PROFICIENCY USE OF ENGLISH - DIAGNOSTIC TEST 1

CPE - USE OF ENGLISH

DIAGNOSTIC TEST
This test can be used at the start of a course to identify which areas of advanced
grammar a learner entering the CPE level has most difficulty with.

1. You ............. wonderful! Is that a new perfume you're wearing?
a are smelling c will smell
b smell d have been smelling
2. Their train is ............ to get in at 19.05.
a bound c due
b likely d sure
3. It gets on my nerves that way that Carol ............ about her job.
a forever boasts c never boasts
b is forever boasting d is never boasting
4. Since I .............. you I have never seen you cry.
a have known c am knowing
b know d knew
5. When I lived in Paris, I ............. strolling along the banks of the river Seine.
a was enjoying c would enjoy
b had enjoyed d used to enjoy
6. We ............ to the new Harry Potter film on Saturday. If we can get tickets, would
you like to come too?
a were going to go c had planned to go
b were thinking of going d had been meaning to go
7. Our last holiday in Italy was ............. marvellous.
a quite c exceedingly
b fairly d somewhat
8. The louder he talks, .............. I become.
a very irritated c the more irritated
b so irritated d more irritated do
9. She prefers an evening at the cinema ............. to bars or clubs.
a to going out c than going out
b rather than go out d to go out
10. Rod is too poor ............... a new car.
a that he can buy c for buying
b so as to buy d to buy
11. He ............ be famous, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's interesting to talk to.
a must c should
b could d may
12. The lecture's been cancelled, so we ............. as well go for lunch now.
a might c should
b could d will

PROFICIENCY USE OF ENGLISH - DIAGNOSTIC TEST 2
13. Given the chance, many children .............. TV uninterruptedly for hours.
a are watching c will be watching
b will have watched d will watch
14. .............. nocturnal creature(s).
a Owl is a c The owl is a
b An owl is a d The owls are
15. .............. is an instrument for looking at small objects.
a A microscope c The microscope
b Microscope d One microscope
16. My brother has ........... in the personnel department who might be able to help you.
a the contacts c the contact
b contact d a contact
17. That's strange - I sent the parcel by courier, so you .......... have received it by now.
a must c should
b couldn't d needn't
18. The engagement ring he gave her ............. been more beautiful.
a couldn't have c shouldn't have
b might have d must have
19. My teacher says it's a pity I didn't start lessons when I was younger, because she
thinks I ......... have become a professional musician.
a must c may
b would d could
20. Several witnesses said they saw the woman and child leaving the building together.
However, as the child was smiling and holding the woman's hand, they assumed she
.......... his mother.
a had to be c must have been
b must be d was to be
21. He told me he ............ finish a report before he could join us for a drink.
a was to c had to
b must have to d must have had to
22. This is ............. to be the best film the famous director has made.
a argued c hoped
b accepted d thought
23. He begged ............ him.
a that she forgive c for her forgiving
b that she should forgive d her to forgive
24. That was .............. party last night - I haven't had so much fun for years!
a any c one
b some d no
25. Unfortunately, .......... children nowadays are able, or prepared, to read classic
works, such as Peter Pan or Treasure Island, in the original versions.
a little c few
b a little d a few
PROFICIENCY USE OF ENGLISH - DIAGNOSTIC TEST 3
26. I would normally have been on that train that was derailed yesterday, but ............
told me I should take my car to work instead.
a anything c something
b everything d nothing
27. We've had a burglar alarm installed in our holiday cottage .......... feel happier about
leaving it unoccupied for long periods.
a lest we should c so that we will
b in order that we should d for fear that we will
28. ............. her excellent qualifications, she hasn't yet found a suitable job.
a Thanks to c Although
b Despite d As a result of
29. The plot was ............. complicated it spoiled my enjoyment of the book.
a very c so
b such d so much
30. ............ these new regulations to come into force, our work would become much
more difficult.
a If c Had
b Should d Were
31. If you ........... keep teasing the dog, you shouldn't be surprised that it snaps at you.
a do c shall
b will d did
32. If you had paid more attention in class, you ............. better marks now.
a would have c ought to have
b will have d should have
33. She can't have studied chemistry at school if she ............ what a heavy element is.
a doesn't even know c wouldn't even know
b hadn't even known d won't even know
34. I'd rather ........... all those stories about me as a child to my new boyfriend, Mum.
I was awfully embarrassed.
a not have told c you wouldn't tell
b you didn't tell d you hadn't told
35. I wish you .............. when I'm telling you something important.
a won't interrupt c didn't interrupt
b wouldn't interrupt d hadn't interrupted
36. What's the matter? You look as though you ............. a ghost.
a are seeing c saw
b see d had seen
37. Oh no! It looks like my rucksack ............ behind in the scramble to get on the bus.
a has left c had left
b has got left d had been left
38. The book was banned in Britain because it was seen .... offensive to racial minorities.
a be c being
b to be d having been
PROFICIENCY USE OF ENGLISH - DIAGNOSTIC TEST 4


