English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is 'to dispose of'.

 

Key Points

• The phrase "dispose of" is correct when referring to getting rid of or discarding something.
• The incorrect phrase "dispose off" is a common error but is grammatically incorrect.
• Options 2, 3, and 4 do not fit the grammatical structure and meaning in the given context.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Complete Sentence: "As Farooque was migrating to the US, he wanted to dispose of his furniture."

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: "to dispose in" is incorrect because "dispose in" is not a valid phrase in English.
• Option 3: "disposal of" is incorrect because it changes the grammatical structure of the sentence and cannot replace the highlighted part.
• Option 4: "to dispose" is incomplete and does not specify what is being disposed of.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

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: "Someone is cleaning the windows."
• To convert to passive voice: Place the object "the windows" at the beginning of the sentence.
• The verb "is cleaning" in the active voice changes to "are being cleaned" in the passive voice (present continuous passive).
• The subject "someone" is not necessary in the passive voice as it is implied.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "The windows are being cleaned."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "The windows were being cleaned." – Incorrect as it is in the past continuous tense instead of present continuous.
• Option 2: "The windows have been cleaned." – Incorrect as it is in the present perfect tense, not present continuous.
• Option 4: "The windows are cleaned." – Incorrect as it is in the present simple passive, not present continuous.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: The old woman told the children that they should always be kind to animals and that she had been doing so her entire life.
• Key Conversions (Indirect to Direct):
• "told the children" becomes "said to the children"
• When converting back to direct speech, the reporting verb "told" followed by an object ("the children") changes back to "said to."
• "they should" becomes "You should"
• The third-person pronoun "they" reverts to the second-person pronoun "You" since the old woman is addressing the children directly. The modal verb "should" typically remains "should" in direct speech.
• "she had been doing" becomes "I have been doing"
• The Past Perfect Continuous tense ("had been doing") changes back to the Present Perfect Continuous tense ("have been doing") in direct speech.
• "her" becomes "my"
• The third-person possessive pronoun "her" reverts to the first-person "my."

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: The old woman said to the children, "You should always be kind to animals, and I have been doing so my entire life."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "...I have done so my entire life."
• Incorrect because "have done" (Present Perfect) would change to "had done" (Past Perfect) in indirect speech, not the required "had been doing" (Past Perfect Continuous).
• Option 3: "...and I had been doing so my entire life."
• While grammatically possible in some contexts, backshifting usually means the direct speech was in the present perfect continuous. Using past perfect continuous in direct speech here alters the immediacy of her ongoing action.
• Option 4: "...You must always be kind..."
• Incorrect because the modal "must" generally changes to "had to" in indirect speech, whereas "should" remains "should."

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The paragraph paints a cozy picture of a rainy night and the preparation of a warm beverage indoors.
• Sentence Q is the first sentence as it sets the scene by describing the weather conditions outside:
• "A downpour had started raining hard, beating against the windowpanes in steady rhythm."
• Sentence S follows because it acts as a transition, connecting the cold, rainy weather outside to the desire for a comforting drink:
• "It was a fantastic night to have a mug of hot cider."
• Sentence R is the third sentence as it brings the focus indoors to the kitchen, describing the sensory experience of preparing the cider mentioned in S:
• "The kitchen was filled with the scent of cinnamon and cloves, a comforting and warm smell."
• Sentence P is the final sentence as it concludes the short narrative with the logical final action of serving the drink:
• "She poured the hot liquid into her favourite mug."
• The correct sequence is QSRP.

 

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"A downpour had started raining hard, beating against the windowpanes in steady rhythm. It was a fantastic night to have a mug of hot cider. The kitchen was filled with the scent of cinnamon and cloves, a comforting and warm smell. She poured the hot liquid into her favourite mug."

