GRADE 9 English – LISTENING AND SPEAKING:JOB INTERVIEWS Quiz

1. In a job interview you want to say you can speak Kiswahili. Which sentence is grammatically correct?

I can speak Kiswahili fluently.
I could speak Kiswahili fluently.
I must speak Kiswahili fluently.
I may speak Kiswahili fluently.
Explanation:

Use 'can' to state present ability. 'Could' is past or conditional, 'may' expresses permission or possibility, and 'must' expresses obligation.

2. You want to politely ask the interviewer to describe the duties. Which is the best form?

Could you tell me about the duties?
Shall you tell me about the duties?
Will you telling me about the duties?
Must you tell me about the duties?
Explanation:

'Could you...' is a polite modal question form. 'Must' asks about obligation, 'shall you' is not used for polite requests, and 'Will you telling' is ungrammatical.

3. Choose the correct verb to complete: One of my strengths _____ problem-solving.

are
is
have
were
Explanation:

The subject 'one' is singular, so the verb must be singular: 'is'. 'Are' and 'were' are plural, 'have' is not correct for this structure.

4. Which sentence correctly describes a past job for your CV?

I work at a bakery last year.
I worked at a bakery last year.
I will work at a bakery last year.
I am working at a bakery last year.
Explanation:

Use the simple past 'worked' to describe a completed action at a specific time in the past ('last year').

5. To show you have experience (time not specified), choose the right form: I _____ volunteered in community projects before.

volunteered
had volunteered
have volunteered
will have volunteered
Explanation:

The present perfect 'have volunteered' is used for experiences at an unspecified time in the past. 'Volunteered' (simple past) is for specific past times; 'had volunteered' is past perfect, 'will have volunteered' is future perfect.

6. You want to tell the interviewer about an award. Which sentence is correct?

I was awarded a certificate for good service.
I have award a certificate for good service.
I were awarded a certificate for good service.
I am awarded a certificate for good service.
Explanation:

The passive past simple 'was awarded' correctly describes a past event. 'Were' is wrong for singular 'I', 'am awarded' implies present routine, and 'have award' is ungrammatical.

7. Choose the correct verb form: How long _____ you lived in Nairobi?

have
did
are
had
Explanation:

The present perfect 'How long have you lived...?' asks about duration up to now. 'Did' and 'had' change the time reference, 'are' is present continuous and doesn't fit here.

8. Complete the sentence appropriately for interview goals: I want _____ my communication skills.

improved
improving
improve
to improve
Explanation:

After 'want' you use the infinitive 'to improve'. 'Improve' without 'to' is incorrect here, 'improving' would need a different structure, and 'improved' is past participle.

9. For immediate availability, which fits this sentence: If offered the job, I _____ start immediately.

must
should
would
can
Explanation:

'Can' expresses ability or possibility to start immediately. 'Would' is conditional, 'must' expresses obligation, and 'should' expresses advisability.

10. Choose the correct question tag: You have completed your training, _____?

won't you
don't you
haven't you
didn't you
Explanation:

When the main clause uses present perfect ('have completed'), the tag uses 'haven't you'. 'Didn't you' is past simple, 'don't you' is present simple, 'won't you' is future.

11. Which article is correct in this interview sentence: I am looking for _____ part-time job.

the
a
an
Explanation:

'A' is used before consonant sounds; 'part-time' begins with a consonant sound, so 'a part-time job' is correct. 'An' is for vowel sounds; 'the' specifies a particular job.

12. Fill the preposition: In the role I was responsible _____ bookkeeping.

for
with
at
of
Explanation:

Use 'responsible for' to indicate duties. 'Responsible with/of/at' are not correct collocations in this context.

13. Report the question: The interviewer asked me, 'What are your hobbies.' The reported form is:

The interviewer asked me what were my hobbies.
The interviewer asked me what my hobbies were.
The interviewer asked me what my hobbies are.
The interviewer asked me what are my hobbies.
Explanation:

In reported speech the verb tense usually shifts back: 'are' becomes 'were', and the word order changes to statement order: 'what my hobbies were.'

14. Choose the correct form after a preposition: I am good at _____ new ideas in meetings.

generated
generating
generate
to generate
Explanation:

After a preposition ('at'), use the gerund ('generating'). 'To generate' is the infinitive, 'generate' is base form (requires a different structure), 'generated' is past participle.

15. Which word is correct for duration: I have worked here _____ three months.

since
during
for
from
Explanation:

Use 'for' with a period of time (three months). 'Since' is used with a specific starting point (e.g., since January).

16. Which modal shows willingness to help in the future: I _____ help with the inventory if needed.

must
would
will
shall
Explanation:

'Will' expresses future willingness or intention. 'Would' is more conditional or polite; 'shall' is formal/rare in this context; 'must' shows obligation.

17. Choose the correct comparative form: I am _____ than my colleague at managing time.

more good
gooder
better
best
Explanation:

Use 'better' as the comparative form of 'good'. 'More good' and 'gooder' are incorrect; 'best' is the superlative, not comparative.

18. Pick the correct negative form for your CV: I _____ any gaps in my CV.

don't have
haven't got
don't got
hadn't
Explanation:

'Don't have' is the correct present negative form. 'Haven't got' is also possible in some varieties but less direct; 'don't got' and 'hadn't' are incorrect here.

19. Which plural noun fits here: My strongest _____ are communication and teamwork.

abilitys
ability
skills
skill
Explanation:

Use the plural 'skills' because more than one item (communication and teamwork) is listed. 'Skill' is singular; 'abilitys' is misspelled.

20. Complete this negative agreement: I do not have a bicycle, and he does not _____ .

either
also
neither
too
Explanation:

At the end of a negative clause, 'either' is used to agree negatively: 'he does not either.' 'Neither' would require inversion ('neither does he'), 'too' and 'also' are used with positives.

21. Choose the correct relative word: This is the school _____ I taught last year.

who
when
where
which
Explanation:

'Where' is used for places (the school). 'Who' refers to people, 'when' to times, and 'which' could work in some structures but 'where' is more natural for places.

22. Select the conjunction that gives a reason: I was late to the interview _____ heavy traffic.

although
because
so
but
Explanation:

'Because' introduces a reason. 'Although' introduces contrast, 'but' connects contrasting clauses, and 'so' shows result.

23. Which pronoun is best as a singular, gender-neutral subject in this sentence: If a candidate arrives late, _____ should wait outside.

he
it
they
she
Explanation:

Singular 'they' is used as a gender-neutral pronoun for 'a candidate'. 'He' or 'she' specify gender, 'it' is not appropriate for a person.

24. Which question form is most natural when asking for an explanation in an interview?

Must you explain why you left your last job?
Could you explain why you left your last job?
Would you mind explain why you left your last job?
Do you could explain why you left your last job?
Explanation:

'Could you explain...' is a polite, grammatically correct request. 'Would you mind explain' is ungrammatical (needs gerund), 'must you' is about obligation, 'Do you could' is incorrect.

25. Choose the correct expression of amount: I have _____ experience with customer service.

many
a lot of
several
few
Explanation:

'Customer service' is uncountable, so 'a lot of' (or 'much') fits. 'Many' and 'few' are used with countable nouns; 'several' is for countable plural.