English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is 'sites'.

Key Points

• The blank appears after the adjective 'prehistoric' and before a specific place name, the Maeshowe tomb, indicating that the noun should refer to a physical location of historical significance.
• 'Sites' means locations where something (such as a building, town, or monument) is, was, or will be situated, especially those of archaeological importance.
• The phrase 'prehistoric sites' is a standard collocation used to describe places containing remnants of ancient civilisations or structures.
• The other options do not accurately convey the idea of a physical location holding historical remains; they refer to views, attractions, or furniture.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Complete Passage: Located 10 miles off Scotland’s north-eastern coast, the Orkney islands are a treasure trove of history. When I visited one of Orkney’s famous prehistoric sites*, the Maeshowe tomb, my first impression was of an unremarkable green mound* surrounded by a ditch. Despite its appearance, this 5,000-year-old burial place is actually a masterpiece of ancient design and engineering, and a testament to the skill of Orkney’s prehistoric residents. That’s because, for around three weeks either side of the winter solstice (which takes place on 21 or 22 December each year), visitors have the chance to see something truly magical occur here. During this time of year, the narrow passage into the tomb becomes more than just an entrance: it was deliberately designed to align with the setting of the midwinter sun. Just as the last rays start to disappear – which is at around 15:10 at this deepest, darkest time of midwinter – a shaft of light creeps down the passageway, slips across the floor of the tomb and illuminates the back wall like a golden, glowing doorway to another world.

Additional Information

• Sights (दर्शनीय स्थल): Refers to places of interest visited by tourists. While 'prehistoric sights' is understandable, 'sights' is a general term for attractions and does not specifically denote the physical ground where ancient structures lay, unlike 'sites'.
• Scenes (दृश्य): Refers to a view, a sequence of action, or a landscape. It is a visual concept rather than a designation of a specific archaeological location.
• Seats (सीटें): Refers to furniture for sitting or places in a governing body, making it completely out of context for describing a prehistoric tomb.

The correct option is sites because it precisely identifies a location of historic and archaeological significance, which is exactly what the passage describes when referencing the Maeshowe tomb.

The correct answer is 'surrounded'.

Key Points

• The blank requires a past participle to complete the passive construction describing the mound: it is a green mound which is surrounded by a ditch.
• Here, the phrase "surrounded by" means enclosed or encircled by something, which fits the description of the mound having a ditch around it.
• Option 1, "surround", is the base form and would be grammatically incorrect after be in a passive construction unless helped by another verb form.
• Option 2, "surrounding", is a present participle and would suggest an active meaning, not the passive sense required here.
• Option 4, "surrounds", is third-person singular present and would turn the phrase into an active clause, which does not fit the sentence structure.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Complete Passage: Located 10 miles off Scotland’s north-eastern coast, the Orkney islands are a treasure trove of history. When I visited one of Orkney’s famous prehistoric (1) sites, the Maeshowe tomb, my first impression was of an unremarkable green mound (2) surrounded by a ditch. Despite its appearance, this 5,000-year-old (3) burial place is actually a masterpiece of (4) ancient design and engineering, and a testament (5) to the skill of Orkney’s prehistoric residents. That’s because, (6) for around three weeks either side of the winter solstice (which takes (7) place on 21 or 22 December each year), visitors have the chance to see something truly magical (8) occur here. During this time of year, the narrow passage into the (9) tomb becomes more than just an entrance: it was deliberately designed (10) to align with the setting of the midwinter sun. Just as the last rays start to disappear – which is at around 15:10 at this deepest, darkest time of midwinter – a shaft of light creeps down the passageway, slips across the floor of the tomb and illuminates the back wall like a golden, glowing doorway to another world

Additional Information

• "Surround" is a verb meaning to be all around someone or something, but as a base form it cannot directly complete be + past participle construction.
• "Surrounding" is used as an adjective meaning nearby or encircling, yet the sentence requires a passive-ed form after the implied being.
• "Surrounds" is a singular present form and would require a subject performing the action, changing the intended meaning.

The correct answer is 'burial'.

