Free ACCUPLACER ESL Language Use Test Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the ACCUPLACER ESL Language Use Test practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Choose the pronoun that correctly completes the sentence: “Maya and ___ are preparing the report.”

   1. A.me
   2. B.ICorrect answer: B
   3. C.my
   4. D.myself

   Explanation: Purdue states, "Subjective case: pronouns used as subject." The compound subject Maya and I performs the action; me is an object form, my indicates possession, and myself is reflexive.

   Reference: Pronoun Case — Pronoun Case, three cases

2. 2Choose the phrase that makes the list parallel: “On weekends, Ali enjoys reading, cycling, and ___.”

   1. A.to swim
   2. B.swims
   3. C.swimmingCorrect answer: C
   4. D.he swims

   Explanation: Purdue illustrates parallel gerunds: "Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling." Swimming matches reading and cycling in form.

   Reference: Parallel Structure — Words and Phrases, -ing form

3. 3Which word completes the sentence about the current situation? “The teacher and the student ___ ready.”

   1. A.is
   2. B.areCorrect answer: B
   3. C.was
   4. D.were

   Explanation: Purdue says that when a subject contains nouns joined by and, "use a plural verb". Teacher and student are two people, so the present-tense verb is are.

   Reference: Making Subjects and Verbs Agree — Guideline 1, subjects joined by and

4. 4Choose the word that describes the room: “The room is ___.”

   1. A.quietly
   2. B.quietCorrect answer: B
   3. C.quietness
   4. D.quiets

   Explanation: Purdue illustrates a predicate adjective: "The dog is black." Quiet describes the room after is; quietly would describe an action.

   Reference: The Difference between Adjectives and Adverbs — Some Other Rules for Adjectives

5. 5Yesterday, a group visited the gardens. Choose the verb completing “Yesterday, we ___ the gardens.”

   1. A.visit
   2. B.visitedCorrect answer: B
   3. C.will visit
   4. D.visiting

   Explanation: Purdue lists "We visited the museum yesterday." as a simple-past example of completed action. Visited expresses the completed past event.

   Reference: Active Verb Tenses — Simple Past, Completed Action

6. 6Maya stayed home due to illness. Choose the connector: “Maya stayed home ___ she was ill.”

   1. A.because of
   2. B.becauseCorrect answer: B
   3. C.despite
   4. D.in spite of

   Explanation: Cambridge states that because "is used before a clause with a verb". She was ill is a clause and supplies the reason.

   Reference: Word patterns: because or because of? — Because or because of?

7. 7Choose the pronoun that completes the sentence in standard written English: “The librarian gave the books to Carlos and ___.”

   1. A.I
   2. B.myself
   3. C.meCorrect answer: C
   4. D.mine

   Explanation: OpenStax explains, "Remember that an object personal pronoun stays an object personal pronoun no matter how many other objects are part of it." The pronoun is part of the object of to, so me is appropriate.

   Reference: Editing Focus: Pronouns — Personal Pronouns, compound object

8. 8Which version maintains parallel clauses after the verb “said”?

   1. A.Mina said that she would call and that she would write.Correct answer: A
   2. B.Mina said that she would call and writing a letter.
   3. C.Mina said that she would call and to write a letter.
   4. D.Mina said that she would call and her writing a letter.

   Explanation: Purdue states, "A parallel structure that begins with clauses must keep on with clauses." Both coordinated elements in the correct sentence are that-clauses.

   Reference: Parallel Structure — Clauses

9. 9Bread and butter is being treated as one breakfast item. Which sentence uses the present-tense verb accordingly?

   1. A.Bread and butter are my breakfast.
   2. B.Bread and butter were my breakfast.
   3. C.Bread and butter is my breakfast.Correct answer: C
   4. D.Bread and butter have my breakfast.

   Explanation: OpenStax notes, "when the parts of the subject form a single idea or unit, the verb is singular". The food combination is treated as one item, so is is appropriate.

   Reference: Editing Focus: Subject-Verb Agreement — Is the subject compound?

10. 10Choose the word that describes how Lena checked the figures: “Lena checked the figures ___.”

    1. A.care
    2. B.careful
    3. C.carefullyCorrect answer: C
    4. D.carefulness

    Explanation: Purdue explains, "Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs." Carefully modifies the action checked.

    Reference: The Difference between Adjectives and Adverbs — The Basic Rules: Adverbs