Advanced grammar in context. 45 questions on grammar across complex academic genres, proofreading extended formal texts, and genre-specific stylistic choices.
What this test covers
- Grammar Across Academic Genres
- Proofreading and Editing Formal Academic Texts
- Genre-Specific Stylistic Grammar Choices
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
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Q1In a research methods section, focus is on the procedure. Complete the sentence: 'The participants ___ (recruit) via an online portal before the study commenced.'
Answer: A. were recruited
In research methodology, the passive voice is used to foreground the procedure rather than the researchers. The past simple passive 'were recruited' is required here because the action was completed at a specific time in the past, established by the verb 'commenced.' 'Are recruited' (present simple) and 'have been recruited' (present perfect) fail to align with this historical timeframe. The active form 'recruited' is incorrect as it would imply the participants performed the recruiting themselves.
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Q2In a literature review, referring to a specific study is standard. Complete the sentence: 'Smith (2020) ___ (identify) a strong correlation between sleep deprivation and cognitive decline.'
Answer: D. identified
When reporting findings from a specific, completed study associated with a past date (Smith 2020), the past simple 'identified' is the standard convention. While the present simple 'identifies' is often used for general theories or enduring claims, the past simple is preferred for discrete experimental results tied to a citation date. 'Was identified' is a passive error that suggests Smith himself was the object of study, and 'has identified' lacks the specific temporal anchoring required for a dated citation.
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Q3In a research results section, reporting findings requires specific tenses. Complete: 'The data ___ (indicate) that the treatment had no significant effect on the control group.'
Answer: D. indicated
In the results section, the past simple 'indicated' is used to report observations made during the specific timeframe of the study. This distinguishes the findings of the investigation from universal truths. 'Indicates' (present simple) would suggest the data currently and permanently points to this fact regardless of the study context. 'Is indicated' is a passive misconstruction, and 'has indicated' is less precise for reporting historical data analysis results.
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Q4In a research discussion section, cautious interpretation is required. Complete: 'These findings ___ (suggest) that environmental factors may influence the outcome.'
Answer: B. suggest
The present simple 'suggest' is a classic 'hedging' verb—a term for words that express academic caution (acknowledging that findings are interpretations rather than absolute facts). In scientific register, 'prove' is avoided because empirical data rarely provides absolute certainty. 'Are suggesting' and 'have suggested' are stylistically less common for stating the current interpretive stance of a study's results.
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Q5In an introduction, current developments are often introduced. Complete: 'Increasing attention ___ (pay) to the role of artificial intelligence in education recently.'
Answer: A. has been paid
The present perfect passive 'has been paid' is required to describe an action that began in the past and continues to have relevance in the present, specifically cued by the adverb 'recently.' The passive voice maintains the impersonal register necessary for formal introductions. 'Was paid' (past simple) suggests a completed action with no current link, while 'is paid' (present simple) fails to capture the ongoing development over time.
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Q6In an academic essay, balancing arguments is essential. Complete: 'Remote work can increase flexibility; ___, team cohesion may suffer.'
Answer: C. however
The transition word (like 'however' or 'therefore') 'however' signals a contrastive relationship between two independent clauses separated by a semicolon. It balances the benefit (flexibility) against the drawback (cohesion). 'Consequently' (result), 'furthermore' (addition), and 'similarly' (comparison) are logically incompatible with the contrastive structure required here.
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Q7In a formal report, nominalisation creates an impersonal tone. Complete the sentence: 'The ___ (implement) of new safety protocols resulted in a decrease in workplace accidents.'
Answer: B. implementation
Nominalisation—the process of turning verbs into nouns—makes writing more compact and is a hallmark of formal writing. The syntax 'The [noun] of...' requires the noun 'implementation.' While the gerund 'implementing' can technically function as a verbal noun (e.g., 'The implementing of new rules'), the standard nominalisation 'implementation' is required in formal academic writing for this context. 'Implements' (verb) and 'implemented' (participle/verb) do not fit the noun position required by the definite article.
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Q8In an academic essay, impersonal structures are preferred. Choose the most appropriate sentence.
Answer: C. It is widely accepted that climate change is a serious threat.
