English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is 'with a pinch of salt'.

 

Key Points

• The idiom 'with a pinch of salt' means to view something with skepticism or to not believe that something is completely accurate or true.
• In the context of the sentence, Rohan likes Mohan, so he chooses not to take Mohan's harsh words too seriously or literally.
• The other options such as 'with a jar of sugar', 'with a sheet of paper', and 'with a bar of chocolate' are not recognized idioms in the English language.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Complete Sentence: Rohan likes Mohan very much and the former takes the latter's harsh words with a pinch of salt.

Additional Information

• The phrase 'with a grain of salt' is a common synonym for 'with a pinch of salt', used primarily in American English.
• This idiom is often used when someone is known to exaggerate or when a statement lacks verified evidence.

The correct answer is: silly.

Key Points

• The word 'absurd' refers to something that is wildly unreasonable, illogical, or completely inappropriate. (बेतुका)
• Example: It is absurd to think that you can fly just by flapping your arms.
• 'silly' means having or showing a lack of common sense or judgment; it is often used to describe something foolish or ridiculous, making it the closest synonym to absurd. (मूर्खतापूर्ण)
• Example: Stop making silly faces and pay attention to the lesson.
• Hence, we can infer that the most appropriate synonym of 'absurd' is 'silly'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: silly.

Additional Information

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

• sensible (समझदार): Choosing or acting with good sense and practicality.
• Example: It would be sensible to take an umbrella since the sky looks cloudy.
• Logical (तार्किक): Something based on clear reasoning or sound principles.
• Example: There is a logical explanation for why the machine stopped working.
• Smart (होशियार): Having or showing a quick-witted intelligence or being neat in appearance.
• Example: She is a smart student who always finishes her work on time.

The correct answer is illegaly.

Key Points

• The word illegaly is the misspelt word in the given sentence.
• The correct spelling is illegally, which requires a double 'l' before the suffix.
• In English orthography, when an adjective ends in the letter 'l' (such as illegal), the suffix -ly is added to form an adverb, resulting in the double 'l' spelling (illegally).
• This word functions as an adverb of manner in the sentence, modifying the participle 'detaining' to indicate that the action was performed in a way that violates the law.
• Other examples of this rule include final becoming finally and formal becoming formally.

 Additional Information

• Tribunal:
• This is a noun referring to a judicial body or a court of justice established to settle specific types of disputes or claims.
• In international law, it often refers to bodies like the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
• Breaching:
• This is the present participle form of the verb breach, which means to break or fail to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct.
• Commonly used in legal contexts such as a breach of contract or breaching international treaties.
• Suppressing:
• This verb means to forcibly end or prevent the expression of something, such as dissent, opposition, or information.
• It is spelled correctly with a double 'p' and a double 's'.

The correct answer is: Option (3) i.e. suspention.

Key Points

• The word 'suspention' is a misspelt word that does not exist in the English dictionary; it is often used incorrectly in place of its phonetic counterpart. (अशुद्ध वर्तनी)
• Example: The teacher pointed out that the word 'suspention' in the student's paper was an error.
• 'Suspension' is the correct spelling, which refers to the act of stopping something for a period of time or the state of being temporarily barred from a place or position. (निलंबन)
• Example: The board of directors ordered a suspension of the new project due to budget cuts.
• Hence, we can infer that the misspelt word among the given options is 'suspention'.

Therefore, the correct answer is- suspention.

Additional Information

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

• Innovation (नवाचार): The introduction of new things, ideas, or ways of doing something.
• Example: The company's focus on innovation has helped it stay ahead of its competitors.
• Invention (आविष्कार): The creation of something that has never been made before.
• Example: The invention of the light bulb revolutionized the way people lived after dark.
• Revelation (रहस्योद्घाटन): The act of making known a surprising and previously secret fact.
• Example: The documentary provided a shocking revelation about the history of the ancient ruins.

The correct answer is: Release.

