English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• Sentence R comes first because it directly refers to “the united stream,” which logically follows S1 where the union of the two streams is mentioned.
• "The united stream strikes in a north-easterly direction through Mysore and skirts the adjacent districts."
• Sentence S follows as it provides additional physical details about the headstreams of the river.
• "The bed of both the headstreams of the Tungabhadra is rocky."
• Sentence P is placed next because it describes the nature and flow of the river.
• "The river is perennial in character and comes down in frequent heavy rushes during the rains."
• Sentence Q comes last as it provides historical information about how the river was dammed, which naturally leads to S6 about its historic significance.
• "The rain-bearing river was dammed by the rulers of Vijayanagara near Hampi for watering the palaces and gardens of that great city."
• The correct sequence is RSPQ.

 

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"The Tungabhadra is the chief tributary of the Krishna formed by the union, near Kudali, of the two streams Tunga and Bhadra. The united stream strikes in a north-easterly direction through Mysore and skirts the adjacent districts. The bed of both the headstreams of the Tungabhadra is rocky. The river is perennial in character and comes down in frequent heavy rushes during the rains. The rain-bearing river was dammed by the rulers of Vijayanagara near Hampi for watering the palaces and gardens of that great city. The Tungabhadra has served as a historic natural frontier right through the centuries."

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

• The paragraph discusses the political shift in 1917 Russia and the Bolsheviks' reaction.
• Sentence P comes first as it directly provides the immediate reaction to the replacement of Prince Lvov mentioned in S1: "However, such a partial replacement failed to satisfy the Bolsheviks."
• Sentence R follows to introduce the Bolshevik leader, Lenin, explaining his status during the revolution: "When the February Revolution broke out, the leader of the Bolsheviks, Lenin, was in Switzerland."
• Sentence S is next because the pronoun 'He' refers to 'Lenin' introduced in sentence R, establishing chronological and grammatical flow: "He arrived in Russia in April 1917, and was followed by Trotsky."
• Sentence Q comes last as it defines the specific political goals of the revolutionaries (Soviet system) which links directly into the historical context of Soviets mentioned in S6.
• The correct sequence is PRSQ.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"In July 1917, Prince Lvov was replaced by a socialist revolutionary Alexander Kerensky as the head of the provisional government. However, such a partial replacement failed to satisfy the Bolsheviks. When the February Revolution broke out, the leader of the Bolsheviks, Lenin, was in Switzerland. He arrived in Russia in April 1917, and was followed by Trotsky. The revolutionaries did not want a parliamentary republic nor a bourgeois democracy but rather they wanted a soviet of workers, soldiers, and labourers. In Russia the Soviets have been in existence since 1905, and the Soviet system played a especially important role under the Provisional Government."

The correct answer is 'PRSQ'.

 

Key Points

• S1 introduces the topic: the history of India's struggle for freedom as an "enthralling" story.
• P follows S1 immediately because it uses the pronoun "It" to refer back to the "history/struggle" and explains why it is enthralling (it has drama and excitement of an epic tale).
• R connects directly to P by using the phrase "As in epics," expanding on the nature of this struggle by mentioning heroism and sacrifice.
• S provides further details of the content of these historical accounts (loyalty, allegiance, and high ideals).
• Q introduces a contrast using "And yet," shifting from the exciting nature of the story to the dry way it is presented in textbooks. This leads perfectly into S6, which suggests a "more vibrant retelling" is needed.

Therefore, the correct sequence is Option 4 (PRSQ).

 

Complete Sentence: "The history of India's struggle for freedom is an enthralling one. It has all the drama and excitement of an epic tale. As in epics, heroism was often accompanied by extreme sacrifice. Accounts of this period are loaded with tales of loyalty, allegiance, high ideals and peaceful protests. And yet, in most history textbooks, what students encounter are facts, figures, names and numbers. A more vibrant retelling is perhaps required of this tumultuous period of our history."

