Pre-Intermediate English (A2) Practice Quiz

1. When I arrived at the kitchen, Sarah _____ dinner.

A) cooked

B) was cooking

C) is cooking

D) has cooked

2. While they _____ in the park, it suddenly started to rain.

A) walk

B) walked

C) were walking

D) are walking

3. Mount Everest is _____ than K2.

A) higher

B) high

C) highest

D) more high

4. This new smartphone is much _____ expensive than my previous one.

A) most

B) as

C) lesser

D) more

5. You _____ smoke inside the hospital. It is strictly forbidden by law.

A) don't have to

B) mustn't

C) shouldn't

D) can

6. I have finished my homework, so I _____ watch a movie tonight if I want to.

A) can

B) must

C) have to

D) shouldn't

7. Please turn _____ the television before you go to sleep to save electricity.

A) on

B) up

C) off

D) down

8. Can you look _____ my cat while I am on vacation this weekend?

A) up

B) for

C) at

D) after

9. My summer vacation usually starts _____ July.

A) on

B) in

C) at

D) by

10. The puppy is sleeping _____ the bed, completely hidden from view.

A) under

B) on

C) in

D) at

Answer key and explanations

1. B) was cooking

• Explanation: Correct! We use the past continuous (was/were + verb-ing) to describe an action that was already in progress when another action happened.

2. C) were walking

• Explanation: Correct! "Were walking" is the correct past continuous form for the plural subject "they" running concurrently as the background action.

3. A) higher

• Explanation: Correct! For short adjectives like "high", we add "-er" to form the comparative, followed by "than".

4. D) more

• Explanation: Correct! For long adjectives (like "expensive"), we use "more" before the adjective to make the comparative form.

5. B) mustn't

• Explanation: Correct! "Mustn't" (must not) is used to express prohibition or rules that you are not allowed to break.

6. A) can

• Explanation: Correct! "Can" is used to express permission or ability to do something.

7. C) off

• Explanation: Correct! "Turn off" means to stop a machine, light, or appliance from working.

8. D) after

• Explanation: Correct! "Look after" means to take care of or watch over someone or something.

9. B) in

• Explanation: Correct! We use the preposition "in" for months, years, centuries, and long periods of time.

10. A) under

• Explanation: Correct! "Under" indicates that something is beneath or lower than a surface or object.