English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is '2' i.e. Peak .

Key Points

• The word APOGEE refers to the highest point or the peak of something.
• Among the given options:
• Start: Refers to the beginning of something.
• Peak: Refers to the highest point or summit, which is synonymous with "apogee."
• Nadir: Refers to the lowest point, which is the opposite of "apogee."
• Base: Refers to the bottom or foundation, which is unrelated to "apogee."
• Thus, the synonym for "APOGEE" is Peak.

Correct sentence: The apogee of her career was when she won the prestigious award, reaching the peak of her success.

Additional Information

• Opposite Words: The opposite of "apogee" is "nadir," which denotes the lowest point.
• Usage in Context: "Apogee" is often used metaphorically to describe the pinnacle of achievement or success.

The correct answer is '2' i.e. To oppose or discourage.

Key Points

• The idiom "Throw cold water on" means to oppose or discourage an idea, plan, or enthusiasm.
• It is generally used in situations where someone is critical of or undermines excitement or positivity about something.

Correct usage example: She threw cold water on his idea of starting a new business by pointing out all the risks involved.

Additional Information

• Idioms:
• Idioms are phrases or expressions that have figurative meanings different from their literal meanings.
• Examples of idioms include "Break the ice," "Burn the midnight oil," and "Hit the nail on the head."
• Context:
• The meaning of an idiom often depends on the context it is used in.
• Understanding idioms can enhance communication and comprehension skills.

The correct answer is '3' i.e. Truthful .

Key Points

• The word Mendacious means dishonest or lying.
• To find the antonym, we need to look for a word that conveys the opposite meaning, i.e., being honest or truthful.
• Among the options, Truthful is the most appropriate antonym as it directly signifies honesty.
• The other options like Dishonest, Fraudulent, and Deceitful are synonyms of Mendacious, not antonyms.

Correct answer: Truthful is the antonym of Mendacious.

Additional Information

• Mendacious: Comes from the Latin word "mendax," meaning lying or deceitful.
• Synonyms: Dishonest, Fraudulent, Deceitful.
• Antonym: Truthful (meaning honest or sincere).

The correct answer is '4' i.e. Obfescate .

Key Points

• The word Obfescate is misspelled. The correct spelling is Obfuscate, which means to make something unclear or difficult to understand.
• The other options, Antediluvian, Infinitesimal, and Persiflage, are correctly spelled.
• This question tests your ability to identify spelling errors in vocabulary.

Correct sentence: The correct spelling is Obfuscate, which refers to making something obscure or unclear..

Additional Information

• Tips for identifying spelling errors:
• Pay attention to common misspellings or letter swaps in complex words.
• Use mnemonic devices to remember tricky spellings, such as “Obfuscate” (think of “obscure”).
• Learning new vocabulary:
• Read regularly to familiarize yourself with uncommon words.
• Use a dictionary to verify the meanings and spellings of unfamiliar terms.

The correct answer is '1' i.e. Photolithography .

Key Points

• The word "Photolithography" is a microchip printing method and is the correct spelling.
• The other options provided are incorrect spellings:
• Option 2: "Photolithographe" is incorrect because of the added "e" at the end.
• Option 3: "Photolitography" is incorrect due to the missing "h" in "litho".
• Option 4: "Potolithography" is incorrect as the "Ph" is misspelled as "Po".

Correct spelling: Photolithography

Additional Information

• Photolithography is a process used in semiconductor manufacturing to transfer patterns onto a substrate using light. It is a crucial step in creating microchips.
• The word comes from "photo" (light) and "lithography" (stone printing), which is derived from Greek words.

The correct answer is '2' i.e. Encomium .

Key Points

• The word Encomium refers to a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly.
• Elegy: A poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead.
• Sermon: A talk on a religious or moral subject, especially one given during a church service.
• Soliloquy: An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself, especially by a character in a play.

Correct sentence: A speech or piece of writing that praises someone highly is called an Encomium.