The use of the impersonal 'It' as a placeholder subject in 'It is widely accepted that...' creates an objective, authoritative tone by removing the personal subject ('I' or 'You'). High-level academic writing generally avoids personal pronouns and direct references to the author's thoughts in favor of detached, evidence-based phrasing that emphasizes the consensus or the argument itself.
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Q9In a methods section, maintain consistent voice. Complete: 'Data were collected over six months. Subsequently, the responses ___ (code) by two independent researchers.'
Answer: A. were coded
To maintain thematic cohesion in a methods section, the passive voice should be used consistently. Since the first sentence uses the past simple passive ('were collected'), the second sentence should match this with 'were coded.' This keeps the 'responses' (the data objects) as the focus. 'Coded' (active) would jarringly shift focus to the agents, while 'have been coded' and 'are coded' create tense discord within the narrative of the procedure.
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Q10In a results section, report specific events. Complete: 'The analysis ___ (reveal) that the experimental group outperformed the control group by ten percent.'
Answer: D. revealed
The past simple 'revealed' is used to report findings that occurred during the specific, completed analysis of the study. 'Reveals' (present simple) is appropriate when referring to what a table or figure 'shows' currently in the text, but for the act of discovery within the research timeline, the past simple is the standard choice. 'Is revealed' is an incorrect passive form for this context.
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Q11In a discussion section, state established facts. Complete: 'The results suggest that high temperatures ___ (affect) the structural integrity of the material.'
Answer: C. affect
In the discussion section, writers move from specific findings to general scientific claims. The present simple 'affect' expresses a general principle or established physical law that remains true beyond the scope of the study. 'Affected' would limit the claim only to the specific samples used in the experiment, while 'are affecting' implies a temporary, ongoing process rather than a static physical property.
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Q12In an introduction, state general facts. Complete: 'Photosynthesis ___ (convert) light energy into chemical energy in plants.'
Answer: A. converts
Universal scientific truths and natural processes are expressed in the present simple ('converts'). The past simple 'converted' would incorrectly imply the process is no longer occurring, and 'is converting' would suggest a specific, ongoing instance rather than a categorical biological function. The present simple emphasizes that this is a timeless, defining characteristic of the process.
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Q13In an academic essay, use formal structures. Complete: '___ (It/There) has been argued that economic growth does not always equate to social well-being.'
Answer: B. It
The impersonal 'It' serves as a preparatory subject in passive reporting structures ('It has been argued that...'). This allows the writer to focus on the argument itself while distancing themselves from the claim. 'There' is used for statements about existence (e.g., 'There are three reasons...'), while 'That' and 'Which' are relative or demonstrative pronouns that do not function as placeholder subjects in this grammatical structure.
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Q14In a formal report, use precise quantification. Complete: 'The survey results indicate that ___ (a significant proportion of / a whole bunch of) respondents support the policy.'
Answer: C. a significant proportion of
Formal register requires precise, objective quantification. 'A significant proportion of' is appropriate for academic and professional reports. Colloquialisms such as 'a whole bunch of,' 'a massive amount of,' and 'a lot of' are informal and lack the analytical precision required in academic writing; 'massive amount' is also typically used for uncountable nouns, not people.
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Q15In a methods section, avoid active voice when describing the procedure. Complete: 'We interviewed the participants' -> 'The participants ___ (interview).'
Answer: B. were interviewed
Converting the active 'We interviewed' to the passive 'The participants were interviewed' shifts the focus from the researchers to the subjects, which is standard in scientific writing. The past simple passive is used to reflect the completed nature of the procedure. 'Are interviewed' would imply a habitual action, and 'have been interviewed' implies current relevance rather than a discrete historical step in a method.
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Q16Choose the grammatically correct version: 'The participants were totally stoked about the survey results.'
Answer: D. The participants were enthusiastic about the survey results.
Register awareness is vital in formal writing. 'Totally stoked' is a slang-heavy colloquialism unsuitable for professional reporting. While 'enthusiastic,' 'quite happy,' and 'very excited' are all grammatically correct, 'enthusiastic' provides the most professional and objective tone for describing participant responses in a research context.