Key Points

• The word 'reserve' means to keep something back or set it aside for a particular person or for later use; it involves holding something in store. (आरक्षित करना / बचा कर रखना)
• Example: I would like to reserve a table for two for tonight at 8 PM.
• 'Release' refers to the act of allowing something to move, act, or flow freely, or to let go of something that was being held back; it is the direct opposite of keeping or reserving something. (मुक्त करना / छोड़ना)
• Example: The committee decided to release the funds for the new project immediately.
• Hence, we can infer that the most opposite word for 'reserve' is 'release'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Release.

Additional Information

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

• Withhold (रोक लेना): To refuse to give something that is due or desired.
• Example: The bank decided to withhold the payment until the documents were verified.
• Allocate (आवंटित करना): To distribute resources or duties for a particular purpose.
• Example: The government will allocate more budget for healthcare this year.
• Accumulate (संचित करना / जमा करना): To gather together or acquire an increasing number or quantity of something.
• Example: Dust tends to accumulate very quickly in this old house.

The correct answer is 'see'.

 

Key Points

• The word 'see' is a verb that means to perceive with the eyes. (देखना)
• In the given sentence, the auxiliary 'did not' must be followed by the base form of the main verb to indicate a past action.
• Among the given options, 'see' is the only word that fits both the grammatical structure and the logical context of noticing a vehicle.
• The other options are either nouns or contextually irrelevant.

​Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Complete Sentence: The boy did not see the car coming from the other side.

Additional Information

• Sea (समुद्र): A noun referring to the large body of salt water that covers most of the Earth.
• Scene (दृश्य): A noun referring to the place where an incident occurs or a sequence in a movie/play.
• Sin (पाप): A noun or verb referring to an immoral act or a transgression against divine law.

The correct answer is Option (2) i.e. Anagram.

Key Points

• The phrase 'a word formed by rearranging the letters of another word' refers to a linguistic process where the letters of a word are rearranged to create a new word or phrase. (किसी शब्द के अक्षरों को फिर से व्यवस्थित करके बनाया गया शब्द)
• Example: The word 'silent' can be rearranged to form 'listen'.
• An 'Anagram' is a word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of a different word or phrase, typically using all the original letters exactly once. (एनाग्राम / वर्णविपर्यय)
• Example: 'Dormitory' is an anagram of 'Dirty room'.
• Hence, we can infer that a word formed by rearranging the letters of another word is an 'anagram'.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Anagram.

Additional Information

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

• Acronym (परिवर्णी शब्द / संक्षिप्त नाम): An abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word.
• Example: 'NASA' is an acronym for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
• Homonym (समनाम / समानार्थक शब्द): Each of two or more words having the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings.
• Example: The word 'bark' can mean the sound a dog makes or the outer covering of a tree.
• Synonym (पर्यायवाची / समानार्थी शब्द): A word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language.
• Example: 'Huge' is a synonym for 'Enormous'.

The correct answer is 'down'.

 

Key Points

• The phrasal verb 'knock down' means to strike someone or something so that they fall to the ground.
• In the context of a boxing match, it is the standard term used when a fighter is hit and falls to the canvas.
• The sentence refers to the historic 1988 heavyweight title fight where Mike Tyson defeated Larry Holmes.
• Therefore, Option 3 is the grammatically and contextually correct choice.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Complete Sentence: "Mike Tyson knocked Larry Holmes down in 1988 in a boxing match."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: 'Up' is incorrect; 'knock up' has different informal meanings (such as to make someone pregnant or to wake someone) that do not fit the sports context.
• Option 2: 'into' is incorrect; 'knock into' means to collide with someone or something by accident.
• Option 4: 'away' is incorrect; 'knock away' means to hit something so that it moves to a distance, but it is not the standard term for floorng an opponent in boxing.

The correct answer is This festival has been celebrated for centuries..

Key Points

• The sentence provided is in the Active Voice and follows the structure of the Present Perfect Tense: Subject (People) + have + Verb (Past Participle) + Object (this festival).
• To convert a sentence from Active Voice to Passive Voice in the Present Perfect Tense, the object of the active sentence becomes the new subject. The formula used is: New Subject + has/have + been + Past Participle (V3) + (by + Agent).
• In this case, this festival is a singular noun. Therefore, according to the rules of Subject-Verb Agreement, it must be followed by the auxiliary has been rather than have been.
• The Past Participle form of the verb celebrate remains celebrated in the passive construction.
• Generic or indefinite subjects like people, someone, they, or somebody are typically omitted in the passive voice because the emphasis is on the action or the receiver of the action.

