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MCQ Prepositions
  1. You must work hard if you want to succeed ________ profession.
    A. in
    B. from
    C. for
    D. to

Correct answer: A. in
Explanation:
The correct preposition here is “in”. We use “in” when referring to a specific field or area of work, such as a profession or industry.

• “In” is used to refer to specific fields, areas, or domains, like “in a profession” or “in business”. For example, “You must work hard if you want to succeed in your profession” means you need to put in effort to do well in the particular career or field you are involved in.
• “From” indicates origin or source, not a field of work.
• “For” refers to purpose or direction, but not to a field of profession.
• “To” is used for direction or purpose but not for referring to a specific area like a profession.
Thus, “You must work hard if you want to succeed in your profession” is correct because “in” is used to refer to success within a specific field.

  1. What did you think __________ the film? I don’t like it much.
    A. in
    B. of
    C. about
    D. on

Correct answer: B. of
Explanation:
The correct preposition here is “of”. We use “think of” when asking for someone’s opinion or judgment about something.
• “Think of” is used to ask someone for their opinion or reaction about something. For example, “What did you think of the film?” is asking for your opinion about the film.
• “Think about” is also used to refer to consideration or reflection, but in the context of expressing an opinion or reaction, “of” is more appropriate.
• “In” refers to location or position, not opinion.
• “On” is used to refer to specific subjects or topics, but “of” is the standard preposition when asking about someone’s opinion on something.
Examples:
What did you think of the concert last night?
I didn’t think much of the restaurant. (Meaning: I didn’t like it.)

Thus, “What did you think of the film?” is correct because “of” is used to ask about someone’s opinion or thoughts regarding the film.

  1. My friend asked me to meet him outside the railway station ________ an hour’s time.
    A. on
    B. in
    C. at
    D. within

Correct answer: B. in
Explanation:
The correct preposition here is “in”. We use “in” when referring to a period of time, such as “in an hour,” meaning within the next hour.

• “In” is used to express a time period within which something will happen. For example, “outside the railway station in an hour’s time” means that the meeting is scheduled to happen within the next hour.
• “On” refers to specific days or dates, not time periods.
• “At” is used for specific points in time (e.g., “at 5 o’clock”) but not for time periods like “in an hour.”
• “Within” is used to indicate a limit or boundary of time, but “in” is more natural in this context.
Thus, “My friend asked me to meet him outside the railway station in an hour’s time” is correct because “in” is used for time periods like “in an hour.”

  1. The company has been __________ fire from investors because of its poor performance last year.
    A. under
    B. in
    C. about
    D. of

Correct answer: A. under
Explanation:
The correct preposition here is “under”. The phrase “under fire” is an idiomatic expression meaning to be criticized or attacked, usually because of a mistake or failure.
• “Under fire” is used to describe a situation where someone or something is being criticized or scrutinized heavily. For example, “The company has been under fire from investors because of its poor performance last year” means the company has faced criticism from investors.
• “In”, “about”, and “of” do not work in this idiomatic expression. “In fire” or “about fire” do not convey the meaning of criticism or attack.
Examples:
The government’s new policy is under fire from the media.
The CEO came under fire for his controversial decisions.

Thus, “The company has been under fire from investors because of its poor performance last year” is grammatically correct because “under fire” is the proper idiomatic expression for facing criticism.

  1. He has suffered heavy losses, yet he was roll ________ wealth.
    A. in
    B. for
    C. with
    D. from

Correct answer: A. in
Explanation:
The correct preposition here is “in”. The phrase “roll in” is an idiomatic expression meaning to have a large amount of something, often used in the context of wealth, money, or success.
• “Roll in” is a phrasal verb used to describe something (usually money or wealth) coming in abundance. For example, “He was rolling in wealth” means he was very wealthy.
• “For”, “with”, and “from” do not fit in this idiomatic expression.
Examples:
After his invention succeeded, he was rolling in money.
They live in a huge mansion and are rolling in wealth.
Therefore, “He has suffered heavy losses, yet he was rolling in wealth” is the correct idiomatic expression to show that he remains extremely rich.
  1. I don’t think she is afraid _________ the dogs.
    A. on
    B. of
    C. in
    D. with

Correct answer: B. of
Explanation:
The correct preposition here is “of”. We use “afraid of” when describing fear or apprehension toward something.
The structure is: be + afraid + of + [thing that causes fear]
• “Afraid of” is the correct phrase to use when indicating fear or anxiety about something. For example, “I don’t think she is afraid of the dogs” means she is not scared of the dogs.
• “On” typically refers to location or position, not fear.
• “In” is used for location or states, not for describing fear.
• “With” usually indicates association or accompaniment, but not fear.
Examples:
She is afraid of heights.
Are you afraid of the dark?

