English Comprehension PYQs

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

Key Points

• The word "Wane" means to decrease in size, extent, or degree, or to diminish gradually.
• Among the given options, the most appropriate synonym for "Wane" is "Decline."
• Option Analysis:
• Option 1: Grow — Incorrect, as it means to increase or develop, which is opposite to "Wane."
• Option 2: Intensify — Incorrect, as it means to strengthen or make more severe, which does not align with the meaning of "Wane."
• Option 3: Decline — Correct, as it aligns with the meaning of "Wane" (gradual decrease).
• Option 4: Increase — Incorrect, as it is opposite to the meaning of "Wane."

Correct sentence: The synonym of "Wane" is Decline.

Additional Information

• Antonyms of Wane:
• Grow
• Intensify
• Increase
• Other Synonyms of Wane:
• Diminish
• Fade
• Subside

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

Key Points

• The word "vacillate" means to be indecisive or to waver between different opinions or actions.
• Option 1: Decide - This is the opposite of "vacillate" as it implies coming to a firm conclusion or choice.
• Option 2: Waver - This is the correct synonym as it also means to be undecided or to hesitate between choices.
• Option 3: Resolve - This is incorrect as it refers to determination or a firm decision, which is the opposite of vacillating.
• Option 4: Settle - This is also incorrect as it implies making a decision or resolving something, which contrasts with the indecisiveness implied by "vacillate."

Correct sentence: The most appropriate synonym for "vacillate" is waver.

Additional Information

• Synonyms:
• Hesitate
• Fluctuate
• Waver
• Antonyms:
• Decide
• Resolve
• Settle

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

Key Points

• The word "Liaison" refers to a person who helps groups or organizations work together and provides communication between them.
• Correct spelling: Liaison.
• The other options are incorrect spellings of the word:
• Option 2: "Liasion" - Incorrect.
• Option 3: "Leyson" - Incorrect.
• Option 4: "Layson" - Incorrect.

Correct usage: She acted as a liaison between the two departments to ensure smooth communication.

Additional Information

• Tips to remember the spelling:
• The word "Liaison" contains the vowels 'i' and 'a' in sequence.
• It derives from the French word "lier," meaning "to bind."
• Other examples of correct usage:
• The company appointed a liaison to mediate with the government authorities.
• Effective liaison between departments can improve overall productivity.

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

Key Points

• The word Itinerary is correctly spelled and refers to a planned route or journey, typically used to describe travel schedules.
• Options 2, 3, and 4 (Itinary, Itinerery, Itinarey) are incorrect spellings of the word and do not exist in standard English.
• Correct spelling is essential for clear communication and maintaining professionalism, especially in written contexts.

Correct sentence: The correctly spelt word is Itinerary.

Additional Information

• Commonly Misspelled Words:
• Incorrect: Recieve | Correct: Receive
• Incorrect: Seperate | Correct: Separate
• Incorrect: Definately | Correct: Definitely
• Tips to Avoid Spelling Errors:
• Break the word into smaller parts and focus on their sounds.
• Use mnemonic devices, e.g., "I TINERary" to remember "Itinerary."
• Practice frequently with spelling exercises or tools like dictionaries.

The correct answer is '2' i.e. took away her strength or energy .

Key Points

• The idiom "took the wind out of her sails" is used to describe a situation where someone's confidence, energy, or strength is diminished or taken away, usually due to an unexpected event or remark.
• It is often employed metaphorically to illustrate how someone's momentum or enthusiasm is interrupted or deflated.
• In this context, the correct meaning is "took away her strength or energy", as it aligns with the intended use of the idiom.

Correct sentence: The unexpected criticism took the wind out of her sails, leaving her feeling defeated and drained.

Additional Information

• Examples of similar idioms:
• "Knocked the wind out of her": To physically or emotionally leave someone stunned or weakened.
• "Burst her bubble": To shatter someone's illusion or excitement about something.
• Usage in Context:
• The idiom is often used in interpersonal situations, such as when someone receives unexpected bad news or criticism.
• Example: "When her idea was rejected in the meeting, it really took the wind out of her sails."

The correct answer is '2' i.e. To be angry and ready to fight .

Key Points

• The idiom "on the warpath" is commonly used to describe someone who is angry and ready to fight or argue.
• It originates from the historical context of Native American tribes who would prepare for battle by going on a "warpath."
• In modern usage, it figuratively refers to someone being in a state of aggression or conflict, not necessarily related to literal fighting.

Correct sentence: After hearing the unfair decision, she was on the warpath and determined to confront her manager.

