capgemini test paper2 english

Test paper -4

1. To cry wolf

1. To listen eagerly b) to give false alarm c) to turn pale d) to keep off starvation

2. To be above board

a)To have a good height b) to be honest in any business deal c) they have no debts d) to try to be beautiful

3. A man of straw

a)A man of no substance b) A very active person c) A worthy fellow d) An unreasonable person

4. To set one’s face against

1. To oppose with determination b) To judge by appearance c) To get out of difficulty d) To look at one steadily

5. The car in which the minister was travelling …. With an accident

1. Hit b) drove c) crashed d) met

6. Sonika is quite intelligent but rather…….

a) idealistic b) generous c) lazy d) optimistic

7. If our friends are not able to take us in their car, we must make…… arrangements to go to the airport.

a) alternative b)another c) ultimate d)possible

8. Man must ……to stop pollution

1. Operate b) act c) perform d)behave

9. What is the ……for an air letter?

1. Fare b) value c) postage d) stamp

10. We went

P: along the railway line

Q: and had a right to

R: where other people not allowed to go

S: but daddy belonged to the railway

The proper sequence should be:

a) RPQS b) PRSQ c) RSQP d)PRQS

11. Little

P: that he had been let down

Q: stood by all these years

R: did he realize

S: by a colleague whom he had

The proper sequence should be:

1. RPSQ b) RSQP c) QSRP d) QSPR

12. It is very easy

P: a great deal more than one realizes

Q: may mean

R: that a phrase that one does not quite understand

S: to persuade oneself

The proper sequence should be:

a) RSQP b) SPQR c) SRQP d) RQPS

13. Work is the one thing

P: and without it

Q: that is necessary

R: to keep the world going

S: we should all die

The proper sequence should be:

1. QPSR b) RPQS c) SRPQ d) QRPS

14. Idon’t remember

P: I saw a man dying in front of a hospital

Q: but when I left lucknow in 1984

R: hit apparently by a fast moveing car

S: the exact date

The proper sequence should be:

a) SQRP b) SQPR c) QRPS d) SPRQ

15. INSOMNIA

1. Lethargy b) sleeplessness c) drunkenness d) unconsciousness

16. REPRECUSSION

1. Clever reply b) recollection c) remuneration d)reaction

17. IMPROMPTU

a) offhand b) unimportant c) unreal d) effective

18. FRUGALITY

1. Foolishness b) extremity c) enthusiasm d) economy

19. FURORE

a) excitement b) worry c) flux d) anteroom

20. COMMENSURATE

1. Measurable b) proportionate c) beginning d) appropriate

21. Had you been told me about your problem, I would have helped you.

a) if you would have told b) had you have told c) had you told d) if you have told

22. The orator had been left the auditorium before the audience stood up.

1. Had been leaving b) was left c) had left d) would leave

23. We must take it granted that Madhu will not come for today’s function.

1. Take it for granted b) taking it granted c) took it as granted d) have it granted

24. My doctor knew that I would eventually recover and do kind of work I would be doing before

a) would have been doing b) would have done c) had been done d) had been doing

25. The prosecution failed in establish in every case today.

1. To b) on c) as d) upon

26. By such time you finish that chapter, I will write a letter.

1. The time when b) by the time c) by that time d) the time

27. MUNDANE : SPIRITUAL

1. Common : ghostly b) worldly : unworldly c) routine : novel d)secular : clerical

28. ARMY : LOGISTICS

a) business : strategy b) soldier : students c) wear : logic d) team : individual

29. FILTER : WATER

a) curtail : activity b) expunge : book c) edit : text d) censor : play

30. EVASIVE

1. Free b) honest c) liberal d) frank

31. HIRSUTE

1. Bald b) scaly c) erudite d)quiet

32. HAPLESS

a) cheerful b) consistent c) fortunate d)shapely

33. EQUANIMITY

a) Resentment b) dubiousness c) duplicity d) excitement

34. SUBSERVIENT

1. Aggressive b) straight forward c) dignified d) supercilious

35. REMISS

1. Forgetful b) watchful c) dutiful d) harmful

Correct the following sentences:

1.John' s salary is much larger than Tom.