 

Additional Information

• To solve jumbled sentences (Sentence Rearrangement), look for pronoun antecedents (like "It" in P referring to "history" in S1).
• Identify keyword repetitions (the word "epic" connects P and R).
• Look for transition words (like "And yet" in Q) which indicate a shift in thought or a conclusion that ties into the final sentence (S6).

The correct answer is Option 4 i.e. RSQP.

 

Key Points

• The passage is about Louis XVI’s accession and the financial crisis in France leading up to his reign and policies.
• Sentence R comes first after S1 because it directly follows the marriage information with the fact that Louis XVI ascended the throne in 1774, maintaining clear chronological order:
• “In 1774, Louis XVI ascended the throne of France at the age of 20.”
• Sentence S follows as it introduces the general financial condition of France, giving background to the economic situation Louis XVI inherited:
• “Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France.”
• Sentence Q comes next because it specifies the immediate war before his ascension and quantifies the debt, logically elaborating on the financial strain mentioned in S:
• “The ascension was preceded by a war that added more than a billion livre to a debt that had already risen to more than 2 billion livre.”
• Sentence P is the fourth as it describes the consequence of this heavy debt in terms of lenders increasing interest rates, completing the picture of the financial crisis:
• “Furthermore, lenders, who gave the state credit, now began to charge 10 per cent interest on loans.”
• The correct sequence is therefore RSQP, which fits smoothly between S1 and S6 and maintains both logical and chronological coherence.

 

Coherent passage after rearrangement:

“S1: Louis XVI of the Bourbon family of Kings married the Austrian princess Marie Antoinette in 1770. In 1774, Louis XVI ascended the throne of France at the age of 20. Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France. The ascension was preceded by a war that added more than a billion livre to a debt that had already risen to more than 2 billion livre. Furthermore, lenders, who gave the state credit, now began to charge 10 per cent interest on loans. S6: Remarkably nevertheless, under Louis XVI, France helped the thirteen American colonies to gain their independence from Britain.”

The correct answer is 'QPRS'.

 

Key Points

• S1 introduces Montesquieu as a great philosopher.
• Q follows S1 by introducing his famous work, The Spirit of the Laws, and his core theory of the separation of powers into three branches (Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary).
• P explains his vision for social power distribution, specifically how that power should be shared between the king, the nobles, and the Third Estate.
• R builds on the idea of power-sharing by introducing the mechanism of "checks and balances" to prevent any single class from becoming too dominant.
• S provides the logical result of this system: the prevention of tyranny and the safeguarding of individual liberty. The phrase "If this was done" in S refers back to the implementation of the constitution mentioned in R.
• S6 concludes by noting his preference for a constitutional monarchy modelled after the English system.

Therefore, the correct sequence is Option 3 (QPRS).

 

Complete Sentence: "Montesquieu was a great philosopher of his time. In his book The Spirit of the Laws, he propagated the theory of separating powers into three branches of government the Legislative, the Executive and the Judiciary. He wanted power to be shared between the king, the nobles, and the Third Estate. To prevent any one of the three classes from becoming too powerful, Montesquieu suggested the making of a new constitution based on checks and balances. If this was done, he argued, there would be no tyranny and the liberty of the individual could be safeguarded. He supported constitutional monarchy in France like the English one."

 

Additional Information

• Logical Progression: Always look for a flow from a general theory (Q: Separation of Powers) to specific implementation (R: Checks and Balances).
• Pronoun/Demonstrative Links: In sentence S, the phrase "If this was done" is a crucial link that must follow the proposal of a specific action (making a new constitution in R).
• Chronological/Work Intro: It is standard in biographical passages to introduce a person's major work (The Spirit of the Laws) early in the sequence.

The correct answer is Option 2 i.e. RPQS

 

Key Points

• R comes first as it signals a shift from the general statement in S1 to specific documented instances in England, aligning the reader’s expectations.
• P follows by defining the nature of the glaciation effect (disruption of drainage), establishing the thematic lens for the examples.
• Q is next because it describes the pre-glaciation drainage of the Midlands (Coventry/Warwick area) by the River Soar, setting the baseline.
• S concludes the example with the glaciation phase, where northern ice occupied the Soar and Trent valleys, preparing for S6’s outcome (the proglacial lake).

