PMMA Entrance Exam Reviewer 2026/2027
Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) • 200 Original Practice Questions with Answers
and Rationales
Prepared by Wiseman Study Resources
This comprehensive reviewer covers English, Mathematics, and Science at the high-school level.
Every question contains four multiple-choice options, the correct answer, and an explanation.
These are independently written practice questions, not official or previously administered
PMMA examination questions.
PART I: ENGLISH (Questions 1–60)
Section A: Vocabulary and Word Meaning (1–15)
1. In a shipping report, the word "concise" most nearly means:
A. Very detailed B. Brief but clear C. Emotionally charged D. Difficult to read
Correct Answer: B. Brief but clear
Explanation: Concise writing communicates essential information clearly without unnecessary
words.
2. Which word is closest in meaning to "diligent"?
A. Careless B. Persistent and hardworking C. Uncertain D. Impatient
Correct Answer: B. Persistent and hardworking
Explanation: A diligent person applies steady care and effort to a task.
3. The antonym of "transparent" in the phrase "transparent procedures" is:
A. Open B. Consistent C. Secretive D. Documented
Correct Answer: C. Secretive
Explanation: Transparent procedures are open to scrutiny; secretive procedures are not.
4. Choose the word that best completes the sentence: "The captain gave a _____ instruction so
that no crew member misunderstood it."
,A. Vague B. Precise C. Random D. Lengthy
Correct Answer: B. Precise
Explanation: A precise instruction is exact and leaves little room for misunderstanding.
5. "Feasible" most nearly means:
A. Possible to carry out B. Likely to fail C. Already completed D. Unexpectedly expensive
Correct Answer: A. Possible to carry out
Explanation: A feasible plan can reasonably be put into practice.
6. Which word is the opposite of "expand"?
A. Extend B. Increase C. Contract D. Develop
Correct Answer: C. Contract
Explanation: To contract is to become smaller, the opposite of expand.
7. "Impartial" describes someone who is:
A. Biased toward friends B. Fair and unbiased C. Uninterested in facts D. Quick to judge
Correct Answer: B. Fair and unbiased
Explanation: Impartial decisions are made without unfair preference.
8. Choose the best meaning of "mitigate" in "mitigate the risk of delay."
A. Ignore B. Increase C. Reduce D. Measure
Correct Answer: C. Reduce
Explanation: To mitigate a risk is to make it less severe or less likely.
9. Which word is most nearly synonymous with "verify"?
A. Confirm B. Predict C. Question D. Replace
Correct Answer: A. Confirm
Explanation: To verify means to check and establish that something is true or accurate.
,10. What does "obsolete" mean?
A. Recently installed B. No longer in use C. Easy to repair D. Highly efficient
Correct Answer: B. No longer in use
Explanation: An obsolete device or method has become outdated or is no longer used.
11. Choose the best antonym of "scarce."
A. Limited B. Rare C. Abundant D. Insufficient
Correct Answer: C. Abundant
Explanation: Abundant means available in large quantities.
12. What is the meaning of "ambiguous"?
A. Having more than one possible meaning B. Supported by strong evidence C. Written in exact
language D. Impossible to change
Correct Answer: A. Having more than one possible meaning
Explanation: An ambiguous statement may be interpreted in more than one way.
13. Choose the word that fits: "The engineer's explanation was _____ enough for a beginner to
understand."
A. Obscure B. Lucid C. Contradictory D. Incomplete
Correct Answer: B. Lucid
Explanation: Lucid means clear and easy to understand.
14. Which word is closest in meaning to "resilient"?
A. Able to recover from difficulty B. Unable to adapt C. Naturally aggressive D. Easily
distracted
Correct Answer: A. Able to recover from difficulty
Explanation: Resilience is the capacity to recover or adjust after challenges.
15. The antonym of "mandatory" is:
A. Necessary B. Compulsory C. Optional D. Required
, Correct Answer: C. Optional
Explanation: Mandatory means required; optional means a choice is allowed.
Section B: Grammar and Correct Usage (16–35)
16. Choose the grammatically correct sentence.
A. Each of the cadets have a checklist. B. Each of the cadets has a checklist. C. Each of the
cadets are given a checklist. D. Each of the cadets were having a checklist.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The singular subject "each" takes the singular verb "has."
17. Select the correct verb: "Neither the instructor nor the trainees _____ late."
A. is B. was C. are D. has
Correct Answer: C. are
Explanation: With "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the nearer subject, "trainees," which is
plural.
18. Choose the correct sentence.
A. She don't know the procedure. B. She doesn't knows the procedure. C. She doesn't know the
procedure. D. She not knows the procedure.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: After "doesn't," use the base form of the verb: know.
19. Which sentence uses the past perfect correctly?
A. The ship departed before the inspection had finished. B. The ship had departed before the
inspection began. C. The ship has departed yesterday. D. The ship is departing last night.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: "Had departed" marks the earlier completed past event.