2.Ramesh helped not only me but also

3.Give me three thousands rupees, please.

4.More than two boys were present n the class.

5.More than one person have found it correct.

6.Only three- fourths of the work are complete and we are left with no time.

7.The English defeated french in the battle of Waterloo.

8.The three last chapters of this book are very interesting.

9.In summer ,days are warm than nights.

10.A large number of houses are coming up in our town.

11. There are not many men who are so famous that they are frequently referred to by their short names only.

1. Initials b) signatures c) pictures d) middle names e) no correction required

12. The man to who I sold my house was a cheat.

1. To whom I sell b) to who I sell c) who was sold to d) to whom I sold e) no correction required

13. They were all shocked at his failure in the competition.

1. Were shocked at all b) had all shocked at c) had all shocked by d) had been shocked on e) no correction required.

14. I need not offer any explantion regarding this incident – my behavious is speaking itself.

1. Will speak to itself b) speaks for itself c) has been speaking d) speaks about itself

15. He is too important for tolerating any delay.

1. To tolerate b) to tolerating c) at tolerating d) with tolerating

16. The population of Tokyo is greater than that of any other town in the world.

1. The greatest among any other b) greater than all other c) greater than those of any other d) greater than any other e) no correction required

17. Why did you not threw the bag away?

1. Did you not throw b) had you not threw c) did you not thrown d) you did not thrown e) no correction required

18. shapes of gods and goddess are worshipped by people.

1. Images b) reflections c) clay shapes d) clay toys e) no correction required

19. In addition to enhanced their repurations through strategic use of philanthropy, companies are sponsoring social initiatives to open new markets.

1. Of enhancing their reputation b) to having enhance their reputation c) to enhancing their reputation d) to have their reputation enhancing e) no correction required

20. The intruder stood quietly for few moments.

1. For few time b) for the few moments c) for moments d) for a few moments e) no correction required

21. The police has so far succeeded in recovering only a part of the stolen property.

1. Thus far succeeded for recovery b) so far succeeded in recovery of c) as for as succeeded in recovery of d) so far succeeded to recover e) no correction required

22. He confidentially asked the crowd if they thought he was right and the crowd shouted that they did.

1. That he did b) that they had c) that he is d) that he didn’t e) no correction required

23. Why should the candidates be afraid of English Language is not clear.

1. The candidates should be b) do the candidates be c) should be the candidates d) are the candidates e) no correction required

24. He found the gold coin as he cleans the floor.

1. As he had cleaned b) while he cleans c) which he is cleaning d) while cleaning e) no correction required

25. They admired the speed with which he completed the work and appreciating the method adopted by him.

1. Appreciate the method being adopted b) appreciated the method adopted c) appreciate the method of adoption d) appreciated the method adopting method e) no correction required

26. She cooks, washes dishes, does her homework and then relaxing.

1. Relaxing then b) then is relaxing c) relaxing is then d) then relaxes e) no correction required

27. Acquisition of certain specific skills can be facilitated from general awareness, education to novel situations.

1. Can be facilitated by b) may facilitate through c) can be felicitated with d) may be felicitated with e) no correction required

28. He never has and ever will take such strong measures.

1. Had taken nor will ever take b) had taken and will ever take c) has and never will take d) had and ever will take e) no correction required

29. Technology must use to feed the forces of change.

1. Must be used to feed b) must have been using to feed c) must use having fed d) must be using to feed e) no correction required

30. Anyone interested in the use of computers can learn much if you have access to a personal computer.

1. They have access b) access can be available c) he or she has access d) one of them have access e) no correction required

31. We can not always convey ourselves in simple sentences.

1. Cannot always convey b) can not always express c) cannot always express d) can not always communicate e) no correction required

32. What does agonise me most is not this criticism, but the trivial reason behind it.

1. Most agonizing me b) agonises me most c) agonizing me most d) I most agoinised e) no correction required

33. As there was no time, the remaining items were deferred into the next meeting.

1. Are deferred till b) were deferred till c) were deferred to d) had deferred to e) no correction required

34. We don’t know how did thief made an escape.

1. How the thief did make b) how the thief does make c) how the thief made d) how was the thief made e) no correction required

35.Their earning are such that they find it difficult to make both ends to meet.

