English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is: Option (1) i.e. 'A trustworthy and competent person'.

Key Points

• The idiom 'A safe pair of hands' refers to a person who is reliable, dependable, and can be trusted to do a job well without making mistakes or causing trouble. (एक विश्वसनीय और सक्षम व्यक्ति)
• Example: With his years of experience in finance, the new director is a safe pair of hands for the company.
• 'A trustworthy and competent person' describes someone who is honest and has the necessary ability or knowledge to do something successfully. (एक भरोसेमंद और कुशल व्यक्ति)
• Example: Every project manager wants a trustworthy and competent person to handle the most critical aspects of the work.
• Hence, we can infer that the meaning of the idiom 'a safe pair of hands' is 'a trustworthy and competent person'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: A trustworthy and competent person.

Additional Information

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

• One who has a lot of experience doing a particular task (वह व्यक्ति जिसे किसी विशेष कार्य को करने का बहुत अनुभव हो): This refers to a veteran or an expert.
• Example: As one who has a lot of experience in surgery, the doctor remained calm during the complication.
• Something of some value that is already acquired (कुछ मूल्यवान जो पहले से ही प्राप्त कर लिया गया हो): This is similar to the meaning of the proverb 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush'.
• Example: I accepted the modest bonus now rather than waiting for a potential raise later, as I prefer something of value that is already acquired.
• Additional help or assistance provided by another person (किसी अन्य व्यक्ति द्वारा प्रदान की गई अतिरिक्त सहायता): This is commonly referred to as lending a helping hand.
• Example: The project was finished ahead of schedule because the marketing team provided additional assistance.

The correct answer is: To leave a situation alone so as to avoid worsening it.

Key Points

• The idiom 'Let sleeping dogs lie' means to avoid interfering in a situation that is currently stable, even if it is not perfect, to prevent causing new trouble or complications. (किसी पुरानी विवादित स्थिति को न छेड़ना ताकि परेशानी न बढ़े)
• Example: I thought about bringing up the missing money again, but I decided to let sleeping dogs lie.
• 'To leave a situation alone so as to avoid worsening it' refers to the act of staying away from a problem or past conflict to ensure that things do not get more difficult or messy than they already are. (किसी स्थिति को उसके हाल पर छोड़ देना ताकि वह और खराब न हो)
• Example: The manager knew about the small disagreement between the colleagues but chose to leave the situation alone to avoid making it worse.
• Hence, we can infer that the correct meaning of the idiom 'let sleeping dogs lie' is to avoid disturbing a situation to prevent worsening it.

Therefore, the correct answer is: To leave a situation alone so as to avoid worsening it.

Additional Information

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

• To experience a very deep and restful sleep (गहरी और आरामदायक नींद लेना): This describes sleeping very soundly without waking up.
• Example: After the exhausting hike, she managed to sleep soundly for ten hours.
• To sleep easily and deeply, untroubled by one's conscience (बिना किसी पछतावे के चैन की नींद सोना): This refers to sleeping peacefully because one feels they have done the right thing.
• Example: He knew he had been honest in the deal, which allowed him to sleep easily at night.
• Refuse to rouse or provoke the latent power (किसी की छिपी हुई शक्ति को न उकसाना): This means choosing not to challenge or wake up a potentially powerful or dangerous force.
• Example: The small company decided not to provoke the industry giant with a direct legal challenge.

The correct answer is: Gaffe.

Key Points

• The word 'Gaffe' refers to an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment; a social blunder or mistake. (भूल)
• Example: Making a social gaffe can be highly embarrassing in formal gatherings.
• 'Gaffe' is the correctly spelt word among the given options, and it functions as a noun in English. (गलती)
• Example: The minister's spelling gaffe on social media quickly became a trending topic.
• Hence, we can infer that 'Gaffe' is correctly spelt.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Gaffe.

