Diagnostic Tests of English Skills 40
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS OF ENGLISH SKILLS
Good English skills are vital for every business professional, and Business Communication Today stresses
knowledge and practice of correct usage—most notably in Chapter 6, “Completing Business Messages,”
and in the “Handbook of Grammar, Mechanics, and Usage.”
We’ve provided two 50-question tests to help you assess students’ skills. The first appears in the
Handbook and is also included as Test A on the following two pages. The second test, labeled Test B,
follows the same structure as Test A but with a 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:
In addition, each of the 50 questions is keyed to a specific numbered section in the Handbook (shown
here), so students can quickly find more information on each topic.
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)
1.
F
6.
A
11.
B
16.
B
21.
B
26.
A
31.
B
36.
A
41.
A
46.
B
2.
D
7.
B
12.
A
17.
A
22.
B
27.
B
32.
A
37.
B
42.
B
47.
B
3.
A
8.
A
13.
A
18.
D
23.
A
28.
B
33.
C
38.
B
43.
A
48.
A
4.
B
9.
B
14.
B
19.
E
24.
A
29.
A
34.
B
39.
A
44.
A
49.
B
5.
E
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.
11.
B
16.
B
21.
26.
B
31.
36.
A
41.
A
46.
2.
G
7.
12.
A
17.
A
22.
27.
A
32.
37.
B
42.
B
47.
3.
D
8.
13.
B
18.
D
23.
28.
B
33.
38.
A
43.
B
48.
4.
B
9.
14.
B
19.
E
24.
29.
A
34.
39.
A
44.
A
49.
5.
E
10.
15.
A
20.
C
25.
30.
B
35.
40.
B
45.
B
50.
Diagnostic Tests of English Skills 41
ENGLISH SKILLS TEST A
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
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.
_____ 8. Of the five candidates we interviewed yesterday, (A. who, B. whom) do you believe is the best
choice?
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
____ 16. The number of employees who took the buyout offer was much higher than expected, now the
entire company is understaffed.
____ 17. The leader in Internet-only banking.
____ 18. Diamond doesn’t actually sell financial products rather it acts as an intermediary.
____ 19. Helen’s proposal is for not only the present but also for the future.
____ 20. When purchasing luxury products, quality is more important than price for consumers.
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21. A. What do you think of the ad slogan “Have it your way?”
22. A. Send copies to Jackie Cross, Uniline, Brad Nardi, Peale & Associates, and Tom
23. A. They’ve recorded 22 complaints since yesterday, all of them from long–time employees.
24. A. We are looking for two qualities in applicants: experience with computers and an interest
25. A. At the Center for the Blind the clients we serve have lost vision, due to a wide variety of
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
28. A. Only eight banks in this country—maybe nine can handle a transaction of this
29. A. Instead of focusing on high-growth companies, we targeted mature businesses with only
30. A. According to board president Damian Cabaza “having a crisis communication plan is a
high priority.”
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31. A. At her previous employer, Mary-Anne worked in Marketing Communications and Human
32. A. By fall, we’ll have a dozen locations between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
33. A. The Board applauded President Donlan upon her reelection for a fifth term.
34. A. If you want to travel to France, you need to be au courant with the business practices.
36. A. The maximum speed limit in most states is 65 mph.
40. A. We need six desks, eight file cabinets, and 12 trashcans.
B. We need 6 desks, 8 file cabinets, and 12 trashcans.
For items 41–50, write in each blank the letter of the word that best completes each sentence.
____ 41. Will having a degree (A. affect, B. effect) my chances for promotion?
____ 42. Try not to (A. loose, B. lose) this key; we will charge you a fee to replace it.
Diagnostic Tests of English Skills 44
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.
____ 2. For a browser, use either Safari or Firefox.
____ 3. With the weak economy, Blankcorp is forgoing dividends.
____ 4. Tell everyone that the conference has been canceled.
____ 5. Because they were late, they missed the most important part.
In the blanks for items 6–15, write the letter of the word or phrase that best completes each sentence.
_____ 6. Ask (A. Smithers’s, B. Smithers’) assistant about the travel vouchers.
_____ 7. Be sure to notify David and (A. me, B. myself) when the webpage goes live.
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
____ 16. Never run out of postage again, buy postage with Postage by Phone anytime day or night.
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21. A. Have you found “The Coming Shakeout in Takeout”?
22. A. Celebrities are recognizable and appealing as ad spokespeople, however they are often
23. A. Commercial banks were overseen by the Fed; the Office of the Comptroller of the
24. A. Studios giving presentations at the event include: Universal, Fox, New Line, and
25. A. 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.
27. A. How would you like to drive away in this shiny, brand-new car?
29. A. A badly executed ad campaign will get poor results.
30. A. The New York Stock Exchange, also known as the ‘Big Board’, is the world’s largest
For items 31–40, select the best choice from among those provided.
32. A. Blankcorp recommends that applicants take courses in marketing, accounting, and
management.