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TT Clerical Entrance study materials
TT Clerical Entrance study resources

TT Clerical Entrance practice questions

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Question 1English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "The list of items ___ on the desk."

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

Explanation

The head noun of the subject is the singular "list"; the phrase "of items" is a prepositional modifier and does not change the number of the subject. A singular subject therefore takes the singular verb "is."

Question 2English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "She is ___ honest person."

  1. some
  2. the
  3. a
  4. an Correct answer.

Explanation

The choice between "a" and "an" depends on the first sound of the following word, not its first letter. The "h" in "honest" is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound and takes "an."

Question 3English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "He has been working here ___ 2015."

  1. from
  2. for
  3. since Correct answer.
  4. during

Explanation

"Since" is used with perfect tenses to mark the starting point of an action that continues. "For" would be used with a length of time such as "for ten years."

Question 4English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "Between you and ___, this plan will not work."

  1. mine
  2. me Correct answer.
  3. myself
  4. I

Explanation

A preposition such as "between" must be followed by an object pronoun. The objective case form is "me."

Question 5English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "Of the two sisters, Maya is the ___."

  1. taller Correct answer.
  2. tallest
  3. most tall
  4. more tall

Explanation

When exactly two people or things are compared, the comparative form is required. Short adjectives like "tall" form the comparative by adding "-er," giving "taller."

Question 6English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "She ___ to the market yesterday."

  1. went Correct answer.
  2. has gone
  3. goes
  4. go

Explanation

"Yesterday" refers to a finished time in the past, so the simple past tense is required. The present perfect cannot be used with a definite finished past time.

Question 7English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

What is the plural form of the noun "child"?

  1. childs
  2. childrens
  3. childes
  4. children Correct answer.

Explanation

"Child" is an irregular noun that keeps an old "-en" plural, so the plural is "children." The regular "-s" or "-es" endings do not apply to this word.

Question 8English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "He studied hard, ___ he passed the exam."

  1. because
  2. so Correct answer.
  3. although
  4. unless

Explanation

The second clause states the result of the first, and the coordinating conjunction "so" expresses result. Cause would be expressed by "because," and contrast by "although."

Question 9English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "Neither the manager nor the employees ___ aware of the change."

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

Explanation

With the correlative pair "neither...nor," the verb agrees in number with the subject nearer to it. The nearer subject is the plural "employees," so the plural "were" is correct.

Question 10English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Which option completes the sentence so that the modifier is used correctly? "Walking through the park, ___".

  1. the flowers were beautiful
  2. the beauty of the flowers struck me
  3. there were beautiful flowers
  4. I noticed the beautiful flowers Correct answer.

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase describes the subject of the main clause, so that subject must be the one doing the walking. Only a person, "I," can walk through the park.

Question 11English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "The candidate ___ we interviewed yesterday has withdrawn."

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

Explanation

The relative pronoun is the object of the verb "interviewed," so the objective form "whom" is required. "Who" would be used if the pronoun were the subject of the clause.

Question 12English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "If I ___ you, I would apologize."

  1. am
  2. were Correct answer.
  3. was
  4. be

Explanation

An unreal condition about the present uses the past subjunctive "were" with every subject, and the main clause takes "would" plus the base verb.

Question 13English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Which of the following sentences is written in the passive voice?

  1. The committee approved the proposal yesterday afternoon.
  2. The committee will approve the proposal later.
  3. The committee has been approving the proposal.
  4. The proposal was approved by the committee. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passive is formed with a form of "be" plus a past participle, and the receiver of the action becomes the subject. "The proposal was approved" fits this pattern exactly.

Question 14English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the option that completes the series with correct parallelism: "She enjoys swimming, hiking, and ___."

  1. to ride a bike
  2. riding a bike Correct answer.
  3. she rides a bike
  4. rides a bike

Explanation

Items joined in a series must share the same grammatical form. Since "swimming" and "hiking" are gerunds, the third item must also be a gerund.

Question 15English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "He decided ___ the offer."

  1. accepted
  2. accepting
  3. to accept Correct answer.
  4. accept

Explanation

The verb "decide" is followed by a to-infinitive, not a gerund. Other verbs such as "enjoy" or "consider" take gerunds instead.

Question 16English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the reported statement: She said, "I am tired." becomes She said that she ___ tired.

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

Explanation

When a statement is reported with a past reporting verb such as "said," the present tense of the original shifts back to the past. "Am" therefore becomes "was."

Question 17English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "Not only ___ late, but he also forgot the documents."

  1. he is
  2. he had
  3. he was
  4. was he Correct answer.

Explanation

When a sentence opens with the negative adverbial "not only," the subject and the auxiliary verb exchange places. The inverted order "was he" is therefore required.

Question 18English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "The company revised ___ policy last year."

  1. its'
  2. it
  3. it's
  4. its Correct answer.

Explanation

The possessive form of "it" is "its," written without an apostrophe. "It's" is a contraction meaning "it is" or "it has," which would not make sense here.

Question 19English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "She sings very ___."

  1. good
  2. well Correct answer.
  3. goodly
  4. best

Explanation

The word modifies the verb "sings," so an adverb is needed. "Well" is the adverb form, while "good" is an adjective.