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The paragraph follows a descriptive structure, moving from the broad environment (the sky) to specific sensory details on the ground (the beach and the ocean).
• Sentence R is the first sentence as it establishes the time of day and the overall setting with the sunset:
• "The sun went below the horizon, coloring the sky with orange, pink, and purple colors."
• Sentence Q follows as it introduces the character and his movement within the setting established in R:
• "He walked down the deserted beach, the sand cool against his bare feet."
• Sentence S is the third sentence as it shifts the focus to the auditory and visual details of the water next to the beach where he is walking:
• "The waves gently lapped at the shore, a constant, soothing sound."
• Sentence P is the final sentence as it rounds out the scene by adding the olfactory (smell) dimension to the visual and auditory ones already mentioned:
• "The air was heavy with the reek of seaweed and salt."
• The correct sequence is RQSP.

 

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"The sun went below the horizon, coloring the sky with orange, pink, and purple colors. He walked down the deserted beach, the sand cool against his bare feet. The waves gently lapped at the shore, a constant, soothing sound. The air was heavy with the reek of seaweed and salt."

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The primary error in the sentence lies in a lack of subject-verb agreement within the segment "were discussing the new findings."
• The true subject of the sentence is the singular collective noun "group" (in the phrase "The group of students").
• Interrupting phrases introduced by "along with," "as well as," or "in addition to" do not change the number of the subject. Therefore, the singular subject "group" still requires a singular verb.
• The plural helping verb "were" must be changed to the singular "was."
• Thus, the error is located in the segment were discussing the new findings.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "The group of students, along with the professor, was discussing the new findings in the research lab."

 

Additional Information

• The group of students – This segment is grammatically correct. It establishes the singular subject of the sentence.
• along with the professor – This segment is correct. It acts as an interrupting prepositional phrase that provides extra information but does not affect the verb's conjugation.
• in the research lab. – This segment is grammatically correct. It is a well-formed prepositional phrase functioning as an adverb of place.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The primary error in the sentence lies in the use of the word "fastly."
• "Fastly" is not a valid word in standard English. The word "fast" is an irregular adverb, meaning it functions as both an adjective and an adverb without needing the "-ly" suffix.
• Therefore, the correct adverbial form to describe how she spoke is simply "fast."
• Thus, the error is located in the segment so fastly that.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "She spoke so fast that I could barely understand what she was saying."

 

Additional Information

• She spoke – This segment is grammatically correct. It establishes a clear subject and a past tense verb.
• I could barely understand – This segment is correct. "Barely" is used correctly as an adverb modifying the verb phrase "could understand."
• what she was saying. – This segment is correct. It functions perfectly as a noun clause acting as the direct object of "understand."

The correct answer is 'for'.

 

Key Points

• The phrasal verb "account for" means to consider or include something when calculating or analyzing a situation.
• In the given context, the researchers considered all variables while finalizing the data model.
• The preposition "for" is the correct choice as it is used with "account" to convey the intended meaning.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Complete Sentence: "The researchers accounted for all variables before finalizing the data model."

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: "to" is incorrect because "account to" does not convey the intended meaning in this context.
• Option 3: "with" is incorrect as it does not form a valid phrase with "account."
• Option 4: "on" is incorrect because "account on" is not a standard usage in this context.

The correct answer is 'clarified'.

 

Key Points

• The verb "clarified" is the past tense of the verb "clarify" and is used to describe an action that has already been completed.
• The sentence indicates that the action (clarifying her position) occurred after repeated questioning, which implies a completed action in the past.
• Options 1, 3, and 4 are incorrect in this context because they do not align with the past tense requirement of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Complete Sentence: "She clarified her position on the matter only after repeated questioning by the press."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "reiterates" is incorrect because it is in the present tense, while the sentence requires a past tense verb.
• Option 3: "deflects" is incorrect because it implies avoiding the topic rather than addressing it directly.
• Option 4: "assumes" is incorrect because it does not fit the context of explaining one’s position after being questioned.

The correct answer is: Option 2 i.e. Clear.

