English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is “Verb”.

Key Points

• The word "pranced" describes the action carried out by the subject, which is "the artist". The artist is doing the action of prancing.
• A verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence, such as hear, become, or happen.
• The word "pranced" falls right in line with these specifications, and indicates an action performed by the artist.
• It is not naming a person, place, or thing which is the role of a noun, nor is it modifying a noun like an adjective would, or modifying a verb, adjective, or other adverb as an adverb would do.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

The correct answer is “Preposition”.

Key Points 

• "In" is a word that indicates the relationship between the fork and knife and the cutlery box.
• In English grammar, a preposition is a word that shows a relationship, usually in terms of space or time, between words in a clause or phrase.
• "In" does not describe an action (verb), connecting words/clauses (conjunction), or determining or limiting a noun (determiner).
• This sentence suggests a spatial relationship, clarified by the preposition "in".

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

The correct answer is “Adverb”.

Key Points 

• "Slowly" is modifying the verb "came". It is talking about how she performed the action of coming up to the door.
• An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
• In this case, "slowly" is not a quality or feature attributed to a person, place, or thing (adjective), an action (verb), or a term that stands in for a noun (pronoun).
• It provides additional information about the manner of the action she is doing, specifically, the speed or pace of the action.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

The correct answer is “Interjection”.

Key Points 

• "Oh no!" is an expression of surprise or a sudden emotion. It doesn't denote a place or time relationship (preposition), a specific item (article), or a person, place, idea, or thing (noun).
• An interjection is a part of speech that shows the emotion or feeling of the author. These words or phrases can stand alone or be placed before or after a sentence.
• In this case, "Oh no!" is used as a standalone phrase, expressing an emotional reaction.
• They often lack a link with the other parts of a sentence and are found in many languages, including English.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

The correct answer is “Pronoun”.

Key Points 

• "They" is standing in as a reference for a specific group of people who are going to attend the function.
• A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun in sentences, making them less repetitive and mechanic.
• The word "They" is not a name of any person, place, or thing (noun), modifying any noun/pronoun (adjective), or denoting an action (verb), nor it is a linking word (conjunction).
• The use of "They" in this sentence gives information about who "are all going to attend the function", replacing the specific names of the individuals involved.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

The correct answer is “Adjective”.

Key Points

• "Dull" is modifying the noun "clouds". It specifies the kind of clouds being mentioned i.e., they were "dull".
• In the English language, an adjective is a word that modifies a noun or noun phrase or describes its referent.
• Example: The pencil wrote with a dull point.
• By using the descriptive word "dull", more information is given about the quality of the clouds.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

The correct answer is “Preposition”.

Key Points 

• The word "over" indicates the relationship between the principal and the meeting. He is presiding "over" the meeting.
• The word "over", in this case, is a preposition, as it is used before a noun (the meeting), to show direction, location, or time, or to introduce an object.
• It is not naming a person, place, or thing i.e., a noun, or serving as a verb or an adjective.
• This usage of "over" expresses a type of functional relationship between the principal and the meeting.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

The correct answer is “Verb”.

Key Points 

• The term "permit" explains the action executed by the cash machines, which is to allow people to withdraw money.
• A verb is a word or phrase that describes an action, condition or experience.
• "Permit" is not a name of a person, place, or thing (noun), nor is it modifying any noun/pronoun (adjective) or verb, adjective, or adverb (adverb).
• It fits well with the definition of a verb, indicating the action performed by the cash machines.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

The correct answer is “Adverb”.

Key Points 

• The word "loosely" here is modifying the verb "based". It outlines how the novel is based on his childhood in England.
• An adverb can modify verbs, adjectives (including numbers), clauses, sentences, and other adverbs.
• "Loosely" in this context is not acting as an action word (verb), a descriptive for a noun/pronoun (adjective), or a marker for a person, place, or thing (noun).
• Thus, the word "loosely" serves to give us more information about the way in which the novel is based on his childhood in England.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

The correct answer is “Noun”.

