English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is: Take someone down a peg or two.

Key Points

• The phrase 'Make someone realize that they are less talented or important than they think they are' means to humble a person who is acting in an arrogant or overconfident manner. (किसी को यह अहसास कराना कि वह उतना महत्वपूर्ण या प्रतिभाशाली नहीं है जितना वह खुद को समझता है)
• Example: After he started bragging about his minor promotion, his boss decided to humble him by assigning him a basic task.
• 'Take someone down a peg or two' is an idiom used to describe the act of reducing someone's high opinion of themselves or making them feel less proud. (किसी का घमंड चूर करना या किसी को उसकी औकात दिखाना)
• Example: The new champion was so boastful that the veteran player felt it was time to take him down a peg or two on the court.
• Hence, we can infer that the idiom that matches the given meaning is 'Take someone down a peg or two'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Take someone down a peg or two.

Additional Information

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

• Peg away at (किसी काम में जुटे रहना): To continue working hard at a difficult or tedious task over a long period.
• Example: If you peg away at your revision every night, you will surely get an A in the exam.
• Square peg (अनुपयुक्त व्यक्ति): Usually used in the phrase 'a square peg in a round hole', referring to a person who is not suitable for the job or situation they are in.
• Example: He felt like a square peg in a round hole working in a high-pressure finance firm because he preferred painting.
• Peg back (बढ़त कम करना या रोकना): To reduce the lead of an opponent in a game or to prevent someone from making progress.
• Example: The opposition team managed to peg back the champions with a sudden counter-attack goal.

The correct answer is: Unpleasant things will happen to someone.

Key Points

• The idiom 'Woe betide' is an archaic expression used to warn someone that they will be in trouble or that something bad will happen to them if they do (or fail to do) a particular thing. (किसी का बुरा होना या मुसीबत आना)
• Example: Woe betide anyone who forgets to lock the front door tonight.
• 'Unpleasant things will happen to someone' is the direct interpretation of this idiom, as it signifies a state of misfortune or negative consequences befalling an individual. (किसी के साथ अप्रिय घटनाएँ घटित होंगी)
• Example: If you ignore the safety warnings, unpleasant things will happen to you during the trek.
• Hence, we can infer that the correct meaning of the idiom is that negative or undesirable outcomes are expected for someone.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Unpleasant things will happen to someone.

Additional Information

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

• Pleasant things will happen to someone (किसी के साथ अच्छी चीज़ें होंगी): This refers to positive, enjoyable, or favorable events occurring, which is the opposite of 'woe'.
• Example: After all his hard work, he felt that pleasant things would happen in his career.
• Unprecedented success to someone (किसी को अभूतपूर्व सफलता): This refers to a level of success that has never happened or been experienced before.
• Example: The athlete achieved unprecedented success by winning five gold medals in a single event.
• Feeling jealous of someone (किसी से ईर्ष्या करना): This refers to feeling unhappy or angry because you want to have what someone else has.
• Example: Instead of being happy for her sister, she was feeling jealous of her new car.

The correct answer is trepidation.

Key Points

• The term trepidation is a noun that refers to a feeling of fear, alarm, or agitation about something that may happen in the future.
• The spelling trepidition provided in the original sentence is incorrect because it uses the vowel i in the third syllable instead of the correct vowel a.
• The correct spelling, trepidation, follows the standard English orthographic pattern where the suffix -ation is used to form nouns indicating a state or condition.
• In the context of the sentence, the word describes the nervousness or apprehension felt by the individual as she enters an interview room, which is a common scenario for such psychological distress.

 Additional Information

• Etymological Roots:
• The word is derived from the Latin word trepidatio, which means trembling or alarm, coming from the root trepidare (to tremble).
• It was first recorded in the English language during the late 15^th century.
• Contextual Synonyms:
• Apprehension: Specifically refers to anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
• Consternation: A feeling of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected.
• Perturbation: A state of mental disquiet, disturbance, or agitation.
• Usage in Literature and Formal Writing:
• Trepidation is frequently used in formal communication and literature to convey a deep-seated dread or hesitation before a significant or daunting event.
• An antonym for this term would be equanimity or composure, representing a state of mental calmness.

The correct answer is: complain.

Key Points

• The word grumble means to complain about something in a bad-tempered way, or to make a low rumbling sound. (बड़बड़ाना)
• Example: The passengers began to grumble about the delay of the flight.
• complain refers to the act of expressing dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, or resentment. It is the closest in meaning to grumble as both involve expressing discontent. (शिकायत करना)
• Example: You have every right to complain if the service is not up to the mark.
• Hence, we can infer that the synonym of grumble is complain.

