TP 9.5 Past, Present, Future (Basic Tenses)

A: What time ___ the library open on weekdays?
B: It ___ at 8 a.m.

• do / open

• does / open

• does / opens

• do / opens

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'does / opens' because 'the library' is a singular noun, requiring 'does' for the question form. 'Opens' is used in the present simple tense to indicate a habitual action.

My brother usually ___ his bike to school, but today he ___ by bus.

• rides / goes

• rides / is going

• is riding / goes

• ride / goes

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'rides / is going' because 'rides' indicates a habitual action, while 'is going' shows a current action happening today, which is different from his usual routine.

I never ___ coffee at night because it ___ me awake.

• drink / keeps

• drinks / keep

• drink / keep

• am drinking / keeps

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'drink / keeps' because 'I never drink' is the correct present tense form for the subject 'I', and 'keeps' agrees with 'coffee' as a singular noun.

She ___ three languages fluently.

• speaks

• is speaking

• spoke

• has spoken

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'speaks' because it indicates a habitual action. The sentence describes her ability to communicate in three languages fluently, which is best expressed in the simple present tense.

A: ___ you like spicy food?
B: No, I rarely ___ chili.

• Do / eat

• Does / eat

• Are / eating

• Have / eaten

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Do / eat' because it forms a proper question in the present simple tense. 'Do' is used with 'you' to ask about preferences, and 'eat' is the base form of the verb.

Every morning, my dad ___ the newspaper before breakfast.

• read

• reads

• is reading

• has read

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'reads' because it indicates a habitual action. The sentence describes a routine that occurs every morning, which is best expressed in the simple present tense.

The Earth ___ around the Sun.

• moves

• move

• is moving

• moved

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'moves' because it is the simple present tense, which is used to describe habitual actions or general truths, such as the Earth's consistent orbit around the Sun.

The shop ___ at 9 a.m. and ___ at 10 p.m.

• opens / closes

• opened / closed

• is opening / is closing

• has opened / closed

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'opens / closes' because it describes the shop's regular schedule in the present tense. 'Opened / closed' refers to past actions, while 'is opening / is closing' suggests ongoing actions, which are not applicable here.

Water ___ at 100°C.

• boil

• boils

• is boiling

• has boiled

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'boils' because it is the simple present tense, indicating a general fact: water boils at 100°C. The other options do not fit the context of a scientific fact.

I ___ a delicious meal yesterday at a new café.

• eat

• ate

• eaten

• am eating

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'ate' because it is the simple past tense of 'eat', which fits the context of the sentence referring to a meal consumed yesterday.