English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is None of these.

Key Points 

• According to the passage: There will be areas where people to people interaction, human relationships, and networking will still matter, hence soft skills such as communication, social and behavioural, cognitive and emotional intelligence would be expected from the employees.
• All these soft skills are expected from the employees.

Thus, the correct answer is Option 5.

The correct answer is ‘Automation will force employees to hone their understanding of big data, machine learning, cloud computing, augmented reality, and mathematical and analytical skills’.

Key Points 

According to the passage,

• ‘Machines are after all machines. They may do work more quickly and efficiently, but they can't bring in 100 percent human touch and feel.’ As option 1 negates the above statements given in the passage, it is incorrect.
• ‘The leader will be also responsible for identifying the right talent in the machine age and engaging the workforce through human touch points.’ Option 2 mentions ‘disengaging the workforce’ that contradicts the above fact given in the passage. So, it is incorrect.
• ‘The future workplaces will be a collaboration of machines/robots and humans.’ Option 4 mentions that future workplaces will have no humans. Thus, it is incorrect too.
• ‘Automation will force employees to hone their understanding of big data, machine learning, cloud computing, augmented reality, and mathematical and analytical skills.’ As Option 3 mentions the same as the above sentence from the passage, it is correct.

Thus, the correct answer is Option 3.

The correct answer is All the above.

Key Points 

• According to the passage, ‘This can be done by upgrading employee-skillset with the following skills for the requirement of future roles: Leadership, Information technology, Management and Soft skills’.
• The following has also been mentioned under the title of Soft skills: ‘There will be areas where people to people interaction, human relationships, and networking will still matter, hence soft skills such as communication, social and behavioural, cognitive and emotional intelligence would be expected from the employees.’
• Therefore, we can infer that all the three options 1,2 and 3 are correct.

Thus, the correct asnwer is Option 4.

The correct answer is ‘15,000’.

Key Points 

• According to the passage: ‘Intel has launched 60 courses as a part of its 'AI Developer Education Programme' to train 15,000 Indian engineers, developers, scientists, and students.

Thus, the correct answer is Option 4.

The correct answer is ‘Only A’.

Key Points 

According to the passage, ‘It can't be denied that automation will impact the jobs considerably in India. However, developing people-centric skills and upgrading/reskilling for new roles could help employees tide over the automation wave.’ This process of automation leads to a significant change in the composition of the labour force and machines. Jobs that do not require people-centric skills can be done by machines as they are more efficient and quick in completing tasks. 

• ‘Machines are capable of doing more work quickly and efficiently’. Thus, it is the reason for the replacement of labour by machines. Option 1 is correct.
• ‘There will be areas where people to people interaction, human relationships, and networking will still matter, hence soft skills such as communication, social and behavioural, cognitive and emotional intelligence would be expected from the employees.’ Option 2 negates the above sentence from the passage. Thus it is incorrect.​
• ‘The leader will be also responsible for identifying the right talent in the machine age and engaging the workforce through human touch points.’ As option 3 contradicts the above statement, it is incorrect too.

Since option 1 is factually correct and is one of the reasons that is conducive/supportive for automation, it is the correct answer.

The correct answer is incursions, role.

Key Points 

• The first blank in the sentence is followed by ‘on protected lands’. As we read the sentence carefully, we can infer that the satellite data plausibly indicates a violation of the rights of indigenous people. Besides, these people are fighting for their recognition regarding forest conservation.
• For the first blank, we need to look for a word that is similar to ‘violate/invade’. ‘​Revolution’ is inappropriate as it does not indicate anything related to it; ‘floating’ and ‘degrade’ are out of context; ‘inclusions’ is inappropriate considering ‘on protected lands’. Therefore, the correct word is ‘incursions’ (meaning: invasion).
• For the second blank, we need a word that means ‘part or function’. From the given options, we can infer that ‘role’ is the most appropriate word.

The correct sentence is: Satellite data confirm incursions on protected lands as Indigenous people fight for their rights and recognition of their role in conserving forests.