Therefore, the correct answer is- complain

Additional Information

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

• Whisper (फुसफुसाना): To speak very softly using one's breath without using the vocal cords.
• Example: She leaned closer to whisper the secret in his ear.
• Shout (चिल्लाना): To speak or cry out in a very loud voice, often due to anger, excitement, or to be heard from a distance.
• Example: Don't shout at me; I am standing right next to you.
• Agree (सहमत होना): To have the same opinion as someone else or to accept a suggestion.
• Example: I totally agree with your decision to start a new business.

The correct answer is: Privilage.

Key Points

• The word 'Privilage' is incorrectly spelled; it is the misspelt version of the word 'Privilege'. (गलत वर्तनी)
• Example: The editor pointed out that the word privilage was spelled incorrectly in the first draft.
• The correct word 'Privilege' refers to a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group. (विशेषाधिकार)
• Example: It was a privilege to witness the historic event in person.
• Hence, we can infer that 'Privilage' is the misspelt word among the given options.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Privilage.

Additional Information

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

• Occurrence (घटना): An incident or event that takes place.
• Example: The occurrence of solar eclipses is a fascinating astronomical event.
• Apparent (स्पष्ट): Clearly visible or understood; obvious.
• Example: The apparent reason for the delay was the heavy snowfall.
• Parallel (समांतर): Side by side and having the same distance continuously between them.
• Example: The two main streets of the town run parallel to each other.

The correct answer is: Reasonable.

Key Points

• The word 'Expensive' refers to something that costs a lot of money and is not cheap or affordable for everyone. (महँगा)
• Example: Maintaining a luxury sports car is extremely expensive due to high fuel and repair costs.
• 'Reasonable' refers to a price that is fair, moderate, and not excessive; it suggests that the cost is appropriate for the value received, making it the antonym of expensive. (उचित/किफायती)
• Example: The local cafeteria provides healthy and delicious meals at a very reasonable price.
• Hence, we can infer that the opposite of 'expensive' is 'reasonable'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Reasonable.

Additional Information

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

• Costly (कीमती/महँगा): Something that results in a high price or involves a great expenditure.
• Example: The delay in the shipment proved to be a costly mistake for the company.
• Pricey (महँगा): An informal term used to describe something that is expensive.
• Example: Real estate in the downtown area is becoming increasingly pricey.
• Valuable (मूल्यवान): Something that is worth a great deal of money or is extremely useful and important.
• Example: The museum houses many valuable artifacts from the ancient era.

The correct answer is: Raconteur.

Key Points

• The phrase 'one who tells anecdotes in a skilful and amusing way' refers to a person who has a special talent for telling stories and keeping an audience entertained. (वह व्यक्ति जो कुशलतापूर्वक और मनोरंजक तरीके से किस्से सुनाता है)
• Example: Her grandfather was a wonderful storyteller, a true raconteur who could keep the children entertained for hours with his life experiences.
• 'Raconteur' means a person who excels in telling anecdotes and stories in a skillful and amusing manner. (किस्सागो / गल्पकार)
• Example: Being a natural raconteur, he could turn even the most mundane daily event into a hilarious and engaging story.
• Hence, we can infer that the one-word substitute for 'one who tells anecdotes in a skilful and amusing way' is 'raconteur'.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Raconteur.

Additional Information

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

• Sybarite (विलासी): A person who is self-indulgent in their fondness for sensuous luxury and pleasure.
• Example: The billionaire lived like a sybarite, surrounded by gold-plated furniture and private chefs.
• Martinet (कठोर अनुशासनवादी): A person who demands complete obedience and is a very strict disciplinarian.
• Example: The drill sergeant was known as a martinet who would punish the recruits for even the slightest uniform imperfection.
• Epicurean (भोगवादी): A person devoted to sensual enjoyment, especially derived from fine food and drink.
• Example: His epicurean lifestyle involved traveling across Europe in search of the finest wines and rare cuisines.

The correct answer is: Forfeiture.

Key Points

• The phrase 'The loss or giving up of something as a penalty for wrongdoing' refers to the legal or contractual consequence where an individual must surrender property, money, or a right due to a crime or failure to fulfill an obligation. (दंड के रूप में किसी वस्तु का त्याग या हानि)
• Example: The contract included a clause for the forfeiture of the down payment if the buyer backed out.
• 'Forfeiture' means the act of losing or being deprived of property or a right as a punishment for an offense or breach of duty. (ज़ब्ती/दंडस्वरूप समर्पण)
• Example: The court ordered the forfeiture of all assets gained through the illegal trade.
• Hence, we can infer that the most suitable one-word substitution for the given phrase is 'forfeiture'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Forfeiture.

