English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is 'send'.

Key Points

• The passage discusses the impact of social media on human communication.
• The sentence explains how easy it has become to share content with others instantly.
• The word 'send' is the most appropriate verb as it means to transmit messages, photos, or videos to a recipient.
• Other options like 'delete' (to erase), 'hide' (to conceal), and 'move' (to change position) do not fit the context of facilitating instant communication between users.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Complete Passage: Social media has changed the way people communicate. With just a few clicks, users can 1. send messages, photos, and videos instantly. While it has made staying in touch more convenient, it has also raised concerns about 2. privacy and mental health. Many people spend hr scrolling through feeds, sometimes feeling isolated or (3) ___ by others' posts. It's important to use social media (4) ___ and take breaks when needed. Setting limits can help maintain a healthy (5) ___ between online and offline life.

Additional Information

• Delete: To remove or erase data from a device or application.
• Hide: To put or keep out of sight.
• Move: To go in a specified direction or manner; or to change the place of something.

The correct answer is 'privacy'.

Key Points

• The sentence discusses the potential drawbacks or negative aspects of using social media.
• The context connects this blank with mental health as two major areas of concern in the digital age.
• 'Privacy' refers to the protection of personal information and data from unauthorized access or public scrutiny. In the context of social media, privacy concerns are a primary and widely discussed issue alongside mental health.
• Other options like 'safety' are relevant but 'privacy' is the most specific and common partner to 'mental health' when discussing platform-level concerns. 'Distance' and 'addiction' (though relevant) do not fit as perfectly in this specific phrasing.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Complete Passage: Social media has changed the way people communicate. With just a few clicks, users can 1. send messages, photos, and videos instantly. While it has made staying in touch more convenient, it has also raised concerns about 2. privacy and mental health. Many people spend hr scrolling through feeds, sometimes feeling isolated or (3) ___ by others' posts. It's important to use social media (4) ___ and take breaks when needed. Setting limits can help maintain a healthy (5) ___ between online and offline life.

Additional Information

• Privacy: The state of being free from being observed or disturbed by other people.
• Safety: The condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury.
• Distance: An amount of space between two things or people.
• Addiction: The fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity.

The correct answer is 'depressed'.

Key Points

• The passage discusses the impact of social media on mental health and communication.
• The sentence mentions that users sometimes feel isolated or a negative emotion due to others' posts.
• 'Depressed' is the most appropriate word here as it describes a state of low mood or sadness often linked to social comparison and the feeling of inadequacy when looking at others' lives online.
• It aligns with the negative context of feeling isolated mentioned in the same sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Complete Passage: Social media has changed the way people communicate. With just a few clicks, users can (1) ___ messages, photos, and videos instantly. While it has made staying in touch more convenient, it has also raised concerns about (2) ___ and mental health. Many people spend hr scrolling through feeds, sometimes feeling isolated or 3. depressed by others' posts. It's important to use social media 4. wisely and take breaks when needed. Setting limits can help maintain a healthy 5. balance between online and offline life.

Additional Information

• Ignored: To be disregarded or not paid attention to; while social media can make one feel ignored, 'depressed' more broadly covers the mental health concern mentioned.
• Inspired: To be filled with the urge or ability to do or feel something; this is a positive emotion and contradicts the negative context of 'isolated'.
• Cheated: To be deceived or tricked; this does not fit the context of emotional response to viewing others' social media feeds.

The correct answer is 'wisely'.

Key Points

• The passage discusses the impact of social media on communication and its potential influence on mental health.
• The blank requires an adverb to describe how individuals should manage their use of digital platforms to avoid negative outcomes like isolation.
• 'Wisely' is the most suitable choice as it suggests using social media with judgment, discretion, and purpose, aligning with the recommendation to 'take breaks'.
• Other options such as 'rarely', 'quickly', and 'easily' do not fit the context of promoting a healthy and balanced lifestyle in the digital age.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Complete Passage: Social media has changed the way people communicate. With just a few clicks, users can (1) ___ messages, photos, and videos instantly. While it has made staying in touch more convenient, it has also raised concerns about (2) ___ and mental health. Many people spend hr scrolling through feeds, sometimes feeling isolated or (3) depressed by others' posts. It's important to use social media (4) wisely and take breaks when needed. Setting limits can help maintain a healthy (5) balance between online and offline life.

