English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is: bipartisan.

Key Points

• The word "bilateral" means involving two sides, parties, or groups, typically to come to an agreement or position. (द्विपक्षीय)
• Example: A bilateral trade agreement was signed between the two countries to strengthen economic ties.
• "Bipartisan" refers to cooperation or agreement between two political parties, especially those that usually oppose each other. (दो दलों के बीच सहयोग)
• Example: The bipartisan bill was passed to address urgent healthcare reforms.
• Hence, the word "bipartisan" is more appropriate in the context of political parties taking a position in the national interest.

Therefore, the correct answer is: bipartisan.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Impartial (निष्पक्ष): Neutral and unbiased, treating all sides equally.
• Example: The judge remained impartial and delivered a fair verdict.
• Intermittent (रुक-रुक कर होने वाला): Occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady.
• Example: The weather forecast predicts intermittent rain throughout the day.
• Perilous (खतरनाक): Full of danger or risk.
• Example: The hikers embarked on a perilous journey through the mountains.

The correct answer is: Option 2 (indifferent).

Key Points

• The word "indefinite" means something that is not clearly defined, vague, or uncertain. (अनिश्चित)
• Example: The meeting was postponed for an indefinite period of time.
• The correct word "indifferent" refers to a lack of interest, concern, or enthusiasm about something. (उदासीन)
• Example: She was indifferent to the outcome of the game, as it did not affect her in any way.
• In the given sentence, the context is about the lack of interest shown by the subject towards the culinary fare. Thus, "indifferent" is the most appropriate replacement for "indefinite."

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 2 (indifferent).

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Imperious (अहंकारी): Having or showing an arrogant and domineering attitude.
• Example: His imperious manner made him unpopular among his colleagues.
• Imperilled (संकट में डाला हुआ): Put at risk or in danger.
• Example: The reckless driving imperilled the lives of everyone on the road.
• Disinvested (निवेश से वंचित): To withdraw or reduce investments in a particular area or sector.
• Example: The company disinvested its shares in the failing subsidiary to cut its losses.

The correct answer is: Animus.

Key Points

• The word "antipathy" means a deep-seated feeling of dislike or aversion. (घृणा या अरुचि)
• Example: She expressed her antipathy toward the unethical practices of the company.
• "Animus" refers to hostility or ill will, often in an intense or deep-rooted manner. (द्वेष या शत्रुता)
• Example: The animus between the two political factions was evident during the debate.
• Hence, we can infer that the correct word to describe the whalers' hostility is 'animus'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Animus.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Sympathy (सहानुभूति): Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.
• Example: He offered his sympathy to the family affected by the tragedy.
• Empathy (सहानुभूति या समानुभूति): The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
• Example: Her empathy allowed her to connect with people on a deeper level.
• Indifference (उदासीनता): Lack of interest, concern, or sympathy.
• Example: His indifference to the suffering around him was shocking.

The correct answer is: Indigent.

Key Points

• The word "Diligent" means showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties. (परिश्रमी)
• Example: She was a diligent student and always completed her assignments on time.
• The word "Indigent" refers to someone who is poor or needy, lacking basic resources such as money or food. (गरीब)
• Example: After losing his job, he became indigent and struggled to meet his daily needs.
• In the sentence, the word "diligent" is incorrectly used to describe the family’s condition due to the crash in the share market. The correct word to convey their financial hardship is "indigent."

Therefore, the correct answer is: Indigent.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Intransigent (अडिग): Refusing to change one's views or agree about something.
• Example: The intransigent leader refused to compromise on his demands.
• Indignant (आक्रोशित): Feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.
• Example: She was indignant when her colleague took credit for her work.
• Apathetic (उदासीन): Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
• Example: Despite the urgent situation, he remained apathetic and did not take any action.

The correct answer is: dispassionate.

Key Points

• The word "impassioned" means filled with or showing great emotion. (भावुक)
• Example: The politician gave an impassioned speech about the need for reform.
• The word "dispassionate" refers to being calm, unbiased, and unemotional, especially when making decisions or dealing with difficult situations. (निष्पक्ष)
• Example: A judge must remain dispassionate when delivering a verdict.
• In the context of the sentence, "dispassionate" is the appropriate word to describe someone who is calm and composed in their dealings with life's challenges.