Additional Information

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

• Gregarious (सुसंसर्गप्रिय / मिलनसार): Fond of company; sociable.
• Example: She is a gregarious person who loves attending social events and making new friends.
• Garulity (वाचालता): This is an incorrect spelling. The correct spelling is 'Garrulity', which means the quality of talking constantly or excessively, especially on trivial matters.
• Example: His endless garrulity in the meeting bored everyone to sleep.
• Gluttony (पेटूपन / अतिभोजन): Habitual greed or excess in eating.
• Example: Excessive eating during holidays is often driven by sheer gluttony.

The correct answer is Option(3) i.e. 'Beneath'.

Key Points

• The word 'underneath' refers to being situated directly below or under another object. (के नीचे)
• Example: She found her lost keys underneath the sofa while cleaning the room.
• 'Beneath' is the closest synonym and means in or to a lower position than something else; it is often used to describe something being directly under another thing. (के नीचे)
• Example: They took shelter beneath a large tree during the heavy rainstorm.
• Hence, we can infer that the synonym of 'underneath' is 'beneath'.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Beneath.

Additional Information

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

• Above (के ऊपर): At a higher level or layer than something else.
• Example: The birds were soaring high above the clouds.
• Behind (के पीछे): At or to the back of something or someone.
• Example: The child was hiding behind the curtain so nobody could see him.
• Across (के पार): From one side to the other of something.
• Example: We walked across the bridge to reach the other side of the river.

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

Key Points

• The word 'Prosecuter' is the misspelt version of 'Prosecutor'. It is an error where the suffix '-or' is incorrectly replaced by '-er'. (अशुद्ध वर्तनी)
• Example: The legal brief was returned for correction because the word 'prosecuter' was used repeatedly instead of the correct spelling.
• 'Prosecutor' refers to a person, especially a public official, who institutes legal proceedings against someone in a court of law. (अभियोजक)
• Example: The prosecutor presented the evidence to the jury to prove that the defendant was guilty.
• Hence, we can identify that 'prosecuter' is the misspelt word among the options.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Prosecuter.

Additional Information

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

• Terminator (समाप्त करने वाला): A person or thing that terminates or brings something to an end.
• Example: The final clause in the agreement acts as a terminator for all previous contracts.
• Interloper (हस्तक्षेप करने वाला): A person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to belong.
• Example: The local residents regarded the new developer as an interloper who didn't understand the community's needs.
• Perpetrator (अपराधी): A person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or immoral act.
• Example: The police are working hard to identify the perpetrator of the recent bank heist.

The correct answer is: Option (4) i.e. Moderation.

Key Points

• The word 'Extremism' refers to the quality or state of being extreme or the advocacy of extreme measures or views, especially in politics or religion. (अतिवाद)
• Example: The rise of political extremism often leads to social polarization and conflict within a nation.
• 'Moderation' refers to the avoidance of excess or extremes, particularly in one's behavior, actions, or opinions. (उदारवाद / मध्यम मार्ग)
• Example: The leader encouraged moderation in the debate to ensure that all viewpoints were heard respectfully.
• Hence, we can infer that the antonym or opposite of 'Extremism' is 'Moderation'.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Moderation.

Additional Information

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

• Radicalism (कट्टरवाद): The beliefs or actions of people who advocate thorough or complete political or social reform.
• Example: The 19^th century saw a wave of radicalism that fundamentally changed labor laws.
• Zealotry (धर्मोन्माद): Fanatical and uncompromising pursuit of religious, political, or other ideals.
• Example: His religious zealotry made it difficult for him to accept anyone who did not share his specific faith.
• Fanaticism (कट्टरता): The quality of being fanatical; having excessive zeal and uncritical devotion toward a specific cause or belief.
• Example: The fanaticism of the crowd grew as the game reached its final minutes.

1. Choose the most suitable one-word substitution for the following. A person who believes that God is in everything including nature.

The correct answer is: Option (2) i.e. Pantheist.

