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BMA Long Course study materials
BMA Long Course study resources

BMA Long Course practice questions

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Question 1English

Choose the correct form: She ____ in Dhaka since 2019.

  1. has lived Correct answer.
  2. lives
  3. is living
  4. lived

Explanation

The present perfect is used with 'since' to describe a situation that began in the past and continues up to now. The structure is has/have + past participle, so 'has lived' fits the time marker 'since 2019'.

Question 2English

Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.

  1. Each of the students having a book.
  2. Each of the student have a book.
  3. Each of the students have a book.
  4. Each of the students has a book. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Each' is a singular indefinite pronoun, so it takes a singular verb even when followed by a plural noun phrase. Hence 'each of the students has' is the grammatically correct agreement.

Question 3English

Choose the correct article: He is ____ honest man.

  1. a
  2. no article
  3. the
  4. an Correct answer.

Explanation

The article 'an' is used before a vowel sound, and 'honest' begins with a silent 'h' so the first sound is a vowel. Therefore 'an honest man' is correct.

Question 4English

Which word is a synonym of 'abundant'?

  1. distant
  2. fragile
  3. scarce
  4. plentiful Correct answer.

Explanation

'Abundant' means existing in large quantities, so 'plentiful' carries the same core meaning. Synonyms share meaning even though their spellings differ completely.

Question 5English

Choose the correct preposition: She is good ____ mathematics.

  1. on
  2. in
  3. for
  4. at Correct answer.

Explanation

The adjective 'good' is followed by the preposition 'at' when describing skill in an activity or subject. This is a fixed collocation in standard English.

Question 6English

Choose the correct past form: They ____ to the museum yesterday.

  1. went Correct answer.
  2. going
  3. go
  4. gone

Explanation

The time marker 'yesterday' requires the simple past tense. The past form of the irregular verb 'go' is 'went'.

Question 7English

Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?

  1. The dog's bowl is empty. Correct answer.
  2. The dogs' bowl is empty for one dog.
  3. The dogs bowl is empty.
  4. The dog's are barking.

Explanation

The apostrophe before 's' shows possession by a single dog, so 'the dog's bowl' is correct. Possessive apostrophes mark ownership, not plurality.

Question 8English

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The manager spoke ____ during the meeting.

  1. clearer
  2. clearness
  3. clearly Correct answer.
  4. clear

Explanation

An adverb modifies the verb 'spoke', and the adverb form of 'clear' is 'clearly'. Adjectives describe nouns, while adverbs describe how an action is performed.

Question 9English

Choose the correct conditional: If I ____ more time, I would learn Spanish.

  1. will have
  2. having
  3. had Correct answer.
  4. have

Explanation

This is a second conditional sentence describing an unreal present situation. The pattern is 'if + past simple, would + base verb', so 'had' is required.

Question 10English

Convert to passive voice: The committee approved the proposal.

  1. The proposal was approved by the committee. Correct answer.
  2. The proposal approved by the committee.
  3. The proposal is approved by the committee.
  4. The proposal has approved by the committee.

Explanation

The original is simple past active, so the passive uses 'was/were + past participle'. The object 'the proposal' becomes the subject, and the agent follows 'by'.

Question 11English

Choose the correct reported speech: He said, "I am tired."

  1. He said that he was tired. Correct answer.
  2. He said that he were tired.
  3. He said that I was tired.
  4. He said that he is tired.

Explanation

In reported speech after a past reporting verb, present tenses usually shift back one step. 'Am' becomes 'was', and the pronoun changes to match the speaker.

Question 12English

Identify the correct relative pronoun: The book ____ I borrowed was fascinating.

  1. which Correct answer.
  2. whom
  3. who
  4. whose

Explanation

'Which' refers to things, while 'who' and 'whom' refer to people. Since the antecedent is 'the book', the relative pronoun must be 'which'.

Question 13English

Choose the correct modal: You ____ see a doctor; your cough is serious.

  1. would
  2. might
  3. should Correct answer.
  4. could

Explanation

'Should' expresses advice or recommendation, which suits a serious health concern. The other modals express possibility or hypothetical situations rather than obligation or advice.

Question 14English

Choose the correct phrasal verb: The meeting was ____ because of the storm.

  1. called up
  2. called on
  3. called off Correct answer.
  4. called for

Explanation

'Call off' means to cancel, which fits a meeting stopped by a storm. Phrasal verbs carry meanings that often differ from the base verb.