Question 20English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "The team must comply ___ the new regulations."

  1. for
  2. with Correct answer.
  3. of
  4. to

Explanation

The verb "comply" is followed by the preposition "with" to mean obeying a rule. Its noun form "compliance" also takes "with."

Question 21English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Which of the following is a complete sentence?

  1. Heavy snow delaying the train.
  2. The train, delayed by heavy snow.
  3. The train was delayed by heavy snow. Correct answer.
  4. Because the train was delayed by heavy snow.

Explanation

A complete sentence needs a subject, a finite verb, and no subordinator that leaves it dependent. "The train was delayed by heavy snow" has all three elements.

Question 22English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "___ I known about the traffic, I would have left earlier."

  1. Had Correct answer.
  2. Have
  3. Should
  4. If

Explanation

In formal conditional sentences the conjunction "if" may be dropped, and the auxiliary moves in front of the subject: "Had I known" means "If I had known."

Question 23English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Which sentence places the modifier so that the intended meaning is clear?

  1. With leather seats, the dealer sold the car to the man.
  2. The dealer sold the car with leather seats to the man. Correct answer.
  3. The dealer sold the car to the man with the leather seats.
  4. The dealer, with leather seats, sold the car to the man.

Explanation

The phrase "with leather seats" is meant to describe the car, so it should sit immediately after "car." Placing it directly after the noun it modifies removes the ambiguity.

Question 24English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

In the sentence "The book that she recommended is excellent," the underlined clause "that she recommended" functions as which of the following?

  1. an adverb clause
  2. an adjective clause Correct answer.
  3. a noun clause
  4. an independent clause

Explanation

The clause describes the noun "book," which is the hallmark of a relative (adjective) clause. A noun clause would occupy a subject or object slot instead.

Question 25English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "She is one of the few students who ___ completed the project."

  1. has
  2. has been
  3. have Correct answer.
  4. was

Explanation

The relative pronoun "who" refers back to "students," which is plural, so the verb in the relative clause must be plural. The correct form is therefore "who have completed."

Question 26English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "The committee released ___ final report on Monday."

  1. its Correct answer.
  2. it's
  3. it
  4. its's

Explanation

"Its" is the possessive determiner that shows something belongs to an institution or thing, which is exactly what is needed before the noun "report." The apostrophe form "it's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has" and cannot modify a noun.

Question 27English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "The technician waited nearly ___ hour for the replacement part to arrive."

  1. an Correct answer.
  2. the
  3. some
  4. a

Explanation

The indefinite article is chosen by sound, not spelling: "hour" begins with a vowel sound because the h is silent, so "an" is required. "A" is used only before words beginning with a consonant sound.

Question 28English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the option that completes the sentence correctly: "The invoice has already been approved, ___?"

  1. has it
  2. didn't it
  3. hasn't it Correct answer.
  4. isn't it

Explanation

A tag question echoes the auxiliary and tense of the main clause and reverses its polarity. The main clause uses the affirmative present perfect "has been approved," so the tag is the negative "hasn't it."

Question 29English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "Each of the submitted forms ___ checked by two reviewers."

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

Explanation

"Each" is a singular indefinite pronoun, so the verb that agrees with it must be singular, regardless of the plural noun in the prepositional phrase "of the submitted forms." Only "is" is singular and present tense.

Question 30English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence: "Both ___ offices share a single reception area."

  1. supervisors' Correct answer.
  2. supervisors
  3. supervisors's
  4. supervisor's

Explanation

A possessive of a regular plural noun is formed by adding only an apostrophe after the final s: "supervisors'." Because the sentence refers to two supervisors sharing the offices, the plural possessive is the accurate form.

Question 31English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "Between you and ___, the new deadline seems unrealistic."

  1. me Correct answer.
  2. myself
  3. mine
  4. I

Explanation

A pronoun following a preposition such as "between" must be in the object case, and the object form of the first-person pronoun is "me." The phrase "between you and me" is therefore standard.

Question 32English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "The consultant ___ the board hired last month has already resigned."

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

Explanation

The relative pronoun is the object of the verb "hired," so the object form "whom" is required. The clause could be rewritten as "the board hired the consultant."

Question 33English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "There were ___ qualified applicants this year than last year."

  1. fewest
  2. less
  3. lesser
  4. fewer Correct answer.

Explanation

"Fewer" is used with plural countable nouns such as "applicants," while "less" is reserved for uncountable quantities. Because the sentence compares two countable groups, "fewer ... than" is correct.

Question 34English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence: "Ms. Ortiz ___ in the accounting department since 2019."

  1. has worked Correct answer.
  2. worked
  3. works
  4. will be working

Explanation

The preposition "since" followed by a starting point in time signals an action that began in the past and continues to the present, which requires the present perfect tense. "Has worked" conveys that ongoing duration.

Question 35English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "It was ___ a complicated procedure that few employees could follow it."

  1. so
  2. rather
  3. such Correct answer.
  4. too

Explanation

"Such" precedes an article plus adjective plus noun ("such a complicated procedure") in the "such ... that" result construction. "So" would require the pattern "so complicated a procedure."

