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Reference Devices Quiz 1 (30 MCQs)

This multiple-choice question set evaluates students' understanding of reference devices, conditional sentences with hypothetical situations, and sentence emphasis techniques. It covers topics such as comparative quantification, subject-verb agreement in hypothetical conditions, and the use of various tenses to express real and imaginary future possibilities.

Quiz Instructions

Select an option to see the correct answer instantly.

1. When a company is branching out, it means .....

Explanations: Expanding into new activities or areas (Option C) accurately describes what it means when a company is branching out. This involves the company venturing into new markets, product lines, or business sectors to diversify its operations and increase its reach.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Hiring new employees can be part of expanding but does not fully capture the essence of branching out.
Option B: Selling only to one small group is a limiting market strategy, contrary to the idea of branching out which implies diversification and growth.
Option C: Correct. Branching out means expanding into new activities or areas, aligning with the company's goal of diversifying its operations.
Option D: Closing old shops is a contraction strategy, not an expansion, thus it does not fit the definition of branching out.

2. Choose the correct cleft sentence for:They watched a movie last night.

Explanations: The correct cleft sentence is Option A: "It was a movie that they watched last night." This structure uses the cleft construction to emphasize the subject, which in this case is "a movie." The sentence begins with "It was," followed by the emphasized element (the object of the original sentence), then the relative clause "that they watched last night."

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Uses cleft construction to emphasize "a movie."
Option B: Incorrect. The passive voice does not use a cleft structure.
Option C: Incorrect. This is a negative sentence and not a cleft construction.
Option D: Incorrect. This is the original simple sentence, not a cleft construction.

3. Although she hated travelling by tube, Katy decided that it would be the fastest way home. What type of referencing is use in the sentence?

Explanations: The sentence uses forward referencing because the pronoun "it" refers to an idea mentioned later in the sentence, specifically that traveling by tube would be the fastest way home.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The pronoun "it" points to the concept of traveling by tube being the fastest method.
Option B: Incorrect. Backward referencing would require a noun or phrase earlier in the sentence for "it" to refer back to, which is not the case here.
Option C: Incorrect. Only forward referencing applies here.
Option D: Incorrect. There is clear referencing used in the sentence.

4. What is the reference word?I saw 20 different dogs this weekend. Several were really friendly!

Explanations: The reference word in the sentence "I saw 20 different dogs this weekend. Several were really friendly!" is "several." It refers back to the "different dogs" mentioned earlier, indicating that a few of those dogs were particularly friendly.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Different - This word does not refer to anything in the sentence.
Option B: This - There is no pronoun "this" referring to something specific in this context.
Option C: Really - While "really" modifies "friendly," it does not serve as a reference word.
Option D: Several - Correct. It refers back to the "different dogs."

5. If you ..... this button, the machine ..... (general truths)

Explanations: The correct answer is D) Press; stops. This option correctly uses the present tense for the subject "you" and the machine, indicating a general truth about what happens when you press the button. The verb "stops" is in its base form as it follows the simple present tense used with "if" clauses.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect because "Press" should be followed by "stops," not "stopped."
Option B: Incorrect because both verbs are in past tense, which doesn't fit the context of a general truth.
Option C: Incorrect because "Presses" is in third person singular form, while "stops" should be in base form to match with "press."
Option D: Correct as it uses present tense for both verbs, indicating a general truth.

6. If children ..... healthy food, they ..... sick easily.

Explanations: The correct answer is D) Don't eat; get. This option uses the present tense correctly, indicating a general truth about children and their health when they do not consume healthy food regularly. The verb "get" in the second part agrees with the subject "they."

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect due to singular form of the first verb and past tense used improperly.
Option B: Incorrect for similar reasons as Option A, with a mismatch in tenses.
Option C: Incorrect because it uses "gets" which does not agree with the plural subject "they."
Option D: Correct for using present tense verbs that agree and convey the intended meaning.

7. If water ..... , it ..... into steam.

Explanations: The correct answer is D) Boils; turns. This option uses the proper verb tense and subject-verb agreement, making it grammatically accurate. "Boils" is in the simple present tense, which is appropriate for a general statement about water's behavior. "Turns" correctly follows with the past participle form to describe the action of changing into steam.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect due to improper verb tense and subject-verb agreement.
Option B: Incorrect for similar reasons as Option A, with a missing 's' in "Boil" and no past participle form after "into."
Option C: Incorrect because of the wrong verb tense used ("Boils" should be singular).
Option D: Correct for the reasons explained above.