Therefore, the correct answer is: dispassionate.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Perfunctory (सतही): Done without care or interest, often performed as a routine duty.
• Example: He gave a perfunctory nod and walked away.
• Devolved (सौंपा हुआ): To delegate or transfer duties or responsibilities to another person or group.
• Example: The central government devolved more power to local authorities.
• Disambiguated (स्पष्ट किया हुआ): To clarify or remove ambiguity.
• Example: The teacher disambiguated the confusing instructions for the students.

The correct answer is: Option 2 (palimpsest).

Key Points

• The word "palimpsest" refers to a manuscript or document that has been written over, where traces of the original writing are still visible. (प्राचीन पांडुलिपि, जिसे दूसरी बार लिखा गया हो)
• Example: The ancient manuscript turned out to be a palimpsest, with layers of writing from different time periods.
• The word "postscript" refers to an additional remark or note added at the end of a letter or document, often abbreviated as P.S. (परिशिष्ट या पत्र का अंतिम नोट)
• Example: She added a postscript to her letter, explaining when she would arrive.
• In the given sentence, the word "postscript" is incorrect because the context suggests that the document was overwritten with a new one, which aligns with the definition of "palimpsest".

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 2 (palimpsest).

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Parchment (पार्चमेंट): A material made from animal skin used for writing, especially in ancient times.
• Example: The old document was written on a piece of parchment.
• Pastiche (नकल या मिश्रण): A work of art or literature that imitates the style of another or combines various influences.
• Example: The movie is a pastiche of several genres, blending comedy and drama seamlessly.
• Montage (मोंटाज): A sequence of images or scenes edited together to convey a particular idea or story.
• Example: The film's opening montage beautifully captured the protagonist's childhood.

The correct answer is: Option 3 (Plagiarism).

Key Points

• The word "Simulism" does not exist in the English vocabulary and appears to be a placeholder or incorrect usage. (यह एक गलत या असत्य शब्द है।)
• The correct word is "Plagiarism", which means the act of using someone else's ideas, work, or words without proper acknowledgment, presenting them as your own. (साहित्यिक चोरी)
• Example: The student was expelled for plagiarism after submitting a copied essay.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 3 (Plagiarism).

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Sensationalism (सनसनीखेजता): The use of exciting or shocking stories at the expense of accuracy, to provoke public interest.
• Example: The news channel was accused of sensationalism for exaggerating the story.
• Institutionalism (संस्थागत): A focus on institutions and their role in society or adherence to institutional norms and practices.
• Example: The school follows strict institutionalism in its policies.
• Spoonerism (स्पूनरवाद): A verbal error in which the initial sounds of two words are swapped.
• Example: Saying "you have hissed all my mystery lectures" instead of "you have missed all my history lectures" is a spoonerism.

The correct answer is: Paternalistic.

Key Points

• The word "Paternal" refers to characteristics or behaviors associated with a fatherly figure. It often implies care, protection, or guidance but can sometimes also suggest control or dominance. (पैतृक/पिता जैसा)
• Example: His paternal instincts kicked in when he saw the child crying alone on the street.
• "Paternalistic" refers to a controlling attitude, where someone limits another person's freedom or decision-making while justifying it as being for their own good. (पिता के समान नियंत्रणकारी)
• Example: The manager’s paternalistic behavior hindered the employees from taking independent decisions.
• Hence, the correct word to describe the domineering manager’s behavior in this context is paternalistic, as it specifically highlights the controlling aspect of his actions.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Paternalistic.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Prim (शालीन): Stiffly formal and proper in behavior or appearance.
• Example: She was always prim and careful about her manners at social gatherings.
• Petulant (चिड़चिड़ा): Irritable or easily annoyed, often over trivial matters.
• Example: The petulant child threw a tantrum when he didn’t get his favorite toy.
• Presumptuous (अति आत्मविश्वासपूर्ण): Overconfident or failing to observe appropriate limits, often to the point of arrogance.
• Example: It was presumptuous of him to assume he would be promoted without consulting his supervisor.

The correct answer is: Perfunctory.

Key Points

• The word "reflective" refers to something that involves deep thought or reflection, often showing a serious consideration of a matter. (चिंतनशील)
• Example: He gave a reflective speech that made everyone think about their goals.
• "Perfunctory" means done as a duty or routine, often without genuine interest or effort; it implies a lack of care or enthusiasm. (औपचारिक, बिना रुचि के)
• Example: The teacher gave a perfunctory review of the students' assignments, barely reading them.
• In the context of the sentence, the team leader’s glance at the draft plan was superficial and lacking in genuine attention, which aligns with the meaning of "perfunctory".

