English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is 'adapt to the situation'.

 

Key Points

• The correct preposition to use with the verb "adapt" is "to."
• The phrase "adapt to the situation" means to adjust oneself to the circumstances effectively.
• Option 1 is incorrect because "to the situation" alone does not convey the full meaning without the verb "adapt."
• Option 2 is incorrect as it lacks a preposition and is grammatically incomplete.
• Option 4 is incorrect because "by the situation" conveys a different meaning, implying causation rather than adjustment.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Complete Sentence: "You must adapt to the situation."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "to the situation" is incomplete without the verb "adapt."
• Option 2: "the situation" is grammatically incorrect as it omits the necessary preposition.
• Option 4: "by the situation" is incorrect as it changes the intended meaning of the sentence.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: She said that she had completed the report.
• Key Conversions:
• Direct Speech: "I had completed the report." becomes Indirect Speech: "She said that she had completed the report."
• Tense Change:
• Past perfect tense ("had completed") remains unchanged in indirect speech because it is already in the correct form.
• Pronoun Change:
• The pronoun "I" in direct speech is changed to "she" in indirect speech to match the subject of the reporting verb "she said."
• Reporting Verb:
• The reporting verb "said" remains as it is in indirect speech.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Quotation marks are removed in indirect speech.
• The sentence is introduced with "that" to link the reporting clause and the reported speech.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: She said that she had completed the report.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "She said that she completed the report."
• Incorrect because the past perfect tense ("had completed") is not maintained, which changes the meaning of the sentence.
• Option 2: "She said that she has completed the report."
• Incorrect because the present perfect tense ("has completed") is used, which does not align with the past perfect tense of the direct speech.
• Option 4: "She said she had been completing the report."
• Incorrect because the past perfect continuous tense ("had been completing") changes the meaning of the original sentence, implying an ongoing action rather than a completed action.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: The scientist stated that water boiled at 100 degrees Celsius.
• Key Conversions:
• "water boiled" becomes "Water boils"
• The verb "boiled" is changed to "boils" to express a universal truth, which is always stated in the present tense in direct speech.
• Reporting verb:
• Indirect: "stated"
• Converted to: "the scientist stated," retaining the original reporting verb.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks.
• Starts with a capital letter "Water" and ends with a period ".".
• Reporting clause follows the quoted speech, starting with a lowercase letter after the comma.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius," the scientist stated.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "Water will boil at 100 degrees Celsius," said the scientist.
• Incorrect tense: "will boil" implies a future event, not a universal truth.
• Option 3: "Water had boiled at 100 degrees Celsius," said the scientist.
• Incorrect tense: "had boiled" indicates a past event, not a universal truth.
• Option 4: "Water is boiling at 100 degrees Celsius," said the scientist.
• Incorrect tense: "is boiling" indicates a current ongoing action, not a universal truth.

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points

• The paragraph begins by introducing Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and its core concept of "objects."
• Sentence 2 is the first sentence as it introduces the concept of Object-Oriented Programming:
• "Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm based on the concept of 'objects,' which can contain data and code."
• Sentence 3 follows as it elaborates on the central tenet of OOP, which is the concept of a "class":
• "A central tenet of OOP is the concept of a 'class,' which acts as a blueprint for creating objects."
• Sentence 1 is the third sentence because it explains how a programmer can use classes to specify the structure and behavior of an OOP program:
• "This allows a programmer to specify the structure and behavior of an object-oriented program."
• Sentence 4 is the fourth as it highlights the key advantage of OOP, which is its ability to model real-world entities effectively:
• "The key advantage of this approach is that it models real-world entities, making complex systems easier to manage and debug."
• The correct sequence is 2, 3, 1, 4.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm based on the concept of 'objects,' which can contain data and code. A central tenet of OOP is the concept of a 'class,' which acts as a blueprint for creating objects. This allows a programmer to specify the structure and behavior of an object-oriented program. The key advantage of this approach is that it models real-world entities, making complex systems easier to manage and debug."

The correct answer is '2' i.e. 2, 4, 3, 1.

Key Points

• The sentences need to be rearranged to form a coherent paragraph.
• The paragraph logically starts with sentence 2, introducing the diversity of life and the gradual process of evolution.
• Sentence 4 explains how the process begins, with inherited variation among individuals.
• Sentence 3 discusses the accumulation of favorable traits within a population.
• Finally, sentence 1 concludes with the idea of survival and reproduction being the cornerstone of evolution.

