WREN & MARTIN's English grammar-articles practice

 

Articles Practice: 10 High-Standard MCQs

1. _______ breakfast I had at the hotel was excellent.

A. A

B. An

C. The

D. No article required

2. It is _______ unique opportunity to visit _______ Netherlands.

A. an, the

B. a, the

C. a, No article

D. an, No article

3. He was elected _______ Chairman of the Board.

A. a

B. an

C. the

D. No article required

4. _______ more they have, _______ more they want.

A. A, a

B. The, the

C. The, a

D. A, the

5. I like to go to _______ bed early and get up with _______ sun.

A. the, the

B. No article, the

C. the, No article

D. No article, No article

6. _______ Gold of South Africa is exported to many countries.

A. A

B. An

C. The

D. No article required

7. He is _______ better poet than _______ novelist.

A. a, a

B. the, the

C. a, No article

D. No article, a

8. For _______ sake of peace, he remained silent.

A. a

B. an

C. the

D. No article required

9. _______ children usually like _______ chocolates.

A. The, the

B. A, the

C. No article, No article

D. The, No article

10. Only _______ very few people can keep _______ secret.

A. a, a

B. the, the

C. No article, a

D. a, the

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Answer Key

Question	Answer	Explanation
1	C	While names of meals usually take no article, 'the' is used when describing a particular meal.
2	B	'Unique' starts with a consonant sound ('y-'). 'The' is used with names of countries that are plural or indicate a collection of states.
3	D	Articles are omitted before a noun used as a complement to a verb of appointing or electing.
4	B	'The' is used as an adverb with comparatives in a parallel structure.
5	B	No article is used with 'bed', 'church', 'school' when used for their primary purpose. 'The' is used for unique celestial bodies.
6	C	Abstract or material nouns take 'the' when they are qualified by a phrase (Gold of South Africa).
7	C	When two titles or descriptions refer to the same person, the article is used only before the first noun.
8	C	'The' is used in certain idiomatic phrases like "for the sake of."
9	C	Plural nouns used in a general sense (generalizing about all children/chocolates) do not take articles.
10	A	'A' is used in phrases of quantity like "a few" and "keep a secret."