Sentence Completion MCQ Exercise 3

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Question 1

Unfortunately, one of our best players _____.

A	haven't arrived on time
B	have just moved to another town
C	wasn't he?
D	that he can't come, can he?
E	was too ill to play

Question 1 Explanation:

The subject is one of our best players, which is singular, so it needs a singular verb: was too ill to play. Not haven't arrived or have just moved, because have is plural.

Question 2

He warned me _____.

A	that it would not be easy
B	why the train did not arrive on time
C	unless he was late
D	how to turn off the water
E	who I was going with

Question 2 Explanation:

Warn somebody that… introduces a statement about a possible problem. Because warned is past, the reported clause moves back: will becomes would, giving that it would not be easy.

Question 3

I lent my umbrella to my brother _____.

A	is standing over there
B	that he was lost
C	who are studying architecture
D	when it is raining
E	as he had lost his own

Question 3 Explanation:

As here means because and gives the reason for lending the umbrella. The past perfect had lost shows that losing his own umbrella happened first. Not who are studying, because brother is singular.

Question 4

_____ if she had taken my advice.

A	Your aunt would not lose all her money
B	Mary could pass the examination
C	My sister would have won the competition
D	The young lady had found a hotel
E	My secretary earned a lot of money

Question 4 Explanation:

This is a third conditional about an unreal past: if + past perfect (had taken) goes with would have + past participle (would have won). Not would not lose, because that form is used for present or future situations.

Question 5

She is learning Italian _____.

A	because her father had been in Italy
B	although she went to school in Turkey
C	as soon as she goes to Italy
D	whether she can find a job in Italy
E	because she wants to study in Italy

Question 5 Explanation:

Because gives the reason for her learning Italian, and the present tense wants matches the present continuous is learning. Not because her father had been in Italy, because the past perfect does not fit a present situation.

Question 6

I haven't seen him _____.

A	two days ago
B	for a long time
C	until the examination
D	before Tuesday
E	by the end of the month

Question 6 Explanation:

The present perfect haven't seen goes with for + a period of time: for a long time. Not two days ago, because ago needs the past simple (I didn't see him two days ago).

Question 7

The postman arrived _____.

A	just as we were leaving
B	while they are listened
C	as soon as they are gone
D	after it is ten o'clock
E	before they can see him

Question 7 Explanation:

The main verb arrived is past, so the time clause is also past: just as we were leaving. The past continuous shows an action in progress when the postman came. The other options use present tenses or wrong forms.

Question 8

As soon as I get to the office, _____.

A	we spoke to the manager
B	I'll discuss this matter with my boss
C	I went home
D	he got there before me
E	they would have met me on the way

Question 8 Explanation:

As soon as + present simple (get) talks about the future, so the main clause uses will: I'll discuss this matter with my boss. Not we spoke or I went, because a past tense does not match a future time clause.

Question 9

_____ he realised how wrong he had been about Tom.

A	Since he lived in Ankara
B	Unless he talks with me
C	When I meet him tomorrow
D	After he got to know him better
E	It took him quite a long time

Question 9 Explanation:

The main clause he realised how wrong he had been is in the past, and After he got to know him better is a past time clause that shows when he realised it. Not It took him quite a long time, because it would need before or to to join the two clauses.

Question 10

_____ whether I will be going to the school party or not.

A	I haven’t decided
B	Since I thought about
C	After Tom invited me with him
D	I oughtn't have told him my decision
E	Doesn't he suggest

Question 10 Explanation:

Decide whether… or not is a common pattern. I haven't decided whether I will be going means the decision is still open. The other options are either incomplete or ungrammatical.

Question 11

The foggy night _____.

A	when they came to see me
B	giving the illusion of a fire
C	was frightened to drive
D	is my favourite time of the day
E	was cold and clammy

Question 11 Explanation:

The subject The foggy night needs a main verb to make a complete sentence: was cold and clammy. Clammy means unpleasantly cold and wet. Not when they came to see me, because that leaves the sentence without a main verb.

Question 12

_____ as long as his mother was beside him.

A	Since they lived in this town
B	The child didn't cry
C	Furthermore, they walked down the street
D	Because he had been examined by the doctor
E	He cried until she came

Question 12 Explanation:

As long as means while or on condition that. The child didn't cry as long as his mother was beside him means that he was calm while she was there. Not He cried until she came, because adding that clause makes the sentence illogical.

Question 13

_____ wherever I go.

A	Most of them are beautiful
B	Tom and Jill go together
C	I make new friends
D	The Turkish football team won
E	She is very happy

Question 13 Explanation:

Wherever I go means in every place I go. It logically connects to something the speaker does: I make new friends wherever I go. The other subjects (she, Tom and Jill) do not match I go.

Question 14

It sounds as if _____.

A	he doesn't plan to come with us
B	the radio and television haven't repaired yet
C	her voice has been beautiful
D	shouting spectators watch the match
E	the policeman is stopped by us

Question 14 Explanation:

It sounds as if is followed by a normal clause that says what seems true: he doesn't plan to come with us. Not haven't repaired, because a radio cannot repair itself; the passive haven't been repaired would be needed.

Question 15

Seeing that Harry would also be at the meeting this afternoon, _____.

A	I came later than you
B	we look at the new proposal before the meeting
C	the secretary will make reservations for my lunch
D	the typist is ill today
E	it’s not necessary to meet with him at noon

Question 15 Explanation:

Seeing that means because or since. Because Harry will be at the meeting anyway, it's not necessary to meet with him at noon. Not we look at the new proposal, because without should or will it does not fit the meaning.

Question 16

The work that the children have been doing at school _____.

A	is by the teacher
B	is much better than we had expected
C	were shared by everyone
D	wrote the book
E	were supervising the teachers

Question 16 Explanation:

The subject is The work, which is singular, so it needs a singular verb: is much better than we had expected. Not were shared or were supervising, because were is plural and does not agree with The work.

Question 17

In view of the fact that the attorney for the defence has agreed to a settlement out of court, _____.

A	I didn't go with them
B	we will get money for the settlements
C	they will drop the case against us
D	I don't see the court building
E	the lawyer is my friend

Question 17 Explanation:

In view of the fact that means because. A settlement out of court is an agreement that ends a legal case without a trial, so the logical result is they will drop the case against us. Not we will get money for the settlements, because it does not follow logically and the plural settlements is wrong.

Question 18

The purpose of this blood test is _____.

A	to see which bacteria are making you ill
B	with a pin which pricks your finger
C	the lab assistant's job
D	will make you feel better by tomorrow
E	easy to take care of

Question 18 Explanation:

The purpose of something is + to-infinitive says what it is for: to see which bacteria are making you ill. Not with a pin…, because that describes how the test is done, not its purpose.

Question 19

The mouse that I saw in the basement _____.

A	will be unable to move out
B	has probably been there for a long time
C	I still can't remember
D	the less I like it
E	that came out of hiding to eat

Question 19 Explanation:

The subject The mouse that I saw in the basement needs a main verb. Has probably been there for a long time uses the present perfect for a situation that continues up to now. Not that came out of hiding, because that is a second relative clause, and the sentence would still have no main verb.

Question 20

She was so happy her son returned from the war safe and sound _____.

A	which she hugged
B	unless he was late
C	that is why it wasn't too late
D	that she cried
E	it is unnecessary to state

Question 20 Explanation:

The pattern is so + adjective + that + result: She was so happy… that she cried. Not which she hugged, because so is completed by that, not which.

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