Noun Clauses Test Exercises - Multiple Choice Questions With Answers

This exercise is an advanced level multiple choice test with multiple choice questions on noun clauses including the topics below.

Noun Clauses

Noun Clauses Beginning With A Question Word
Noun Clauses Beginning With “Whether” and “If”
Noun Clauses Beginning With “That”

Noun Clauses Test Exercises - Multiple Choice Questions With Answers - Advanced Level 13

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Question 1

_____ they didn't attend this important meeting is still a mystery to us.

A	What
B	Because
C	Why
D	When
E	Where

Question 1 Explanation:

A noun clause can be the subject of a sentence. A mystery is something we can't explain, so the missing information is the reason: Why they didn't attend ... is still a mystery to us. Not Because: because begins an adverb clause and cannot be the subject of is.

Question 2

After I went out, I suddenly realized that _____.

A	I would forget to lock the door
B	I have to take my book with me
C	I will have finished my assignment
D	they arrived at the place which had been appointed
E	I had forgotten to take the key

Question 2 Explanation:

The noun clause after realized that follows the past tense of the main verb. The forgetting happened before the realizing, so we need the past perfect: I had forgotten to take the key. The other options use the wrong tense or make no sense in this situation.

Question 3

He can't believe _____ easily he gave up smoking last week.

A	what
B	when
C	whether
D	why
E	how

Question 3 Explanation:

How + adjective/adverb begins a noun clause that shows degree: how easily he gave up. The clause is the object of believe. Not whether: we don't say believe whether, because believe needs a statement, not an open question.

Question 4

It seems _____ he won't be able to catch the last bus to the terminal.

A	that
B	why
C	what
D	when
E	as

Question 4 Explanation:

After It seems, we use a that-clause to report a statement: It seems that he won't be able to catch the last bus. As would need if or though (It seems as if...), and why/what/when make no sense here.

Question 5

_____ he chose to go this summer is not known by anyone.

A	In which
B	What
C	Whom
D	Where
E	Which

Question 5 Explanation:

The noun clause is the subject of is not known. Go is intransitive and this summer already gives the time, so the missing information is the place: Where he chose to go this summer is not known by anyone. Not What or Which: these need an object, and go doesn't take one.

Question 6

No one knows _____ he has finished all the necessary preparation. I will ask him tomorrow morning.

A	in which
B	if
C	what
D	that
E	which

Question 6 Explanation:

If (= whether) begins a noun clause for a yes/no question: No one knows if he has finished. The clue is I will ask him tomorrow, which shows the answer is unknown. Not that: that would present it as a known fact, which contradicts the second sentence.

Question 7

There is a common belief throughout human history _____.

A	where to live
B	that the stars can tell us about our future
C	the Mongols cannot be defeated
D	the horse is the main vehicle of transportation
E	the ancestor of all the nations originated in Asia

Question 7 Explanation:

A noun like belief can be followed by a that-clause that gives its content (an appositive clause): a common belief that the stars can tell us about our future. Here that cannot be left out. The other options have no that, and where to live doesn't express a belief.

Question 8

I wonder _____.

A	how can a television work
B	how can he be so rude
C	what does he think
D	why is he so anti-social
E	how a person can run 100 metres in under 10 seconds

Question 8 Explanation:

An embedded (indirect) question after I wonder uses statement word order: subject + verb, how a person can run. The other options keep question word order (how can he be, what does he think, why is he), which is wrong inside a noun clause.

Question 9

What he was talking about in public _____ something he should only talk about with his intimate friends.

A	have been
B	what
C	how
D	is
E	that

Question 9 Explanation:

The what-clause What he was talking about in public is the subject, and it needs a main verb. A noun clause takes a singular verb, so is is correct. Not have been: a clause subject is singular, and the sentence needs a simple present statement here.

Question 10

_____ the speaker said next was lost in the general uproar.

A	Why
B	That
C	How
D	What
E	Whether

Question 10 Explanation:

What means the thing(s) that. It begins a noun clause that is the subject: What the speaker said next was lost in the uproar. Said needs an object, and what provides it. Not That: a that-clause must be complete, but the speaker said next has no object.

Question 11

I couldn't have known _____ the bus comes.

A	where
B	when
C	in which
D	at what
E	how

Question 11 Explanation:

When begins a noun clause about time and is the object of known: I couldn't have known when the bus comes (= at what time). The present comes is possible because it refers to a timetable. Where or how would not make sense with comes here.

Question 12

I'd rather you didn't say anything _____ he proposed to you.