39. I think it's disgraceful that the children aren't ........... go outside during the break.
a let c allowed
b let to d allowed to
40. The colours you've chosen are lovely, dear, but next time try ........... your shading
within the lines a bit more.
a keeping c and keep
b to be kept d that you should keep
41. The girl said she went up the tree because her brother ............. climb it.
a had dared her c was dared
b had dared her to d had dared
42. .............. the news of the birth of her first grandchild, Mary burst into tears of joy.
a Hearing c Being heard
b Having heard d Having been heard
43. ............... are staff to enter this area without wearing protective clothing.
a Absolutely not c On no account
b Out of the question d In no way
44. Scarcely had the islanders recovered from the earthquake ............... the volcano
began to erupt.
a that c then
b when d than
45. Only after a dozen attempts .............. her driving test.
a did she pass c passed she
b she passed d was she passed
46. Hardly .............. for the independent candidate.
a voted anyone c anyone voted
b did anyone vote d did vote anyone
47. It's the long, light evenings ............. I like most about summer.
a why c which
b what d that
48. I don't think it's my fault; ............... I did was touch that key there, and the whole
computer crashed!
a all c that
b when d the only
49. What I really want ............... up your bedroom.
a is that you should tidy c is for you to tidy
b would be for you to tidy d is you tidying
50. He doesn't like children chatting in class. ............. he will not put up with.
a Such c That
b Those d This thing


Proficiency Use of English Teacher's Book

PROFICIENCY USE OF ENGLISH - DIAGNOSTIC TEST 5
CPE - USE OF ENGLISH - ANSWERS
DIAGNOSTIC TEST

This test can be used at the start of a course to identify which areas of advanced
grammar a learner entering the CPE level has most difficulty with.

1. You ............. wonderful! Is that a new perfume you're wearing?
a are smelling c will smell
b smell d have been smelling
2. Their train is ............ to get in at 19.05.
a bound c due
b likely d sure
3. It gets on my nerves that way that Carol ............ about her job.
a forever boasts c never boasts
b is forever boasting d is never boasting
4. Since I .............. you I have never seen you cry.
a have known c am knowing
b know d knew
5. When I lived in Paris, I ............. strolling along the banks of the river Seine.
a was enjoying c would enjoy
b had enjoyed d used to enjoy
6. We ............. to the new Harry Potter film on Saturday. If we can get tickets, would
you like to come too?
a were going to go c had planned to go
b were thinking of going d had been meaning to go
7. Our last holiday in Italy was ............. marvellous.
a quite c exceedingly
b fairly d somewhat
8. The louder he talks, .............. I become.
a very irritated c the more irritated
b so irritated d more irritated do
9. She prefers an evening at the cinema ............. to bars or clubs.
a to going out c than going out
b rather than go out d to go out
10. Rod is too poor ............... a new car.
a that he can buy c for buying
b so as to buy d to buy
11. He ............ be famous, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's interesting to talk to.
a must c should
b could d may
12. The lecture's been cancelled, so we ............. as well go for lunch now.
a might c should
b could d will
PROFICIENCY USE OF ENGLISH - DIAGNOSTIC TEST 6
13. Given the chance, many children ............. TV uninterruptedly for hours.
a are watching c will be watching
b will have watched d will watch
14. .............. nocturnal creature(s).
a Owl is a c The owl is a
b An owl is a d The owls are
15. .............. is an instrument for looking at small objects.
a A microscope c The microscope
b Microscope d One microscope
16. My brother has ........... in the personnel department who might be able to help you.
a the contacts c the contact
b contact d a contact
17. That's strange - I sent the parcel by courier, so you .......... have received it by now.
a must c should
b couldn't d needn't
18. The engagement ring he gave her ............. been more beautiful.
a couldn't have c shouldn't have
b might have d must have
19. My teacher says it's a pity I didn't start lessons when I was younger, because she
thinks I ......... have become a professional musician.
a must c may
b would d could
20. Several witnesses said they saw the woman and child leaving the building together.
However, as the child was smiling and holding the woman's hand, they assumed she
.......... his mother.
a had to be c must have been
b must be d was to be
21. He told me he ............ finish a report before he could join us for a drink.
a was to c had to
b must have to d must have had to
22. This is ............. to be the best film the famous director has made.
a argued c hoped
b accepted d thought
23. He begged ............ him.
a that she forgive c for her forgiving
b that she should forgive d her to forgive
24. That was .............. party last night - I haven't had so much fun for years!
a any c one
b some d no
25. Unfortunately, .......... children nowadays are able, or prepared, to read classic
works, such as Peter Pan or Treasure Island, in the original versions.
a little c few
b little d a few
PROFICIENCY USE OF ENGLISH - DIAGNOSTIC TEST 7
26. I would normally have been on that train that was derailed yesterday, but ............
told me I should take my car to work instead.
a anything c something
b everything d nothing
27. We've had a burglar alarm installed in our holiday cottage .......... feel happier about
leaving it unoccupied for long periods.
a lest we should c so that we will
b in order that we should d for fear that we will
28. ............. her excellent qualifications, she hasn't yet found a suitable job.
a Thanks to c Although
b Despite d As a result of
29. The plot was ............. complicated it spoiled my enjoyment of the book.
a very c so
b such d so much
30. ............ these new regulations to come into force, our work would become much
more difficult.
a If c Had
b Should d Were
31. If you ......... keep teasing the dog, you shouldn't be surprised that it snaps at you.
a do c shall
b will d did
32. If you had paid more attention in class, you ............. better marks now.
a would have c ought to have
b will have d should have
33. She can't have studied chemistry at school if she ........... what a heavy element is.
a doesn't even know c wouldn't even know
b hadn't even known d won't even know
34. I'd rather ......... all those stories about me as a child to my new boyfriend, Mum.
I was awfully embarrassed.
a not have told c you wouldn't tell
b you didn't tell d you hadn't told
35. I wish you ............. when I'm telling you something important.
a won't interrupt c didn't interrupt
b wouldn't interrupt d hadn't interrupted
36. What's the matter? You look as though you ............ a ghost.
a are seeing c saw
b see d had seen
37. Oh no! It looks like my rucksack ........... behind in the scramble to get on the bus.
a has left c had left
b has got left d had been left
38. The book was banned in Britain because it was seen .... offensive to racial minorities.
a be c being
b to be d having been
PROFICIENCY USE OF ENGLISH - DIAGNOSTIC TEST 8