Key Points 

• "Playtime" represents a specific thing in the sentence, which is the time during which the children play.
• A noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea.
• Here, "playtime" is not serving the function of an action word (verb), modifier (adjective), or a placeholder for a noun (pronoun).
• The use of "playtime" provides a crucial detail to completely comprehend the circumstances of the children.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

The correct answer is “proscription”.

Key Points

• The word 'proscription'  is used to indicate the act of prohibiting, denouncing, or outlawing something. It is the most appropriate choice for the context as it refers to the banning of the play by the government.
• "Prescription" refers to written instructions from a medical practitioner about the use and dosage of specific medicine, hence is not suitable here.
• "Proscribing" is a grammatical error here as we need a noun to complete the sentence, not a verb.
• "Screening" usually refers to a testing or evaluation situation, hence does not fit here.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

The correct answer is “devastating”.

Key Points

• A 'devastating' flood refers to a flood that causes severe destruction or damage, which fits the context perfectly where Ravi is reminiscing about a severe flood event from the past.
• 'Ravage' is usually used as a verb and would hence not fit grammatically into this sentence.
• 'Salubrious' refers to something healthy or beneficial, which goes against the context of a harmful event like a flood.
• 'Ameliorative' means improving or making something better, so it cannot denote a disaster like a flood.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

The correct answer is “leave”.

Key Points 

• In the context, 'leave' implies Davis’s action of departing from the forest guest house after dark. It is the only verb that is suitably placed in the future tense to match the syntax of this sentence.
• 'Stay' would mean Davis will continue to remain in the guest house after dark, which contradicts the phrase 'not sure whether he should'.
• 'Left' and 'Leaves' are unjustifiable in this context because they are in the wrong tense.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

The correct answer is “behaved”.

Key Points 

• 'Behaved' holds the correct tense (past) and meaning suitable to the context of the sentence that talks about how people acted responsibly in the past during a difficult situation.
• 'Behaves' and 'Behaving' are in the wrong tense for the context of the sentence which is in the past.
• 'Belief' is not an action, it is a state of mind or an opinion, thus doesn’t fit in this context.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

The correct answer is “strides”.

Key Points 

• 'Strides' here means significant progress or advances, that suit the context of Criminal law making improvements in facilitating access to justice for women.
• 'Stand', 'Aside', 'Walk' don’t portray the sense of progression/advancement/evolution as 'Strides' does.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

The correct answer is “offences”.

Key Points 

• 'Offences' is the most appropriate term to describe wrongful acts or infringements, which aligns with the context of laws being made to deal with issues related to women’s rights and personal safety.
• 'Terror', 'Criminals', 'Difficulties' don’t specifically denote wrongful acts against women, thus are not suitable here.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

The correct answer is “purview”.

Key Points 

• 'Purview' refers to the scope of influence or activity of something; in this context, it refers to the jurisdiction of the act.
• 'Review', 'View', 'Limits' do not hold the particular implication of scope of influence or jurisdiction as 'Purview' does.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 4'

The correct answer is “premised”.

Key Points

• 'Premised' means based upon; in the context of the sentence, it refers to the foundation of a sovereign Indian nation was built on the idea of equality.
• 'Promised', 'Looked', 'Depend' do not fit into the context that seeks to convey foundation/basis.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

The correct answer is "instil". 

Key Points

• The sentence requires a verb that means "to gradually impart or infuse an idea or feeling into someone's mind."
• The correct word that conveys this meaning is "instil."
• The word "instil" is correctly used to describe the process of infusing or instilling feelings, attitudes, or virtues over time.
• The phrase "continues to" suggests an ongoing action, making "instil" the right choice because it is in the present tense and reflects a continuous process.
• Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 1".

Additional Information

• "Install" typically refers to placing or fixing equipment or software in position for use.
• "Installs" is the third-person singular present tense form of "install," used when referring to someone performing the action of installation.
• "Installed" is the past tense and past participle of "install," indicating that the action of installation has already been completed.

The correct answer is “evidence”.

Key Points

• 'Evidence' here implies that Women’s autobiographies serve as testimony to their increasing literary interest. It fits perfectly into the context.
• 'Subsistence', 'Insistence', 'Dependence' do not denote the connotation of proof or confirmation as 'Evidence' does.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.