Thus, “I don’t think she is afraid of the dogs” is correct because “of” is used with “afraid” to indicate the object of fear.

  1. When the bull ran _______ me, I jumped _________ the fence.
    A. besides, next to
    B. in, next to
    C. towards, over
    D. besides, next to

Correct answer: C. towards, over
Explanation:
This sentence describes a sequence of movements that require specific prepositions to convey direction and action correctly.
1. towards: The preposition “towards” indicates direction of movement in a specific direction. The bull was moving in the direction of me.
2. over: The preposition “over” indicates movement from one side of a barrier to the other. I jumped from one side of the fence to the other to escape.
Why the other options are incorrect:
• A. besides, next to: “Besides” means “in addition to” or “apart from.” “Next to” means “adjacent to.” Neither indicates movement or crossing a barrier. This option is also repeated.
• B. in, next to: “In” suggests being inside an area, not movement directed at someone. “Next to” again only indicates a static position, not the action of jumping across the fence.
• D. besides, next to: This is a duplicate of option A and is incorrect for the same reasons.
Examples:
The car sped towards the intersection.
The cat jumped over the wall.
Therefore, “When the bull ran towards me, I jumped over the fence” correctly describes the bull’s directed movement and the action of escaping across the fence.
  1. __________ the years, things go better.
    A. Over
    B. About
    C. In
    D. Of

Correct answer: A. Over
Explanation:
The preposition “over” is used to indicate a period of time during which something happens. It means “during” or “throughout” and emphasizes a gradual change as time passes.
The phrase “over the years” is a common idiom meaning “during the course of many years,” implying a process of change or development.
Why the other options are incorrect:
• B. About: “About the years” would mean “concerning the years,” which does not fit the context of gradual change.
• C. In: “In the years” refers to a specific point or event within that time frame (e.g., “In recent years, technology has advanced”), but it doesn’t capture the ongoing, gradual process as well as “over.”
• D. Of: “Of the years” shows possession or association (e.g., “the best movie of the years”), not a passage of time during which change occurs.
Examples:
Over the centuries, languages evolve.
Their friendship grew stronger over time.
Over the past decade, the city has changed dramatically.
Therefore, “Over the years, things got better” correctly expresses that things improved gradually as time passed.
  1. Did you try looking _______ the door or ________ cupboard?
    A. under, behind
    B. behind, in
    C. in, over
    D. at, in

Correct answer: B. behind, in
Explanation:
This sentence asks about searching for something in specific locations, which requires prepositions that indicate position.
1. under: The preposition “under” indicates a position below something. You can look under a door (the space beneath it).
2. behind: The preposition “behind” indicates a position at the back of something. You can look behind a cupboard.
Why the other options are incorrect:
• B. behind, in: While you can look behind a door, looking in a cupboard is correct. However, the first option “under the door” is a more common and logical pairing for a search than “behind the door,” making A a stronger and more balanced answer.
• C. in, over: You cannot look in a door (as a door is not a container), and “over the cupboard” (on top of it) is less likely than “behind” or “in” it.
• D. at, in: “Look at” means to direct your gaze towards something, not to search for something concealed. “Look at the door” doesn’t imply searching the location.
Examples:
The cat is hiding under the bed.
I found my keys behind the sofa.
Therefore, “Did you try looking under the door or behind the cupboard?” correctly suggests searching in two plausible hiding spots.
  1. You should not put __________ doing something until the very last minute.
    A. over
    B. of
    C. on
    D. off

Correct answer: D. off
Explanation:
The correct preposition here is “off”. The phrase “put off” means to delay or postpone something.
• “Put off” is a phrasal verb that means to delay or postpone an action. For example, “You should not put off doing something until the very last minute” means you should not delay or postpone your tasks.
• “Over”, “of”, and “on” are not used in this context for the expression of postponing.
Examples:
Don’t put off your homework until tomorrow.
We had to put off the meeting due to illness.

Thus, “You should not put off doing something until the very last minute” is grammatically correct because “put off” means to delay.


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