Key Points

• The blank requires an appropriate noun or adjective to modify the noun 'place' to describe the nature of the Maeshowe tomb.
• The term 'burial place' is a common compound noun (or noun-noun collocation) used to refer to a location where bodies are interred, such as a grave or a tomb.
• In the context of the passage, the Maeshowe tomb is specifically identified as a location for interring the dead 5,000 years ago, making 'burial' the most accurate fit.
• Other options like 'burying', 'burry', or 'buried' do not form the standard idiomatic expression used to designate such a site in formal or archaeological English.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Complete Passage: Located 10 miles off Scotland’s north-eastern coast, the Orkney islands are a treasure trove of history. When I visited one of Orkney’s famous prehistoric sites, the Maeshowe tomb, my first impression was of an unremarkable green mound surrounded by a ditch. Despite its appearance, this 5,000-year-old burial place is actually a masterpiece of ancient design and engineering, and a testament to the skill of Orkney’s prehistoric residents. That’s because, for around three weeks either side of the winter solstice (which takes place on 21 or 22 December each year), visitors have the chance to see something truly magical occur here. During this time of year, the narrow passage into the tomb becomes more than just an entrance: it was deliberately designed to align with the setting of the midwinter sun. Just as the last rays start to disappear - which is at around 15:10 at this deepest, darkest time of midwinter - a shaft of light creeps down the passageway, slips across the floor of the tomb and illuminates the back wall like a golden, glowing doorway to another world.

Additional Information

• Burying: This is the present participle or gerund of the verb 'bury'. While it refers to the act, it is not used as a descriptor for the location itself in the phrase 'burying place' as frequently or formally as 'burial place'.
• Burry: This is an adjective meaning full of burrs (prickly seed-cases) or having a rough surface, which is irrelevant to a tomb.
• Buried: This is the past participle. While a place can be buried, the phrase 'buried place' would mean the entire location is underground, whereas 'burial place' defines the function of the site.

The correct answer is 'ancient'.

Key Points

• The blank requires an adjective to describe the design and engineering of a 5,000-year-old structure.
• "Ancient" refers to something belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence, typically used for early civilizations (like those from 5,000 years ago).
• In the context of the Orkney islands and the Maeshowe tomb, which date back to prehistoric times, "ancient" is the most precise and natural collocation to describe its architectural design.
• The passage already mentions "prehistoric" multiple times, making "ancient" the appropriate thematic fit to emphasize the age and sophistication of the tomb.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Complete Passage: Located 10 miles off Scotland’s north-eastern coast, the Orkney islands are a treasure trove of history. When I visited one of Orkney’s famous prehistoric sites (1), the Maeshowe tomb, my first impression was of an unremarkable green mound surrounded (2) by a ditch. Despite its appearance, this 5,000-year-old burial (3) place is actually a masterpiece of ancient (4) design and engineering, and a testament to (5) the skill of Orkney’s prehistoric residents. That’s because, for (6) around three weeks either side of the winter solstice (which takes place (7) on 21 or 22 December each year), visitors have the chance to see something truly magical occur (8) here. During this time of year, the narrow passage into the tomb (9) becomes more than just an entrance: it was deliberately designed to align (10) with the setting of the midwinter sun. Just as the last rays start to disappear - which is at around 15:10 at this deepest, darkest time of midwinter - a shaft of light creeps down the passageway, slips across the floor of the tomb and illuminates the back wall like a golden, glowing doorway to another world.

Additional Information

• Chronological: Refers to the arrangement of events in the order of their occurrence in time. It does not describe the quality of design.
• Historical: Refers to something belonging to the past or the study of history. While the tomb is historical, "ancient" more accurately reflects the extreme age (5,000 years).
• Antiquated: Usually carries a negative connotation meaning old-fashioned, outdated, or no longer useful. It is inappropriate for describing a "masterpiece" of engineering.

The correct answer is 'to'.