 Additional Information

• Analysis of incorrect options:
• Tense Mismatch: Option (3) uses is celebrated, which is the Simple Present Passive, while Option (4) uses was celebrated, which is the Simple Past Passive. Neither maintains the original Present Perfect context.
• Grammatical Error: Option (2) uses have been, which is plural. This creates an error in concord because the subject this festival is singular.
• Function of Passive Voice: It is used when the action is more important than the actor, or when the actor is unknown or obvious.

The correct answer is Are the municipal workers repairing the road after last week's heavy rains?.

Key Points

• The given sentence is an interrogative sentence written in the Passive Voice of the Present Continuous Tense, identified by the structure Is + Subject + being + V3.
• According to the rules of English Grammar, the passive structure for Present Continuous questions is: Is/Am/Are + Subject + being + Past Participle (V3) + by + Agent?
• To convert this into Active Voice, the Agent (the municipal workers) becomes the new Subject, and the Subject (the road) becomes the Object.
• Since the municipal workers is a plural noun, the auxiliary verb Are must be used at the beginning of the active sentence to maintain Subject-Verb Agreement.
• The verb phrase being repaired is converted into its active present participle form, which is repairing (V1 + ing).
• The standard active structure for this tense is: Is/Am/Are + Subject + Present Participle (Verb-ing) + Object? Following this logic, the sentence becomes: Are the municipal workers repairing the road after last week's heavy rains?

 Additional Information

• When converting voice, the tense of the sentence must remain unchanged. The incorrect options represent different linguistic tenses:
• Simple Present Tense: Option 2 uses Do ... repair, which describes habitual actions rather than ongoing ones.
• Present Perfect Tense: Option 3 uses Have ... repaired, which indicates a completed action in the recent past.
• Simple Past Tense: Option 4 uses Did ... repair, which is used for actions that occurred and finished at a specific time in the past.

The correct answer is 'with'.

 

Key Points

• The verb experiment is followed by the preposition with when it refers to trying out a new idea, method, or thing to see how it works or what its effects are.
• In this context, the phrase experimenting with is used because the girls are trying out new types of hairstyles.
• Other prepositions like in, for, or oy (which is not a standard preposition) do not fit the idiomatic usage of the verb in this sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Complete Sentence: 'The urban girls are experimenting with new types of hairstyles.'

 

Additional Information

• Experiment on: This is used when the experiment is being conducted upon a subject (e.g., Scientists experiment on lab rats).
• Experiment in: This is used when referring to a specific field or branch of knowledge (e.g., She conducted an experiment in organic chemistry).

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

• The paragraph describes the historical journey of Balboa to find the Pacific Ocean. It follows a chronological sequence from the decision to the discovery.
• Sentence D follows S1 as it describes the immediate action taken after Balboa made up his mind to find the sea, detailing his preparations and departure:
• 'With two hundred men and a pack of bloodhounds to chase unfriendly Indians, he set off toward the mountains.'
• Sentence B follows D as it explains the progress and challenges of the journey mentioned in the previous sentence:
• 'The distance was not great, but the country was very rough, the forest was almost impassable, and the party had to move slowly.'
• Sentence A is the third sentence in the sequence, marking the arrival at the destination after the difficult travel described in B:
• 'After many days they came to the highest ridge of the mountains.'
• Sentence C is the fourth sentence as it describes the final individual action taken by Balboa upon reaching the ridge to get a clear view:
• 'Balboa climbed to the top of the loftiest peak and looked around.'
• The sequence concludes with S2, which describes what he saw from that peak: 'South and west of him he beheld a great sea.'
• The correct sequence is DBAC.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

'Balboa made up his mind to go at once in search of that sea. With two hundred men and a pack of bloodhounds to chase unfriendly Indians, he set off toward the mountains. The distance was not great, but the country was very rough, the forest was almost impassable, and the party had to move slowly. After many days they came to the highest ridge of the mountains. Balboa climbed to the top of the loftiest peak and looked around. South and west of him he beheld a great sea.'

