Want Help from native English speakers—8 English questions?

Question

Hello, I'm a teacher of English in China. I have a few questions just below, which are taken from 2007 China National Matriculation English test. As answers differ greatly, I particularly want some help form the English native speakers (British or American). Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

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1-- Robert is indeed a wise man.
-- Oh, yes. How often I have regretted ______ his advice!
A. to take B. taking C. not to take D. not taking
C or D, why?

2 I got caught in the rain and my suit____.
A. has ruined B. had ruined C. has been ruined D. had been ruined
C or D, why? Is "was ruined" the best here?

3 —Did Alan enjoy seeing his old friends yesterday?
—Yes, he did. He ________ his old friends for a long time.
A. didn’t see B. wouldn’t see C. hasn’t seen D. hadn’t seen
C or D, why?

4 When I called you this morning, nobody answered the phone. Where______?
A. did you go B. have you gone C. were you D. had you been
Which is the best one? why?

5 Polar bears live mostly on ______ sea ice, which they use as ______ platform for hunting seals.
A. a; a B. a; the C. /; a D. the; /
A or C, why?

6 —I have got a headache.
—No wonder. You ____in front of that computer too long.
A．work B．are working C．have been working D．worked
C or D, why?

7 I told your friend how to get to the hotel, but perhaps I ____have driven her there.
A. could B. must C. night D. should
A or D, why?

8 —Thank you for joining in our conversation tonight.
— ____________ .
A. It's my duty B. It's all right C. It's my pleasure D. It's nice to say so
I know C is correct, what about B?

Answer 1

1. D: no "reason", but regret goes with -ing (generally "ing" words are events that did happen and infintives are events that haven't happened, but that's not 100% true)

2. C because the ruining happened after the getting caught, D means it happened before. I would prefer "was ruined" myself, but not everyone (especially UK people) would agree.

3. D because the not seeing ended with the seeing. Hasn't seen would mean he it has STILL been a long time since he's seen them--not true, he saw them yesterday.

4. C is best, because it refers to your location at the time in question. A is okay, but sort of suggests that you had left just to avoid answering the phone.

5. C, reason is hard to explain, probably because "ice" is a material and therefore uncountable here.

6. I think either C or D is ok, C is probably better because it suggests duration. "Were working" would be better than "worked " if the person has stopped working.

7. I would say D because of the "perhaps", usually you'd know if you "could" have done something, but you might not know if you should.

8. B is ok in a casual setting, but if someone if thanking you for joining in their conversation, it's unlikely to be casual. "That's all right" is more common than "it's all right" in response to a thank you, though.

Answer 2

1 - not taking. (not to take) refers more to a future event.
2 - "was ruined" would be my prefered answer. But of the choices c or d could work depending on the circumstances. if both events are in the past (raining and ruining) then d is fine. if you show up to the door (so rain is in the past, you are explaining the reason for no suit in the present - then c is correct.) This is the reason "was ruined" is best. it works for both.
3. if you are asking the question in the present, the answer would be c. (its not about the event, its the question) BUT the word yesterday makes it an event in the past, so D would be correct.
4. a or c would be fine. a assumes the person went somewhere, c simply asks why the phone wasnt answered. I'd prefer c - but they should both be correct.
5. the is no such thing as "a sea ice" so the answer would be c. sea ice refers to the category rather than an object. (Similar to humans live on Earth) _- (never humans live on a Earth)
6. a can sometimes be correct. I would prefer c since it refers to the past event.
7. d. should suggests compassion and some regret. could simply suggests it was an option.
8. c is correct, b is far too informal, bordering on disrespect.

Answer 3

community English speaker from Australia i'd rephrase the questions, as well because the solutions as i don't understand every person that talks like that. in spite of the actual incontrovertible truth that you would possibly want to be understood, you would possibly want to maximum in all probability be laughed at and singled out as someone who would not understand english. instead i'd ask...am i able to borrow your dictionary? the answer might want to be...A) certain you are able to borrow it.B) certain, you are able to C) certain, help your self (might want to leave as is) D) certain, certain am i able to ask you a own question? A) certain, for certain B) for sure, C) certain D) Why no longer.

Answer 4

1. D..
2. A
3. D
4. C
5. A
6. C
7. D
8. C
I am born , raised and live American, this is the way I would have answered the questions, with the dialog and lingo that we use here. It all makes sense.
Good Luck on your test.

Answer 5

1. D. not taking
2. D. had been ruined
3. C. hasn't seen
4. D. had you been
5. C. the/a
6. C. have been working
7. D. should
8. C. It's my pleasure

I am sorry I can not answer why, it just makes sense to me.