Key Points

• The word "Pellucid" refers to something that is completely transparent, clear, or easy to understand. (स्पष्ट)
• Example: The pellucid waters of the lake allowed us to see the fish swimming at the bottom.
• "Clear" means something that is transparent, unambiguous, or free from confusion. (स्पष्ट)
• Example: Her clear instructions helped us complete the task without any mistakes.
• Since both "pellucid" and "clear" describe transparency and clarity, they are synonyms.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 2 i.e. Clear.

---

Additional Information

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

• Vague (अस्पष्ट): Lacking clarity or distinctness; not clearly expressed or perceived.
• Example: The instructions were too vague for us to understand what to do.
• Obscure (अस्पष्ट): Something that is unclear, uncertain, or hard to understand.
• Example: The meaning of the ancient text remains obscure to modern scholars.
• Ambiguous (द्विअर्थी): Open to more than one interpretation; unclear or uncertain in meaning.
• Example: The ambiguous statement caused confusion among the listeners.

The correct answer is: 2) Complaining.

Key Points

• The word "Querulous" means complaining in a petulant or whining manner; it is often used to describe someone who is habitually grumbling or fretful. (शिकायती)
• Example: The querulous tone of his voice made it hard to have a constructive conversation.
• "Complaining" is the correct synonym for "Querulous" as it directly relates to expressing dissatisfaction or annoyance about something. (शिकायत करना)
• Example: She was constantly complaining about the poor service at the restaurant.
• Hence, the word "Querulous" and "Complaining" share the same meaning.

Therefore, the correct answer is: 2) Complaining.

Additional Information

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

• Contented (संतुष्ट): Feeling or showing satisfaction with one's possessions, status, or situation.
• Example: She felt contented after completing her work successfully.
• Cheerful (प्रसन्न): Noticeably happy and optimistic in demeanor.
• Example: His cheerful attitude brightened up everyone's day.
• Pleasant (सुखद): Giving a sense of happy satisfaction or enjoyment.
• Example: It was a pleasant evening with a cool breeze and clear skies.

The correct answer is: Option 3 i.e. Active and socializing.

Key Points

• The idiom "Out and about" means being active and engaging in social or outdoor activities, rather than staying indoors. (सक्रिय और सामाजिक रूप से बाहर रहना)
• Example: After recovering from her illness, she was happy to be out and about again.
• Correct word: Active and socializing (सक्रिय और सामाजिक रूप से सक्रिय रहना)
• Example: He enjoys being out and about, meeting new people and exploring the city.
• Therefore, the correct answer is: Active and socializing.

Additional Information

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

• At home resting (घर पर आराम करना): Refers to staying at home and taking rest, not being active outdoors.
• Example: After a long day at work, she spent the evening at home resting.
• Doing errands (काम-काज करना): Refers to completing small tasks or chores, usually outside the home.
• Example: She spent the morning doing errands like grocery shopping and going to the bank.
• Traveling to distant places (दूरस्थ स्थानों की यात्रा करना): Refers to going on long trips or journeys to faraway locations.
• Example: He loves traveling to distant places and exploring different cultures.

The correct answer is: Option 1 i.e. Active.

Key Points

• The word "Retired" refers to someone who has stopped working, usually after reaching a certain age, or has withdrawn from an active life. (सेवानिवृत्त)
• Example: After working for 40 years, he finally retired and decided to travel the world.
• "Active", on the other hand, means someone who is energetic, engaged, or involved in physical or mental activities. It is the direct opposite of being retired or withdrawn. (सक्रिय)
• Example: Despite being over 70, she remains active by participating in community events and yoga classes.
• Hence, we can conclude that the antonym of "Retired" is "Active".

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 1 i.e. Active.

Additional Information

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

• Idle (निष्क्रिय): Refers to someone who is not working, not active, or doing nothing.
• Example: He spent the entire afternoon idle, just staring out of the window.
• Resting (आराम कर रहा): Refers to someone taking a break or relaxing.
• Example: After a long day of work, she is resting in the living room.
• Inactive (अक्रिय): Refers to someone or something not engaging in any activity or motion.
• Example: The volcano has been inactive for centuries.

