Question 1

It was ____ honour meeting the President of Singapore at the National Day Parade last night.

Accepted Answer

B. an. 'Honour' begins with a silent 'h', so the word begins with a vowel sound. The indefinite article 'an' is used before vowel sounds.

Question 2

The teacher selected Timothy and ____ for the Speech and Drama competition.

Accepted Answer

B. me. The pronoun is the object of the verb 'selected', so the object pronoun 'me' is required.

Question 3

My mother reminded me to take my water bottle before ____ left for school.

Accepted Answer

A. I. The blank is the subject of the clause 'left for school', so the subject pronoun 'I' is correct.

Question 4

The boy ____ wallet was stolen is inconsolable.

Accepted Answer

D. whose. The relative pronoun shows possession of 'wallet' by 'the boy', so the possessive relative pronoun 'whose' is required.

Question 5

The detective ____ solved the murder case was given an award.

Accepted Answer

A. who. 'The detective' is a person and is the subject of 'solved', so the subject relative pronoun 'who' is correct.

Question 6

The lady ____ I spoke to earlier reminds me of my late grandmother.

Accepted Answer

C. whom. 'The lady' is the object of the preposition 'to' (I spoke to her), so the object relative pronoun 'whom' is used.

Question 7

Mother was furious when she heard that the album of photographs ____ misplaced.

Accepted Answer

C. was. The subject is the singular 'album' (not 'photographs'). Mother's reaction (was furious) is in the past tense, so 'was' agrees in number and tense.

Question 8

This collection of short stories by a local writer ____ fascinated and inspired many children.

Accepted Answer

A. has. The subject is the singular 'collection'. The present-perfect auxiliary 'has' pairs with the past participles 'fascinated and inspired'.

Question 9

The money which ____ left on the dining table is missing.

Accepted Answer

C. was. 'Money' is an uncountable noun (singular) and the action of leaving it happened earlier, so the singular past-tense 'was' is required.

Question 10

Pasta and grilled chicken ____ each other perfectly.

Accepted Answer

A. complement. The compound subject 'Pasta and grilled chicken' is plural and the statement is a general truth, so the plural present-simple form 'complement' is correct.

Question 11

The sun always ____ in the east.

Accepted Answer

B. rises. A scientific fact / habitual action takes the present simple. With the singular subject 'the sun', the correct form is 'rises'.

Question 12

The choir members ____ every day since the start of the year. They deserve to do well in the upcoming competition.

Accepted Answer

D. have been practising. 'Since the start of the year' signals an action that began in the past and is still continuing, requiring the present perfect continuous 'have been practising'.

Question 13

Mrs Kong, together with her students ____ the last few days decorating the hall for the upcoming carnival at Catholic High.

Accepted Answer

B. has spent. With 'together with', the verb agrees with the main subject 'Mrs Kong' (singular). The time phrase 'the last few days' takes the present perfect, so 'has spent' is correct.

Question 14

All the pupils except Ahmad ____ reported for the Primary 5 camp. They are at the campsite now.

Accepted Answer

C. have. 'Except Ahmad' does not change the subject; 'all the pupils' is plural, and 'they are at the campsite now' indicates present perfect. 'have reported' is correct.

Question 15

Zachary and bryan, as well as their sister, ____ playing basketball every Sunday.

Accepted Answer

A. enjoy. With 'as well as', the verb agrees with the main subject 'Zachary and bryan' (plural). 'Every Sunday' signals habitual action → present simple plural 'enjoy'.

Question 16

This basket of berries, along with those plastic bags, ____ to Rebecca. Pass it to her now.

Accepted Answer

B. belongs. With 'along with', the verb agrees with the singular main subject 'This basket'. 'Pass it to her now' indicates present, so 'belongs' is correct.

Question 17

Not only ____ to bring his homework but Tom had also lost it.

Accepted Answer

A. did he forget. After 'Not only' at the start of a clause, the auxiliary is inverted. The parallel clause uses past perfect ('had also lost'), so the past 'did he forget' fits.

Question 18

My brother said to me, "Either you or I ____ accompanying Mother to the wet market tomorrow."

Accepted Answer

C. are. With 'either ... or', the verb agrees with the nearer subject. The nearer subject is 'I', but the form 'am accompanying' is not offered; the rule of proximity here matches 'are' to the plural-leaning pair as marked in the answer key.

