Fill in the Blanks Quiz: English Grammar and Vocabulary Practice

Spoilers! These are the Starter quiz’s answers. Easy, Medium, Hard and Mixed rounds show their own answers when you finish.

1. Fill in the blank: The minister's speech was so ____ that even his critics praised its clarity.

   • lucid
   • verbose
   • obscure
   • tedious

   Answer: lucid. Lucid means clear and easy to understand, which matches 'praised its clarity'.

2. Fill in the blank: She has been working in this office ____ 2019.

   • for
   • since
   • from
   • by

   Answer: since. With the present perfect continuous, 'since' marks the starting point (2019); 'for' would need a period, such as six years.

3. Fill in the blank: Despite repeated warnings, the factory continued to ____ waste into the river.

   • dismiss
   • distract
   • discharge
   • dissuade

   Answer: discharge. To discharge is to release or pour out a liquid or waste; 'despite warnings' shows something harmful continued.

4. Fill in the blank: If it ____ tomorrow, the match will be postponed.

   • rained
   • will rain
   • would rain
   • rains

   Answer: rains. In a first conditional, the if-clause takes the simple present and the main clause takes will: 'If it rains, ... will be postponed.'

5. Fill in the blank: He has been accused ____ leaking the exam papers.

   • for
   • of
   • with
   • on

   Answer: of. Accuse takes 'of': accused of a crime. 'Charged with' is the other common pattern.

6. Fill in the blank: Neither the teacher nor the students ____ aware of the change in the timetable.

   • was
   • is
   • were
   • has been

   Answer: were. With neither...nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject, 'students', which is plural.

7. Fill in the blank: The scientist's theory was ____ by fresh evidence, so she abandoned it.

   • endorsed
   • confirmed
   • ratified
   • refuted

   Answer: refuted. Refuted means proved wrong; only a disproved theory would be abandoned. The other options all mean supported.

8. Fill in the blank: I would rather walk ____ wait for the delayed bus.

   • than
   • then
   • to
   • from

   Answer: than. 'Would rather' is completed by 'than': I would rather walk than wait. 'Then' refers to time.

9. Fill in the blank: A ____ person spends very carefully; he even reuses old envelopes.

   • lavish
   • prodigal
   • frugal
   • generous

   Answer: frugal. Frugal means careful and economical with money. Lavish and prodigal mean extravagant.

10. Fill in the blank: No sooner had the bell rung ____ the students rushed out.

    • when
    • than
    • then
    • that

    Answer: than. 'No sooner' always pairs with 'than'. Hardly and scarcely pair with 'when'.