English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is 'the cornerstone of the approach to this conflict has not always been discernible.'

Key Points

• In the underlined segment of the sentence, the plural form of the verb 'have' is incorrect.
• The subject of the sentence is composed of the singular noun 'conflict'.
• We know that a singular subject always takes a singular verb.
• Therefore, the singular form of the verb 'has' should be used in place of the plural form of the verb 'have'.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4.

Correct sentence: The humanitarian approach that has been expected to be the cornerstone of the approach to this conflict has not always been discernible.

Additional Information

• Subjects and verbs must agree with one another in number (singular or plural).
• Thus, if a subject is singular, its verb must also be singular; if a subject is a plural, its verb must also be plural.

The correct answer is 'No improvement.'

Key Points

• In the underlined segment of the sentence, no correction is required.
• The use of the plural form of the verb 'tend' with the plural subject 'countries' is correct.
• The use of the punctuation mark apostrophe (') with the possessive noun ''India's'' is correct.
• The use of the base form of the verbs 'view' and 'commit' in the ''to-infinitive'' is correct.
• The use of the noun 'recalcitrance' that means not easy to control is correct.

Hence, the correct answer is option 5.

Correct sentence: Many developed countries tend to view India’s reluctance to commit to a net-zero emissions target as recalcitrance, but the climate change crisis originated not here but in the industrialized world, which has used up much of the world’s carbon space.

The correct answer is 'the access of households to electricity and clean cooking fuel has been shown.'

Key Points

• In the underlined segment, the use of the noun 'excess' with the context of the sentence is incorrect.
• The noun 'excess' means more of something than is necessary or usual; too much of something.
• The noun 'access' should be used as that means the right or opportunity to use or benefit from something.
• Also, in the underlined segment of the sentence, the plural form of the verb 'have' is incorrect.
• The subject of the sentence is composed of the singular noun 'cooking fuel'.
• We know that a singular subject always takes a singular verb.
• Therefore, the singular form of the verb 'has' should be used in place of the plural form of the verb 'have'.

Hence, the correct answer is option 2.

Correct sentence: The campaign to improve the access of households to electricity and clean cooking fuel has been shown to be an important factor.

The correct answer is Option 4)i.e. With so many people at their house, it was fortunate that the weather was warm and dry so they could utilize the courtyard for the children. The house was packed with people.  

Key Points

• The error lies in the part 'With so much people at their house'.❌
• The most appropriate determiner for the given sentence is ‘many.' before 'people'.
• We use ‘much’ with singular uncountable nouns and ‘many’ with plural nouns.
• Example: You ask too much questions. ❌(Incorrect)
• Example: You ask too many questions. ✔️(Correct)
• Here, in the given sentence ‘people’ is plural. So we use the determiner 'many**.'**
• Therefore, by reading the above explanation we find that option 4 is correct.✔️

📌Correct sentence: With so many people at their house, it was fortunate that the weather was warm and dry so they could utilize the courtyard for the children**.** The house was packed with people.✔️

Additional Information

• We use the quantifiers much, much, a lot of, lots of to talk about quantities, amounts and degree. We can use them with a noun (as a determiner) or without a noun (as a pronoun).
• In affirmative clauses we sometimes use much and many in more formal styles.
• Example: There is much concern about crimes in Canada.
• In informal styles, we prefer to use lots of or a lot of.
• Example: I went shopping and spent a lot of money.

The correct answer is Option 2)i.e. although all his friends.

Key Points

• Here, in the given sentence the main subject is 'he' and the subject is carrying out his plan, despite his 'friends' reservation.
• Let us explore the given option.
• The conjunction ‘unless’ means except if and is used to introduce the case in which a statement being made is not true or valid.
• Example: Unless you want to die step away from the vehicle.
• Meaning to stay that if you do not step away from the vehicle you will die.
• This is not the case with the given sentence. Option 1 is incorrect.
• The conjunction ‘although’ is used for in spite of the fact that; even though.
• Example: He ran although his legs had not recovered.
• This means that despite the subject 'he' legs not being okay, he still ran.
• In the given sentence we are stating that the subject carried out his plan despite the fact that his friends were against it.
• So option 2 is correct.
• The conjunction ‘whether’ is used for expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives.
• Example: Whether he is alive or dead it is unclear.
• The current state of the subject is not known.
• As this is not the case in the given sentence, option 3 is incorrect.
• The conjunction ‘so’ means and for this reason; therefore.
• Example: He slept late so that he could finish the movie.
• Here the explanation or reason for sleeping late has been explained by using 'so.'
• So option 4 is incorrect as a reason is not being specified in the given question.
• The conjunction ‘if’ is used for introducing a conditional clause on the condition or supposition that; in the event that.
• Example: If you want to say something do it now.
• Here we want the subject 'you' to express his disapproval now.
• As this is not the case in the given sentence, option 5 is incorrect.

📌Correct sentence: He went through with his plan although all his friends advised him to abandon it.

The correct answer is Option 1) i.e. The secret of being content is to have the leisure to bother about whether you are happy or not.

