Diagnostic Tests of English Skills
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS OF ENGLISH SKILLS
different set of questions. You can use one test as a pretest and one as a posttest, or you can use the two
tests for different groups of students.
The tests cover six areas of grammar, mechanics, and usage:
Questions 1-5: Parts of speech
Questions 6-15: Correct usage
Questions 16-20: Flaws in sentence structure
Questions 21-30: Punctuation
Questions 31-40: Mechanics
Questions 41-50 Vocabulary
Q
Handbook Section
Q
Handbook Section
Q
Handbook Section
Q
Handbook Section
Q
Handbook Section
1.
1.1–1.6
11.
1.3.3
21.
2.2
31.
3.1
41.
4.1
2.
1.1–1.6
12.
1.3.4
22.
2.4
32.
3.1
42.
4.1
3.
1.1–1.6
13.
1.3.4
23.
2.4
33.
3.1
43.
4.1
4.
1.1–1.6
14.
1.5.2
24.
2.5
34.
3.2
44.
4.1
5.
1.1–1.6
15.
1.6.1
25.
2.6
35.
3.3
45.
4.2
6.
1.1.4
16.
1.7.4
26.
2.6
36.
3.3
46.
4.2
7.
1.2.3
17.
1.7.3
27.
2.6
37.
3.3
47.
4.3
8.
1.2.4
18.
1.7.3
28.
2.7
38.
3.4
48.
4.3
9.
1.2.5
19.
1.7.7
29.
2.8
39.
3.4
49.
4.3
10.
1.2.6
20.
1.7.6
30.
2.10
40.
3.4
50.
4.3
ANSWER KEY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST A (and the test shown in the Handbook)
6.
A
11.
B
16.
B
21.
B
26.
A
31.
B
36.
A
41.
A
46.
B
7.
B
12.
A
17.
A
22.
B
27.
B
32.
A
37.
B
42.
B
47.
B
8.
A
13.
A
18.
D
23.
A
28.
B
33.
C
38.
B
43.
A
48.
A
9.
B
14.
B
19.
E
24.
A
29.
A
34.
B
39.
A
44.
A
49.
B
10.
B
15.
A
20.
C
25.
B
30.
B
35.
A
40.
B
45.
B
50.
A
ANSWER KEY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST B
1.
C
6.
A
11.
B
16.
B
21.
A
26.
B
31.
B
36.
A
41.
A
46.
A
2.
G
7.
A
12.
A
17.
A
22.
B
27.
A
32.
A
37.
B
42.
B
47.
B
3.
D
8.
B
13.
B
18.
D
23.
B
28.
B
33.
C
38.
A
43.
B
48.
A
4.
B
9.
A
14.
B
19.
E
24.
B
29.
A
34.
B
39.
A
44.
A
49.
B
5.
E
10.
A
15.
A
20.
C
25.
A
30.
B
35.
B
40.
B
45.
B
50.
B
Diagnostic Tests of English Skills
ENGLISH SKILLS TEST A
A. noun
E. adverb
B. pronoun
F. preposition
C. verb
G. conjunction
D. adjective
H. article
____ 4. See me after the meeting.
____ 5. Margaret, pressed for time, turned in unusually sloppy work.
For items 6–15, write the letter of the word or phrase that best completes each sentence.
_____ 6. (A. Russ’s, B. Russ’) laptop was stolen last week.
_____ 7. Speaking only for (A. me, B. myself), I think the new policy is discriminatory.
choice?
_____ 9. India has increased (A. it’s, B. its) imports of corn and rice.
_____ 11. If the IT department can’t (A. lie, B. lay) the fiber optic cable by March 1, the plant will not
open on schedule.
two decades.
_____ 14. Greg and Bernyce worked (A. good, B. well) together.
_____ 15. They distributed the supplies (A. among, B. between) the six staff members.
The following choices apply to items 16–20. Write in each blank the letter of the choice that best
describes the sentence structure problem with each item.
A. sentence fragment
D. fused sentence
B. comma splice
E. lack of parallelism
C. misplaced modifier
F. unclear antecedent
entire company is understaffed.
____ 17. The leader in Internet-only banking.
Diagnostic Tests of English Skills
Griesbaum, MatchMakers.
23. A. They’ve recorded 22 complaints since yesterday, all of them from long–time employees.
in people.