 

Coherent sequence within the passage:

S1: Glaciation has important effects on the landscape beyond the direct modifications created by ice erosion and deposition. R: Two well-documented instances of such effects occur in England. P: One example is that glaciation frequently disrupts pre-existing drainage lines, initiating a new pattern persisting after the ice has disappeared. Q: The Midlands, what is now the Coventry/Warwick area, was formerly drained by the head waters of the River Soar, flowing into the Trent south of Nottingham. S: During glaciation, the valleys of Soar and Trent were occupied by ice advancing from the north. S6: At the same time, ice advanced from the Welsh mountains into the Vale of Evesham and combined with northern ice to pond up a large proglacial lake covering much of the Midlands.

The correct answer is Option 3 i.e. SQRP.

 

Key Points

• S logically follows S1 by providing concrete examples of how different types of deposits (coal, sandstone, morainic materials) reflect varied climatic conditions, reinforcing the idea that rocks and deposits are key evidence.
• Q introduces a necessary caution: due to continental drift, climatic interpretations based on latitude must be made carefully. This adds nuance to the evidence mentioned in S and P.
• R begins with “Nevertheless,” signaling a contrast or conclusion. It emphasizes a key finding: the poles were ice-free for most of Earth’s history, despite the complexities mentioned in Q.
• P then zooms in on polar sediments and fossils, reinforcing the insight from R and smoothly transitioning into S6, which summarizes the broader implication about warm climatic conditions.

Therefore, the correct sequence is SQRP.

 

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

The primary evidence for climate change that occurred many million years ago is the rocks and deposits themselves. We may find in close proximity to one another, coal deposits indicating the humid conditions of the tropics, red sandstones laid down in deserts and morainic materials reflecting polar conditions. We must, of course, bear in mind when interpreting this information that, because of the movement of the continents, no one latitude of the Earth has necessarily gone through such marked climatic vicissitudes. Nevertheless, even allowing for this factor, one of the most remarkable discoveries about the climate change of the past is that the two poles of the Earth have been free of ice for at least 90 per cent of the known history of the planet. Sediments and fossil in the poles tell us a great deal about the environment in which they were laid down. In other words, despite the clear legacy in many parts of the world of recent glaciation, the vast majority of sedimentary rocks were laid down in warm climatic conditions.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The correct sequence of the sentences is RSPQ. This order creates a logical and coherent flow about how dominant life forms shift across geological periods.
• Sentence R comes first, explaining that within each period, natural selection leads to adaptive experiments and occasional breakthroughs to new systems.
• Sentence S follows, highlighting that each breakthrough depends on previous developments, making evolution a progressive process.
• Sentence P then details the conditions necessary for such shifts—opportunity, access, and adaptation.
• Sentence Q completes the sequence by describing the characteristic rapidity of these shifts and their aftermath, giving the example of life emerging on land.
• This sequence (RSPQ) fits naturally between the given S1 and S6, maintaining the passage’s logical progression.

 

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

Every geological period has been dominated by one particular form of life; as conditions changed to those of a new period, different types of organisms emerged into dominance. Within each period, natural selection has created a vast array of adaptive experiments culminating in a breakthrough to a new biological system that may cross the ecological barrier to the next period.

Every breakthrough of shift in dominance is dependent on ones that have occurred before so that the process of evolution is progressive. Individual shifts rely on opportunity, ecological access, and the development of a new adaptation. Characteristically these shifts are rapid and are followed by a bout of adaptive radiation into the new ecological zone -for example, with the emergence of life on land. The origin of completely new biological systems is comparatively rare, so consequently only a few major types have developed during the history of life.

