Hello people, it is our second test of the test series! 

We hope, you have been practicing English diligently. With the simple and tried-and-tested tips we provide, aren't you guys finding learning English a lot better?

How well did you guys score in our last test (http://english.eagetutor.com/english/1-spoken-english/569-english-exercises-for-beginners.html)? To brush up your skills and to give you an idea of where you stand as far as reading and spoken English is concerned, and how much more you need to work. However, one keeps learning English constantly, because that is the beauty of this language. There are new things to learn everyday!

Without much ado, let us start the test.

1. Isn't there anything better than this on TV?
I'm sorry, ______

A: there is anything better than this

B: they isn't

C: this is the better show.

D: there's nothing better.

2. Can you speak a foreign language?

A. Yes, I can speaks Chinese.

B. Yes, I can. I speak Chinese very well.

C. I can speak the Chinese.

3. Are Audi cars expensive?

A. Yes, are the most expensive cars in the world.

B. Yes, they are very more expensive.

C. Yes, they are very expensive

4. Will you get me some salt please?

A. No, thank you.

B. Sure, no problem. How much salt do you want?

C. Yes, I will. Here you are.

5. What happened to the cake?

A. The cake was eating by Suresh.

B. Was eaten by Suresh.

C. It was eaten by Suresh.

D. Suresh eating the cake.

6. Put these words in the correct order:

A. She

B. Was about to

C. Gave her a raise

D. Quit her job

E. When they

7. Identify the adjective in the following sentence:

Ships can reach Alaska in a relatively short time because of the extreme cold conditions.

8. Which of the following sentence is correct?

A. In the kitchen of Suresh, there is a stove, a sink and a refrigerator.

B. Is boiling water in a pot on the stove.

C. The clean dishes are on the shelves, inside the cupboard.

D. Behind the refrigerator, there is many dust.

9. Which of the following is not a polite sentence?

A. May I have some ketchup please?

B. I'd like a beer.

C. Can I get some salad?

D. Could I have a cup of coffee?

E. I want a hamburger.

10. Have you ______ been to Africa?

A. Ever

B. Still

C. Always

D. Much

E. Yet

So, get your pen and paper out and crack this simple test. All the best!

Learning English grammar and spoken English can become easy and convenient, provided you join the right English speaking class. With online classes for English speaking like eAgeTutor, learning English grammar can become quick and easy. Fluency in spoken English is a must, as it reflects your mastery of the language and exudes confidence, and with a proficient online English class like eAgeTutor, you can polish your English speaking skills and also learn new terms and phrases.

English is a very interesting language, and as you learn it, you will learn about its various marvels every day! The most amazing aspect of English is that you can convey one single message in many ways and make it sound amusing with the usage of idioms!

What are idioms?

It is an expression that does not have a literal meaning, rather it is figurative phrase. There are amusing stories behind each idiom and how it came to be coined. However, amusing story or not, idioms are fun to learn and equally amazing to use, provided you use them in the right context.

For someone new to idioms, it is natural to wonder about the whole fuss around idioms. The reason why idioms are so appreciated is because you can sound satirical, funny, serious, mysterious, and well-read by using them. In addition, using the right idiom at the right time speaks a lot about your command over the English language.

So now that you know what idioms are, you cannot help but be hooked to our series on various idioms, their meaning and their usage. In this first part of the series, let us start with a few idioms that are more commonplace than their peers are.

• Curiosity killed the cat: Chances are you have heard this idiom. And you must have heard when you were in one of your over-inquisitive modes, for that it is when this idiom is used. Curiosity killed the cat translates to 'over inquisitiveness can land you in dangerous/ harmful situations'. While being wary and inquisitive is a good trait, it is best practiced in moderation.



• Act like an ape: What do you call an extremely naughty child, the one who bangs with the furniture because he has been running wild, the one who drops food all over the floor and the one who screams at the top of his voice the moment you try to reprimand him? Naughty is too light a word for such a brat! This is when the idiom 'act like an ape' applies well. The idiom implies to a person who behaves badly and is difficult to control.



• A chip on your shoulder: Are you still worrying about your not so good score in the school-level exams? Are you still nursing a broken heart? Then, in that case, you have a chip on your shoulder, which means that you are still upset over something that happened in the past.

• A slap on the wrist: If you think that your teacher is biased, then there is no surer way of proving it than when the teacher leaves her favorite student with nothing more than a 'slap on the wrist'. This idiom translates to 'giving a mild or an insignificant punishment'. Can you think of other situations where you can use this idiom?

An English speaking course from eAgeTutor will not only improve your spoken English but also train you on the flawless usage of idioms. If you wish to improve English effectively, then it is prudent for you to enroll with one of the online spoken English classes.

Office parties are a great way to unwind, break the ice, and get to know your colleagues and to let your hair down as well. Office parties offer one more opportunity – to practice your English and social skills.