Thus, the correct answer is Option 3

Additional Information 

The correct answer is ‘pose, inflict’.

Key Points 

• The given sentence talks about the attributes of Tropical cyclones laden with moisture and accumulated energy. The effect of these cyclones on lives and property is mentioned.
• For the first blank, we need to find a word that means ‘to place/present’. From the given options, ‘pose’ that means ‘to set forth’ is the correct word. The other words ‘Demand’, ‘calculate’, ‘indicate’ and ‘helpful’ are irrelevant in the context.
• For the second blank, we need to find a word that means ‘impact or induce’. From the given options, ‘inflict’ that means ‘to cause’ is the correct answer.

The correct sentence is: Tropical cyclones laden with moisture and accumulated energy pose a growing challenge, as they have a propensity to inflict heavy damage to lives and property.

Thus, the correct answer is Option 4.

Additional Information

• Demand: a strong request or order that must be obeyed
• Act: to do something; to take action
• Calculate: to find something out by using mathematics; to work something out
• Condemn: to say strongly that you think somebody/something is very bad or wrong
• Indicate: to show that something is probably true or exists
• Withdraw: to move or order somebody to move back or away from a place
• Pose: to create or give somebody something that he/she has to deal with
• Inflict: to force somebody to have something unpleasant or something that he/she does not want
• Helpful: giving help
• Experience: the things that you have done in your life; the knowledge or skill that you get from seeing or doing something

The correct answer is ‘Resurgence, adapt’.

Key Points 

• The sentence talks about pastoralism and its role in helping Spain to deal with climate change.
• For the first blank, we need to find a word that means ‘rise/ revival’. From the given options, both ‘resurgence’ and ‘rise’ are correct and fit in the context.
• For the second blank, we need to find a word that means ‘adjust or suit’. From the given options, ‘adapt’ is the correct answer. Hence, considering the option with the word ‘adapt’, ‘resurgence’ is the most appropriate word for the first blank. Though ‘rise’ is correct as mentioned above, ‘adopt’ is incorrect. So, option 4 is not the correct set of words.

The correct sentence is:  Resurgence in pastoralism, one of the world's most sustainable food systems, could help Spain adapt to climate change and revitalize depopulated rural areas.

Thus, the correct answer is Option 1.

Additional Information 

The correct answer is ‘prospect, regulations’.

Key Points 

• The given sentence talks about the aspect of genetically modified foods and it’s field trials.
• For the first blank, we need to find a word that conveys the meaning outlook’. It is evident that genetically modified foods are being considered by the UK. From the given options, ‘prospect’ that means ‘possibility, vision or outlook’ is the appropriate word.
• For the second blank, we need to find a word that means ‘rules’. It can be inferred that there have been changes to farming rules or farming supervision. Owing to these changes in the rules, the prospect of genetically modified crops has come a step closer. From the given options, ‘regulations’ is the correct word.

The correct sentence is: The prospect of genetically modified foods being grown and sold in the UK has come a step closer after changes to farming regulations that allow field trials of gene-edited crops in England.

Thus, the correct answer is Option 3.

The correct answer is ‘endured, annihilated’.

Key Points 

• Reading the given sentence, we can infer that the house has miraculously sustained the lava of an erupting volcano.
• ​The word ‘miraculously’ emphasizes the surprise. As it is normal that buildings are damaged by volcanic lava, this is an instance of surprise.
• For the first blank, we need to find a word that means ‘sustained or tolerated’, Thus, the correct word is ‘endured’.
• The latter part of the sentence indicates the contrasting picture to the former part. We can infer that the house that miraculously sustained the volcanic lava has now been destroyed by lava. Thus, we need to find a word that means ‘destroyed or consumed’. From the given options, ‘annihilated’ is the correct word.

The correct sentence is: A house that miraculously endured an erupting volcano on La Palma in the Spanish Canary Islands for days has now been annihilated by lava.

Thus, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information 

The correct answer is ‘F’.