Key Points

• The sentence structure requires a preposition that collocations with the noun 'testament' to connect it to the object (the skill of the residents).
• In English, the standard prepositional phrase used is 'a testament to'.
• A 'testament to' something means that it serves as clear evidence or proof of a particular fact, event, or quality.
• In this context, the Maeshowe tomb serves as evidence or proof (a testament) of the advanced skills possessed by Orkney’s prehistoric residents.
• Prepositions like 'at', 'by', or 'on' do not form this idiomatic expression and would be grammatically incorrect in this context.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Complete Passage: Located 10 miles off Scotland’s north-eastern coast, the Orkney islands are a treasure trove of history. When I visited one of Orkney’s famous prehistoric sites, the Maeshowe tomb, my first impression was of an unremarkable green mound surrounded by a ditch. Despite its appearance, this 5,000-year-old burial place is actually a masterpiece of ancient design and engineering, and a testament to the skill of Orkney’s prehistoric residents. That’s because, for around three weeks either side of the winter solstice (which takes place on 21 or 22 December each year), visitors have the chance to see something truly magical occur here. During this time of year, the narrow passage into the tomb becomes more than just an entrance: it was deliberately designed to align with the setting of the midwinter sun. Just as the last rays start to disappear - which is at around 15:10 at this deepest, darkest time of midwinter - a shaft of light creeps down the passageway, slips across the floor of the tomb and illuminates the back wall like a golden, glowing doorway to another world.

Additional Information

• At: Generally used to indicate a specific point in space or time (e.g., at the door, at 5 PM).
• By: Often used to indicate agency in passive voice or proximity (e.g., written by him, by the river).
• On: Used for surfaces or specific days/dates (e.g., on the table, on Monday).

The correct answer is 'for'.

Key Points

• The blank requires a preposition that can express a duration of time or a specific period.
• In English, the preposition 'for' is used to indicate a period of time (e.g., for three weeks, for two years).
• The passage mentions a specific duration: 'around three weeks'. Therefore, 'for' is the grammatically correct choice to show how long the event lasts.
• Using 'for' here connects the timeframe to the occurrence of the winter solstice phenomenon.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Complete Passage: Located 10 miles off Scotland’s north-eastern coast, the Orkney islands are a treasure trove of history. When I visited one of Orkney’s famous prehistoric 1. sites, the Maeshowe tomb, my first impression was of an unremarkable green mound 2. surrounded by a ditch. Despite its appearance, this 5,000-year-old 3. burial place is actually a masterpiece of 4. ancient design and engineering, and a testament 5. to the skill of Orkney’s prehistoric residents. That’s because, 6. for around three weeks either side of the winter solstice (which takes 7. place on 21 or 22 December each year), visitors have the chance to see something truly magical 8. occur here. During this time of year, the narrow passage into the 9. tomb becomes more than just an entrance: it was deliberately designed 10. to align with the setting of the midwinter sun. Just as the last rays start to disappear - which is at around 15:10 at this deepest, darkest time of midwinter - a shaft of light creeps down the passageway, slips across the floor of the tomb and illuminates the back wall like a golden, glowing doorway to another world.

Additional Information

• With: Usually denotes accompaniment or the instrument used for an action; it does not denote a period of time.
• About: Can mean 'approximately', but it is not typically used to introduce a fixed duration of time in this specific structural context (preceding the length of time).
• In: Generally used for specific points in time (months, years, seasons) but not for a span/duration like 'three weeks' in this context.

The correct answer is 'place'.

Key Points

• The blank is part of the fixed phrasal verb expression 'takes place'.
• 'Take place' is a common idiom meaning to happen or to occur, especially regarding an event that is scheduled or happens naturally at a specific time.
• In the context of the passage, the winter solstice is a celestial event that occurs or happens on a specific date (21 or 22 December).
• The other options ("room", "abode", "home") do not form a meaningful or grammatically standard idiomatic expression with the verb 'takes' to describe the occurrence of an event.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Complete Passage: Located 10 miles off Scotland’s north-eastern coast, the Orkney islands are a treasure trove of history. When I visited one of Orkney’s famous prehistoric sites, the Maeshowe tomb, my first impression was of an unremarkable green mound surrounded by a ditch. Despite its appearance, this 5,000-year-old burial place is actually a masterpiece of ancient design and engineering, and a testament to the skill of Orkney’s prehistoric residents. That’s because, for around three weeks either side of the winter solstice (which takes place on 21 or 22 December each year), visitors have the chance to see something truly magical occur here. During this time of year, the narrow passage into the tomb becomes more than just an entrance: it was deliberately designed to align with the setting of the midwinter sun. Just as the last rays start to disappear - which is at around 15:10 at this deepest, darkest time of midwinter - a shaft of light creeps down the passageway, slips across the floor of the tomb and illuminates the back wall like a golden, glowing doorway to another world.

