Sentence Completion MCQ Exercise 1

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Question 1

If I had saved enough money last year, _____.

A	I still can't pay the bill
B	I would have gone to Europe this April
C	we can even buy a car
D	I was also working as a shop assistant
E	we had been staying in a big hotel

Question 1 Explanation:

This is a third conditional: If + past perfect (had saved) goes with would have + past participle (would have gone) for an unreal past situation. Not we can even buy a car, because can is used in real (first) conditionals, not with had saved.

Question 2

Unless the necessary precautions are taken immediately, _____.

A	we shall not be able to control the epidemic
B	there has been heavy rain resulting in widespread flooding
C	all the attempts to rescue the passengers were in vain
D	the casualties have been taken to the nearest hospital
E	the country suffered the worst economic disaster since 1927

Question 2 Explanation:

Unless means 'if not', and it introduces a real future condition. The result clause therefore needs a future form: we shall not be able to control the epidemic. The other options are in the past or present perfect, and they don't follow logically from the warning.

Question 3

_____ when he started his study of famine in underdeveloped countries.

A	The proposal he had made concerned the interest rates
B	He has planned to work in a computer company
C	He had already been doing research for three years
D	He should be feeling extremely frustrated
E	It might take a lot of time to find a job

Question 3 Explanation:

The clause when he started is in the past simple. An action that continued up to that past moment takes the past perfect continuous: had already been doing research for three years. Not He has planned, because the present perfect doesn't fit with a past time clause.

Question 4

The better I get to know him, _____.

A	the more the outcome had seemed unpredictable
B	I'm afraid I really can't stand
C	I realised to what extent they had been involved
D	the less I like him
E	the more reliable were the data

Question 4 Explanation:

The double comparative pattern is the + comparative …, the + comparative …: The better I get to know him, the less I like him. Not the more the outcome had seemed unpredictable, because its tense and meaning don't match the first half.

Question 5

The professor asked me _____.

A	why no objection has been shown to anybody leaving early
B	if were the results obtained from the study significant
C	that I can pass on to the next item on the agenda
D	whether I am awarded a prize for my new discovery
E	to help the newly recruited research assistant with the experiment

Question 5 Explanation:

Ask can be followed by an object and a to-infinitive to report a request: The professor asked me to help…. Not if were the results…, because reported questions use normal statement word order (if the results were).

Question 6

_____, the factory has been working at its lowest capacity.

A	Owing to the high efficiency of the new manager
B	Due to the shortage of some essential raw materials
C	Because of the considerable decrease in production
D	In spite of the cancellation of many important orders
E	In order to meet the ever-increasing orders

Question 6 Explanation:

Due to + noun gives a reason. A shortage of raw materials logically explains why the factory is working at its lowest capacity. Not Because of the considerable decrease in production, because a fall in production is the same thing as low capacity, not its cause.

Question 7

I chose to stay in the garden _____.

A	unless I am so tired
B	because I'd prefer to explore the old castle
C	as the others are leaving for the historical places
D	when our guide had told us the day’s programme
E	while the others visited the museum

Question 7 Explanation:

While links two past actions happening at the same time. I chose to stay and the others visited are both in the past simple, so the tenses match. The other options have wrong tenses or illogical meanings.

Question 8

In the end, I went by bus _____.

A	since I was feeling very tired
B	if I hadn't gotten up so late
C	that it stops so near the library
D	unless there has been a suitable train
E	whether or not it will arrive on time

Question 8 Explanation:

Since can mean 'because', and it gives the reason in the past: since I was feeling very tired. Not if I hadn't gotten up so late, because an unreal past condition can't explain a real past choice.

Question 9

We thought Steve had forgotten about the meeting _____.

A	where he should arrive by dinner time
B	although he has informed us of the delay
C	whether he ever forgets things
D	however, the secretary would have given him the message
E	because he was thirty minutes late

Question 9 Explanation:

Because gives the reason for our thought: he was thirty minutes late, so we thought he had forgotten. The past simple matches the past main clause. Not although he has informed us, because the tense is wrong and the meaning is contradictory.

Question 10

If the rules hadn’t been ignored, _____.

