xx – Department of Examinations of ELSL

Eloquence 2022 - Grammar Competition - Intermediate

Time: 45 minutes.

Read the instructions carefully

- Answer all questions.
- Do not close the tab/disconnect without submitting your responses.
- Do not open other tabs in your browser.
- Do not search for answers in the internet.
- You must be connected to ZOOM with a switched on camera.

Additional information

Erase unnecessary spaces before and after sentences.
Punctuate every sentence properly.
Doublecheck capitalizations.

Before submitting, double-check that you have answered all of the questions.

INDEX

The following sentences may contain errors. If you find one, correct it, and type the corrected sentence in the given space.

Two days later I was hunting birds on the moors.

My black and white dog, Sancho, was with me and I carry my gun.

I decided to climb up the hill above wildfell hall.

The old house, which was built of grey stone, was gloomy.

It’s gardens were surrounded by a stone wall.

I walked down the hill to see the house more clear.

No one had lived there for many years.

many of its windows was broken but a few had recently been repair.

Suddenly, I heard a noise on other side of the wall.

Fill in each blank using the appropriate tense for the verb in parenthesis.

Since the beginning of the summer, Elizabeth (1) (read) three novels. Right now, she (2) (read) 1984, a novel written by George Orwell. She (3) (read) it for the past two weeks. She (4) (intend) to finish it by next week. In her lifetime, she (5) (read) many science fiction novels but this is one of the most fascinating novels she (6) (ever + read)

Tomorrow, after he (7) (go) to the movies, Tyler (8) (meet) Barbara for a drink downtown. This means that by the time he (9) (meet) Barbara, he (10) (watch) the movie.

Yesterday morning, Cecilia woke up and ate breakfast. She (11) (already + eat) breakfast when she (12) (leave) her apartment. She (13) (usually + try) to eat a healthy breakfast before she (14) (head out) to class. I usually (15) (not + eat) breakfast before I (16) (go) to work. But I often (17) (get) hungry before mid- morning. Tomorrow, I (18) (try) something different, and before I (19) (go) to work, I (20) (eat) breakfast.

Retype the following sentences changing their syntax.

The sentence must begin with the suggested word.
The full sentence must be typed in the blank.

I had the house looked at by a qualified surveyor.

The house .....

A qualified surveyor.....

My palm was read by a fortune-teller.

I.....

A fortune-teller.....

We had central heating put in by Jenkins and Fowler.

The central heating.....

Jenkins and Fowler.....

The doctor checked my blood pressure.

My blood pressure.....

I.....

The car was serviced by my neighbor, who’s a mechanic.

My neighbour,.....

I.....

Choose the best answer to the following questions.

She should have told her mother about the rumor that has been spreading around.

Did she tell her mother the rumor?

Yes

Maybe

None

We must have missed the turning when we were trying to find a place to eat.

Did we miss the turning?

Yes

Probably

None

My sister can’t have gone out with her friends today when my mom specifically told us to stay at home and help her prepare dinner for the guests.

Did her sister go out?

Yes

Probably not

None

He needn’t have rented a car.

Did he rent a car?

Yes

Maybe

None

He may have paid more attention to the bird pecking on the class window than the teacher explaining the history of architecture.

Has he paid more attention to the bird?

Yes

Maybe

None

The receptionist mentioned that the meeting may not have finished yet while showing me the way to the waiting room.

Has the meeting finished?

Yes

Maybe

None

Really! She might have told us!

Did she tell us?

Yes

Maybe

None

That was stupid - he might have caused an accident.

Did he cause an accident?

Yes

Maybe

None

The train ought to have left the station by now. It’s 9.30 already!

Has the train left?

Yes

Probably

None

They shouldn’t have opened a new branch.

Did they open one?

Yes

Maybe

None

Retype the following sentences as conditionals. The first word of each answer is given to you.

e.g.

Eric was with us so we didn’t get lost.
If Eric hadn’t been with us, we would have got lost.

We got soaking wet on Sunday, and we have got colds.

If.....

I am afraid I do not know, so I cannot tell you.