Additional Information

• Room: Space that can be occupied or where something can be done. It does not fit the context of an event occurring.
• Abode: A place of residence; a house or home. It is used to describe where someone lives, not when an event happens.
• Home: The place where one lives permanently. Like 'abode', it refers to a residential location and has no idiomatic connection to the verb 'takes' in this context.

The correct answer is 'occur'.

Key Points

• The blank requires a verb that describes a phenomenon or an event taking place.
• The word "occur" means to happen or take place, especially of an incident or event. In the context of the passage, it refers to the "magical" event of light entering the tomb during the winter solstice.
• The structure "see something... occur" is grammatically sound, where 'occur' acts as a bare infinitive following the verb of perception 'see'.
• Other options like "retire" (to leave one's job or go to bed), "perform" (to carry out a task or act), and "arise" (to emerge or get up) do not fit the context of a natural or astronomical event happening at a specific location.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Complete Passage: Located 10 miles off Scotland’s north-eastern coast, the Orkney islands are a treasure trove of history. When I visited one of Orkney’s famous prehistoric sites, the Maeshowe tomb, my first impression was of an unremarkable green mound surrounded by a ditch. Despite its appearance, this 5,000-year-old burial place is actually a masterpiece of ancient design and engineering, and a testament to the skill of Orkney’s prehistoric residents. That’s because, for around three weeks either side of the winter solstice (which takes place on 21 or 22 December each year), visitors have the chance to see something truly magical occur here. During this time of year, the narrow passage into the tomb becomes more than just an entrance: it was deliberately designed to align with the setting of the midwinter sun. Just as the last rays start to disappear - which is at around 15:10 at this deepest, darkest time of midwinter - a shaft of light creeps down the passageway, slips across the floor of the tomb and illuminates the back wall like a golden, glowing doorway to another world.

Additional Information

• Retire: Means to withdraw to or from a particular place; typically used for sleep or ending a professional career.
• Perform: To execute or carry out an action or piece of work; usually requires a conscious agent (like a person).
• Arise: To come into existence or to stand up. While similar to occur, "occur" is the more standard choice for events happening at a specific time and place.

The correct answer is 'tomb'.

Key Points

• The passage describes a 5,000-year-old prehistoric structure in Orkney known as Maeshowe.
• The word 'tomb' is explicitly mentioned earlier in the passage ("...the Maeshowe tomb...") to identify the structure.
• In the context of the sentence, "the narrow passage into the tomb" refers back to the specific burial structure being discussed.
• A 'tomb' is an enclosure for a corpse cut in stone or a large structure above ground for burial, which fits the description of a prehistoric mound with a passageway.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Complete Passage: Located 10 miles off Scotland’s north-eastern coast, the Orkney islands are a treasure trove of history. When I visited one of Orkney’s famous prehistoric sites, the Maeshowe tomb, my first impression was of an unremarkable green mound surrounded by a ditch. Despite its appearance, this 5,000-year-old burial place is actually a masterpiece of ancient design and engineering, and a testament to the skill of Orkney’s prehistoric residents. That’s because, for around three weeks either side of the winter solstice (which takes place on 21 or 22 December each year), visitors have the chance to see something truly magical occur here. During this time of year, the narrow passage into the tomb becomes more than just an entrance: it was deliberately designed to align with the setting of the midwinter sun. Just as the last rays start to disappear - which is at around 15:10 at this deepest, darkest time of midwinter - a shaft of light creeps down the passageway, slips across the floor of the tomb and illuminates the back wall like a golden, glowing doorway to another world.

Additional Information

• Memorial: A structure established to remind people of a person or event; it does not necessarily contain a body or a passage.
• Graveyard: An area of land (usually near a church) where many people are buried; it refers to the whole grounds, not a single structure with a passage.
• Grave: A hole dug in the ground to receive a corpse; it is generally simpler and smaller than the engineered structure described here.

The correct answer is 'to align'.