Key Points

• Let us explore the given option.
• The conjunction ‘whether’ is used for expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives.
• Example: The captain wondered whether it would rain or not.
• Here a doubt between two choices is being expressed. (rain or lack of thereof)
• In the given question a similar situation is present, a choice between 'being happy or not', So option 1 is correct.✔️
• The conjunction ‘since’ is used for the reason that; because or to express the cause of an ongoing event.
• Example: I have not eaten since breakfast.
• Here a cause is expressed for a particular time frame, i.e. the subject 'I' has not had anything after breakfast.
• This is not the case in the given sentence, hence option 2 is incorrect.❌
• The conjunction ‘so’ means and for this reason; therefore.
• ​Example: He slept late so that he could finish the movie.
• Here the explanation or reason for sleeping late has been explained by using 'so.'
• There is no justification regarding an action being performed in the latter parts of the given sentence. we are only talking about a complimentary event, 'happy or not'.
• Hence option 3 is incorrect.❌
• The conjunction ‘because’ is used for the reason that; since.
• Example: Eat your veggies because they give you strength.
• The reason for eating veggies is to gain strength. They are joined by 'because'.
• That is not what is happening in the given sentence so option 4 is incorrect.❌
• The conjunction ‘although’ is used for in spite of the fact that; even though.
• Example: Although he has legs he cannot move due to the accident.
• Here a fact is stated and its consequence has been given, the subject 'he' has lost the use of his legs in an accident.
• This is not the case with the given sentence, hence, option 5 is incorrect.❌

📌Correct sentence: The secret of being content is to have the leisure to bother about whether you are happy or not.✔️

The correct answer is I who am to.

Key Points

• 'I who am to' will replace 'I who is to'.
• When the subject of a verb is a Relative pronoun (in this case, who), the verb (in this case, is) agrees in number and person with the antecedent of the relative pronoun (in this case, I)
• Students should read the sentence like this for convenience: It is (I who am to blame) for the unprecedented mess.
• I is a subject. It is always placed after It + is.
• Therefore, the correct answer is: It is I who am to blame for this unprecedented mess.

​

Important Points

• A noun/pronoun which comes before a relative pronoun is called an antecedent. In the aforementioned question, I is the antecedent of who.

The correct answer is 'option 4' i.e. this sentence is incorrect.

Key Points

• The meaning of the word 'Analysis' is-  "the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it."
• In Sentence 4, the usage of the word 'Analysis' is contextually incorrect because this is a noun and in the sentence, we need an adjective so instead of using 'analysis' we can use 'approaching', it will work as a present participle.
• So the incorrect sentence is- Option 4.
• According to the direction we have to find the incorrect usage of the word "analysis", hence the correct answer is "option 4"

The correct answer is option 4) B-C

Let us look at the sentence in the following way:

The measure has (A) _____ on the long-standing anxieties about the (B)_______ of politico-bureaucratic (C)_____ in the internal functioning of universities, and concerns about the (D) ________burden on universities which have to regulate admissions, set (E)_____and conduct examinations for a large number of undergraduate colleges.

• Meanings of the words given in bold are:
• Drawn together with the preposition 'on' means to cause to appear or occur.
• Interference means the action of interfering (to enter into or take part in the concerns of others) or the process of being interfered with.
• Perils means serious and immediate danger
• Substantial means of considerate importance, size, or worth
• Curricula means the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college.
• ​We can see that A, D and E have been used appropriately.
• In the blank for B, 'perils' does not make any sense, the phrase 'in the internal functioning of universities' will take the word 'interference' before it.
• Therefore, we need to interchange B and C to make the sentence correct.

Corrected sentence - The measure has (A) drawn on the long-standing anxieties about the (B) perils of politico-bureaucratic (C) interference in the internal functioning of universities, and concerns about the (D) substantial burden on universities which have to regulate admissions, set (E) curricula and conduct examinations for a large number of undergraduate colleges.

The correct answer is option 2). Appraise means assess the quality/ value of.

Sentence 1) First launched in 1995, this site can help you appraise your used vehicle or find the value of any second-hand car.

Here, appraise is referring to the assessing the value of a vehicle

Sentence 2) You can even get items like artwork and antiques appraised so you are sure of their current worth in the marketplace.

Here, appraised is referring to assessing the value of artwork and antiques

Sentence 3) Please appraise me of any changes to the document before publication.

Here, the usage of appraise is making no sense. 'Apprise' should be there in place of 'Appraise'. 'Apprise' means to inform. The sentence conveys that if there are any changes in the document the author must be informed.

Clearly Option 2) is the correct answer.

The correct answer is option 4.i.e. 'Quintessence'

  Explanation 

• The correctly spelled word out of the given options is  'Quintessence'; None of the rest given options is correctly spelt
• Quintessence- the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class
• For e.g.-Mother Teresa is the quintessence of kindness and politeness.

The correct spelling of other given words are-

The correct answer is option 5.i.e. Resurrection

  Explanation

• The correctly spelled word out of the given options is Resurrection
• Resurrection -Bringing back something that has not existed or not been used for a long time.
• For e.g.-This is the resurrection of the old story from the mid- 80s.