8. They ..... earlier if they ..... the wrong turn. (regret)

Explanations: The correct answer is B) Would have arrived; hadn't taken. This option uses the past perfect tense ("would have arrived") to express a hypothetical situation in the past, and "hadn't taken" (past perfect) correctly indicates what would have prevented them from arriving earlier.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Uses simple past for both clauses; incorrect as it doesn’t convey a hypothetical scenario.
Option B: Correct use of "would have arrived" and "hadn't taken."
Option C: Incorrect tense pairing (past perfect with simple past).
Option D: Uses simple past for both clauses; incorrect as it doesn’t convey a hypothetical scenario.

9. If we ..... in the countryside, we ..... fresh air every day. (imaginary)

Explanations: The correct answer is B) Lived; would enjoy. This option uses the past tense "Lived" to indicate a habitual action in the countryside, and "would enjoy" to express a hypothetical or imaginary situation. The use of "would" before the verb "enjoy" correctly conveys the idea that enjoying fresh air is something that could happen if the condition (living in the countryside) were true.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect because it uses present tense "Lives," which doesn't fit with the imaginary context.
Option B: Correct as explained above.
Option C: Incorrect because "Lived" is correct, but "enjoyed" in the past perfect form isn't necessary for a simple future hypothetical situation.
Option D: Incorrect because both verbs are in present tense, which doesn’t match the imaginary context.

10. What is the reference word?Travis loves to draw pictures. This is why Travis is always doodling.

Explanations: The reference word in the sentence "Travis loves to draw pictures. This is why Travis is always doodling." is "This". It refers back to the fact that Travis loves to draw pictures, explaining his constant doodling.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Refers to Travis himself, not a specific reference.
Option B: Introduces no new information; it's just the word "why".
Option C: Correct. "This" refers to Travis loving to draw pictures.
Option D: Describes a habitual action but is not a reference device in this context.

11. Which of the following uses negative inversion?

Explanations: Not only did she sing, but she also danced uses negative inversion in the phrase "not only...but also," which is a specific structure where the auxiliary verb moves before the subject to emphasize the sequence of events or actions.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Uses negative inversion with "Not only."
Option B: Incorrect. No negative inversion.
Option C: Incorrect. No negative inversion.
Option D: Incorrect. No negative inversion.

12. Which of the following sentences demonstrates negative inversion?

Explanations: Negative inversion occurs when a negative word like "never," "hardly," "scarcely," etc., is placed at the beginning of a sentence, followed by the subject and then the verb. In option D, "Not once did he complain about the service" follows this structure with "not once" at the start.

Option Analysis:

Option A: No negative inversion here.
Option B: No negative inversion; it's a relative clause.
Option C: No negative inversion; "seldom" is an adverb modifying the verb, not at the beginning of the sentence.
Option D: Correct example of negative inversion with "not once" at the start.

13. They ..... the train if they ..... now. (real future possibilities)

Explanations: The correct answer is C) Will miss; don't leave. This option uses the future simple tense for "will miss" to express a real possibility in the future, and "don't leave" as a present imperative to advise against an action that would result in missing the train.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. Uses past tense ("would miss") which is not suitable for expressing a real future possibility.
Option B: Incorrect. Past tense used twice, neither fits the context of a real future possibility or advice.
Option D: Incorrect. Present simple "miss" does not fit the context of a future possibility; "won't leave" is in negative form but doesn't match the positive future possibility expressed by "will miss".

14. I ..... you if you ..... me. (real future possibilities)

Explanations: The sentence uses future tense to express a real possibility, indicating that the actions will happen in the near future based on a condition being met. "Will help" correctly expresses this future action. "Ask" is used for the conditional part of the sentence, which should be in the simple present tense when referring to habitual or general conditions.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. "Would help" is past tense and doesn't match the future context.
Option B: Incorrect. "Help" is in the simple present, which doesn't fit the future context of the sentence.
Option C: Incorrect. "Helped" is in the past tense and doesn't fit the future context.
Option D: Correct. "Will help" for the future action and "ask" for the present condition.

15. Which of the following is an example of a hyphenated compound adjective?

Explanations: High-quality is an example of a hyphenated compound adjective because it combines two words, "high" and "quality," to function as a single descriptive element before a noun (e.g., high-quality product).

Option Analysis:

Option A: Business plan. - No hyphenation; both are nouns.
Option B: High-quality. - Correct example of a hyphenated compound adjective.
Option C: Online shopping. - No hyphenation; both are nouns.
Option D: Customer service. - No hyphenation; both are nouns.

16. Which business term means money needed to begin a business?

Explanations: Capital is the term that refers to the money needed to begin a business, making it the correct answer.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Venture typically refers to an enterprise or project, not specifically the initial funding.
Option B: Profit is the financial gain from a business activity after expenses are paid. It's not related to starting capital.
Option C: Capital directly means the money needed to start a business, making it correct.
Option D: Bargain basement is unrelated to business funding or startup costs.