1. To makings both ends meet b) to make both ends for meeting c) to make both ends meet d) for making both ends to meet e) no correction required

Key to the sentences

1. ' That of Tom' in place of 'Tom'

2. No error. The sentnce is correct.

3. ' Three thousan ' in place of ' Three thousans ' . Some nouns when

preceded by a numeral remain unchanged in form.

4. No error .The sentnce is correct.

5. ' Has found ' in place of ' have found ' . More than one is singular.

6. ' Is ' in place of 'are' . ' Three- fourths ' make one unit an thus it is

singular.

7. ' The French' in place of ' french ' . ' The French ' means ' The French

people.

8. ' The last three ' in plac of ' the three last'

9. ' warmer ' in place of warm. Here the sentence is in the comparative

degree and thus 'warmer' is appropriate.

10. No error .The sentnce is cor

capgemini test paper english 1

Paper - 1

1. 1. Killed 2) a 3) Jaswant 4) bear 5) wild

1. 31254 B) 53124 C) 23154 D) 43125

2. 1. do 2) today 3) you 4) must 5) it

1. 25431 B) 12534 C) 34152 D) 51243

Choose antonyms for the word:

1. FRAUDULENT

1. Candid b) Direct c) Forthright d) Genuine

2. BELITTLE

1. criticize b) Exaggerate c) Flatter d) Adore

3. CULPABLE

1. Blameless b) defendable c) irresponsible d) careless

4. PERTINENT

1. Irrational b) insistent c) irrelevant d) irregular

5. FRUGAL

1. Copious b) extravagant c) generous d) ostentatious

6. LOQUACIOUS

1. Reticent b) talkative c) garrulous d) verbose

7. PATCHY

1. attractive b) uniform c) simple d ) clear

8. ALIEN

a) native b) domiciled c) natural d) resident

9. Extreme old age when a man behaves like a fool

a) imbecility b) senility c) dotage d)superannuation

10. The study of ancient societies

a) anthropology b) archeology c) history d) ethnology

11. State in which the few govern the many

a) Monarchy b) Oligarchy c) plutocracy d) autocracy

12. a drawing on a transparent paper

a) red print b) blue print c) negative d) transparency

13. In a state of tension or anxiety or suspense

a) off balance b) depressed c) diffused d) on tenterhooks

14. one who knows everything

a) literate b) scholar c) omnipotent d) omniscient

15. hater of learning and knowledge

a) misologist b) misogynist c) bibliophile d) misanthropist

16. a person interested in reading books and nothing else

a) a book-keeper b) book-worm c) student d) scholar

17. despite of their differences on matters of principles, they all agree on the demand of hike in salary

a) despite their b) despite of the c) despite for their d) despite off their

18. for many centuries in Indian History there was no city so famous like the city of Ujjain.

