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BD Marine Cadet Admission practice questions

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Question 1English

Choose the sentence that is grammatically correct.

  1. The captain and the chief engineer has been on the bridge.
  2. The captain and the chief engineer are on the bridge. Correct answer.
  3. The captain and the chief engineer is on the bridge.
  4. The captain and the chief engineer was on the bridge.

Explanation

When two subjects are joined by 'and', they form a plural subject, so the verb must be plural. 'Are' agrees with the compound subject in the present tense. Singular verbs like 'is', 'was' and 'has' cannot agree with a plural subject.

Question 2English

Which word is the past tense of the verb 'to sink' when referring to a ship going under water?

  1. Sunk
  2. Sink
  3. Sank Correct answer.
  4. Sinked

Explanation

The verb 'sink' is irregular, with the pattern sink–sank–sunk. The simple past form is 'sank', as in 'the vessel sank at dawn'. 'Sunk' is the past participle used with auxiliary verbs.

Question 3English

Identify the adverb in this sentence: 'The crew quickly secured the cargo before the storm.'

  1. storm
  2. secured
  3. crew
  4. quickly Correct answer.

Explanation

An adverb modifies a verb, adjective or another adverb, and often answers the question 'how?'. In this sentence 'quickly' describes how the crew secured the cargo. The other words are nouns or a verb.

Question 4English

Choose the correct article: 'The cadet hopes to become ___ officer on a merchant vessel.'

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

Explanation

The indefinite article 'an' is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound. 'Officer' starts with the vowel sound /ɒ/ or /ɔː/, so 'an' is required. 'A' is used before consonant sounds.

Question 5English

Which sentence uses the correct preposition?

  1. The ship arrived in the port on Monday morning.
  2. The ship arrived to the port on Monday morning.
  3. The ship arrived at the port on Monday morning. Correct answer.
  4. The ship arrived into the port on Monday morning.

Explanation

We normally say 'arrive at' a specific place such as a port, station or airport. 'Arrive in' is used for cities and countries. 'Arrive to' and 'arrive into' are not standard in this context.

Question 6English

What is the plural form of 'cargo' in standard maritime English?

  1. Cargos
  2. Cargi
  3. Cargoes Correct answer.
  4. Cargo

Explanation

Nouns ending in a consonant plus '-o' usually form the plural with '-es', as in cargoes, heroes and potatoes. 'Cargoes' is the accepted plural in shipping contexts. 'Cargos' is occasionally seen but is not the standard form.

Question 7English

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The lookout reported that the fog was ___ dense to see the buoy.'

  1. enough
  2. too Correct answer.
  3. very
  4. so

Explanation

The pattern 'too + adjective + to + verb' expresses an excessive degree that prevents an action. 'Too dense to see' means the density prevented seeing. 'Very' and 'so' do not fit this infinitive pattern without 'that'.

Question 8English

Which word is a synonym of 'hazardous'?

  1. Harmless
  2. Comfortable
  3. Gradual
  4. Dangerous Correct answer.

Explanation

'Hazardous' describes something involving risk or danger, so 'dangerous' is its closest synonym. Synonyms share a similar core meaning and can often replace each other. 'Harmless' is an antonym, not a synonym.

Question 9English

Choose the correct question tag: 'The lifeboat is ready, ___?'

  1. doesn't it
  2. isn't it Correct answer.
  3. is it
  4. isn't there

Explanation

A question tag repeats the auxiliary of the main clause and reverses its polarity. The statement uses 'is', so the tag is negative: 'isn't it'. The pronoun must match the subject 'the lifeboat'.

Question 10English

Select the sentence written in the passive voice.

  1. The engineer will check the engine room.
  2. The engineer is checking the engine room.
  3. The engineer checked the engine room.
  4. The engine room was checked by the engineer. Correct answer.