Key Points

• The blank requires the correct verb form to complete the purpose of the design mentioned in the sentence.
• The construction 'designed + to-infinitive' is the standard English structure used to express the purpose or intention of an object or action.
• 'To align' correctly expresses that the passage was constructed for the specific purpose of lining up with the midwinter sun.
• The other options like 'aligning', 'align', or 'aligned' do not fit the grammatical requirement of expressing purpose following the passive verb 'was designed'.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Complete Passage: Located 10 miles off Scotland’s north-eastern coast, the Orkney islands are a treasure trove of history. When I visited one of Orkney’s famous prehistoric 1. sites, the Maeshowe tomb, my first impression was of an unremarkable green mound 2. surrounded by a ditch. Despite its appearance, this 5,000-year-old 3. burial place is actually a masterpiece of 4. ancient design and engineering, and a testament 5. to the skill of Orkney’s prehistoric residents. That’s because, 6. for around three weeks either side of the winter solstice (which takes 7. place on 21 or 22 December each year), visitors have the chance to see something truly magical 8. occur here. During this time of year, the narrow passage into the 9. tomb becomes more than just an entrance: it was deliberately designed 10. to align with the setting of the midwinter sun. Just as the last rays start to disappear - which is at around 15:10 at this deepest, darkest time of midwinter - a shaft of light creeps down the passageway, slips across the floor of the tomb and illuminates the back wall like a golden, glowing doorway to another world.

Additional Information

• Aligning: This is the present participle form, typically used in continuous tenses or as a gerund, which does not fit the purpose-oriented structure here.
• Align: This is the base form, which cannot follow the past participle 'designed' without the infinitive marker 'to'.
• Aligned: This is the past participle/past tense form. Using it would create a redundant or grammatically broken structure ('designed aligned').

The correct answer is 'batch'.

Key Points

• The sentence refers to the first aircraft out of a specific group or set of 20 aircraft ordered or produced.
• The noun 'batch' is used to describe a quantity or number of things coming at one time or being dealt with together. In the context of industrial production or procurement (like aircraft), it is the standard collective noun.
• The phrase 'a batch of 20' correctly indicates a defined set or consignment of planes.
• Other options like 'gang', 'team', and 'flock' are inappropriate as they refer to people or animals, not inanimate objects like airplanes.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Complete Passage: Air India showcased its first A350 to the world on Thursday (18 January) at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad as part of the ongoing air show Wings 2024. The first aircraft of a 1. batch of 20 arrived on 23 December 2023 from Toulouse in France and was 2. showcased for the first time on 18 January. Five more 3. such premium passenger aircrafts are scheduled 4. to arrive by March this year. This makes Air India 5. the first Indian carrier to be operating the A350. Commercial operations for the same are scheduled to begin 6. on 22 January later this month. With the induction of the A350, Air India is 7. hoping to overhaul its image and service to the passengers. The A350 comes equipped 8. with a powerful and fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent xwb engine. Once you 9. step inside the aircraft, you can immediately 10. see the three-class cabin configuration: business, premium economy and economy spread across 316 seats.

Additional Information

• Gang: Generally used for a group of criminals or a group of laborers.
• Team: Used for a group of players or people working together for a common goal.
• Flock: Used for a group of birds or sheep.

The correct answer is 'showcased'.

Key Points

• The sentence structure "was + [verb]" indicates that the sentence is in the passive voice.
• In the passive voice, the auxiliary verb 'be' (in this case, 'was') must be followed by the past participle (V3) form of the main verb.
• Among the given options, 'showcased' is the past participle form of the verb 'showcase'.
• The context refers to a past event (18 January) where the aircraft was being presented or displayed to the public.
• Therefore, 'showcased' correctly completes the grammatical structure and the meaning of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Complete Passage: Air India showcased its first A350 to the world on Thursday (18 January) at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad as part of the ongoing air show Wings 2024. The first aircraft of a 1. batch of 20 arrived on 23 December 2023 from Toulouse in France and was 2. showcased for the first time on 18 January. Five more 3. such premium passenger aircrafts are scheduled 4. to arrive by March this year. This makes Air India 5. the first Indian carrier to be operating the A350. Commercial operations for the same are scheduled to begin 6. on 22 January later this month. With the induction of the A350, Air India is 7. hoping to overhaul its image and service to the passengers. The A350 comes equipped 8. with a powerful and fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent xwb engine. Once you 9. step inside the aircraft, you can immediately 10. see the three-class cabin configuration: business, premium economy and economy spread across 316 seats.

Additional Information

• Showcase (V1): The base form of the verb, used for simple present tense or with modal verbs.
• Showcasing (V4): The present participle/gerund form, used for continuous tenses or as a noun.
• Showcases (V1 + s): The third-person singular present tense form.

The correct answer is 'such'.

