English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is: Noticeably superior to others within the same category.

Key Points

• The idiom 'a cut above' refers to someone or something that is of a higher quality or standard than others of the same kind. (दूसरों से बेहतर या श्रेष्ठ)
• Example: The quality of service at this five-star hotel is a cut above the rest in the city.
• 'Noticeably superior to others within the same category' means being distinctly better than similar people or things in a particular group. (एक ही श्रेणी के अन्य लोगों की तुलना में काफी बेहतर)
• Example: Her performance in the competition was noticeably superior to the other contestants.
• Hence, we can infer that the meaning of the idiom 'a cut above' is 'noticeably superior to others within the same category'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Noticeably superior to others within the same category.

Additional Information

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

• Suited to or capable of doing some activity or task (किसी कार्य के लिए उपयुक्त): This describes having the right qualities or being appropriate for a specific role or job.
• Example: He realized early in his career that he was not suited to a desk job.
• To cause a lot of damage or suffering in a specific area or population (भारी तबाही या कष्ट पहुँचाना): This refers to an event or action that leads to significant destruction or pain.
• Example: The civil war continued to cause a lot of suffering in the northern region.
• To garner attention (ध्यान आकर्षित करना): To collect or gather interest and focus from an audience or the public.
• Example: The innovative marketing campaign managed to garner attention worldwide.

The correct answer is: Until it is no longer possible to continue with some activity or pursuit.

Key Points

• The idiom 'until the wheels fall off' means to continue doing something for as long as possible, or until it can no longer be done due to exhaustion, failure, or reaching a natural end. (जब तक संभव हो या अंत तक)
• Example: They promised to work on their startup until the wheels fall off.
• 'Until it is no longer possible to continue with some activity or pursuit' correctly defines the idiom, emphasizing the idea of persisting until the very limit of possibility. (जब तक किसी गतिविधि या कार्य को जारी रखना संभव न हो)
• Example: The band decided they would keep touring until the wheels fall off.
• Hence, we can infer that the meaning of the idiom 'until the wheels fall off' is to continue an activity until it is no longer possible.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Until it is no longer possible to continue with some activity or pursuit.

Additional Information

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

• To use something until it is destroyed (किसी चीज़ का तब तक उपयोग करना जब तक वह नष्ट न हो जाए): This refers to the literal physical destruction of an object through use.
• Example: He used his hiking boots until they were completely destroyed and unwearable.
• Play a toy till it is broken (खिलौने से तब तक खेलना जब तक वह टूट न जाए): A literal action usually associated with children and their toys.
• Example: The toddler played with the toy car till it was broken into pieces.
• Do until one is exhausted (थकने तक काम करना): To work or perform an activity until one has no energy left.
• Example: The athlete continued to train until he was completely exhausted.

The correct answer is: Favoured.

Key Points

• The word Fortunate refers to someone who is favored by or involving good luck or fortune; lucky. (भाग्यशाली)
• Example: He felt very fortunate to have such a supportive family during his difficult times.
• Favoured means being treated with preference or being blessed with better circumstances and luck. (पसंदीदा/भाग्यशाली)
• Example: As the favoured candidate for the promotion, she received the most attention from the board.
• Hence, we can infer that the closest synonym of Fortunate is Favoured.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Favoured.

Additional Information

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

• Unlucky (दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण): Having, bringing, or resulting from bad luck.
• Example: It was unlucky for the team to lose their star player just before the final match.
• Sad (उदास): Feeling or showing sorrow; unhappy.
• Example: The children were sad when their summer vacation came to an end.
• Common (सामान्य): Occurring, found, or done often; prevalent.
• Example: It is a common belief that drinking tea can help soothe a sore throat.

The correct answer is: Treacherous.

