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English usage

Written by Sara Ahmed (English)

24 PIEAS English questions with answers and explanations.

Printable worksheet with answer key

All questions with answers
  1. Choose the word closest in meaning to FRUGAL.

    • 1 Wasteful
    • 2 Generous
    • 3 Thrifty
    • 4 Careless
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    Correct answer: Thrifty

    A frugal person spends carefully.

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  2. Choose the word opposite in meaning to OPTIMISTIC.

    • 1 Pessimistic
    • 2 Confident
    • 3 Cheerful
    • 4 Hopeful
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    Correct answer: Pessimistic

    An optimistic person expects good things, and a pessimistic person expects bad ones.

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  3. I look forward ___ you soon.

    • 1 to see
    • 2 at seeing
    • 3 to seeing
    • 4 for seeing
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    Correct answer: to seeing

    The phrase look forward to is followed by an -ing form.

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  4. The news ___ good.

    • 1 is
    • 2 were
    • 3 have been
    • 4 are
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    Correct answer: is

    News is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb.

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  5. Choose the correctly spelled word.

    • 1 Occurrence
    • 2 Occurence
    • 3 Occurrance
    • 4 Ocurrence
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    Correct answer: Occurrence

    Occurrence has a double c and a double r.

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  6. She was accused ___ stealing.

    • 1 for
    • 2 with
    • 3 by
    • 4 of
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    Correct answer: of

    The verb accuse is followed by of.

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  7. OBSOLETE means:

    • 1 Useful
    • 2 No longer in use
    • 3 Very strong
    • 4 Very clear
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    Correct answer: No longer in use

    An obsolete thing has been replaced.

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  8. Choose the passive form of: They are building a bridge.

    • 1 A bridge was built by them.
    • 2 A bridge has been built by them.
    • 3 A bridge is built by them.
    • 4 A bridge is being built by them.
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    Correct answer: A bridge is being built by them.

    The present continuous becomes is being built.

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  9. By next year he ___ his degree.

    • 1 has completed
    • 2 will have completed
    • 3 will complete
    • 4 completes
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    Correct answer: will have completed

    The future perfect shows an action finished before a future time.

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  10. The synonym of CONCISE is:

    • 1 Careful
    • 2 Brief
    • 3 Vague
    • 4 Long
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    Correct answer: Brief

    A concise answer uses few words.

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  11. Choose the word closest in meaning to UBIQUITOUS.

    • 1 Very old
    • 2 Present everywhere
    • 3 Easy to break
    • 4 Very rare
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    Correct answer: Present everywhere

    Ubiquitous describes something found in every place.

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  12. Choose the word opposite in meaning to PERMANENT.

    • 1 Lasting
    • 2 Final
    • 3 Strong
    • 4 Temporary
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    Correct answer: Temporary

    Permanent means lasting, and temporary means for a short time.

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  13. He is senior ___ me by two years.

    • 1 over
    • 2 from
    • 3 to
    • 4 than
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    Correct answer: to

    Senior takes the preposition to.

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  14. The phrase TO TURN A BLIND EYE means:

    • 1 To lose sight
    • 2 To look carefully
    • 3 To ignore something on purpose
    • 4 To close one eye
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    Correct answer: To ignore something on purpose

    It means to pretend not to see.

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  15. Choose the word closest in meaning to METICULOUS.

    • 1 Quick
    • 2 Careful about details
    • 3 Careless
    • 4 Loud
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    Correct answer: Careful about details

    A meticulous person pays attention to every detail.

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  16. Choose the word opposite in meaning to EXPAND.

    • 1 Shrink
    • 2 Open
    • 3 Grow
    • 4 Spread
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    Correct answer: Shrink

    To expand is to grow larger, and to shrink is to grow smaller.

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  17. He has been absent ___ Monday.

    • 1 at
    • 2 from
    • 3 since
    • 4 for
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    Correct answer: since

    Since is used with a point in time.

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  18. The children ___ playing in the garden when it began to rain.

    • 1 was
    • 2 were
    • 3 are
    • 4 have been
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    Correct answer: were

    The plural subject needs were in the past continuous.

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  19. If it rains tomorrow, we ___ at home.

    • 1 would stayed
    • 2 are stay
    • 3 stayed
    • 4 will stay
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    Correct answer: will stay

    The first conditional uses will with the base verb.

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  20. She is proud ___ her results.

    • 1 at
    • 2 of
    • 3 for
    • 4 with
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    Correct answer: of

    The phrase is proud of.

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  21. Pick the correct spelling.

    • 1 Maintenance
    • 2 Maintanance
    • 3 Maintenence
    • 4 Maintainance
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    Correct answer: Maintenance

    Maintenance has the letters t-e-n-a-n-c-e.

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  22. Choose the passive form of: The teacher praised the students.

    • 1 The teacher was praised by the students.
    • 2 The students were praised by the teacher.
    • 3 The students praised the teacher.
    • 4 The students are praised by the teacher.
    Show answer

    Correct answer: The students were praised by the teacher.

    The simple past passive uses were praised.

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  23. The phrase A BLESSING IN DISGUISE means:

    • 1 A false friend
    • 2 Something that seems bad but turns out well
    • 3 A religious act
    • 4 A secret gift
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Something that seems bad but turns out well

    It describes bad luck that leads to a good result.

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  24. Choose the word closest in meaning to DILIGENT.

    • 1 Hard-working
    • 2 Angry
    • 3 Tall
    • 4 Lazy
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    Correct answer: Hard-working

    A diligent person works with care and effort.

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