Key Points

• The phrase 'A person who believes that God is in everything including nature' refers to a person who identifies the universe with God, believing that the divine is present in all aspects of the natural world. (सर्वेश्वरवादी)
• Example: A person who finds the presence of the divine in the mountains, the sea, and the stars can be described as following this belief.
• 'Pantheist' is a person who believes in the doctrine that the universe as a whole is God and that there is no God but the combined forces and laws which are manifested in the existing universe. (सर्वेश्वरवादी)
• Example: The philosopher Baruch Spinoza is famously known as a pantheist because he argued that God and Nature are two names for the same reality.
• Therefore, the correct answer is- Pantheist.

Additional Information

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

• Agnostic (अज्ञेयवादी): A person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena.
• Example: While his friends were deeply religious, he remained an agnostic, stating that the existence of a higher power is unproven.
• Polytheist (बहुदेववादी): A person who believes in or worships more than one god.
• Example: Followers of Ancient Egyptian religion were polytheists who worshipped a variety of deities like Ra, Osiris, and Isis.
• Chiropodist (पैर का चिकित्सक): A person who treats minor foot ailments and disorders, such as corns or ingrown toenails.
• Example: I went to see a chiropodist because my feet were aching after running the marathon.

The correct answer is The fire brigade must have been called..

Key Points

• The given sentence is in the Active Voice and utilizes a Modal Perfect structure: Subject + must + have + V3 (Past Participle) + Object.
• When converting a Modal Perfect sentence into the Passive Voice, the standard formula is: Object + Modal (must) + have + been + V3 (Past Participle) + (by agent).
• The object of the active sentence, 'the fire brigade', shifts to the subject position in the passive sentence.
• The verb phrase 'must have called' is correctly transformed into 'must have been called' to indicate the passive state.
• In English grammar, when the subject of the active voice is an indefinite pronoun such as 'somebody', 'someone', or 'anybody', the agent (the 'by' phrase) is usually omitted in the passive voice because the identity of the person is unknown or irrelevant.

 Additional Information

• Passive Voice Mechanics:
• Modals: For simple modals like can, may, must, should, the passive form is modal + be + V3. For modal perfects like must have, could have, should have, the form is modal + have + been + V3.
• Agent Omission: We omit the prepositional phrase beginning with 'by' when the doer is unimportant, unknown, or obvious from the context (e.g., 'The thief was arrested' implies the police did it).
• Tense Consistency: The Passive Voice must always maintain the aspect and tense of the original active sentence.
• Analysis of Incorrect Forms:
• Grammatical Errors: Using 'call' instead of the past participle 'called' violates the basic rule of passive construction.
• Structural Errors: Omitting the auxiliary 'been' results in an active verb form, which fails to convey that the action was performed upon the subject.
• Modal Misuse: Adding unnecessary words like 'to be' after 'have' changes the grammatical necessity and creates a non-standard English structure.

The correct answer is Sweets will be distributed among the poor by them..

Key Points

• The original sentence 'They will distribute sweets among the poor' is in the Active Voice and follows the Simple Future Tense (also known as Future Indefinite).
• In Simple Future Tense, the active structure is Subject + will/shall + Base Verb (V1) + Object.
• When converting to Passive Voice, the structure transforms to Object + will/shall + be + Past Participle (V3) + by + Subject.
• The Object of the active sentence (sweets) becomes the Subject of the passive sentence.
• The Subject of the active sentence (They) changes to its Objective Case (them) and is placed after the preposition by.
• The verb distribute is replaced by will be distributed to satisfy the requirement of the Future Passive form.

 Additional Information

• Simple Future Passive Rules:
• Auxiliary Verb: In the passive voice for future tense, the modal will or shall must always be followed by be.
• Main Verb: The main action must always be expressed in the Third Form of the Verb (V3), which is distributed in this instance.
• Contextual Placement: Adverbial phrases or complements like among the poor are typically placed after the main verb to maintain the flow of the sentence.
• Pronoun Case Shifts:
• Personal pronouns undergo a change from Nominative Case to Objective Case. For example, I becomes me, He becomes him, and They becomes them.
• Function of Passive Voice:
• The Passive Voice is utilized when the focus is intended to be on the recipient of the action (the sweets) rather than the doer (them).