If...

Because the train was ten minutes late, I managed to catch it.

I.....

The weather could be bad on Saturday, in which case we will have to cancel the barbecue.

We.....

I am living in Italy because I got married to an Italian.

I.....

Sorry I did not phone you, but I lost the bit of paper with your number on it.

I.....

We do not get on because she is so aggressive.

If.....

There is the possibility of a train strike on Monday, so I might not be able to come.

If.....

We have got a broken window cause you and your friends were playing football in the yard!

We.....

They are so reserved that I speak to them very frequently.

I.....

Select the most suitable word for the blank from the given words.

She froze, then looked around to ……………. that no one was there to overhear them.

Assure

Ensure

Insure

None

The arrival of the distinguished guests is ……………., so get ready!

Imminent

Eminent

None

The teachers gave all the students some valuable ………… on how to choose a suitable career path.

Advise

Advice

None

My mother ………….. down to take a nap every day at 3:30 p.m.

Lays

Lies

None

I always manage to ……………….. my keys.

Lose

Loose

None

The large mirror found in his tiny apartment creates the…………… of space.

Allusion

Illusion

Dilution

None

The teacher made a ……………. to the principal regarding the ill-mannered behavior of the student.

Complain

Complaint

None

The scarf is a perfect …………………… to her outfit.

Compliment

Complement

None

Kate visited the beach in Kitty Hawk where the Wright brothers made their …………….. first airplane flight.

Historical

Historic

None

The train was ………………… for more than 30 minutes due to bad weather conditions.

Stationery

Stationary

None

Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate terms, using the words within the brackets as hints to form meaningful sentences.

Of all the people in the factory, Joan works (efficient)

She plays the piano than anyone else in her class. (Beautiful)

The computer is nearly twice as the old one (expensive)

Would you play , please? I’m trying to sleep. (quiet)

They all cook well, but my mom cooks (good)

Turn the following sentences into impersonal passive.

They believed that fresh air was bad for sick people.

People say that the Department of Examinations will release the results soon.

They think that the man holding hostages is heavily armed.

We expected the Sri Lankan team to break the record.

They report that she died in a plane crash.

Choose the correct word to fill the blank in each sentence.

"Don’t do that!" She …………………………….. to them.

said

told

asked

None

"There’s no match this Saturday." – "Who ……………………. So?"

says

tells

asks

None

She ……………………….. me she didn’t know what to do.

said

told

asked

None

She always ………………………… me her troubles.

says

tells

None

He didn’t ………………. me how long the job would take.

say

tell

said

told

None

The nurse …………………. him whether he needed anything else.

said

told

asked

None

"You were right. Those curtains look terrible!" – "I ……………… you so!"

said

told

asked

None

Did he …………….. you where you came from?

say

tell

ask

None

The children always …………………………… me if they can go out to play.

say

tell

ask

None

When I was introduced to the Princess, she ………….. a few words to me.

said

told

asked

None

Select the most suitable phrasal verb for the blank from the below list, and type the relevant answer in the space provided. There is one extra option.

burned out
take in
culminated in
embarked upon
fend off
dip into
rule out
laid into
staked out
amount to
fizzled out

Did you much of what the professor was saying at the end of the lecture? I couldn’t understand much of it myself.

The police the wanted man’s house. They hid in an apartment across the street and waited for him to come home.

Marie will probably get the job, but don’t Steve. He’s got a good chance too.

Jane got angry when she saw the mistakes in the design and her technical team.

The band was very popular for a while, but interest in them when their good-looking singer left to form another band.

If we run out of milk just the petty cash and run down to the shop and get some.

After several weeks, the talks among the leaders of the countries involved in the war an agreement to stop the fighting.

After working too long without a vacation, he Now he’s too tired and depressed to do anything.

A music CD needs to sell 100, 000 copies or more to be a hit. Selling 10,000 copies doesn’t success in the music business.

After quitting her job as a nurse, Sara on a new career as a travelling fashion photographer.

Here are ten sentences each with a blank space. Below each one are four words or phrases. Choose which one of these most suitably fills the blank space.