Additional Information

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

• Embezzlement (ग़बन): The fraudulent misappropriation or theft of funds placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer.
• Example: He was sentenced to five years in prison for the embezzlement of company funds.
• Extradition (प्रत्यर्पण): The formal process where one country or state surrenders an individual to another for prosecution or punishment for a crime.
• Example: The two countries are currently negotiating an extradition treaty to deal with cross-border crime.
• Interdiction (पाबंदी/निषेध): The action of prohibiting or forbidding something, or the movement to intercept and prevent something from reaching a destination.
• Example: The coast guard's primary mission is the interdiction of illegal drug shipments.

The correct answer is 'without'.

 

Key Points

• The word 'without' is a preposition used to indicate the absence of something or a condition that has not been met.
• When a preposition is followed by a verb, that verb must be in the gerund form (verb + -ing). In this sentence, 'bringing' is the gerund following the preposition.
• The sentence implies that if the action of bringing identity proof is not performed, the result is that the person cannot apply for the job.
• Options 1, 2, and 4 are grammatically or contextually incorrect for this specific structure.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Complete Sentence: 'Without bringing your identity proof, you cannot apply for the job.'

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: 'Apart from' is a preposition meaning 'besides' or 'in addition to', which does not fit the conditional logic of the sentence.
• Option 2: 'Unless' is a conjunction and must be followed by a clause (subject + verb), such as 'Unless you bring...'. It cannot be followed directly by a gerund.
• Option 4: 'Except' is used to show exclusion and usually requires 'for' (Except for bringing...) when used as a preposition before a gerund.

The correct answer is Eight suspects had been rounded up by the police before the press conference..

Key Points

• The original sentence is written in the Active Voice and follows the Past Perfect Tense structure, which consists of Subject (The police) + had + Past Participle (rounded up) + Object (eight suspects).
• To convert a Past Perfect sentence into Passive Voice, the standard grammatical formula is: New Subject (Object of Active) + had + been + Past Participle (V3) + by + New Object (Subject of Active).
• The Object of the active sentence, eight suspects, becomes the Subject of the passive sentence as it is the entity receiving the action.
• The auxiliary verb been must be inserted between had and the main verb rounded up to correctly denote the Passive state of the Perfect Tense.
• The agent, by the police, identifies the performer of the action, and the adverbial phrase of time, before the press conference, remains at the end to provide the necessary temporal context.

 Additional Information

• Grammatical Variations and Errors:
• Simple Past Passive: This uses were + V3 (e.g., were rounded up). While grammatically correct in isolation, it fails to preserve the Past-in-the-Past relationship established by the original had.
• Morphological Accuracy: The word being is used for Continuous Tenses. Combining had with being (as in had being rounded up) results in a Morphological Error as it violates the rules of English auxiliary verb sequencing.
• Semantic Shift: Maintaining the Active Voice but swapping the Subject and Object (e.g., suspects had rounded up the police) causes a Semantic Shift, reversing the meaning of the original statement.
• Past Perfect Utility: This tense is specifically used to show that an action (the arrest) was completed before another event in the past (the press conference).

The correct answer is Will the volunteers make the necessary arrangements before the guests reach the venue?.

Key Points

• The original sentence is in the Passive Voice of the Simple Future Tense in an interrogative form. The structure is: Will/Shall + Object + be + V3 (Past Participle) + by + Subject?
• To convert this into the Active Voice, the agent of the action (the volunteers) must become the subject of the sentence, and the receiver of the action (the necessary arrangements) must become the object.
• The conversion rule for the Simple Future Active Voice (Interrogative) is: Will/Shall + Subject + V1 (Base Form) + Object?
• The auxiliary be is omitted in the active voice, and the past participle made is converted to its base form make.
• The secondary clause before the guests reach the venue is already in the active voice and serves as a temporal modifier; thus, it remains unchanged in the final conversion.
• Applying these steps, the volunteers (subject) performs the action make (verb) on the necessary arrangements (object), resulting in the correct active construction.

 Additional Information

• Simple Future Tense Structure:
• Active: Subject + will/shall + V1 + Object.
• Passive: Object + will/shall + be + V3 + by + Subject.
• Identifying Incorrect Tense Conversions:
• Simple Present: Uses Do/Does as seen in Option 1. This is incorrect because the original sentence refers to a future intent.
• Simple Past: Uses Did as seen in Option 2. This is incorrect because it implies the action was already completed in the past.
• Present Perfect: Uses Has/Have + V3 as seen in Option 4. This is incorrect as it describes a completed action with present relevance, rather than a future one.

