English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is 'Option 3'.

 

Key Points

• Option 1: Enhancing regional unity
• This cannot be inferred. The passage shows that English created divisions rather than unity, especially by marginalizing indigenous languages and fostering communal contestation.
• Option 2: Facilitating oral traditions
• This cannot be inferred. The passage states that codification under colonial rule stripped languages of oral fluidity, so English did not facilitate oral traditions.
• Option 3: Legitimizing colonial ideology and control
• This can be inferred. The passage emphasizes that English was elevated as a symbol of intellectual legitimacy, social mobility, and governance, embedding colonial authority and ideology into Indian society.
• Option 4: Promoting Indian languages
• This cannot be inferred. The passage shows the opposite—Indian languages were subordinated, fragmented, and marginalized under colonial rule.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: Incorrect because English created hierarchies and divisions, not unity.
• Option 2: Incorrect because oral traditions were diminished, not facilitated.
• Option 3: Correct because English legitimized colonial ideology, serving as a gatekeeping mechanism for power and opportunity.
• Option 4: Incorrect because Indian languages were marginalized rather than promoted.

The correct answer is 'Option 4'.

 

Key Points

• Option 1: They were widely respected
• This cannot be inferred. The passage shows that indigenous languages were subordinated, not widely respected under colonial rule.
• Option 2: They were seen as equal to English
• This cannot be inferred. English was elevated as the language of legitimacy and governance, while native languages were marginalized.
• Option 3: They were considered culturally rich
• This cannot be inferred. The passage notes that codification stripped languages of nuance, and they were not celebrated for cultural richness by colonial administrators.
• Option 4: They were regarded as inferior or parochial
• This can be inferred. The passage explains that calling indigenous languages “vernaculars” subtly suggested parochialism and inferiority, reinforcing colonial hierarchies.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: Incorrect because indigenous languages were subordinated, not respected.
• Option 2: Incorrect because English was elevated above native languages, not treated equally.
• Option 3: Incorrect because colonial codification diminished cultural richness rather than highlighting it.
• Option 4: Correct because the term “vernaculars” implied inferiority and parochialism, reinforcing colonial control.

The correct answer is 'Option 3'.

 

Key Points

• Option 1: It promoted multilingual education
• This cannot be inferred. The Minute did not promote multilingualism; instead, it elevated English above indigenous languages.
• Option 2: It introduced oral language reforms
• This cannot be inferred. The passage does not mention oral reforms; rather, codification stripped languages of oral fluidity.
• Option 3: It institutionalized English as a tool of cultural dominance
• This can be inferred. The passage highlights Macaulay’s Minute of 1835 as a calculated cultural intervention, designed to create a class of Indians aligned with colonial ideology, thereby institutionalizing English as a medium of control and legitimacy.
• Option 4: It strengthened Sanskrit and Persian education
• This cannot be inferred. The passage explicitly states that Sanskrit and Persian, once prestigious, were marginalized under colonial policies.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: Incorrect because multilingual education was not the aim; English was prioritized.
• Option 2: Incorrect because oral traditions were diminished, not reformed.
• Option 3: Correct because Macaulay’s Minute institutionalized English as a cultural and ideological tool of colonial dominance.
• Option 4: Incorrect because Sanskrit and Persian were marginalized, not strengthened.

The correct answer is 'Option 4'.

 

Key Points

• Option 1: English was discouraged for administration
• This cannot be inferred. The passage clearly states that English was elevated as the official and judicial language, not discouraged.
• Option 2: Persian was elevated over Hindi
• This cannot be inferred. The passage notes that Persian, once prestigious, was marginalized, not elevated.
• Option 3: Codification preserved linguistic purity
• This cannot be inferred. The passage explains that codification stripped languages of oral fluidity and cultural nuance, rather than preserving purity.
• Option 4: Codification ignored oral and cultural nuances
• This can be inferred. The passage highlights the contradiction that while British administrators encouraged codification of Indian languages, this process often ignored their oral traditions and cultural richness, reducing them to rigid forms.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: Incorrect because English was promoted, not discouraged.
• Option 2: Incorrect because Persian was marginalized, not elevated.
• Option 3: Incorrect because codification diminished cultural nuance rather than preserving purity.
• Option 4: Correct because codification ignored oral traditions and cultural subtleties, creating a contradiction in British policy.

The correct answer is 'Option 3'.