Additional Information

• Examples of usage in sentences:
• After discovering the mistake, the customer was on the warpath, demanding a resolution.
• The students were on the warpath when the new policies were announced.
• Incorrect Options Explained:
• Option 1: To be in a peaceful state – This is the opposite of the idiom's meaning.
• Option 3: To be very busy – This does not relate to anger or conflict.
• Option 4: To be on a journey – While the literal meaning of "warpath" involves movement, the idiom does not refer to this.

The correct answer is '2' i.e. He decided to steep the tea for five minutes .

Key Points

• The word "steep" can have multiple meanings depending on the context in which it is used.
• Options 1, 3, and 4 use the word "steep" to describe something very high, sharp, or excessive in degree.
• Option 1: "The road was very steep" refers to a sharp incline or slope.
• Option 3: "The roof of the house was very steep" also refers to a steep angle or slope.
• Option 4: "The price of the new car was too steep" uses "steep" figuratively to mean "excessive" or "too high."
• However, option 2 uses the word "steep" with a completely different meaning. Here, "steep" refers to the process of soaking something (such as tea leaves) in liquid to extract flavor.

Correct sentence: He decided to steep the tea for five minutes.

Additional Information

• Different Meanings of "Steep":
• Literal (Incline): Refers to something sharply sloped, such as a road or roof.
• Figurative (Excessive): Used to describe something that is too high, such as a price.
• Infusion (Soaking): Refers to the process of soaking a substance in liquid, often used in cooking or brewing (as in tea or spices).
• Understanding the context is key to identifying the correct meaning of a word with multiple definitions.

The correct answer is '3' i.e. The boxer threw a right hook .

Key Points

• The highlighted word in the question is "hook," which is a homonym. A homonym is a word that has the same spelling or pronunciation as another word but differs in meaning.
• In the given sentence, "He put the fish on the hook and threw it into the water," the word "hook" refers to a curved or bent tool used for fishing.
• The correct answer, option 3, "The boxer threw a right hook," uses the word "hook" in a different context. Here, "hook" refers to a specific type of punch in boxing.
• The other options do not change the meaning of the word "hook" significantly and are still closely related to the original usage of "hook" as a curved or bent object.

Correct sentence: The boxer threw a right hook.

Additional Information

• Other examples of homonyms:
• Bat: A flying mammal or a piece of equipment used in cricket/baseball.
• Bank: A financial institution or the side of a river.
• Importance of homonyms: Understanding homonyms is essential for effective communication as they can create confusion if the context is unclear.

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

Key Points

• The word trepidation refers to a feeling of fear or apprehension, especially in tense or uncertain situations.
• It accurately describes the emotional state of being anxious or uneasy, often when anticipating an event or outcome.
• The other options do not fit the context of the question:
• Elation: A feeling of great happiness or joy.
• Fury: Intense anger or rage.
• Serenity: A state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.
• Thus, the correct answer is trepidation, as it aligns with the meaning of “a feeling of apprehension in tense situations.”

Correct sentence: A feeling of apprehension in tense situations is referred to as trepidation.

Additional Information

• Synonyms of Trepidation: Anxiety, nervousness, uneasiness, dread.
• Antonyms of Trepidation: Calmness, confidence, composure, serenity.
• Example Sentence: She felt a sense of trepidation as she stepped onto the stage to deliver her first speech.

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

Key Points

• The word "Aesthete" refers to a person who has a deep appreciation or love for fine arts, beauty, and aesthetics.
• "Artist" refers to someone who creates art, such as paintings or sculptures, but it does not necessarily imply a lover of fine arts.
• "Sculptor" is someone who specifically creates sculptures, which is a narrow field within fine arts.
• "Painter" refers to someone who creates paintings and is also a specific type of artist, but it does not define a general lover of fine arts.
• Hence, the most appropriate one-word substitute for "a person who is a lover of fine arts" is "Aesthete."

Correct sentence: A person who is a lover of fine arts is called an Aesthete.

Additional Information

• Aesthetics: A branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of beauty and artistic taste.
• Synonyms for Aesthete: Connoisseur, Art lover, Patron of fine arts.
• Antonym: Philistine - A person who lacks appreciation for art or culture.

The correct answer is '1' i.e. An automated system could have sent the message .

Key Points

• The given sentence is in the passive voice, as the subject ("The message") is receiving the action.
• To convert a sentence from passive to active voice, we identify the agent (doer of the action) and make it the subject of the sentence.
• In this case, the agent performing the action is "an automated system."
• The verb phrase "could have been sent" changes to "could have sent" in the active voice.

