English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is 'in regard to.'.

Key Points

• The phrase "in regard to" means "with respect to" or "in relation to".
• In the given context, the sentence is discussing the necessity of considering the justification of a war, and the phrase "in regard to" fits appropriately in this context, as it implies that it is important to consider the justification of a war with respect to its potential impact on mankind.
• Hence, the correct answer will be 'in regard to'.

Additional Information

• "Connecting" means linking two or more things together. However, it doesn't fit well in the given context, as the sentence is not about linking things together, but rather about considering the justification of a war.
• "Describing" means explaining or detailing something. This option doesn't fit well in the given context, as the sentence is not about describing something, but rather about considering the justification of a war.
• "Linking" means connecting or associating two or more things together. However, it doesn't fit well in the given context, as the sentence is not about linking things together, but rather about considering the justification of a war.

The correct answer is 'but'.

Key Points

• In the given passage, it talks about the importance of considering the real justification of a war, not just its proper justification in past agreements. The sentence with the blank space (2) then continues this argument by contrasting the belief of each nation at the beginning of a war with the accepted maxim of common sense that it is praiseworthy to believe in the victory of one's own side.
• The word "but" in this context serves to indicate a contrast or a contradiction between the two ideas presented in the sentence.
• Therefore, "but" is the appropriate option for the blank space.

The correct answer is 'patriotism,'.

Key Points

• In the given passage, the blank space (3) requires a word or phrase that can fill the gap logically and grammatically, and convey the intended meaning of the sentence. Among the options provided, "patriotism" is the most suitable word to fit in the blank.
• The sentence following the blank mentions that at the beginning of a war, each nation believes that its victory is certain and of great importance to mankind. This belief is commonly known as patriotism, which is a strong sense of loyalty and devotion to one's country. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that patriotism is the intended word for the blank.
• The other options - "disloyalty," "infidelity," and "falseness" - do not fit in the context and are not synonymous with the intended meaning of the sentence. Hence, the correct answer is 2) patriotism.

The correct answer is 'both'.

Key Points

• The appropriate option for (4) is indeed "both."
• The sentence "each nation, under the influence of what is called (3)_______ believes that its own victory is (4)_______ certain and of great importance to mankind" implies that both nations involved in the war believe their victory to be important and certain.
• Therefore, the correct answer for (4) is "both."

Additional Information

• Nationally - This option is partially correct, as it highlights the fact that each nation involved in a war believes its own victory to be important. However, it does not acknowledge that the other nation involved in the war likely also believes its victory to be important.
• Individually - This option does not accurately capture the nature of war, which involves entire nations or groups of people rather than individuals. While individuals may have personal motivations for supporting a war effort, the decision to go to war is typically made by political leaders on behalf of their respective nations.
• Autonomously - This option does not fit in the context of the sentence, as it suggests that each nation believes its victory is important and certain based on its own independent judgment, rather than in response to the influence of external factors such as propaganda or nationalistic sentiment.

The correct answer is 'is held'.

Key Points

• The correct answer for the blank space is "is held."
• The complete sentence reads: "Even when war is actually in progress it is held to be natural and right that a citizen of an enemy country should regard the victory of his side as assured and highly desirable."
• The phrase "is held" refers to the belief that a citizen of an enemy country should regard the victory of their side as assured and highly desirable. The use of the present tense "is held" indicates that this belief is still held by people, and that it is a widely accepted belief.
• The phrase "is held" also conveys the idea that this belief is considered normal or common, which is appropriate in the context of the sentence. The sentence is discussing the mindset of citizens of countries at war, and the phrase "is held" suggests that this belief is a widespread one that many people hold.
• Overall, the use of "is held" accurately conveys the idea that this belief is currently held and widely accepted.

The correct answer is 'desirable.'.

Key Points

• In the given passage, the sentence containing the blank space (6) is discussing the common belief of citizens of a country at the beginning of a war.
• The sentence says that each nation believes its own victory to be certain and of great importance to mankind, and this belief is praiseworthy.
• The passage further explains that this belief is natural and right, and it is desirable for citizens of an enemy country to regard the victory of their own side as assured and highly desirable.
• In this context, the word "desirable" means that people view the victory of their own side as something that would bring good or benefits to their country and their fellow citizens.
• It implies that they consider the outcomes of the war to be favorable, and they would want their side to win.
• The word "desirable" is the most appropriate choice for the blank space (6) because it accurately conveys the intended meaning of the sentence in the given context.