 

Key Points

• Option 1: Improved literacy in rural areas
• This cannot be inferred. The passage does not mention rural literacy as a lasting impact of colonial language policy.
• Option 2: Complete linguistic equality post-Independence
• This cannot be inferred. The passage emphasizes that stratification continues, not that equality was achieved.
• Option 3: Lingering stratification in education and opportunity
• This can be inferred. The passage highlights that colonial language hierarchies embedded inequality into education, social mobility, and opportunity, and these legacies still reverberate in post-colonial India.
• Option 4: Decentralized governance
• This cannot be inferred. Governance structures are not discussed as a lasting impact of language policy in the passage.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: Incorrect because rural literacy is not mentioned as an outcome.
• Option 2: Incorrect because linguistic equality was not achieved; stratification persists.
• Option 3: Correct because colonial hierarchies of English vs. native languages continue to shape education, opportunity, and identity in India.
• Option 4: Incorrect because governance decentralization is not discussed in the passage.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: He asked what I was doing.
• Key Conversions:
• "What are you doing?" becomes "what I was doing."
• Present continuous tense "are doing" changes to past continuous tense "was doing" in indirect speech.
• Pronoun "you" changes to "I" to align with the speaker's perspective in indirect speech.
• Question format is retained but becomes a statement in indirect speech.
• Reporting verb:
• Direct: "He said"
• Converted to: "He asked," as it is a question in indirect speech.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Quotation marks are removed in indirect speech.
• The structure of the question changes into a reported statement format.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: "He asked what I was doing."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "He asked what are you doing."
• Incorrect tense: "are doing" should change to "was doing" in indirect speech.
• Option 2: "He asked what I had been doing."
• Incorrect tense: "had been doing" implies past perfect continuous, which changes the meaning.
• Option 3: "He asked what was I doing."
• Incorrect structure: In indirect speech, the question format changes to a statement format.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: She advised that he should not be disturbed during the meeting.
• Key Conversions:
• "Let him not be disturbed" becomes "that he should not be disturbed"
• The imperative "Let" is converted to an indirect statement using "that" and "should."
• The pronoun "him" remains unchanged as it refers to the same person.
• Reporting verb:
• Direct: "She said"
• Converted to: "She advised" to better reflect the suggestion or instruction in the context.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Indirect speech does not use quotation marks.
• The indirect sentence is structured as a statement, following correct grammar and punctuation rules.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "She advised that he should not be disturbed during the meeting."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "She asked not to disturb him during the meeting."
• This changes the tone to a request, which is not implied in the original sentence.
• Option 3: "She said that let him not be disturbed."
• This option is grammatically incorrect because "let" is not properly integrated into indirect speech.
• Option 4: "She ordered no one disturb him."
• This changes the tone to an order, which is not reflected in the original sentence.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: The professor said that had he known earlier, he would have made the necessary arrangements.
• Key Conversions:
• "had he known earlier" becomes "Had I known earlier"
• Pronoun "he" is changed to "I" to match direct speech.
• The verb "had known" remains unchanged since it reflects the past perfect tense.
• "he would have made the necessary arrangements" becomes "I would have made the necessary arrangements"
• Pronoun "he" changes to "I" for direct speech.
• The modal verb "would have" remains unchanged to retain the conditional tone.
• Reporting verb:
• Indirect: "The professor said"
• Converted to: "said the professor," maintaining the reporting structure.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks.
• Starts with a capital letter "Had" 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: "“Had I known earlier, I would have made the necessary arrangements,” said the professor."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "If I knew earlier, I would have made the necessary arrangements," said the professor.
• Incorrect verb tense: "knew" should be replaced with "had known" to reflect past perfect tense.
• Option 3: "If I would have known earlier, I would make arrangements," the professor said.
• Incorrect tense: "would have known" is inappropriate in the conditional clause; "had known" is correct.
• Incorrect sentence structure: "I would make arrangements" should be "I would have made the necessary arrangements."
• Option 4: "Had I knew earlier, I would arrange things," said the professor.
• Incorrect verb form: "knew" should be "had known" for past perfect tense.
• Incorrect phrasing: "I would arrange things" should be "I would have made the necessary arrangements."

