LANGUAGE USAGE

I. Vocabulary in Context
Directions: You are given five options for each number. Choose the letter that corresponds
to the meaning similar to the underlined word in a phrase or a sentence’

1. To eradicate ambiguity
a. Create b. exterminate c. decode d. establish e. spread
2. Causes a stifling odor
a. Strong b. lingering c. suffocating d. irritating e. fresh
3. A judicious act
a. Excellent b. impossible c.passable d. emphatic e. sound
4. A heavenly abode
a. Destination b. panorama c. celestial d. dwelling e. ceremony
5. spectral caricatures
a. sumptuous b. calligraphic c. ghostly d. imprint e. universal
6. horrendous catastrophe
a. act b. leakage c. random d. engagement e. devastation
7. to emancipate the constrained
a. free b. shackle c. dispense d .overture e. calculate
8. the extreme coagulation of blood
a. pressure b. replenishing c. alleviation d. thickening e. permeating
9. a traditional protocol
a. decorum b. law c. proclamation d. ratification e.ambiguity
10. embellishing a political brouhaha
a. trend b. satisfaction c. rampage d. confusion e. conspiracy
II. Error identification
Directions: Each of the sentences consists of four words or phrases that are underlined and
are labelled A to D. Choose the underlined word or phrase which is NOT acceptable in
formal written English. Choose the phrase labelled E if the sentence has no error.
11. After the program, all of us went offof the gymnasium. No error.
A B C D
12. Nancy got late in her class because she laid for more than two hours during the
A B C D
break.No error.
13. A teacher identifies three vital learning techniques a student should practice: to identify
A B
one’s academic objectives, to analyze critically given issues or lessons and
C
reading extensively available resources for understanding. No error.
D
14. I will have seenmy doctor earlier as soon as the schedule permitted. No error.
 A B C D

15. Whetherto takethe exam or foregoing it was discussedto me. No error.

A B C D
16. What we need are the commitment to establish integrity in this company. No error.
A B C D
17. All of uscan’t never forget the delightful moments with our loved ones. No error.
A B C D
18. If the contender representing the majority were to nominate, she would defy the
A B C
motion for consideration. No error.
D
19. It was almost a decadethat not anyone of my studenthad taken the best shot. No error.
A B C D
20. The Maria Cristina falls in Mindanao has drawn a lot of tourists of its grandeur as it is
A B C

breathtaking beautiful. No error.

III. Correct Usage

Directions:Identify the letter that corresponds to the correct word to make the sentence
correct.
21. Most thespians _________ pop dancers take time to be with their “innerselves”.
a. alike b. like c. somewhat like d. unlike e.liked
22. The teacher-aspirants for this year _______ to be committed individuals.
a. Turn taking b. turned out c. turned by d. turned in e. turned aside
23. Life _____ we know, is a total package of reality.
a. I and b. you can c. as d. its e. all
24. Compared to _____ of the plants, the immune system of a human being is fragile.
a. That b. those c.like d. their e. these
25. One has to ______, or else one dies.
a. Breaths b. breath c. breathe d. breathed e. breadth
26. _______ the rain, educators decided to report to their classes.
a. Inspite b. Inspite of c. Despite d. Despite of e. In spite
27. The apprenticesnoted of being ______ to their new job managed to come up with a
laudable project presentation.
a. ingenius b. ingenuous c. indignant d. inefficient e. inept
28. He was known to have an undesirable reputation of remarkable ________.
a. brilliance b. tenacity c. caliber d. canopy e. sobriety
29. The mob clamors ________ an increase in salary.
a. for b. of c. in d. due to e. in relation to
 30. The soldiers blend with the greeneries to become _________as possible.
a. conspicuous b. inconspicuous c. controllable d. in conspire e. commutative
31. Which of these underlined words does not rhyme?
A. The lost necklace was paid with such painful grief.
B. I rather have my own pace.
C. A hen lays egg.
D. The golden rays of the sun engulf me.
E. He pays with all of his generosity.