You should ............ a lawyer before you sign that document.

counsel

check

consult

communicate

None

We couldn't have our picnic because it began to …………………. with rain.

pour

run

drench

flow

None

My brother is a parachute ……………………

trainer

teacher

educator

instructor

None

We can no longer afford the cost of ........ two cars, we're selling one.

operating

managing

running

controlling

None

You can't compare those two hotels. They're not in the same …………….

form

class

band

set

None

I enjoy working as his secretary, but he is such a perfectionist that it's…………………..

exhausting

exhaustive

fatigued

sleepy

None

It is becoming more and more …………….. that the Government has lost the confidence of the nation.

expected

understood

apparent

anticipated

None

In the summer we often sleep in the....... air on our terrace.

clear

clean

open

full

None

The taxi-drivers are complaining that their fares are too …………………

small

little

low

few

None

A walnut tree ………………. us from the sun on hot days.

fences

warns

shelters

prevents

None

Eloquence 2022 – Grammar Competition – Primary

Time: 30 minutes.

Read the instructions carefully

- Answer all questions.
- Do not close the tab/disconnect without submitting your responses.
- Do not open other tabs in your browser.
- Do not search for answers in the internet.
- You must be connected to ZOOM with a switched on camera.

Additional information

Erase unnecessary spaces before and after sentences.
Punctuate every sentence properly.
Doublecheck capitalizations.

Before submitting, double-check that you have answered all of the questions.

INDEX

The following sentences may contain errors. Correct the errors you find in them and type the corrected sentences in the provided space.

If the sentence has no errors, type the sentence as it is in the provided space.

I had a bad day yesterday.

First I had woke up late because the alarm no go off, so I putted on my clothes and run out the door.

I hurryed to the bus stop, but just as I came around the corner the bus pulling away.

I had to wait twenty minutes for the next one.

I tried to call my boss, but my cell phone was not working.

Then it started to rain.

I hid under a tree until the bus comes.

When I finally got at work, the boss yelled at me.

He sayed, "If you are late again, you will be fired!".

So, at lunch, I buyed a new alarm clock.

Select the correct answer out of the two given answers.

ADAM: Hello, Mike. What_____ in this part of London?

are you doing

do you do

None

MIKE: Well, actually, _____at flats round here.

I'm looking

I look

None

ADAM: Flats? _____to move?

Are you wanting

Do you want

None

MIKE: Yes, in fact, believe it or not, Mandy and I _____ married.

are getting

get

None

ADAM: That's great! Congratulations. When _____

were you deciding?

did you decide?

None

MIKE: Only last week. It was while we _____with her family in Scotland.

were staying

stayed

None

MIKE: Now _____to find a suitable flat.

we try

we're trying

None

ADAM: It'll be great to have you as neighbours. I hope you manage to buy one soon.

MIKE: Oh we _____for one to buy.

aren't looking

don't look

None

MIKE: We _____enough money yet.

aren't having

don't have

None

MIKE: _____to find somewhere to rent.

We're wanting

We want

None

ADAM: Yes, of course. That's what we _____at first.

did

were doing

None

ADAM: Actually, in the end, my brother _____us some money.

was lending

lent

None

ADAM: That's how we _____to buy ours.

were managing

managed

None

MIKE: Really? I think I _____with my family before we choose a flat.

will talk

will be talking

None

ADAM: That's not a bad idea. My family _____me quite a lot of helpful advice when I needed it the most. Now, what about a coffee? There's a good place just round the corner.

gave

were giving

None

Select the correct question word.

…………………………… is your father? - He is an architect.

Who

What

Whom

None

…………………………. books did you buy? - I was only able to buy around twenty.

How much

What

How many

None

…………………………… did you lend your pen? – I lent it to my best friend.

Who

When

To whom

None

…………………………. are you planning to go on vacation? – Probably next week.

When

How

Where

None

……………………….. will the water-polo tournament be held? – We are hoping to get permission to use the school pool. If we succeed, we will have it there.