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points

• The paragraph begins by introducing the primary source of energy for Earth's processes, the sun, and explains how this energy is transmitted and absorbed.
• Sentence P is the first in the sequence as it describes the transmission of the sun's rays in various wavelengths.
• Sentence S follows because it defines the term "insolation," which refers to the radiant energy received from the sun.
• Sentence Q is the third sentence as it explains the effect of solar spectrum components when they reach the Earth.
• Sentence R concludes the sequence by highlighting the negligible energy contribution from other celestial bodies.
• The correct sequence is PSQR.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"The sun is the primary transmitter of energy for the processes of change on the Earth's surface and in the atmosphere. Its rays are transmitted in various wavelengths of the solar spectrum, mainly in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared bands. Radiant energy from the sun that strikes the Earth is called insolation. When components of the solar spectrum reach the Earth, the insolation is partially absorbed and converted to thermal energy. The amount of energy the Earth receives from other celestial bodies is negligible by comparison.

Only a small part of insolation is absorbed and converted into thermal energy."

The correct answer is Option 4.

Key Points

• The sequence of the sentences aims to logically arrange the middle part of the passage to maintain coherence and flow.
• Sentence P comes first after S1 as it further defines temperature as an index of sensible heat:
• "Temperature is an index of sensible heat, not a direct measure of the quantity of energy."
• Sentence R follows as it provides a practical example of temperature differences and heat flow:
• "If heat flows from one body to another, the former has the higher temperature."
• Sentence S comes next as it introduces the concept of an arbitrary scale to measure temperature:
• "To indicate the temperature of a body, an arbitrary scale of reference is employed."
• Sentence Q concludes the sequence as it describes specific values on 'this scale' mentioned in S:
• "Zero on this scale is the 'triple point' temperature, at which the gaseous, liquid, and solid states of water are at equilibrium under standard atmospheric pressure."
• The correct sequence is PRSQ.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"Temperature indicates the relative degree of molecular activity, or heat, of a substance. Temperature is an index of sensible heat, not a direct measure of the quantity of energy. If heat flows from one body to another, the former has the higher temperature. To indicate the temperature of a body, an arbitrary scale of reference is employed. Zero on this scale is the 'triple point' temperature, at which the gaseous, liquid, and solid states of water are at equilibrium under standard atmospheric pressure. The boiling point of water under standard conditions is at 100 degrees Centigrade."

The correct answer is 'A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4'.

Key Points

• From the given options, only the combination of matches 'A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4' is correct.
• Let’s analyze the matching:
• A-Noun (Qualification): 'Qualification' is a noun as it represents a thing or a concept.
• B-Verb (Qualify): 'Qualify' is a verb as it denotes an action or a state.
• C-Adverb (Conditionally): 'Conditionally' is an adverb because it modifies a verb or an adjective by showing the condition.
• D-Adjective (Qualifying): 'Qualifying' is an adjective as it describes or modifies a noun.

The correct answer is 'A-1,B-3,C-2,D-4'.

Key Points

• From the given question and parts of speech:
• Let’s match each word with its corresponding part of speech:
• A. Noun - 1 (Error): A noun is a naming word, and "error" represents a thing or concept.
• B. Verb - 3 (Err): A verb indicates action or state, and "err" is the action of making a mistake.
• C. Adverb - 2 (Erroneously): An adverb modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and "erroneously" describes the manner of an action.
• D. Adjective - 4 (Erroneous): An adjective modifies a noun, and "erroneous" describes the quality of being incorrect or wrong.
• Thus, the correct code is A-1,B-3,C-2,D-4.

The correct answer is 'A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4'.

Key Points

• The match for each part of speech with its corresponding word is as follows:
• A. Noun (2. Care): A noun is a naming word, and "care" in this context functions as a noun (e.g., "I take care of my belongings.").
• B. Verb (1. Think): A verb is an action word, and "think" is an action (e.g., "I think about the problem.").
• C. Adverb (3. Carefully): An adverb describes how an action is performed, and "carefully" is an adverb (e.g., "She reads carefully.").
• D. Adjective (4. Careful): An adjective describes a noun, and "careful" is an adjective (e.g., "He is a careful driver.").
• The correct combination is A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4.

