English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is Option(3) i.e. Something is very clear, obvious, and easy to understand.

Key Points

• The idiom 'Be as plain as day' refers to something that is very easy to see, perceive, or understand; it is completely obvious and requires no proof. (स्पष्ट होना)
• Example: The reason for his resignation was as plain as day to everyone who worked with him.
• 'Something is very clear, obvious, and easy to understand' defines the state of a fact or situation being manifest and unmistakable. (कुछ बहुत स्पष्ट, प्रत्यक्ष और समझने में आसान होना)
• Example: The instructions were as plain as day, yet he still managed to make a mistake.
• Hence, we can infer that the correct meaning of the idiom is 'something is very clear, obvious, and easy to understand'.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Something is very clear, obvious, and easy to understand.

Additional Information

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

• Very different from the other (एक दूसरे से बहुत अलग): Used to describe two things that have no similarities.
• Example: Although they are twins, their personalities are very different from each other.
• In very good spirits (बहुत प्रसन्न या उत्साहित): Feeling happy, lively, and optimistic.
• Example: The team was in very good spirits after winning the championship.
• Very happy in thought (विचारों में बहुत खुश): Being in a state of mental joy or pleasant contemplation.
• Example: She sat by the window, very happy in thought while remembering her childhood.

The correct answer is Option (1) i.e. 'To try to entice one with the promise of a reward'.

Key Points

• The idiom 'Dangle a carrot in front of someone' means to tempt or entice someone by promising a reward in exchange for their cooperation or hard work. (किसी को लालच देकर लुभाना)
• Example: The boss decided to dangle a carrot in front of his employees by promising a huge bonus if they met the year-end targets.
• 'To try to entice one with the promise of a reward' is the direct meaning of the idiom, where the 'carrot' represents the incentive being offered. (किसी को इनाम के वादे से लुभाने की कोशिश करना)
• Example: The tech giant dangled a carrot of stock options in front of the lead developer to prevent him from joining a rival firm.
• Hence, we can infer that the meaning of the idiom is to entice someone with a reward.

Therefore, the correct answer is- To try to entice one with the promise of a reward.

Additional Information

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

• To be very compatible and congenial together (एक दूसरे के साथ बहुत अनुकूल और मिलनसार होना): Refers to people who get along very well.
• Example: The two musicians found they were very compatible and started a band together.
• An incentivization method in which a reward and a punishment are simultaneously offered (प्रोत्साहन और दंड की नीति): This is specifically known as the 'carrot and stick' approach.
• Example: The government used a carrot and stick approach to enforce the new tax laws.
• A person with red orange hair (लाल नारंगी बालों वाला व्यक्ति): A literal description often associated with the word 'ginger' or 'carrot-top'.
• Example: Since he was a person with red orange hair, his friends nicknamed him Rusty.

The correct answer is: Heinous.

Key Points

• The word 'Heinous' refers to an action, typically a crime, that is utterly wicked, odious, or deeply offensive to the senses. (जघन्य)
• Example: The court condemned the heinous nature of the assault on the innocent civilians.
• 'Heinous' is correctly spelled and represents something that is hateful or shocking in its level of evil. (जघन्य)
• Example: It is hard to imagine anyone committing such a heinous act of betrayal.
• Hence, we can identify that the correctly spelled word among the given options is 'Heinous'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Heinous.

Additional Information

Here are the correct spellings and meanings of the other options:

• Hapless (अभागा): This is the correct spelling of 'Happless' and refers to a person who is persistently unfortunate or unlucky.
• Example: The hapless driver found himself stuck in traffic for five hours.
• Hysteria (उन्माद): This is the correct spelling of 'Hystiria' and refers to uncontrollable or exaggerated emotion, often in a large group.
• Example: The arrival of the movie star caused a state of hysteria among the fans.
• Hubris (अति-अभिमान): This is the correct spelling of 'Hubries' and refers to excessive pride or dangerous self-confidence.
• Example: The general's hubris led him to underestimate the strength of the enemy.