Additional Information

• Ensure to differentiate among the terms provided in the options to select the most appropriate one-word substitute.
• Understand the context of the question to eliminate incorrect options effectively.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The phrasal verb "give out" can mean to reveal or disclose information, especially something that was intended to be kept secret.
• In the sentence, the journalist refused to reveal the identities or information concerning her sources despite legal threats.
• Therefore, "give out" is the most appropriate choice.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1: give out.

 

Correct Sentence: "The journalist refused to give out her sources despite repeated legal threats."

 

Additional Information

• Give out: To reveal, disclose, or distribute something. ✓
• Give over: To hand something over to someone or to stop doing something; it does not fit the context.
• Give away: To give something to someone freely or unintentionally reveal a secret. Although possible in some contexts, "give out" is the intended expression here.
• Give up: To stop trying, surrender, or relinquish something.

The correct answer is '2' i.e. with.

Key Points

• The preposition with is commonly used after the verb comply to indicate adherence or obedience to rules, regulations, or standards.
• The sentence refers to compliance with the revised code of ethics, so with is the appropriate choice.
• Other options such as to, by, or in are grammatically incorrect in this context.

Correct sentence: The memorandum clarified that employees must comply with the revised code of ethics.

Additional Information

• Usage of prepositions:
• Comply with: To follow rules or adhere to standards. Example: "You must comply with the safety regulations."
• Comply to: Incorrect usage; avoid using "to" after comply.
• Comply by: Rarely used and usually incorrect in this context.
• Comply in: Incorrect usage; "in" does not fit grammatically here.

The correct answer is '1' i.e. opposed .

Key Points

• The sentence discusses how the scientist's hypothesis was not just radical but also completely contrary to the foundational assumptions of her discipline.
• The correct word to fill the blank should mean "completely contrary or in disagreement with."
• Opposed is the most appropriate choice as it correctly conveys the meaning of being "diametrically contrary" or "against."
• Other options like opposing and opposite are not suitable in this context. Averse is incorrect as it refers to a strong dislike or disinclination, which doesn't fit the sentence.

Correct sentence: The scientist's hypothesis was not only radical but also diametrically opposed to the foundational assumptions of her discipline.

Additional Information

• Opposed: Means "completely against or in disagreement with something."
• Opposing: Refers to something that is in opposition, often used in contexts like teams or forces.
• Opposite: Indicates something that is entirely different, often used in physical or conceptual contrasts.
• Averse: Means "having a strong dislike for something," which doesn't fit the context here.

The correct answer is '3' i.e. Part 3 .

Key Points

• The Error: The error lies in the usage of the subjective pronoun 'they' at the end of Part 3.
• Grammatical Rule (Pronoun Case): In English, we use Subjective Pronouns (I, he, she, we, they) when the pronoun is the subject of a verb. We use Objective Pronouns (me, him, her, us, them) when the pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
• Analysis: In the phrase "who report they," the pronoun 'they' is intended to be the subject of the clause that follows ("they were never granted..."). However, the way the sentence is structured, the reporting act requires a conjunction (that) to lead into the next clause, or the pronoun must clearly act as the subject of the subsequent verb.
• Correction: The sentence should read "...auditors who report that they were never granted..." or simply ensure the pronoun 'they' is properly placed as the subject of the passive verb "were granted" in Part 4. The current transition in Part 3 is abrupt and grammatically incomplete.

Additional Information

• Not just... but also: This is a correlative conjunction. The sentence correctly uses this pair to link "from the agencies" and "from the auditors." (Parallelism).
• Concerned: When placed after a noun (agencies concerned), it means "involved" or "relevant." When placed before (concerned agencies), it often means "worried." Both are grammatically correct depending on meaning.
• Subject-Verb Agreement: The main subject "findings" (plural) correctly agrees with the verb "prompted" (past tense).

The correct answer is '2' i.e. to suppress dissent does not only reflect legal opportunism .