A	what
B	when
C	how
D	why
E	whether

Question 12 Explanation:

When begins a time clause: I'd rather you didn't say anything when he proposed to you, meaning at that moment. After I'd rather you, a past form (didn't say) expresses a wish about someone else's action. Whether and what would need a different structure (e.g. about whether...).

Question 13

It is very obvious _____.

A	what did he ask the lecturer
B	why is she going to marry a man who is 20 years older than herself
C	that the internet has changed social practices
D	the one of the seven deadly sins is pride
E	is it impossible for man to live without water

Question 13 Explanation:

After It is obvious, the real subject is a that-clause with statement word order: It is very obvious that the internet has changed social practices. The wrong options use question word order (what did he ask, is it impossible) or have a grammar error (the one of).

Question 14

If a person buys something in every store _____ he enters, for instance, a therapist might teach him self-discipline by making him go to a store and leave without buying anything.

A	what
B	where
C	that
D	how
E	in which

Question 14 Explanation:

Enter is transitive (we enter a store, not enter in it), so the relative clause needs an object pronoun: every store that he enters. Not where or in which: these would only work with a verb like go in or shop in (every store in which he shops).

Question 15

No one could really understand _____ he left the meeting at the very beginning of the debate.

A	what
B	why
C	where
D	whom
E	whether

Question 15 Explanation:

Why begins a noun clause about a reason and is the object of understand: No one could understand why he left. Leaving at the very beginning is surprising, so people want to know the reason. Whether doesn't fit, because it is certain that he left.

Question 16

Experts in psychology believe _____ for many people, money is an important symbol of strength and influence.

A	why
B	as
C	whose
D	what
E	that

Question 16 Explanation:

After verbs of thinking such as believe, a statement is introduced by that: Experts believe that money is an important symbol... The clause after the gap is a complete statement, so no question word is needed.

Question 17

_____ is supported by the results of many recent studies.

A	That regular exercise can improve our mood
B	Regular exercise can improve our mood
C	What do we have to do to stay healthy
D	People feel better when they exercise regularly
E	How we exercise will determine how healthy we are

Question 17 Explanation:

A full statement can be the subject of a sentence only as a noun clause, introduced by That: That regular exercise can improve our mood is supported by many studies. Not Regular exercise can improve our mood: without that, the sentence would have two main verbs (can improve and is).

Question 18

The idea _____ we should go on a picnic at the weekend is to be delayed for this week.

A	why
B	what
C	that
D	how
E	when

Question 18 Explanation:

After nouns like idea, fact and belief, a that-clause gives the content of the noun (an appositive clause): the idea that we should go on a picnic. The clause is complete, so a question word like what or why cannot be used.

Question 19

The fact _____ you have to go as soon as possible is none of my business.

A	why
B	that
C	whether
D	how
E	when

Question 19 Explanation:

The fact that + a complete statement is a fixed pattern: The fact that you have to go ... is none of my business. Fact means something true, so it is followed by that, not by whether or a question word.

Question 20

After the shoppers pass their credit cards through the machines, their orders go to a warehouse, _____ sends them the items.

A	when
B	which
C	where
D	why
E	if

Question 20 Explanation:

After a comma, a non-defining relative clause about a thing uses which. Here which is the subject of sends: a warehouse, which sends them the items. Not where: where cannot be the subject of a verb.

Question 21

Videocatalogues are computers with screens _____ show pictures of products to buy.

A	that
B	how
C	why
D	who
E	of whom

Question 21 Explanation:

A defining relative clause about things uses that (or which) as the subject: screens that show pictures of products. Not who: who is for people.

Question 22

What you all need for the case is _____ I forgot to give you this morning.

A	that
B	what
C	how
D	why
E	when

Question 22 Explanation:

What (= the thing that) begins a noun clause and is also the object of give: is what I forgot to give you. Not that: a that-clause must be complete, but I forgot to give you has no direct object.

Question 23

I asked the lady in the front seat _____ old the little boy was.

A	why
B	when
C	how
D	who
E	that

Question 23 Explanation:

In an indirect question about age we use how old, with statement word order: I asked ... how old the little boy was. The verb is backshifted to was after the past asked.

Question 24

_____ encourages him to work more efficiently.

A	He must be promoted soon
B	Had he promoted
C	His believing that he will be promoted soon
D	The boss increased his salary
E	He will be paid double salary

Question 24 Explanation:

The subject of encourages must be a noun phrase. His believing that he will be promoted soon is a gerund phrase with a that-clause inside it. The other options are complete sentences or a broken conditional, so they cannot be the subject of another verb.