The correct answer is: Rash.

Key Points

• The word 'reckless' refers to a person or their actions characterized by a lack of care about the danger or the consequences of their behavior. (लापरवाह)
• Example: The driver was arrested for reckless driving after he sped through a red light.
• 'Rash' means acting or done without careful consideration of the possible consequences; it is often used for impulsive or hasty actions. (उतावला/अविवेकी)
• Example: You should think carefully before making any rash decisions about your career.
• Hence, we can infer that the most appropriate synonym of 'reckless' is 'rash'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Rash.

Additional Information

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

• Careful (सावधान): Taking care or paying attention to avoid mistakes, damage, or danger.
• Example: Please be careful with those glass vases as they are very fragile.
• Thoughtful (विचारशील): Showing consideration for the needs of other people or showing careful thought.
• Example: It was very thoughtful of him to bring flowers for his host.
• Wise (बुद्धिमान): Having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
• Example: It is wise to plan for the future rather than spending all your money now.

The correct answer is: Profesional.

Key Points

• The word 'Profesional' is the misspelt word among the given options because it is missing the second 's' required for the correct spelling. (गलत वर्तनी)
• Example: The application was rejected because the candidate made a spelling error by writing 'Profesional' instead of the correct term.
• 'Professional' is the correct spelling, which refers to a person who is competent, skilled, or engaged in a specific activity as a main paid occupation. (पेशेवर)
• Example: It is important to maintain a professional attitude while dealing with clients in the office.
• Hence, we can infer that the misspelt word is 'Profesional'.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Profesional.

Additional Information

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

• Essential (आवश्यक): Something that is absolutely necessary or extremely important for a particular task or for survival.
• Example: A healthy diet and regular exercise are essential for maintaining good health.
• Industrial (औद्योगिक): Relating to or characterized by industry, factories, or manufacturing on a large scale.
• Example: The industrial revolution brought significant changes to the economy and society.
• Sensational (सनसनीखेज): Causing or intended to cause great public interest, excitement, or shock.
• Example: The sensational news about the discovery of a new planet spread rapidly across the globe.

The correct answer is Option (3) i.e. ordinary.

Key Points

• The word extraordinary refers to something that is very unusual, remarkable, or beyond what is regular or customary. (असाधारण)
• Example: The athlete demonstrated extraordinary endurance during the marathon.
• ordinary refers to something that is common, normal, or having no special or distinctive features. (साधारण)
• Example: It was just an ordinary day at school until the surprise assembly was announced.
• Hence, we can infer that the opposite of extraordinary is ordinary.

Therefore, the correct answer is- ordinary

Additional Information

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

• Remarkable (उल्लेखनीय): Worthy of attention; striking or unusual.
• Example: The young artist showed remarkable talent in her first exhibition.
• Exceptional (असाधारण/विशिष्ट): Unusually good or outstanding; not typical.
• Example: He is an exceptional student who excels in both academics and sports.
• Unusual (असामान्य): Not habitually or commonly occurring or done.
• Example: It is unusual to see such heavy rain in this desert region.

The correct answer is Option (1) i.e. Decathlon.

Key Points

• The phrase 'an athletic event comprising ten different events' refers to a multi-stage competition in track and field where athletes compete in ten distinct disciplines. (दस विभिन्न आयोजनों वाली एक एथलेटिक प्रतियोगिता)
• Example: The decathlon is considered an athletic event comprising ten different events that tests the ultimate versatility of an athlete.
• 'Decathlon' is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events, usually held over two days, with the winner determined by the highest total points. (दशप्रतियोगिता)
• Example: He spent years training to compete in the Olympic decathlon, mastering ten separate events from sprinting to shot put.
• Hence, we can infer that 'decathlon' is the most suitable one-word substitution for the given phrase.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Decathlon