a) as b) such as c) likewise d) so like

19. Ramesh is as tall if not, taller than Mahesh.

a) not as tall but b) not so tall but as c) as tall as, if not d) as if not

find synonyms for the following words

20. SHALLOW

a) artificial b) superficial c) foolish d) worthless

21. INEXPLICABLE

a) accountable b) confusing c) chaotic d) unconnected

22. HARBINGER

a) forerunner b) messenger c) steward d)pilot

23. DEIFY

a) flatter b) challenge c) worship d) face

24. LYNCH

a) hang b) madden c) shoot d) kill

25. WRETCHED

a) insane b) poor c) foolish d) strained

26. LAUD

a) lord b) eulogy c) praise d) extol

27. IMPROMPTU

a) offhand b) unimportant c) unreal d) effective

28. COMMISSIONED (find antonym)

a) started b) closed c) finished d) terminated

29. EXODUS (find antonym)

a) influx b) home-coming c) return d) restoration

Paper -2

1. A sanguine outlook is associated with the

1. rationalist b) socialist c) philanthropist d) optimist

2. It being an … issue, it is not correct to introduce questions of morality in to the debate.

1. A moral b) immoral c) amoral d) irrelevant

3. True brevity …… in saying only what needs to be said.

1. Consists b) depicts c) portrays d) resides

4. One major ….. between the Election Commission and the Union Government related to the powers of the former in respect of the deployment of centre police forces at places where are elections held

1. Irritant b) conflict c) pain d) culprit

5. He knew everything better than anybody else, and it was an affront to his ….vanity that you should disagree with him.

1. Overstrung b) overweening c) overwhelming d) overwrought

6. Even if it rains I shall come means …..

a ) if I come it will not rain b) if it rains I shall not come c) I will certainly come whether it rains or not d) whenever there is rain I shall come

7. I felt somewhat more released …..

1. But tense as compared to earlier b) and tense as compared to earlier c) as there was already no tension at all d) and tension-free as compared to earlier

8. He has no money now…..

a) although he was very poor once b) as he has given up all his wealth c) because he was very rich once d)because he has received huge donation

9. practically, very little work could be completed in the last week as it was…

a) full of working days b)a very hectic week c) full of holidays d) a very busy week

10. He tames animals because he ……

a) is fond of them b)hates them c)is afraid of them d)want to set them free

11. To keep one’s temper

a) to become hungry b) to be in good mood c) to preserve one’s energy d) to be aloof from

12. To catch a tartar

a) to trp wanted criminal with great diffuclty b) to catch a dangerous person c) to meet with disaster d)to deal ith a person who is more than one’s match

13. To have an axe to grind

a) A private end to serve b) to fail to arouse interest c) to have no result d) to work for both sides

14. To end in smoke

a) To make completely understand b) to ruin oneself c) to excite great applause d) to overcome someone

15. To pick holes

a) To find some reason to quarrel b) to destroy something c) to criticize someone d) to cut some part of an item

16. THRUST : SPEAR

a) mangle : iron b) scabbard : Sword c) bow: arrow d) fence : epee

17. DIVA : OPERA

a) producer : theatre b) director : cinema c) conductor : bus d) thespian : play

18. PAIN : SEDATIVE

a) comfort : stimulant b) grief : solation c) trance : narcotic d) ache: extraction

19. SYMPHONY : COMPOSER

a) Leonardo : Music b) Fresco : Painter c) Colours : pallet d) art : appreciation

20. VENT

a) Opening b) stodge c) end d) past tense of go

21. CORPULENT

a) lean b) gaunt c) emaciated d) obese

22. EMBEZZLE

a) misappropriate b) balance c) remunerate d) clear

23. ADVERSITY

a) failure b) helplessness c) misfortune d) crisis

24. INDICT

a) condemn b) reprimand c) accuse d) allege

25. The small child does whatever his father was done

a) has done b) did c) does d) had done

26. You need not come unless you want to.

a) you don’t need to come unless you want to b) you come only when you want to c) you come unless you don’t want to d) you needn’t come until you don’t want to

27. The man to who I sold my house was a cheat.

a) to whom I sell b) to who I sell c) who was sold to d) to whom I sold

28. He is too important for tolerating any delay.

a) to tolerate b) to tolerating c) at tolerating d) with tolerating

29. The performance of our players was rather worst than I had expected.

a) bad as I had expected b) worse than I had expected c) worse than expectation d) worst than was expected

30. Sentence 1: Culcutta unlike other cities kept its trams.

P: As a result there is horrendous congestion.