The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

• List I (Parts of Speech) and List II (Word) are matched correctly based on their definitions:
• A-Noun (Duplication): A noun refers to a name, place, or thing, and "duplication" is a noun representing the act of duplicating.
• B-Verb (Duplicate): A verb refers to an action, and "duplicate" can act as a verb meaning to copy or replicate.
• C-Adverb (Dually): An adverb modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and "dually" means in a dual manner.
• D-Adjective (Duple): An adjective describes a noun, and "duple" refers to something having two parts.
• Code Explanation: The correct matching is as follows:
• A-2: Duplication is a noun.
• B-3: Duplicate is a verb.
• C-1: Dually is an adverb.
• D-4: Duple is an adjective.

The correct answer is option 2.

Key Points

• From the given options, the correct mapping of List I and List II is:
• Let’s break down the options:
• A (Noun) → 2 (Exodus): Exodus is a noun that refers to a mass departure of people.
• B (Verb) → 4 (Exit): Exit as a verb means to go out or leave a place.
• C (Adverb) → 3 (Outward): Outward is an adverb that refers to movement or direction toward the outside.
• D (Adjective) → 1 (Emanant): Emanant is an adjective that means issuing or flowing out from a source.

The correct answer is 'A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2'.

Key Points

• The question matches parts of speech (List I) with their corresponding words (List II).
• The correct match is:
• A - Noun (Spectator): A noun represents a person, place, thing, or idea. 'Spectator' is a person who watches an event.
• B - Verb (Spectate): A verb represents an action or state. 'Spectate' means to watch something.
• C - Adverb (Extremely): An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb. 'Extremely' is an adverb that intensifies meaning.
• D - Adjective (Spectatorial): An adjective describes or modifies a noun. 'Spectatorial' relates to spectators.

The correct answer is option 1.

Key Points

• The given question asks us to match List I (Parts of Speech) with List II (Words) correctly.
• Let us analyze the correct matches:
• A. Noun - Hearing (4): "Hearing" is a noun referring to the sense of perceiving sound.
• B. Verb - Hear (2): "Hear" is a verb that refers to the action of perceiving sound.
• C. Interjection - Hark (3): "Hark" is an interjection used to call attention, often to listen carefully.
• D. Adjective - Auditory (1): "Auditory" is an adjective that describes something related to hearing.
• Based on these matches, the correct code is: A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1.

The correct answer is 'A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1'.

Key Points

• List I (Parts of Speech):
• A. Noun: The word "Knowledge" refers to a concept or idea, making it a noun.
• B. Verb: The word "Know" represents an action, which categorizes it as a verb.
• C. Adverb: The word "Knowingly" modifies a verb, describing how an action is performed, making it an adverb.
• D. Adjective: The word "Knowing" describes or qualifies a noun, categorizing it as an adjective.
• Based on the above explanation, the correct matches are:
• A-4: "Knowledge" is a noun.
• B-2: "Know" is a verb.
• C-3: "Knowingly" is an adverb.
• D-1: "Knowing" is an adjective.

The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

• Let us match the items in List I (Parts of Speech) with List II (Words) based on their grammatical function:
• A. Noun - The correct match is 1. Cogitation, as "cogitation" is a noun meaning "the act of thinking deeply about something."
• B. Verb - The correct match is 3. Cogitate, as "cogitate" is a verb meaning "to think deeply about something."
• C. Adverb - The correct match is 2. Pensively, as "pensively" is an adverb describing a manner of being thoughtful or reflective.
• D. Adjective - The correct match is 4. Cogitative, as "cogitative" is an adjective meaning "pertaining to or capable of deep thought."
• Based on the above matches, the correct code is:
• A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4

Solution:

Code:

1. A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
2. A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
3. A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2
4. A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2

Explanation:

• A (Noun) matches with Intuition (2).
• B (Verb) matches with Intuit (4).
• C (Adverb) matches with Intuitively (3).
• D (Adjective) matches with Intuitive (1).

Thus, the correct code is A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1, which corresponds to Option 2.

Key Points:

• The noun form of "intuition" refers to the ability to understand something instinctively.
• The verb "intuit" refers to perceiving or knowing something by intuition.
• The adverb "intuitively" describes an action done based on intuition.
• The adjective "intuitive" refers to something instinctive or easy to understand without reasoning.