Additional Information

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

• Pentathlon (पंचप्रतियोगिता): An athletic event comprising five different events, such as the modern pentathlon which includes fencing, swimming, horse riding, shooting, and running.
• Example: The modern pentathlon is a challenging contest that requires a diverse range of athletic skills across five disciplines.
• Tetratlon (चतुष्प्रतियोगिता): An athletic event comprising four different events, often used in youth competitions as a precursor to the pentathlon.
• Example: The junior games included a tetratlon where young athletes competed in four specific track events.
• Heptathlon (सप्तप्रतियोगिता): An athletic event comprising seven different events, which is the standard multi-event contest for women in outdoor athletics.
• Example: She won the gold medal in the heptathlon by performing consistently well across all seven track and field events.

The correct answer is Will all the orders have been shipped by us by the end of the day?.

Key Points

• The original sentence is an interrogative sentence in the Future Perfect Tense. The active voice structure is: Will + Subject (we) + have + V3 (shipped) + Object (all the orders)?
• To convert a Future Perfect sentence into Passive Voice, the construction follows this rule: Will + Object (new subject) + have been + V3 (Past Participle) + by + Agent?
• In the transformation, the object all the orders takes the position of the subject, and the subject we is converted into its objective case us acting as the agent.
• The phrase have been shipped is the correct passive form for the perfect aspect, ensuring that the completion of the action in the future is properly conveyed.
• The time-related phrase by the end of the day remains unchanged at the end of the sentence to maintain the original meaning and context.

 Additional Information

• Analysis of incorrect options:
• Future Indefinite Passive: Option 1 uses be shipped, which is the structure for Simple Future Passive, failing to reflect the perfective aspect (have + V3).
• Grammatical Incompatibility: Option 2 incorrectly uses had been. The modal verb will must be followed by the base form have, never the past form had.
• Incomplete Verb Phrase: Option 4 is missing the essential auxiliary verbs have been, rendering the sentence grammatically fragmented.
• The Future Perfect Tense is utilized to describe an event that is expected or planned to happen before a particular time in the future, typically indicated by the preposition by.

The correct answer is The tower will have been completed by the builders by next summer.

Key Points

• The given sentence 'By next summer, the builders will have completed the tower' is in the Active Voice and follows the Future Perfect Tense structure.
• The active structure for this tense is: Subject + will have + Past Participle (V3) + Object. In this sentence, the builders is the subject, will have completed is the verb, and the tower is the object.
• To convert a Future Perfect sentence into Passive Voice, the structure used is: New Subject (Object of active) + will have been + Past Participle (V3) + by + New Object (Subject of active).
• Following this rule, the tower moves to the subject position, the auxiliary verb becomes will have been, and the main verb completed remains in its V3 form.
• The phrase by next summer is an Adverbial of Time indicating a deadline in the future, which remains unchanged in position or tense during the conversion.

 Additional Information

• Future Perfect Tense (Passive):
• It emphasizes the completion of an action before a specific point in the future rather than the doer of the action.
• The inclusion of been is mandatory to distinguish the passive form from the active future perfect.
• Distinguishing other Tenses:
• Simple Future Passive: Uses will be + V3 (e.g., 'The tower will be completed'). This lacks the 'completion by a deadline' nuance.
• Present Perfect Passive: Uses has/have been + V3 (e.g., 'The tower has been completed'). This refers to an action already finished in the past with current relevance.
• Simple Past Passive: Uses was/were + V3 (e.g., 'The tower was completed'). This indicates the action occurred at a specific time in the past.

The correct answer is forest passing with trees.