Key Points

• The word 'Trecherous' is misspelt, as it is an incorrect spelling of the word 'Treacherous' which means guilty of or involving betrayal or deception, or presenting hidden or unpredictable dangers. (विश्वासघाती)
• Example: He gave a trecherous (incorrect spelling) smile before betraying his ally.
• 'Treacherous' is the correct spelling, which refers to someone or something that is untrustworthy, unfaithful, or full of danger and hazards. (विश्वासघाती / खतरनाक)
• Example: The sailors had to navigate through treacherous waters to reach the safe harbor.
• Hence, we can infer that the misspelt word among the options is 'Treacherous'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Treacherous.

Additional Information

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

• Transcendent (उत्कृष्ट): Beyond or above the range of normal or physical human experience; exceptional or supreme.
• Example: The orchestra performed with a transcendent beauty that moved the entire audience to tears.
• Triumphant (विजयी): Having won a battle or contest; victorious.
• Example: The team made a triumphant return to their home country after winning the championship.
• Transgression (उल्लंघन): An act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offense.
• Example: Forgiving someone for their transgression can be a difficult but healing process.

The correct answer is: Tuttelage.

Key Points

• The word 'Tuttelage' is the misspelt version of the intended word. (गलत वर्तनी)
• Example: The editor circled the word 'Tuttelage' and noted that it contained an unnecessary extra 't'.
• 'Tutelage' is the correct spelling, referring to the protection of or authority over someone or something; guardianship or instruction. (संरक्षण/शिक्षा)
• Example: The young artist developed her unique style under the tutelage of a master painter.
• Hence, we can infer that the misspelt word is 'Tuttelage'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Tuttelage.

Additional Information

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

• Territorial (प्रादेशिक/क्षेत्रीय): Relating to the ownership of a particular area of land or sea.
• Example: The two neighboring states have been locked in a territorial dispute for many years.
• Tenacious (दृढ़/अटल): Tending to keep a firm hold of something; persistent and not easily discouraged.
• Example: The tenacious defense attorney refused to give up until the truth was revealed.
• Tranquillity (शांति): The quality or state of being calm, quiet, and peaceful.
• Example: Many people visit the mountains to experience the tranquillity of nature away from the city.

The correct answer is: Painless.

Key Points

• The word 'Aching' refers to a continuous or prolonged dull pain in a part of one's body. (दर्द होना)
• Example: After walking for ten miles in new shoes, his feet were aching.
• 'Painless' refers to something that does not cause or involve any physical pain; it is the opposite of experiencing pain or aching. (पीड़ारहित)
• Example: The dentist used a special numbing gel to ensure the filling was completely painless.
• Hence, we can infer that the opposite of 'aching' is 'painless'.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Painless.

Additional Information

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

• Sore (दुखता हुआ): A part of one's body that is painful or aching, often due to injury or infection.
• Example: Her throat was sore, making it difficult for her to swallow.
• Hurting (दर्द करना): The act of causing physical pain or injury, or the feeling of being in pain.
• Example: Stop pulling my hair; you are hurting me!
• Throbbing (टीस मारना): A strong, regular, and rhythmic pain, similar to a heartbeat.
• Example: He woke up with a throbbing headache after a restless night.

The correct answer is: Ostracism.

Key Points

• The phrase 'Exclusion from a society or group' refers to the act of deliberately keeping someone out or preventing them from participating in social activities. (किसी समाज या समूह से बहिष्कार)
• Example: In many ancient cultures, the exclusion from a society or group was a punishment worse than physical harm.
• 'Ostracism' is the term used to describe the intentional exclusion or banishment of an individual from social acceptance by common consent. (बहिष्कार)
• Example: His controversial actions led to his complete ostracism by his neighbors and colleagues.
• Hence, we can infer that 'Ostracism' is the most suitable one-word substitution for the given phrase.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Ostracism.

Additional Information

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

• Dichotomy (द्विभाजन): A division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.
• Example: There is a strict dichotomy between the two political ideologies presented in the debate.
• Abnegation (अस्वीकार): The act of renouncing or rejecting something, especially a right, possession, or self-interest.
• Example: His abnegation of all worldly wealth to join the monastery surprised his family.
• Solipsism (अहंवाद): The philosophical theory that only the self exists or can be known to exist.
• Example: His worldview was a form of solipsism, leading him to believe that the entire universe was just a dream of his own mind.

