Free International English Olympiad Basic Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The magician had clever_______ concealed several rabbits in his hat.
- fully
- ness
- ly (Correct answer)
- ity
Correct answer: ly
Adding '-ly' to the adjective 'clever' forms the adverb 'cleverly,' which correctly modifies the verb 'concealed' to describe how the magician performed the action. The suffixes '-fully,' '-ness,' and '-ity' create different word forms (another adjective, a noun, or a noun), none of which function as adverbs modifying a verb.
Question 2: Choose the correct expression.
- Practice makes perfect (Correct answer)
- Precaution makes a man perfect
- A perfect man does practice
- Perfection make a man perfect.
Correct answer: Practice makes perfect
'Practice makes perfect' is the correct traditional English proverb meaning that repeated effort leads to mastery. The other options either alter the subject, reverse the logic, or change the verb in ways that do not match the established expression.
Question 3: Choose the odd phrase.
- Take off
- Take up
- Take on
- Take it (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Take it
Take off, take up, and take on are all true phrasal verbs — multi-word verbs with distinct idiomatic meanings (depart, occupy/begin, accept a challenge). 'Take it' is simply the verb 'take' followed by a pronoun object and does not form a phrasal verb with a specialized meaning.
Question 4: The ________ is fine today. Let's go for a picnic.
- weather (Correct answer)
- wheather
- whether
- wether
Correct answer: weather
'Weather' is the correctly spelled word for atmospheric conditions. 'Wheather' is simply a misspelling, 'whether' is a conjunction used to introduce alternatives, and 'wether' is a castrated ram — none of these fit the sentence about going on a picnic.
Question 5: This history test is so difficult as I think I'm going to fail.
- This history test is so difficult
- as I think (Correct answer)
- I'm going to fail
- No error
Correct answer: as I think
The error is 'as I think' because 'so' requires the conjunction 'that' to complete the result clause — the correct phrasing is 'so difficult that I think I'm going to fail.' Using 'as' breaks the required 'so...that' correlative structure in English.
Question 6: Choose the incorrect sentence.
- Have yo ever been to Burma?
- Was anybody injured in the accident?
- How long have you been knowing him? (Correct answer)
- When was the telephone invented?
Correct answer: How long have you been knowing him?
'Know' is a stative verb expressing a mental state, not an action, so it cannot be used in the continuous (progressive) tense. 'How long have you been knowing him?' is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is 'How long have you known him?' The other three sentences are all grammatically correct.
Question 7: Choose the right word. <br> He drove the car ______ to avoid missing the train.
- outside
- enough
- rarely
- quickly (Correct answer)
Correct answer: quickly
'Quickly' is the correct adverb of manner to describe driving fast in response to time pressure. 'Outside' describes location, 'enough' implies sufficiency rather than speed, and 'rarely' describes frequency — none of these convey the urgency of hurrying to catch a train.
Question 8: The modern day noodles are made of ________.
- millet
- grains
- millet and wheat flour
- wheat flour (Correct answer)
Correct answer: wheat flour
Modern noodles are made of wheat flour, which is a refined, processed form of grain that gives noodles their characteristic smooth texture and elasticity. Millet alone was used in ancient noodle-making but is not the modern standard. 'Grains' is too vague and imprecise, and 'millet and wheat flour' describes an older or combined recipe rather than the standard modern version.
Question 9: We know that noodles were made thousands of years ago in China because _____.
- Chinese claim that they invented noodles
- the oldest noodles have been discovered in China (Correct answer)
- historians say so
- Chinese still eat noodles
Correct answer: the oldest noodles have been discovered in China
The strongest evidence that noodles were made in China thousands of years ago is that the oldest known noodles were physically discovered there — this is direct archaeological proof. Chinese claims of invention or historians' statements are not as definitive as actual physical evidence. The fact that Chinese people still eat noodles today says nothing about ancient history.
Question 10: Choose the most suitable sentence. <br> Mary: Why are you in such a hurry to go home today? <br> Tess: ___________________ Mary: I am sure you are eager to see her.
- I will go when I like
- Going to my home is not difficult because my sister will come with me
- My aunt is coming home from London after two years (Correct answer)
- I am always in a hurry to go home
Correct answer: My aunt is coming home from London after two years
Mary's reply — 'I am sure you are eager to see her' — requires that Tess introduced a specific female visitor in her answer. 'My aunt is coming home from London after two years' is the only option that mentions a female person (the aunt) arriving, which prompts Mary's response. The other options either show rudeness or mention a sister arriving with Tess rather than someone Tess is going home to see.
Question 11: Choose the most suitable sentence. <br> Tom: Jane, where were you yesterday? I had come home and I found it locked. <br> Jane:_____________________ <br> Tome: I hope you found her hale and hearty.
- I like going out for long walks with my dog
- I'd gone to visit my grandmother along with my parents (Correct answer)
- We could have gone cycling along Orchard Road
- My house was locked throughout this summer
Correct answer: I'd gone to visit my grandmother along with my parents
Tom's follow-up — 'I hope you found her hale and hearty' — means Jane must have mentioned visiting a female person who might be unwell or elderly. 'I'd gone to visit my grandmother along with my parents' is the only option that explains Jane's absence and introduces a female (grandmother) whose health Tom naturally inquires about. The other options don't explain a visit to any female person.
Free International English Olympiad Basic Questions and Answers
The magician had clever_______ concealed several rabbits in his hat.