AKU Entry Test English Reading & Thinking Skills — Set 2

1. Question 1

   Q1. The new employee was very nervous on his first day, but his colleagues made him feel welcome by being very friendly and _______

   • A) support
   • B) supportive
   • C) supporting
   • D) to support

   Answer: supportive

   Explanation: The correct adjective 'supportive' describes the colleagues' attitude. 'Support' is a noun, not an adjective.

2. Question 2

   Q2. The tourists got lost in the woods because they didn't have a map, and even if they _______ one, they couldn't read it.

   • A) had
   • B) have
   • C) having
   • D) has

   Answer: had

   Explanation: The correct verb form 'had' is used in the third conditional tense. 'Have' is incorrect due to tense inconsistency.

3. Question 3

   Q3. The teacher asked the students to write a 500-word essay on a historical figure, but many of them wrote _______

   • A) less
   • B) fewer
   • C) little
   • D) lesser

   Answer: fewer

   Explanation: The correct word 'fewer' is used for countable nouns (words). 'Less' is used for uncountable nouns (e.g., time).

4. Question 4

   Q4. The company will not be able to meet the demand unless they _______ more staff.

   • A) hire
   • B) hires
   • C) hiring
   • D) will hire

   Answer: hire

   Explanation: The correct verb form 'hire' is used in the subjunctive mood after 'unless'. 'Hires' is incorrect due to subject-verb agreement.

5. Question 5

   Q5. The new policy has been met with widespread criticism, with many arguing that it is _______ to the rights of the marginalized community.

   • A) detrimental
   • B) detriment
   • C) harm
   • D) harmed

   Answer: detrimental

   Explanation: The correct adjective 'detrimental' describes the policy's negative impact. 'Detriment' is a noun, not an adjective.

6. Question 6

   Q6. The researcher spent years studying the behavior of the animals, and her findings were _______ in the scientific community.

   • A) groundbreaking
   • B) broke ground
   • C) breaks ground
   • D) groundbreak

   Answer: groundbreaking

   Explanation: The correct adjective 'groundbreaking' describes the significance of her findings. 'Broke ground' is a verb phrase, not an adjective.

7. Question 7

   Q7. The tourists were advised to be careful while crossing the _______ road.

   • A) busiest
   • B) busy
   • C) busier
   • D) more busy

   Answer: busy

   Explanation: The correct adjective 'busy' describes the road. 'Busiest' is a superlative form used for comparison among three or more.

8. Question 8

   Q8. The professor's lecture was so _______ that many students fell asleep.

   • A) boring
   • B) bored
   • C) bore
   • D) to bore

   Answer: boring

   Explanation: The correct adjective 'boring' describes the lecture. 'Bored' describes the students, not the lecture.

9. Question 9

   Q9. The company has been facing financial difficulties, and it is likely that they will _______ down their operations.

   • A) scale
   • B) scaled
   • C) scaling
   • D) scale back

   Answer: scale back

   Explanation: The correct phrase 'scale back' means to reduce the size or extent of something. 'Scale down' is also correct but not among the options.

10. Question 10

    Q10. The new employee was very efficient, but his lack of experience made him _______ in certain situations.

    • A) at a disadvantage
    • B) on the disadvantage
    • C) in disadvantage
    • D) to disadvantage

    Answer: at a disadvantage

    Explanation: The correct phrase 'at a disadvantage' describes the employee's situation. MDCAT and USAT English reward precise grammar and vocabulary.

11. Question 11

    Q11. The teacher asked the students to write a story using _______ person narrative.

    • A) first
    • B) the first
    • C) a first
    • D) one's first

    Answer: first

    Explanation: The correct phrase 'first person narrative' is a specific literary term. No article is needed before 'first'.

12. Question 12

    Q12. The company's profits have been declining, and it is _______ that they will have to lay off some employees.

    • A) likely
    • B) probable
    • C) possibly
    • D) possible

    Answer: likely

    Explanation: The correct adjective 'likely' describes the probability of an event. 'Probable' is also correct but 'likely' is more suitable here.

13. Question 13

    Q13. The tourists got lost because they didn't follow the _______ signs.

    • A) directional
    • B) directions
    • C) of direction
    • D) direct

    Answer: directional

    Explanation: The correct adjective 'directional' describes the signs. 'Directions' is a noun, not an adjective.

14. Question 14

    Q14. The new policy is aimed at reducing the _______ on small businesses.

    • A) burden
    • B) burdensome
    • C) burdens
    • D) being a burden

    Answer: burden

    Explanation: The correct noun 'burden' describes the negative impact on small businesses. 'Burdensome' is an adjective.

15. Question 15

    Q15. The professor's lecture was so complex that it was _______ to many students.

    • A) incomprehensible
    • B) incomprehension
    • C) incomprehensibly
    • D) not comprehended

    Answer: incomprehensible

    Explanation: The correct adjective 'incomprehensible' describes the lecture. 'Incomprehension' is a noun, not an adjective.

16. Question 16

    Q16. The company will _______ its operations in the next quarter.

    • A) expand
    • B) expanding
    • C) to expand
    • D) expansion

    Answer: expand

    Explanation: The correct verb 'expand' is in the correct tense. 'Expanding' is a present participle, not the correct tense here.

17. Question 17

    Q17. The tourists were warned about the _______ weather conditions in the region.

    • A) adverse
    • B) adversely
    • C) adversity
    • D) adversion

    Answer: adverse

    Explanation: The correct adjective 'adverse' describes the weather conditions. 'Adversely' is an adverb, not an adjective.

18. Question 18

    Q18. The professor asked the students to analyze the _______ data.

    • A) statistical
    • B) statistics
    • C) of statistic
    • D) statistically

    Answer: statistical

    Explanation: The correct adjective 'statistical' describes the data. 'Statistics' is a noun, not an adjective.

19. Question 19

    Q19. The new employee was struggling to keep up with the workload, and his colleagues offered to help him _______ the tasks.

    • A) prioritize
    • B) prioritizing
    • C) priority
    • D) to prioritize

    Answer: prioritize

    Explanation: The correct verb 'prioritize' is in the correct form. 'Prioritizing' is a present participle, 'priority' is a noun.

20. Question 20

    Q20. The professor's remarks were so enigmatic that the students were left confused; the word 'enigmatic' means most nearly

    • A) Very clear
    • B) Mysterious
    • C) Lengthy
    • D) Uninteresting

    Answer: Mysterious

    Explanation: 'Enigmatic' means mysterious or difficult to understand; 'Very clear' is the opposite, making it an incorrect choice.