English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is: Confusion.

Key Points

• The word "Obfuscation" means the action of making something obscure, unclear, or difficult to understand. (जटिलता या अस्पष्टता पैदा करना)
• Example: The lawyer’s deliberate obfuscation of the facts confused the jury.
• "Confusion" refers to a state of being bewildered or unclear in one’s mind about something. (भ्रम)
• Example: The obfuscation caused confusion among the audience, who couldn’t follow the speaker’s argument.
• Hence, the closest synonym for 'obfuscation' is 'confusion'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Confusion.

Additional Information

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

• Explanation (व्याख्या): A detailed description or clarification of something.
• Example: The teacher’s explanation of the concept helped the students understand the topic better.
• Clarity (स्पष्टता): The quality of being clear and easy to understand.
• Example: The clarity of her speech made the complex topic easy to grasp.
• Transparency (पारदर्शिता): The state of being open, honest, and clear, without hidden agendas.
• Example: The company’s transparency in financial dealings earned the trust of its stakeholders.

The correct answer is: Silent.

Key Points

• The word "Vociferous" means expressing opinions loudly and forcefully; it is associated with noise and being outspoken. (प्रबल और जोरदार)
• Example: The vociferous protests outside the government building drew attention from the media.
• "Silent" refers to being quiet, not making noise, or being free from loud sounds or disturbances. (मौन)
• Example: The library was silent, with only the faint sound of pages turning.
• Hence, we can infer that the opposite of 'Vociferous' is 'Silent'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Silent.

Additional Information

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

• Noisy (शोरगुल): Full of loud sounds or activity.
• Example: The marketplace was noisy, filled with vendors shouting their prices.
• Loud (जोर से): Producing a lot of sound; not quiet.
• Example: She spoke in a loud voice to address the large audience.
• Boisterous (उत्साही और शोरगुल): Rough, noisy, and full of energy.
• Example: The boisterous crowd cheered loudly for their team.

The correct answer is: Option 2 i.e. A sudden success that fails to last.

Key Points

• The idiom "Flash in the pan" means a sudden success or event that initially seems promising but fails to sustain or deliver long-term success. (क्षणिक सफलता जो स्थायी न हो)
• Example: The singer's debut hit was just a flash in the pan, as she failed to produce any more successful songs.
• "Flash in the pan" (क्षणिक चमक) indicates something that sparks attention briefly but fades away quickly without lasting impact.
• Example: The startup gained a lot of attention initially, but it turned out to be a flash in the pan due to poor management.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 2.

Additional Information

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

• Option 1: A bright idea (उज्ज्वल विचार): Refers to an innovative or brilliant thought.
• Example: She came up with a bright idea to solve the company’s financial issues.
• Option 3: A criminal plan (अपराधिक योजना): Refers to a scheme or plot intended for illegal activities.
• Example: The detective uncovered a criminal plan to smuggle goods across the border.
• Option 4: A methodical worker (सुव्यवस्थित कार्यकर्ता): Describes someone who works systematically and in an organized manner.
• Example: He is a methodical worker who always ensures that every detail is perfect.

The correct answer is: Option 2 i.e. "To insult someone contemptuously".

Key Points

• The idiom "To bite one's thumb at someone" means to insult someone in a contemptuous and disrespectful way. (किसी का अपमान करना या तिरस्कारपूर्वक व्यवहार करना)
• Example: In Shakespeare’s play "Romeo and Juliet," Sampson bites his thumb at the Montagues, which is a gesture of insult.
• In English literature and historical context, this gesture was considered highly offensive and provocative during the Elizabethan era.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 2.

Additional Information

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

• Option 1: To mock one’s own pride (अपने गर्व का मजाक बनाना): This phrase suggests someone ridiculing their own sense of pride or self-esteem, but it is not related to the idiom in question.
• Example: He mocked his own pride by laughing at his achievements.
• Option 3: To offer false flattery (झूठी चापलूसी करना): This phrase means praising someone insincerely with ulterior motives.
• Example: She offered false flattery to her boss to get a promotion.
• Option 4: To express internal fear (आंतरिक भय प्रकट करना): This phrase refers to showing one’s hidden fears, but it is unrelated to the idiom.
• Example: Despite his brave face, his trembling hands expressed his internal fear.

The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

The correct spelling for the word meaning 'calm and peaceful' is 'Serene'.

• 'Serene' is an adjective that means calm, peaceful, and untroubled. (शांत और सौम्य)
• For example -
• The serene beauty of the lake made it a popular spot for meditation and relaxation.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Serene'.

