Question Type: Grammar in Context

Examples and explanations of the Grammar in Context question type

What is being tested?

To answer each of these questions, you must choose the most appropriate answer to complete the missing part of the sentence. These questions test your knowledge of grammar and your vocabulary as well as your ability to understand the meaning of a sentence from its context. These skills are all relevant to the ability to read academic texts and to write grammatically in English.

Instructions

At the beginning of Grammar in Context sections, you will be given instructions similar to the following:

Each sentence has a missing part. For each sentence, choose the answer that best completes the sentence.

Every Grammar in Context section contains four questions.

Examples

Example 1

We __________ town by a very friendly taxi driver.
(1) driving to the
(2) were driven into
(3) been driving to
(4) are able to drive

The correct answer is 2.

Example 2

Without evidence, a person cannot __________ by a court of law.
(1) be found guilty
(2) finding him guilty
(3) became accused
(4) decide to accuse

The correct answer is 1.

Example 3

Drivers who __________ the speed limit may be fined.
(1) are faster
(2) speeding more than
(3) go too much
(4) drive faster than

The correct answer is 4.

Example 4

Mineral buildup in a coffee maker __________ the coffee made in it.
(1) can affect how
(2) affects the smell
(3) can change the taste of
(4) changes when

The correct answer is 3.

Example 5

King Louis IX of France died of scurvy, which he contracted as a result of __________ locally available fruits and vegetables during his military campaigns in Tunisia.
(1) he did not want
(2) his refusal to eat
(3) unwilling to eat
(4) had refused all

The correct answer is 2.

Example 6

After Catalina, daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, arrived in England in 1501, __________ to its English equivalent: Catherine.
(1) she changed her name
(2) the name became
(3) her name has changed
(4) a new name was given

The correct answer is 1.

Example 7

There are many __________ for tourists to visit in Barcelona.
(1) interesting thing to do
(2) places of interest
(3) attractions that interest
(4) interested site

The correct answer is 2.

Example 8

The idea that bacteria should be classified as a separate kingdom __________ biologists until the 1960s.
(1) has been agreed among
(2) were not in favor of
(3) did not become accepted by
(4) is not a standard

The correct answer is 3.

Example 9

In 2019, there were almost __________ reported cases of measles in the world as there had been in 2018.
(1) three more times
(2) triple numbers
(3) three times as many
(4) triple as much

The correct answer is 3.

Example 10

Privacy laws must be revised __________ regulate new face-recognition technology.
(1) when they have
(2) only after
(3) but need to
(4) if they are to

The correct answer is 4.