Correct arrangement: 2, 4, 3, 1.

Additional Information

• Key Sentence Analysis:
• Sentence 2: Introduces the diversity of life and the gradual process of evolution.
• Sentence 4: Explains the beginning of the process with inherited variation.
• Sentence 3: Describes the accumulation of favorable traits within a population.
• Sentence 1: Concludes the paragraph with the idea of survival and reproduction as the cornerstone of evolution.

The correct answer is Option 4: Carefree.

Key Points

• The word "Nonchalant" means feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm. (बेपरवाह / उदासीन)
• Example: She gave a nonchalant shrug when asked about the upcoming exam.
• "Carefree" refers to being free from anxiety or worry; relaxed and unconcerned. (निश्चिंत / बेफिक्र)
• Example: The children enjoyed a carefree day at the park without any worries.
• Thus, "carefree" closely matches the meaning of "nonchalant" as both describe a relaxed and unconcerned attitude.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Carefree.

Additional Information

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

• Anxious (चिंतित): Feeling worried, nervous, or uneasy about something.
• Example: He felt anxious before the interview.
• Tense (तनावग्रस्त): Unable to relax because of nervousness or anxiety.
• Example: The atmosphere in the room became tense during the discussion.
• Worried (चिंतित): Feeling troubled or anxious about actual or potential problems.
• Example: She was worried about her exam results.

The correct answer is Option 2 :To keep away or at a safe distance.

Key Points

• The idiom "Keep at bay" means to prevent someone or something from approaching or causing harm; to maintain distance. (दूर रखना / पास न आने देना)
• Example: She used mosquito repellent to keep insects at bay.
• "To keep away or at a safe distance" means to prevent danger or trouble from coming near. (सुरक्षित दूरी पर रखना)
• Example: Regular exercise helps keep diseases at a safe distance.
• Hence, the meaning of "Keep at bay" closely matches "to keep away or at a safe distance."

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

Additional Information

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

• To monitor closely (ध्यानपूर्वक निगरानी करना): To watch or observe carefully.
• Example: The teacher monitored the students closely during the exam.
• To defeat completely (पूरी तरह पराजित करना): To win over someone decisively.
• Example: The team defeated their opponents completely in the final match.
• To take advantage of (फायदा उठाना): To use a situation for personal benefit.
• Example: He took advantage of the opportunity to improve his skills.

The correct answer is Option 3: Pragmatic.

Key Points

• The word "Quixotic" means exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic, or impractical in pursuing noble ideas. (अव्यावहारिक / आदर्शवादी लेकिन अवास्तविक)
• Example: His quixotic plan to eliminate poverty overnight was admirable but unrealistic.
• "Pragmatic" refers to dealing with things realistically and practically rather than theoretically. (व्यावहारिक)
• Example: She took a pragmatic approach to solving the financial crisis.
• Since "quixotic" suggests impractical idealism and "pragmatic" suggests practical realism, they are opposites in meaning.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

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

• Romantic (रोमांटिक / भावुक): Characterized by idealized or emotional views.
• Example: He has a romantic notion of living in the countryside.
• Visionary (दूरदर्शी): Having original and imaginative ideas about the future.
• Example: The visionary leader introduced revolutionary reforms.
• Idealistic (आदर्शवादी): Guided by ideals or high principles, often unrealistic.
• Example: Her idealistic views sometimes clash with reality.

The correct answer is Option 3: Onomatopiea.

Key Points

• The word "Onomatopiea" is incorrectly spelt. The correct spelling is "Onomatopoeia". (ध्वन्यात्मक शब्द)
• Example: Words like "buzz" and "hiss" are examples of onomatopoeia.
• "Onomatopoeia" refers to the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named. (ध्वन्यनुकरण)
• Example: The word "clang" imitates the sound it represents, making it an example of onomatopoeia.
• Hence, "Onomatopiea" is the misspelt word among the given options.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Onomatopiea.

Additional Information

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

• Apothegm (सूक्ति): A short, witty, and instructive saying.
• Example: "Know thyself" is a famous apothegm.
• Esoterica (गूढ़ विषय): Things that are understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge.
• Example: The lecture was filled with philosophical esoterica.
• Sesquipedalian (दीर्घ शब्दों का प्रयोग करने वाला): Given to using long words.
• Example: His sesquipedalian style made the speech difficult to follow.