Key Points 

• Reading all the sentences, it is evident that they all are related to the educational issues/problems concerning the children diagnosed with cancer.
• The opening sentence should introduce the topic and should be an assertive statement. It should not contain any linking words as it is the first sentence.
• From the given sentences, we can infer that either A or F may be the first sentence. However, it is evident that sentence F gives a clear introduction to the topic stating that Cancer diagnosis has a significant impact. Sentence A mentions interventions to enable these children to access education. Thus, we can infer that it is a part of the description that comes later, rather than an introduction.

  Thus, the first sentence is F.

The correct answer is ‘B’.

Key Points 

• Reading all the sentences, it is evident that they all are related to the educational issues/problems concerning the children diagnosed with cancer.
• Following the first sentence, we can guess that either B or E might be the second sentence. While sentence B talks about the diagnosis and treatment stage, sentence E talks about the post-treatment stage. Therefore, B takes precedence. The issues at the stage of diagnosis/ treatment is first explained, which is followed by the issues in the post-treatment phase.

​Thus, the second sentence is B.

The correct answer is ‘E’.

Key Points 

• Reading all the sentences, it is evident that they all are related to the educational issues/problems concerning the children diagnosed with cancer.
• Following the first two sentences F and B, we can infer that the next sentence talks about the issues in the post-treatment stage. So, the correct sentence is E. The previous sentence talks about the issues in the diagnosis/ treatment stage.

Thus, the third sentence is E.

The correct answer is ‘A’.

Key Points 

• Reading all the sentences, it is evident that they all are related to the educational issues/problems concerning the children diagnosed with cancer.
• Following the sequence of sentences F-B-E-4, we can infer that the next sentence in the sequence should be in connection with sentence 4(fixed sentence). Sentence 4 mentions that the educators and healthcare professionals identify the need to have an approach to address the learning issues of children with cancer. Thus, the next sentence will be related to this training approach to address the issue. As sentence A talks about the range of interventions developed in order to secure access to these affected children, it is the correct sentence in the sequence.

Thus, the fifth sentence is A.

The correct answer is ‘C’.

Key Points 

• Reading all the sentences, it is evident that they all are related to the educational issues/problems concerning the children diagnosed with cancer.
• Following the sequence of sentences F-B-E-4-A, we can infer that the next sentence in the sequence should talk about the interventions in detail. While sentence A mentions that there has been a range of interventions developed, the next sentence should elaborate on those interventions. Therefore, sentence G that mentions various interventions, will be the sixth sentence in the sequence.
• The sequence will now be F-B-E-4-A-G.
• The only statement remaining is ‘C’. Hence, it will be the last sentence. Also, it is coherent with the information mentioned in the previous sentence G. Sentence C says that there is no evidence to indicate which intervention( among those mentioned in G) has a positive effect on the affected children. The sequence of sentences in the paragraph will now be F-B-E-4-A-G-C.

Thus, the seventh sentence is C.

The correct answer is had contentious, pungency.

Key Points

• First, let us look at what the words provided in the sentence mean:
• Evil: profoundly immoral and wicked.
• Insipidity: lacking vigour or interest.
• The sentence would mean that the evil articles written by the referents were fearlessly not interesting. This is a confusing and unclear statement.
• Therefore, the words need to be corrected.

Important Points 

• The words that replace the ones in bold are in option 4. Let us look at what the words mean:

• Contentious: causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.

• Pungency: (of comment, criticism, or humour) having a sharp and sarcastically stinging quality.

• Based on these meanings, we can understand that the sentence refers to the fact that the two people had written controversial articles that also had an element of sharp criticism which is a cause of their rivalry.

Mistake Points

• Some words that don't necessarily fit the meaning of the sentence are as follows:

• Tranquillized: had a calming or sedative effect on.

• Engendered: cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition). Since the articles are being described in the first phase, it is not possible to use a verb like this, as it adds no value to the meaning of the sentence, grammatically.

• ​​Also, the sentence refers to the 'past perfect' tense, therefore using the verb 'have' makes the option invalid, as 'have' is used in present perfect.

• The verb to be used in the past perfect tense is 'had.'