Q: It was going to be the first in South Asia.

R: They run down the centre of the road

S: To ease congestion in the city, it was decided to build an underground railway line.

Sentence 6: The foundation stone was laid in 1972.

The proper sequence should be :

1. PRSQ b) PSQR c) SQRP d) RPSQ

31. Sentence 1: Smoke oozed up between the planks.

P: Passengers were told to be ready to quit the ship.

Q: The rising gale fanned the smouldering fire.

R: Everyone now knew there was fire on board.

S: Flames broke out here and there.

Sentence 6 : Most people bore the shock bravely.

The proper sequence should be :

1. SRQP b) QPSR c) RSPQ d) QSRP

32. I remember my sister taking me to the museum.

a) I remember I was taken to the museum by my sister b) I remember being taken to the museum by my sister c) I remember myself being taken to the museum by my sister d) I remember taken to the museum by my sister.

33. Who is creating this mess?

a) Who has been created this mess? b) By whom has this mess been created? c) By whom this mess is being created d) By whom is this mess being created ?

34. Darjeeling grows tea.

a) Tea is being grown in Darjeeling b) Let the tea be grown in Darjeeling c) Tea is grown in Darjeeling d) Tea grows in Darjeeling.

paper – 3

1. He exclaimed with joy that India had won the Sahara cup.

a) He said, “India has won the Sahara Cup”. b) He Said, “ How! India will win the Sahara Cup” c) He Said, “Indi won the Sahara Cup” d) He said, “Hurrah! India has won the Sahara Cup”.

2. Nita ordered her servant to bring her cup of tea.

a) Nita told her servant, “Bring a cup of tea”. b) Nita said, “Bring me a cup of tea”. c) Nita said to her servant, “Bring me a cup of tea”. d) Nita told her servant, “Bring her that cup of tea”.

3. The man said, “ No, I refuse to confess guilt”.

1. The man emphatically refused to confess guilt. b) The man refused to confess his guilt. c) The man told that he did not confess guilt. d) The man was stubborn enough to confess guilt.

4. That which is perceptible by touch is

1. Contagious b) contingent c) tenacious d) tangible

5. A style full of words

1. Verbose b) pedantic c) rhetorical d) abundant

6. To issue a thunderous verbal attack

1. Languish b) animate c) fulminate d) invigorate

7. The act of violating the sanctity of the church is

1. Blasphemy b) heresy c) sacrilege d) desecration

8. Something that can be heard

a) auditory b) audio-visual c) audible d) audition

9. A place that provides refuge

a) Asylum b) sanatorium c) shelter d) orphanage

10. The absence of law and order

1. Rebellion b) anarchy c) mutiny d) revolt

11. Continuing fight between parties, families, clans, etc.

a) enmity b) feud c) quarrel d) skirmish

12. Policeman riding on motorcycles as guards to a VIP

a) Outriders b) servant s c) commondos d) attendants

13. Very pleasing to eat

a) appetizing b) palatable c) tantalizing d) sumptuous

14. One who believes that all things and events in life are predetermined is a

a) Fatalist b) puritan c) egoist d) tyrant

15. 1) him 2) the 3) to 4) charge 5) handover

a) 42531 b) 52431 c) 51342 d) 41352

16. 1) killed 2) a 3) jaswant 4) bear 5) wild

a) 31254 b) 23145 c) 53124 d) 43125

find antonyms for the following words

17. LOQUACIOUS

a) reticent b) talkative c) garrulous d) verbose

18. REPEL

a) attend b) concentrate c) continue d) attract

19. ANNOY

a) praise b) rejoice c) please d) reward

20. ENCOURAGE

a) dampen b) disapprove c) discourage d) warn

21. LUCID

a) glory b) noisy c) obscure d) distinct

22. She makes cakes every Sunday.

a) Every Sunday cakes made by her. b) Cakes are made by her every Sunday. c) Cakes make her every Sunday. d) Cakes were made by her every Sunday.