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

• The paragraph begins with a statement about ocean acidification, its cause, and consequences.
• Sentence 1 is the first sentence as it introduces the topic of ocean acidification and its cause:
• "Ocean acidification is a consequence of increased CO2 emissions."
• Sentence 3 follows as it elaborates on coral reefs being particularly vulnerable:
• "Coral reefs are particularly vulnerable to acidification."
• Sentence 2 is the third sentence as it highlights the broader impact on marine biodiversity:
• "This leads to a decline in marine biodiversity."
• Sentence 4 is the fourth sentence as it calls for action to mitigate the damage:
• "Urgent action is required to reduce emissions and mitigate damage."
• The correct sequence is 1-3-2-4.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"Ocean acidification is a consequence of increased CO2 emissions. Coral reefs are particularly vulnerable to acidification. This leads to a decline in marine biodiversity. Urgent action is required to reduce emissions and mitigate damage."

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

• The paragraph discusses emotional intelligence and its importance, so the sentences need to be arranged in a logical manner.
• Sentence 2 comes first as it introduces the concept of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and distinguishes it from IQ:
• "Emotional intelligence (EQ) is distinct from IQ."
• Sentence 3 follows as it explains the first component of emotional intelligence—understanding and managing one’s own emotions:
• "It involves understanding and managing one’s own emotions."
• Sentence 4 is the third sentence because it adds to the explanation of EQ by mentioning perceiving and influencing others' emotions:
• "It also includes perceiving and influencing others' emotions."
• Sentence 1 concludes as it emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership:
• "Therefore, emotional intelligence is highly valued in leadership."
• The correct sequence is 2-3-4-1.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"Emotional intelligence (EQ) is distinct from IQ. It involves understanding and managing one’s own emotions. It also includes perceiving and influencing others' emotions. Therefore, emotional intelligence is highly valued in leadership."

The correct answer is 'Option 3' i.e. 'Convincing'.

Key Points

• The word "Cogent" means clear, logical, and convincing in argument or reasoning. (तार्किक और प्रभावशाली)
• Example: She presented a cogent argument that impressed all the judges.
• "Convincing" refers to something that is capable of making someone believe that something is true or real. (विश्वसनीय / प्रभावशाली)
• Example: His explanation was so convincing that everyone agreed with him.
• Hence, we can infer that 'cogent' is synonymous with 'convincing'.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

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

• Weak (कमज़ोर): Lacking strength, power, or effectiveness.
• Dubious (संदिग्ध): Not to be relied upon; questionable or doubtful.
• Unclear (अस्पष्ट): Not easy to see, understand, or interpret.

The correct answer is 'Option 3' i.e. 'Vigor'.

Key Points

• The word "Lassitude" means a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy. (थकान / शिथिलता)
• Example: After working all day in the heat, he felt a deep sense of lassitude.
• "Vigor" refers to physical strength, energy, and enthusiasm. (ऊर्जा / जोश)
• Example: She completed the marathon with great vigor and determination.
• Since 'vigor' expresses energy and strength, it is the opposite of 'lassitude', which means tiredness.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

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

• Exhaustion (अत्यधिक थकान): Extreme tiredness or fatigue.
• Apathy (उदासीनता): Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
• Lethargy (सुस्ती): A state of sluggishness and lack of energy

The correct answer is 'Option 1' i.e. 'Achieved distinction or fame'.

Key Points

• The idiom "Won his laurels" means to gain honor, recognition, or fame through achievement. (यश या सम्मान प्राप्त करना)
• Example: The young scientist won his laurels after discovering a new vaccine.
• "Achieved distinction or fame" refers to earning respect and recognition due to success or excellence. (प्रतिष्ठा या प्रसिद्धि प्राप्त करना)
• Example: She achieved distinction or fame through her outstanding performance in the competition.
• Thus, 'won his laurels' clearly indicates gaining fame or honor through merit.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Achieved distinction or fame.

Additional Information

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

• Lost everything (सब कुछ खो देना): To lose all possessions, status, or success.
• Changed his opinion (अपना विचार बदलना): To alter one's viewpoint or belief.
• Saved money (पैसा बचाना): To keep money instead of spending it.

The correct answer is 'Option 1'-  'Reached adulthood legally or socially'.

Key Points

• The idiom Came of age means to reach the age when a person is legally recognized as an adult or becomes mature. (बालिग होना)
• Example: He came of age and was finally allowed to vote in the elections.
• Reached adulthood legally or socially refers to attaining the age of maturity recognized by law or society. (कानूनी या सामाजिक रूप से वयस्क होना)
• Example: She reached adulthood legally or socially at eighteen and started working independently.
• Thus the idiom clearly expresses attaining maturity or adulthood.

Therefore the correct answer is Option 1.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentence.