Key Points

• The phrase "does not only reflect" is incorrect. The correct phrase should be "not only reflects" to maintain proper grammatical structure and parallelism.
• Using "does not only reflect" introduces unnecessary complexity and breaks the flow of the sentence.
• The corrected portion ensures that the sentence is grammatically accurate and stylistically coherent.

Correct sentence: That certain state governments have invoked archaic laws to suppress dissent not only reflects legal opportunism but also undermines the constitutional ethos that such provisions were meant to uphold.

Additional Information

• Parallelism: When using phrases like "not only... but also," ensure that the structure of the sentence is consistent and grammatically correct.
• Examples:
• Incorrect: He does not only sing, but also dances.
• Correct: He not only sings but also dances.

The correct answer is '1' i.e. A unanimous verdict has been delivered by the jury. .

Key Points

• To change a sentence from active to passive voice, the subject becomes the receiver of the action, and the object becomes the doer.
• The active sentence here is: The jury has delivered a unanimous verdict.
• In passive voice, the object ("a unanimous verdict") comes first, followed by the verb in the passive form. The subject ("the jury") follows, preceded by "by".
• The correct passive construction is: A unanimous verdict has been delivered by the jury.

Correct sentence: A unanimous verdict has been delivered by the jury.

Additional Information

• Active voice: The subject performs the action expressed by the verb.
• Example: The chef prepared the meal.
• Passive voice: The subject receives the action expressed by the verb.
• Example: The meal was prepared by the chef.
• Verb tense in passive voice is formed by using the correct form of "to be" + the past participle of the main verb.

The correct answer is '3' i.e. The rheme swam rapidly into the estuarine current.

Key Points

• The term “rheme” as highlighted in the question refers to linguistic usage, specifically the part of a sentence that provides new information.
• Option 3 presents a homonym of the word “rheme.” Here, “rheme” is used in a completely different context, referring to an aquatic organism (a fictional usage for illustrative purposes).
• This makes Option 3 the correct answer since it demonstrates a homonym—a word spelled the same but with a different meaning.

Correct sentence: The rheme swam rapidly into the estuarine current.

Additional Information

• Homonyms: Words that are spelled the same and may sound the same but have different meanings.
• Examples:
• Bat: Referring to the flying mammal or the equipment used in cricket/baseball.
• Bank: Referring to a financial institution or the side of a river.

The correct answer is '3' i.e. The authorities are alleged to have halted the construction.

Key Points

• The original sentence is in the passive voice, where the subject receives the action.
• To convert it to the active voice, the focus shifts to the performer of the action (i.e., the authorities).
• Among the options provided, Option 3 accurately conveys the meaning of the original sentence in active voice.
• Option 3, "The authorities are alleged to have halted the construction," maintains the context of the allegation and specifies who performed the action.