Explanation

In the passive voice the object of the active sentence becomes the subject, and the verb takes the form 'be + past participle'. 'The engine room was checked by the engineer' follows this pattern. The other sentences are active.

Question 11English

Which sentence correctly uses the present perfect tense?

  1. The vessel left the harbour since an hour.
  2. The vessel has left the harbour. Correct answer.
  3. The vessel has left the harbour an hour ago.
  4. The vessel is leaving the harbour yesterday.

Explanation

The present perfect ('has/have + past participle') links a past action to the present and is used without a finished past time expression. 'Has left the harbour' is correct on its own. Specific past times like 'ago' require the simple past.

Question 12English

Choose the correct conditional: 'If the wind ___ stronger, we would delay departure.'

  1. will be
  2. were Correct answer.
  3. was
  4. is

Explanation

This is a second conditional sentence describing an unreal present situation. It uses 'if + past subjunctive' in the condition and 'would + base verb' in the result. With 'be', the subjunctive form 'were' is standard for all persons.

Question 13English

Identify the function of the underlined word in meaning: 'The bosun, who joined last year, supervises the deck crew.' What does the clause 'who joined last year' do?

  1. It gives essential information that identifies the bosun.
  2. It adds non-essential extra information about the bosun. Correct answer.
  3. It states a condition for the bosun's work.
  4. It reports what the bosun said.

Explanation

A clause set off by commas is non-defining (non-restrictive), so it adds extra information that is not needed to identify the person. Without the commas, the clause would be defining. Commas are the key signal here.

Question 14English

Choose the sentence with correct word order for the indirect question.

  1. The officer asked where is the lifeboat.
  2. The officer asked where the lifeboat is being.
  3. The officer asked where the lifeboat was. Correct answer.
  4. The officer asked where was the lifeboat.

Explanation

In an indirect (reported) question, the word order follows a statement: subject before verb. There is no inversion and no question mark. 'Where the lifeboat was' is the correct order.

Question 15English

Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The two vessels passed ___ each other in the narrow channel.'

  1. between
  2. beside Correct answer.
  3. among
  4. besides

Explanation

'Beside' is a preposition meaning 'next to' or 'at the side of'. 'Besides' means 'in addition to', which changes the meaning. 'Between' and 'among' refer to position relative to multiple things.

Question 16English

Choose the correct form: 'By the time the rescue team arrived, the crew ___ the fire.'

  1. had extinguished Correct answer.
  2. will extinguish
  3. extinguishes
  4. extinguish

Explanation

The past perfect ('had + past participle') describes an action completed before another past action. Extinguishing the fire happened before the team arrived, so 'had extinguished' is correct. The simple past 'arrived' marks the later event.

Question 17English

Which sentence uses 'affect' or 'effect' correctly?

  1. The storm seriously affected the schedule. Correct answer.
  2. The storm had a serious affect on the schedule.
  3. The storm seriously effected the schedule.
  4. The storm had a serious effected on the schedule.

Explanation

'Affect' is usually a verb meaning 'to influence', while 'effect' is usually a noun meaning 'a result'. The sentence needs the verb, so 'affected' is correct. A common error is using 'effect' as the verb.

Question 18English

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a comparative or superlative form.

  1. This is the most safest route to the harbour.
  2. This is the safer route of all three.
  3. This is the safest route to the harbour. Correct answer.
  4. This is more safe than the other two.

Explanation

Short adjectives form the superlative with '-est', and only one superlative marker is used. 'Safest' already expresses the highest degree, so 'most safest' is a double superlative error. When comparing three or more items, the superlative is required.

Question 19English

Identify the type of the underlined clause: 'Although the sea was rough, the ferry departed on time.'

  1. A noun clause acting as subject
  2. A relative clause describing the sea
  3. An adjective clause describing the ferry
  4. An adverbial clause of concession Correct answer.

Explanation

'Although' introduces a concessive adverbial clause, showing contrast with the main clause. It modifies the whole main clause rather than a single noun. Relative clauses begin with words like 'who' or 'which'.

