Intermediate English test paper with phrasal verb and verb conjugation exercises.

Let’s go step by step through each part of the test.

---

Part A: Complete the sentences with the correct form of the phrasal verbs

We are given these phrasal verbs:
- look forward
- look for
- take off
- take on
- look up

Now, let’s match them to the sentences:

1. “It was so hot that the men had to ______ their jackets.”
→ When it’s hot, you remove clothes → take off

2. “I’m ______ getting your letter.”
→ This means you’re excited or waiting happily → looking forward to (note: we need “to” after “forward”, but since the blank is just for the verb phrase, we write “looking forward”)

Wait — actually, in this case, the sentence says “getting your letter”, so we need “looking forward to getting...” But the blank is only for the phrasal verb. So we’ll use “looking forward” and assume “to” is implied or added naturally.

But looking at the structure, maybe they expect “looking forward to” as a unit? Let’s check the instruction: “correct form of the phrasal verbs”. The list includes “look forward” — which usually takes “to” + noun/verb-ing.

So for #2: “I’m looking forward to getting your letter.” → So the answer is looking forward

3. “You look exhausted. I hope you aren’t ______ too much work again.”
→ Taking on work = accepting responsibility → taking on

4. “I’m just ______ my glasses. Someone is always stealing them!”
→ Searching for something → looking for

5. “I don’t know what ‘committed’ means. I have to ______ the word in the dictionary.”
→ Check meaning in dictionary → look up

✔ So Part A answers:
1. take off
2. looking forward
3. taking on
4. looking for
5. look up

*(Note: For #2, even though “to” isn’t in the blank, it’s understood. We write “looking forward” as the phrasal verb form needed.)*

---

Next: ...and now use your own ideas to complete the following clauses.

These are open-ended. You can make up logical endings. Here are simple, natural ones:

1. He passed his test although he didn’t study very hard.
2. Despite the cold weather, we went outside to play soccer.
3. I recognised her from a photograph although it was taken ten years ago.
4. I couldn’t understand him although he spoke slowly and clearly.
5. In spite of his physical handicap, he climbed the mountain successfully.

*(Any reasonable completion is fine — these are examples.)*

---

Part B: Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets

This is about verb tenses — past simple, present perfect, past continuous, etc.

Let’s go one by one:

1. “The young man ______ (never / be) to Paris, but he ______ (read) a book about this city last year.”
→ First part: never been → present perfect → has never been
→ Second part: last year → past simple → read

2. “The secretary is very tired. She ______ (type) all morning.”
→ Action started in past and continues to now → present perfect continuous → has been typing

3.
A: “______ you ______ (speak) to an Englishman?”
B: “Yes, I ______ (have) a short conversation with one last night.”
→ A: Asking about experience → present perfect → Have / spoken
→ B: Last night → past simple → had

4. “What ______ (you / learn) since you ______ (come) here? How many friends ______ (you / make)? I hope you ______ (already / meet) a lot of interesting people.”
→ Since + past event → present perfect for first verb → have you learned
→ Come → past simple → came
→ Make friends → present perfect → have you made
→ Already meet → present perfect → have already met

5. “When I ______ (get) home last night, I ______ (be) very tired and I ______ (go) straight to bed.”
→ All actions happened last night → past simple → got / was / went

6. “When I entered the house, my mother ______ (cook) pizza.”
→ At the moment I entered, she was cooking → past continuous → was cooking

7. “She always ______ (walk) to school but she ______ (ride) her bike today.”
→ Habit → present simple → walks
→ Today → specific day → present simple (or could be present continuous, but context suggests contrast with habit) → is riding OR rode? Wait — “today” can be used with present continuous for current action.

Actually, better:
“She always walks to school but she is riding her bike today.” → shows temporary change.

But if “today” refers to completed action, maybe “rode”? But no time marker like “this morning”. Best fit: is riding

However, some might say “rides” for habitual vs “rode” for today — but “today” often pairs with present continuous for ongoing/recent action.

Let’s go with:
walks / is riding

8. “After we ______ (listen) to the song we ______ (discuss) it all together and some of my classmates ______ (tell) that they ______ (never/hear) it before.”
→ Sequence of past events → all past simple except last one: “never heard” → past perfect because it happened BEFORE telling.

So:
listened / discussed / told / had never heard

*(“Had never heard” because they hadn’t heard it BEFORE they told us.)*

---

✔ Final Answers Compiled:

Part A – Phrasal Verbs:
1. take off
2. looking forward
3. taking on
4. looking for
5. look up

Complete the clauses (example answers):
1. he didn’t study very hard
2. we went outside to play soccer
3. it was taken ten years ago
4. he spoke slowly and clearly
5. he climbed the mountain successfully

Part B – Verb Forms:
1. has never been / read
2. has been typing
3. Have / spoken / had
4. have you learned / came / have you made / have already met
5. got / was / went
6. was cooking
7. walks / is riding
8. listened / discussed / told / had never heard

---

Final Answer:
Part A:
1. take off
2. looking forward
3. taking on
4. looking for
5. look up

Clause Completions (examples):
1. he didn’t study very hard
2. we went outside to play soccer
3. it was taken ten years ago
4. he spoke slowly and clearly
5. he climbed the mountain successfully

Part B:
1. has never been, read
2. has been typing
3. Have, spoken, had
4. have you learned, came, have you made, have already met
5. got, was, went
6. was cooking
7. walks, is riding
8. listened, discussed, told, had never heard