Question 25

Compulsive bargain hunters often buy things _____ they don't need just because they are cheap.

A	what
B	how
C	in which
D	why
E	that

Question 25 Explanation:

A defining relative clause about things uses that (or which), here as the object of need: things that they don't need. Not what: what already means the things that, so it cannot follow the noun things.

Question 26

Soon he will learn _____ nothing bad will happen to him if he doesn't buy anything whenever he enters a store.

A	what
B	that
C	how
D	why
E	when

Question 26 Explanation:

Learn + that-clause reports a fact someone comes to understand: he will learn that nothing bad will happen. The clause after the gap is a complete statement, so no question word is needed.

Question 27

He was not supposed to have done something like that, so everyone was surprised and couldn't perceive _____ he left school.

A	why
B	how
C	when
D	whether
E	if

Question 27 Explanation:

People were surprised by his action, so they couldn't understand the reason for it: couldn't perceive why he left school. Why begins a noun clause about a reason. Whether/if don't fit, because it is certain that he left.

Question 28

I don't know _____.

A	what will he do in summer
B	what does he want to leave the job
C	when did the concert start
D	whether he is telling the truth or not
E	which book does the professor recommend for the class to read

Question 28 Explanation:

An indirect question after I don't know uses statement word order: whether he is telling the truth or not. The other options keep question word order (will he do, did the concert start, does the professor recommend), which is wrong in a noun clause.

Question 29

It is very obvious _____.

A	should he be telling the truth
B	is he supposed to have been studying the project
C	which he is not guilty at all
D	to have been informed about the meeting dates
E	that Michael Jordan is one of the most famous basketball players in history

Question 29 Explanation:

After It is obvious, the real subject is a that-clause with statement word order: It is very obvious that Michael Jordan is one of the most famous players. The wrong options use question word order, an extra which, or an infinitive that has no logical subject.

Question 30

They say he doesn't even know _____ to use the computer in his office.

A	why
B	how
C	where
D	when
E	what

Question 30 Explanation:

How + to-infinitive means the way to do something: he doesn't know how to use the computer. The other question words don't fit use the computer. What would need an object (what to do).

Question 31

_____ is accepted by many scientists.

A	You can only think and express yourself if you know a lot of words
B	That a person can learn better when he is relaxed
C	A person can think and express himself through the words he knows
D	Why we have to improve our word knowledge
E	Sometimes we feel something that we can't express

Question 31 Explanation:

A statement can be the subject of is accepted only as a that-clause: That a person can learn better when he is relaxed is accepted by many scientists. The other options are complete sentences without that (so there would be two main verbs), or a why-clause, which gives a reason rather than a claim that can be accepted.

Question 32

Most of them had secretaries _____ typed, filed papers, and answered phones.

A	why
B	whom
C	which
D	who
E	where

Question 32 Explanation:

Secretaries are people, and the pronoun is the subject of typed, so we use who: secretaries who typed, filed papers... Not whom: whom is an object pronoun. Not which: which is for things.

Question 33

_____ must be taken into account.

A	He is one of the famous spies of the U.S.A
B	Owing to the fact that he may be telling lies
C	This quality at such a low price tells me that the item was probably stolen
D	That he may be telling lies
E	He may be telling lies

Question 33 Explanation:

The subject of must be taken into account has to be a noun clause, introduced by That: That he may be telling lies must be taken into account. Not He may be telling lies: without that, the sentence has two main verbs. Not Owing to the fact...: this is an adverbial phrase, not a subject.

Question 34

_____ the play was performed efficiently or not will be questioned in the meeting tomorrow.

A	When
B	How
C	Whether
D	That
E	Why

Question 34 Explanation:

Whether ... or not begins a noun clause for a yes/no question, and here the clause is the subject: Whether the play was performed efficiently or not will be questioned. The clue is or not, which goes with whether, not if or that.

Question 35

The fact that he has come late every night _____ because he is not happy at home.

A	as
B	stemmed from
C	is
D	were to
E	why

Question 35 Explanation:

The subject is The fact that he has come late every night, and it needs a main verb. Is + because-clause gives the explanation: The fact ... is because he is not happy at home. Not stemmed from: it would need a noun after it (stems from his unhappiness), not because.

Question 36

I want to spend my holiday _____ we went last year.

A	what
B	that
C	at which
D	where
E	in which

Question 36 Explanation:

Where (= in the place that) refers to a place and is needed because went takes no object: spend my holiday where we went last year. Not in which or at which: they need a noun before them (the town to which we went).

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