being extremely offensive and insulting .

(C) you are saying that the person has terrible manners .

2 . If you say that a person is extravagant , you might be suggesting that he or she

(A) spends too much money .

(B) is rather peculiar .

(C) is always extremely wasteful .

3 . If you were to use womanly to refer to a woman , you would be

(A) referring to sexual attractiveness .

(B) distinguishing her as female , compared with male .

(C) referring to her qualities as a woman .

4. If we refer to a person’s temperament , we are

(A) referring to his or her basic nature or character .

(B) suggesting that he or she is normally lively .

(C) saying the person is ‘full of spirit’ .

5. A far-sighted person is one who

(A) is often absent-minded .

(B) needs glasses .

(C) is capable of imagining the future .

6. A sensible person is one who

(A) is quick to feel pain .

(B) has good sense and judgment .

(C) quickly reacts to heat or cold .

7 . A delicate person is one who

(A) gets ill easily .

(B) has good manners .

(C) has fine looks .

8. If we prefer to a person’s high spirits , we are suggesting he or she

(A) has a lot of determination .

(B) has drunk too much alcohol .

(C) is in a very cheerful mood .

9 . If you say that a person has a temper , you are

(A) suggesting he or she is capable of getting very angry .

(B) suggesting he or she often gets depressed .

(C) referring to his or her state of mind which may be good or bad .

Answer Key

1 . A 2. A 3 . C 4 . A 5 . C 6 . B 7 . A 8 . C 9 . A

Vocabulary Tests [ 73 ] Test Seventy Three

 73 - ] Vocabulary Tests

Test Seventy Three

1 - ]Writing , Literature , Language

Supply the best word or words

1 . A book about imaginary people and events is a ---------------------------

(A) fiction  (B) novel (C) roman (D) romance (E) soap opera

2 . People who can read and write can be described as ---------------------

(A) literati (B) literate

3 . Politicians often write their --------------------at the end of their careers .

(A) memories (B) memoirs (C) remembrances (D) souvenirs (E) mementos

4 . If you enjoy reading poetry and fiction ,you enjoy -------------------

(A) literature (B) philology

5 . A book you are obliged to study in detail for an examination is a -------------------

(A) novel (B) short story (C) set book

6 . A poem is often divided into -------------------

(A) strophes (B) verses

7. The people in a play are usually referred to as the ------------------

 (A) people (B) persons (C) characters (D) types

8. T.S . Eliot , the poet and critic , might be described as a -----------------

(A) scientist (B) man of letters (C) literati

9 . Only three examples of Shakespeare’s -------------------have survived .

(A) firm (B) trademark (C) signature 

10. You should look up a word in a dictionary if you didn’t know what it --------------------

(A) signified (B) meant

11 . A work of fiction which is shorter than a novel is a ------------------- .

(A) short story (B) history (C) romance

12 . An observant writer might carry a --------------- to make notes .

(A) block (B) pad

13 . Observant writers would probably -------------------their observations .

(A) mark (B) note down (C) signify

14. Someone who briefly assesses a play or book in the press writes a --------------

(A) critic (B) criticism (C) critique (D) review

15 . Make sure you end each sentence with a ------------------ .

(A) dot (B) point (C) comma (D) full stop

Answer Key

1 . B 2 . B 3 . B 4 . A 5 . C 6 . B 7 . C 8 . B 9 . C 10 . B 11 . A 12 . B 13 . B 14 . D 15 . D

2 - ]Nouns Ending in ‘s’

To be correct noun forms ,twenty-one of these words should end in ‘s’ . Add ‘s’ only to those items that need it . One example has been done for you [ 8 ] .

1 . acoustic 2 . athletic  3 . barrak 4 . belonging 5 . billiard 6. cattle 7 . clothe

8 . congratulate 9 . criterion 10 . data 11 . deer 12 . earning 13 . economic 14 . ethic

15 . good 16 . gymnastic 17 . linguistic 18 . literati 19 . mathematic 20 . measle

21 . media 22 . medium 23 . mump 24 . phenomenon 25 . scaffolding 26 . physic

27 . politic 28 . serie 29 . specie 30 . sud 31 . tooth 32 . veal 33 . venison

Write sentences using any of the nouns to which you’ve  added ‘s’ in the above list . Take particular care that a noun subject ‘agrees’ with the verb that follows .

Example

8 . Congratulations

I hear you passed your driving test . Congratulations !

Answer Key

1 . acoustics

The acoustics in this hall are excellent .

2 . athletics

Athletics is one of the most popular sports in schools .

3 . barracks

This barracks was ( or These barracks were ) built in 1985 .

4 . belongings

All our belongings were lost when the ship sank .

5 . billiards

Billiards is not played so often as other games .

6 . -----------

7 . clothes

All my clothes need washing and mending .

9 . -----------------

10 . -----------------

11 . ---------------

12 . earnings

Our average earnings are lower than the average in other countries .

13 . economics

Economics is my least favorite subject .

14 . ethics

The ethics of tax avoidance are hard to explain .

15 . goods

Luxury goods are heavily taxed .

16 . gymnastics

I like to practice gymnastics in the club .

17 . linguistics

You must study linguistics to speak well .

18 . ---------------

19 . British , Mathematics , American , Mathematic

He is good at mathematic / mathematics .

20 . measles

Measles is an illness that you can only have once .

21 . ---------------

22 . ---------------

23 . mumps

Mumps is an illness that affects your growing .

24 . -----------------

25 . ------------------

26. physics

Is physics a compulsory subject at your school ?

27 . politics

He is not interested in politics .

28 . series

I read this series of novels .

29 . species

This species of spider is poisonous and dangerous .

30 . suds

Suds from the washing machine were all over the floor .

31 .----------------

32 . ------------------

33 . --------------