The correct answer is ''.

 

Key Points

The preposition 'on' (or 'upon'), when followed by a gerund (the -ing form of a verb), is used to indicate that an action happens immediately after or as a result of another event.
In this context, 'on hearing' means 'as soon as she heard' or 'at the moment she heard' the news.
The sentence describes a sudden reaction to an event, which is the standard usage for this prepositional structure.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Complete Sentence: 'On hearing the news, Mrs. White fell to the ground.'

 

Additional Information

Option 1: 'In' is generally used to denote location, position, or time periods and does not fit the context of an immediate reaction to a specific event.
Option 3: 'Under' usually refers to a physical position below something or being subject to a condition (e.g., under pressure) and is grammatically incorrect in this phrase.
Option 4: 'For' is used to indicate purpose, reason, or duration, which does not convey the intended meaning of a temporal sequence in this sentence.

The correct answer is Had the software team corrected the technical errors before the product launch?.

Key Points

• The original sentence is in the Passive Voice and follows the Past Perfect Tense in its Interrogative Form. The passive structure for this tense is: Had + Object + been + V3 (Past Participle) + by + Subject?
• To transform this into the Active Voice, the Agent of the action (the software team) must move to the subject position, and the Recipient of the action (the technical errors) must move to the object position.
• The Active Voice structure for an interrogative sentence in the Past Perfect Tense is: Had + Subject + V3 (Past Participle) + Object?
• In this conversion, the auxiliary been is removed as it is only a marker for the passive construction. The main verb corrected remains in its Past Participle (V3) form.
• The resulting sentence, Had the software team corrected the technical errors before the product launch?, maintains the same chronological sequence and tense consistency as the original question.

 Additional Information

• Grammatical Tense Analysis:
• Simple Past (Did): Used for actions that were completed at a specific time in the past. Using did would require the base form of the verb correct, which changes the tense of the original query.
• Present Perfect (Has/Have): Connects a past action to the present moment. Using has would be grammatically incorrect because the original context is set entirely in the past before a product launch.
• Past Continuous (Was/Were + V-ing): Focuses on the duration or ongoing nature of a past action. This changes the aspect from a completed action (perfect) to an ongoing one (continuous).
• Past Perfect Usage: Specifically used to emphasize that one action was completed before another action or point in the past (the product launch).

The correct answer is Take the injured man to the hospital at once..

Key Points

• The original sentence is in the Passive Voice. This is identified by the structure: Subject (The injured man) + Modal Verb (must) + be + Past Participle (taken).
• When a passive sentence expresses an urgent command, advice, or instruction and does not mention a specific agent (the doer of the action), it is commonly converted into the Active Voice using the Imperative Mood.
• An Imperative Sentence in the active voice typically begins with the Base Form of the Verb (V1). In this case, the verb is Take.
• The subject 'you' is implied in imperative sentences, making it the most suitable active equivalent for a general instruction starting with 'must be'. Hence, the structure becomes: Verb (Take) + Object (the injured man) + Prepositional Phrase (to the hospital at once).

 Additional Information

• Active vs. Passive Voice:
• Active Voice: The subject performs the action (e.g., 'Take the man'). It is direct and clear.
• Passive Voice: The subject receives the action (e.g., 'The man must be taken'). It is often used when the actor is unknown or less important than the action itself.
• Analysis of Incorrect Options:
• Option 1: This uses 'must be taken' which is a Passive Voice construction; adding 'You' as a subject before it creates a grammatical error.
• Option 2: This incorrectly identifies the hospital as the agent (the one doing the taking/carrying), whereas the hospital is actually the destination.
• Option 4: This uses the 'Let + Object + be + V3' structure, which is another way to form the Passive Voice for imperative sentences. It does not fulfill the requirement for Active Voice.