Question 15English

Choose the correct form: She suggested ____ the report early.

  1. to submit
  2. submit
  3. submitted
  4. submitting Correct answer.

Explanation

The verb 'suggest' is followed by a gerund, not an infinitive. The pattern is 'suggest + -ing form', so 'submitting' is correct.

Question 16English

Choose the sentence with correct parallel structure.

  1. She likes reading, to write, and painting.
  2. She likes to read, writing, and paint.
  3. She likes reading, writing, and painting. Correct answer.
  4. She likes reading, writing, and to paint.

Explanation

Items in a series should share the same grammatical form. Using three gerunds ('reading, writing, painting') creates balanced, parallel structure.

Question 17English

Choose the correct word: The effect of the policy was ____ than expected.

  1. great
  2. greatest
  3. greatly
  4. greater Correct answer.

Explanation

The comparative 'than' requires a comparative adjective. 'Greater' is the comparative form of 'great', so it fits the comparison.

Question 18English

Choose the correct idiom meaning 'to be very busy'.

  1. to be snowed under Correct answer.
  2. to be over the moon
  3. to be in hot water
  4. to be under the weather

Explanation

'Snowed under' means overwhelmed with work or tasks, so it matches 'very busy'. Idioms carry fixed figurative meanings that cannot be inferred from individual words.

Question 19English

Choose the correct form: Neither the teacher nor the students ____ ready.

  1. was
  2. were Correct answer.
  3. has
  4. is

Explanation

With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject. The nearer subject is 'students', which is plural, so the plural verb 'were' is correct.

Question 20English

Choose the best word: The scientist's findings were ____ by several independent studies.

  1. correlated
  2. corroborated Correct answer.
  3. corrugated
  4. corrupted

Explanation

'Corroborated' means confirmed or supported by additional evidence, which fits findings backed by independent studies. Precision in word choice depends on the exact meaning of near-homophones.

Question 21English

Choose the sentence that is grammatically correct.

  1. Hardly had he arrived when the phone rang. Correct answer.
  2. Hardly had he arrived than the phone rang.
  3. Hardly he had arrived when the phone rang.
  4. Hardly did he arrived when the phone rang.

Explanation

When a negative adverb like 'hardly' begins a sentence, the subject and auxiliary invert. The standard pattern is 'hardly had + subject + past participle + when'.

Question 22English

Choose the correct subjunctive form: The board recommended that the director ____ the policy.

  1. revised
  2. revise Correct answer.
  3. revises
  4. is revising

Explanation

Verbs like 'recommend', 'insist', and 'demand' take a that-clause with the base form of the verb in the subjunctive. The subject does not change the verb form, so 'revise' is correct.

Question 23English

Choose the correct word: The committee could not decide ____ to accept the offer.

  1. whither
  2. wether
  3. whether Correct answer.
  4. weather

Explanation

'Whether' introduces a choice between alternatives and is the correct conjunction here. 'Weather' is a homophone meaning atmospheric conditions.

Question 24English

Choose the best revision to remove the dangling modifier: Walking through the park, ____.

  1. the children saw beautiful flowers Correct answer.
  2. beautiful flowers were seen
  3. the flowers were beautiful
  4. there were beautiful flowers

Explanation

A participial phrase at the start of a sentence must describe the subject of the main clause. Only 'the children' can logically be walking through the park, so that clause is correct.

Question 25English

Choose the option that best expresses the meaning: 'The proposal is not without merit.'

  1. The proposal has no value.
  2. The proposal is entirely worthless.
  3. The proposal is completely rejected.
  4. The proposal has some value. Correct answer.

Explanation

The double negative 'not without merit' is a litotes that affirms the positive: the proposal has some merit. Recognising litotes requires reading the negation of a negative as a mild positive.

Question 26English

Choose the correct article: She is ____ honest and hardworking employee.

  1. no article
  2. a
  3. the
  4. an Correct answer.

Explanation

The choice between 'a' and 'an' depends on the sound that begins the following word, not on its spelling. 'Honest' begins with a vowel sound because the 'h' is silent, so 'an' is required. 'The' would wrongly suggest a specific, already-identified employee.

Question 27English

Choose the correct preposition: The new policy will come ____ effect next Monday.

  1. on
  2. in
  3. at
  4. into Correct answer.