Key Points

• The sentence refers back to the A350 aircraft mentioned previously in the passage.
• The word "such" is used as a determiner to refer to something of the type or quality already mentioned. In this context, it refers to more aircraft of the same type/model (A350) as the first one.
• The phrase "Five more such premium passenger aircrafts" effectively means "Five more aircraft like the one just described."
• Other options like "as", "same" (which would usually require 'the'), and "so" do not grammatically fit the structure of modifying the noun phrase "premium passenger aircrafts" in this specific way.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Complete Passage: Air India showcased its first A350 to the world on Thursday (18 January) at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad as part of the ongoing air show Wings 2024. The first aircraft of a 1. batch of 20 arrived on 23 December 2023 from Toulouse in France and was 2. showcased for the first time on 18 January. Five more 3. such premium passenger aircrafts are scheduled 4. to arrive by March this year. This makes Air India 5. the first Indian carrier to be operating the A350. Commercial operations for the same are scheduled to begin 6. on 22 January later this month. With the induction of the A350, Air India is 7. hoping to overhaul its image and service to the passengers. The A350 comes equipped 8. with a powerful and fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent xwb engine. Once you 9. step inside the aircraft, you can immediately 10. see the three-class cabin configuration: business, premium economy and economy spread across 316 seats.

Additional Information

• Such (ऐसा/इस प्रकार का): Used to refer back to the kind or degree of something already mentioned.
• Same (वही/समान): Usually preceded by 'the' and followed by a noun, but in this specific construction, 'such' is the standard way to denote similar items in a series.
• As (जैसा): Typically used for comparisons or as a conjunction, it cannot modify the noun aircrafts in this position.
• So (इसलिए/इतना): Often used as an adverb or conjunction, it does not function as a determiner for a noun in this context.

The correct answer is 'to arrive'.

Key Points

• The sentence uses the structure 'be scheduled + to-infinitive' to express a planned future event.
• The verb 'scheduled' is commonly followed by the to-infinitive form (to + base form of the verb) when indicating that something is set to happen at a particular time.
• In this context, the premium passenger aircrafts are planned or set to arrive by March this year.
• Other options like 'arrival' (noun), 'arriving' (present participle), and 'arrived' (past participle) do not grammatically complete the construction 'scheduled + [infinitive]' in this sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Complete Passage: Air India showcased its first A350 to the world on Thursday (18 January) at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad as part of the ongoing air show Wings 2024. The first aircraft of a 1. batch of 20 arrived on 23 December 2023 from Toulouse in France and was 2. showcased for the first time on 18 January. Five more 3. such premium passenger aircrafts are scheduled 4. to arrive by March this year. This makes Air India 5. the first Indian carrier to be operating the A350. Commercial operations for the same are scheduled to begin 6. on 22 January later this month. With the induction of the A350, Air India is 7. hoping to overhaul its image and service to the passengers. The A350 comes equipped 8. with a powerful and fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent xwb engine. Once you 9. step inside the aircraft, you can immediately 10. see the three-class cabin configuration: business, premium economy and economy spread across 316 seats.

Additional Information

• Arrival: This is a noun referring to the act of arriving, which does not fit the verbal slot required after 'scheduled'.
• Arriving: This is a gerund or present participle; while used in continuous tenses, it does not follow 'scheduled' in this passive-like future arrangement structure.
• Arrived: This is the past tense or past participle, which would imply the action has already been completed, contradicting the future timeline of 'March this year'.

The correct answer is 'the'.

Key Points

• The blank requires an appropriate article or determiner to precede the phrase 'first Indian carrier'.
• In English grammar, ordinal numbers (such as first, second, third, etc.) are almost always preceded by the definite article 'the' when they are used as adjectives to identify a specific item in a sequence.
• The phrase 'the first' specifies a unique position that Air India holds in the context of operating the A350 aircraft in India.
• Options like 'a' and 'an' are indefinite articles and are not used with unique ordinal rankings. 'One' is a cardinal number and does not fit the grammatical requirement before the ordinal 'first' in this context.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Complete Passage: Air India showcased its first A350 to the world on Thursday (18 January) at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad as part of the ongoing air show Wings 2024. The first aircraft of a 1. batch of 20 arrived on 23 December 2023 from Toulouse in France and was 2. showcased for the first time on 18 January. Five more 3. such premium passenger aircrafts are scheduled 4. to arrive by March this year. This makes Air India 5. the first Indian carrier to be operating the A350. Commercial operations for the same are scheduled to begin 6. on 22 January later this month. With the induction of the A350, Air India is 7. hoping to overhaul its image and service to the passengers. The A350 comes equipped 8. with a powerful and fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent xwb engine. Once you 9. step inside the aircraft, you can immediately 10. see the three-class cabin configuration: business, premium economy and economy spread across 316 seats.

