Fill in the blanks choosing the most appropriate options from the ones that follow.

We ……………..(a)………… not go for a walk yesterday. The wind ……………….(b)……….. so cold and rain ……………(c)………. imminent so everyone preferred …………………(d)…………… indoors. I was ………………(e)……………… happy as I never liked long walks especially in winter.

(a) (i) did; (ii) can; (iii) would; (iv) do

(b) (i) is; (ii) was; (iii) has been; (iv) had been

(c) (i) looks; (ii) looked; (iii) had looked; (iv) was looking

(d) (i) staying; (ii) to staying; (iii) to stay; (iv) stay

(e) (i) such; (ii) very; (iii) too; (iv) many

Answers

We did (a) not go for a walk yesterday. The wind was (b) so cold and rain looked (c) imminent so everyone preferred to stay (d) indoors. I was very (e) happy as I never liked long walks especially in winter.

Worksheet 2

Fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate options from the ones given below.

Poetry is one of the best ways to (a) ……………………. ideas and feelings in limited words and line lengths. (b) …………………………, poetry is not just (c) ……………………….. matter of breaking up long sentences into smaller lines. Good poetry shows an adept use of the imagination, a judicious handling of images and (d) ……………………. all, the capability to use the rich range of rhythm, tone and rhyme (e) ……………………. the language.

(a) (i) expressed; (ii) expresses; (iii) express; (iv) expression

(b) (i) as; (ii) however; (iii) either; (iv) neither

(c) (i) the; (ii) a; (iii) in; (iv) that

(d) (i) all; (ii) in; (iii) below; (iv) above

(e) (i) on; (ii) in; (iii) at; (iv) of

Answers

Poetry is one of the best ways to (a) express ideas and feelings in limited words and line lengths. (b) However, poetry is not just (c) a matter of breaking up long sentences into smaller lines. Good poetry shows an adept use of the imagination, a judicious handling of images and (d) above all, the capability to use the rich range of rhythm, tone and rhyme (e) of the language.

Worksheet 3

Fill in the blanks choosing the most appropriate options from the ones that follow.

People have a tough time learning new languages as they …………..a……………….. older, but infants have the ability to learn any language easily. For a long time, scientists ………………b……………… to explain how babies can learn the complicated grammatical rules and sounds required to communicate in words. New studies ……….c………… them better insights.

Most babies can utter sounds like “goo goo” and “ma ma,” by 6 months of age, and most kids ………..d…………… in full sentences by age 3. Studies suggest that the progression from babbles to actual words …………..e…………. with the ability to tell the difference between simple sounds. Starting at around 6 months old, a baby’s brain …………..f…………. on the most common sounds it hears. Then, children …………g…………. responding only to the sounds of the language they hear the most.

(a) (i) grow; (ii) are growing; (iii) have grown; (iv) grew

(b) (i) are struggling; (ii) have struggled; (iii) struggled; (iv) had struggled

(c) (i) give; (ii) are giving; (iii) have been giving; (iv) were giving

(d) (i) speak; (ii) are speaking; (iii) have spoken; (iv) spoke

(e) (i) begin; (ii) begins; (iii) began; (iv) begun

(f) (i) is focusing; (ii) have been focusing; (iii) focuses; (iv) have focused

(g) (i) starts; (ii) start; (iii) are starting; (iv) have started

Answers

People have a tough time learning new languages as they grow (a) older, but infants have the ability to learn any language easily. For a long time, scientists have struggled (b) to explain how babies can learn the complicated grammatical rules and sounds required to communicate in words. New researches are giving (c) them better insights.

Most babies can utter sounds like “goo goo” and “ma ma,” by 6 months of age, and most kids speak (d) in full sentences by age 3. Researches suggest that the progression from babbles to actual words begins (e) with the ability to tell the difference between simple sounds. Starting at around 6 months old, a baby’s brain focuses (f) on the most common sounds it hears. Then, children start (g) responding only to the sounds of the language they hear the most.

Worksheet 4

Fill in the blanks using the most appropriate option from the ones that follow.

Studies …………a………….. that children who perform well in academics are …………b………… who drink up to eight glasses of water a day. Water acts as a transport system, …………c………….. nutrients to the brain and eliminating toxins. Your brain needs to be fully hydrated …………..d…………. it can function at optimum levels. Water is also essential ………….e…………… concentration and mental alertness.

……………f……………. your water intake is not the only way to enhance your concentration. …………..g……………. you eat and how much you eat are equally important ………h……… Eat little and eat often. Heavy meals are hard to digest. As a result of this, your brain will receive only a ……….i…………. supply of oxygen. That is why you feel sleepy …………j…………… a heavy meal. Exercise is another good option to maintain alertness as …………..k…………. oxygenates the brain.