The correct answer is 'for'.

 

Key Points

• The adjective 'responsible' is followed by the preposition 'for' when it refers to being in charge of a duty, task, or obligation.
• In the given sentence, the task is 'keeping the house neat and clean'. Therefore, the preposition 'for' is the grammatically correct choice.
• The fixed expression is responsible for + something/doing something.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Complete Sentence: 'The servants were responsible for keeping the house neat and clean.'

 

Additional Information

• Responsible to: This preposition is used when someone is accountable to a person or authority (e.g., 'The manager is responsible to the director').
• Options 3 and 4: 'About' and 'on' are not used with the word 'responsible' to denote duty or accountability.

The correct answer is hang by a thin thread.

Key Points

• The expression 'hang by a thread' (or 'hang by a thin thread') is a fixed idiomatic phrase in English, meaning to be in a very dangerous, uncertain, or precarious situation.
• In this idiom, the preposition 'by' is mandatory. It indicates the means or the slender connection by which a person or object is suspended above disaster or failure.
• The original sentence used the preposition 'on', which is grammatically incorrect for this specific figurative expression; idiomatic accuracy requires 'by' to convey the intended meaning of instability.
• Using 'hang by a thin thread' correctly illustrates that the economy is at high risk of collapsing due to the negative impact of unchecked corruption.

 Additional Information

• Etymology and Origin:
• This idiom is widely believed to originate from the legend of Damocles, where a king suspended a heavy sword over Damocles' head by a single horsehair to demonstrate the constant peril faced by those in power.
• Idiomatic Rigidity:
• Idioms are fossilized constructions. Substituting key elements such as prepositions (e.g., replacing 'by' with 'upon' or 'with') results in non-standard English and is considered a lexical error in competitive examinations.
• Contextual Usage:
• The phrase is commonly used in political science, economics, and healthcare to describe systems or patients whose survival depends on a very fragile factor.

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key Points

• The paragraph follows a chronological and thematic progression from the start of a journey to the interior of a chapel.
• Sentence S1 is the introductory sentence where the narrator leaves for a special errand.
• Sentence D follows S1 as it describes the immediate change in environment:
• 'The sky had changed from clear, sunny cold, to driving sleet and mist.'
• Sentence A follows D as it depicts the narrator's physical response to the storm:
• 'Wrapping myself in my shaggy jacket of the cloth called bearskin, I fought my way against the stubborn storm.'
• Sentence C follows A because it marks the end of the outdoor struggle and the narrator's entry into the destination:
• 'Entering, I found a small, scattered congregation of sailors, and sailors' wives and widows.'
• Sentence B follows C as it describes the internal atmosphere of the place the narrator just entered:
• 'A muffled silence reigned, only broken at times by the shrieks of the storm.'
• Sentence S2 is the concluding sentence, which provides further detail about the individuals in the congregation (worshippers) mentioned in Sentence C and the silence mentioned in Sentence B.
• The correct sequence is DACB.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

'Returning from my first morning stroll, I again sallied out upon this special errand. The sky had changed from clear, sunny cold, to driving sleet and mist. Wrapping myself in my shaggy jacket of the cloth called bearskin, I fought my way against the stubborn storm. Entering, I found a small, scattered congregation of sailors, and sailors' wives and widows. A muffled silence reigned, only broken at times by the shrieks of the storm.

Each silent worshipper seemed purposely sitting apart from the other, as if each silent grief were insular and incommunicable.'