Office parties are the perfect place to strike a conversation with the colleagues you have always wished to speak with. The environment and mood is just perfect – neither too formal, nor too casual. This is the perfect setting to strike a casual conversation and indulge in some small talk.

However, for people who are complete novices, even a casual conversation at the party is enough to break them into a sweat. The fear of fumbling, making a mistake, mispronouncing, and many other such monsters come to haunt the mind when you are not confident about speaking in English. However, you should remind yourself of one thing always, if you do not practice spoken English, how will you ever improve and gain the confidence? Do not be afraid of making mistakes, rather take them sportingly and learn from them.

To help you out, we will give you a quick lesson to give you an idea of what a standard conversation at a party goes like. We, definitely, cannot predict what the mind of a conversation may crop up at a party, but we can definitely draw a rough sketch to prepare you beforehand so that you do not get caught unawares!

Here is an idea of a usual conversation at a party:

(Before we start, let us make some fictional characters amongst which the conversation will take place. Raj (our amateur English speaker), Suresh, and Priya should be good!)

Raj joins Suresh and Priya

Raj: Hey Suresh, how are you?

Suresh: Hello Raj, meet my friend Priya. Priya, this is Raj, he works in my department.

Priya: Hi, Raj.

Raj: Hi, Priya. So, which department are you in?

Priya: I am in accounts.

Suresh: Hey, let us get some finger food to eat, while we chat up.

Priya: Why, that is a good idea!

Raj: yes, let us go.

As you must have deduced by now, since this is a party, casual words like 'hey', 'chat up', etc. are acceptable. These words give your sentences a fun feel and are apt, given the situation. Now our scene is proceeding towards food. Remember, food is always a safe topic of conversation. Unlike other topics, where people can get judgmental or hurt, food is, by far, a safe topic and it is pertinent that you exploit this opportunity to its maximum.

At the buffet table:

Suresh: Priya, try these paneer fritters. They are amazing.

Priya: Sure.

Raj: I would like to has some, as well.

Suresh: Not has, Raj. You should say 'have'.

Raj: What?

Suresh: You should say, 'I would like to have some, as well.'

Raj: Oh. Thank you for correcting me.

Suresh (to Priya): Raj has been trying to improve his English speaking skills and he practices often. I must say, he has improved a lot.

Priya: Oh! That is terrific, Raj. All the best.

So, this is how you should always welcome help and correction. This is the only way you can improve spoken English. Joining an online English speaking class like eAgeTutor is also a good idea as it will help you understand the rules and nuances of English, thereby improving your spoken English.

There are techniques that can help you learn, practice, and polish your English. These techniques usually are carried out in a classroom, among friends or individually. These techniques, more often than not, include exercises like reading a newspaper or a book loud, speaking in front of a mirror, practicing pronunciation and fluency, etc.

However, have you ever wondered how much these exercises really help? We are not saying that these exercises are of no use, they definitely are. If not for these exercises, how else would you even learn new words, phrases, and idioms? How else would you learn the principles of grammar and other rules of the English language? These exercises are definitely a stepping-stone for a person who wishes to learn and speak English. However, practicing English in a classroom, and speaking English in a real-life situation are two very different things.

As important as it is to practice English speaking, it is even more important to implement the same in real-life situations. This will help you in gauging how much you have learned and how much you need to improve, the areas you need to work on, and what are your problem areas.

This is why we bring to you a series on 'situational conversations'. This is where we give you a real-life situation and the type of conversation you can encounter. While no one can predict how a conversation shapes, there are a few standard sentences exchanged in certain standard situations.

The first part in our series is:

Conversation in a restaurant while ordering food.



Waiter: Welcome to FoodRUs, what kind of table would you like, ma'am.

Customer: A table for two, please.

Waiter: This way, ma'am.

(After you are seated)

Waiter: Here are your menus. What kind of water would you prefer, bottled or mineral water?

Customer: Thank you. Mineral water should be fine. Make it chilled, please.

Waiter: Here is your water, ma'am.

Customer: Thank you.

Waiter: Are you ready to order, ma'am?

Customer: Yes, we would like to have pasta with sautéed vegetables and spicy chicken soup. We will order our main course later.

Waiter: Anything else ma'am, as a side dish?

Customer: This should be fine for now.

Waiter: Here is your pasta and here you go, your soup. Enjoy your meal. Bon Appetite.

So, as you can see, when ordering food in a restaurant, keep the conversation short, clear, and crisp. It is also important to be on your best manners when dealing with the waiter. And smile – do not forget to smile. Going to a restaurant means that you are about to have a good food experience, and a good, polite conversation will set the right mood!

For more such valuable and handy spoken English tips and tricks, it is vital that you sign up with our online English speaking classes. Fluent English speaking takes practice and patience, and with the right guidance, you can surely improve spoken English. Learning and speaking English is a requisite for excelling in today's world, and with the help of the right English classes, you can achieve the excellence in English speaking.