The correct answer is: Option 1 i.e. Falsehood.

Key Points

• The word "Veracity" refers to the quality of being truthful, honest, or accurate. (सत्यता)
• Example: The veracity of her statement was confirmed by the evidence she provided.
• The word "Falsehood" is the direct opposite of veracity. It means the state of being untrue or the act of telling lies. (असत्यता)
• Example: The politician's speech was filled with falsehoods, which were later exposed by the media.
• Hence, the most appropriate antonym of "Veracity" is Falsehood.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 1 i.e. Falsehood.

Additional Information

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

• Truth (सत्य): The quality or state of being true; in accordance with fact or reality.
• Example: The witness swore to tell the truth and nothing but the truth in court.
• Accuracy (शुद्धता): The condition or quality of being correct and free from errors.
• Example: The accuracy of his calculations ensured the success of the project.
• Authenticity (प्रामाणिकता): The quality of being genuine or real.
• Example: The museum verified the authenticity of the ancient artifact before displaying it.

The correct answer is: Option 3, i.e. Melodrama.

Key Points

• The word "Melodrama" refers to a style of writing or performance characterized by exaggerated sentimentality, emotional appeal, and dramatic elements. (अतिनाटकीयता)
• Example: The movie's plot was pure melodrama, with characters constantly crying or laughing hysterically.
• The correct word here, "Melodrama", is used to describe works of art (writing, films, plays) that are overly emotional and sensationalized. (अति नाटकीयता के साथ प्रस्तुत)
• Example: The novel was criticized for its melodramatic storyline and predictable ending.
• Hence, we can infer that the correct answer is "Melodrama."

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 3, i.e. Melodrama.

Additional Information

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

• Sentimentalism (भावुकता): Excessive expression of feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia.
• Example: The author’s sentimentalism was evident in her descriptions of the protagonist’s struggles.
• Romanticism (आध्यात्मिकता या रोमांटिकता): A movement in art and literature that emphasizes inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual.
• Example: Romanticism flourished in the 18^th century as a reaction against industrialization.
• Expressionism (अभिव्यक्तिवाद): A style of art, literature, and music that seeks to express the artist's emotional experience rather than depicting reality.
• Example: Expressionism became popular in German art during the early 20^th century.

The correct answer is option 2.

Key Points

The misspelled word is 'millenium'.

• The correct spelling would be 'millennium'.
• The word 'millennium' is a noun which means 'a period of one thousand years'. (सहस्त्राब्दी)
• For Example -
• The new millennium was celebrated with great enthusiasm across the globe.

Therefore, the correct answer would be 'millenium'.

Additional Information

Let's understand the meanings of the other marked words in the sentence - 

• Embarrass - to cause someone to feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed (शर्मिंदा करना)
• Believed - to accept something as true or feel sure of the truth (विश्वास करना)
• Predictions - a statement about what will happen in the future (भविष्यवाणी)

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• Direct Speech: The student said, "I have been reading this book for a month, but I still do not understand the last chapter, which is the most crucial part."
• Key Conversions:
• "have been reading" becomes "had been reading"
• Since the reporting verb "said" is in the past tense, the Present Perfect Continuous tense ("have been reading") changes to the Past Perfect Continuous tense ("had been reading").
• "this book" becomes "that book"
• In indirect speech, words expressing nearness in time or place change to words expressing distance. "This" becomes "that."
• "do not understand" becomes "did not understand"
• The Simple Present tense ("do not understand") changes to the Simple Past tense ("did not understand").
• "which is" becomes "which was"
• Similarly, the Simple Present verb "is" changes to the Simple Past verb "was."
• "I" becomes "he"
• The first-person pronoun "I" changes to the third-person pronoun "he" to match the subject (the student).