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The error in the sentence lies in the use of the preposition 'to' in part 3: 'threw her sandals to him'.
• The verb 'throw' is followed by different prepositions depending on the intent:
• Throw at: Used when the intention is to hit or hurt someone or something (aggressive action).
• Throw to: Used when the intention is for the recipient to catch the object (cooperative action).
• Since the context indicates that Johnsy was 'angry' and the action resulted in the stranger being 'hurting' above his eyebrow, the correct preposition is 'at'.
• Thus, the error is found in the third segment of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: 'Johnsy was so angry with the stranger that she threw her sandals at him hurting just above his right eyebrow.'

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: 'Johnsy was so' – This part is correct; it introduces the so...that structure which expresses a result or consequence.
• Option 2: 'angry with the' – This is correct as 'angry with' is the appropriate phrase when expressing anger toward a person.
• Option 4: 'hurting just above his right eyebrow.' – This part is grammatically correct as it uses a present participle phrase to describe the result of the previous action.

The correct answer is 'to'.

 

Key Points

• The adjective affectionate is used to describe someone who shows fondness or tenderness.
• In English grammar, affectionate is typically followed by the preposition to or towards when it is directed at a person or group.
• The sentence indicates that the grandmother shows fondness toward the family members, making to the grammatically correct choice.
• Options 1, 2, and 4 do not follow the standard idiomatic usage for the word affectionate in this context.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Complete Sentence: "My grandmother is affectionate to all our family members."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: of is incorrect; however, the noun affection can be followed by for (e.g., She has a lot of affection for them).
• Option 2: with is sometimes used when describing interaction (e.g., being affectionate with one another), but to is the standard preposition for directing the quality toward a recipient.
• Option 4: by is a preposition of agency or proximity and is not used with the adjective affectionate.

The correct answer is No improvement required.

Key Points

• The sentence uses the phrasal verb put up with, which is an idiomatic expression meaning to tolerate, endure, or accept an unpleasant situation or person without complaining.
• Grammatically, put up with consists of a verb (put), an adverb (up), and a preposition (with), and it is a transitive phrasal verb that requires an object, which in this case is severe criticism.
• The Present Perfect Continuous tense (has been putting up with) is used correctly here to describe an action that started in the past and continues to the present moment, suggesting the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) is currently enduring ongoing backlash.
• The prepositional phrase for its methods provides the reason for the criticism, making the sentence logically and syntactically sound.
• Since the original phrasal verb put up with perfectly fits the context of enduring negative feedback, no changes or improvements are necessary to the sentence structure.

 Additional Information

• Understanding other phrasal verbs using put:
• Put across: This means to communicate or convey an idea or message clearly so that it is understood. Adding with to this phrase (as in Option 1) makes it grammatically incorrect in this context.
• Put out: This has several meanings, including to extinguish (like a fire or light), to publish something, or to be inconvenienced. It does not carry the meaning of tolerating criticism.
• Put in: This usually refers to installing equipment, submitting a formal request (like a claim), or dedicating a specific amount of time or effort to a task.

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key Points

• The passage describes the changes that occurred within a family over a period of time. It starts with a fixed introductory sentence (S1) and ends with a fixed concluding sentence (S2).
• Sentence B follows S1: S1 ends with the phrase 'three years went by.' Sentence B ('Three precious years') serves as a rhetorical repetition that emphasizes the passage of time mentioned in the first sentence, making it the most logical immediate follow-up.
• Sentence A comes next: After establishing the timeframe, the paragraph begins detailing what happened to individual family members. Sentence A introduces Carrie and her situation as a school teacher.
• Sentence D is the third sentence: It continues the account of the family members by describing Eva's domestic struggles and the financial difficulties ('prices advanced and allowance retreated') faced during those years.
• Sentence C is the fourth sentence: It shifts the focus to Stell, the 'family beauty,' and notes that she was aging and moving past the stage of wearing 'curls.' This thematic focus on physical aging creates a perfect transition to the final sentence.
• Sentence S2 is the fixed conclusion: It completes the description of the sisters by mentioning Emily and how her hair lost its 'glint,' reinforcing the theme of time taking its toll on the characters' youth and appearance.
• The correct logical sequence is BADC.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

'And three years went by. Three precious years. Carrie still taught school, and hated it. Eva kept house, more and more complainingly as prices advanced and allowance retreated. Stell was still Babe, the family beauty; but even she knew that the time was past for curls. Emily's hair, somehow, lost its glint and began to look just plain brown.'