Additional Information

Explanation of the other options:

• 1) Serine - Incorrect spelling; also, it refers to an amino acid, not related to the meaning of 'calm and peaceful'.
• 2) Serenne - Incorrect spelling.
• 4) Sereen - Incorrect spelling.

The correct answer is option 2.

Key Points

The correct spelling for the word meaning 'basic or fundamental' is 'Rudimentary'.

• Definition: 'Rudimentary' is an adjective that means involving or limited to basic principles; or in the early stages of development. (मूलभूत)
• For Example -
• He has only a rudimentary knowledge of the subject.

Additional Information

Incorrect spellings and their explanations:

• Rudimentry: This spelling is incorrect as it omits the letter 'a' needed for proper formation.
• Rudementary: Incorrect due to the use of 'e' instead of 'i'.
• Rudamentary: Incorrect due to the use of 'a' instead of 'i'.

The correct answer is: Remission.

Key Points

• The word "Remission" refers to the cancellation of a penalty, debt, or an obligation. It implies forgiveness, reduction, or suspension of punishment. (दंड या ऋण से मुक्ति)
• Example: The court granted a remission of the fine due to the defendant's financial condition.
• Remission is the correct substitute for the given phrase "cancellation of a penalty or debt" as it perfectly aligns with the meaning. (दंड या ऋण को माफ करना)
• Example: The government announced a remission of taxes for small businesses during the economic crisis.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Remission.

Additional Information

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

• Acquittal (दोषमुक्ति): A judgment or verdict that a person is not guilty of the crime they were charged with.
• Example: The defendant's acquittal brought relief to his family.
• Reprieve (स्थगन): A temporary delay in the execution of a punishment, especially a death sentence.
• Example: The prisoner was granted a reprieve just hours before the execution.
• Pardon (क्षमादान): Official forgiveness for an offense or crime, often granted by a head of state or government.
• Example: The president issued a pardon to the activist who had been wrongfully convicted.

The correct answer is: Chicanery.

Key Points

• The word "Chicanery" refers to the use of trickery or deception to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose. (कपट / छल)
• Example: The politician's chicanery was exposed during the investigation into the financial scandal.
• "Trickery" means the practice of deceiving or cheating someone, often involving clever but dishonest tactics. (धोखा)
• Example: The con artist relied on trickery to swindle people out of their money.
• Hence, the word 'Chicanery' perfectly fits the definition of "The use of trickery to achieve a political or financial goal."

Therefore, the correct answer is: Chicanery.

Additional Information

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

• Diplomacy (राजनय): The art of negotiating or managing international relations in a tactful or strategic manner.
• Example: His diplomacy helped resolve the conflict between the two nations peacefully.
• Bribery (घूसखोरी): The act of offering money or favors to influence someone's decisions or actions unlawfully.
• Example: The official was arrested for accepting bribery to pass illegal permits.
• Propaganda (प्रचार): Information, especially biased or misleading, used to promote a political cause or viewpoint.
• Example: During the election, the party used propaganda to influence public opinion.

The correct answer is 'disjunctive'.

 

Key Points

• The passage emphasizes a fractured temporality where the present is neither a continuation of the past nor a stable projection of the future.
• The word should capture rupture, discontinuity, and simultaneity of obsolescence and futurity.
• "Disjunctive" fits perfectly as it denotes a break or lack of continuity, aligning with the schizochronic condition described.
• Other options ("stagnant", "regressive", "sovereign") do not convey the temporal rupture central to the passage.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

 

Complete Passage: Postcolonial infrastructures often inhabit a schizochronic condition—a simultaneity of obsolescence and futurity. Flyovers half-finished, railway stations calcified mid-renovation, and electric grids oscillating between blackout and surplus do not signify simple malfunction. Rather, they manifest a 1. disjunctive temporality in which the present is neither a continuity of the past nor a stable projection of the future. These infrastructures function not as inert utilities but as affective indexes of temporal rupture...

 

Additional Information

• Stagnant: implies stillness or lack of movement, which does not capture the fractured temporality.
• Regressive: suggests backward movement, but the passage emphasizes rupture rather than reversal.
• Sovereign: relates to authority or independence, irrelevant to the temporal condition described.

The correct answer is 'semiotics'.

 

Key Points

• The passage emphasizes that functionality is not the main concern; instead, the focus is on the symbolic meaning of development.
• The word should capture the idea of signs and symbols representing progress, even when infrastructure is non-functional.
• "Semiotics" fits perfectly as it refers to the study of signs and symbols, aligning with roads and metros serving as symbolic gestures of futurity.
• Other options ("collapse", "hesitation", "repair") describe physical states or psychological delay, which do not match the symbolic focus of the passage.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

 

Complete Passage: Here, functionality is beside the point. What matters is the performative 2. semiotics of development: roads that signify mobility even when impassable, metros that symbolize futurity even when immobile.