23. I cannot accept your offer.

a) your offer cannot be accepted by me. b) I cannot be accepted by your offer. c) the offer cannot be accepted by me. d) Your offer cannot be accepted.

24. They will inform the police.

a) The police will be informed by them. b) The police will inform them. c) The police are informed by them. d) Informed will be the police by them.

25. CANTANKEROUS

a) Quarrelsome b) Rash c) Disrespectful d) Noisy

26. ZANY

a) Clown b) Pet c) Thief d) Magician

27. TACITURNITY

a) Dumbness b) Changeableness c) Hesitation d) Reserve

28. MENDACIOUS

a) Full of Confidence b) False c) Encouraging d) Provocating

29. SCINTILLATING

a) Smoldering b) Glittering c) Touching d) Warming

30. VORACIOUS

a) Wild b) Greedy c) Angry d) Quick

31. It has been established that

P: Einstein was

Q: although a great scientist

R: weak in arithmetic

S: right from his school days

The proper sequence should be:

a) SRPQ b) QPRS c) QPSR d) RQPS

32.RABBLE

a) Mob b) Noise c) Roar d) Rubbish

33. PRESTIGE

a) influence b) Name c) quality d) Wealth

english structures 1

STRUCTURES -1

 If the books have been cataloged last week, why haven't they been placed on the shelf?

A. have been cataloged
B. would have been cataloged
C. was cataloged
D. were cataloged
E. had been cataloged

2. Jessica Mitford wrote The American Way of Death, a best-selling book that led eventually to an official investigation of the funeral industry.

A. that led eventually
B. that had led eventually
C. that eventually led
D. which eventually led
E. who eventually led

3. Sabotage came from the French saboter, which means "to clatter with wooden shoes (sabots)."

A. which means "to
B. which means, "to
C. that means "to
D. that means-"to
E. that means, "to

4. When studying an assignment, it is wise to read it over quickly at first, than see the major points, and finally outline the material.

A. first, than
B. first: then
C. first-then
D. first, then
E. first-than

5. To judge the Tidy City contest, we picked an uninterested party.

A. picked an uninterested party.
B. picked an interested party!
C. picked a disinterested party.
D. are in the process of picking an uninterested party.
E. picked an disinterested party.

6. Linda decides they had better scram before the killers find them.

A. had better scram
B. had better leave
C. should hurry and scram
D. could hurry and leave
E. had better get out

7. I really dug the character of Brutus.

A. dug
B. thought about
C. thought of
D. admired
E. gazed at

8. Once upon a point a time, a small person named Little Red Riding Hood initiated plans for the preparation, delivery and transportation of foodstuffs to her Grandmother.

A. and transportation of foodstuffs to her Grandmother.
B. and transportation of food stuffs to her Grandmother.
C. and transportation of food supplies to her Grandmother.
D. and transportation of foodstuffs to her grandmother.
E. and, transportation of food supplies to her grand mother.

9. The setting of a story effects the story's plot.

A. effects the story's plot.
B. effects the stories plot.
C. affect the story's plot.
D. affects the story's plot.
E. affects the story's plots.

10. Arctic trees are scrubbiest than trees in milder climates.

A. scrubbiest than trees
B. scrubbier then trees
C. scrubbiest than are trees
D. scrubbier than are trees
E. scrubbier than trees

11. Quebec rises in a magnificent way above the St. Lawrence River.

A. rises in a magnificent way above
B. rises in a magnificent way, way above
C. rises magnificently above
D. rises magnificently way above
E. is raised in a magnificent way above

12. Someone gives the school gerbils every year.

A. Someone gives the school gerbils
B. Some one gives the school gerbils
C. Some one gives the School gerbils
D. There is a person that gives the school gerbils
E. An individual gave gerbils

