1. Which sentence correctly uses past simple tense to narrate what the trickster did yesterday?
Yesterday the trickster will steal the maize from the granary.
Yesterday the trickster steals the maize from the granary.
Yesterday the trickster is stealing the maize from the granary.
Yesterday the trickster stole the maize from the granary.
Explanation:
Past simple (stole) is the correct tense to describe a completed action that happened yesterday.
2. Choose the sentence with correct subject–verb agreement.
The trickster and the elders is agreeing to share the food.
The trickster and the elders agree to share the food.
The trickster and the elders agrees sharing the food.
The trickster and the elders agrees to share the food.
Explanation:
With a compound subject joined by 'and', the plural verb 'agree' is correct.
3. Which sentence has an unambiguous pronoun reference?
After he tricked the farmer, he laughed loudly.
After tricking the farmer, he was arrested, which made him angry.
After the farmer saw him, he ran away.
After tricking the farmer, the trickster laughed loudly.
Explanation:
This sentence names the subject (the trickster) so the action and actor are clear; other options have unclear 'he' references.
4. Which sentence uses a modal verb to show obligation or responsibility?
The trickster should apologise to the farmer.
The trickster can climb the baobab tree.
The trickster might hide the truth.
The trickster will probably run away.
Explanation:
'Should' expresses a moral obligation or responsibility to apologise.
5. Which sentence is written in the passive voice to shift focus away from who acted?
The farmer saw the trickster stealing the yams.
The trickster is stealing the yams.
The yams were stolen by the trickster.
The trickster stole the farmer's yams.
Explanation:
Passive structure ('were stolen by') places focus on the yams rather than the actor.
6. Choose the correct reported speech form for: The elder said, "Return the goat now."
The elder says return the goat now.
The elder said to return the goat now.
The elder told him to return the goat immediately.
The elder said that he returns the goat now.
Explanation:
For commands in reported speech, use 'told' + object + infinitive; 'immediately' replaces 'now' in backshifted reporting.
7. Which sentence correctly punctuates direct speech?
The elder asked, "Why did you lie?"
The elder asked Why did you lie".
The elder asked "Why did you lie"?
The elder asked, Why did you lie?
Explanation:
Direct speech requires quotation marks and the question mark inside the quotes, with a comma before the quoted question.
8. Which sentence correctly uses an adverb to show habitual action in the past?
The trickster always tricks the villagers last year.
The trickster used to trick the villagers.
The trickster is always tricking the villagers tomorrow.
The trickster will always trick the villagers.
Explanation:
'Used to' correctly expresses a past habit; the other choices mix wrong tenses or time expressions.
9. Choose the sentence with a correct defining relative clause.
The trickster, who stole the maize, was caught.
The trickster, that stole the maize was caught.
The trickster who stole the maize, was caught.
The trickster that stole the maize was caught.
Explanation:
For defining clauses (identifying which trickster), 'that' without commas is correct; commas indicate non-defining clause.
10. Which sentence correctly uses a comma in a compound sentence?
The trickster, danced and the villagers laughed.
The trickster danced, and the villagers laughed.
The trickster danced and, the villagers laughed.
The trickster danced and the villagers laughed.
Explanation:
When two independent clauses are joined by 'and', use a comma before 'and'.
11. Choose the correct form after the verb 'enjoy'.
The trickster enjoys to play tricks.
The trickster enjoys played tricks.
The trickster enjoys playing tricks.
The trickster enjoys play tricks.
Explanation:
'Enjoy' is followed by a gerund ('playing'), not an infinitive.
12. Which sentence correctly expresses a hypothetical present situation (second conditional)?
If the trickster will be honest, he would be trusted.
If the trickster is honest, he would be trusted.
If the trickster had been honest, he would have been rewarded.
If the trickster were honest, he would be trusted.
Explanation:
Second conditional uses 'if' + past subjunctive ('were') and 'would' for hypothetical present situations.
13. Which sentence uses object pronouns correctly?
Between me and I the secret is safe.
Between you and me the secret is safe.