17. She ..... more often if she ..... better English. (imaginary)

Explanations: The correct answer is D) Would travel; spoke. In this sentence, the first part uses "would travel" to express a hypothetical situation in the future. The second part uses "spoke" as the past tense of "speak," indicating a condition that was true in the past. This structure correctly forms a conditional sentence.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect because "will travel" is not used to express a hypothetical future situation.
Option B: Incorrect because both parts use present tense, which does not fit the context of a hypothetical condition and its result in the past.
Option C: Incorrect because "would travel" should be used for the hypothetical future part, not "would speak."
Option D: Correct as explained above.

18. JC woke up really early this morning. When he woke up, there wasn't light outside.

Explanations: The sentence "JC woke up really early this morning. When he woke up, there wasn't light outside." uses a reference device to connect the two clauses. The correct answer is D) He. This pronoun refers back to JC in the first clause and maintains consistency in the narrative.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "When" introduces a time clause but does not refer to any specific person or thing.
Option B: "There" is used for existence, but it doesn't serve as a reference device in this context.
Option C: "This" is demonstrative and refers to something specific mentioned earlier, which isn't the case here.
Option D: "He" correctly refers back to JC, maintaining proper pronoun agreement and reference.

19. The following are different types of sentence emphasis, EXCEPT:

Explanations: Clefting, inversion, and fronting are all techniques used to emphasize parts of a sentence by restructuring it. Ending (Option D) is not a grammatical structure but rather refers to the conclusion of a sentence or paragraph.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Clefting involves rephrasing sentences to place emphasis on a particular element, typically using 'it' as a dummy subject.
Option B: Inversion reverses the normal word order of a sentence for emphasis or stylistic effect.
Option C: Fronting moves an element to the beginning of a sentence for emphasis.
Option D: Ending pertains to the conclusion rather than a grammatical structure used for emphasis.

20. What is the reference device?Reading is a very important activity to improve our language. That is why books are useful.

Explanations: The reference device "that" in the sentence refers back to "reading," which is the antecedent. It indicates that reading, as an activity, is important for improving language skills.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Important - Incorrect. The word "important" describes the importance of reading but does not function as a reference device.
Option B: That - Correct. "That" is used here to refer back to "reading," making it a proper reference device.
Option C: Our - Incorrect. This pronoun does not serve as a reference device in the given sentence.
Option D: Books - Incorrect. While books are mentioned, they do not function as a reference device in this context.

21. A company is launching a new product. This means .....

Explanations: Making a product available for sale for the first time is the primary action associated with launching a new product. This aligns directly with the definition of a product launch, which involves introducing a new item to the market.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Launching a product does not imply closing the business; it's about adding a new offering.
Option B: Correct. This is the core action of launching a new product.
Option C: Advertising is a marketing strategy that may accompany a launch but isn't the defining action of a product launch itself.
Option D: Price changes are not necessarily part of a product launch; they can occur at any time based on market conditions or company strategy.

22. Below are examples of negative inversion, EXCEPT:

Explanations: Option C is not an example of negative inversion because it does not contain a negative adverb (such as "seldom," "rarely," or "never") that precedes the main verb, which is required for negative inversion. The sentence structure in Option C is a simple past tense statement without any inversion.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Seldom does he arrive on time. (Correct example of negative inversion)
Option B: Rarely do we go out during the week. (Correct example of negative inversion)
Option C: Last week, we went to the park to relax. (Not an example of negative inversion)
Option D: Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset. (Correct example of negative inversion)

23. What is the reference device?JC has a really nice jacket. On cold days, JC wears the jacket.

Explanations: The reference device in this context refers to the noun that a pronoun replaces or refers to. In "JC wears the jacket," "the jacket" is the reference device because it specifies which item JC is wearing. The word "the" is used here as an article, not as a reference device.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Wears - Verb, not a reference device.
Option B: Jacket - Noun, the actual reference device in this sentence.
Option C: Rama - Not mentioned or relevant to the sentence structure.
Option D: The - Article, not a reference device but part of specifying "jacket."

24. John enjoys playing football. He practices it every day because ..... loves the sport.

Explanations: The sentence uses a reflexive pronoun "He" to refer back to the subject "John". This is correct because "He" agrees in number and gender with "John", maintaining proper subject-verb agreement and clarity of reference.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. "He" refers back to John, ensuring consistency in pronoun usage.
Option B: Incorrect. "She" does not match the gender of John.
Option C: Incorrect. "One" is too vague and does not refer specifically to John.
Option D: Incorrect. "They" would be plural, which does not agree with the singular subject "John".

25. What is the reference device?Classrooms at HKA have a lot of space, but this one has less.

Explanations: The reference device is used to refer back to a previously mentioned noun in the text. In this sentence, "this one" refers to a classroom with less space compared to others at HKA. The correct answer is D) Less. because it correctly identifies the comparative element that is being referenced.

