1.
Alice drives ___ old car.
Correct Answer
B. An
Explanation
The correct answer is "an" because the word "old" starts with a vowel sound. When a noun starts with a vowel sound, we use "an" before it instead of "a" to make the sentence flow more smoothly. In this case, "an" is used before "old car" to indicate that Alice drives a car that is not new.
2.
My father is reading ___ newspaper.
Correct Answer
D. The
Explanation
The use of the definite article "the" before "newspaper" in the sentence "My father is reading ___ newspaper" is appropriate when referring to a specific newspaper that is already known to the speaker and listener. It implies that there is a particular newspaper being read, rather than any newspaper in general. If the intent was to express a non-specific or any newspaper, one would use "a" as in "My father is reading a newspaper." However, the phrasing of your query suggests that the definite article "the" fits best to complete the sentence.
3.
Kenji is studying ___ English.
Correct Answer
C. Zero article
Explanation
the correct choice is "a," the sentence "My father is reading a newspaper" implies that your father is reading any newspaper, without specifying a particular or specific one. The use of the indefinite article "a" indicates that it could be any newspaper, and the sentence doesn't require knowledge of a specific newspaper. So, "a" is used to refer to a non-specific item or thing when there is no need to specify which newspaper your father is reading.
4.
He lives in ___ Alaska.
Correct Answer
D. Zero article
Explanation
The correct answer is zero article because "Alaska" is a proper noun and does not require an article before it.
5.
Did you bring ___ umbrella that you borrowed from me?
Correct Answer
C. The
Explanation
The correct answer is "the" because the speaker is referring to a specific umbrella that was borrowed from them. The use of "the" indicates that both the speaker and the listener are aware of which umbrella is being referred to.
6.
James is ___ boss of the company.
Correct Answer
C. The
Explanation
The correct answer is "the" because it is used to refer to a specific boss. "The" is used when the noun is already known or has been mentioned before, and in this case, it refers to a specific boss of the company.
7.
What ___ language do you speak best?
Correct Answer
C. Zero article
Explanation
The phrase "zero article" refers to the absence of any article (a, an, or the) before a noun. In this case, the question is asking about the language someone speaks best. Since the question is not referring to a specific language, but rather any language in general, it does not require an article. Therefore, the correct answer is "zero article."
8.
There's ___ apartment building on the corner.
Correct Answer
B. An
Explanation
The correct answer is "an" because the word "apartment" starts with a vowel sound (/ə/), and the indefinite article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.
9.
The young boy was not wearing ___ clothes.
Correct Answer
D. Zero article
Explanation
The correct sentence is "The young boy was not wearing clothes."
No article is used because "clothes" is a general, plural noun in this context, and in English, plural nouns generally do not require an article unless referring to something specific.
"A" or "an" are used for singular countable nouns, and "clothes" is plural.
"The" is used for specific items, but here, the sentence refers to clothes in a general sense.
Thus, zero article is the correct choice.
10.
Let's buy ___ sugar.
Correct Answer
C. Zero article
Explanation
The use of the zero article indicates that we are referring to sugar in general, without specifying a particular type or amount. In this context, the speaker is suggesting the idea of buying sugar in a general sense, without any specific details.
11.
Do you like ___ apples?
Correct Answer
C. Zero article
Explanation
In this question, the use of the zero article is correct. The zero article is used when referring to general or non-specific things. In this case, the question is asking about a general preference for apples, without specifying a particular type or quantity. Therefore, the correct answer is to leave out any article before "apples".
12.
Do you have ___ computer?
Correct Answer
A. A
Explanation
The correct answer is "a" because "computer" starts with a consonant sound, and the indefinite article "a" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound.
13.
It's ___ beautiful day.
Correct Answer
A. A
Explanation
The correct answer is "a" because when the noun following the article starts with a consonant sound, we use the indefinite article "a". In this case, the word "beautiful" starts with the consonant sound /b/, so we use "a" before it.
14.
He drank ___ cup of coffee while he read the newspaper.
Correct Answer
A. A
Explanation
The correct choice is "a" because "a" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound, and "cup" begins with a consonant sound. Therefore, the sentence should read: "He drank a cup of coffee while he read the newspaper."
15.
I would like to buy ___ pair of gloves I saw at ___ mall yesterday.
Correct Answer
A. A, the
Explanation
The correct sentence is "I would like to buy a pair of gloves I saw at the mall yesterday."
"A" is used before "pair of gloves" because you are referring to one unspecified pair of gloves.
"The" is used before "mall" because it refers to a specific mall that you visited yesterday, making it a known, specific place in this context.