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

• The paragraph describes the solitary life of a widow living in the zamindar Sharadashankar's house and the emotional bond she forms with a child who is not her own.
• Sentence C follows S1 because it explains what happened to the blood relatives mentioned in the opening sentence:
• 'One by one they had died.'
• Sentence A is the second in the sequence as it extends the description of her isolation to her husband's family, clarifying that she has no direct heirs or spouse there:
• 'In her husband's family, too, there was no one she could call her own, having no husband or son.'
• Sentence D is the third sentence because it introduces a crucial exception to her loneliness using the contrastive conjunction 'But':
• 'But there was a little boy - her brother-in-law's son - who was the apple of her eye.'
• Sentence B is the fourth as it provides the backstory for this relationship, explaining why the widow, Aunt Kadambini, was the one to raise the child:
• 'His mother had been very ill for a long time after his birth, so his Aunt Kadambini had brought him up.'
• The logical sequence CADB concludes with S2, which reflects on the deep ties of affection that develop when someone raises another person's child.
• The correct sequence is CADB.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

'The widow living with the zamindar Sharadashankar's family, in the big house at Ranihat, had no blood relatives left. One by one they had died. In her husband's family, too, there was no one she could call her own, having no husband or son. But there was a little boy - her brother-in-law's son - who was the apple of her eye. His mother had been very ill for a long time after his birth, so his Aunt Kadambini had brought him up. Anyone who brings up someone else's son becomes specially devoted: there are no rights, no social claims - nothing but ties of affection.'

The correct answer is not uncommon to find street musicians.

Key Points

• The phrase 'none uncommon' used in the original sentence is grammatically incorrect because 'none' is a pronoun or an adverb meaning 'not any' or 'to no extent', and it cannot properly modify the adjective 'uncommon' in this specific sentence structure.
• The correct expression 'not uncommon' is a rhetorical device known as litotes, where a negative statement (not) is used to affirm a positive sentiment (common); it suggests that the event occurs with reasonable frequency.
• In the structure 'It is' (contracted as 'It's'), the word 'is' acts as a linking verb which must be followed by an adjective or an adjectival phrase; the adverb 'not' is the standard tool for negating such adjectives in English.
• The term 'street musicians' is a correctly formed compound noun referring to individuals who perform music in public spaces for tips, fitting the context of the sentence perfectly.

 Additional Information

• 'Nothing uncommon' vs. 'Not uncommon':
• 'Nothing' is a pronoun. While one could say 'There is nothing uncommon about this', it does not fit the dummy subject structure of 'It is...' as effectively as the adverb 'not'.
• 'Never uncommon' and 'Streets of musicians':
• 'Never' is an adverb of frequency meaning 'at no time'; using it here would create an absolute statement that is stylistically unusual for describing a casual weekend observation.
• The phrase 'streets of musicians' uses a prepositional phrase that changes the meaning entirely, suggesting the physical roads are populated by or belong to musicians, rather than describing the buskers themselves.
• Litotes in English:
• This figure of speech is frequently used in formal writing and literature to provide emphasis through understatement, often making a claim seem more objective or cautious.

The correct answer is 'quickly'.

Key Points

• The sentence describes Ananya's arrival at a guesthouse for a school competition.
• The phrase following the blank is 'eager to rehearse her debate speech'.
• The word 'eager' implies a sense of enthusiasm or urgency to start her preparation.
• 'Quickly' is the most appropriate adverb as it matches the context of someone who wants to finish a routine task (checking in) rapidly to get to their main goal (rehearsing).
• Other options like 'calmly', 'silently', or 'nervously' do not directly align with the motivation of being 'eager' to start a task.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Complete Passage: Last winter, Ananya traveled alone to Shimla for a school competition. The town, covered in snow, looked like a painting that had come alive. She checked into the guesthouse 1. quickly eager to rehearse her debate speech. But just as she reached for her notes, she realized something alarming, her suitcase 2. was locked, and the key was missing. Had she dropped it at the railway station? Or had she left it in the train itself? The more she thought, the more restless she became. 'Stay calm, Ananya,' she whispered to 3. herself, 'panic will solve nothing.' Determined to find a way, she asked the receptionist for help. He suggested calling a locksmith. While waiting, she kept 4. pacing the hall, her mind filled with worry. How embarrassing it would be if she could not present her speech tomorrow! When the locksmith finally arrived, he 5. examined the lock and said confidently, 'Do not worry, miss, this will open soon.' Within min, the suitcase clicked open. What a moment of relief it was! Ananya almost cried with gratitude. That night, while reviewing her speech, she reflected: 'Life often tests us with unexpected problems. If we stay calm, solutions eventually appear.' She promised herself she would remember this lesson in every challenge ahead.