13. During colonial days, a school room looked rather empty.

A. colonial days, a school room looked
B. colonial days, a schoolroom looked
C. colonial days; a schoolroom looked
D. colonial days; a school room looked
E. colonial days-a schoolroom looked

14. The helium-filled balloon rose in the air.

A. rose in the air.
B. was rising in the air.
C. was in the air.
D. rose into the air.
E. would rise in the air.

15. If I had the address, I would have delivered the package myself.

A. had the address,
B. had the address;
C. had the address-
D. had had the address;
E. had had the address,

16. Do you know that these gloves have lay on the bureau all week?

A. have lay on
B. have laid on
C. would lie on
D. had laid on
E. have lain on

17. If I would have known about the team tryouts, I would have signed up for them.

A. had known
B. would have known
C. could of known
D. had been told
E. could have been told

18. If he would have revised his first draft, he would have received a better grade.

A. would have revised
B. had revised
C. could of revised
D. had of revised
E. would revise

19. Valarie claims that cats made the best pets.

A. made the best pets.
B. could be the best pets.
C. are the best pets.
D. make of the best pets.
E. make the best pets.

20. By next month, Ms. Jones will be Mayor of Tallahassee for two years.

A. will be Mayor of Tallahassee
B. will have been Mayor of Tallahassee
C. will be mayor of Tallahassee
D. will have been mayor of Tallahassee
E. could have been mayor of Tallahassee

Answers and Explanations

1. D: "Last week" dictates simple past tense "were." Present perfect "have been" (A) refers to the status now of something already accomplished in the past-e.g. "have been cataloged since last week." Subjunctive present perfect "would have been" (B) is never used in a conditional "If" clause/phrase, only as its complement ("If…, then they would…"). Singular "was" (C) disagrees with plural "books." Past perfect "had been" (E) would require "why hadn't they been…/weren't they…?" to agree.

2. C: With an indirect object, the transitive verb and preposition should be a unit, i.e. "led to" here, like "take from," "give to," etc., uninterrupted by the modifying adverb "eventually." "Who" (E) only applies to people, not inanimate objects like books.

3. A: No punctuation should be placed between "means" and "to" here. Hence a comma [(B), (E)] or dash (D) is incorrect. A nonrestrictive relative clause introduces additional information, requiring a comma and "which"-not "that" [(C), (D), and (E)]. "That" is used without a comma and only with a restrictive relative clause, i.e. one that is necessary to understand the meaning of the noun it modifies.

4. D: "Then" is an adverb indicating time or sequence here. "Than" [(A), (E)] is a conjunction indicating comparison, e.g. "He is taller than I am" or "We would rather go now than later." When listing three sequential steps as in this sentence, the comma after the first and second steps is correct punctuation; a colon (B) or hyphen [(C), (E)] is incorrect.

5. C: The correct word choice therefore, for this sentence meaning is "disinterested," meaning not personally involved or invested and (presumably) impartial. "Uninterested" means literally not interested, i.e. oblivious or not caring. In this context, they would not pick an "interested" party to judge a contest, and the exclamation mark (B) is inappropriate punctuation. "An" (E) is incorrect preceding a consonant.

6. B: "Scram" is a slang word meaning "leave," a more acceptable choice when writing (excepting intentional slang like Mark Twain used in dialogue, narrative, etc.). "Could" (D) means they can leave, whereas "had better" and "should" means they ought to leave. "Get out" (E), similarly to "scram," is less acceptable than "leave."

7. D: "Admired" is an acceptable word in writing for the desired meaning, whereas "dug" (A) is slang. "Thought about (B), "thought of" (C), and "gazed at" (E) do not convey the same meaning at all.

8. D: When used as a noun rather than a name (proper noun), "grandmother" is not capitalized. Used either way, it is still one word, not two (E); the same is true of "foodstuffs" (B).

