Quick Name: ______________

Placement Test

Try to answer all 45 questions. There is one mark per question. Write one answer from
the four possible answers.

For example:
Where __c__ you live?
a) does b) are c) do d) is

1 Here is the pilot _____ flew the plane.

a) there b) which c) where d) who

2 They will _____ arrive today but not we’re not sure.
a) possibly b) probable c) likely d) certainly

3 The power _____ by pressing this button.

a) switch on b) is switched c) switched on d) is switched on

4 The company _____ a new factory nearby earlier this week.

a) open b) has opened c) opening d) opened

5 If we want to _____ to the event, we need to leave home now.

a) gone b) go c) went d) going

6 After the capsule _____ a safe altitude, the parachute opens up.
a) reach b) has reached c) is reaching d) reaching

7 He’s _____ some important work at the moment. He’ll call you back soon.
a) completing b) complete c) going to complete d) going to be completing

8 Strangely, the new bridge is _____ the old one.

a) narrower as b) narrower that c) more narrow than d) more narrow that

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 Quick Name: ______________
Placement Test

9 I’ve been at the factory from 2020 _____ last summer, and I want to work here for
another two years.
a) until b) for c) since d) to

10 There’s a strange noise when I press the pedal. I think you _____ to check the brake
pads.
a) must b) should c) will d) need 38

11 Only overtake a car _____ you check in the mirror that it’s safe to do so. 23
a) when b) after c) unless d) before

12 We _____ to finish this job soon. The deadline is on Friday. 38

a) ’ll have b) must c) can d) ’ll be
able to
13 We need to cut costs due _____ the price of oil.
a) by b) of c) to d) as

14 They _____ her that she needed to go through the security gate.
a) said b) explained c) ordered d) told

15 The man _____ out of the door when the alarm sounded.
a) was b) was going c) was gone d) go

16 The boat crew _____ taken to the hospital yesterday after the accident.
a) were b) are c) have been d) be

17 They are connected to electricity _____ means of a sub-sea cable.

a) by b) with c) using d) for

18 The acceleration in my new car is _____ faster than my old one.

a) as b) great deal c) slightly d) little

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 Quick Name: ______________
Placement Test

19 This building is _____ tall of the four high-rise buildings in the city centre.
a) the less b) less c) least d) the least

20 We’re not sure but the flooding _____ have been caused by a leak in one of the pipes.
a) would b) must c) can d) could

21 The company _____ have replaced the computer system sooner than now.
a) should b) would c) shall d) ought

22 If you had worn a helmet, you _____ hurt your head in the accident.
a) had been b) hadn’t been c) wouldn’t be d) would not have

23 The cover _____ . You don’t need use force on it.

a) easy to remove b) removes easily c) can be removed easily d) can remove
easily

24 The plastic is a highly _____ . It doesn’t melt when it is heated.

a) heat-tolerant b) heat tolerance c) heat-tolerance d) heat tolerant

25 By the year 2050 the world temperatures will _____ by about 1.5 degrees Celsius.
a) be rising b) rise c) have risen d) have been risen

26 We have _____ these machines for several years now.

a) using b) be using c) being used d) been using

27 The oilfields, _____ about 35 km off the coast of Brunei, are difficult to drill.
a) are b) which locate c) which are located d) locate

28 This visor was developed _____ protect the astronauts’ eyes from the sun.
a) to b) which c) that d) for

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 Quick Name: ______________
Placement Test

29 You _____ read the instructions before you use the machine.
a) should b) must c) able d) ought

30 We’re sorry to let you know that the car _____ by the mechanics.
a) is still being checked b) is still checked c) has still been checked
d) is still checking

31 The collapse _____ have been caused by corrosion over a long period of time.
a) should b) must c) must not d) nevertheless

32 The bridge _____ by a local builders, who used stone from the area.
a) was constructed b) construct c) is constructed d) being constructed

33 The plastic softens as a result _____ the increase of temperature from the heaters.
a) in b) of c) from d) by

34 It is highly _____ that some oil will be found off the coast.
a) impossible b) definite c) certain d) probable

35 The bridge bearings _____ be replaced once every five years.

a) could b) shouldn’t c) should d) have

36 We’re almost finished. I’m sure that the deadline is going _____.
a) to be met b) to meet c) be met d) to have been met

37 To put it another way, this material has very good water _____.
a) resistance b) resists c) resist d) resistant

38 _____ cars, planes have joysticks to steer them.

a) Unlike b) Instead c) Compared d) While

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 Quick Name: ______________
Placement Test

39 Sorry, it’s the wrong size. Someone _____ have made a mistake with the
measurements.
a) may b) should c) must d) can

40 I strongly _____ installing our new system.

a) suggest for b) suggest c) suggest you should d) suggest me

41 This is the sensor _____ monitors noise pollution.

a) it b) used c) is d) which

42 We’ll use the device providing its _____ like the old one.
a) resemble b) exactly c) instead d) similar

43 We’re don’t know yet, but the number of people on the bridge _____ have caused it to
sway from side to side.
a) must b) may c) has d) ought

44 If the engineers _____ detected the problem sooner, the incident wouldn’t have
happened.
a) are b) had c) had been d) were

45 The car was _____ expensive to repair than first thought.

a) a great deal b) a lot c) twice d) more

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