Option Analysis:

Option A: At - Incorrect as it does not refer back to any previously mentioned noun.
Option B: Ours - Incorrect as it introduces a new possessive form without clear reference.
Option C: Have - Incorrect as it is a verb and does not serve as a reference device.
Option D: Less - Correctly identifies the comparative element being referenced by "this one."

26. It is a type of sentence emphasis that splits sentences into two parts to highlight or emphasize a particular part.

Explanations: A cleft sentence is a type of sentence structure where the speaker or writer emphasizes a particular part of the sentence by separating it from the rest, often using "it is" or "what is." This structure highlights the emphasized element, making it stand out.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Negative inversion involves rearranging parts of a sentence to create emphasis through negation. It does not split sentences into two parts for highlighting.
Option B: Fronting moves the subject or another element to the beginning of the sentence, but it does not necessarily highlight a particular part by splitting the sentence.
Option C: Inversion involves changing the usual word order in a sentence for emphasis. It does not split sentences into two parts specifically for highlighting.
Option D: Cleft sentence correctly describes the structure that splits sentences to emphasize a particular part, using phrases like "it is" or "what is." This matches the description given in the question.

27. He ..... so much time if he ..... more organized. (imaginary)

Explanations: The correct answer is D) Wouldn't waste; were. This sentence uses the conditional perfect tense, which requires "would have" in the past hypothetical condition and "would" in the main clause for future from the past. The subject "he" agrees with "were" as a formal or general statement.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect; uses present tense instead of conditional perfect.
Option B: Incorrect; uses present tense and singular verb form for "is".
Option C: Incorrect; uses past perfect in the main clause, which is not needed here.
Option D: Correct; uses conditional perfect and formal subject-verb agreement.

28. The other term for cleft sentence is?

Explanations: A cleft sentence is a type of sentence where part of the sentence is separated to emphasize a particular element, often using "it" or "that". The term "splitting" refers to this structure because it splits the main clause into two parts for emphasis. Thus, option B) Splitting is correct.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Fronting involves moving a word or phrase to the beginning of a sentence for emphasis but does not split the sentence.
Option B: Correct - splitting refers to separating parts of a sentence to emphasize an element.
Option C: Emphasizing can be done in various ways, including cleft sentences, but "splitting" is more specific to this structure.
Option D: Incorrect - there is a correct term for the described sentence structure.

29. What is the reference device?Individuals & Societies class has a lot of writing. Language & Literature class has more.

Explanations: The correct answer is C) More. This indicates that the Language & Literature class has a greater quantity of writing compared to the Individuals & Societies class, as "more" directly compares and quantifies the difference in writing volume between the two classes.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Has - Incorrect. "Has" does not compare quantities.
Option B: A lot - Incorrect. "A lot" is an indefinite amount and does not make a direct comparison between the two classes.
Option C: More - Correct. "More" directly compares the quantity of writing in Language & Literature to that in Individuals & Societies, indicating a greater amount in one class over the other.
Option D: Class - Incorrect. "Class" is not used to compare quantities or amounts.

30. Which of the following is a hyphenated compound noun?

Explanations: X-ray is a hyphenated compound noun because it combines two words, "x" and "ray," to form a single term that functions as a singular noun. The hyphen helps to connect the two parts of the word more clearly.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Computer room is not hyphenated; it consists of an adjective ("computer") modifying a noun ("room").
Option B: Customer service is also not hyphenated; it combines two nouns to form a compound term.
Option C: X-ray is correct as explained above.
Option D: Website does not use a hyphen and functions as a singular noun without modification.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are reference devices in grammar?

Reference devices in grammar refer to words or phrases that help maintain coherence and clarity by referring back to previously mentioned nouns, ideas, or concepts within a sentence or text.

How do conditional sentences work?

Conditional sentences express hypothetical situations and their possible results. They are often used to talk about real or imaginary conditions, using tenses like the present simple for the condition and the future perfect tense for the result.

What is a cleft sentence?

A cleft sentence is a type of sentence structure used to emphasize a particular part of the sentence by moving it to the beginning or end, often using phrases like 'it is' or 'what is.' This technique helps in focusing on specific information.

How can hyphenated compound adjectives be used effectively?

Hyphenated compound adjectives are used to join two or more words that modify a noun together. They ensure clarity and avoid misunderstandings, especially when the order of the words could lead to confusion.

What is the purpose of negative inversion in sentences?

Negative inversion is used to emphasize a negation by placing it at the beginning of a sentence, often with words like 'never,' 'hardly,' or 'scarcely.' This technique highlights the negated element and can be particularly useful for creating emphasis in formal writing.

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