Key Points

• The sentence involves identifying a grammatical or semantic error within its segments. Part (1) I want to spend is grammatically accurate as it uses the standard Subject + Verb + to-infinitive pattern. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Part (2) some time in the correctly applies the quantifier some before the uncountable noun time and initiates a prepositional phrase to indicate location. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Part (3) forest passing with trees is the erroneous segment. The use of the preposition with after the participle passing is semantically incorrect in this context. Trees are stationary biological entities; therefore, one cannot pass with them. The intended meaning suggests movement through the forest or being surrounded by trees. The correct prepositional usage for traversing a wooded area is passing through. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• Part (4) and enjoying the natural beauty maintains grammatical consistency by using the present participle form (enjoying) to describe an action occurring while spending time in the forest. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

 Additional Information

• Prepositions of Movement and Place:
• Through: Specifically used when moving within a three-dimensional space or an area filled with objects, such as a forest, a crowd, or a tunnel.
• Among: Used when one is in the middle of or surrounded by multiple distinct entities, such as among the trees.
• Participle Phrases:
• The words passing and enjoying function as participles that modify how the subject intends to spend time.
• Proper parallelism requires that multiple activities linked by a conjunction (like and) share the same grammatical structure to ensure sentence flow and clarity.

The correct answer is 'for'.

 

Key Points

• The noun genius, when used to describe a natural ability, talent, or exceptional aptitude, is idiomatically followed by the preposition for.
• The phrase genius for indicates that someone has a special talent for a particular activity or subject.
• In the given sentence, Alexander is described as having an exceptional talent for tactical warfare.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Complete Sentence: 'Alexander had a genius for tactical warfare.'

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: in is occasionally used to denote a field of study (e.g., a genius in mathematics), but for is the standard preposition for specific skills or actions.
• Option 3: of is used to show possession or origin (e.g., the genius of Mozart) rather than the talent someone possesses for a task.
• Option 4: to is grammatically incorrect in this context.

The correct answer is conducive to bringing stability to.

Key Points

• The adjective conducive means making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible. In English grammar, it is a fixed collocation that this word is always followed by the preposition to. Therefore, phrases like 'conducive in' or 'conducive of' are idiomatic errors.
• When the word to acts as a preposition (as it does following the adjective 'conducive'), any subsequent verb must be in the gerund form (verb + ing). This explains why bringing is required instead of the base form 'bring'.
• The phrase bring stability to is the standard idiomatic construction used to indicate the recipient or the system affected by the stabilization. The preposition to correctly identifies the financial system as the entity receiving the benefit of the measures.
• The original sentence is incorrect because it uses the preposition 'in' after 'conducive', fails to use the gerund form of the verb, and uses the wrong preposition before 'the financial system'.

 Additional Information

• Prepositional Idioms:
• Certain adjectives require specific prepositions to be grammatically correct. Examples include detrimental to, beneficial to, and immune to.
• Conducive to is frequently used in formal reports and academic writing to describe factors that contribute to a desired environment or result, such as economic growth or peace.
• Gerund vs. Infinitive:
• Learners often mistake the prepositional to for the infinitive marker to. In phrases like 'look forward to', 'object to', or 'conducive to', the word to is a preposition and must be followed by a noun or gerund.
• Example: 'The environment is conducive to learning' (Noun) or 'The environment is conducive to studying' (Gerund).

The correct answer is Option 4.

Key Points

• The paragraph describes a chronological sequence of events during a hospital stay following a surgery. S1 and S2 are fixed in their positions.
• Sentence A follows S1 as it provides the first chronological update after the appendix surgery:
• 'After two days they gave me food, but I couldn't keep it down.'
• Sentence D follows A because it introduces a subsequent medical complication that arose after the narrator was unable to process food:
• 'And then a fever arrived.'
• Sentence B follows D as it explains the medical response to the symptoms described in A and D (vomiting and fever):
• 'No one could isolate any bacteria or figure out what had gone wrong.'
• Sentence C follows B to provide an emphatic closure to the diagnostic mystery mentioned in the previous sentence:
• 'No one ever did.'
• The paragraph concludes with S2, which details the ongoing treatment with IV fluids and antibiotics to manage the unknown condition.
• The correct sequence is ADBC.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

'I had gone into the hospital to have my appendix out. After two days they gave me food, but I couldn't keep it down. And then a fever arrived.

No one could isolate any bacteria or figure out what had gone wrong.