Question 20English

Choose the option that best combines the two sentences: 'The radar failed. The ship reduced speed.'

  1. The radar failed unless the ship reduced speed.
  2. The radar failed, so the ship reduced speed. Correct answer.
  3. Because the radar failed, the ship reduced speed.
  4. Although the radar failed, the ship reduced speed.

Explanation

The two ideas show cause followed by result, so 'so' links them naturally: the failure caused the reduction in speed. 'Because' reverses the logical order of cause and effect as written. 'Although' signals contrast, and 'unless' signals a condition.

Question 21English

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

  1. The captain said "secure the hatches now".
  2. The captain said, secure the hatches now.
  3. The captain said, "Secure the hatches now." Correct answer.
  4. The captain said; "Secure the hatches now."

Explanation

Direct speech requires a comma before the opening quotation mark, a capital letter to start the quoted sentence, and the full stop inside the closing quotation mark. This follows standard punctuation conventions. A semicolon or missing comma breaks the pattern.

Question 22English

Choose the sentence in which the modifier is placed correctly.

  1. Sailing into the harbour, the lighthouse was seen by the crew.
  2. Sailing into the harbour, the lighthouse guided the crew.
  3. The crew saw the lighthouse sailing into the harbour.
  4. Sailing into the harbour, the crew saw the lighthouse. Correct answer.

Explanation

A participial phrase must modify the subject of the main clause. In the correct sentence the crew is doing the sailing and seeing the lighthouse. The other options create dangling modifiers by attaching the phrase to the lighthouse.

Question 23English

Which word best completes the sentence: 'The evidence was ___ to prove negligence, so the case was dismissed.'

  1. insufficient Correct answer.
  2. unsufficient
  3. insufficiently
  4. insufficing

Explanation

The sentence needs an adjective after 'was' to describe the evidence. 'Insufficient' means 'not enough' and fits the pattern 'insufficient to prove'. 'Insufficiently' is an adverb and would require a following adjective.

Question 24English

Choose the correct sentence using the subjunctive after 'insist'.

  1. The inspector insisted that the log being checked daily.
  2. The inspector insisted that the log is checked daily.
  3. The inspector insisted that the log be checked daily. Correct answer.
  4. The inspector insisted that the log was checked daily.

Explanation

After verbs of demand such as 'insist', 'require' or 'demand', the mandative subjunctive uses the base form 'be' for all persons. 'Insisted that the log be checked' expresses a requirement. The other forms either state a fact or are ungrammatical.

Question 25English

Identify the rhetorical device in: 'The engine coughed, sputtered and finally died.'

  1. Simile
  2. Alliteration
  3. Personification Correct answer.
  4. Hyperbole

Explanation

Personification gives human qualities to non-human things. Saying the engine 'coughed' attributes a human action to a machine. A simile would use 'like' or 'as', and alliteration requires repeated initial sounds.

Question 26English

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The chief engineer asked the oiler to ___ the spare pump from the storeroom.'

  1. fetched
  2. fetch Correct answer.
  3. fetching
  4. fetches

Explanation

After the infinitive marker 'to', the base form of the verb must be used, so 'fetch' is required. The structure 'asked someone to do something' always takes the bare infinitive, regardless of the subject or tense of the main clause.

Question 27English

Which sentence uses the article correctly?

  1. The captain ordered a new inspection of the hull. Correct answer.
  2. The captain ordered the new inspection of a hull.
  3. The captain ordered an new inspection of the hull.
  4. The captain ordered new a inspection of the hull.

Explanation

The indefinite article 'a' is used before a word beginning with a consonant sound, and 'new' begins with the consonant sound /n/. The article must also come before the adjective that modifies the noun.

Question 28English

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The vessel is ___ the entrance to the harbour, about two miles offshore.'