Additional Information

• A/An: Used for non-specific, singular countable nouns. 'An' is used before vowel sounds.
• The: Used for specific or unique nouns, or when a noun has been mentioned before, and specifically with superlative degrees and ordinals.
• One: A number used to denote a single unit, but it cannot replace the definite article required by the word 'first' in this superlative/ordinal structure.

The correct answer is 'on'.

Key Points

• The sentence refers to a specific date, '22 January', when the commercial operations are scheduled to begin.
• In English grammar, the preposition 'on' is used before specific days and dates (e.g., on Monday, on 22 January, on my birthday).
• The context specifies a precise calendar date for the commencement of flights, making 'on' the grammatically correct choice.
• Other prepositions like 'at' are used for specific times, 'in' is used for months or years, and 'to' indicates direction or destination, none of which fit the requirement for a specific date here.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Complete Passage: Air India showcased its first A350 to the world on Thursday (18 January) at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad as part of the ongoing air show Wings 2024. The first aircraft of a 1. batch of 20 arrived on 23 December 2023 from Toulouse in France and was 2. showcased for the first time on 18 January. Five more 3. such premium passenger aircrafts are scheduled 4. to arrive by March this year. This makes Air India 5. the first Indian carrier to be operating the A350. Commercial operations for the same are scheduled to begin 6. on 22 January later this month. With the induction of the A350, Air India is 7. hoping to overhaul its image and service to the passengers. The A350 comes equipped 8. with a powerful and fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent xwb engine. Once you 9. step inside the aircraft, you can immediately 10. see the three-class cabin configuration: business, premium economy and economy spread across 316 seats.

Additional Information

• At: Used for a point in time (e.g., at 5:00 PM, at midnight).
• In: Used for unspecific times during a day, month, season, or year (e.g., in the morning, in January, in 2024).
• To: Usually indicates movement or a limit (e.g., from Monday to Friday).

The correct answer is 'hoping'.

Key Points

• The sentence discusses Air India's objective or aspiration following the induction of the new A350 aircraft.
• "Hoping" is the present participle of 'hope', which means to want something to happen or be true and have some reason to believe that it will. In this context, the airline wants and expects to improve its brand image and service quality.
• The structure "is hoping to" followed by an infinitive ("to overhaul") correctly expresses a future goal or intention of the organization.
• Other options like "supposing" (assuming), "believing" (accepting as true), or "accepting" (consenting to receive) do not fit the context of striving for a positive change or transformation.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Complete Passage: Air India showcased its first A350 to the world on Thursday (18 January) at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad as part of the ongoing air show Wings 2024. The first aircraft of a 1. batch of 20 arrived on 23 December 2023 from Toulouse in France and was 2. showcased for the first time on 18 January. Five more 3. such premium passenger aircrafts are scheduled 4. to arrive by March this year. This makes Air India 5. the first Indian carrier to be operating the A350. Commercial operations for the same are scheduled to begin 6. on 22 January later this month. With the induction of the A350, Air India is 7. hoping to overhaul its image and service to the passengers. The A350 comes equipped 8. with a powerful and fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent xwb engine. Once you 9. step inside the aircraft, you can immediately 10. see the three-class cabin configuration: business, premium economy and economy spread across 316 seats.

Additional Information

• Overhaul: To examine thoroughly and repair or improve something.
• Induction: The formal act or process of introducing something new into service.
• Believing: Focuses on conviction of truth rather than a desire for a specific future outcome.

The correct answer is 'with'.