No one ever did. I took fluids through one IV, and antibiotics came through another.'

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

• The paragraph follows a chronological and thematic contrast between a memory of the past and the reality of the present.
• S1 is the fixed starting sentence, which introduces the theme of the father's resilience to heat:
• 'When had the heat ever bothered her father before?'
• Sentence C follows S1 because it shifts the narrative into a flashback, providing context to the question asked in S1:
• 'She remembered going out to the farthest field with water for him, before he had given up that part of the farm.'
• Sentence A is the third sentence as it continues the specific action within the memory (the act of him taking the water):
• 'And he would take the jug from her and lift it to his lips and it would seem to Helen... that the water flowed into her magnificent father and enlivened him...'
• Sentence B follows A by further describing the father's powerful physical state in that memory, completing the image of the 'magnificent father':
• 'And his chest would swell, his reddened arms eager with muscle emerging out from his rolled-up sleeves...'
• Sentence D is the fifth sentence because it acts as a bridge, identifying the previous sentences as a 'vision' and contrasting it with the present reality:
• 'The vision pleased and confused her, for what had it to do with the man now beside her?'
• S2 is the fixed closing sentence, providing the physical details of the 'man now beside her' that contrast sharply with the memory:
• 'She stared at him and saw that his nose was queerly white... and his hair was thinning and jagged...'
• The logical sequence is CABD.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

'When had the heat ever bothered her father before? She remembered going out to the farthest field with water for him, before he had given up that part of the farm. And he would take the jug from her and lift it to his lips and it would seem to Helen, the sweet child Helen standing in the dusty corn, that the water flowed into her magnificent father and enlivened him as if it were secret blood of her own she had given him. And his chest would swell, his reddened arms eager with muscle emerging out from his rolled-up sleeves, and his eyes now wiped of sweat and exhaustion. The vision pleased and confused her, for what had it to do with the man now beside her? She stared at him and saw that his nose was queerly white and that there were many tiny red veins about it, hardly more than pen lines; and his hair was thinning and jagged, growing back stiffly from his forehead as if he had brushed it back impatiently with his hand once too often.'

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The primary grammatical error in the sentence is the redundant use of the conjunction ‘so’ after the subordinating conjunction ‘Since’.
• In English grammar, words like Since, Because, and As introduce a reason (subordinate clause). When a sentence starts with these words, the result (main clause) should follow after a comma without another conjunction like ‘so’ or ‘therefore’.
• Using both ‘Since’ and ‘so’ in the same sentence is a common error known as double conjunction or redundancy.
• Removing the word ‘so’ makes the sentence grammatically sound: ‘Since the people... early, I had to take a bus home.’
• Therefore, Option 2 is the correct replacement.

Therefore, the correct answer is I had to take a bus home.

 

Correct Sentence: ‘Since the people who gave me a ride decided to leave the concert early, I had to take a bus home.’

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: ‘so I had taken a bus home’ – This retains the redundant ‘so’ and unnecessarily changes the tense to past perfect, which does not fit the context of the simple past sequence.
• Option 3: ‘so I had to get a bus home’ – This also retains the redundant ‘so’, making it grammatically incorrect regardless of the verb change from ‘take’ to ‘get’.
• Option 4: ‘No improvement required’ – This is incorrect because the original sentence contains a redundancy error.
• Similar rules apply to Although/Though; you should not use ‘but’ in the same sentence (e.g., ‘Although it was raining, but he went out’).

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The passage emphasizes that although India has grown fast, it has the potential to develop even faster and more effectively.
• The core theme is the concept of inclusive growth, which is defined as growth that distributes economic gains across the entire population rather than a specific group.
• The author argues that growth should be viewed as an instrument for spreading prosperity to all segments of society, particularly the poorest segment.
• By advocating for both an increase in the pace of development and a broader distribution of its benefits, Option 1 most accurately captures the central idea.

Therefore, the correct answer is Demanding more rapid and widely shared economic growth.