20. Choose the correct pronoun: "The supervisor spoke to Maria and _____."
A. I B. me C. myself D. mine
Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) • 200 Original Practice Questions with Answers
and Rationales
Prepared by Wiseman Study Resources
This comprehensive reviewer covers English, Mathematics, and Science at the high-school level.
Every question contains four multiple-choice options, the correct answer, and an explanation.
These are independently written practice questions, not official or previously administered
PMMA examination questions.
PART I: ENGLISH (Questions 1–60)
Section A: Vocabulary and Word Meaning (1–15)
1. In a shipping report, the word "concise" most nearly means:
A. Very detailed B. Brief but clear C. Emotionally charged D. Difficult to read
Correct Answer: B. Brief but clear
Explanation: Concise writing communicates essential information clearly without unnecessary
words.
2. Which word is closest in meaning to "diligent"?
A. Careless B. Persistent and hardworking C. Uncertain D. Impatient
Correct Answer: B. Persistent and hardworking
Explanation: A diligent person applies steady care and effort to a task.
3. The antonym of "transparent" in the phrase "transparent procedures" is:
A. Open B. Consistent C. Secretive D. Documented
Correct Answer: C. Secretive
Explanation: Transparent procedures are open to scrutiny; secretive procedures are not.
4. Choose the word that best completes the sentence: "The captain gave a _____ instruction so
that no crew member misunderstood it."
,A. Vague B. Precise C. Random D. Lengthy
Correct Answer: B. Precise
Explanation: A precise instruction is exact and leaves little room for misunderstanding.
5. "Feasible" most nearly means:
A. Possible to carry out B. Likely to fail C. Already completed D. Unexpectedly expensive
Correct Answer: A. Possible to carry out
Explanation: A feasible plan can reasonably be put into practice.
6. Which word is the opposite of "expand"?
A. Extend B. Increase C. Contract D. Develop
Correct Answer: C. Contract
Explanation: To contract is to become smaller, the opposite of expand.
7. "Impartial" describes someone who is:
A. Biased toward friends B. Fair and unbiased C. Uninterested in facts D. Quick to judge
Correct Answer: B. Fair and unbiased
Explanation: Impartial decisions are made without unfair preference.
8. Choose the best meaning of "mitigate" in "mitigate the risk of delay."
A. Ignore B. Increase C. Reduce D. Measure
Correct Answer: C. Reduce
Explanation: To mitigate a risk is to make it less severe or less likely.
9. Which word is most nearly synonymous with "verify"?
A. Confirm B. Predict C. Question D. Replace
Correct Answer: A. Confirm
Explanation: To verify means to check and establish that something is true or accurate.
,10. What does "obsolete" mean?
A. Recently installed B. No longer in use C. Easy to repair D. Highly efficient
Correct Answer: B. No longer in use
Explanation: An obsolete device or method has become outdated or is no longer used.
11. Choose the best antonym of "scarce."
A. Limited B. Rare C. Abundant D. Insufficient
Correct Answer: C. Abundant
Explanation: Abundant means available in large quantities.
12. What is the meaning of "ambiguous"?
A. Having more than one possible meaning B. Supported by strong evidence C. Written in exact
language D. Impossible to change
Correct Answer: A. Having more than one possible meaning
Explanation: An ambiguous statement may be interpreted in more than one way.
13. Choose the word that fits: "The engineer's explanation was _____ enough for a beginner to
understand."
A. Obscure B. Lucid C. Contradictory D. Incomplete
Correct Answer: B. Lucid
Explanation: Lucid means clear and easy to understand.
14. Which word is closest in meaning to "resilient"?
A. Able to recover from difficulty B. Unable to adapt C. Naturally aggressive D. Easily
distracted
Correct Answer: A. Able to recover from difficulty
Explanation: Resilience is the capacity to recover or adjust after challenges.
15. The antonym of "mandatory" is:
A. Necessary B. Compulsory C. Optional D. Required
, Correct Answer: C. Optional
Explanation: Mandatory means required; optional means a choice is allowed.
Section B: Grammar and Correct Usage (16–35)
16. Choose the grammatically correct sentence.
A. Each of the cadets have a checklist. B. Each of the cadets has a checklist. C. Each of the
cadets are given a checklist. D. Each of the cadets were having a checklist.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The singular subject "each" takes the singular verb "has."
17. Select the correct verb: "Neither the instructor nor the trainees _____ late."
A. is B. was C. are D. has
Correct Answer: C. are
Explanation: With "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the nearer subject, "trainees," which is
plural.
18. Choose the correct sentence.
A. She don't know the procedure. B. She doesn't knows the procedure. C. She doesn't know the
procedure. D. She not knows the procedure.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: After "doesn't," use the base form of the verb: know.
19. Which sentence uses the past perfect correctly?
A. The ship departed before the inspection had finished. B. The ship had departed before the
inspection began. C. The ship has departed yesterday. D. The ship is departing last night.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: "Had departed" marks the earlier completed past event.
20. Choose the correct pronoun: "The supervisor spoke to Maria and _____."
A. I B. me C. myself D. mine