Correct sentence: An automated system could have sent the message.

Additional Information

• Active Voice:
• The subject performs the action.
• Example: The cat chased the mouse.
• Passive Voice:
• The subject receives the action.
• Example: The mouse was chased by the cat.
• Conversion Tips:
• Identify the subject (doer) and object (receiver) in the passive sentence.
• Switch their positions to make the doer the subject in the active voice.
• Modify the verb form accordingly (e.g., remove "been" and adjust tense).

The correct answer is '1' i.e. They could not exhibit the painting without restoring it first. .

Key Points

• The given sentence is written in the passive voice.
• To convert the sentence into the active voice, we need to identify the subject performing the action. In this case, the subject performing the action is "They".
• The passive structure is: "The painting could not be exhibited without being restored first."
• The active structure is: "They could not exhibit the painting without restoring it first."

Correct sentence in active form: They could not exhibit the painting without restoring it first.

Additional Information

• Passive Voice:
• Structure: Object + could not + be + past participle + additional details.
• Example: The book could not be read without being translated first.
• Active Voice:
• Structure: Subject + could not + base verb + object + additional details.
• Example: They could not read the book without translating it first.

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

Key Points

• The word “Embarrasment” is spelled incorrectly because it has only one "r" and one "s".
• The correct spelling of the word is “Embarrassment”, which has a double "r" and double "s".
• It is important to use the correct spelling in formal writing or communication.

Correct word: Embarrassment.

Additional Information

• Common Spelling Mistakes:
• Words like “accommodate,” “occasion,” and “occurrence” are often misspelled due to incorrect doubling of letters.
• Always double-check words with double consonants to ensure accuracy.
• Tips to Remember the Correct Spelling:
• Break the word into syllables: em-bar-rass-ment.
• Focus on the double “r” and double “s” in the middle of the word.

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

Key Points

• The word "Incorrigeble" is incorrectly spelled.
• The correct spelling of the word is "Incorrigible".
• Incorrigible is an adjective used to describe a person or their behavior as not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed.

Correct sentence: The correct spelling is Incorrigible, meaning someone who is beyond correction or improvement.

Additional Information

• Aesthetics: Correctly spelled. It refers to the appreciation of beauty or art.
• Irrefutable: Correctly spelled. It means something that cannot be disproven or denied.
• Subtlety: Correctly spelled. It refers to the quality of being subtle or understated.
• Incorrigible: The correct spelling of the misspelled word "Incorrigeble".

The correct answer is '1' i.e. The professor said that the students who had been absent the day before would have to submit their assignments by the next day, or they would be penalized.

Key Points

• The given sentence is in direct speech, and the task is to convert it into indirect speech.
• When converting direct speech to indirect speech:
• The reporting verb “said” remains unchanged as there is no request or command.
• Time expressions such as “yesterday” change to “the day before”, and “tomorrow” changes to “the next day.”
• The tense of the reported speech shifts one step back in time. For example:
• “will” changes to “would.”
• “had been” remains unchanged as it is already in the past perfect tense.
• Therefore, the correct option must reflect these changes accurately.

Correct sentence: The professor said that the students who had been absent the day before would have to submit their assignments by the next day, or they would be penalized.

Additional Information

• Changes in Time Expressions:
• Direct Speech: yesterday → Indirect Speech: the day before
• Direct Speech: tomorrow → Indirect Speech: the next day
• Changes in Tenses:
• Direct Speech: will → Indirect Speech: would
• Direct Speech: present/past tense → Indirect Speech: past/past perfect tense

The correct answer is '3' i.e. He told me that he had been trying to call me, but his phone's battery had died, so he had been looking for a public phone since then .

Key Points

• The given sentence needs to be converted into indirect speech.
• When converting from direct to indirect speech, the following rules are applied:
• The pronouns are adjusted according to the speaker and listener.
• The tense of the verbs is shifted back one step in time if the reporting verb (e.g., "told") is in the past tense.
• In this case:
• Direct speech: "I was trying to call you, but my phone's battery died, so I have been looking for a public phone since then."
• The present perfect tense "have been looking" changes to past perfect "had been looking."
• The past tense "died" changes to past perfect "had died."
• The pronoun "I" changes to "he," and "you" changes to "me" as per the context.

Correct sentence: He told me that he had been trying to call me, but his phone's battery had died, so he had been looking for a public phone since then.

Additional Information

• Changes in tenses in indirect speech:
• Present simple → Past simple
• Present perfect → Past perfect
• Past simple → Past perfect
• Will → Would
• Example:
• Direct: She said, "I am happy."
• Indirect: She said that she was happy.