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Sentence: The student said that he had been reading that book for a month, but he still did not understand the last chapter, which was the most crucial part.

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: "...he has been reading this book... does not understand... which is..."
• Incorrect because it fails to change the present tenses to past tenses and fails to change "this" to "that."
• Option 3: "...reading this book..."
• Incorrect solely because it retains the word "this" instead of changing it to "that."
• Option 4: "...does not understand the last chapter, which is..."
• Incorrect because while it fixes the first half of the sentence, it fails to backshift the verbs in the second half ("does not understand" and "is" should be in the past tense).

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• Direct Speech: The doctor said, "If you exercise regularly, you will feel better."
• Key Conversions:
• "you" becomes "one"
• In the original sentence, "you" is used as a generic pronoun conveying general medical advice to anyone, rather than a specific individual. In formal indirect speech, when no specific listener is designated, the generic "you" is best replaced by the formal indefinite pronoun "one."
• "exercise" becomes "exercised"
• Since the reporting verb "said" is in the past tense, the Simple Present verb "exercise" must backshift to the Simple Past "exercised."
• "will feel" becomes "would feel"
• Similarly, the future modal "will" backshifts to its past form, "would." (This effectively changes a Type 1 Conditional into a Type 2 Conditional structure in the reported clause).
• Conjunction "that":
• The conjunction "that" is added to connect the reporting clause to the reported clause.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: The doctor said that if one exercised regularly, one would feel better.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "The doctor said that if you exercised regularly, you would feel better."
• Generally considered incorrect in formal MCQ contexts because retaining "you" implies the doctor was speaking directly to the person reporting the speech, which loses the universal, general-advice tone of the original quote.
• Option 2: "The doctor said that if he/she exercised regularly, he/she would feel better."
• Incorrect because using "he/she" is clunky, awkward, and less standard than using the universal "one" for broad, generic statements.
• Option 3: "The doctor said that if one exercises regularly, one will feel better."
• Incorrect because it fails to backshift the verbs ("exercises" and "will") to match the past tense of the reporting verb ("said").

The correct answer is option 1.

Key Points

The misspelled word is 'restuarant'.

• The correct spelling would be 'restaurant'.
• The word 'restaurant' is a noun which means 'a place where people pay to sit and eat meals that are cooked and served on the premises'. (भोजनालय)
• For Example -
• We are planning to visit a new restaurant this weekend.
• That restaurant serves the best Italian food in town.

Therefore, the correct answer would be 'restuarant'.

Additional Information

Let's understand the meanings of the other sentences to confirm the correct option - 

• Option 2: 'That restaurant serves delicious food.' - This sentence is spelled correctly and there are no errors.
• Option 3: 'Is there a restaurant nearby that's open late?' - This sentence is also spelled correctly and has no errors.
• Option 4: 'They own the oldest restaurant in town.' - This sentence is correctly spelled with no mistakes.

The correct answer is '2' i.e. 'All the jury members were divided'.

 

Key Points

• The subject of the sentence, "jury members," is plural. Therefore, the verb must also be in the plural form to maintain subject-verb agreement.
• Option 1: "All the jury member were divided" is incorrect because "member" is singular, which does not match the plural subject "jury members."
• Option 3: "All the jury were divided between their opinions" is incorrect because "jury" is treated as a collective noun, and "between their opinions" is not grammatically accurate in this context.
• Option 4: "All juries have divided in their opinions" is incorrect because "juries" refers to multiple groups of jury, which changes the meaning of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Complete Sentence: "All the jury members were divided in their opinions."

 

Additional Information

• Subject-Verb Agreement: It is essential to match the subject and verb in number. A plural subject requires a plural verb, and a singular subject requires a singular verb.
• Collective Nouns: Words like "jury" can be singular or plural depending on whether they are acting as a single entity or as individuals. In this case, the sentence refers to individual members of the jury, so "members" is used.