The correct answer is 'become'.

Key Points

• The sentence in question is: "By concentrating attention upon the supposed advantages of the victory of our own side, we (7)_______ more or less blind to the evils inseparable from war and equally certain whichever side may ultimately prove (8)_______".
• The blank space in question is asking for the appropriate verb tense to complete the sentence. The four options provided are: "becoming", "become", "had become", and "have been becoming".
• Of these options, "become" is the most appropriate choice. This is because the sentence is written in the present tense, and "become" is a present tense verb.
• Using "had become" would suggest that the action of becoming blind to the evils of war happened in the past and is now finished, which doesn't fit with the present tense of the rest of the sentence.
• Similarly, "have been becoming" suggests an ongoing process that is still happening, which also doesn't fit with the tense of the rest of the sentence.
• Therefore, the best option is "become", which indicates that by concentrating on the advantages of their own side winning, people are currently becoming blind to the inevitable evils of war.

The correct answer is 'victorious'.

Key Points

• In the context of the passage, the word "victorious" would be the most appropriate option for the blank space in sentence (8).
• The author is discussing the belief held by each nation at the beginning of a war that their own victory is certain and of great importance to mankind.
• The author goes on to argue that this belief causes people to focus solely on the supposed advantages of their own victory and to be blind to the evils of war, which are equally certain whichever side ultimately proves victorious.
• Therefore, the word "victorious" is the most appropriate choice to describe the side that ultimately succeeds in the war.

Additional Information

• successful - This option is similar in meaning to "victorious," but it is not as appropriate in this context. "Successful" implies achieving a desired result or goal, while "victorious" specifically refers to winning a conflict or battle. In the context of the passage, the author is discussing the outcome of a war, so "victorious" is the more appropriate word.
• thriving - This option does not make sense in the context of the passage. "Thriving" means to grow or develop vigorously or to prosper, and it does not relate to the outcome of a war. Therefore, it is not an appropriate option for the blank space in sentence (8).
• failing - This option is the opposite of "victorious" and would not make sense in this context. The author is discussing the belief held by each nation at the beginning of a war that their own victory is certain and of great importance to mankind, and the idea that the evils of war are equally certain whichever side ultimately proves victorious. Therefore, "failing" would be an inappropriate option for the blank space in sentence (8).

The correct answer is 'to judge'.

Key Points

• In the context of the sentence, the phrase "to judge" means to form an opinion or conclusion about something after careful consideration of all the available facts and arguments.
• The sentence is discussing the need to fully understand the negative consequences of war before making a judgment about whether it can be considered beneficial to humanity.
• Therefore, "to judge" is an appropriate option for the blank space, as it fits in with the idea of making a well-informed decision about the nature and impact of war.

The correct answer is 'whether'.

Key Points

• In the given passage, the sentence is discussing the need to fully realize the evils of war in order to determine whether a war is likely to be beneficial to the human race.
• The word "whether" is used to introduce a clause that expresses doubt or uncertainty and is often used to present alternative possibilities or options.
• In this context, "whether" is appropriate because it sets up a conditional relationship between realizing the evils of war and being able to make an informed judgment about whether war is beneficial or not.
• Therefore, the correct option for the blank space (10) is whether.

Additional Information

• therefore: for that reason
• however: (used for adding a comment to what you have just said) although something is true
• since: from a particular time in the past until a later time in the past or until now

The correct answer is 'until'.

Key Points

• In the given sentence, "Steve has gone away. He will be away ________ Monday," we need a preposition or determiner to indicate the period of time during which Steve will be away.
• Option 1) "on" is not appropriate because it refers to a specific day, not a period of time. It would be correct to say, "He will be away on Monday," but this does not convey the same meaning as the original sentence.
• Option 2) "by" is not appropriate either because it indicates a deadline or time limit, such as "I need to finish this report by Monday." It doesn't convey the same meaning as the original sentence, which is about the period of time during which Steve will be away.
• Option 4) "from" is also not appropriate because it indicates the starting point of a period of time, such as "I will be on vacation from Monday to Friday." It doesn't convey the same meaning as the original sentence, which is about the period of time during which Steve will be away.
• Option 3) "until" is the most appropriate preposition in this context. It indicates the end of a period of time, such as "I won't be available until Monday." In this case, it means that Steve will be away for the entire period of time leading up to Monday and will not return until that day.
• So the completed sentence with the correct preposition is: "Steve has gone away. He will be away until Monday." This means that Steve will not return until Monday.

