University of Derna - English Dept.
Course name: Grammar III
Course tutor: Rami Al-Sa'di
Mid-Term Mock Examination
Name:____________________________________________
Affirmations and instructions:
1. This examination is not intended
to measure what you know and what you do not know. Instead, it is aimed at giving you the opportunity to make a show of your
skills and creativity in grammar.
2. Answer all thirteen questions on
this test. The test is out of 25. The aggregate value of all the points for the thirteen questions is 27. You are given a
bonus of 2 points.
3. You may not be given an extra
blank copy of the examination. However, this examination, along with a full answer key, is going to be made available online
within the next 12 hours at outandabout-baida.tripod.com
4. On the last page of this examination,
there is space where you may write your feedback on the test, whether positive or negative, with impunity. The first person
to read your feedback is going to be the chairman of the department and not the course tutor. Feel free to vociferate your
opinions/complaints.
Q1. Next to each sentence, write
1 if the underlined word is a lexical verb
2 if the underlined word is an auxiliary verb
3 if the underlined word is a proper noun
4 if the underlined word is a common noun
5 if the underlined word is a gradable adjective
6 if the underlined word is a non-gradable adjective
7 if the underlined word is an interjection
8 if the underlined word is a pronoun
1. Even the dead
were washed out of their graves.
2. The board is divided
into six tables of six points each.
3. I couldn't find Tommy
in the library.
4. That old woman is still
very much alive.
5. This is ridiculous.
6. What can we do
about it?
7. I don't believe
in lawyers.
8. The Vatican is in Italy.
Q2. In the following examples, use the headword, or any of its possible derivatives, to complete each sentence.
1. happy
a. Her ______________ was consummated when she travelled to Sweden.
b. ______________ for everyone, the test was short and sweet.
c. They looked so ______________ after the match.
2. invent
a. ______________ of new words are important historical events.
b. Thomas Edison was a famous ______________.
c. The Chinese ______________ printing.
d. He was so ______________: he was able to draw the line between what was real and what was unreal.
3. imagine
a. I can't ______________ that Derek did it.
b. It's that over-active ______________ of yours.
4. predict
a. At the moment, we cannot ______________ what his reaction will be.
b. Please don't ask me to make any ______________ about tomorrow's meeting.
c. The weather was no more ______________ than the events of a person's life.
d. The English weather is so fluctuating. In fact, it's the most ______________ weather in the world.
5. assume
a. I ______________ that you're all familiar with this already.
b. His argument was based on the erroneous ______________ that we were willing to join in.
c. Even ______________ that they will see the warning, I don't think they'll take any notice.
6. advise
a. It's ______________ to speak any language other than English during classes.
b. His ______________ was flouted by the scouts, who continued burning twigs.
c. The modals should, ought to, and had better express ______________.
d. The ______________ of this project stems from its ineffectiveness and unworkability.
Q3. In the blank spaces, put in a/an/the/ø
(zero article)
1.
A boy was knocked down by a car and was sent to _____ hospital.
2.
Excuse me, please. Can you tell me how to get to _____ airport?
3.
_____ dimensions of _____ solar system are specified in terms of _____ mean distance from _____ earth to _____ sun.
4.
Could you pass me _____ salt, please?
5.
My molar aches. I must go and see _____ dentist.
6.
It's evident that _____ car has brought mobility to _____ daily life of _____ individual.
7.
_____ lad who was accused of a bike theft has now been released.
8.
Moscow is _____ capital of _____ Russia.
9.
We listened to _____ ripple of _____ water and _____ warble of _____ birds.
10.
A new organisation must be set up to look after _____ unemployed and _____ needy.
11.
_____ Japanese have built a hugely successful nation from scratch.
12.
Once _____ Englishman, _____ Irishman, and _____ Scotsman were being chased by
_____ policeman. They saw _____ old warehouse, so they ran in. Inside there were
_____ three empty sacks on _____ floor. They each jumped in a sack. In came _____
copper and saw these three bundles on the floor. He went up to the first one and kicked it. _____ Englishman shouted out,
"Woof. Woof", and _____ copper, thinking it was just _____ old dog left it and kicked _____ second sack. _____ Scotsman yelled
out, "Me-ow. me-ow". He left this one as well thinking it was just _____ old cat. He walked over to _____ last sack and kicked
it, and _____ Irishman yelled out.. "Potatoes. Potatoes..!"
Q4. Next to each of the sentences below, write a number to designate the type of use of the definite article according
to the following instructions.
Write 1 if it is
a unique use of the (oneness).
Write 2 if it is
a unique use of the (particularisation from the external physical
environment).
Write 3 if it is
back-pointing use of the.
Write 4 if it is
forward-pointing use of the with a relative clause modifier.
Write 5 if it is
forward-pointing use of the with an of-phrase modifier.
Write 6 if it is
a conventional/institutional use of the.
Write 7 if it is
a generic use of the.
1. The painting
which disappeared after the exhibition has now been restituted.
2. I hated the politician
who said that the Internet is just a flash in the pan.
3. I hated the politician
who said that the Internet is just a flash in the pan.
4. An infirmary takes care
of the welfare of the elderly.
5. The cow provides
us with meat and milk.
6. I closed the
shutters to keep off the noise.
7. Last year I taught the
IELTS to two students, a boy and a girl. The boy always complained about having a chip on his shoulder about failing
the test.