Where

When

Who

None

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the adjective given within brackets.

Couldn’t you drive a bit ? (careful)

She gets up than everybody else.

Do you think they have acted ? (Stupid)

Of all the machines, this one works the (good)

Would you play please? I’m trying to study (quiet)

Mark hit the ball very (hard)

The weather isn’t as I expected (bad)

She plays the piano than anyone else in the class.

He as his sister don’t ski.

I waited than anyone else.

Select the suitable article for the blank.

We enjoyed our holiday at a beautiful hotel. hotel was very nice.

'Can I ask question?' 'Of course. What do you want to ask?'

You look very tired. You need holiday.

'Where's Tom?' 'He's in bathroom.'

Jane is interesting person. You must meet her.

A: Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to City Centre?
B: Yes, go straight on and then take next turning left.

A: Shall we go out for meal this evening?
B: Yes, that's good idea

It's nice morning. Let's go for walk.

Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.

The dog is the kennel.

The dog is the kennel.

The dog is the kennel.

The dog is the kennel.

The dog is the kennel.

The dog is the kennel.

The dog is the kennel and the food bowl.

The dog is the kennel.

The dog is the kennel.

The dog is the kennels.

Select the suitable collective noun and type it in the blank.

hedge
pile
panel
bouquet
cluster
gang
pack
crew
flock
fleet

A of stars

A of ships

A of judges

A of rubbish

A of thieves

A of birds

A of bushes

A of flowers

A of sailors

A of wolves

Fill in the blanks.

Masculine	Feminine
Actor	1
Hero	2
3	niece
Tom-cat	4
Gander	5
6	Land lady
7	Daughter-in-law
Bachelor	8
9	Princess
10	Witch

Fill in the blanks.

Singular	Plural
Mango	1
Goose	2
Wolf	3
Deer	4
Proof	5
Mother-in-law	6
Mouse	7
Woman	8
Duty	9
Sheep	10

Complete the below dialogue using the given expressions.

How can I help you?
How much is it?
I’d like some
Can I have
How much?
Good morning!
That’ll be
Anything
Here you are
Have a nice day!

Shopkeeper: Good morning!

Customer: !

Shopkeeper: ?

Customer: Yes, cheese, please.

Shopkeeper: cheese?

Customer: Half a kilo, please.

Shopkeeper: else?

Customer: a loaf of bread, please?

Shopkeeper: Yes

Customer: How , please?

Shopkeeper: Rs. 500, please.

Customer: . Goodbye!

Shopkeeper: Goodbye! !

You are outside the scheduled timeframe of Eloquence 2024 – Grammar Competition – Senior.

Refer to the examination time-table to find more information. (Take me to examination time-tables)

Eloquence 2022 – Grammar Competition – Junior

Time: 30 minutes.

Read the instructions carefully

- Answer all questions.
- Do not close the tab/disconnect without submitting your responses.
- Do not open other tabs in your browser.
- Do not search for answers in the internet.
- You must be connected to ZOOM with a switched on camera.

Additional information

Erase unnecessary spaces before and after sentences.
Punctuate every sentence properly.
Doublecheck capitalizations.

Before submitting, double-check that you have answered all of the questions.

INDEX

Find, and correct the mistakes in the following sentences.

What reason did he come here for?

Rachel is very smart, she begun reading when she was three years old.

He has worked hardly all her life.

Be careful, or you break the plate.

He is a under-experienced mechanic.

Jim went to the store and Ella goes with him.

He was laying in the sun drinking a bottle of cold water.

Every boy must bring their own lunch.

He is always asleep when I came back home from work.

The doctor gave me a priscription for antibiotics.

Use the correct verb form from the brackets to fill in the blanks.

My sister a lot of friends now. (had/have/has)

Bobby his homework by tomorrow. (finished/will have finished/will be finished)

His grandfather the newspaper every day. (is reading/will read/reads)

The police the thief. (catched/catch/caught)

Cathy to become an engineer. (want/to want/wants)

We watching cartoons together when we were little. (likes/like/liked)

The eagle over the mountains. (flew/fly/flown)

I him for a long time. (know, have known, am knowing)

The mice by the cat. (was died/was killed/were killed)

The letter by Sarah. (wrote/is written/has written)

Type suitable questions to the following answers.