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Q17Choose the correct sentence: 'The experiment was conducted in May. The results show a significant increase in productivity.'
Answer: C. The experiment was conducted in May. The results showed a significant increase in productivity.
Consistency in the past simple is required when reporting the execution and findings of a specific past experiment. 'The experiment was conducted... results showed' correctly anchors both events in the same historical timeframe. Using 'show' or 'have shown' implies the results represent a current state, which conflicts with the specific past-time reference 'in May.' In the results section of a report, the past simple ('showed') aligns the findings with the specific timeframe of the study. While present simple ('show') is common in academic discussion sections for enduring claims, in this results sentence tied to 'conducted in May,' 'showed' is the standard choice to maintain tense consistency.
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Q18Choose the grammatically correct version: 'The results prove that the new drug causes immediate recovery.'
Answer: C. The results suggest that the new drug causes immediate recovery.
Academic writing relies on 'hedging'—the use of cautious language—to avoid overgeneralization. Verbs like 'suggest' are preferred because they acknowledge that findings are indicative rather than absolute. 'Prove' and 'demonstrate' often overstate the certainty of empirical data, which is stylistically discouraged in most scholarly fields where conclusions are subject to further testing.
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Q19Choose the grammatically correct version: 'The data were collected, and then the researchers analysed the findings.'
Answer: B. The data were collected, and then the findings were analysed.
Maintaining a consistent passive voice across coordinated clauses ('The data were collected... the findings were analysed') ensures thematic cohesion. This avoids an unnecessary shift in focus from the research objects to the agents (the researchers). Using 'the findings were analysed' completes the passive sequence, resulting in a smoother and more professional academic flow.
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Q20Choose the grammatically correct version: 'The study aims to evaluate the process, to reduce costs, and increasing efficiency.'
Answer: A. The study aims to evaluate the process, to reduce costs, and to increase efficiency.
Parallel structure requires all elements in a list to share the same grammatical form. The full infinitive pattern established by 'to evaluate' and 'to reduce' must be completed by 'to increase.' Option 3 mixes an infinitive marker ('to') with an -ing verb ('increasing'), which is ungrammatical. Option 2 uses a bare -ing verb 'increasing,' which breaks the infinitive pattern. Option 4 mixes 'aims at' (which requires an -ing verb) with infinitives ('to evaluate'), producing an ungrammatical and inconsistent structure.
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Q21Identify the agreement error: 'The analysis of the various environmental factors have revealed a complex pattern.'
Answer: A. have
The subject of the sentence is the singular noun 'analysis,' not the plural noun 'factors' within the prepositional phrase. Therefore, the singular auxiliary 'has' is required. Using 'have' is a common subject-verb agreement error caused by 'proximity attraction,' where the verb incorrectly agrees with the nearest noun rather than the actual head of the subject phrase.
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Q22Choose the grammatically correct version: 'The results indicate that the system failed. We must fix this immediately!'
Answer: C. The results indicate that the system failed. Immediate corrective action is required.
Formal reporting avoids exclamation marks, imperatives ('fix it now'), and emotive or subjective calls to action ('We must...'). The passive construction 'Immediate corrective action is required' maintains an objective, professional tone while conveying the necessary urgency through nominalisation ('corrective action') and the passive voice.
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Q23Choose the grammatically correct version: 'Water may freeze at 0°C under standard pressure.'
Answer: C. Water freezes at 0°C under standard pressure.
Established scientific facts and physical constants are expressed using the present simple without modal hedging. 'Water freezes' states a universal law. Using modals like 'may,' 'could,' or 'might' suggests uncertainty or only a possibility, which is incorrect for a known natural law under defined standard conditions.
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Q24Choose the grammatically correct version: 'The company's profits didn't improve last quarter.'
Answer: D. The company's profits did not improve last quarter.
In formal and academic writing, contractions (didn't, aren't) are avoided in favor of full forms. 'Did not improve' is the correct formal full form. 'Have not improved' is grammatically incorrect here because the specific past time marker 'last quarter' requires the past simple, not the present perfect.
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Q25Choose the grammatically correct version: 'The report highlights the need for better training, more funding, and that we need more staff.'
