English Practice Test

The phrase "washing their hands with the perfumes of Arabia" alludes to an attempt to cover up or cleanse guilt, similar to Pilate washing his hands in the Bible. Triumph, indecision, and aggression do not fit this metaphorical context.

The phrase "reduce our workforce" typically means a warning of possible layoffs. It does not imply workers are free to leave, need to work harder, or join a gym.

When faced with a readability mismatch, students often blame the material rather than recognizing their own difficulties. Hence, they might argue that the material was not properly written rather than giving a thorough critique or emotional reaction.

The statement emphasizes that true winners are those who take responsibility for their actions, highlighting accountability as a mark of bravery and strength, contrasting with the negative connotation of making excuses.

"At sixes and sevens" is an idiom meaning in a state of confusion or disarray. The other choices do not capture this idiomatic meaning.

"Mundane" means ordinary or simple, often referring to everyday matters. It does not specifically mean financial, worldly, or related to investments.

"Depravity" refers to moral corruption or wickedness, aligning with "viciousness." Harshness, gravity, and deprivations do not capture the full meaning of moral corruption.

"Remiss" means neglectful in duty or responsibility, making "duty" the correct pair. Task, injury, and problem do not match this specific neglectful connotation.

The correct answer is "b] If you were born in 1950, your full retirement age is 66" because the passage clearly states that individuals born between 1938 and 1960 have a full retirement age of 66. Options a, c, and d either misinterpret the rules or are incorrect based on the passage.

The correct answer is "b] ADBC" because it introduces the destination (A), follows with accessibility (D), the ideal picnic ground (B), and ends with the problem of littering (C).

The correct answer is "conflagration," which refers to a large, destructive fire. "Blizzard" is incorrect because it refers to a severe snowstorm.

The correct answer is "know" because it agrees with the plural subject "the few people."

The correct answer is "the superiority of human beings over some creatures in terms of senses" because the passage draws a comparison between the sensory capabilities of humans and deep-sea creatures.

The correct answer is "the protection of society and its individuals" because the passage states that the system is meant to protect the community by enforcing standards of conduct.

The correct answer is "55" because "The Diary of Anne Frank" has been translated into 55 languages, highlighting its global impact and significance.

The correct answer is "enthuse" because it is created by removing a perceived suffix from "enthusiasm." The other words are not back formations.

* The selected answer is "hadn’t getting." This is incorrect. The correct form should be "hadn’t been getting," which matches the past perfect continuous tense needed to describe a situation that continued up to a particular point in the past.

The selected answer is "Sweet." This is correct because "sweet" functions as a predicate adjective describing the candy, rather than the adverb "sweetly," which would inappropriately modify the verb "smells."

The selected answer is "Buys." This is correct because "buys" ends with the voiced [z] sound, whereas "maps," "jokes," and "laughs" end with unvoiced sounds.

The selected answer is "Cold." This is correct because in "cold," the letter C is pronounced with a /k/ sound, unlike the other options where C is pronounced /s/.

The selected answer is "Consumption." This is correct as the poem's references to cold and sickly winds blowing on Annabel Lee point to consumption, a common term for tuberculosis in the 19th century.

The selected answer is "Japanese." This is correct because during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, the Japanese promoted Filipino as the national language to diminish American influence.

The selected answer is "Ashurbanipal Library." This is correct as the Ashurbanipal Library, named after the Assyrian king, is considered one of the world’s oldest known libraries, containing a vast collection of cuneiform tablets.

The selected answer is "Jose Garcia Villa." This is correct as Jose Garcia Villa emphasized the philosophy of "Art for Art’s sake" in his works and literary criticism in the Philippines.

The selected answer is "Micro Skills." This is incorrect. They are known as "Macro Skills," encompassing the four fundamental skills required for language learning.

The selected answer is "Patroclus." This is correct as Patroclus is the close friend and companion of Achilles who plays a significant role in Homer’s "Iliad."

The selected answer is "Phonemic Awareness." This is correct as phonemic awareness is the understanding that words are made up of phonemes, fundamental sounds of the language.

Samuel Clemens is best known by his pen name, Mark Twain. This is widely recognized, whereas George Orwell, D.H. Lawrence, and T.S. Eliot are pen names for other writers.

The correct answer is (a) "testifies." The sentence "History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time" correctly uses "testifies" in the present simple tense, fitting the sentence structure. "Testifies for the" is incorrect because it does not fit the grammatical context.

"Hold on to the fort" means to continue defending and not surrender. The message implies perseverance and continued resistance, making "Keep on with the fight" the correct interpretation.

"Certainly, we did" is the appropriate and affirmative response, confirming receipt of the instructions. The other answers are either unclear or negative.

"Never the twain shall meet" means that the two entities will never come together, much like parallel lines that never intersect. The other options do not fit this interpretation.

The poet refers to Helen of Troy, whose beauty is said to have launched a thousand ships, sparking the Trojan War. The other figures do not fit this description.

The couple showed pleasure by remarking that the ceremonies were very impressive. The other statements do not convey pleasure or satisfaction with the wedding.

The correct answer is "primitive," indicating outdated or ancient farming methods that lead to poor harvests. The other options do not fit the context as well.

African indigenous literature is known for its rich tradition of oral storytelling, which serves as entertainment and a means of passing down history and culture. This answer is correct. While India, Japan, and China also have storytelling traditions, the question specifically highlights Africa for its distinct oral literature.

Buddhism teaches the concept of Samsara, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, which is marked by suffering. This concept is central to Buddhist philosophy, making option (b) correct. Hinduism shares similar beliefs but with a different emphasis, while Shintoism and Taoism do not focus on this cycle.

"America is in the Heart" is Carlos Bulosan's most famous autobiography, detailing his experiences as a Filipino immigrant in the United States. The other options are not his autobiographies.

An epic is a long narrative poem detailing the adventures of great heroes, making option (c) correct. The other forms are different types of poetry.

"To get cold feet" means to become hesitant or nervous about something, making option (b) correct. The other options do not fit the idiomatic meaning.

The correct answer is (b) "fanciest." The superlative form of "fancy" is "fanciest." Option (a) "least fancy" is correct but suggests the opposite meaning. Option (c) "most fanciest" is incorrect as it combines two superlatives. Option (d) "most fancy" is also incorrect as "fancy" should not be paired with "most" in this context.

The correct answer is (a) "a fine German." The correct order of adjectives is opinion (fine) before origin (German). Option (b) "a German, fine" incorrectly places the comma and order. Option (c) "a fine, German" also incorrectly places a comma. Option (d) "fine German" lacks an article and the structure is less common.

The correct answer is (a) "You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give." This passage is concise, effective, and free of structural errors. Options (b), (c),

The correct answer is (b) "lay." The past tense of "lie" (to recline) is "lay." Option (a) "lays" is the present tense. Option (c) "lied" is the past tense of "lie" (to tell a falsehood). Option (d) "laid" is the past tense of "lay" (to place something down).

The correct answer is b] penchant. "Fondness" means a strong liking or preference for something, and "penchant" is a synonym. The other options are incorrect.

The correct answer is a] was left. "Pair" is a singular noun referring to one set, so the singular verb "was left" is used. The other options do not fit the singular subject.

The correct answer is d] Twenty-second Street. The correct format for street names includes hyphenation and capitalization of "Street." The other options do not fit this standard.

The correct answer is d] taller. When comparing two things, the comparative form "taller" is used. The other options are incorrect forms for this comparison.

The correct answer is c] will have. The future perfect tense "will have walked" indicates an action that will be completed by a specific future time. The other options do not fit this context.