A	the problem could become that serious
B	it will be easier to communicate with them
C	this error would never have occurred
D	there have been no disagreements so far
E	they may not feel a need to strengthen the police force

Question 10 Explanation:

This is a third conditional: If + past perfect (hadn't been ignored) goes with would have + past participle (would never have occurred). It describes an imagined different past.

Question 11

If we don’t start early in the morning, _____.

A	you'd better pack up now
B	we may not get there before it gets dark
C	the main road has been blocked
D	we wouldn't have had time to enjoy the view
E	we were still worried about our flight to Rome

Question 11 Explanation:

This is a first conditional: If + present simple (don't start) goes with a future or modal result (may not get there). It talks about a real possibility. Not we wouldn't have had time, because that form belongs to the third conditional.

Question 12

After working in an insurance company for more than a year, _____.

A	the company officials might have decided to give him a promotion
B	he had already left his job
C	they would have hired him as assistant manager
D	he started his own firm
E	he is leaving the office early

Question 12 Explanation:

In After working…, the hidden subject must be the same as the subject of the main clause. He started his own firm fits: he worked, then he started a firm. Not the company officials might have decided…, because the officials didn't do the working.

Question 13

_____, despite the fact that he had received many warnings.

A	Admittedly, he is extremely bored with his job
B	I still haven't forgiven him
C	The others have always supported him
D	Clearly he is not the only one to blame
E	He repeatedly came late to the office

Question 13 Explanation:

Despite the fact that shows a contrast. He kept coming late although he had been warned many times. The past simple came fits the past perfect had received. The other options don't contrast logically with the warnings.

Question 14

Ever since I was offered this position in the bank, _____.

A	my family had moved to a large apartment
B	I've been making a great effort to improve my English
C	I was congratulated by many of my friends
D	I would hope to have several trips abroad
E	I am certain several others are becoming even more jealous

Question 14 Explanation:

Ever since + a past time is normally followed by a perfect tense in the main clause. Here it is the present perfect continuous I've been making, for an action that started then and continues now. Not I was congratulated, because the past simple doesn't connect with ever since.

Question 15

If the advertisement were on television, _____.

A	there may be a great demand for it
B	they would have had a place in the market
C	it might reach a larger group of people
D	they were selling more and more goods
E	it can be too expensive and complicated for them

Question 15 Explanation:

This is a second conditional: If + past simple (were) goes with would/might + base verb (might reach) for an imagined present situation. Not there may be, because may belongs to a real (first) conditional.

Question 16

The weather was so cold _____.

A	since I came to live in this town
B	when the wind blows hard
C	because it has been snowing heavily
D	that I decided not to walk to school
E	until the spring comes

Question 16 Explanation:

The pattern so + adjective + that shows a result: so cold that I decided not to walk. The other options don't complete the so… that structure.

Question 17

Spectators and players were relieved _____.

A	when the referee whistled for the end of the match
B	as soon as the score changes
C	until the police can interfere
D	unless their team scored yet another goal
E	since the weather has definitely improved

Question 17 Explanation:

When + past simple gives the moment they felt relief: when the referee whistled for the end of the match. The tense matches were relieved. The other options have wrong tenses or illogical meanings.

Question 18

Tony is looking forward to going to university _____.

A	as soon as he completed his studies
B	even though he will be leaving his family
C	as he was greatly admired by his relatives
D	unless he had received the encouragement
E	however disappointed it has made him

Question 18 Explanation:

Even though shows a contrast. Tony is happy about university although he will have to leave his family. The future continuous will be leaving fits a future plan. The other options use past tenses that don't match is looking forward.

Question 19

However long it may take, _____.

A	we are determined to get to the top
B	we have never been there before
C	it was one of the most pleasant journeys in my life
D	they successfully carried out the experiment
E	the patient has recovered remarkably quickly

Question 19 Explanation:

However long it may take means 'no matter how long it takes'. It looks to the future, so the main clause should express a present or future attitude: we are determined to get to the top. The other options describe completed past events and don't fit.

Question 20

_____, I would refuse to obey that order.

A	If I were you
B	Although he's wrong
C	When I leave the meeting
D	Whether you signed the document
E	As long as the lecture lasted

Question 20 Explanation:

If I were you is the usual second-conditional phrase for giving advice. It goes with would + base verb (I would refuse). The other options don't match would or make no sense.

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