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key Points

• The paragraph describes a landscape transition from a cleared area to a river and then to denser vegetation.
• Sentence B follows S1 because it uses the demonstrative phrase 'these weeds' to refer back to the 'tall grass' mentioned in S1. It describes the state of the vegetation ('dead and whitened') and introduces the presence of 'water':
• 'These weeds gathered upon themselves in a brittle tumult back where the vines and foliage of trees began, the weeds dead and whitened and the vines a glossy, rich green, as if sucking life out of the water into which they drooped.'
• Sentence D is the third sentence as it builds on the mention of 'water' in Sentence B by describing the 'river bank' and the 'waterline':
• 'All along the river bank trees and bushes leaned out and showed a yard or two of dead, whitish brown where the waterline had once been.'
• Sentence A follows D by identifying the water body as 'This river' and explaining its physical characteristic—bending often—which obstructed a long-distance view:
• 'This river bent so often you could never see far along it.'
• Sentence C is the fifth sentence because it provides a specific clarification ('Only a mile or so') to the phrase 'never see far' used in Sentence A:
• 'Only a mile or so.'
• The fixed sentence S2 concludes the paragraph by describing the start of the 'foliage'.
• The logical sequence is BDAC.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

'On either side of them tall grass shrank back from the cleared, patted area, stiff and dried with August heat. These weeds gathered upon themselves in a brittle tumult back where the vines and foliage of trees began, the weeds dead and whitened and the vines a glossy, rich green, as if sucking life out of the water into which they drooped.

All along the river bank trees and bushes leaned out and showed a yard or two of dead, whitish brown where the waterline had once been. This river bent so often you could never see far along it. Only a mile or so. Then foliage began, confused and unmoving.'

The correct answer is will increase your energy levels.

Key Points

• The underlined phrase 'will have the effect of increasing' is an example of circumlocution, which refers to the use of unnecessarily many words to describe a simple action. Replacing it with the single, direct verb 'will increase' significantly improves the sentence's conciseness and readability.
• The sentence requires parallel structure to maintain grammatical balance between the two predicates joined by the coordinating conjunction 'and'. By using the future tense verb 'will increase', the first part of the sentence becomes parallel with the second part, 'and help you feel'.
• Using strong action verbs instead of nominalized phrases (turning a verb into a noun phrase like 'have the effect of') makes the prose more direct and impactful. In standard English grammar, avoiding excessive wordiness is a key principle for sentence improvement.
• The original phrasing is wordy and creates a clunky flow. Modern style guides (such as The Chicago Manual of Style or Strunk and White) recommend opting for the most economical expression that preserves the original meaning.

