English Comprehension PYQs

Consider this line from the passage:

"The Isleworth Mona Lisa, a painting of the same woman, Lisa Gherardini, as its namesake, is purportedly by Leonardo da Vinci."

The word 'purportedly' means 'in a way that is stated to be true, although this may not be the case'. Hence, the sentence states that Leonardo da Vinci is generally considered to have painted the Isleworth Mona Lisa.

Hence, option 5 is correct.

Out of the given options, only option 2 is true. As is mentioned in the passage:

Recently, it (referring to The Isleworth Mona Lisa from the previous sentence) was allowed out briefly for a public exhibition in Florence.

The lawyer Giovanni Battista Protti is actually arguing on behalf of the painting's part-owners that it should not be returned to the vault.

The Isleworth Mona Lisa is actually a portrait of Lisa Gherardini painted by Leonardo da Vinci.

The last paragraph mentions that Britain does not have a French-style art export licensing system.

Therefore, option 2 is correct.

The word 'consortium' means an 'association, typically of several companies'. 

We can also figure out from the context of the passage that out of all the given options, an association of companies is most likely to own expensive art pieces.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 2.

The part of the passage in question says:

"Britain has an art export licensing system that some consider balanced in how it handles the competing interests of art institutions and art owners."

The part in bold highlights the reason why Britain's art export licensing system is considered balanced.

Therefore, the correct option is option 3.

Here are the meanings of the given words:

• Callous - showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others
• Finite - limited in size or extent
• Noxious - harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant

Sentence A describes the fumes from the pesticides as something to be careful of. They are most likely 'noxious' So, A matches with E. 

Sentence B describes Kabir's behavior towards the children as cruel and hence, 'callous'. So, B matches with D.

Sentence C states that the speaker(s) cannot help an organization because they don't have the resources for it. This is because their resources must be 'finite'. So, C matches with F.

Out of these, only B-D is expressed in the given options.

While C-F is also mentioned, it is also grouped together with the wrong combination A-D. Hence, the option will be incorrect.

Therefore, option 3 is correct.

Here are the meanings of the given words:

• Caricature - a picture of a person in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic effect
• Nocturnal - done, occurring, or active at night
• Agony - extreme physical or mental suffering

Sentence A describes Aman's drawing as funny and colorful. It is most like a caricature. So, A matches with D. 

Sentence B describes Jane's broken leg and the pain it caused. So, she must be crying in agony. So, B matches with F.

Sentence C mountain lions as beings that are active and hunting at night. Therefore, they are nocturnal. So, C matches with E.

Out of these, only C-E is expressed in the given options.

Hence, option 5 is correct.

Here are the meanings of the given words:

• Affluent - having a great deal of money; wealthy.
• Ajar - (of a door or other opening) slightly open.
• Avarice - extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

 

Sentence A describes the investment banker as someone who committed crimes because he was greedy for money. So, A matches with F. 

Sentence B implies that though the door was locked last night, in the morning it was the opposite i.e. open or ajar. So, B matches with E.

Sentence C implies that the Jaguar can only be bought by people who have money and are rich or affluent. So, C matches with D.

Out of these, only A-F and B-E are mentioned in the given options.

While C-D is mentioned, it is grouped with the wrong combination B-F.

Hence, the correct answer is option 3.

Here are the meanings of the given words:

• Tacit - understood or implied without being stated.
• Pensive - deep in thought or reflection.
• Salient - most noticeable or important.

 

Sentence A describes how Maya and Mira's mutually had an understanding that they aren't supposed to tell people about their business plans. Hence, they had a 'tacit' agreement. So, A matches with D. 

Sentence B describes John's hair as his most noticeable feature. Hence, his hair is his most salient  feature. So, B matches with F.

Sentence C describes Simran's mood as quite and most likely lost in thought, hence 'pensive'. So, C matches with E.

Out of these, only A-D is expressed in the given options.

Hence, option 1 is correct.