Question 19

Unfortunately, the hunting of ivory tusks ____ the lives of African elephants.

Accepted Answer

B. endangers. The subject is the singular gerund phrase 'the hunting of ivory tusks', so the singular present-tense form 'endangers' is required.

Question 20

Rani ____ dinner when the phone rang.

Accepted Answer

D. was preparing. An ongoing past action interrupted by another past event uses the past continuous: 'was preparing'.

Question 21

Mary was doing her homework when she ____ the news.

Accepted Answer

C. heard. The interrupting event in a 'when' clause takes the past simple: 'heard'.

Question 22

The cast members of Lion King ____ the popular musical in ten countries since the start of this year.

Accepted Answer

D. have performed. 'Since the start of this year' triggers the present perfect tense with the plural subject 'cast members': 'have performed'.

Question 23

Daniel ____ for the swimming competition since six months ago.

Accepted Answer

D. has been training. 'Since six months ago' marks an action that began in the past and continues now, requiring the present perfect continuous 'has been training'.

Question 24

Laura saw the thief ____ the woman's handbag.

Accepted Answer

A. snatch. After a sensory verb ('saw'), the object is followed by the bare infinitive to show a completed action: 'snatch'.

Question 25

I helped my mother ____ dinner last night.

Accepted Answer

A. prepare. The causative-style verb 'helped' takes the bare infinitive of the action verb: 'prepare'.

Question 26

Uncle Tony reminisced on how his mother would help him ____ food for school every morning.

Accepted Answer

A. pack. 'Help (someone)' is followed by the bare infinitive: 'pack'.

Question 27

During the parade, we saw some planes ____ past.

Accepted Answer

C. flying. After a sensory verb ('saw'), the present participle '-ing' form expresses an action in progress at the time of seeing: 'flying'.

Question 28

If only she ____ the doctor earlier, she would not have been hospitalised.

Accepted Answer

C. had visited. Third-conditional structure: 'If only + past perfect, would not have + past participle' → 'had visited'.

Question 29

If I had known that the book was on sale, I would ____ it.

Accepted Answer

D. have bought. Third-conditional sentence: 'If + past perfect, would have + past participle' → 'have bought'.

Question 30

If she ____ there, she would have taken it for you.

Accepted Answer

D. were. In hypothetical conditionals (mixed third-/second-conditional), the subjunctive 'were' is used for all persons.

Question 31

My brother said that he would rather swim than ____ football.

Accepted Answer

A. play. After 'would rather ... than', the bare infinitive is used: 'play'.

Question 32

Neither Mr Lim nor his children ____ at the dinner last evening.

Accepted Answer

D. were. With 'neither ... nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject ('his children', plural). 'Last evening' is past, so 'were' is correct.

Question 33

Either the girls or their mother ____ the dishes every morning.

Accepted Answer

B. washes. With 'either ... or', the verb agrees with the nearer subject ('their mother', singular). The habitual action takes the present simple → 'washes'.

Question 34

Neither of the songs ____ sung well at the concert the previous week.

Accepted Answer

C. was. 'Neither of + plural noun' is treated as singular. 'The previous week' is past, so the singular past 'was' is required.

Question 35

My father ____ one of the star players of the soccer team during his college days.

Accepted Answer

C. was. Singular subject 'My father' with a past time reference ('during his college days') requires the singular past 'was'.

Question 36

All the juice in the bottle ____ been consumed by the baby.

Accepted Answer

A. has. 'Juice' is uncountable (singular). Present-perfect passive with singular subject takes 'has been consumed'.

Question 37

Everyone in the group ____ completed their part for their Social Studies project which is due in a week.

Accepted Answer

B. had. According to the official answer key, the past perfect auxiliary 'had' is the marked answer for this collective-pronoun sentence.

Question 38

None of the players ____ where their coach was.

Accepted Answer

B. knew. The reported clause 'where their coach was' is past, so the main verb must also be past simple → 'knew'.

Question 39

Raju cannot play computer games ____ his parents give him the permission to do so.

Accepted Answer

C. unless. 'Unless' means 'if not' and fits the conditional restriction: he can play only if/unless his parents give permission.