B. We are looking for two qualities in applicants; experience with computers and an interest
in people.
25. A. At the Center for the Blind the clients we serve have lost vision, due to a wide variety of
causes.
causes.
26. A. Replace your standard light bulbs with new, compact fluorescent bulbs.
27. A. Blue Cross of California may have changed its name to Anthem Blue Cross but the
magnitude.
B. Only eight banks in this country—maybe nine—can handle a transaction of this
magnitude.
29. A. Instead of focusing on high-growth companies, we targeted mature businesses with only
one or two people handling the decision making.
high priority.”
B. According to board president Damian Cabaza, “Having a crisis communication plan is a
high priority.”
Diagnostic Tests of English Skills
Resources.
32. A. By fall, we’ll have a dozen locations between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
B. By Fall, we’ll have a dozen locations between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.
B. As the company’s C.E.O., Thomas Spurgeon handles all dealings with the F.D.A.
36. A. The maximum speed limit in most states is 65 mph.
B. The maximum speed limit in most states is 65 m.p.h.
37. A. Sales of graphic novels increased nine percent between 2008 and 2009.
2010.
B. The organizing meeting is scheduled for July 27th, and the event will be held in January,
2010.
40. A. We need six desks, eight file cabinets, and 12 trashcans.
B. We need 6 desks, 8 file cabinets, and 12 trashcans.
____ 46. The bank agreed to (A. loan, B. lend) the Smiths $20,000 for their startup.
____ 47. The credit card company is (A. liable, B. likely) to increase your interest rate if you miss a
payment.
____ 48. The airline tries to (A. accommodate, B. accomodate) disabled passengers.
Diagnostic Tests of English Skills
ENGLISH SKILLS TEST B
The following choices apply to items 1–5. Write in each blank the letter of the choice that best describes
the part of speech that is underlined.
A. noun
E. adverb
B. pronoun
F. preposition
C. verb
G. conjunction
D. adjective
H. article
____ 1. The courier delivered the package on time.
_____ 7. Be sure to notify David and (A. me, B. myself) when the webpage goes live.
_____ 8. (A. Who, B. Whom) do you prefer to fill the PR position?
_____ 9. Ned Cato is a filmmaker (A. whose, B. who’s) first two documentaries both won festival
awards.
staggering.
The following choices apply to items 16–20. Write in each blank the letter of the choice that best
describes the sentence structure problem with each item.
A. sentence fragment
D. fused sentence
B. comma splice
E. lack of parallelism
C. misplaced modifier
F. unclear antecedent
amounts of money and selected data.
____ 19. The school is responsible for children’s safety in the classroom and playground.
____ 20. Before introducing a new product, research must be done.
Diagnostic Tests of English Skills
viewed with skepticism.
B. Celebrities are recognizable and appealing as ad spokespeople; however, they are often
viewed with skepticism.
23. A. Commercial banks were overseen by the Fed; the Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency; and state regulators.
Currency, and state regulators.
24. A. Studios giving presentations at the event include: Universal, Fox, New Line, and
City’s turnaround effort.
B. Mark J. Wattles, owner of the 32-store Ultimate Electronics chain criticized Circuit
26. A. The office, with the most windows, is reserved for the highest-level executive.
30. A. The New York Stock Exchange, also known as the ‘Big Board’, is the world’s largest
securities exchange.
management.
B. Blankcorp recommends that applicants take courses in Marketing, Accounting, and
Management.
Diagnostic Tests of English Skills
From Here?”
B. Today’s New York Times has a fascinating article titled “Where is the Internet Going from
Here?”
C. Today’s New York Times has a fascinating article titled “Where Is the Internet Going from
Here?”
OSHA, the EEOC, and the SEC.
36. A. The journal article was written by Robert Ingram et al.
B. The journal article was written by Robert Ingram et al.
37. A. The meeting is scheduled for three p.m.
B. The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
outside of the United States.
40. A. Tickets are available at three prices: $10, $12.50, and $15.
B. Tickets are available at three prices: $10.00, $12.50, and $15.00.
____ 46. His workday was interrupted by (A. continual, B. continuous) phone calls.
____ 47. We (A. anticipate, B. expect) sales to be slightly down in the next quarter.
____ 48. The (A. consensus, B. concensus) of the board was that the issue be tabled.
____ 49. You will get in trouble if you try to (A. exagerate, B. exaggerate) your product’s virtues.