9. D: To affect means to influence. This meaning, and hence this spelling, apply here. To effect [(A), (B)] means to cause, initiate, create, implement, or accomplish. "Stories" (B) is plural, not possessive. "Affect" (C) goes with a plural, not singular, subject. "Plots" (E) is plural, not singular.

10. E: When comparing two things, the comparative "-er" is used rather than the superlative "-est," which is only used when comparing more than two things. The adverb "than" is used with the comparative, not the conjunction "then" (B), which indicates time sequence (e.g. "and then…"), cause and effect (e.g. "If…,then…"). Adding "are" (D) is unnecessary.

11. C: The adverb "magnificently" modifies the verb "rises" and reads more appropriately and concisely than the phrase "in a magnificent way." "Way above" [(B), (C)] is slangy and does not express the intended meaning. If it did, "far above" would be more correct. Passive-voice "is raised" (E) connotes a different meaning (i.e. is set higher) than active-voice "rises" (i.e. appears) in this sentence.

12. A: "Someone" is one word, not two [(B), (C)]. "There is a person that" (D) differs semantically and grammatically, meaning someone exists who gives the school gerbils rather than someone gives the school gerbils; also, "who" is preferable over "that" when referring to people. The meaning is changed by past tense "gave" (E); i.e. an individual/someone gave the school gerbils every year but no longer does, vs. someone still gives the school gerbils every year.

13. B: "Schoolroom" is one word, not two [(A), (D)]. A semicolon separates independent clauses or phrases containing internal commas, but is incorrect between a phrase and a clause [(C), (D)]. A comma, not a dash (E), is used between the introductory prepositional phrase and the independent clause it modifies.

14. D: The correct preposition with verbs expressing movement or placement is "into," not "in" [(A), (B), (C), (E)], a common error. We place something into a container, not in it; things move into the air, not in it. "In" denotes something is already there rather than moving/being moved there.

15. E: Since this entire conditional-subjunctive sentence construction is in the past, the correct conditional form is past perfect "If I had had" rather than present perfect "if I had" [(A), (B), (C)] with the present perfect subjunctive "I would have." The correct punctuation between conditional "if" and subjunctive "would" parts is always a comma, never a semicolon [(B), (D)] or a dash (C).

16. E: The present perfect intransitive "to lie" is "have lain," not "have lay" (A), "have laid" (B), or "had laid" (D), which latter two are only transitive, e.g. "She has laid the gloves on the bureau every day" or "I saw a pair of gloves she had laid on the bureau." The conditional "would lie" (C) is only grammatical with a conditional, e.g. "…would lie on the bureau all week unless you moved them," also conveying a different meaning.

17. A: Conditional-subjunctive ("If…then") constructions set in the past use past perfect ("If I had known") for the conditional, and present perfect ("I would have signed up") for the subjunctive, because "If" comes earlier and "then" later. Adding the subjunctive "would"/"could" to the conditional as well (B) is incorrect. Substituting the preposition "of" for the auxiliary verb "have" (C) is always incorrect. "Had been/could have been told" [(C), (D)] differs in meaning from "had known."

18. B: With conditional-subjunctive constructions, never add the subjunctive auxiliary verb (would/could/would have/could have) to the conditional (If) half [(A), (C), (E)]; it is only used in the subjunctive half. It is never correct to substitute the preposition "of" for the auxiliary verb "have" [(C), (D)].

19. E: To agree with the present-tense predicate "claims," the dependent clause must also be present-tense "make," not "made" (A). "Could be" (B) and "are" (C) alter the sentence meaning. "Make of" (D) is not a valid construction in this sentence structure, makes no sense, and means nothing.

20. D: "By next month" used together with "for two years" indicates something that will be completed in the future, so future perfect "will have been" is the correct tense. "Will be" [(A), (C)] means she will be mayor for two years beginning in the future. Moreover, "Mayor" [(A), (B)] is incorrectly capitalized: it is not used as a title/name here (like "Mayor Jones"). "Could have been" (E) changes the meaning.