Answer: C. The report highlights the need for better training, more funding, and more staff.
grammatical parallelism is required in lists. 'Better training' and 'more funding' are noun phrases; therefore, the final element must also be a noun phrase ('more staff'). 'To hire more staff' (infinitive phrase) and 'that we need more staff' (clause) break the pattern, leading to a loss of clarity and formal precision. 'Staffing increases' is a noun phrase but 'more staff' better matches the 'more [noun]' pattern.
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Q26Choose the correct sentence: 'In 2015, the study has started. Researchers collect data for two years.'
Answer: C. In 2015, the study started. Researchers collected data for two years.
Specific past-time markers like 'In 2015' necessitate the use of the past simple ('started'). The subsequent action—collecting data for two years—also occurred in the past and is a finished period, requiring 'collected.' The present perfect ('has started') and present simple ('collect') are incorrect for actions completed in a finished past period.
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Q27Identify the agreement error: 'Neither the manager nor the employees was aware of the policy change.'
Answer: C. was
In 'neither... nor' constructions, the verb must agree with the closest subject—this is known as the rule of proximity. Since 'employees' is plural and is the closer subject, the plural verb 'were' is required. 'Was' is the error because it incorrectly attempts to agree with the more distant singular subject 'manager.'
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Q28Choose the grammatically correct version: 'The theory explains the phenomenon. It's a total game-changer for the field.'
Answer: C. The theory explains the phenomenon, representing a significant advancement for the field.
Academic writing requires the avoidance of colloquialisms and subjective idioms such as 'game-changer,' 'huge deal,' or 'pretty cool.' The use of a participle phrase ('representing a significant advancement...') provides a formal, objective way to elaborate on the importance of the theory, maintaining a professional register.
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Q29Choose the grammatically correct version: 'The data seem to suggest that the hypothesis might be potentially correct.'
Answer: B. The data suggest that the hypothesis might be correct.
Excessive hedging, or 'double hedging' (using 'seem,' 'suggest,' 'might,' and 'potentially' together), weakens the argument and is considered stylistically poor. 'The data suggest that the hypothesis might be correct' provides the best balance of academic caution and clear communication without redundant layers of uncertainty.
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Q30Choose the grammatically correct version: 'The survey was conducted, and then we analysed the results.'
Answer: A. The survey was conducted, and the results were analysed.
To maintain a consistent thematic focus and formal tone, the passive voice should be used consistently across coordinated clauses. 'The survey was conducted, and the results were analysed' avoids shifting the focus from the study's components to the researchers (the agents), ensuring a more cohesive and impersonal narrative.
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Q31In a research paper, choose the sentence that focuses on the agent (researchers).
Answer: C. The researchers identified a new species of bacteria.
The active voice ('The researchers identified...') explicitly foregrounds the agent by placing 'The researchers' in the subject position. Passive constructions ('was identified') and nominalisations ('The identification of...') shift the focus to the discovery or the process itself, making the agent secondary or omitted entirely.
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Q32In a research paper, choose the sentence that focuses on the result (the finding).
Answer: C. The anomaly was discovered during testing.
The passive voice ('The anomaly was discovered...') focuses on the result by placing the object of discovery in the subject position. This is standard in scientific writing when the finding is more significant than the individuals who performed the work. Active sentences ('The team discovered...') foreground the researchers instead.
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Q33Choose the more compact information packaging (NP vs Relative Clause).
Answer: B. The data collected in phase two were analysed.
A reduced relative clause ('The data collected in phase two') omits the relative pronoun and the verb 'to be,' resulting in a more compact noun phrase. This strategy is preferred in academic writing to make the text more concise and remove unnecessary words.
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Q34Choose the more explicit information packaging (Relative Clause).
Answer: D. The policy that was implemented last week is under review.
A full relative clause ('The policy that was implemented last week') is the most explicit form of information packaging, clearly defining the relationship between the noun and its modifier. While reduced forms like 'The policy implemented last week...' are more concise, the full clause is often used when maximum clarity or formal emphasis is required.
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Q35Choose the correct discourse marker for logical consequence. 'The test results were inconclusive. ___ we decided to repeat the experiment.'