​Therefore, the sentence is: The fact that they had contentious articles written, with a fearless pungency, seems to have been the reason for their rivalry.

The correct answer is No correction required.

Key Points

• First, let us look at what the words provided in the sentence mean:
• Arbitrarily: based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.
• Cogent: clear, logical, and convincing.
• These two words make sense in the context of the sentence. Therefore, they do not need to be corrected.
• The meaning of the sentence is that the shots of the film are randomly put together, creating a haphazard action that is not logical or clear.

​

Mistake Points

• Firstly, what needs to be considered is the subject-verb agreement of the sentence.

• Since the sentence refers to the shots in the film (plural noun), the corresponding verb must also be plural i.e. are.

• Any option that replaces the main verb as a singular one must be deemed invalid, as it would be grammatically incorrect. These include options 1, and 2.

• Therefore, even though the options contain words that could substitute the existing phrases, they would be grammatically wrong.

• Also, some words are not entirely suited for the sentence. 

• Arrayed: displayed or arranged (things) in a particular way. This would discredit the first half of the sentence where the shots are being called haphazard.

• Murky: obscure or morally questionable. The sentence does not describe the content of the shots, just the arrangement. Therefore using this word would be slightly unnecessary.

• Equanimous: calm and composed. This is unlikely to be used for inanimate shots of a film.

​Therefore, the sentence is: The shots of this film are arbitrarily put together, creating haphazard action that is barely cogent.

The correct answer no correction required.

Key Points

• First, let us look at what the words provided in the sentence mean:

• Corollary: a direct or natural consequence or result.

• Intransigence: refusal to change one's views or to agree about something.

• As can be seen, these two words make sense in the context of the sentence. Therefore, they do not need to be corrected.

• The meaning of the sentence is that the rise in unemployment is a direct result of the government's refusal to change.

​

Mistake Points

• The words in the sentence are both nouns. They are basically used in terms of a consequence of the government's state of inaction.

• However, some options use adjectives and verbs that do not suit the grammatical phrasing of the sentence.

• For instance, 'compulsive,' and 'diverting,' are adjectives and don't match the meaning of the sentence.

• Also, the formation of these words is not suitable. If they were to be used in the noun form (diversion; compulsion) they may have made sense.

• In the case of option 3 and 4, the words are nouns. However, when replaced in the sentence, they are not comprehensible.

• Also, option 4 lacks a preposition to provide a reference.

​Therefore, the sentence is: Huge increases in unemployment were the corollary of the government's intransigence.

The correct answer is S**ome people blatantly enter china so that they can live a prosperous life.

Key Points

• Surreptitiously: not done openly; kept secret and marked by quiet and caution
• Blatantly: in an open and unashamed manner.

Additional Information

Synonyms of Surreptitiously**:** Secretly, Clandestinely, Stealthily, Furtively, Slyly, etc. 

Antonyms of Surreptitiously**:** Openly, Blatantly, Frankly, Honestly, Openhandedly.

The correct answer is ACBD.

Key Points

• After going through the sentence we find that:
• Part E talks about the long term growth prospective of the Indian economy which is not relevant to the context.
• So, the odd part is E.
• The sentence should begin with A which mentions the relentless pursuit of something and C is the next part. From part C we can understand that the sentence is about the 'relentless pursuit of economic growth'.
• The next part should be B which describes what is the 'pursuit of economic growth'.
• The last part is D. It concludes the sentence by mentioning that it is the defining characteristic of contemporary societies.
• Thus, only ACBD can make a coherent sentence.
• The correct answer is ACBD.

Thus, the correct sentence will be: "The relentless pursuit of economic growth is the defining characteristic of contemporary societies." 

Additional Information

Let's see the meaning of some words: 

• Relentless: constant

• Pursuit: chasing

• Characteristic: trait or feature

• Contemporary: living at the same time

• Perspective and prospective are easy to confuse because they look and sound similar.

• Here are their meanings:

• Perspective is a noun. It means "a mental outlook or visible scene, a vista, a way of looking at something."

• Prospective is an adjective. It means "in the future, likely or expected."