Therefore, the correct answer is: Perfunctory.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Precise (सटीक): Clearly expressed and exact in detail.
• Example: She gave precise instructions on how to assemble the furniture.
• Engaging (मनोहारी): Attractive or charming, capable of holding attention.
• Example: The speaker’s engaging manner kept the audience captivated.
• Egregious (अत्यंत खराब): Outstandingly bad or shocking.
• Example: His egregious error during the presentation cost the company a major client.

The correct answer is: Option 2 (Gratuitous).

Key Points

• The word "salutary" refers to something that is beneficial, especially with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant that produces good effects. (हितकारी, लाभदायक)
• Example: The accident was a salutary reminder of the dangers of driving while tired.
• The word "gratuitous" means something that is unnecessary or uncalled for; often done without any good reason or cause. (अनावश्यक, बिना कारण का)
• Example: The film was criticized for its gratuitous violence.
• In the given sentence, the word "gratuitous" fits appropriately as it describes actions done without good reason or cause.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 2 (Gratuitous).

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Ingratiated (खुशामद करना): To bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them.
• Example: She ingratiated herself with the new manager by praising his leadership skills.
• Grating (कर्कश): Something that is harsh or unpleasant to the senses, especially to the ears.
• Example: The grating sound of the alarm clock woke everyone up.
• Gargantuan (विशालकाय): Extremely large or enormous in size or amount.
• Example: The team faced a gargantuan task of rebuilding the city after the earthquake.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The error lies in the phrase "an unique excuse" in part B of the sentence.
• The article "an" is used before words beginning with a vowel sound, while "a" is used before words starting with a consonant sound.
• The word "unique" starts with a "yoo" sound, which is a consonant sound, so the correct article should be "a" instead of "an."
• Thus, the error is located in part B of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "In his well-recognised stentorian yet amused voice, the principal demanded a unique excuse from the student hauled up for alleged minor misdemeanour."

 

Additional Information

• A: "In his well-recognised stentorian yet amused voice," – This part of the sentence is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.
• C: "from the student hauled up for alleged minor misdemeanour." – This part of the sentence is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The primary issue in the sentence is the omission of the article before the noun "trip.
• Singular countable nouns like "trip" normally require an article ("a" or "the") when used in this way.
• The phrase should be "during the trip to the famous lake city," to make the sentence grammatically correct and complete.
• Thus, the error is located in part (c) of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "The visiting school children went around the lake during the trip to the famous lake city."

 

Additional Information

• 1: "The visiting school children" – This part is grammatically correct and clearly introduces the subject of the sentence.
• 2: "went around the lake" – This segment is grammatically correct and properly expresses the action done by the subject.
• 3: "during trip to the famous lake city" – This part is incorrect due to the missing article before "trip"; it should be "during the trip to the famous lake city.
• 4: "No error" – This option would be correct only if all parts were error-free, but there is an error in part (3).

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The error lies in the third part of the sentence where "familyowned" is written as a single word without a hyphen or space.
• When two words are combined to form a compound adjective that modifies a noun (in this case, "firm"), they should typically be hyphenated to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.
• The correct form is "family-owned" or "family owned".
• Thus, the error is located in part 3 of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "The unfair distribution of assets among the family members angered the more hardworking members of the family-owned firm."

 

Additional Information

• 1: "The unfair distribution" – This part is grammatically correct. The article and noun phrase are properly constructed.
• 2: "of assets among the family members" – This part is correct. The preposition "among" is correctly used for a group of more than two people.
• 4: "No error" – Since there is a punctuation error in part 3, this option is incorrect.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The error lies in the phrase "bad blood among the two of them." The word "among" is used when referring to more than two entities, while "between" is used for two entities.
• Since the sentence refers to "the two of them," the correct word should be "between" instead of "among."
• Thus, the error is located in part C of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is C.

 

Correct Sentence: "Given the nature of the problem, it was not unnatural for there to be bad blood between the two of them."

 

Additional Information

• A: "Given the nature of the problem," – This part of the sentence is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.
• B: "it was not unnatural for there to be" – This part of the sentence is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.
• C: "bad blood among the two of them." – This is where the error lies due to the incorrect use of "among" instead of "between."
• D: No error – This would be the correct option if there were no mistakes in the sentence, but there is an error in part C.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• The sentence "He emphasised the need for strict discipline and compliance among the newly-appointed staff" is grammatically correct in all its parts.
• "Emphasised the need for" is a standard and correct expression to indicate stressing the importance of something.
• "Strict discipline and compliance" correctly joins two abstract nouns with "and" to show two related requirements.
• "Among the newly-appointed staff" is an appropriate prepositional phrase showing the group to whom the requirement applies, and the use of "staff" as a collective noun here is correct.

