English Language and Comprehension: Grammar Rules and Reading Strategy
English tests grammar accuracy, vocabulary in context, sentence correction and reading comprehension - the writing and comprehension skills needed for technical reports and correspondence.
Grammar that is actually tested
- Subject–verb agreement, including "the number of + plural noun + singular verb" versus "a number of + plural noun + plural verb".
- Articles, prepositions with fixed verbs, tense consistency, active/passive transformation, direct/indirect speech and parallelism in lists.
- Modifier placement: a dangling participle at the start of a sentence must describe the subject that follows.
Vocabulary
Synonyms, antonyms, idioms, one-word substitutions and spelling. Learn words in sentences; exam items usually test contextual fit rather than the rarest meaning.
Worked example
"The number of new substations ___ increasing every year." The subject is "the number" (singular), so the verb is "is". By contrast, "A number of substations are being commissioned" takes a plural verb because "a number of" functions as a quantifier.
Comprehension strategy
Read the questions first, then scan for the keyword in the passage; the answer must be supported by the text, not by general technical knowledge. Eliminate options with absolutes such as "always" or "never" unless the passage states them.
Traps
Collective nouns, misplaced modifiers, and options that are technically true in the real world but absent from the passage.