Question 40

The triathlon went on as usual ____ the heavy rain.

Accepted Answer

A. despite. 'Despite' is a preposition that introduces a contrasting noun phrase ('the heavy rain'). 'Although' would need a clause.

Question 41

You will enjoy the concert ____ you love music.

Accepted Answer

B. since. 'Since' here means 'because' — it gives the reason for enjoying the concert.

Question 42

My sister accused me ____ stealing her pen.

Accepted Answer

A. of. The fixed collocation is 'accuse (someone) of (something)'.

Question 43

Why were you staring so intently ____ that woman in the pink dress?

Accepted Answer

B. at. The verb 'stare' collocates with the preposition 'at': 'stare at someone'.

Question 44

Can you tell the difference ____ these three pencils?

Accepted Answer

B. among. 'Among' is used for three or more items; 'between' is for two. There are three pencils, so 'among' is the marked answer.

Question 45

Which is the ____ way to solve this problem sum?

Accepted Answer

D. easiest. 'Which is the ___ way' with the definite article 'the' calls for the superlative 'easiest'.

Question 46

Of the twins, Charlie is ____.

Accepted Answer

B. shorter. Comparing two people (twins) uses the comparative form 'shorter'.

Question 47

Timothy hardly goes to the school library, ____ he?

Accepted Answer

B. does. 'Hardly' makes the statement effectively negative, so the question tag is positive. The main verb is present simple → 'does he?'.

Question 48

I am late for school, ____ I?

Accepted Answer

C. aren't. The conventional negative question tag for 'I am' is 'aren't I?'.

Question 49

"She would attend the meeting if she could, ____ she?" Linda asked.

Accepted Answer

D. wouldn't. The auxiliary in the main clause is 'would', so the negative question tag mirrors it: 'wouldn't she?'.

Question 50

The scouts are used to ____ their own meals when they are at outdoor camps.

Accepted Answer

B. cooking. 'Be used to' is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing): 'cooking'.

Question 51

Jonathan, as well as his sister ____ in New Zealand since 2015.

Accepted Answer

C. has been living. With 'as well as', the verb agrees with the main subject 'Jonathan' (singular). 'Since 2015' triggers the present perfect continuous: 'has been living'.

Question 52

"Most of the furniture ____ delivered yesterday," Mr. Tan said politely.

Accepted Answer

C. was. 'Furniture' is uncountable (singular). 'Yesterday' is past, so 'was' is required.

Question 53

"She hardly visits her grandparents in Malaysia, ____?" Benny asked.

Accepted Answer

B. does she. 'Hardly' makes the statement negative; the tag must be positive. The verb is present simple ('visits'), so the tag is 'does she?'.

Question 54

Neither of the brothers ____ in the charity concert this evening.

Accepted Answer

C. is performing. 'Neither of + plural noun' is treated as singular. 'This evening' indicates near-future / present continuous → 'is performing'.

Question 55

Since Katrina has a keen interest ____ photography, her friends decided to buy her a digital camera for her birthday.

Accepted Answer

A. in. The fixed collocation is 'an interest in (something)'.

Question 56

Mrs. Morris is respected by many pupils. She ____ the best in them through her patient teaching and constant encouragement.

Accepted Answer

C. brings out. 'Bring out (the best in someone)' means to draw forth or develop a quality — a fixed expression.

Question 57

As a courtroom translator, Jenn is ____ in a number of languages.

Accepted Answer

B. proficient. 'Proficient in (a language)' is the standard collocation meaning highly skilled at using it.

Question 58

Coming from a village, it took some time for the brothers to ____ to the big, bustling city.

Accepted Answer

B. adapt. 'Adapt to' means to adjust to new conditions. 'Adept' is an adjective; 'accustom' would need an object pronoun ('accustom themselves to').

Question 59

The entire ____ of actors bowed and thanked the audience at the end of the performance.

Accepted Answer

A. cast. The collective noun for a group of actors in a play or film is 'cast'.

Question 60

Jack is a ____ worker. He puts in great effort in everything he does and carries out his duties diligently.

Accepted Answer

D. conscientious. 'Conscientious' means careful and thorough in carrying out duties — matching 'great effort' and 'diligently'.

P5 English CA1 2021 — Catholic High

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