Here are the meanings of the given words:

• Inane - lacking sense or meaning; silly
• Placid - calm, not easily upset or excited
• Sedentary - (of work or a way of life) characterized by much sitting and little physical exercise

Sentence A describes Sumit's life as not active and is hence 'sedentary'. So, A matches with F.

Sentence B describes Riya's comments as meaningless and hence, 'inane'. So, B matches with D.

Sentence C describes the dog as something not to be afraid of and unlikely to get upset or fierce. Hence, the dog has a 'placid' temperament. So, C matches with E.

Out of these, only A-F and C-E are expressed in the given options.

Hence, option 2 is correct.

The -ing form of the verb 'paint' in the given sentence indicates that it is either in the continuous tense or that it is a gerund.

Neither one of these cases is true for the given sentence.

It is also not being used to mean the noun 'painting' which means 'a complete painted picture'.

Instead, it is more accurate to say that the scooter 'has red and blue stripes painted on the side' i.e. the painting has already been done.

The correct version of the sentence will be: My sister rides a bright yellow scooter which has red and blue stripes painted on the side.

Therefore, the error is in option 4.

We can see that the relationship between 'tea turning cold' in the first clause and 'father heating it up' in the second clause is that of cause and effect.

The conjunction 'while', on the other hand, is used to connect two clauses that take place at the same time. 

Instead, the correct version of the given sentence should be: Because the tea had turned cold, my father heated it up in the microwave before serving it to the guests.

Therefore, the error is in option 1.

Every verb must agree with its subject by taking on the required verb form.

In the first part of the sentence, the subject is 'department' which is singular. Therefore, the verb 'ensure' must agree with it and take on its singular form i.e. 'ensures'.

The correct version of this sentence will be: The department ensures that every content project fits perfectly into the company's overall marketing strategy.

Therefore, the error is in option 1.

In the given sentence, the first part talks about not liking the movie while the second part praises certain parts of it. 

The phrase 'due to' doesn't make sense here since it is used to mean 'caused by' or 'because of' something. 

The correct version of the sentence will be: To be honest, I really didn't like the movie even though the acting was good and the music was soulful.

Therefore, the error is in option 3.

There is no error in this sentence. 

Key Points

• The simple future is a verb tense that’s used to talk about things that haven’t happened yet. 

Example: This year, Jen will read War and Peace. It will be hard, but she’s determined to do it.

• The construction 'will surely ' is used to mean that it can be definitely said that someone will perform a certain action in the future.
• In this sentence, the speaker is certain that his or her grandmother will be knitting him or her a sweater in the future (since winter is coming).

The correct form of the given sentence should be: Yesterday, the Indian government issued a statement urging the public to cooperate in this enquiry.

The verb form urges does not make sense in this position of the sentence. It requires the -ing form of the word.

Therefore, the error is in option 2.

The correct answer is option 3. 

Here, the subject of the latter part of the sentence is the pronoun 'she', which is a singular subject. Thus, the verb following the subject must be in accordance with the subject proceeding it. 

Therefore, the verb must change its form from 'were' (plural) to 'was' (singular).

The correct version of the sentence will be: One of her most brilliant novels was written when she was working as a waitress at a local restaurant.

The correct answer is 'comprehend' and 'inveterate'. 

Key Points

Here are the meanings of all the given words:

• Control - to order, limit, or rule something, or someone's actions or behavior.

• Fugitive - a person who has escaped from captivity or is in hiding.

• Comprehend - grasp mentally or understand.

• Inveterate - firmly established by long persistence.

• Familiarise - give (someone) knowledge or understanding of something.

Perilous - full of danger or risk.

• Subsume -include or absorb (something) in something else.

• Notorious- famous or well-known, typically for some bad quality or deed.

• Conform- comply with rules, standards, or laws.

• Resurgent - something that is becoming stronger after a period when it has been weak.