• Understood morality for the first time (नैतिकता को पहली बार समझना)
• Example: He understood morality for the first time after facing consequences.
• Abandoned earlier beliefs (पहले के विचार छोड़ देना)
• Example: She abandoned earlier beliefs after learning new facts.
• Inherited property (संपत्ति प्राप्त करना)
• Example: He inherited property from his grandfather.

The correct answer is 'Option 1' i.e. 'Sanguine'.

Key Points

• The word Sanguine means cheerfully optimistic or positive especially in a difficult situation. (आशावादी)
• Example: Despite the financial crisis he remained sanguine about the future.
• Sanguine also refers to having confidence and hopefulness even when circumstances are tough. (उत्साही और सकारात्मक)
• Example: She was sanguine about clearing the exam even after failing once.
• Hence Sanguine is the correctly spelled word that matches the given meaning

Therefore the correct answer is Option 1.

Additional Information

• Sangwine This is an incorrect spelling of sanguine
• Sanguin This is an incomplete and incorrect spelling
• Sangueenm This is a completely incorrect spelling with no meaning

The correct answer is 'Option 1' i.e. 'Cacophony'.

Key Points

• The term Cacophony means a harsh mixture of loud and unpleasant sounds. (कर्कश और भ्रमित करने वाली आवाजों का मिश्रण)
• Example: The street was filled with the cacophony of honking horns and shouting vendors.
• Cacophony specifically refers to a confused and jarring noise rather than a single loud sound. (कर्कश शोर)
• Example: The classroom turned into a cacophony when the teacher left.
• Thus cacophony is the most accurate one word substitution for a loud and confused noise.

Therefore the correct answer is Option 1.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meaning.

• Soliloquy (एकांत भाषण): A speech delivered by a character alone on stage expressing inner thoughts.
• Racket (शोर): A loud unpleasant noise but not necessarily confused or mixed.
• Roar (गरज): A deep loud sound such as that of a lion or thunder.

The correct answer is 'Option 1' i.e. 'Bard'.

Key Points

• The word Bard refers to a poet especially one who composes traditional or epic poems. (कवि विशेषकर पारंपरिक कवि)
• Example: The village bard recited heroic tales of ancient warriors.
• Bard is often used for poets who narrate legends and cultural stories in verse form. (गाथा गायक कवि)
• Example: He was known as a bard who preserved history through poetry.
• Thus bard is the correct one word substitute for a person who writes traditional poem.

Therefore the correct answer is Option 1.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meaning.

• Lyricist (गीतकार): A person who writes the words of songs.
• Dramatist (नाटककार): A writer of plays or dramas.
• Essayist (निबंधकार): A person who writes essays.

The correct answer is 'Option 3' i.e. 'taken up'.

Key Points

• The phrasal verb Taken up means to start or resume an activity or investigation. (शुरू करना या फिर से आरंभ करना)
• Example: The case was taken up again after fresh complaints were filed.
• In the sentence new evidence suggests that the investigation was started again or resumed.
• Hence taken up fits correctly in the blank according to meaning and grammar.

Therefore the correct answer is taken up

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings

• Called off (रद्द करना): To cancel something.
• Picked up (उठाना या सुधार होना): To collect or improve but not suitable in this context.
• Revived up This is grammatically incorrect the correct phrase is revived.

The correct answer is 'Option 2' i.e. 'on'.

Key Point

• The verb Insist is followed by the preposition on when it is used before a gerund verb form. (जोर देना)
• Example: She insisted on checking the data twice.
• In the given sentence conducting is a gerund verb form so the correct preposition is on.
• Example: He insisted on completing the experiment before leaving.
• Hence on is grammatically and contextually correct.

Therefore the correct answer is 'Option 2'

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings

• With (के साथ): Not used with insist in this structure.
• To (को): Grammatically incorrect with insist in this sentence.
• About (के बारे में): Not appropriate with insist before a gerund.

The correct answer is 'Option 4' i.e. '(4)'.

Key Points

• The phrase with neat handwriting is incorrect in this context. Handwriting refers to the style of writing and cannot logically apply to typing or submitting assignments in general.
• Correction: It should be replaced with in neat handwriting if referring to written work. (साफ लिखावट में)
• The correct preposition used with handwriting is in not with.
• Example: Please write the answers in neat handwriting.
• Hence the error lies in part 4.

Therefore the correct answer is Option 4.

Additional Information

• Part 1 is grammatically correct as passive voice is properly used.
• Part 2 is correct as the infinitive structure to complete is proper.
• Part 3 is correct and maintains parallel structure with to complete.