The correct answer is '1' i.e. "The journalist noted, 'The celebrity is having a very busy schedule this week.'".

Key Points

• The question requires converting the given indirect speech sentence into direct speech.
• The sentence provided in the question is: "The journalist noted that the celebrity was having a very busy schedule that week."
• To convert indirect speech into direct speech, the following points must be considered:
• Identify the reporting verb ("noted" in this case).
• Change the tense of the reported clause. Since the reported speech uses "was having" (past continuous), it must be converted to "is having" (present continuous) in direct speech as per the context (that week → this week).
• Ensure the sentence structure aligns with direct speech rules (add quotation marks and correct pronoun usage).

Correct sentence: The journalist noted, "The celebrity is having a very busy schedule this week."

Additional Information

• Rules for Indirect to Direct Speech Conversion:
• Change the pronouns and time expressions as per the context.
• Adjust the tense according to the reporting verb (present or past tense).
• Enclose the direct speech in quotation marks.
• Examples:
• Indirect: She said that she was reading a book. → Direct: She said, "I am reading a book."
• Indirect: He mentioned that he had completed the project. → Direct: He mentioned, "I have completed the project."

The correct answer is '1' i.e. The presentation had to be listened to with rapt attention by the board members .

Key Points

• The sentence is in the active voice, where the subject "The board members" is performing the action of "listening to the presentation."
• To transform it into passive voice, the object "The presentation" becomes the subject of the sentence.
• The verb "had to listen" changes to its passive form "had to be listened to."
• The agent "by the board members" is included at the end of the sentence to indicate who performed the action.

Correct sentence: The presentation had to be listened to with rapt attention by the board members.

Additional Information

• Rules for Passive Voice Transformation:
• The object of the active voice becomes the subject of the passive voice.
• The main verb is changed to its past participle form, and appropriate helping verbs are added.
• The agent (performer of the action) is introduced using "by," though it is optional in some cases.
• Examples:
• Active: The teacher gave the students homework. → Passive: The students were given homework by the teacher.
• Active: They will complete the project by tomorrow. → Passive: The project will be completed by them by tomorrow.

The correct answer is '3' i.e. It is said that she will make a great leader someday .

Key Points

• The sentence is written in the active voice, and the task is to convert it into passive voice.
• In the given sentence: "People say that she will make a great leader someday," the reporting verb is "say," and the subject performing the action is "People."
• In passive voice, the structure changes to: "It is said that..." to emphasize the statement rather than the doer of the action.
• The correct passive transformation for the statement is: "It is said that she will make a great leader someday."

Correct sentence: It is said that she will make a great leader someday.

Additional Information

• Active Voice: The subject performs the action, e.g., People say that she will make a great leader someday.
• Passive Voice: The object of the active voice becomes the subject of the passive voice, and emphasis is shifted to the action or the object, e.g., It is said that she will make a great leader someday.
• Incorrect Options:
• Option 1: "She is said to make a great leader someday" is incorrect because the tense does not align with the original statement.
• Option 2: "It is said that she will be made a great leader someday" is incorrect as it changes the meaning of the sentence.
• Option 4: "She is said that she is a prodigy" is incorrect as it introduces a new subject and alters the original statement.

The correct answer is '1' i.e. The student asked the librarian, "How can I find a book on medieval history?" .

Key Points

• The given sentence involves a question in direct voice, and the goal is to convert it into an appropriate direct speech format.
• Option 1 correctly follows the rules of direct speech by using the exact words of the speaker and maintaining proper punctuation. The question is enclosed in quotes, and the pronoun "I" remains as it is.
• Option 2 is incorrect because it changes the pronoun "I" to "he," which alters the meaning of the original sentence.
• Option 3 is incorrect because it uses "could" instead of "can," which changes the tense and does not match the original question in the present tense.
• Option 4 is incorrect because it combines "could" and "I," which creates a mismatch between the tense and the pronoun.

Correct sentence: The student asked the librarian, "How can I find a book on medieval history?".

Additional Information

• Rules for Direct Speech:
• Structure: The exact words of the speaker are enclosed in quotation marks (" ").
• Punctuation: A comma separates the reporting clause from the quote, and the first letter inside the quote is capitalized.
• Example: She said, "I am going to the market."
• Rules for Indirect Speech:
• Structure: The sentence is rephrased using conjunctions like "that" or "if," and the pronouns and tenses may change accordingly.
• Example: She said that she was going to the market.