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: This is incorrect because the passage explicitly mentions that high growth alone is not a sufficient condition for eradicating poverty.
• Option 3: While global standing is mentioned as a point of comparison, it is not the defining concept or goal discussed in the text.
• Option 4: While the government's role in redistribution is mentioned, the passage focuses more broadly on the nature of economic growth itself as a tool for inclusive progress.
• The passage suggests measuring success through the per capita income and growth rate of the bottom 20 per cent of the population.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• According to the passage, inclusive growth is defined by the distribution of economic gains to the entire population rather than a specific group.
• The text emphasizes that growth should be treated as an instrument for spreading prosperity to all citizens, which aligns with the idea of improving society as a whole.
• It highlights that progress should be measured by the advancement of the poorest segment (the bottom 20 per cent), ensuring that no one is left behind.
• The participation of the poor segment and the existence of redistribution mechanisms for the vulnerable are central to this concept.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect because the passage explicitly rejects focusing on a specific group (like the wealthy) and instead promotes growth for the entire population.
• Option 3 is incorrect because the passage states that growth must include the participation of the poor rather than sideline them.
• Option 4 is incorrect because, while industries and infrastructure are drivers of economic development, the "inclusive" aspect specifically refers to how the benefits of that development are shared across all levels of society.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The passage explicitly states that while economic growth is necessary for eradicating poverty, it is not a sufficient condition on its own.
• It emphasizes that policies designed for growth must ensure that the poor segment of the population is enabled to participate in the economic process.
• Additionally, the concept of inclusive growth requires mechanisms to be in place to redistribute the economic gains to vulnerable individuals.
• Thus, the eradication of poverty depends on the synergy between achieving growth and ensuring the active participation of the poor.

Therefore, the correct answer is Combining economic growth with the participation of the poor.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect because the passage clarifies that growth is a necessary but not a sufficient condition; it cannot solve poverty in isolation.
• Option 2 is incorrect as the primary goal of inclusive growth is to distribute gains to the entire population, particularly the bottom 20 per cent, rather than focusing on the rich.
• Option 4 is incorrect because the text suggests the need for specific policy interventions and redistributive mechanisms, which goes beyond purely market-driven policies.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• The passage defines inclusive growth as a concept where economic gains are distributed to the entire population rather than being confined to a specific group.
• It emphasizes that economic growth should not be seen as an end in itself but as an instrument for spreading prosperity to all members of society.
• According to the text, for growth to be truly inclusive, it requires the participation of the poor segment and mechanisms to redistribute gains to those who are vulnerable.
• Thus, the two fundamental corollaries mentioned or implied are achieving high growth and ensuring that the weakest segments (the bottom 20 percent) benefit from that progress.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Additional Information

• Low inflation and high employment: While these are positive economic indicators, the passage focuses specifically on the distribution of wealth and the participation of the poor in the growth process.
• Privatization and foreign investment: These are methods to stimulate the economy, but the passage defines inclusive growth through the lens of equity and social welfare rather than specific market mechanisms.
• Market reforms and tax reduction: These are policy instruments, whereas the passage identifies the metric of success as the per capita income of the bottom quintile of the population.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The passage explores the concept of inclusive growth, emphasizing that economic success should be measured by how it affects the entire population.
• According to the text, a nation's progress should be evaluated based on its poorest segment rather than the average or total growth alone.
• The specific metric proposed is the per capita income of the bottom 20% (also referred to as the bottom quintile) of the population.
• By calculating the growth rate of income for this specific group, the government can determine if prosperity is truly being spread widely.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Additional Information

• GDP growth rate: The passage mentions that while India has grown fast, growth is an instrument and not a sufficient condition for poverty eradication on its own.
• Bottom Quintile: In statistics, a quintile represents 20% of a given population; the bottom quintile specifically refers to the lowest-earning group.
• Redistribution: The passage suggests that for growth to be inclusive, there must be mechanisms to redistribute gains to the vulnerable segments of society.