PSLE 2024 Grammar MCQ – Question 3
With great difficulty, the man swam ____________ the current to rescue the drowning puppy.
(1) by
(2) along
(3) under
(4) against
At first glance, all four options look grammatically correct. How do we pick the right one?
Understanding the Question
The sentence describes a man swimming to rescue a puppy, so we must determine which preposition correctly shows how he is swimming in relation to the current.
Option-by-Option Analysis
Option (1): by
🔍 Meaning: Near or next to something
❌ Not suitable. “Swam by the current” suggests swimming beside the current, which doesn’t convey the difficulty or opposition implied.
Example: The boat sailed by the shore.
Option (2): along
🔍 Meaning: Moving in the same direction as something
❌ Incorrect. “Swam along the current” means moving with the current, which contradicts the phrase “with great difficulty.”
Example: We walked along the river.
Option (3): under
❌ Incorrect. Swimming “under the current” doesn’t make sense physically, since a current flows in a horizontal direction, and swimming under it is illogical.
Example: The fish swam under the boat.
Option (4): against
🔍 Meaning: In opposition to or moving opposite to something
Grammar Focus: Prepositions of Direction and Opposition
• by: near or beside
Example: The boat sailed by the shore.
• along: moving in the same direction as
Example: We walked along the river.
• under: beneath
Example: The fish swam under the bridge.
• against: in opposition to
Example: The swimmer fought against the current.
• across: from one side to the other side of something
Example: The boy ran across the field.
• through: moving in one side and out the other side of something
Example: The cat jumped through the window.
• over: above and across something
Example: The bird flew over the tree.
• around: moving on all sides of something
Example: We walked around the park.
• towards: in the direction of something
Example: She ran towards the bus stop.
• into: entering a space or area
Example: He walked into the room.
Understanding these subtle differences helps students select the right word that makes logical sense in context, beyond just grammatical correctness.
Strategy: How to Tackle Similar PSLE Grammar Practice Questions
1. Understand the sentence context
2. Read the full sentence with each option
Plug in each choice and see if the sentence still sounds logical.
3. Eliminate options that don’t make sense physically or logically
From the Team at WRITERS AT WORK
At WRITERS AT WORK, we train students to understand grammar deeply, not just memorise rules. Our PSLE English programs are designed to help students:
• Master tricky grammar concepts like prepositions
• Practise with real exam-style questions
• Build confidence in English Paper 2
Stay tuned for the next post in our PSLE Grammar Practice Questions series, where we’ll unpack another real PSLE 2024 grammar MCQ!
FAQs – PSLE Grammar Practice Questions
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About the Author: Jemmies Siew
She is passionate about connecting real-world issues with language learning, helping students think critically and express themselves clearly. Connect with her on LinkedIn to follow her insights on education, content marketing, and thought leadership.