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key Points

• The paragraph follows a chronological sequence of events during a character's evening routine, moving from dinner to bedtime.
• Sentence D is the first sentence in the sequence as it transitions from the fixed sentence S1 (having dinner) to the character's preparation for bed:
• 'Then, after putting on a flannel robe and cold-creaming her face, she propped herself up in bed with a hot water bottle under her feet.'
• Sentence A follows D, describing the activity the character is performing while in bed and introducing the disruptive event:
• 'She was reading the Times when the doorbell rang.'
• Sentence C is the third sentence as it details the character's initial reaction to the doorbell:
• 'At first, she thought it must be a mistake and whoever it was would go away.'
• Sentence B is the fourth sentence because the word 'But' contrasts her initial hope that the caller would leave with the reality of the continuous noise:
• 'But it rang and rang and settled to a persistent buzz.'
• The sequence naturally leads to S2, where the character checks the clock and realizes it is after eleven, long past her usual bedtime.
• The correct sequence is DACB.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

'That evening she scrambled eggs and fixed a bowl of tomato soup. Then, after putting on a flannel robe and cold-creaming her face, she propped herself up in bed with a hot water bottle under her feet. She was reading the Times when the doorbell rang. At first, she thought it must be a mistake and whoever it was would go away. But it rang and rang and settled to a persistent buzz. She looked at the clock: a little after eleven; it did not seem possible, she was always asleep by ten.'

The correct answer is and riding her bike in the park.

Key Points

• The sentence requires the use of parallel structure (parallelism), which dictates that items in a list or series must share the same grammatical form to ensure clarity and balance.
• The main verb enjoys is followed by a series of activities acting as its objects. The first two activities, hiking and swimming, are gerunds (the -ing form of a verb).
• For the third activity to be grammatically consistent with the established pattern, it must also be a gerund. The original phrase to ride is an infinitive, which creates a grammatical mismatch.
• By replacing to ride with riding, the sentence maintains a uniform structure: hiking, swimming, and riding.

 Additional Information

• Parallelism Rules:
• Parallelism is essential when using coordinating conjunctions like and to link phrases. Using a mixture of gerunds and infinitives in one series results in faulty parallelism.
• Consistency in form makes sentences easier to process and more professional in tone.
• Verbs Followed by Gerunds:
• In English grammar, specific verbs like enjoy, suggest, avoid, and finish are followed by the gerund form rather than the infinitive form.
• Option 1 uses the base form (ride), and Option 2 uses the infinitive (to ride); both are grammatically incorrect after the verb enjoy in this context.
• The phrase riding her bike correctly functions as the third direct object in the series.

The correct answer is usually gives place on weekends..

Key Points

• The error lies in the fourth part of the sentence where the phrase gives place is used incorrectly to describe the occurrence of an event.
• In English grammar, an event, occurrence, or scheduled gathering like a flea market is said to take place, not give place.
• The phrase takes place is a fixed idiomatic expression meaning to happen or occur, especially after being planned or organized.
• Therefore, the sentence should correctly read: '...a large flea market that is in a major city and usually takes place on weekends.'

 Additional Information

• Understanding the difference between Take place and Give place:
• Take place: Refers to the execution or occurrence of a scheduled event (e.g., The Olympics take place every four years).
• Give place to: A specific idiom meaning to be replaced, superseded, or to yield to something else (e.g., Winter gives place to spring).
• Flea Market: A location where multiple vendors sell second-hand goods, antiques, or handcrafted items; it is a count noun that requires a verb indicating its occurrence.
• Collocation: Using takes with place is a standard lexical collocation. Using gives in this context violates the semantic rules of verb-noun pairings.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The sentence 'The narrative unfolds as characters seek to discover who committed the crime' is written in the Active voice.
• In Active voice, the subject of the sentence is the one performing the action described by the verb.
• In the first clause, 'The narrative' (subject) performs the action 'unfolds' (verb).
• In the second clause, 'characters' (subject) perform the action 'seek' (verb).
• In the final part, 'who' (subject) performs the action 'committed' (verb).
• Since the subjects are the doers of the actions throughout the sentence, it is categorized as Active voice.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence Analysis: 'The narrative unfolds as characters seek to discover who committed the crime.'