Question 36English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the option that orders the modifiers correctly: "She bought a ___ table for the waiting room."

  1. small wooden round
  2. small round wooden Correct answer.
  3. wooden round small
  4. round small wooden

Explanation

English adjective order normally runs size, then shape, then material, so "small round wooden" is the natural sequence. Departing from that order sounds unnatural to native speakers.

Question 37English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

  1. The shipment arrived late; the customer demanded a refund. Correct answer.
  2. The shipment arrived late, the customer demanded a refund.
  3. The shipment arrived late and, the customer demanded a refund.
  4. The shipment arrived late, however the customer demanded a refund.

Explanation

Two independent clauses that are not joined by a coordinating conjunction must be separated by a semicolon or a period. The semicolon version correctly links the two complete statements.

Question 38English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence: "The auditor insisted that the missing file ___ delivered to her office by noon."

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

Explanation

Verbs of demand, request, and insistence ("insist that") take the mandative subjunctive, whose form is the base verb for all subjects. The required form is therefore "be delivered."

Question 39English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "After the meeting, she ___ the signed contract on the director's desk."

  1. lied
  2. lain
  3. lay
  4. laid Correct answer.

Explanation

"Lay" is a transitive verb meaning "to put something down," and its past tense is "laid." Because a direct object ("the signed contract") follows, "laid" is required.

Question 40English Language: Grammar, Usage and Sentence Structure

Which sentence makes clear that the manager spoke to no one other than the supervisor?

  1. Only the manager spoke to the supervisor about the transfer.
  2. The manager spoke only to the supervisor about the transfer. Correct answer.
  3. The manager only spoke to the supervisor about the transfer.
  4. The manager spoke to the supervisor only about the transfer.

Explanation

A limiting word such as "only" should sit immediately before the element it restricts. Placing "only" directly before "to the supervisor" restricts the audience of the speaking to that one person.

Question 41Spelling and Vocabulary

Which of these words is spelled correctly?

  1. belive
  2. beeleave
  3. beleive
  4. believe Correct answer.

Explanation

The general spelling pattern is i before e except after c, so the correct form is b-e-l-i-e-v-e. The word keeps the -ie- seen in its base form, and only one e follows the b.

Question 42Spelling and Vocabulary

Which sentence uses the correct form of the word?

  1. The students put their books on the desk. Correct answer.
  2. The students put they're books on the desk.
  3. The students put thier books on the desk.
  4. The students put there books on the desk.

Explanation

Their is the possessive form showing that the books belong to the students. There refers to a place and they're is a contraction of they are, so neither fits before a noun.

Question 43Spelling and Vocabulary

Which word means the same as begin?

  1. halt
  2. pause
  3. finish
  4. start Correct answer.

Explanation

A synonym is a word with a similar meaning, and start shares the core sense of begin. Finish, pause, and halt all suggest stopping or interrupting rather than beginning.

Question 44Spelling and Vocabulary

Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to ancient?

  1. historic
  2. antique
  3. modern Correct answer.
  4. aged

Explanation

Ancient describes something very old, so its antonym must describe something new or of the present, which is what modern means. The other choices all reinforce the idea of age.

Question 45Spelling and Vocabulary

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: Everyone was invited to the meeting ___ Tomas.

  1. except Correct answer.
  2. accepts
  3. accept
  4. exept

Explanation

Except means excluding or leaving out, which is the meaning needed here. Accept means to receive or agree to something, and the spelling exept is incorrect.

Question 46Spelling and Vocabulary

The prefix pre- in the word preview means:

  1. after
  2. before Correct answer.
  3. against
  4. under

Explanation

The prefix pre- comes from Latin and means before, so a preview is a viewing that happens beforehand. Words such as predict and precaution share this same sense.

Question 47Spelling and Vocabulary

What is the plural of knife?

  1. knifes
  2. knife's
  3. knifes'
  4. knives Correct answer.

Explanation

Nouns ending in -fe usually change the f to v and add -es to form the plural, so knife becomes knives. Forms with an apostrophe show possession rather than plurality.

Question 48Spelling and Vocabulary

Which word is spelled correctly for make plus the ending -ing?

  1. makeeing
  2. makking
  3. making Correct answer.
  4. makeing

Explanation

When a suffix beginning with a vowel is added to a word ending in a silent e, the e is dropped, so make becomes making. Doubling the k is unnecessary because the vowel sound does not change.

Question 49Spelling and Vocabulary

Which word is spelled correctly in the past tense?

  1. occured
  2. occurred Correct answer.
  3. occurered
  4. occurrd

Explanation

In occur the stress falls on the final syllable, so the final consonant is doubled before -ed, giving occurred. Words stressed on the first syllable, such as offered, do not double the consonant.

Question 50Spelling and Vocabulary

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: The new policy will ___ everyone on the team.

  1. effects
  2. effect
  3. affective
  4. affect Correct answer.

Explanation

Affect is normally a verb meaning to influence, which is what the sentence requires after will. Effect is normally a noun meaning result, and a verb following will cannot take the -s ending.