CAEC Writing Preparation Course: Usage, grammar, spelling and punctuation

1. Question 1 of 17

   Choose the correct word: 'The workers forgot ___ lunches.'

   • Atheir
   • Bthey're
   • Cthere
   • Dthier
   Show answer

   Answer: A. their

   'Their' shows ownership. 'There' is a place, and 'they're' means 'they are'.

2. Question 2 of 17

   Choose the correct word: '___ going to vote on the plan tonight.'

   • ATheir
   • BThey're
   • CThere're
   • DThere
   Show answer

   Answer: B. They're

   'They're' is short for 'they are'.

3. Question 3 of 17

   Choose the correct word: 'The town must fix ___ roads.'

   • Ait is
   • Bit's
   • Cits
   • Dits'
   Show answer

   Answer: C. its

   'Its' (no apostrophe) shows ownership. 'It's' means 'it is' or 'it has'.

4. Question 4 of 17

   Choose the correct word: 'The new hours will ___ many students.'

   • Aeffects
   • Beffect
   • Caffect
   • Daffection
   Show answer

   Answer: C. affect

   'Affect' is usually the verb (to influence). 'Effect' is usually the noun (a result).

5. Question 5 of 17

   Choose the correct word: 'Walking is cheaper ___ driving.'

   • Athem
   • Bthen
   • Cthat
   • Dthan
   Show answer

   Answer: D. than

   'Than' compares. 'Then' tells when something happens.

6. Question 6 of 17

   Choose the correct verb: 'The list of new rules ___ posted by the door.'

   • Awere
   • Bis
   • Care
   • Dhave been
   Show answer

   Answer: B. is

   The subject is 'list', which is singular, so the verb is 'is'. 'Of new rules' does not change the subject.

7. Question 7 of 17

   Choose the correct verb: 'Each of the volunteers ___ a safety vest.'

   • Awear
   • Bare wearing
   • Cwears
   • Dhave worn
   Show answer

   Answer: C. wears

   'Each' is singular, so it takes a singular verb: 'wears'.

8. Question 8 of 17

   Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly for more than one owner?

   • AThe studen'ts lockers were painted.
   • BThe student's lockers were painted by all of them.
   • CThe students lockers' were painted.
   • DThe students' lockers were painted.
   Show answer

   Answer: D. The students' lockers were painted.

   For a plural noun ending in s, put the apostrophe after the s: students'.

9. Question 9 of 17

   Which sentence keeps the verb tense consistent?

   • ALast year, the town planted trees and builds a playground.
   • BLast year, the town plants trees and built a playground.
   • CLast year, the town will plant trees and built a playground.
   • DLast year, the town planted trees and built a playground.
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Last year, the town planted trees and built a playground.

   Both actions happened last year, so both verbs should be in the past tense.

10. Question 10 of 17

    Which sentence uses capital letters correctly?

    • Ain July, we Drove from Calgary to Banff national park.
    • BIn july, my family drove from calgary to Lake Louise.
    • CIn July, we drove from Calgary to Lake Louise.
    • DIn July, We drove from Red Deer to Lake louise.
    Show answer

    Answer: C. In July, we drove from Calgary to Lake Louise.

    Capitalize the first word of a sentence, months and the names of places, such as Calgary and Lake Louise.

11. Question 11 of 17

    Which sentence uses a comma correctly after an introductory phrase?

    • AAfter the meeting residents signed, the petition.
    • BAfter, the meeting residents signed the petition.
    • CAfter the meeting residents, signed the petition.
    • DAfter the meeting, residents signed the petition.
    Show answer

    Answer: D. After the meeting, residents signed the petition.

    Put a comma after an introductory phrase, before the main part of the sentence.

12. Question 12 of 17

    Which sentence correctly uses commas around extra information?

    • AMy neighbour who drives, a city truck clears our street first.
    • BMy neighbour, who drives a city truck clears our street first.
    • CMy neighbour, who drives a city truck, clears our street first.
    • DMy, neighbour who drives a city truck, clears our street first.
    Show answer

    Answer: C. My neighbour, who drives a city truck, clears our street first.

    Extra information that could be removed needs a comma before and after it.

13. Question 13 of 17

    Which word is spelled correctly?

    • Aneccesary
    • Bnecesary
    • Cneccessary
    • Dnecessary
    Show answer

    Answer: D. necessary

    'Necessary' has one c and two s's.

14. Question 14 of 17

    Choose the correct form: 'She has ___ three letters to the mayor.'

    • Awrited
    • Bwrote
    • Cwritten
    • Dwriting
    Show answer

    Answer: C. written

    With 'has', use the past participle. The past participle of 'write' is 'written'.

15. Question 15 of 17

    Choose the correct word: 'This line has ___ people than yesterday.'

    • Aleast
    • Bfewer
    • Clesser
    • Dless
    Show answer

    Answer: B. fewer

    Use 'fewer' for things you can count (people) and 'less' for amounts you cannot count (water, time).

16. Question 16 of 17

    Choose the correct word: 'The office is open every day ___ Sunday.'

    • Aexcept
    • Bexpect
    • Caccept
    • Dexcepted
    Show answer

    Answer: A. except

    'Except' means 'not including'. 'Accept' means 'to receive or agree to'.

17. Question 17 of 17

    Which sentence uses pronouns correctly?

    • AThe manager gave the keys to me and Maria and I.
    • BThe manager gave the keys to Maria and myself and I.
    • CThe manager gave the keys to Maria and me.
    • DThe manager gave the keys to Maria and I.
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The manager gave the keys to Maria and me.

    After a preposition such as 'to', use the object pronoun 'me'. Test it: 'gave the keys to me'.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

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