Key Points

• The sentence discusses the features of the A350 aircraft, specifically its engine.
• The verb 'equipped' is almost always followed by the preposition 'with' when describing the tools, components, or features provided to a person or thing.
• The phrase 'equipped with' means to be supplied with the necessary items for a particular purpose.
• In this context, the A350 aircraft is supplied/fitted with a Rolls-Royce Trent xwb engine.
• Other prepositions like 'in', 'for', or 'to' do not form the correct phrasal combination with 'equipped' to denote a feature or component.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Complete Passage: Air India showcased its first A350 to the world on Thursday (18 January) at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad as part of the ongoing air show Wings 2024. The first aircraft of a 1. batch of 20 arrived on 23 December 2023 from Toulouse in France and was 2. showcased for the first time on 18 January. Five more 3. such premium passenger aircrafts are scheduled 4. to arrive by March this year. This makes Air India 5. the first Indian carrier to be operating the A350. Commercial operations for the same are scheduled to begin 6. on 22 January later this month. With the induction of the A350, Air India is 7. hoping to overhaul its image and service to the passengers. The A350 comes equipped 8. with a powerful and fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent xwb engine. Once you 9. step inside the aircraft, you can immediately 10. see the three-class cabin configuration: business, premium economy and economy spread across 316 seats.

Additional Information

• Equip for: Usually refers to preparing someone or something for a specific purpose or task (e.g., equipped for the journey).
• Equipped in: This is rarely used, except perhaps when referring to being dressed in a specific type of gear, but 'with' remains the standard preposition for features.

The correct answer is 'step'.

Key Points

• The sentence describes the action of entering the interior of an aircraft to observe its cabin configuration.
• The verb 'step' used with the preposition 'inside' forms a common phrasal movement meaning to enter a physical space or vehicle.
• In this context, 'step inside' is the most natural way to describe a passenger or visitor entering the plane.
• The other options do not fit grammatically or contextually: 'forward' is an adverb/direction, 'skip' implies a jumping motion, and 'advance' is too formal and usually doesn't take 'inside' in this manner.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Complete Passage: Air India showcased its first A350 to the world on Thursday (18 January) at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad as part of the ongoing air show Wings 2024. The first aircraft of a 1. batch of 20 arrived on 23 December 2023 from Toulouse in France and was 2. showcased for the first time on 18 January. Five more 3. such premium passenger aircrafts are scheduled 4. to arrive by March this year. This makes Air India 5. the first Indian carrier to be operating the A350. Commercial operations for the same are scheduled to begin 6. on 22 January later this month. With the induction of the A350, Air India is 7. hoping to overhaul its image and service to the passengers. The A350 comes equipped 8. with a powerful and fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent xwb engine. Once you 9. step inside the aircraft, you can immediately 10. see the three-class cabin configuration: business, premium economy and economy spread across 316 seats.

Additional Information

• Forward: Towards the front or a place ahead; it does not function as the primary verb of movement in this sentence structure.
• Skip: To move along lightly, stepping from one foot to the other with a hop or bounce; inappropriate for entering an aircraft.
• Advance: To move forward in a purposeful way, often used in military or technical contexts, but less common for the simple act of entering a room or vehicle.

The correct answer is 'see'.

Key Points

• The sentence describes the experience of entering the aircraft and noticing the interior layout.
• The verb 'see' is used to describe the act of noticing or becoming aware of something using one's eyes as soon as one enters a space.
• In this context, once a passenger steps inside, the three-class cabin configuration is visible and becomes immediately apparent to them.
• The other options are less suitable: 'Watch' implies looking at something in motion for a period of time; 'Look' usually requires the preposition 'at' (look at the configuration); and 'Get' does not fit the sense of visual perception required here.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Complete Passage: Air India showcased its first A350 to the world on Thursday (18 January) at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad as part of the ongoing air show Wings 2024. The first aircraft of a 1. batch of 20 arrived on 23 December 2023 from Toulouse in France and was 2. showcased for the first time on 18 January. Five more 3. such premium passenger aircrafts are scheduled 4. to arrive by March this year. This makes Air India 5. the first Indian carrier to be operating the A350. Commercial operations for the same are scheduled to begin 6. on 22 January later this month. With the induction of the A350, Air India is 7. hoping to overhaul its image and service to the passengers. The A350 comes equipped 8. with a powerful and fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent xwb engine. Once you 9. step inside the aircraft, you can immediately 10. see the three-class cabin configuration: business, premium economy and economy spread across 316 seats.

Additional Information

• See: To perceive with the eyes; to be aware of.
• Watch: To look at or observe attentively over a period of time.
• Look: To direct one's gaze toward someone or something.
• Get: To come to have or hold (something); receive.