32. Not all ED’s in verbs sound alike. Which final ED sound is different?
A. Betty signED a new contract with the company.
B. The new curriculum was implementED.
C. The dean wantED the session to resume.
D. The teachers constructED a new questionnaire.
E. It has corrected the error found.
33. Family of Consonant sounds where the air is held back for a moment before it is released abruptly.
A. Fricative B. Plosive C. Affricate D. Glides E. Vowels
34. Which among these words has the [z] end sound?
A. Maps B. Jokes C. Laughs D. Rose E. Pans
35. Which among these words has the starting voiced [th] sound?
A. Thank B. There C. Thin D. Thing E. Thick
36. Which among these words has the voiced [th] sound?
A. pith B. breathe C. thirst D. health E. Pith
37. Which of the words below has the [zh] sound?
A. shells B. shore C. shanty D. leisure E. Shake
38. Which among these words has the [id] end sound?
A. brushed B. nailed C. needed D. canned E. planned
39. Nobody wants to listen to him. He always bats the breeze.
A. talks nonsense or exaggerates C. talks cruellyB. talks rudelyD. talks indiscreetlyE. talks fast
40. Carry on with your work.
A. Continue B. Carry the work C. stop D. be on time E. Overtime
41. Which is the BEST way to write for the underlined portion of this sentence?
All teachers should emphasize genuine interest in reading, critical reading skills, and that they apply
the values gained from their reading.
A. thus they apply C. also apply
B. application of D. to apply E. while they apply
42. Which is the BEST to write for the underlined portion of this sentence?
All children who come from broken homes turn in to be problem children.
A. Turned B. turn off C. turning D. turn out E. Turning in
43. Which sentence is correct?
A. I turn on the television whenever I eat for entertainment.
B. Whenever I eat, I turn on the television for entertainment.
C. For entertainment, I turn on whenever I eat the television.
D. Whenever for entertainment I eat, I turn the television on.
 E. Whenever for entertainment, I turn on the television, I eat.
44. The two sentences: Foreigners enjoy their vacation. –and- Foreigners can understand the native
language of the country.-can be combined correctly. Choose the correct one:
A. Foreigners who can understand the native language of the country enjoy their vacation.
B. Foreigners enjoy their vacation can understand the language of the country.
C. Foreigners who can enjoy their vacation understand the language of the country.
D. Enjoying their vacation, foreigners can understand the language of the country.
E. Enjoying their vacation are the foreigners.