Explanation

The fixed expression for something beginning to operate is 'come into effect' or 'take effect'. 'Into' marks the change of state from inactive to active. The other prepositions do not combine with 'come' and 'effect' in this idiomatic way.

Question 28English

Choose the word that best fits: The two theories are ____; accepting one makes the other impossible.

  1. compatible
  2. interchangeable
  3. complementary
  4. mutually exclusive Correct answer.

Explanation

The second clause states that accepting one theory rules out the other, which is the definition of being mutually exclusive. The phrase signals incompatibility, so a word expressing that both cannot hold together is needed.

Question 29English

Choose the correct comparative form: This year's results are ____ than last year's.

  1. most better
  2. much better Correct answer.
  3. more better
  4. the better

Explanation

'Better' is already the comparative of 'good', so it cannot take another comparative marker such as 'more' or 'most'. An intensifier like 'much' can precede it to show a large difference. The comparative clause with 'than' confirms a comparative form is required.

Question 30English

Choose the sentence that correctly uses the gerund or infinitive: He stopped ____ the report because he felt unwell.

  1. to write
  2. write
  3. writing Correct answer.
  4. wrote

Explanation

'Stop' followed by a gerund means to end an activity that was already in progress. The clause 'because he felt unwell' shows he ceased the work, not that he paused in order to begin it. The infinitive after 'stop' would mean he halted in order to write, which conflicts with the reason given.

Question 31English

Choose the correct form: By the time the guests arrived, the host ____ the meal.

  1. will prepare
  2. prepares
  3. has prepared
  4. had prepared Correct answer.

Explanation

The past perfect describes an action completed before another past event. 'Arrived' is the later past event, so the earlier preparation needs 'had prepared'. The time expression 'by the time' makes the sequence of two past actions explicit.

Question 32English

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The lawyer's argument was so ____ that even the opposing side conceded the point.

  1. tentative
  2. verbose
  3. cogent Correct answer.
  4. ambiguous

Explanation

The result clause shows the argument persuaded opponents, so the adjective must mean clear and convincing. 'Cogent' describes reasoning that is logically compelling. The other adjectives describe weak, wordy, or unclear arguments, which would not produce concession.

Question 33English

Choose the correct question tag: She rarely misses a deadline, ____?

  1. is she
  2. does she Correct answer.
  3. isn't she
  4. doesn't she

Explanation

Question tags reverse the polarity of the main clause. 'Rarely' is a negative adverb, so the clause is treated as negative and the tag must be positive. The auxiliary of the main verb 'misses' is 'does'.

Question 34English

Choose the correct word: The new evidence ____ doubts on the earlier conclusion.

  1. puts
  2. raises
  3. throws
  4. casts Correct answer.

Explanation

The standard collocation is 'cast doubt on' something, meaning to make it seem uncertain. 'Cast' is the verb that conventionally pairs with 'doubts on' in formal writing. The other verbs do not form this fixed phrase with 'on'.

Question 35English

Choose the sentence that correctly places the adverb: ____

  1. He almost has finished the entire project.
  2. He has finished almost the entire project.
  3. He has almost finished the entire project. Correct answer.
  4. Almost he has finished the entire project.

Explanation

'Almost' should sit immediately before the word it limits. In the correct version it modifies 'finished', showing the action is nearly complete. Placing it before the auxiliary or at the start of the clause creates awkward or unclear modification.

Question 36English

Choose the correct word: The manager, together with her assistants, ____ attending the conference.

  1. is Correct answer.
  2. are
  3. have been
  4. were

Explanation

The subject is 'the manager', which is singular. The phrase 'together with her assistants' is parenthetical and does not change the number of the subject. The verb must therefore agree with the singular head noun.

Question 37English

Choose the best word: The committee's decision was ____, pleasing neither the workers nor the management.

  1. unanimous
  2. straightforward
  3. beneficial
  4. contentious Correct answer.

Explanation

The clause shows the decision satisfied neither side, implying dispute and dissatisfaction. 'Contentious' means causing or likely to cause disagreement, which fits that outcome. The other adjectives suggest agreement, benefit, or simplicity.

