Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1............... surprised the committee was how quickly the proposal gained support.
Wrong!
Use "What" to begin a wh-cleft that identifies the thing that surprised the committee.
2It was during the final interview ............... the candidate revealed her overseas experience.
Wrong!
Use "that" after the focused time phrase in this it-cleft sentence.
3What the report failed to explain ............... why the costs had risen so sharply.
Wrong!
Use "was" because the wh-clause "What the report failed to explain" is treated as a singular subject.
4It wasn't the data itself ............... the investors questioned, but the way it had been interpreted.
Wrong!
Use "that" after the focused noun phrase in this negative it-cleft sentence.
5............... I find most impressive about her leadership is her ability to remain calm under pressure.
Wrong!
Use "What" to begin a wh-cleft that identifies the impressive quality.
6It was only after the audit ............... the extent of the problem became clear.
Wrong!
Use "that" after the focused time phrase in this it-cleft sentence.
7What they need now ............... a more realistic timetable, not another set of promises.
Wrong!
Use "is" because the wh-clause "What they need now" is treated as a singular subject.
8It is the regional manager, not the assistants, ............... will have to justify the decision.
Wrong!
Use "who" because the focused noun phrase refers to a person.
9............... annoyed the audience most was the speaker's refusal to answer a direct question.
Wrong!
Use "What" to begin a wh-cleft that identifies the thing that annoyed the audience.
10It was because the evidence was incomplete ............... the case could not proceed.
Wrong!
Use "that" after the reason clause in this it-cleft sentence.
11What the board members were debating ............... whether the merger should be delayed.
Wrong!
Use "was" because the wh-clause "What the board members were debating" is treated as a singular subject.
12It was not until the revised figures were published ............... analysts changed their forecasts.
Wrong!
Use "that" in the fixed cleft pattern "It was not until... that...".
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- What surprised the committee was how quickly the proposal gained support.
- It was during the final interview that the candidate revealed her overseas experience.
- What the report failed to explain was why the costs had risen so sharply.
- It wasn’t the data itself that the investors questioned, but the way it had been interpreted.
- What I find most impressive about her leadership is her ability to remain calm under pressure.
- It was only after the audit that the extent of the problem became clear.
- What they need now is a more realistic timetable, not another set of promises.
- It is the regional manager, not the assistants, who will have to justify the decision.
- What annoyed the audience most was the speaker’s refusal to answer a direct question.
- It was because the evidence was incomplete that the case could not proceed.
- What the board members were debating was whether the merger should be delayed.
- It was not until the revised figures were published that analysts changed their forecasts.