 

Additional Information

• Collapse: implies breakdown or destruction, which does not fit the symbolic meaning of infrastructure.
• Hesitation: suggests indecision, irrelevant to the symbolic discourse of development.
• Repair: refers to fixing something physically, not to the symbolic or performative aspect highlighted in the passage.

The correct answer is 'materializes'.

 

Key Points

• The passage describes infrastructure as a narrative technology that transforms the nation-state’s promises into physical, spatial form.
• The word must convey the idea of promises becoming tangible or embodied in infrastructure.
• "Materializes" fits perfectly, as it means to turn something abstract (like promises) into concrete, visible reality.
• Other options ("transposes", "articulates", "conceals") do not capture the sense of physical manifestation emphasized in the passage.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

 

Complete Passage: In this schema, infrastructure ceases to be an engineering problem and becomes a narrative technology—a spatial discourse that 3. materializes the nation-state’s promises into sedimented form.

 

Additional Information

• Transposes: means to change position or order, which does not fit the idea of promises becoming tangible.
• Articulates: means to express clearly, but the passage emphasizes physical manifestation, not verbal expression.
• Conceals: means to hide, which is opposite to the intended meaning of making promises visible.

The correct answer is 'expression'.

 

Key Points

• The passage emphasizes that disrepair is not simply decay but a symbolic form of communication.
• The word must convey the idea of infrastructure serving as a visual vocabulary of state temporality.
• "Expression" fits perfectly, as it denotes the outward representation of meaning, aligning with the idea of incompletion as a political idiom.
• Other options ("default", "entropy", "nostalgia") do not capture the sense of symbolic communication emphasized in the passage.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

 

Complete Passage: Their disrepair is not decay but 4. expression : a visual vocabulary of state temporality, in which incompletion is the political idiom of continuity.

 

Additional Information

• Default: implies a failure to act or a preset condition, which does not fit the symbolic resonance of the passage.
• Entropy: refers to disorder or decline, but the passage stresses symbolic meaning rather than physical decay.
• Nostalgia: relates to longing for the past, which is not the intended meaning of incompletion as continuity.

The correct answer is 'kinesis'.

 

Key Points

• The passage concludes by describing a condition where motion exists without direction and progress is simulated through perpetual incompletion.
• The word must convey movement or activity without necessarily implying purpose or completion.
• "Kinesis" fits perfectly, as it denotes motion or movement, aligning with the idea of anticipation without arrival.
• Other options ("inertia", "exhaustion", "permanence") do not capture the sense of purposeless motion central to the passage.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

 

Complete Passage: Thus, the postcolonial built environment articulates not stasis, but 5. kinesis —a condition where motion exists without direction, and progress is simulated through perpetual incompletion.

 

Additional Information

• Inertia: implies resistance to change or motionlessness, opposite to the idea of purposeless movement.
• Exhaustion: suggests depletion or fatigue, which does not align with the theme of simulated progress.
• Permanence: indicates stability or lasting condition, which contradicts the notion of perpetual incompletion.

The correct answer is 'expand on'.

 

Key Points

• The phrasal verb "expand on" means to provide more details or elaborate on a specific topic.
• In the context of the sentence, the professor is asking the student to elaborate on her thesis argument, which aligns with the meaning of "expand on."
• Options 1, 3, and 4 do not fit the context as they do not convey the intended meaning of elaborating or providing additional details.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Complete Sentence: "The professor asked the student to expand on her thesis argument."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "follow up" is incorrect because it means to check on or continue something, which is unrelated to elaborating on an argument.
• Option 3: "point out" is incorrect because it means to indicate or highlight something, not to elaborate on it.
• Option 4: "call for" is incorrect because it means to demand or require something, which does not fit the context.

The correct answer is 'counterweight'.

 

Key Points

• The term "counterweight" refers to something that serves to balance or counteract something else.
• In the context of the sentence, the dissenting views provided a balance or a challenge to the complacency within the group.
• Options 2, 3, and 4 do not fit the context of the sentence:
• Option 2: detriment suggests harm or damage, which does not align with the positive contribution of dissenting views.
• Option 3: digression suggests a departure from the main topic, which is unrelated to the sentence's meaning.
• Option 4: repudiation suggests rejection or denial, which does not fit the context of serving as a balance.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Complete Sentence: "Far from being a liability, his dissenting views often served as a counterweight to complacency within the group."