Answers

(a) (i) showed; (ii) are showing; (iii) have shown; (iv) had shown

(b) (i) they; (ii) them; (iii) these; (iv) those

(c) (i) deliver; (ii) delivers; (iii) delivering; (iv) delivered

(d) (i) so; (ii) such that; (iii) so that; (iv) as

(e) (i) to; (ii) of; (iii) in; (iv) for

(f) (i) Increase; (ii) Increased; (iii) Increasing; (iv) Increases

(g) (i) What; (ii) That; (iii) Which; (iv) Whom

(h) (i) little; (ii) less; (iii) least; (iv) lesser

(i) (i) reducing; (ii) reduce; (iii) reduced; (iv) reduces

(j) (i) with; (ii) after; (iii) for; (iv) from

(k) (i) that; (ii) which; (iii) it; (iv) this

Answers

Studies have shown (a) that children who perform well in academics are those (b) who drink up to eight glasses of water a day. Water acts as a transport system, delivering (c) nutrients to the brain and eliminating toxins. Your brain needs to be fully hydrated so that (d) it functions at optimum levels. Water is also essential for (e) concentration and mental alertness.

Increasing (f) your water intake is not the only way to enhance your concentration. What (g) you eat and how much you eat are equally important too. Eat little (h) and eat often. Heavy meals are hard to digest. As a result of this, your brain will receive only a reduced (i) supply of oxygen. This is why you feel sleepy after (j) a heavy meal. Exercise is another good option to maintain alertness as it (k) oxygenates the brain.

Worksheet 5

Fill in the blanks.

1. You will not get access to this website ………………………. you sign up.

a) unless

b) if

c) whether

d) in case

2. We have lived in this town ………………………….. 2005.

a) for

b) since

c) from

d) when

3. He was accused ……………………………. stealing.

a) with

b) of

c) about

d) on

4. I ………………………….. the exam yesterday.

a) wrote

b) have written

c) had written

d) write

5. He ………………………… from high school in 2004.

a) has graduated

b) had graduated

c) graduated

d) was graduating

6. The teacher along with the students …………………………… on a picnic.

a) is

b) are

c) has

d) had

7. I have been living in this house ……………………………. I was born.

a) since

b) as

c) from

d) when

8. We …………………………….. English ………………………….. the last 7 years.

a) are learning, for

b) have been learning, since

c) have been learning, for

d) learn. for

9. When …………………………….. your work yesterday?

a) did you finish

b) you finished

c) had you finished

d) do you finish

10. He ……………………………… ill for more than a week.

a) is

b) has been

c) has

d) is being

11. One of the students …………………………. not done their homework.

a) has

b) have

c) is

d) was

12. I ………………………….. for you since 9 o’clock.

a) am waiting

b) was waiting

c) have been waiting

d) had been waiting

Answers

1. unless, 2. since, 3. of, 4. wrote, 5. graduated, 6. is (When we connect two nouns with along with, the verb agrees with the former noun.), 7. since, 8. for, 9. did you finish, 10. has been, 11. has, 12. have been waiting

Worksheet 6

There …………1………. (is / are / have / had) active trading programs in several pollutants. …………2……….. (Of / For / With) greenhouse gases the largest market is the European Union Emission Trading Scheme. In the United States there is a national market …………3………… (reducing / to reduce / to reducing) acid rain and several regional markets in nitrous oxide. Markets for other pollutants tend to be …………4……….. (small / smaller / more small / smallest) and more localized.

Countries like India and China are not …………5……….. (requiring / required / requires) to reduce their emissions since they are within the prescribed limits. Hence many industries in these countries …………6……….. (is raking / are raking / are raked) in profits by selling their carbon credits in the international emissions market.

Critics ……………7…………. (are saying / say / says) pollution trading is ridiculous. They advocate …………8………… (of / for / with) policies that reduce emission. Carbon trading, they say, …………9………. (provide / provides / are providing) elaborate get-out clauses for the biggest polluters. Also licences and credits will have no value without effective enforcement as industries may find it far …………10……….. (less / lesser / little) expensive to corrupt inspectors …………11……….. (than / rather than / then) to purchase emission licences.

Answers

1. are, 2. for, 3. to reduce, 4. smaller, 5. required, 6. are raking, 7. say, 8. for, 9. provides, 10. less, 11. than

Worksheet 7

Fill in the blanks with a conjunction or preposition.

1. ………………………….. his best efforts, he could not win the first prize.

a) In spite of

b) In case

c) Although

2. ………………………….. of fire, dial 101.

a) In case

b) In case of

c) If

3. Take an umbrella ………………………….. it rains.

a) in case

b) in case of

c) if

4. ………………………… your stupidity, we are in trouble now.

a) Because of

b) Because

c) In spite of

5. ……………………………. he was ill, he went to work.

a) If

b) Whether

c) Although

6. …………………………….. he was angry, I didn’t say anything.

a) As

b) If

c) Since

7. ………………………….. it was a Sunday, I didn’t get up until 10 am.

a) As

b) If

c) Though

8. ………………………….. we are friends, there are many secrets between us.

a) As

b) Though

c) Since

9. ………………………………. his illness, he cannot work.

a) Because

b) Because of

c) In spite of

10. …………………………… you like it or not, I am going to the party.

a) Whether

b) If

c) Unless

Answers

1. in spite of, 2. in case, 3. in case, 4. because of, 5. although, 6. as, 7. as, 8. though, 9. because of, 10. whether