Hence, the correct answer is Option 3.

The correct answer is 'on'.

Key Points

• In the given sentence, "I'll see you ________ Friday morning," we need a preposition or determiner to indicate the time or date when the speaker plans to see the person they are addressing.
• Option 1) "in" is not appropriate in this context because it generally refers to a longer period of time, such as "I'll see you in the summer." It would not convey the same meaning as the original sentence.
• Option 3) "along" is also not appropriate because it suggests movement together with the person being addressed, such as "Let's walk along the beach." It doesn't convey the same meaning as the original sentence, which is about meeting at a specific time.
• Option 4) "at" is also a possible choice, but "on" is more commonly used in this context. "At" is used to indicate a specific point in time, such as "I'll see you at noon." In the given sentence, "on" is more appropriate because it indicates the day of the week when the speaker plans to see the person.
• Option 2) "on" is the most appropriate preposition in this context because it indicates the specific day of the week when the speaker plans to see the person. The phrase "on Friday" means that the speaker plans to see the person on a specific Friday, rather than just any day in general.
• So the completed sentence with the correct preposition is: "I'll see you on Friday morning." This means that the speaker plans to see the person they are addressing on a specific Friday morning.
• Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

The correct answer is 'at'.

Key Points

• In the given sentence, "Write your name ________ the top of the page," we need a preposition or determiner to indicate where on the page the person should write their name.
• Option 2) "in" is not appropriate in this context because it suggests that the person should write their name inside a specific area or container, such as "Write your name in the box."
• Option 3) "by" is also not appropriate because it suggests that the person's name will be written by someone else or with someone's assistance. For example, "Your name will be written by the teacher."
• Option 4) "with" is also not appropriate because it suggests that the person should write their name using a specific tool or instrument, such as "Write your name with a pen."
• Option 1) "at" is the most appropriate preposition in this context because it indicates the specific location where the person should write their name. In this case, it means that the person should write their name at the highest point on the page.
• So the completed sentence with the correct preposition is: "Write your name at the top of the page." This means that the person should write their name at the highest point on the page.

Hence, the correct answer is option 1.

The correct answer is 'at'.

Key Points

• In the given sentence, "Sohan is studying ________ the university," we need a preposition or determiner to indicate where Sohan is studying.
• Option 1) "in" could also be a possible choice, but "at" is more commonly used to refer to the location of a university. "In" is often used to refer to a city or country where the university is located.
• Option 3) "on" is not appropriate in this context because it generally refers to a surface, such as "I put my books on the table." It doesn't convey the same meaning as the original sentence, which is about the location of where Sohan is studying.
• Option 4) "from" is also not appropriate in this context because it suggests that Sohan is not currently at the university but is studying remotely from another location.
• Option 2) "at" is the most appropriate preposition in this context because it indicates the specific location where Sohan is studying. In this case, it means that Sohan is a student and is currently attending the university.

Hence the correct answer is Option 2.

The correct answer is 'to'.

• In the given sentence, "He is indebted ________ his friend," we need a preposition or determiner to indicate the relationship between the subject (he) and his friend.
• Option 1) "from" is not appropriate in this context because it suggests that the subject has received something from his friend, but it doesn't convey the sense of owing something.
• Option 2) "with" is also not appropriate because it suggests a joint ownership or partnership, such as "We started a business with my friend."
• Option 3) "by" is not appropriate because it suggests that the friend has done something to help the subject, but it doesn't convey the sense of owing something.
• Option 4) "to" is the most appropriate preposition in this context because it indicates the direction of the subject's obligation or debt. In this case, it means that the subject owes something to his friend, such as money or a favor.
• So the completed sentence with the correct preposition is: "He is indebted to his friend." This means that he owes his friend something, such as money or a favor.

The correct answer is 'for'.

