Modals of deduction: present – B2 English Grammar Test

1  Choose the correct options to complete the sentences. Sometimes two answers are correct.

1   That statue is enormous. It must / may / can’t be very heavy.

2   I love this painting. It can / might / can’t be my favourite.

3   This can / could / may be the most bizarre photograph I’ve ever seen.

4   You’ve been doing sport all day. You can’t / must / could be exhausted.

5   I mustn’t / can’t / can be the only person that hates art.

6   The gallery is losing money so it might / may / must well have to close.

2  Match 1–6 to A–G. There is one extra option.

A B:   They might be under your bed.

B B:   That can’t be very safe.

C B:   I know. Summer can’t be far away.

D B:   You must get woken up a lot.

E B:   He could be stuck in traffic.

F B:   That must be a mistake.

G B:   It could well be broken.

3  Read the conversations and complete B’s responses with a suitable modal verb. Sometimes more than one answer is possible.

1   A:   Look, that painting has security guards standing next to it.

      B:   Wow. It ……must…… be very valuable.

2   A:   Where are my brushes, Dad?

      B:   They ……………… be in the garage because I’ve looked in there.

3   A:   Any idea where John and Vicky are?

      B:   I don’t know. They ……………… be in the gift shop.

4   A:   We should set off to the museum early.

      B:   Good plan. There ……………… be a big queue to get in.

5   A:   I didn’t have time to eat breakfast this morning.

      B:   It’s almost lunchtime. You ……………… be starving!

4  Find and correct the mistake in each sentence.

1   It has my name on it, so it can’t belong to me.

      ……It has my name on it, so it must belong to me. ……

2   Your wallet can’t be in the bathroom. You sometimes leave it there.

      ………………………………………………………

3   Look, they’re identical. They can be twins.

      ………………………………………………………

4   I saw Paul three hours ago in London. He might be in Australia now.

      ………………………………………………………

5   You’re going to jump out of a plane? You might be crazy!

      ………………………………………………………

5  Which four sentences are true? Write responses using must, might, could, may or can’t. Give reasons for your reaction.

1   Sharks have been on the Earth longer than trees.

      ……That might be true. I think sharks are very old. ……

2   20% of the world’s hazelnuts are used in Nutella.

      ………………………………………………………

3   A 104-year-old man completed the Mumbai marathon in 2016.

      ………………………………………………………

4   The Mona Lisa was stolen in 1921.

      ………………………………………………………

5   More than 1 million Earths could fit inside the sun.

      ………………………………………………………

6   In 2003, a man in New York kept a tiger and an alligator in his bathroom.

      ………………………………………………………

6  Complete the news story with modals plus the verbs in the box. Sometimes more than one answer is possible.

Melanie Rosenberg’s new art show opens on Friday at the Civic Theatre. She has said it 1……might be…… her last ever show as she plans on directing films in the future. As part of the show, the artist will spend 1,000 hours in complete darkness. We asked the public what they think:

‘She 2…………………. crazy! There’s no other explanation.’

‘A stunt like that 3…………………. very good for your eyes.’

Indeed, doctors say that Rosenberg 4…………………. some health problems due to lack of sunlight. But the event 5…………………. at all. Organisers have stated that they 6…………………. forced to cancel the show unless more tickets are sold.