 

Additional Information

• Passive voice: The subject receives the action rather than performing it. If the sentence were passive, it might look like: 'The crime was committed by...' or 'The narrative is unfolded by...'.
• Causative voice: Used when the subject does not perform the action themselves but causes someone or something else to do it (e.g., 'He had the detective solve the crime').
• Reflexive voice: Used when the action of the verb is performed by the subject upon itself (e.g., 'The story reveals itself slowly').

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The term proletarian is derived from the word proletariat, which traditionally refers to the working class, specifically those who perform manual labor for wages.
• In the context of the passage, the proletarian novel is explicitly defined as a genre that represents the working class’s daily life.
• The text further clarifies that these novels offer social or moral commentary, grounding them in the realities and struggles of ordinary workers rather than fantasy.
• Thus, the phrase involving working-class life and social issues perfectly captures the meaning intended in the narrative.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Additional Information

• Related to science and technology: This corresponds to the Science Fiction genre, which incorporates advanced technology and space exploration.
• Focused on romantic relationships: This is the defining characteristic of the Romance novel, which explores the development of love between characters.
• Concentrating on futuristic imagination: This also pertains to Science Fiction, where stories are often set in futuristic or imaginative worlds.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• In the passage, the term speculative is used to describe the contexts found in science fiction novels.
• The text explains that these novels transport readers to futuristic or imaginative worlds, dealing with advanced technology and alien life.
• In a literary context, speculative refers to stories that explore 'what if' scenarios based on theoretical or imaginary premises that do not exist in current reality.
• Therefore, speculative contexts mean settings that are imaginary or theoretical and not yet proven by science or history.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Contextual Usage: "The science fiction novel transports readers to futuristic or imaginative worlds... to explore human experience in speculative contexts."

 

Additional Information

• Based on facts and reality: This is the antonym of speculative. While science fiction may use scientific principles, the 'context' itself is beyond current reality.
• Involving careful financial investments: This is a homonym or a different definition of 'speculative' used in economics (e.g., speculative trading), which is irrelevant to literature.
• Detailed and comprehensive research: While writing may involve research, the word speculative characterizes the nature of the ideas, not the methodology of the author.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• In the given sentence, 'Both genres intrigue readers but from different narrative perspectives,' the word intrigue functions as the principal verb.
• The subject of the sentence is the plural noun phrase 'Both genres,' and the word intrigue describes the action or state they exert upon the object, which is 'readers.'
• As a verb, intrigue means to arouse the curiosity or interest of someone.
• Since it denotes an action/influence within the clause, it is categorized as a Verb.

Therefore, the correct answer is Verb.

 

Sentence Analysis: 'Both genres (Subject) intrigue (Verb) readers (Object)...'

 

Additional Information

• Noun: A word used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things. While intrigue can be a noun (meaning a secret plan or mystery), it does not function as a naming word in this specific context.
• Adjective: A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. The adjective form of this word would typically be intriguing.
• Pronoun: A word that takes the place of a noun, such as 'he,' 'she,' 'it,' or 'they.' Intrigue does not function as a substitute for a noun.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• According to the passage, the mystery novel centers on a crime that has already been committed at the start of the story, such as a murder or theft.
• The narrative in a mystery involves characters seeking to discover the identity of the perpetrator, essentially looking backward to solve a past event.
• In contrast, thriller novels are described as focusing on preventing a future crime.
• The suspense in thrillers is built around protagonists racing against time to stop devastating events before they happen.
• Thus, the main difference is that mysteries look back at crimes already committed, while thrillers look forward to preventing future crimes.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Additional Information

• Option 2 and Option 3 are incorrect because romance and happy endings are defining features of romance novels, not mysteries or thrillers.
• Option 4 is incorrect because aliens, advanced technology, and futuristic settings are characteristics specifically attributed to science fiction novels in the text.