Therefore, the correct answer is 4 (No error).

 

Correct Sentence: "He emphasised the need for strict discipline and compliance among the newly-appointed staff."

 

Additional Information

• 1: "He emphasised the need for" – This part is correct; it clearly states what he stressed or highlighted.
• 2: "strict discipline and compliance" – Both nouns are properly used and logically linked, indicating what is needed.
• 3: "among the newly-appointed staff" – This segment correctly shows the group concerned, and "staff" is correctly treated as a collective noun.
• 4: "No error" – This is the appropriate option because all three segments (1), (2) and (3) are grammatically sound.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The issue in the sentence lies in the phrase "less than twenty people" used in part (3).
• The word "less" is generally used with uncountable nouns, whereas "fewer" is used with countable nouns like "people."
• Since "people" is a countable noun, the correct expression should be "fewer than twenty people" instead of "less than twenty people."
• Thus, the grammatical error is in part (3) of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "The officer marvelled at the low attendance, remarking on the presence of fewer than twenty people at work."

 

Additional Information

• 1: "The officer marvelled" – This part is grammatically correct and clearly introduces the subject and verb.
• 2: "at the low attendance" – This segment is correct and logically completes the verb phrase "marvelled at."
• 3: "remarking on the presence of less than twenty people at work" – This contains the error; "less" should be replaced with "fewer" because "people" are countable.
• 4: "No error" – This option is incorrect because there is a clear error in part (3).

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The phrase "centred around" is incorrect. The correct phrase should be "centred on."
• The term "centred on" is more appropriate and widely accepted in formal English usage.
• Thus, the error is located in part B of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is B.

 

Correct Sentence: "The entire attention of the visiting dignitaries centred on the craftwork on display."

 

Additional Information

• A: "The entire attention of the visiting," – This part of the sentence is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.
• C: "the craftwork on display," – This part of the sentence is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.
• D: "No error" – This would be the correct option if there were no mistakes in the sentence, but there is an error in part B.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• The subject of the sentence is “A group of wayfaring tourists.”
• The main noun (head noun) is “group”, which is singular.
• The verb used is “has finally arrived”, which is singular and correctly agrees with the subject.
• The phrase “of wayfaring tourists” is a prepositional phrase and does not affect subject-verb agreement.
• Since there is no grammatical mistake in any part, the correct response is No error.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4 (No error).

 

Correct Sentence: “A group of wayfaring tourists who had trudged for hundreds of kilometres has finally arrived at the destination.”

 

Additional Information

• Part (A): “A group of wayfaring tourists” – Grammatically correct; “group” is the singular subject.
• Part (B): “who had trudged for hundreds of kilometres” – Correct use of past perfect tense.
• Part (C): “has finally arrived at the destination” – Correct singular verb agreeing with “group.”
• Part (D): No error – This is the correct choice because the sentence is grammatically accurate.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The primary issue in the sentence is the use of "most favourite" in part (c).
• "Favourite" already indicates a superlative degree, so the use of "most" is redundant and incorrect.
• The correct phrase should be "favourite superstar".
• Thus, the error is located in part C of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is C.

 

Correct Sentence: "The tumult among the gathered spectators rose to a crescendo upon the arrival of their favourite superstar."

 

Additional Information

• A: "The tumult among the gathered spectators" – This part of the sentence is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.
• B: "rose to a crescendo" – This part of the sentence is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.
• D: "No error" – This would be the correct option if there were no mistakes in the sentence, but there is an error in part C.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The primary issue in the sentence is the phrase "after meticulous care" in part (b).
• The correct preposition should be "with" rather than "after".
• The correct phrase to ensure grammatical correctness should be "with meticulous care".
• Thus, the error is located in part B of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is B.

 

Correct Sentence: "The listings on the menu that had been proffered by him were selected with meticulous care and discernment with regard to taste and preference."

 

Additional Information

• A: "The listings on the menu that had been proffered by him" – This part of the sentence is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.
• C: "and discernment with regard to taste and preference." – This part of the sentence is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.
• D: "No error" – This would be the correct option if there were no mistakes in the sentence, but there is an error in part B.