The correct answer is Option 3: Myocardial.

Key Points

• The adjective "Myocardial" refers to anything relating to the muscular tissue of the heart (myocardium). (हृदय की पेशीय ऊतक से संबंधित)
• Example: The patient was admitted after suffering a myocardial infarction.
• The word is derived from "myo" (muscle) and "cardial" (relating to the heart).
• Hence, "Myocardial" is the correct spelling that accurately describes the muscular tissue of the heart.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Myocardial.

Additional Information

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

• Myocardiac (गलत रूप): Incorrect formation; not the accepted medical adjective.
• Myocordial (गलत वर्तनी): Incorrect spelling; not used in medical terminology.
• Myocardiol (अशुद्ध शब्द): Not a valid medical term.

The correct answer is Option 3: Arson.

Key Points

• The term "Arson" refers to the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property. (आगजनी)
• Example: The accused was arrested on charges of arson after the warehouse was set ablaze.
• It is considered a serious crime because it endangers life and causes heavy property damage.
• Thus, "Arson" precisely matches the given definition.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

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

• Burglary (सेंधमारी): Illegal entry into a building with intent to commit a crime, especially theft.
• Example: The police investigated the burglary at the jewellery shop.
• Vandalism (तोड़फोड़): Deliberate destruction or damage to public or private property.
• Example: The monument was damaged due to vandalism.
• Sabotage (तोड़फोड़ द्वारा नुकसान पहुँचाना): Deliberate action aimed at weakening or damaging something, often secretly.
• Example: The workers were accused of sabotage during the strike.

The correct answer is Option 1: Glossophobia.

Key Points

• The term "Glossophobia" refers to the fear of public speaking. (सार्वजनिक भाषण का भय)
• Example: Due to glossophobia, he avoided giving presentations in front of large audiences.
• The word is derived from the Greek word "glossa" meaning tongue and "phobia" meaning fear.
• Hence, "Glossophobia" correctly describes the fear of speaking in public.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Glossophobia.

Additional Information

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

• Sociophobia (सामाजिक भय): Fear of social interactions or social situations.
• Example: Sociophobia can make attending social gatherings stressful.
• Anthophobia (फूलों का भय): Fear of flowers.
• Example: People with anthophobia may feel anxious around gardens.
• Ergophobia (काम का भय): Fear of work or the workplace.
• Example: Ergophobia can interfere with a person’s professional life.

The correct answer is Option 2: was it.

Key Points

• The sentence begins with "Not until", which is a negative adverbial expression.
• When a sentence starts with a negative expression like "Not until", it requires subject-auxiliary inversion.
• The correct structure becomes: Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb.
• Therefore, "was it accepted" follows the correct inverted structure.

Correct sentence: Not until the data was independently verified was it accepted by the journal.

Additional Information

• Option 1: "it was" – Incorrect because inversion is required after "Not until."
• Option 3: "did it" – Incorrect as the sentence is in passive voice and requires "was," not "did."
• Option 4: "had it" – Incorrect because past perfect is not required in this context.

The correct answer is Option 1: whose

Key Points

• The blank introduces a non-restrictive relative clause giving additional information about "the chairperson".
• The word required must show possession (authority belonging to the chairperson).
• "Whose" is a possessive relative pronoun used for both people and things.
• Thus, the correct structure is: "the chairperson, whose authority was rarely contested,"

Correct sentence: Though the board remained divided on procedural issues, the chairperson, whose authority was rarely contested, pushed the resolution through.

Additional Information

• Option 2: "whom" – Used as an object pronoun, not to show possession.
• Option 3: "who's" – Contraction of "who is" or "who has"; incorrect in possessive context.
• Option 4: "which" – Used for things, not appropriate for referring to a person in this context.

The correct answer is Option 2: until the investigation would be completed.

Key Points

• The error lies in the use of "would be completed" after the conjunction "until".
• After words like "until," "when," "before," "after", we generally use the simple present tense to refer to future time.
• The correct form should be "until the investigation is completed", not "would be completed."
• "Would" is not used in time clauses referring to future events.

Correct sentence: The spokesperson refused to comment until the investigation is completed to avoid jeopardising ongoing proceedings.

Additional Information

• Part (1) – Grammatically correct.
• Part (3) – "Jeopardising" is correctly used as a gerund after "avoid."
• Part (4) – "Ongoing proceedings" is correctly structured.