8. The most difficult
part of the quiz was the end of it.
9. When I was in London this summer, I saw the Queen.
10. Although the
French drink more than the English, they are healthier.
11. If a third world war
occurs, the human race will be at risk.
12. The London Eye
is alternatively called the Millennium Wheel.
13. The capital of Russia was changed in the preceding century.
14. Of all wild animals,
I hate the hyena.
15. Pass me the
ruler, please.
Q5. Rewrite each of the following sentences using a suitable idiomatic expressions. The first one has been done
for you as an example.
1. He always intended to
hide the truth from his wife.
Possible answer: He always
kept his wife in the dark.
2. After riding the rollercoaster
for the first time in his life, Jim looked so pale and was speechless.
3. My speech wasn't prepared.
It was extemporaneous.
4. When we worked at an
old mill, there was a huge old wheel that we had to keep moving manually. We used to do it alternately.
5. The secretary's now in real trouble after he'd been caught embezzling public money.
6. We've been waiting vehemently for the World Cup Finals.
7. When fruit and vegetables are available in abundance because it's the time of year when they grow, they're cheaper.
8. She left but said she'd be back soon.
9. I'm not surprised that they've got divorced at last. They never had any shared characteristics.
10. Exercise keeps you fit and in good health.
11. The defendant implored the judge for mercy, but his appeals had no effect on the judge.
Q6. In all the following sentences, nominal infinitives are used. Circle the infinitive clause
in each sentence and, underneath each sentence, decide what function the nominal infinitive performs. The first one has been
done for you as an example.
1. Nelly decided to postpone the journey until the storm abated.
Direct object
2. His intention is to undermine my efforts.
3. He failed to make himself clear.
4. We wanted to make sure everything was in order.
5. To keep moaning and groaning about your bad luck is disturbing.
6. To exceed the speed limit when driving is suicide.
7. I was grieved to see you go.
8. The government decided to increase its spending on health and education.
Q7. Supply an appropriate preposition and verb form.
1.
Stop blaming me __________ (not desire) __________ to go to the meeting.
2.
No one is responsible __________ (vandalise) __________ the shop. It was damaged by the storm.
3.
In addition __________ (refuse) __________ to speak his mind, Sam didn't disdain to join the discussion.
4.
The deteriorating situation stopped the president __________ (pride) __________ himself on his achievements.
5.
The manager objected __________ (downsize) __________ the company to reduce spending.
6.
For the purpose __________ (intensify) __________ the meaning of an adjective, use an intensifier.
7.
The accountant was accused __________ (cook) __________ the books.
8.
Michael Jackson was found not guilty __________ (molest) __________ minors.
9.
She isn't used __________ (go) __________ to the theatre anymore.
10.
I'm looking forward __________ (hear) __________ from you.
Q8. Each of the two following sentences is ambiguous. Disambiguate each sentence by writing its two possible readings
underneath it.
1. Smoking grass is dangerous.
a.
b.
2. Burning fires can be devastating.
a.
b.
Q9. All of the following sentences are multiple
sentences. Decide for each sentence whether it is a (1) compound or (2) complex sentence.
1.
He said goodbye, and he left quickly.
2.
She is coming, but she is not staying for long.
3.
Before I learned to play the guitar, I had to purchase one.
4.
Because of the endless promises of Steve, we call him Mr. Bombastic.
5.
Since the war ended, living conditions have ameliorated.
6.
I'll give it another try, but I'm not sure.
7.
We'd have waited for you if we'd known you wanted to join us.
8.
He wasn't planning to change his mind, nor did he want to soften.
9.
Shakespeare wrote some 36 plays, and he is now famous all around the world.
10.
Please make sure you leave no valuables here before you go.
Q10. Read the following sentence and answer
the questions that follow.
It is
important for us to work as a team.
1. Rewrite
the sentence by recovering the logical subject and making it the structural subject as well.
2. Having recovered the subject, change it into a gerund.
3. Rewrite the sentence using a subjunctive.
Q11. All of the following sentences are simple. Next to each sentence, write a number (1-5) to show its pattern.
1. She left early this morning.
2. He told me.
3. Ben was one of my best friends.
4. They were here a minute ago.
5. I consider him as a close friend.
6. He gave his wife a bell.
7. The guests arrived late.
8. Mark's a trouble-maker.
9. I gave him the cold shoulder.
10. It's not the end of the world.
Q12. All of the following sentences exhibit some kind of ellipsis. Rewrite each sentence, recovering the ellipted
item(s).
1. The thief was arrested on charges of having pick pocketed five elderly women, but later it was found out that
he hadn't.
2. The team tried to perform better this time, but they didn't.
3. We want you to tell us what you think. Would you like to?
4. They attempted to lift the rock, but they couldn't.
5. A: Have you finished writing your dissertation?
B: Not yet.
Q13. Answer either A or B.
A. Explain the grammatical, semantic, and phonetic differences between the two following sentences. You are expected
to use technical linguistic terms sufficiently and accurately.
1. The workers who went on strike were dismissed.
2. The workers, who went on strike, were dismissed.
B. Explain the grammatical and semantic differences between the two following sentences. You are expected to use
technical linguistic terms sufficiently and accurately.
1. She insists that he left immediately.
2. She insists that he leave immediately.
End of test
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