Question 38English

Choose the sentence that correctly uses 'despite': ____

  1. Despite it was raining, the match continued.
  2. Despite of the rain, the match continued.
  3. Despite the rain was heavy, the match continued.
  4. Despite the rain, the match continued. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Despite' is a preposition and must be followed by a noun phrase, not by 'of' or by a full clause. 'Despite the rain' supplies the required noun phrase. When a clause is needed, 'although' or 'despite the fact that' must be used instead.

Question 39English

Choose the option that best expresses the meaning: 'The committee's endorsement of the plan was far from wholehearted.'

  1. The committee refused to endorse the plan.
  2. The committee endorsed the plan enthusiastically.
  3. The committee endorsed the plan only half-heartedly. Correct answer.
  4. The committee endorsed the plan unanimously.

Explanation

'Far from wholehearted' is a litotes-like understatement meaning the support was weak or reluctant. It does not mean outright refusal, nor does it imply enthusiasm. The best paraphrase must preserve the lukewarm quality of the endorsement.

Question 40English

Choose the correct form: Had the warning been issued earlier, the damage ____ far less severe.

  1. would be
  2. would have been Correct answer.
  3. had been
  4. will be

Explanation

This is an inverted third conditional: 'Had the warning been issued' replaces 'if the warning had been issued'. The result clause must therefore use 'would have' plus a past participle. The damage is a past outcome, so the perfect form is required.

Question 41Mathematics

What is the value of 7 × 8 − 12 ÷ 4?

  1. 56
  2. 47
  3. 53 Correct answer.
  4. 50

Explanation

Order of operations requires division before subtraction, so 12 ÷ 4 = 3 and 7 × 8 = 56. Subtracting gives 56 − 3 = 53.

Question 42Mathematics

A train travels 240 km in 3 hours. What is its average speed?

  1. 72 km/h
  2. 90 km/h
  3. 80 km/h Correct answer.
  4. 60 km/h

Explanation

Average speed equals total distance divided by total time. Here 240 km ÷ 3 h = 80 km/h.

Question 43Mathematics

What is the sum of the interior angles of a hexagon?

  1. 1080°
  2. 540°
  3. 900°
  4. 720° Correct answer.

Explanation

For a polygon with n sides, the interior angle sum is (n − 2) × 180°. With n = 6, this gives 4 × 180° = 720°.

Question 44Mathematics

Simplify: 3(x + 4) − 2(x − 1).

  1. x + 12
  2. x + 10
  3. x + 14 Correct answer.
  4. 5x + 10

Explanation

Expanding gives 3x + 12 − 2x + 2. Combining like terms yields x + 14.

Question 45Mathematics

What is 15% of 480?

  1. 60
  2. 80
  3. 72 Correct answer.
  4. 64

Explanation

Fifteen percent equals 0.15, and 0.15 × 480 = 72. Alternatively, 10% is 48 and 5% is 24, whose sum is 72.

Question 46Mathematics

The mean of five numbers is 12. If four of them are 8, 10, 14 and 15, what is the fifth number?

  1. 9
  2. 11
  3. 12
  4. 13 Correct answer.

Explanation

The total of all five numbers is 5 × 12 = 60. The four known numbers sum to 47, so the fifth is 60 − 47 = 13.

Question 47Mathematics

Which fraction is equivalent to 0.375?

  1. 5/8
  2. 3/5
  3. 2/5
  4. 3/8 Correct answer.

Explanation

Since 0.375 = 375/1000, dividing numerator and denominator by 125 gives 3/8. Also 3 ÷ 8 = 0.375.

Question 48Mathematics

If 2x + 5 = 17, what is the value of x?

  1. 5
  2. 7
  3. 6 Correct answer.
  4. 4

Explanation

Subtracting 5 from both sides gives 2x = 12. Dividing both sides by 2 gives x = 6.

Question 49Mathematics

A rectangle has length 12 cm and width 5 cm. What is the length of its diagonal?

  1. 17 cm
  2. 13 cm Correct answer.
  3. 15 cm
  4. 11 cm

Explanation

The diagonal forms the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs 12 and 5. By Pythagoras, the square is 144 + 25 = 169, so the diagonal is 13 cm.

Question 50Mathematics

The roots of x² − 7x + 12 = 0 are:

  1. 3 and 4 Correct answer.
  2. 1 and 12
  3. −3 and −4
  4. 2 and 6

Explanation

We need two numbers whose product is 12 and whose sum is 7; these are 3 and 4. Factoring gives (x − 3)(x − 4) = 0, so x = 3 or x = 4.