• From the given parts of the sentences, we can see that the first blanks require a word that means 'understand'. In the first sentence, the speaker cannot understand the other person's hostility to the speaker's brother while in the second sentence, Ravi's friends cannot understand Ravi's transformation from someone who doesn't drink alcohol to an alcoholic.

• The word that fits both these contexts is 'comprehend'.

• 'Inveterate' is an adjective used to refer to something that has become firmly established because it has existed for a long time. For example, a person can be an inveterate liar, because they have often been known to lie. It can also be used to describe a noun such as 'hostility' in the first sentence to mean that this hostility has existed for a long time.

• Therefore, only the set of words in option 2 fit the context of both sentences. Hence, option 2 is correct.

The correct words to fill the blanks in the given sentences are 'moderate' and 'beneficial'. 

Here are the meanings of all the given words:

• Inferior- not good, or not as good as someone or something else.

• Permanent - lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely.

• Abated - made or became less in amount, intensity or degree.

• Prevalent - widespread in a particular area or at a particular time.

• Crucial - decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of something.

• Considerable- notably large in size, amount, or extent.

• Secular- not connected with religious or spiritual matters.

• Allowance - a sum of money paid regularly to a person to meet needs or expenses.

• Moderate- average in amount, intensity, quality, or degree.

• Beneficial - resulting in good; favorable or advantageous.

 

We can see from the first sentence that the first blank must be a word that contrasts with 'too much' in the second clause. This is because of the usage of 'while' to contrast the two clauses. Similarly, the second blank must also contrast with the word 'exhaust'.

While 'inferior' might seem like the correct answer, the word is used to describe the quality not the quantity of something. The word 'amount' in sentence 1 shows that 'inferior' must be incorrect.

Only the set of words in option 5 help fit this context. 

To double-check, let's place these words in the blanks of sentence 2.

We see that when we place these words in sentence 2, they also make the sentence meaningfully complete. The resulting sentence conveys that even an average amount of exercise, when done regularly, can help keep the human body fit.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 5.

The correct answer is 'exaggerate' and 'cautiously'. 

Key Points

Here are the meanings of all the given words:

• Assuage - to make unpleasant feelings less strong

• Thoroughly - in a detailed and careful way

• Captivate - attract and hold the interest and attention of someone

• Scarcely - barely; hardly; not quite

• Exaggerate - to make something seem larger, more important, or better than it really is

• Cautiously - in a way that deliberately avoids potential problems or dangers

• Pristine - in its original condition; unspoiled

• Fatuously - in a way that is stupid, not correct, or not carefully thought about

• Subvert - undermine the power and authority of an established system

• Delightedly - in a way that shows that you are very pleased

• We can see from the first parts of the given sentences that the blank will be used to describe something is being overvalued. Hence, the word 'exaggerate'.

• This is why the second parts of both sentences indicate a sense of risk, caution, and hesitation. Hence, the adverb cautiously.

• Only the set of words in option 3 fit the context of both sentences. Therefore, option 3 is correct.

The correct answer is 'exuberant' and 'gloomy'. 

Key Points

Here are the meanings of all the given words:

• Euphoric - feeling intense excitement and happiness.

• Jubilant - expressing great happiness and triumph.

• Brilliant - very bright, extremely intelligent, or skilled

• Auspicious - conducive to success or favourable

• Deranged - mad or insane

• Vivacious - attractively energetic and enthusiastic

• Exuberant - full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness

• Gloomy - causing or feeling depression OR dark or poorly lit, so as to appear depressing

• Melancholic - feeling or expressing sadness

• Subdued - quiet and reflective or depressed

• We can see from the given sentences that there is a contrast in the meanings of the two required words.

• The second sentence indicates that the contrast goes from positive to negative since the speaker is 'concerned' because of the change in Tanya's countenance.

• Only the set of words in option 4 indicates this contrast. Therefore, option 4 is correct.

• The words 'exuberant' and 'gloomy' can be used to describe both a person's mood or personality (as mentioned in sentence 2) as well as art styles such as in the 'pictures in the exhibition' (as mentioned in sentence 1).