Additional Information

• Passive Voice Structure: Subject + verb (to be) + past participle + additional information.
• Active Voice Structure: Subject (performer of action) + verb + object + additional information.
• In this case, the authorities are the subject performing the action, making Option 3 the most appropriate active voice transformation.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The passage identifies the primary driver behind the country's technological shift as a specific government program.
• It explicitly states that the transformation was "spearheaded by government initiatives such as Digital India."
• This program is credited with fueling the massive growth in internet penetration, digital payments, and the delivery of online public services.
• While the text mentions other systems like Aadhaar and UPI, these are presented as pivotal components or results that functioned alongside the broader Digital India framework.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence from Text: "Spearheaded by government initiatives such as Digital India, the country has witnessed an unprecedented surge..."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: BharatNet – This is a real-world project for rural broadband, but it is not mentioned by name in the provided passage.
• Option 2: Digital Bharat – This is a similar-sounding term, but the passage specifically uses the name Digital India.
• Option 4: India Connect – This term does not appear in the text as a government initiative.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• The passage identifies Aadhaar as a "pivotal moment" in India's digital transformation journey.
• It specifically describes Aadhaar as a "biometric-based identification system" designed for a particular purpose.
• According to the text, the primary role of this system was that it "enabled secure and streamlined access to various public services."
• This streamlined access is a core part of how the country expanded its digital ecosystem and improved online governance.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence from Text: "A pivotal moment in this journey was the launch of Aadhaar... that enabled secure and streamlined access to various public services."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: Promoted telecom infrastructure – While digital growth relies on infrastructure, the passage does not specifically attribute the promotion of telecom hardware to Aadhaar.
• Option 2: Enabled biometric voting – This is not mentioned in the text; the passage focuses on "public services" generally.
• Option 3: Offered unified payments – The passage attributes "real-time, low-cost transactions" and unified payments to the UPI (Unified Payments Interface), not Aadhaar.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The passage describes various planned initiatives (like Aadhaar and UPI), but highlights one specific event that forced a rapid shift in behavior.
• It explicitly states that "the pandemic acted as an unexpected catalyst" for India's digital transformation.
• Because lockdowns required physical distancing, digital services like telemedicine, online education, and remote work moved from being optional to "essential."
• This event forced both the public and private sectors to quickly "embrace scalable tech solutions," thereby accelerating adoption faster than previously expected.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence from Text: "Significantly, the pandemic acted as an unexpected catalyst. As lockdowns forced physical distancing, citizens turned to digital alternatives..."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: Demonetisation – While this historically impacted digital payments in India, it is not mentioned in this specific passage.
• Option 2: GST Implementation – This is a tax reform that is not discussed in the context of digital acceleration within the provided text.
• Option 4: Global recession – The passage does not link digital adoption to a global economic downturn; it focuses on the health crisis as the driver.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The passage notes that while India's growth is revolutionary, it faces several "obstacles" and "pressing issues."
• It specifically mentions a "persistent digital divide" that exists between urban metros and rural villages regarding connectivity speeds.
• Furthermore, it highlights that the digital age has brought about significant concerns regarding "data privacy, cybersecurity, and misinformation."
• Option 3 correctly combines these two major challenges explicitly stated in the text.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence from Text: "However, the digital journey hasn't been without obstacles. A persistent digital divide remains... Moreover, concerns around data privacy, cybersecurity, and misinformation have emerged as pressing issues..."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: Internet monopoly – The passage does not discuss the market structure of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or monopolies.
• Option 2: Mobile phone production – This is an industrial/manufacturing topic that is not mentioned in the passage.
• Option 4: Excess of investors – The text does not mention international investment levels as a challenge; it focuses on infrastructure and security.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• The passage concludes by looking toward the future of India's digital trajectory.
• It states that the nation is at a "crucial intersection" where specific factors will determine its success.
• The author explicitly identifies these factors as "robust digital policy, inclusive access, and responsible innovation."
• This highlights that bridging the digital divide (inclusive access) and ensuring technology is used ethically (responsible innovation) are the core pillars for future growth.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence from Text: "...where robust digital policy, inclusive access, and responsible innovation will determine the trajectory of its digital future."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: More mobile apps – While apps are part of the ecosystem, the passage emphasizes policy and access rather than just the quantity of applications.
• Option 2: Higher tax rates – The passage does not mention taxation at all.
• Option 3: Stricter censorship laws – The text mentions "misinformation" as a concern, but it points toward "responsible innovation" and policy rather than censorship as the key to the future.

The correct answer is 'of passing the examination'.

 

Key Points

• The phrase "confident of passing" is the correct grammatical construction.
• The preposition "of" is used with "confident" to indicate belief or assurance about achieving something.
• Options 1, 2, and 4 are incorrect as they do not follow the standard grammatical pattern.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Complete Sentence:"I am confident of passing the examination."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "in passing the exam" is incorrect as "confident" is not followed by "in" in standard usage.
• Option 2: "to passing the exam" is incorrect because "to" does not correctly pair with "confident."
• Option 4: "for passing examination" is incorrect; "for" is not the correct preposition to use with "confident."