Between you and I the secret is safe.
Between I and you the secret is safe.
Explanation:
After a preposition ('between'), object pronouns are required: 'you and me'.
14. Choose the sentence with correct use of a reflexive pronoun for emphasis.
The trickster himself admitted his fault.
Himself the trickster admitted his fault.
The trickster himself admitted himself fault.
The trickster hisself admitted his fault.
Explanation:
'Himself' correctly emphasizes 'the trickster' and is placed after the noun it emphasises.
15. Which sentence correctly uses past perfect to show an action that happened before another past action?
Before the elders arrived, the trickster will have hidden the gold.
Before the elders arrived, the trickster hid the gold.
Before the elders arrived, the trickster has hidden the gold.
Before the elders arrived, the trickster had hidden the gold.
Explanation:
Past perfect ('had hidden') shows the hiding happened before the elders' arrival.
16. Which sentence is the most formal (avoid contractions) for a written school report?
The trickster should not have lied to the elders.
The trickster shouldn'ta lied to the elders.
The trickster shouldn't have lied to the elders.
The trickster shouldn't've lied to the elders.
Explanation:
Formal writing uses full forms ('should not') rather than contractions.
17. Which sentence uses a modal verb to express prohibition?
The villagers must not feed the trickster after he cheated.
The villagers can feed the trickster sometimes.
The villagers may share their crops with the trickster.
The villagers must give the trickster food.
Explanation:
'Must not' expresses a strong prohibition against feeding the trickster.
18. Choose the sentence that maintains correct parallel structure.
The trickster likes trick elders, to steal yams, and telling lies.
The trickster likes tricking elders, stealing yams, and telling lies.
The trickster likes to trick elders, to steal yams, and telling lies.
The trickster likes to trick elders, stealing yams, and he lies often.
Explanation:
All items are gerunds ('tricking', 'stealing', 'telling') keeping parallel structure.
19. Which tag question matches the statement correctly: 'The trickster won't come, ____?'
will he?
won't he?
did he?
does he?
Explanation:
Negative statement 'won't' takes positive tag 'will he?'.
20. Choose the sentence with the correct article for a specific item known to both speaker and listener.
The elder returned the lost calf.
The elder returned a lost calf.
A elder returned the lost calf.
Elder returned lost calf.
Explanation:
Use 'the' for a specific calf known to speaker and listener; 'the elder' is definite.
21. Which sentence correctly uses a comma after an introductory adverbial clause?
After the trickster left, the children cleaned the farm.
After the trickster left, the village children cleaned the farm.
After the trickster left the village, the children cleaned the farm.
After the trickster left the village the children cleaned the farm.
Explanation:
A comma is used after an introductory adverbial clause; the simpler clause placement is clear and correct.
22. Which sentence shows the correct form for an indirect question?
Do you know where the trickster is?
Do you know where is the trickster?
Do you know where trickster is?
Do you know where does the trickster is?
Explanation:
Indirect questions keep normal subject–verb order ('the trickster is') rather than question inversion.
23. Choose the correct reported command: The elders said to him, "Return the calf immediately."
The elders told him to return the calf immediately.
The elders said to return the calf immediately him.
The elders told him return the calf immediately.
The elders said him to return the calf immediately.
Explanation:
Use 'told' + object + infinitive ('to return') for reported commands.
24. Which sentence uses a modal perfect to criticize a past action (past responsibility not met)?
The trickster will have returned the maize earlier.
The trickster can have returned the maize earlier.
The trickster must have returned the maize by now.
The trickster should have returned the maize earlier.
Explanation:
'Should have' expresses a past obligation or expectation that was not fulfilled, often used to criticise.
25. Which sentence correctly uses a conjunction to show cause and effect?
Because the trickster lied, the villagers did not trust him.
The trickster lied therefore the villagers did not trust him.
The trickster lied and therefore, the villagers did not trust him.
So the trickster lied, the villagers did not trust him.
Explanation:
'Because' introduces a cause clause; comma after the clause is correct when it comes first.