Answer: C. Therefore
The discourse marker 'Therefore' signals a logical consequence or result (repeating the test) based on the preceding information (inconclusive results). 'However,' 'Nevertheless,' and 'Although' all signal contrast or concession, which is logically incorrect in this cause-and-effect relationship.
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Q36Choose the correct discourse marker for contrast. 'The initial hypothesis was strong. ___ the results did not support it.'
Answer: D. However
'However' is used to introduce a contrast or a contradiction to the first statement. In this context, the strength of the hypothesis is contrasted with its failure to be supported by results. 'Thus,' 'Consequently,' and 'Hence' are markers of result, which would be logically inconsistent here.
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Q37Select the sentence using a cleft structure for emphasis.
Answer: A. It was the committee that approved the budget proposal.
An 'it-cleft' sentence ('It was [X] that [Y]') is a structure used to emphasize a specific part of a sentence—in this case, 'the committee.' This structure is more emphatic than standard active or passive versions because it contrasts the actual doer with any other possibilities.
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Q38Select the sentence using inversion for formal emphasis.
Answer: C. Rarely have the findings been published so quickly.
Subject-auxiliary inversion ('Rarely have the findings been...') following a negative or restrictive adverbial ('Rarely') is a formal rhetorical device used to add emphasis. This structure is more sophisticated than standard word order and is characteristic of a high-level academic or literary register.
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Q39Choose the sentence using a participle phrase for conciseness.
Answer: B. Chosen for the study, the participants were interviewed.
The past participle phrase 'Chosen for the study' functions as a concise adjectival modifier at the beginning of the sentence. This avoids the use of a full relative clause ('who were chosen'), resulting in a more varied and sophisticated sentence structure common in formal prose.
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Q40Choose the correct discourse marker for logical conclusion. 'The data were statistically significant. ___ the findings are considered reliable.'
Answer: B. Thus
The transition 'Thus' signals a logical conclusion or a result that follows directly from the preceding evidence. The reliability of the findings is the logical outcome of the data's statistical significance. 'Although,' 'Despite,' and 'While' all signal concession or contrast, which contradicts the logic of this sequence.
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Q41Select the sentence using existential 'there' to introduce a new topic.
Answer: D. There are several factors influencing the outcome.
Existential 'there' acts as a dummy subject to introduce new information (the 'several factors') into the discourse. This is an effective information-packaging strategy used to set the scene before providing further details. The other options foreground the 'outcome' or the 'factors' directly, whereas 'There are...' is the standard way to introduce a new topic.
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Q42Select the sentence using fronting for thematic cohesion.
Answer: A. On time, the department submitted the report.
Fronting involves moving an adverbial phrase ('On time') to the sentence-initial position to link it more closely to a previous context or to emphasize that specific detail. This departure from standard subject-verb-object order helps maintain thematic flow within a paragraph by highlighting the timeliness of the action.
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Q43Choose the non-restrictive relative clause.
Answer: C. The equipment, which was damaged in the fire, was replaced.
A non-restrictive relative clause (marked by commas and the relative pronoun 'which') provides extra, non-essential information about a noun that is already clearly identified. In contrast, restrictive clauses (no commas, often using 'that') are essential for identifying which specific piece of equipment is being discussed.
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Q44Choose the correct discourse marker for addition. 'The study highlights the benefits of exercise. ___ it suggests that diet plays a role.'
Answer: D. Moreover
'Moreover' is an additive discourse marker used to introduce a new point that reinforces or expands on the current topic. It adds a second finding (diet) to the first (exercise). 'However,' 'Nevertheless,' and 'Yet' are contrastive markers used for contradiction or concession, not for adding supporting information.
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Q45Choose the grammatically correct version: 'The methodology is sound. It's a great piece of work!'
Answer: A. The methodology is sound, representing a rigorous contribution to the field.
Academic register avoids subjective, colloquial, or overly enthusiastic praise such as 'awesome,' 'quite good,' or 'great piece of work.' Using an adjectival participle phrase like 'representing a rigorous contribution to the field' provides a precise, analytical evaluation using formal vocabulary appropriate for scholarly discourse.
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