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

Explanation

The preposition 'off' is used to describe a position at sea near a coast or entrance without entering it. It conveys distance from the reference point, which matches 'about two miles offshore'.

Question 29English

Which word is the opposite in meaning to 'shallow' when describing water?

  1. narrow
  2. deep Correct answer.
  3. calm
  4. clear

Explanation

'Shallow' describes water of little depth, so its antonym is 'deep', which describes great depth. The other words describe width, surface condition, or visibility rather than depth.

Question 30English

Choose the correct form: 'The second mate ___ on watch since midnight.'

  1. was
  2. has been Correct answer.
  3. had been
  4. is

Explanation

The preposition 'since' with a point in time signals an action continuing up to the present, which requires the present perfect. 'Has been' correctly links the start at midnight to now.

Question 31English

Choose the sentence that correctly reports the order: The master said, 'Close the watertight doors.'

  1. The master said closing the watertight doors.
  2. The master said close the watertight doors.
  3. The master said that close the watertight doors.
  4. The master said to close the watertight doors. Correct answer.

Explanation

When reporting an imperative, English uses 'told' or 'said to' followed by the infinitive. 'Said to close' correctly reports the original command while keeping the meaning intact.

Question 32English

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The crew worked ___ to secure the cargo before the storm arrived.'

  1. quickly Correct answer.
  2. quick
  3. quickness
  4. quicker

Explanation

An adverb is needed to modify the verb 'worked', and 'quickly' is the adverb form of 'quick'. Adjectives modify nouns, while adverbs describe how an action is performed.

Question 33English

Which sentence contains a phrasal verb used correctly?

  1. The engineer off put the maintenance until the next port.
  2. The engineer put off the maintenance until the next port. Correct answer.
  3. The engineer put the maintenance until off the next port.
  4. The engineer put until off the maintenance the next port.

Explanation

A separable phrasal verb such as 'put off' allows the object to come between the verb and the particle, or after it. 'Put off the maintenance' follows correct English word order.

Question 34English

Choose the correct sentence using a relative pronoun.

  1. The officer whom inspected the lifeboats was satisfied.
  2. The officer who inspected the lifeboats was satisfied. Correct answer.
  3. The officer which inspected the lifeboats was satisfied.
  4. The officer whose inspected the lifeboats was satisfied.

Explanation

'Who' is the subject relative pronoun for people, and it acts as the subject of 'inspected'. 'Whom' is used for objects, and 'which' refers to things rather than people.

Question 35English

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'Neither the bosun nor the deckhands ___ willing to work in that heat.'

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

Explanation

With 'neither ... nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject, which is the plural 'deckhands'. The plural past form 'were' is therefore required.

Question 36English

Choose the sentence in which the apostrophe is used correctly.

  1. The ships' hull was damaged in the collision.
  2. The ships hull was damaged in the collision.
  3. The ship's hull was damaged in the collision. Correct answer.
  4. The ship hull's was damaged in the collision.

Explanation

The possessive form of a singular noun is made by adding an apostrophe and 's', giving 'ship's hull'. This shows that the hull belongs to one ship.

Question 37English

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The safety officer insisted that every crew member ___ a life jacket during the drill.'

  1. wore
  2. wear Correct answer.
  3. is wearing
  4. wears

Explanation

After verbs such as 'insist', 'demand', and 'require' that express a demand, English uses the subjunctive, which takes the base form of the verb. 'Wear' is therefore correct even with a singular subject.

Question 38English

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The harbour master was ___ to grant permission until the paperwork was complete.'

  1. willingly
  2. unwillingly
  3. unwill
  4. unwilling Correct answer.

Explanation

After the linking verb 'was', a predicative adjective is needed to describe the subject, so 'unwilling' is correct. The context of withheld permission also requires the negative prefix 'un-'.

Question 39English

Identify the function of the word 'however' in: 'The weather worsened; however, the drill continued as planned.'