 Additional Information

• Linguistic and Stylistic Concepts:
• Affect vs. Effect: These are homophones often confused in competitive exams. 'Affect' is typically used as a verb meaning to influence or change (e.g., The weather affects energy levels), while 'Effect' is typically used as a noun meaning a result (e.g., The effect of exercise is positive). Option 2 is incorrect as it uses 'affect' where a noun is needed, and Option 3 uses it awkwardly.
• Parallelism: This is a rhetorical device where parts of a sentence are grammatically similar or identical in structure, sound, or meaning. Correcting the sentence to 'Regular exercise will [increase] ... and [help] ...' follows this rule of structural consistency.
• Economy of Language: This refers to the practice of using the minimum number of words necessary to convey a message without losing clarity. It is a highly valued trait in standardized English proficiency tests.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The passage explicitly states that poverty and unemployment are fundamental drivers of extremism because they create feelings of hopelessness and desperation.
• Poor economic conditions lead to limited opportunities, which in turn causes frustration and despair among individuals, especially the youth.
• When people feel they have no future or face social injustice, they become more susceptible to the lure of extremist ideas as a way to express their resentment.
• Therefore, the linkage exists because of the negative psychological and emotional impact these economic hardships have on a population.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: This is incorrect because the passage notes that these conditions result in anger and resentment rather than reducing them.
• Option 3: This is incorrect because poverty and unemployment represent the absence of education and jobs, not a guarantee of access to them.
• Option 4: This is incorrect because extremist organizations thrive in these conditions, making it easier for them to recruit vulnerable individuals.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• According to the passage, poor economic conditions are a primary factor because they create limited opportunities for individuals.
• This lack of access to gainful employment results in fewer options for survival and growth, leading to frustration and despair.
• The combination of poverty and unemployment breeds feelings of resentment and a sense of injustice, which are described as a volatile combination in the minds of young people.
• Consequently, these conditions make the youth more vulnerable to being pushed toward the lure of extremist ideas.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect because the passage explicitly states that poor conditions result in fewer options, not an increase in gainful employment.
• Option 3 is incorrect because the passage identifies wealth gaps and injustice as contributing factors, implying a lack of equality rather than the promotion of it.
• Option 4 is incorrect because high unemployment and wealth gaps actually make it easier for extremist organizations to recruit young people.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• According to the passage, poverty and unemployment are fundamental drivers of extremism because they create feelings of hopelessness, desperation, and anger.
• The text explicitly states that extremist organizations can more easily recruit youth due to high unemployment and wider wealth gaps.
• This socio-economic environment leads to a sense of frustration and injustice, which is the primary factor making unemployed youth vulnerable to extremist ideologies.
• Therefore, the main factor is their frustration stemming from the lack of work and the disparity in wealth.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: This is incorrect because the passage identifies a lack of opportunities and limited options for employment, not an abundance of jobs.
• Option 2: While youth may feel attracted to extremist ideology, this is the result of their vulnerability rather than the primary socio-economic factor causing it.
• Option 4: Although lack of education is mentioned as a driver, the passage specifically highlights high unemployment and wealth gaps as the reasons recruiters find it easier to target youth.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The passage explicitly mentions that individuals from higher-income groups are more likely to have a range of economic opportunities.
• Because they possess economic stability, they are less likely to experience the hopelessness and desperation that drive others toward extremism.
• The text contrasts this with poor economic conditions, which create limited options and push people toward extremist ideas.
• Therefore, the primary reason higher-income individuals tend not to join extremist groups is that they enjoy more economic opportunities and stability.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: While marginalization is often a factor in extremism, the passage specifically highlights economic opportunities as the reason for higher-income groups.
• Option 2: The text mentions that recruiters find it easier to recruit young, educated people without jobs, but the core reason for higher-income groups staying away is their own financial security.
• Option 4: Although lack of education is cited as a driver of extremism, the passage explicitly links the behavior of higher-income people to their economic status rather than their social consciousness.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• According to the passage, poverty and unemployment are fundamental drivers of extremism because they create a negative psychological environment.
• These conditions are dangerous because they engender feelings of resentment, hopelessness, and injustice, forming a volatile combination in the minds of individuals.
• The lack of economic opportunities results in despair and anger, which makes people, especially the youth, more vulnerable to the lure of extremist ideas.
• The text explicitly states that these feelings of desperation and social injustice are what link poor economic conditions to extremist activities.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect because poverty and unemployment are factors that lead to social instability and extremism, rather than ensuring peace and harmony.
• Option 3 is incorrect because economic opportunities and stability are characteristics attributed to higher-income groups in the passage, not to those suffering from poverty.
• Option 4 is incorrect because the passage clarifies that these conditions increase (rather than reduce) frustration and despair among the youth.