Thus, "a, the" is the correct combination of articles.
16.
The players ate ___ lunch yesterday afternoon.
Correct Answer
C. Zero article
Explanation
The correct answer is zero article. In this sentence, the word "lunch" is a noncount, or uncountable noun, which means it cannot be counted or quantified. When uncountable nouns are used in a general sense, we do not use an article before them. Therefore, the correct sentence would be "The players ate lunch yesterday afternoon."
17.
Sam is ___ university student.
Correct Answer
A. A
Explanation
The correct answer is "a" because "university" starts with a consonant sound. When a noun begins with a consonant sound, we use "a" before it. In this case, "university" starts with the "yew" sound, we use "a" before it.
18.
I have ___ money in the bank.
Correct Answer
C. Zero article
Explanation
The zero article is used when we are referring to something in a general sense. In this case, the speaker is referring to money in general that they have in the bank, rather than a specific amount or type of money. Therefore, the correct answer is the zero article.
19.
Are these ___ pair of shoes you wore to the prom?
Correct Answer
B. The
Explanation
The use of "the" in this sentence indicates that the speaker is referring to a specific pair of shoes. It suggests that the speaker and the listener both have knowledge or understanding of which pair of shoes is being referred to.
20.
Is there ___ big window in your kitchen?
Correct Answer
A. A
Explanation
The correct answer is "a" because it indicates that there is one big window in the kitchen. "The" would imply that there is a specific big window that the speaker is referring to, which may not be the case.
21.
Joe is reading ___ book he borrowed from ____ library.
Correct Answer
A. The, the
Explanation
The correct sentence is "Joe is reading the book he borrowed from the library."
"The" is used before "book" because it refers to a specific book that Joe borrowed.
"The" is also used before "library" because it refers to a specific library where Joe borrowed the book.
Thus, "the, the" is the correct combination of articles.
22.
This is ___ expensive wine.
Correct Answer
D. An
Explanation
The correct answer is "an" because the word "expensive" starts with a vowel sound (/ɪ/), and "an" is used before words that start with a vowel sound.
23.
Let's go for ___ drive in the country.
Correct Answer
A. A
Explanation
The correct answer is "a" because it is used before a consonant sound, such as "drive." In this sentence, "drive" starts with the consonant sound /d/, so "a" is the appropriate article to use.
24.
Herman has ___ ugly dog.
Correct Answer
B. An
Explanation
The correct answer is "an" because "an" is used before words that start with a vowel sound. In this case, "ugly" starts with a vowel sound (/ʌ/), so "an" is the appropriate article to use.
25.
Did Janet have __ dinner yet?
Correct Answer
C. Zero article
Explanation
The correct answer is "zero article" because the question is asking whether Janet has had dinner yet, without specifying any particular dinner. The use of the zero article indicates that it is a general reference to dinner in general, rather than a specific instance of dinner.
26.
I wish I had ___ Italian sports car.
Correct Answer
A. An
Explanation
The choice between "a" and "an" depends on the sound at the beginning of the next word. "An" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, while "a" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound. Since "Italian" starts with a vowel sound, the correct answer is "an."
27.
Have you ever seen ___ kangaroo?
Correct Answer
A. A
Explanation
The correct answer is "a". In this sentence, the indefinite article "a" is used before the noun "kangaroo" to indicate that the speaker is referring to any kangaroo in general, not a specific one. The use of "a" suggests that the speaker is asking if the listener has ever encountered or witnessed a kangaroo at any point in their life.
28.
There was ___ weird sound in ___ bedroom last night.
Correct Answer
B. A, the
Explanation
The correct answer is "a, the". In this sentence, "a" is used before "weird sound" to indicate that there was a singular, unidentified sound in the bedroom. "The" is used before "bedroom" to specify that it was a specific bedroom, likely the one belonging to the speaker or the context of the conversation.
29.
Jack Anderson was caught holding _____ match at _____ time of _____ fire.
Correct Answer
A. A, the, the
Explanation
The sentence is referring to a specific match that Jack Anderson was caught holding. Therefore, the indefinite article "a" is used before "match". The sentence also specifies a particular time when the fire occurred, so the definite article "the" is used before "time". Lastly, "the" is used before "fire" because it is referring to a specific fire.
30.
She replied _____ that _____ question was much too difficult.
Correct Answer
C. No article, the
Explanation
The correct answer is "no article, the". In this sentence, the word "surprise" is being used as a noun, so it does not need an article. However, the word "question" is also a noun and requires the definite article "the" because it is referring to a specific question that was mentioned earlier in the conversation.