The correct answer is option 5 i.e. Thym is wrongly spelt.

Key Points

• The misspelt word out of the following options is Thym.
• The correct spelling is 'Thyme'.
• Thyme is a herb that belongs to the mint family and is used as a seasoning due to its aromatic leaves.
• Hence, option 5 is misspelt word.

Additional Information

• Through means moving in from one side and moving out of the other side of something.
• Thorough means detailed; not superficial
• Though is a conjunction which means 'despite the fact that'
• Thought means an idea or opinion formed in the mind by thinking.

Infinitesimal is something that very very small, divided to an infinity. Therefore, the correct answer is option 4.

The correct answer is All of the above. 

Key Points

• Reading the options we find that all the given spellings are wrong.
• Thus the correct answer is All of the above.

Additional Information

• The correct spellings are Embellish, robust, mundane and paragon respectively.
• Embellish means make (something) more attractive by the addition of decorative details or features.
• Robust means strong and healthy; vigorous
• Mundane means monotonous; lacking excitement or interest; dull
• Paragon means a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality.

Logically and contextually Q is independent of the rest sentences and so Q is the First sentence in the sequence.

Out of the rest sentences, Q is followed by S and P subsequently with reference to the context.

Therefore S and P are respectively the Second and third sentences in the sequence.

Out of R and T, R definitely follows P and hence  P is the fourth sentence.

Undoubtedly, R becomes the Fifth sentence in the sequence.

Therefore, the correct option is QSPRT.

Correct sequence:

1. Q) Last night we were at the hostel when almost every boarder heard a monstrous sound.
2. S) But nobody went out as it was torrentially downpouring outside and also there was no power in the hostel premises.
3. P) On the next morning they found out that the transformer at the nearby substation had exploded with a horrific sound which they had heard in the night before.
4. R) However, there was no casualty and the fire fighting group had handled the situation in an adept manner.
5. T) Two days later, power was restored in the hostel upon installation of the new transformer and other accessories.

Logically none of the sentences P, Q, R or S can be the First sentence. T gives the impression to be independent of all other sentences and so T fits well in the sequence as the First sentence.

Now out of the sentences R, Q, T, and S; Q suits best in the sequence as the Second sentence as T starts with ‘But’ and indicates something opposite to what Sheema thinks in T.

Next, P contains the description of the action of ‘opening set’ and so P is rightly the Third sentence; which is sequentially followed by R describing what happened in the ‘second set’.

Therefore, R becomes the Fourth sentence in the sequence.

By default, the left-out sentence S becomes the Fifth sentence which definitely fits well into the sequence.

Therefore, the correct option is TQPRS.

Correct sequence:

1. T) Badminton is a very interesting game which Sheema thought she had mastered and none could ever defeat her in it.
2. Q) But in the ongoing Interstate Competition, facing a stronger opponent she came to realize that she was wrong.
3. P) In the opening set, Sheema scored very low and, therefore, lost the set with a massive difference of points.
4. R) However, the game went on and the audience witnessed a tough fight between Sheema and the newcomer in the second set.
5. S) Though Sheema tried very hard putting all her efforts and energy, eventually she lost the game and got out of the tournament.

The given sentences show use of conjunctions, indicating that they are meaningfully related to each other.

Out of the sentences, only sentence T introduces the topic of 'Bar Mitzvah'; while others give more information about it.

So, T is the first sentence in the correct order. Both options 2 and 5 begin with T.

So, let us look at the second sentence. Since T is incomplete, the next sentence must begin with a conjunction.

Both P and Q begin with conjunctions.

Only P is appropriate here, as both T and P talk about 'study' and 'education'.

So, P is the second sentence.

Out of the given options, both options 2 reflects this order, viz, TP.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 2.

At a first glance at the sentences, we find words or phrase like ‘so’, ‘also’, ‘in this scenario’, ‘accordingly’ in four out of the five sentences.

This clearly indicates that R is independent of the rest sentences and so R is the First sentence in the sequence.

Next, P describes why Disha is relaxed, the reason for which is ‘summer vacation’ which is in P.

It is clear that will T follow Q and precede S.

Therefore, P, Q, T, and S become the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth sentences respectively in the sequence.

Therefore, the correct option is RPQTS.

Correct sequence:

1. R) Disha has come back home from the hostel because of the ongoing summer vacation.
2. P) So she is very relaxed and hopeful to spend these days in a jovial mood.
3. Q) Also, her relatives and cousins have come to her house for spending time together.
4. T) In this scenario, Disha decides that all will go for a short trip at some nearby place.
5. S) Accordingly, the tickets are booked for the to-and-fro journey along with the hotel booking at Puri.

The given sentence shows the use of conjunctions, indicating that they are meaningfully related to each other.

Out of the given sentences, only sentence P introduces the topic i.e. 'Picks Disease' while others give more information about it.

So, there are two sentences which are starting with sentence P. Let us take a look at both of them.

Sentence Q tells us about its occurrence.

Out of the given options, option 1 reflects this order i.e. PQ.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 1.