USE OF ENGLISH

Master English grammar and vocabulary with our Grade 11 Use of English worksheet!

1. Complete the text with the correct answer, A, B or C. Do you have any annoying habits? I know that when I was younger I (1) _ my fingernails, especially when I was nervous. I would take a bite of one nail until it was as short as it could be and then I (2) _ on to the next one. My mother (3)_ to buy some nail varnish that tasted disgusting, but in the end I managed to stop doing it on my own. My younger brother (4)_ his nails, but whenever I say something to him, he denies it. I’m sure it’s nerves. He’ll have a week or two when he doesn’t do it much and then an exam or something (5)_ and he gets nervous and attacks his nails again. I can’t complain though as I was the same!1. bite would bite used to bite 2. would move moved will move 3. was being threatened had threatened was always threatening 4. was always biting is constantly biting is biting always 5. would come around comes around will come around 2. Complete the text with the correct answer, A, B or C.My younger sister is driving me mad. She’s just turned 15 and she and her friends are obsessed with (1) _. They buy all the latest magazines and follow the top designers online. When they find out that something new is now (2)_ , they have to go and buy it. They don’t mind if it’s (3)_ or a more long-lasting trend; it becomes an essential wardrobe item. It’s funny because at the moment scarves seem to be (4)_ and I have quite a collection. So, my sister is always asking if she can borrow one. I wouldn’t mind if she gave them back, but she always forgets that part of the deal! I can remember when I enjoyed (5)_ , so I do understand. I just hope it doesn’t last too long. There are so many other things she could be doing instead of worrying about what to wear.1. fashion world the world of fashion fashion’s world 2. the high fashion in high fashion the height of fashion 3. a passing fashion a fashion pass passing in fashion 4. back to fashion back on fashion back in fashion 5. doing a fashion statement making a fashion statement being a fashion statement 3. Complete the dialogue with these words. There is one extra word. A: So, what did you think of the film in the end? B: Well, I’m glad you dragged me to see it. It wasn’t as boring as I thought it would be. I’m still a bit (1) sceptical about how much of it is true though.A: Really? I think this director is known for trying to portray events as they happened. I would like to think that he got his facts from a (2) reliable source.B: Maybe it’s just me. I’m probably too (3) cynical about these things. But do you honestly think that in the 1800s an experienced explorer like that would have been so (4) gullible as to believe the story about the hidden treasure?A: I know, that part seemed a little far-fetched, but I’m usually quite (5) tolerant of minor discrepancies like that as long as the basic story is based on the truth. 4. Choose the correct alternatives to complete the text.Charles Darwin started studying medicine at Edinburgh University, but he had no real desire to be a doctor like his father and neglected his studies. His father, being perhaps a little (1) naive suggested he move to Cambridge University with the idea of working towards a clerical position. This was another career that held little interest for Charles and it was during this time that he became (2) gullible of the theory of the world’s creation. In 1831, he joined a scientific expedition, which lasted five years and took him around South America. Initially taken on as a companion, he worked so hard collecting specimens, cataloguing all his finds and establishing theories that he became the ship’s naturalist and was considered a very (3) trustworthy member of the crew. On his return, he wrote his book On the Origin of Species, which became a best-seller. Not everyone was (4) cynical of his theory of natural selection but, perhaps surprisingly, a large selection of the educated classes were (5) tolerant towards his viewpoints. One thing is certain, his writing made him famous and made history.1. naive cynical 2. gullible sceptical 3. trustworthy tolerant 4. cynical supportive 5. tolerant reliable 5. Complete the text with the correct answer, A, B, C or D.Have you ever wondered how the idea for canned food (1)_ ? During the Napoleonic Wars in the 1800s, while the British Army (2) _ to supply its troops with the food they needed, an Englishman came up with an idea that is now commonplace in the kitchen. Peter Durand learnt that the French preserved a lot of food in (3) _ jars and he thought this was a good idea. He was granted a patent for this process in 1810. However, he was a little (4) _about using something as fragile as glass, so in his process the raw vegetables or meat were placed in a tin can. They were then boiled in order to preserve them and they could last months in storage. Durand (5) _ the process of canning; instead he sold his patent to Donkin and Hall, who set up a canning factory to supply troops. The first cans produced were heavy and required a knife or hammer to open them. People (6) _ this because there was no other option and the tin opener that we know today wasn’t invented until 1925!1. come about came about had come about was coming about 2. did struggle had struggled was struggling were struggling 3. strong, glass, large large, glass, strong glass, strong, large strong, large, glass 4. sceptical cynical naive reluctant 5. hadn’t continued wasn’t continuing didn’t continue continued 6. put with this up put up with this put this up with put up this with