Key Points

• In the given sentence, "Can I be held responsible ________ my spouse's debts?", we need a preposition to indicate the relationship between the subject (the speaker) and their spouse's debts.
• Option 1) "for" is the most appropriate preposition in this context because it indicates that the speaker may be legally obligated to pay their spouse's debts. In this case, the speaker is being held responsible for their spouse's debts.
• Option 2) "to" is not appropriate in this context because it suggests that the debts are owed to the speaker, rather than the other way around.
• Option 3) "by" is not appropriate in this context because it suggests that someone else is holding the speaker responsible for their spouse's debts.
• Option 4) "with" is also not appropriate in this context because it doesn't convey the same meaning as "for" in this context. "With" suggests a joint ownership or partnership, such as "We started a business with my friend."
• So the completed sentence with the correct preposition is: "Can I be held responsible for my spouse's debts?" This means that the speaker is asking if they can be legally obligated to pay their spouse's debts.

The correct answer is 'beneath'.

Key Points

• Pier: a large wooden or metal structure that is built out into the sea from the land. Boats can stop at piers so that people or goods can be taken on or off.
• In this sentence, "beneath" is the preposition that best fits the context of the sentence.
• "Beneath" means "under" or "below", and in this case it suggests that the speaker and their companions were hanging out in the area below the pier, which might be a fun place to explore or relax.
• In the context of this sentence, "beneath the pier" suggests that the speaker and their companions were hanging out in the area below the pier, perhaps on the beach or rocks that are located there. This could be a fun place to hang out and explore, as long as it is safe to do so.

Therefore the correct answer is Option 4.

Additional Information

• The other prepositions listed as options, such as "in", "with", or "down", don't quite fit the context of the sentence as well.
• "**With the pier" (**Option 2) does not fit because "with" generally refers to being in the company of someone or something, and it's not natural to say you're in the company of an inanimate object like a pier.

"In the pier" (Option 3) would be incorrect because it implies being inside the structure of the pier itself.

• "Down" suggests that they were hanging out in a lower area than the pier, but not necessarily beneath it.

The correct answer is 'the​'.

Key Points

• The correct option to fill in the blank is 3) "the".
• In English, we use "the" when we are talking about a specific object that both the speaker and the listener are aware of.
• In this case, "the sugar" refers to a specific sugar that both the speaker and the listener know is there. It's also common to use "the" with singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular.
• The completed sentence would be "Can you pass the sugar, please?"

Confusion Points

• In the sentence "Can you pass the sugar, please?" the noun "sugar" is indeed considered specific.
• The specificity comes from the context of the situation rather than the noun itself. If you are sitting at a dining table and you ask for "the sugar," it's assumed that there is a specific container or packet of sugar on the table that you're referring to. Therefore, everyone at the table understands that "the sugar" refers to this particular sugar on the table.
• Using "the" before "sugar" in this context makes it a specific noun because it refers to a particular item in a specific situation that is understood by everyone involved in the conversation. It's different from a sentence like "Sugar is sweet," where "sugar" is a general, non-specific noun because it refers to any sugar, not a particular packet or container of sugar.

The correct answer is 'the'.

Key Points

• 'The' is a definite article in English.
• It is used to specify or make clear which particular person, thing etc we are referring to.
• In this case, 'the' helps specify which platform ('platform number 5') the train is leaving from.
• Using 'a' before 'platform number 5' would not accurately define which platform the train is departing from, as 'a' is an indefinite article used typically when the noun it's referring to is non-specific.
• 'An' would be grammatically incorrect before 'platform number 5' because 'an' is an indefinite article used before nouns that start with vowel sounds.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3 ('the').

The correct answer for the blank space is 'some'.

Key Points

• The correct answer for the blank space in the sentence "________ children learn very quickly" is "Some".
• The completed sentence(पूरा वाक्य) would be "Some children learn very quickly."
• "Some" is an indefinite determiner that refers to an unspecified quantity of children. It suggests that there are at least a few children who learn quickly, but doesn't provide a specific number.("Some i.e.कुछ" एक अनिश्चित निर्धारक है जो बच्चों की अनिर्दिष्ट मात्रा को संदर्भित करता है। यह सुझाव देता है कि कम से कम कुछ बच्चे ऐसे हैं जो जल्दी सीखते हैं, लेकिन कोई विशिष्ट संख्या प्रदान नहीं करते हैं।)
• The other options listed as possible answers, such as "a", "any", and "much", are not appropriate for this sentence. "A" suggests singularity, which doesn't fit with the context of the sentence. "Any" implies an open or unlimited number of children, which also doesn't fit with the intended meaning. "Much" refers to quantity, but not in a way that makes sense in this context.