39. I think it's disgraceful that the children aren't ......... go outside during the break.
a let c allowed
b let to d allowed to
40. The colours you've chosen are lovely, dear, but next time try ......... your shading
within the lines a bit more.
a keeping c and keep
b to be kept d that you should keep
41. The girl said she went up the tree because her brother ............ climb it.
a had dared her c was dared
b had dared her to d had dared
42. ............. the news of the birth of her first grandchild, Mary burst into tears of joy.
a Hearing c Being heard
b Having heard d Having been heard
43. ............. are staff to enter this area without wearing protective clothing.
a Absolutely not c On no account
b Out of the question d In no way
44. Scarcely had the islanders recovered from the earthquake ............... the volcano
began to erupt.
a that c then
b when d than
45. Only after a dozen attempts ............ her driving test.
a did she pass c passed she
b she passed d was she passed
46. Hardly ............. for the independent candidate.
a voted anyone c anyone voted
b did anyone vote d did vote anyone
47. It's the long, light evenings ............. I like most about summer.
a why c which
b what d that
48. I don't think it's my fault; ........... I did was touch that key there, and the whole
computer crashed!
a all c that
b when d the only
49. What I really want ............ up your bedroom.
a is that you should tidy c is for you to tidy
b would be for you to tidy d is you tidying
50. He doesn't like children chatting in class. ............ he will not put up with.
a Such c That
b Those d This thing


PROFICIENCY USE OF ENGLISH - DIAGNOSTIC TEST 9


KEY TO DIAGNOSTIC TEST

1 Present and future tenses
1b; 2c: 3b
9 Clauses
27c; 28b; 29c
2 Past and perfect tenses
4a: 5d: 6b
10 Conditionals
30d: 31b; 32a; 33a
3 Adjectives and adverbs
7a: 8c; 9a; 10d
11 Unreal past and wishes
34d; 35b; 36d
4 Modals 1: present and future
11d; 12a; 13d
12 Passives and causatives
37b;38b;39d
5 Nouns and articles
14c; 15a; 16d
13 Infinitives and gerunds
40c; 41b; 42a
6 Modals II: past
17c; 18a; 19d
14 Inversion
43c; 44b; 45a; 46c
7 Reported speech
20b; 21c: 22d; 23d
15 Emphasis
47d; 48a; 49c; 50c
8 Determiners and pronouns
24b; 25c; 26c
















Proficiency Use of English Teacher's Book

PROFICIENCY USE OF ENGLISH - DIAGNOSTIC TEST 10