Additional Information

• Calmly: Means in a quiet and peaceful manner.
• Silently: Means without making any sound.
• Nervously: Means in an anxious or apprehensive way, usually due to fear or stress.

The correct answer is 'was locked'.

Key Points

• The passage is written in the past tense, as indicated by words like 'traveled', 'looked', 'checked', and 'realized'.
• Blank (B) requires a verb form that matches this past narrative.
• The sentence describes the state of the suitcase at the moment Ananya discovered the problem. Since the suitcase is the receiver of the action (it was in a state of being locked), we need the passive voice.
• 'Was locked' is the simple past passive form, which correctly describes the condition of the suitcase during the events of last winter.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Complete Passage: Last winter, Ananya traveled alone to Shimla for a school competition. The town, covered in snow, looked like a painting that had come alive. She checked into the guesthouse 1. quickly eager to rehearse her debate speech. But just as she reached for her notes, she realized something alarming, her suitcase 2. was locked, and the key was missing. Had she dropped it at the railway station? Or had she left it in the train itself? The more she thought, the more restless she became. "Stay calm, Ananya," she whispered to 3. herself, "panic will solve nothing." Determined to find a way, she asked the receptionist for help. He suggested calling a locksmith. While waiting, she kept 4. pacing the hall, her mind filled with worry. How embarrassing it would be if she could not present her speech tomorrow! When the locksmith finally arrived, he 5. examined the lock and said confidently, "Do not worry, miss, this will open soon." Within min, the suitcase clicked open. What a moment of relief it was! Ananya almost cried with gratitude. That night, while reviewing her speech, she reflected: "Life often tests us with unexpected problems. If we stay calm, solutions eventually appear." She promised herself she would remember this lesson in every challenge ahead.

Additional Information

• is locked: This is present tense and does not fit the past context of the story.
• has locked: This is present perfect active voice, which would mean the suitcase locked something else, which is logically incorrect.
• will be locked: This is future tense and does not align with a past event.

The correct answer is 'herself'.

Key Points

• The sentence indicates that the subject, Ananya, is speaking to her own self to maintain composure during a stressful situation.
• In English grammar, reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of a verb (or preposition) refer to the same person or thing.
• The subject of the sentence is 'she' (referring to Ananya). The correct reflexive pronoun that corresponds to the feminine singular subject 'she' is 'herself'.
• The other options do not fit: 'itself' is used for animals or objects, while the choices 'nm' and 'ner' appear to be typographical errors (likely intended to be 'him' or 'her'), but they are not reflexive pronouns suitable for this context.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Complete Passage: Last winter, Ananya traveled alone to Shimla for a school competition. The town, covered in snow, looked like a painting that had come alive. She checked into the guesthouse quickly eager to rehearse her debate speech. But just as she reached for her notes, she realized something alarming, her suitcase was locked, and the key was missing. Had she dropped it at the railway station? Or had she left it in the train itself? The more she thought, the more restless she became. 'Stay calm, Ananya,' she whispered to herself, 'panic will solve nothing.' Determined to find a way, she asked the receptionist for help. He suggested calling a locksmith. While waiting, she kept pacing the hall, her mind filled with worry. How embarrassing it would be if she could not present her speech tomorrow! When the locksmith finally arrived, he inspected the lock and said confidently, 'Do not worry, miss, this will open soon.' Within min, the suitcase clicked open. What a moment of relief it was! Ananya almost cried with gratitude. That night, while reviewing her speech, she reflected: 'Life often tests us with unexpected problems. If we stay calm, solutions eventually appear.' She promised herself she would remember this lesson in every challenge ahead.