My best friend is Lucy.

It is my uncle’s house.

Yes, I have read Harry Potter.

Lucy comes to school by bus.

No, she doesn’t know how to swim.

This pool is 6 feet deep.

She wants to speak to the manager.

Her sister is a doctor.

Leonard comes to school by foot.

Yes, Jade likes pop music.

Fill in the blanks using the most suitable adjectives and adverbs from the brackets.

My sister can sing . (beautiful/beauty/beautifully)

Lord Voldemort is one of the villains. (scary/scariest/scarier)

The garage smells . (disgusting/disgust/nicely)

Derrek’s desk is than mine. (messy/messiest/messier)

Cathy feels about what happened. (bad/badly/worst)

The fox is sneaking around the chicken pen. (sly/pretty/honest)

Sarah works to pass her exams. (hardly/hard/hardest)

What is the news? (last, latest, late)

All the soldiers fought . (bravely/bravest/brave)

Sally’s horse was the at the race. (fastly/fastest/fast)

Fill in the blanks using the most suitable preposition.

The ceremony will be held the college auditorium. (at, around, in)

Walk the gravel road until you reach a lake. (on/along/in)

The cat is getting the cardboard box. (in/into/inside)

I can see a bird the leaves and the flowers. (among/around/near)

See you Monday morning! (at, in, on)

Fill in the blanks using the correct auxiliary verbs.

(might, may, should, could, being)

You study hard if you want to pass the exams.

He is a great friend at the moment.

Sally win the gold medal in the tournament.

her soul rest in peace!

you please help me lift this box?

Match the proverbs on column A, with their meanings on column B.

A	B
I. Actions speak louder than words.	a. It’s better to finish something late than to never do it at all
II. Don’t judge a book by its cover.	b. People always want what they don’t have
III. Birds of a feather flock together.	c. Nothing great lasts forever
IV. Practice makes perfect.	d. People who are similar spend time together
V. The grass is always greener on the other side.	e. The more you do something, the better you will become at it
VI. A picture is worth a thousand words.	f. People who wake up early or who get to places early have a better chance of success
VII. Better late than never	g. What you do is more important than what you say
VIII. The early bird gets the worm	h. It’s always better to tell the truth than it is to lie
IX. Honesty is the best policy	i. An image can tell a story better than words
X. All good things come to an end.	j. Don’t judge someone or something by appearance alone

I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X

Fill in the blanks using the most suitable phrasal verbs.

(ran out of, looking after, find out, get along with, give up, come along, pointed out, backed down, carry on, broke down)

The teacher asked us to with our tasks.

One should never on their dreams.

I invited Sally to with us to the park.

She is her sick brother.

The teacher kindly our mistakes.

The machine yesterday evening.

The police are trying to the truth.

Penny time to finish the exam.

Stan can anyone.

The bullies when they saw the teachers.

Select the most suitable word for the blank from the answers given.

___________ pen is this?

whose

who’s

None

Tara is good at all the subjects __________ Geography.

expect

except

None

The teacher ___________ her students to sleep earlier.

adviced

advised

None

The dog ran back to ______ owner.

its

it’s

None

We’re __________ late to catch the bus.

two

too

None

“The Tortoise and the_________” is a children’s story beloved by all.

hair

heir

hare

None

The sun ________ in the East.

rises

raises

None

My brother _________ down on the ground under the tree.

lied

laid

None

The children ________ happy when we came home.

were

we’re

where

None

Students don’t have ____________ to the staff room.

access

excess

None

Connect the two sentences using the correct conjunctions given below, and type the full sentence in the provided space.

(so, and, because, but, after)

Jack didn’t study. He passed the test.

Kate was hungry. She didn’t bring her lunch.

He was scared. He turned the light on.

I had breakfast. I woke up.

Jane is a doctor. Her husband is a surgeon.