The correct answer is Someone guards the secret documents day and night.

Key Points

• The original sentence is in the Passive Voice using the Simple Present Tense, identifiable by the construction is/am/are + V3 (past participle).
• When converting from passive to active voice, the agent or performer of the action (found after the preposition by) becomes the subject of the active sentence. Here, someone becomes the new subject.
• The subject of the passive sentence (the secret documents) shifts to the object position in the active voice sentence.
• The verb are guarded must be changed to the active form of the Simple Present Tense. Since someone is an indefinite pronoun and is treated as singular, the base verb guard takes the -s suffix to become guards.
• The time-related phrase day and night is an adverbial adjunct and remains at the end of the sentence to maintain the original context and meaning.

 Additional Information

• Tense Variations in Active Voice:
• Present Perfect Tense: Used in option 2 (has guarded), this tense indicates an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past or has recently concluded. The passive form would be have been guarded.
• Present Continuous Tense: Used in option 3 (is guarding), this indicates an action currently in progress. The passive form would require the addition of being (e.g., are being guarded).
• Past Continuous Tense: Used in option 4 (was guarding), this describes an action that was ongoing at a specific point in the past. Its passive equivalent would be were being guarded.
• Active vs. Passive Voice Rules:
• In Active Voice, the subject performs the action (e.g., Subject + Verb + Object).
• In Passive Voice, the subject receives the action (e.g., Object + be verb + V3 + by + Subject).
• The tense must never change when converting between voices; only the structure and emphasis are altered.

The correct answer is crowded by millions of devotees.

 

Key Points

• The primary error in the sentence is the incorrect use of the preposition 'by' after the word 'crowded'.
• In English grammar, the adjective 'crowded' is typically followed by the preposition 'with' to indicate what is filling a particular space.
• The phrase 'crowded with' is an idiomatic expression used to describe a place that is full of people or things.
• Thus, the correct phrasing should be 'crowded with millions of devotees' instead of 'crowded by millions of devotees'.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: 'The Golden Temple was crowded with millions of devotees from all around the world on the day of Baisakhi.'

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: 'The Golden Temple was' – This part is grammatically sound, acting as the subject and the auxiliary verb in the passive construction.
• Option 3: 'from all around the world' – This prepositional phrase correctly describes the origin of the devotees.
• Option 4: 'on the day of Baisakhi' – This part correctly uses the preposition 'on' for a specific day or occasion.

The correct answer is 'upon'.

 

Key Points

• The word dilate, when followed by the preposition upon (or on), forms a phrasal verb meaning to speak or write at length or in great detail about a subject.
• In the given sentence, the student leaders are elaborating or providing a detailed discussion regarding political issues.
• The construction 'dilate upon' is the standard idiomatic usage for this context.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Complete Sentence: 'The student leaders dilated upon the political issues.'

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: into is generally used to indicate movement toward the interior of something or a change in state, which does not fit the verb dilate here.
• Option 2: onto usually indicates movement to a position on a surface.
• Option 4: over can be used with verbs like 'talk' or 'ponder', but it is not the conventional preposition used with dilate to mean 'elaborate'.

The correct answer is on the same page.

Key Points

• The underlined portion in the same page is grammatically incorrect because idiomatic expressions have fixed structures that cannot be altered.
• The correct idiom is on the same page, which means to be in agreement, to have a shared understanding, or to think in a similar fashion about a particular issue.
• In the context of the sentence, stakeholders must reach a consensus or a common understanding before starting negotiations, making on the same page the logically and grammatically appropriate replacement.
• The preposition on is the standard usage for this metaphor, referring to everyone looking at the same information or text at the same time.

 Additional Information

• in the same boat:
• This idiom describes people who are in the same difficult or unpleasant situation.
• Example: Since we both lost our jobs today, we are in the same boat.
• While grammatically correct, it does not fit the context of alignment before a negotiation as effectively as on the same page.
• on one's plate:
• This phrase usually relates to the amount of work or responsibilities a person is handling (e.g., having a lot on one's plate).
• The phrase on the same plate is not a standard English idiom and does not convey mutual agreement.
• Negotiations:
• This refers to formal discussions between people who are trying to reach an agreement.
• Achieving synergy and clarity among stakeholders is a prerequisite for successful diplomatic or business outcomes.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• According to the passage, Albert Einstein proposed a variation of the double-slit experiment in the 1920s involving a movable slit.
• The purpose of this light, movable slit was that it would recoil when a single photon passed through it.
• By measuring that recoil (which involves the transfer of momentum), one could theoretically determine the path the photon took (which slit it passed through).
• Einstein's objective was to see if one could simultaneously obtain path information and observe an interference pattern, potentially highlighting a conflict within quantum theory.