Additional Information

• Reflexive pronouns include: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.
• They are commonly used with verbs that describe personal care or mental states when the person performing the action is also the recipient (e.g., 'She taught herself how to play the piano' or 'He encouraged himself').

The correct answer is 'Walking back and forth repeatedly'.

Key Points

• In the context of the passage, the word 'pacing' refers to Ananya's physical actions while she is waiting for the locksmith.
• She is described as feeling 'restless' and 'filled with worry'.
• 'Pacing' means to walk with regular steps, typically back and forth within a confined area, often due to nervousness, anxiety, or impatience.
• Therefore, the phrase 'Walking back and forth repeatedly' accurately captures the meaning of the word in this context.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Complete Passage: Last winter, Ananya traveled alone to Shimla for a school competition. The town, covered in snow, looked like a painting that had come alive. She checked into the guesthouse quickly eager to rehearse her debate speech. But just as she reached for her notes, she realized something alarming, her suitcase was locked, and the key was missing. Had she dropped it at the railway station? Or had she left it in the train itself? The more she thought, the more restless she became. 'Stay calm, Ananya,' she whispered to herself, 'panic will solve nothing.' Determined to find a way, she asked the receptionist for help. He suggested calling a locksmith. While waiting, she kept pacing the hall, her mind filled with worry. How embarrassing it would be if she could not present her speech tomorrow! When the locksmith finally arrived, he inspected the lock and said confidently, 'Do not worry, miss, this will open soon.' Within minutes, the suitcase clicked open. What a moment of relief it was! Ananya almost cried with gratitude. That night, while reviewing her speech, she reflected: 'Life often tests us with unexpected problems. If we stay calm, solutions eventually appear.' She promised herself she would remember this lesson in every challenge ahead.

Additional Information

• Running quickly in fear: This implies a level of speed and terror that doesn't fit the repetitive nature of 'pacing' in a hall.
• Standing still with patience: This is the opposite of 'pacing', as pacing involves continuous movement.
• Moving luggage around: This refers to physical labor involving objects, not the act of walking to cope with anxiety.

The correct answer is 'Inspected'.

Key Points

• The word 'examined' in the context of the passage means to look at something closely and carefully in order to learn more about it or to find a way to fix it.
• The locksmith is called to open the suitcase, and before doing so, he looks at the lock to understand its mechanism.
• 'Inspected' is the most appropriate synonym as it means to look at something closely, typically to assess its condition or discover a fault.
• The other options provided do not fit the meaning of looking at something carefully.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Complete Passage: Last winter, Ananya traveled alone to Shimla for a school competition. The town, covered in snow, looked like a painting that had come alive. She checked into the guesthouse 1. quickly eager to rehearse her debate speech. But just as she reached for her notes, she realized something alarming, her suitcase 2. was locked, and the key was missing. Had she dropped it at the railway station? Or had she left it in the train itself? The more she thought, the more restless she became. 'Stay calm, Ananya,' she whispered to 3. herself, 'panic will solve nothing.' Determined to find a way, she asked the receptionist for help. He suggested calling a locksmith. While waiting, she kept 4. pacing the hall, her mind filled with worry. How embarrassing it would be if she could not present her speech tomorrow! When the locksmith finally arrived, he 5. inspected the lock and said confidently, 'Do not worry, miss, this will open soon.' Within min, the suitcase clicked open. What a moment of relief it was! Ananya almost cried with gratitude. That night, while reviewing her speech, she reflected: 'Life often tests us with unexpected problems. If we stay calm, solutions eventually appear.' She promised herself she would remember this lesson in every challenge ahead.

Additional Information

• Ignored: Refers to paying no attention to something or someone.
• Avoided: Refers to keeping away from or staying clear of something.
• Neglected: Refers to failing to care for something properly or disregarding it.
• Inspected: Refers to examining something closely, often officially or professionally.