The correct answer is Option 4: Was the comprehensive zoning plan approved by the council?

Key Points

• The given sentence is in the simple past interrogative form: “Did the council approve…?”
• In passive voice, the object “the comprehensive zoning plan” becomes the subject.
• The auxiliary “did” changes to “was” to maintain the simple past tense in passive form.
• The structure follows: Was + subject + past participle + by + agent?
• The past participle of “approve” is approved.
• Thus, the correct passive form is: “Was the comprehensive zoning plan approved by the council?”

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

Additional Information

• Option 1: Uses present perfect tense (“Has…been approved”), which changes the original tense.
• Option 2: Uses present continuous passive (“is being approved”), which is incorrect.
• Option 3: Uses past continuous passive (“was being approved”), which does not match the simple past form.

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points

• The error lies in part (1): “Were he to have responded promptly.”
• In conditional inversion for hypothetical past situations, the correct structure is “Had he responded promptly”, not “Were he to have responded.”
• “Were he to respond” is used for hypothetical future situations, not for past unreal conditions.
• Since the result clause uses “could have been averted”, the condition must also refer to the past.
• The correct sentence should begin: “Had he responded promptly…”
• Thus, part (1) contains the grammatical error.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

Additional Information

• Part (2): “the crisis could have been” is grammatically correct.
• Part (3): “averted far earlier than it ultimately was” is structurally accurate.
• Part (4): “saving valuable diplomatic capital” correctly functions as a participial phrase.

The correct answer is Option 3: They signed a compact to maintain peace.

Key Points

• The word "compact" in the given sentence means a small, flat case containing a mirror, often used for cosmetics. (छोटा शीशा डिब्बा)
• Example: She quickly checked her face in her compact before entering the hall.
• In Option 3, "compact" means a formal agreement or contract between parties. (समझौता / संधि)
• Example: The two nations signed a compact to strengthen trade relations.
• Both words have the same spelling and pronunciation but different meanings, which makes them homonyms.

Therefore, the correct answer is- They signed a compact to maintain peace.

Additional Information

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

• Option 1: The team formed a compact defensive unit. "Compact" here means closely packed or tightly formed. (सघन / सटा हुआ)
• Option 2: He compacted the soil using a roller. "Compacted" is a verb meaning pressed together firmly. (दबा देना / सघन करना)
• Option 4: The book was written in a compact style. "Compact" here means brief and concise. (संक्षिप्त)

The correct answer is Option 4: Authorities believed the accused had been hiding in the hills.

Key Points

• The given sentence is in passive voice because the subject "The accused" is receiving the action.
• The structure "was believed to have been hiding" uses a perfect continuous infinitive, which indicates that an unnamed agent believed something about the accused's ongoing state in the past.
• To convert it into active voice, we must introduce a logical subject (doer of the action), such as "Authorities", and use the Past Perfect Continuous tense (had been hiding) to match the timeline.
• The correct active form becomes: "Authorities believed the accused had been hiding in the hills."

Correct sentence: Authorities believed the accused had been hiding in the hills before being captured.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

Additional Information

• Option 1: Incorrect because it changes the meaning; it suggests the accused himself believed something.
• Option 2: Incorrect because "had hidden" (Past Perfect) changes the continuous aspect to a completed action.
• Option 3: Incorrect because it remains in an impersonal passive-like structure using "It was believed".

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The passage explores the interdependence of emotions, specifically how one provides the necessary context for the other.
• The author explicitly links these concepts by stating: "the pang of loss finds contour only because we have once cherished the presence of what is now absent."
• In this logic, "presence" (cherishing something) is the source of joy, while "absence" (the loss of that presence) is the source of sorrow.
• The analogy follows a cause-and-effect relationship defined in the text: Joy arises from having (presence), and sorrow arises from no longer having (absence).

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence from Text: "...the pang of loss finds contour only because we have once cherished the presence of what is now absent."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: Freedom – While sorrow can lead to growth, the passage does not define sorrow as freedom; instead, it uses "presence" and "absence" as direct structural counterparts.
• Option 2: Anticipation – The passage discusses the "memory" of experiences (like winter or failure), but doesn't link sorrow specifically to the act of looking forward.
• Option 4: Stagnation – The text actually argues the opposite; it suggests sorrow leads to growth and "refining our capacity," which is the antithesis of stagnation.