Therefore, the correct answer is To measure the photon's momentum and determine its path.

 

Additional Information

• Niels Bohr countered Einstein's idea by arguing that the uncertainty principle would prevent such a measurement from working without destroying the interference pattern.
• Modern researchers have recently successfully tested this idea by replacing the movable slit with a single atom cooled to its ground state.
• The interference pattern is a classic indicator that light (or matter) is behaving like a wave, while knowing the specific path suggests particle-like behavior.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• According to the passage, Niels Bohr argued against Albert Einstein's proposal by relying on the uncertainty principle.
• Einstein suggested that measuring the recoil of a movable slit could determine the path of a photon (particle behavior) while still observing an interference pattern (wave behavior).
• Bohr countered that any measurement precise enough to determine the recoil momentum would, according to the uncertainty principle, create a corresponding uncertainty in the slit's position.
• This uncertainty in position would be large enough to destroy the interference pattern, thereby upholding the laws of quantum mechanics.

Therefore, the correct answer is 1.

 

Additional Information

• The Principle of Superposition: States that a quantum system can exist in multiple states simultaneously until a measurement is made.
• The Principle of Complementarity: A broader philosophical framework by Bohr stating that wave and particle aspects are complementary but mutually exclusive in a single experiment.
• The Exclusion Principle: Proposed by Wolfgang Pauli, it states that no two fermions (like electrons) can occupy the same quantum state within a system.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• The passage explicitly mentions that researchers cooled the atom close to its ground state to ensure its random motion was as small as quantum physics allowed.
• In this ground state, the uncertainty in the atom's momentum becomes comparable to the momentum of a single photon.
• This level of cooling is necessary because if the atom had high thermal or random motion, it would be impossible to detect the tiny recoil caused by a single photon passing through.
• Therefore, the primary goal is to reduce random motions so they stay within the fundamental constraints of quantum limits, making the experiment viable.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect because according to the Uncertainty Principle, it is impossible to eliminate all motion; there is always a minimum zero-point energy.
• Option 2 is incorrect because the cooling is for momentum/recoil sensitivity, not specifically to regulate the rate of photon emission.
• Option 3 is incorrect because the laser beam is the tool used to trap and hold the atom in place; preventing interaction would stop the experiment from working.
• Ground State: This refers to the lowest energy state of a quantum mechanical system, where quantum fluctuations are the only remaining source of motion.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The experiment described in the passage is a modern test of a thought experiment proposed by Albert Einstein in the 1920s regarding the double-slit experiment.
• Einstein's goal was to determine if one could simultaneously measure the recoil of a slit (to identify the photon's path) and observe an interference pattern.
• Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China used a single atom to act as a movable slit to test this relationship.
• The study specifically investigated how obtaining which-way information (via the atom's recoil) influences the presence or visibility of the interference pattern, which is a hallmark of wave behavior.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Summary of Experiment Goal: "The researchers aimed to check whether the atom's recoil could be used to say which way a photon went and how that path information affected the interference pattern."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect because the experiment explores wave-particle duality rather than proving photons behave purely as particles.
• Option 2 is incorrect because the experiment utilizes an atom specifically to substitute for a slit, maintaining the basic structure of the double-slit experiment.
• Option 4 is incorrect because while atoms are used, they replace the movable slit, not the photons themselves, to facilitate the measurement of momentum transfer.

The correct answer is It limits the precision of recoil measurement.

 

Key Points

• In the modern version of Einstein's experiment, a single atom is used to act as the movable slit.
• The researchers cooled the atom to its ground state, ensuring its random motion reached the minimum allowed by quantum physics.
• The passage notes that in this state, the uncertainty in the atom's momentum is similar to the momentum of a single photon.
• This uncertainty is critical because it represents a fundamental limit; if the uncertainty of the atom's inherent momentum is high, it masks the small change in momentum (the recoil) caused by the photon.
• Therefore, this uncertainty directly limits the precision with which the recoil measurement can be made to determine the photon's path.

Therefore, the correct answer is It limits the precision of recoil measurement.

 

Additional Information

• The Uncertainty Principle: Proposed by Werner Heisenberg, it states that the more precisely the position of a particle is known, the less precisely its momentum can be known, and vice versa.
• Niels Bohr argued that Einstein's plan would fail because the act of measuring the recoil momentum would create a corresponding uncertainty in the slit's position, which would then wash out the interference pattern.
• Wave-Particle Duality: This experiment explores the fundamental quantum concept that light can exhibit both wave-like (interference) and particle-like (recoil/path) properties, but typically not both simultaneously with full clarity.