  1. It introduces a condition for the second clause.
  2. It introduces a cause for the second clause.
  3. It adds a similar idea to the first clause.
  4. It introduces a contrast between two independent clauses. Correct answer.

Explanation

'However' is a conjunctive adverb that signals contrast between two independent clauses. It is followed by a comma and does not join the clauses grammatically on its own.

Question 40English

Choose the option that best completes the sentence with correct parallel structure: 'The cadet's duties included checking the lifeboats, recording the readings, and ___.'

  1. inspection of the fire extinguishers
  2. the fire extinguishers were inspected
  3. to inspect the fire extinguishers
  4. inspecting the fire extinguishers Correct answer.

Explanation

Items in a series joined by 'and' should share the same grammatical form, and the first two items are gerunds. 'Inspecting' continues the parallel gerund pattern after 'included'.

Question 41Mathematics

A cadet walks 3 km north, then 4 km east. What is the straight-line distance from the starting point?

  1. 7 km
  2. 1 km
  3. 5 km Correct answer.
  4. 12 km

Explanation

The two legs are perpendicular, so they form a right triangle with legs 3 km and 4 km. By the Pythagorean theorem the displacement is the square root of 3 squared plus 4 squared, which equals the square root of 25, or 5 km.

Question 42Mathematics

What is the value of 2^5?

  1. 10
  2. 32 Correct answer.
  3. 64
  4. 25

Explanation

An exponent tells how many times the base is used as a factor, so 2^5 means 2 multiplied by itself five times. That product is 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 32.

Question 43Mathematics

A ship travels 120 nautical miles in 8 hours. What is its average speed?

  1. 15 knots Correct answer.
  2. 12 knots
  3. 960 knots
  4. 18 knots

Explanation

Average speed equals distance divided by time. Dividing 120 nautical miles by 8 hours gives 15 nautical miles per hour, and one nautical mile per hour is one knot.

Question 44Mathematics

Simplify the expression 3x + 5x − 2x.

  1. 10x
  2. 6x Correct answer.
  3. 6x²
  4. 4x

Explanation

Like terms share the same variable factor, so their coefficients can be combined. Adding 3 and 5 gives 8, then subtracting 2 leaves 6, so the result is 6x.

Question 45Mathematics

What is 15% of 240?

  1. 16
  2. 24
  3. 48
  4. 36 Correct answer.

Explanation

A percentage is a fraction out of one hundred, so 15% equals 0.15. Multiplying 0.15 by 240 yields 36.

Question 46Mathematics

A triangle has interior angles of 65° and 48°. What is the third angle?

  1. 67° Correct answer.
  2. 57°
  3. 77°
  4. 113°

Explanation

The interior angles of any triangle sum to 180°. The two known angles add to 113°, so the third angle is 180° − 113° = 67°.

Question 47Mathematics

Which number is prime?

  1. 21
  2. 27
  3. 33
  4. 29 Correct answer.

Explanation

A prime number has exactly two factors, one and itself. Among the choices only 29 has no divisor other than 1 and 29.

Question 48Mathematics

What is the mean of the numbers 4, 8, 10, and 14?

  1. 10
  2. 9 Correct answer.
  3. 8
  4. 12

Explanation

The mean is the sum of the values divided by how many values there are. The sum is 36 and there are four values, so 36 ÷ 4 = 9.

Question 49Mathematics

Solve for x: 4x − 7 = 21.

  1. 14
  2. 28
  3. 7 Correct answer.
  4. 3.5

Explanation

Add 7 to both sides to get 4x = 28, then divide both sides by 4 to isolate x. This gives x = 7.

Question 50Mathematics

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

  1. 13 cm Correct answer.
  2. 17 cm
  3. 7 cm
  4. 60 cm

Explanation

The diagonal of a rectangle forms the hypotenuse of a right triangle whose legs are the length and width. Thus the diagonal is the square root of 12 squared plus 5 squared, which is the square root of 169, or 13 cm.