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: detriment refers to harm or damage, which is not the intended meaning in the context.
• Option 3: digression means a departure from the main subject, which is irrelevant here.
• Option 4: repudiation means rejection or denial, which does not align with the idea of balancing complacency.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The phrase "more preferable" is incorrect because the word "preferable" already implies a comparison.
• Using "more" along with "preferable" results in redundancy and is grammatically incorrect.
• The correct usage should simply be "preferable" without the word "more."
• Thus, the error is located in part 1 of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Sentence: "The report was preferable to the previous version due to its structured layout and clarity of language."

 

Additional Information

• Part 2: "to the previous version" – This part is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.
• Part 3: "due to its structured layout" – This part is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.
• Part 4: "and clarity of language" – This part is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• Passive voice structure: The object of the active voice sentence becomes the subject of the passive voice sentence.
• In the active voice, the sentence is: "They had been making the staff report discrepancies silently."
• To convert to passive voice: Place the object "the staff" at the beginning.
• Change the active verb form "had been making" to "had been made" (past perfect passive).
• Add the preposition "to" followed by the verb "report" and the phrase "discrepancies silently" to complete the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Sentence: "The staff had been made to report discrepancies silently."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "The staff had been made to report discrepancies silently." – This is the correct passive voice conversion of the sentence.
• Option 2: "The staff were made to report discrepancies silently." – Incorrect tense (past simple passive instead of past perfect passive).
• Option 3: "Discrepancies had been reported silently by the staff." – Incorrect meaning (focus shifts to discrepancies instead of the staff being made to report).
• Option 4: "The staff had been made report discrepancies silently." – Grammatically incorrect (missing "to" before "report").

The correct answer is: Option 3 i.e. "The nutritionist prescribed a galloon for boosting metabolism."

Key Points

• The word "galloon" in the highlighted sentence refers to a type of decorative trimming, typically made of metallic thread, used for embellishing cloth (गोल किनारा पट्टी).
• Example: The altar cloth bore a crimson galloon border, adding a touch of elegance to the ceremonial décor.
• In the correct option, "galloon" is being used as a homonym, confusing it with the word "gallon", which refers to a unit of volume, particularly for measuring liquids (गैलन).
• Example: The nutritionist recommended drinking a gallon of water daily for better hydration.
• Hence, the word "galloon" in the correct option is a homonym, mistaken for "gallon," creating a humorous misinterpretation.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 3.

Additional Information

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

• Option 1: "The seamstress embroidered a metallic galloon on the vestment."
• Meaning: Here, "galloon" is correctly used as a decorative trimming (गोल किनारा पट्टी).
• Example: The seamstress skillfully attached the golden galloon to the ceremonial robe.
• Option 2: "The merchant exported galloon rolls to ecclesiastical suppliers."
• Meaning: In this sentence, "galloon" is correctly used as a type of metallic or fabric trimming used in religious or ceremonial cloth (गोल किनारा पट्टी).
• Example: The merchant's business thrived on the export of premium-quality galloon rolls.
• Option 4: "The pall was edged with fine silk galloon."
• Meaning: "Galloon" is appropriately used here to describe the decorative trimming of silk (रेशमी गोल किनारा पट्टी).
• Example: The pall was adorned with an intricate silk galloon, enhancing its beauty.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• Passive voice structure: The object of the active voice sentence becomes the subject of the passive voice sentence.
• In the active voice, the sentence is: "People believed that certain board members had misallocated the funds over several quarters."
• To convert to active voice: Use an impersonal subject like "People" or "They" to perform the action of believing.
• Change the passive verb form "were believed" to the active "believed".
• The clause "that certain board members had misallocated the funds" correctly reflects the action performed by the board members.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "People believed that certain board members had misallocated the funds over several quarters."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "Certain board members believed to misallocate the funds." – Incorrect grammar and meaning.
• Option 3: "It is believed that board members misallocate the funds." – Still passive voice.
• Option 4: "Board members believed that funds were misallocated." – Incorrect meaning.
• Option 5: "Certain board members were believed to have misallocated the funds over several quarters." – This is the original passive voice sentence.

The correct answer is 'has been living in a village since'.

 

Key Points

• The sentence uses the phrase "since 2015" which indicates a continuous action starting from a specific point in the past.
• The correct tense for such sentences is the present perfect continuous tense, as it reflects an ongoing action.
• Option 3 "has been living in a village since" is grammatically correct and appropriately conveys the intended meaning.
• Options 1, 2, and 4 are grammatically incorrect in this context.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Complete Sentence: "My friend has been living in a village since 2015."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "living in a village from" is incorrect as "from" is not used with the present perfect tense.
• Option 2: "is living since" is incorrect as "is living" cannot pair with "since" to describe an action starting in the past.
• Option 4: "has lived in village from" is incorrect because "from" is not the appropriate preposition in this context.