Complex Noun Phrases: Modification and Complementation —
Forms in Context.

Question 1

The unexpected cancellation of the two public consultations _____ caused considerable concern.

Options: have, has, are

Question 2

The review links the laboratory’s reliance _____ private funding to its limited access _____ public grants and its low awareness _____ alternative sources.

Options: to, of, on

Question 3

Compare The panel’s decision shocked the applicants with The panel’s decision to cancel the interviews shocked the applicants. Although it can be omitted, to cancel the interviews is _____.

Options: a modifier locating the decision in time, a complement giving the decision’s content, a relative clause identifying the applicants

Question 4

In the demolition of the warehouse, of the warehouse identifies _____; in an engineer of remarkable patience, of remarkable patience identifies _____.

Options: a quality of the demolition, what was demolished, when the demolition occurred, what was engineered, when the engineer worked, a quality of the engineer

Question 5

In a controversial, recently revised government policy, controversial is _____, recently revised is _____, and government is _____.

Options: an adjective premodifier, a noun premodifier, a participial premodifier, an adjective with its own complement, a relative postmodifier

Question 6

The selection panel is looking for _____; experience alone will not be enough.

Options: a suitable for this demanding role candidate, a candidate suitable for this demanding role, a candidate for this demanding role suitable

Question 7

The belief _____ regular exercise improves concentration influenced the study. The belief _____ the researchers challenged concerned the benefits of working without breaks.

Options: which, what, that, whether

Question 8

The question _____ the proposed service would be affordable remained unanswered.

Options: of which, of whether, of that

Question 9

In Leila’s decision to appeal, the infinitive gives _____. In an application to review, application corresponds to _____ of review. In the last inspector to leave, inspector corresponds to _____ of leave.

Options: the content of the decision, a location for the decision, the object of appeal, the subject, the object, the time expression

Question 10

The organiser needs a table _____ the volunteers to display their leaflets on.

Options: of, with, for

Question 11

At six yesterday evening, the passengers waiting near the gate were told to board. Here, waiting _____.

Options: describes an action at the past time established by the sentence, must describe an action happening at the moment of speaking, shows that the passengers had finished waiting before six

Question 12

During yesterday’s inspection, the officials _____ the equipment found two faults. The equipment _____ by those officials was then removed from use.

Options: examined, examining, to examined, to examining

Question 13

There is only one final report. In standard written English, complete this sentence with supplementary information: The final report, _____ was released this morning, recommends a full review.

Options: that, what, which

Question 14

Only four of the twelve reviewers had read the complete file, and only those four could vote. Choose the wording that identifies that subset: _____ were permitted to vote.

Options: The reviewers, who had read the complete file,, The reviewers who had read the complete file, The reviewers, that had read the complete file,

Question 15

The board debated for weeks before approving a move, but the move itself was scheduled for next year. Choose the version that states the timing clearly: _____

Options: The board decided to move the office after weeks of debate next year., The board decided next year to move the office after weeks of debate., After weeks of debate, the board decided to move the office next year.