Midterm Practice Questions
Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading, Sentence Corrections, and Writing
Grammar
Instructions: Choose the best answer. (Items 1-5)
1. Which sentence does not contain an adjective?
a. I’m starting a new job next week.
b. Are you an outgoing person?
c. The kitchen hadn’t been cleaned for ages.
d. Why do you always look so bored?
2. Choose the sentence with the correct pronouns.
a. When the boy was alone, he looked at him in the mirror.
b. You shouldn’t get yourself into too much trouble.
c. They called her after them returned from their trip.
d. It’s important to learn by yourself sometimes.
3. Choose the correct phrasal verb for the following sentence:
After you do laundry, you should __________ all your clothes.
a. put away
b. put off
c. put out
d. put over
4. Choose the correct verb form for the following sentence.
My favorite activity in high school was _________ because it helped me stay fit.
a. to run
b. ran
c. to running
d. running
5. Choose the correct preposition for the following sentence.
___ MFU, most students study their majors in English.
a. in
b. by
c. on
d. with
Vocabulary
Instructions: Choose the best answer. (Items 1-9)
1. Choose the correct vocabulary word.
Blinding snowstorms attacked Buffalo and its surrounding suburbs for four ____________ days.
a. breathtaking
b. consecutive
c. majestic
d. foggy
2. Choose the correct vocabulary word.
Everything was completely ______ in the serene landscape.
a. unforgettable
b. mysterious
c. buried
d. disappeared
3. Choose the correct vocabulary word.
Going on safari may be something of a travel cliche, but we are yet to find a traveller who has
watched the wildlife world in motion in the Masai Mara, ________ upon the paradise that is the
Ngorongoro Crater, or communed with gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and not
been changed.
a. stumbled
b. buried
c. measured
d. swept
4. Choose the correct vocabulary word.
A Noah's Ark of wildlife brings these landscapes to life, with a tangible and sometimes profoundly
__________ presence that adds so much personality to the African wild.
a. impenetrable
b. immense
c. tropical
d. mysterious
5. Choose the correct vocabulary word.
The dome, the world's second-largest, is famed for sidestepping Luftwaffe _________ bombs in the
'Second Great Fire of London' of December 1940.
a. distinctive
b. incendiary
c. mystical
d. ecstatic
6. Choose the correct vocabulary word.
A further 119 steps brings you to the Stone Gallery, and 152 iron steps above the Stone Gallery is
the Golden Gallery at the very top, rewarded with ____________ views of London.
a. natural
b. superb
c. unforgettable
d. obvious
7. Choose the correct vocabulary word.
Imagine 2,000 or more islands rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam, and
you have a vision of _____________ beauty of Halong Bay.
a. breathtaking
b. miniature
c. exhilarating
d. tangible
8. Choose the correct vocabulary word.
In sum, visiting Halong Bay, a World Heritage site, will be definitely one of visitors’ ___________
experiences.
a. tropical
b. incendiary
c. temporary
d. precious
9. Choose the correct vocabulary word.
Designated a World Heritage site in 1994, this ___________ landscape of limestone islets is often
compared to Guilin in China or Krabi in southern Thailand.
a. distinctive
b. incendiary
c. mystical
d. ecstatic
Reading
Instructions: Identify the paragraph elements below with the correct letters shown in front of each sentence of the following paragraph. (Items 1-5)
(A) The much advertised meteor show this summer was a memory to behold. (B) The air was crisp and cool. (C) I did not even feel a hint of a breeze on my skin as I lie on my back in the darkness. (D) The warm temperature of the water against the cooler air created a drifting airy fog that whispered over the lake. (E) Darkness enveloped the sky as only a slight curve of the moon shone in the night; consequently, this made the perfect stage for the breathtaking view of twinkling stars. (F) In the still of the night many galaxies glittered from the depths of the sky as I felt hypnotically drawn into the mesmerizing show above me. (G) Broad irregular bands of light from the Milky Way stretched across the sky while the big and little dipper shined brightly. (H) As predicted, the meteor show began with various sized meteors cascading to the earth's atmosphere about every fifteen to thirty seconds. (I) Shots of light, followed by orange and white mist, describe the presence of the meteors. (J) The panoramic view made it possible to witness several meteors at a time while marveling at each one. (K) An event like this may only happen once in a lifetime, so I will cherish this moment because it will remain as one of my fondest memories.
1. Topic sentence: _________________________________
2. Major Detail Sentence 1: ____________________________
3. Major Detail Sentence 2: ____________________________
4. Major Detail Sentence 3: ____________________________
5. Concluding Sentence: ______________________________
Sentence problem correction
Instructions: Write a type of sentence problems (fragment (frag), run-on (RO), comma splice (CS)) in the space next to each number and correct each sentence in the form of compound or complex sentence only on the provided space. A simple sentence will not be graded. (Items 1-6)
______1. We all went to the mall we ate dinner there.
Correct sentence:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
________2. Joanna has lost her keys, she can’t get into her car.
Correct sentence:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
________3. Because my house is next to the train station.
Correct sentence:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
________4. Li Ping wanted to know if you are driving to class in the morning she wants to ride with you.
Correct sentence:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
________5. It is surprising, some mammals actually lay eggs.
Correct sentence:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
________6. The man who was whistling as he rode the bus.
Correct sentence:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
________7. There are so many sites in Egypt that you will want to visit, the length of your trip
will never seem long enough!
Correct sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
________8. We often meet people who have been to Egypt more than 15 times they
keep returning to see something new.
Correct sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
________9. Here in Egypt, if you keep looking around.
Correct sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
________10. Tourist attractions in Egypt are really amazing to see, I hope you don’t miss them.
Correct sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
Writing
Instructions: Choose ONE of the topics provided on the answer sheet and write a descriptive paragraph within 100-150 words.
Note: Students will receive a paragraph outline sheet for organizing their ideas; however, the outline will not be graded. Their paragraphs will be scored by using a paragraph writing rubric on page 119 of the English 1 book.
Topics (Choose one.)
Chiang Mai
Singapore
Paris
U.S.A.
The Philippines
Credit to Andrew Quinley and Alan Orr