45. Which is a grammatically correct sentence:

A. His gift for his father was a book of drawings on his birthday.
B. His gift for father on his birthday was a book of drawings.
C. A book of drawings was his gift for his father on his birthday.
D. A gift on his birthday for his father a book of drawings.
E. A book of drawings is his gift.
46. Provide the correct pronoun for the underlined antecedent in the sentence.
Dan and Bell made _______ presence felt by the sports enthusiasts.
A. His B. him C. their D. theirs E. Her
47. Each of his pieces superbly left ___________ mark in the minds of his readers.
A. its B. his C. their D. him E. her
48. What is meant by SIXES AND SEVENS in this sentence?
We moved into the house last week, but I’m afraid everything is still at sixes and sevens.
A. The things have not been shipped.
B. In the state of confusion
C. In an orderly manner
D. The boxes are still intact.
E. The boxes contain spoiled goods.
49. “The life of clouds is parting and a meeting. A tear and a smile.” The author says
A. Life is a combination of tears and laughter.
B. Life is not all sunshine
C. Life is an ocean of love.
D. Life is unpredictable.
E. Clouds are volatile like our lives.
50. Which of the following words DOES NOT contain the voiceless [th]?
A. pith B. smooth C. thistle D. tithe E. Thy
51. Which of the following lines is a simile?
A. “Struggling in order to like it.”
B. “Running with the current as the waves slowly fade.”
C. ”Eyes that stare like a glowing coal.”
D. ”As she told her; he misses her.”
52. The line’ “Hunger knocks at the door” is-
A. Simile B. Personification C. SynecdocheD. Litotes E. Irony
53. An example of an onomatopoeia is-
A. The clock strikes a heavenly choir.
B. Splish-splash-splish-splash echoes through the tunnel.
 C. My life for you, I offer my love!
D. The winged seraphs in heaven!
E. My love for you is a red, red rose.
54. The flower smells _________.
A. sweetly B. sweeter C. sweet D. more sweet E. sweets
55. She looks ______ on that gown.
A. good B. wellC. worst D. more better E. more good
56. That was the ______ gross income incurred by this company in the last three years.
A. highest B. tallest C. higher D. biggest E. best
57. Do we have to prepare _____ for the dinner?
A. desserts B. deserts C. dezzertsD.descerts E. dessirtz
58. The referee may not ______ these regulations no matter how you protest.
A. explain you from B. expect you from C. accept you from D. exempt you from
E. let you stop
59. The speaker talks ________ eloquently today than before.
A. much B. many C. moreD. better E. much better
60. Among all participants, Jay thinks _________.
A. logically B. more logically C. less logically
D. most logically E. quite logically
61. Which sentence has an erroneous positioning of an adverb?
A. I am never conscious of my costume.
B. The ferry man usually stops in the middle of a crossroad.
C. I would usually take the back seat in a bus.
D. The driver never would detect a military in plain clothes.
E. I usually wouldtake in a busthe back seat.
62. Which has a correct series of adverbs in the sentence?
A. The she-wolf attacked unknowingly after to finish the remaining cubs.
B. The she-wolf attacked to finish the remaining cubs unknowingly after.
C. The she-wolf attacked after unknowingly to finish the remaining cubs.
D. The she-wolf attacked the cubs after to finish unknowingly the cubs.
E. The she-wolf attacked after to finish the remaining cubs
63.Iliganons helped one another to the fullest possible extent during the Sendong disaster.
Theunderlined phrase concisely means:
A. to the fullest B. possibly C. extended D. forcefully E. No answer
64. The phrase “as of this date” means:
A. latest B. presently C. outdated D. limited E. not possible
65. The program will start in a few minutes from now.
To improve this sentence:
A. The program will be finished in just few minutes.
B. The program ends in few minutes only.
C. The program will start a little later.
D. The program will start a little bit delayed.
 E. The program ends anytime.
66. Pre-school children always watch the body language of their teachers. This means –
A. Communication is best by movement and gesture.
B. Communication is best by group discussions.
C. Communication is best by the tone of the voice.
D. Communication is best by words.
E. Communication should start to be instilled in pre-school stage.
67. If I could travel in Europe, I __________ more time in Greece.
A. will spent B. would have spent C. has spent
D. would spend E. may spend
68. Of the two courses, I like this one ____.
A. less B. least C. best D. more less E. most least
69. The remark was unsolicited and it added as insult to an injury.
A. a realization C. aggravates a bad situation
B. a punishment D. is an enemy’s reply E. fatal
IV. Sentence completion
Directions: Identify the letter that corresponds to correct word to make each sentence
correct.
70. All of us are encouraged to throw our trash ____ the trash bins.
a. In b. into c. from d.out e. within
71. Any disease can be best cured when it is still in its ______ stage.
a. Final b. mid c. ongoing d. infancy e. initial
72. _______ most fruits, berries must ripen on the vine.
a. Unlike b. Like c. Dislike d. All e. Almosts
73. I hope, I ____ pass MSU-SASE with flying colors.
a. will b. would c. should d. could e. might
74. I wish, I _____ give my best ability to fare very satisfactorily.
a. Will b. would c. carry d. can e. may
75. Reading Comprehension
Multiliteracies means being cognitively and socially literate with paper, live and electronic
texts. It also means being strategic, that is, being able to recognize what is required in a
given context, examine what is already known, and then, if necessary, modify that
knowledge to develop a strategy that suits the context and situation. A multiliterate person
must therefore be a problem solver and a strategic thinker, that is, an active and informed
citizen (Anstey &Bull, 2006 in Barrios, 2013).

76. To become socially and cognitively literate is being

a. electronicallyskilledb.multiliterate c. strategicd. thinker e. educated
77. To identify what is called for by a situation is to be
a. Strategic b. multiliterate c. advance thinker d. problem solver e. multitask
78. he selection further implies that in in any contest or situation , one must be
a. intelligent b. technology savvy c. critical thinker d. flexible e. naïve
 79. What are those that are needed to become multiliterate?
a. Problem solver and advance thinker
b. Strategic thinker and active
c. Informed and strategic thinker
d. Strategic and informed
e. Active and informed
80. It is implied in this selection that students nowadays must be
a. literate in ICT
b. literate in written and in electronic forms
c. literate in various modes including face-to-face encounters
d. literate on how to deal with people
e. literate in special cases of ICT protocol

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