Additional Information

• Wisely: In a way that shows experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
• Rarely: Not often; seldom.
• Quickly: At a fast speed; rapidly.
• Easily: Without difficulty or effort.

The correct answer is 'balance'.

Key Points

• The sentence discusses the importance of managing the relationship between online and offline life to ensure well-being.
• The term 'balance' refers to a state where different things are occur in the correct proportions or are managed with equal importance.
• In the context of social media usage, maintaining a 'healthy balance' is a common and appropriate expression to describe not letting digital life overshadow real-world interactions.
• Other options like 'routine', 'boundary', and 'contrast' do not specifically denote the equilibrium required between two competing aspects of daily life.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Complete Passage: Social media has changed the way people communicate. With just a few clicks, users can (1)_____ messages, photos, and videos instantly. While it has made staying in touch more convenient, it has also raised concerns about (2)_____ and mental health. Many people spend hr scrolling through feeds, sometimes feeling isolated or 3. depressed by others' posts. It's important to use social media 4. wisely and take breaks when needed. Setting limits can help maintain a healthy 5. balance between online and offline life.

Additional Information

• Routine: A sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program.
• Boundary: A line which marks the limits of an area; a dividing line or limit.
• Contrast: The state of being strikingly different from something else in juxtaposition or close association.

The correct answer is 'turned the corner'.

 

Key Points

• The idiom 'turn the corner' means to pass the most critical point in an illness or a difficult situation and begin to improve.
• In the given sentence, the person was suffering from cancer, but the surgery helped him move past the dangerous stage and start recovering.
• The other phrases like 'turned the angle', 'turned the key', and 'turned the wood' do not function as appropriate idioms for recovery from an illness.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Complete Sentence: He was suffering from incurable cancer, but finally after surgery, he has finally turned the corner.

Additional Information

• Turned the key: This is a literal phrase meaning to lock or unlock something using a key, or to start an engine.
• The phrases 'turned the angle' and 'turned the wood' are not standard English idioms and do not fit the context of medical recovery.

The correct answer is 'by'.

 

Key Points

• The phrase made famous by is a common construction used to indicate the agent, instrument, or the specific cause that resulted in someone achieving fame.
• In the given sentence, the romantic roles are the means or the source of agency through which Shahrukh became well-known.
• While famous for is often used to describe a quality or characteristic, made famous by highlights the process or the external factor that created the fame.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Complete Sentence: "Shahrukh was made famous by his romantic roles in films."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: 'for' is generally used in the phrase famous for (e.g., He is famous for his acting), but made famous by is preferred when emphasizing the roles as the agent of change.
• Option 2: 'in' would indicate the location or field (e.g., famous in the industry), but it does not link the roles as the cause of fame in this structure.
• Option 3: 'about' is grammatically incorrect in this context as it does not express cause or agency.

The correct answer is Refined.

Key Points

• The word 'Sophisticated' refers to having, revealing, or involving a great deal of worldly experience and knowledge of fashion and culture; it also describes something complex or advanced. (परिष्कृत)
• Example: She gave a sophisticated performance that impressed all the critics.
• 'Refined' means showing elegant and cultured manners, appearance, or taste; it is the closest synonym because both words imply a high level of culture and taste. (शिष्ट)
• Example: His refined manners made him stand out in the formal gathering.
• Hence, we can infer that the closest synonym of 'sophisticated' is 'refined'.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Refined.

Additional Information

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

• Simple (साधारण): Something that is plain, basic, or uncomplicated in form, nature, or design.
• Example: The simple design of the building was surprisingly beautiful.
• Naive (अनुभवहीन): Showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment; being overly innocent.
• Example: It was naive of her to think the project would be finished in a single day.
• Uncultured (असभ्य): Lacking in education, good taste, or refinement.
• Example: His uncultured remarks at the art gallery offended many guests.

The correct answer is: Grab.

Key Points

• The word 'seize' refers to the act of taking hold of something or someone suddenly and by force. (पकड़ना / जब्त करना)
• Example: The police were able to seize the illegal weapons during the surprise inspection.
• 'Grab' means to grasp or take hold of something roughly, quickly, or suddenly, which is the closest in meaning to 'seize'. (झपट लेना / पकड़ना)
• Example: He had to grab the railing to prevent himself from slipping on the icy stairs.
• Hence, we can infer that the closest synonym of 'seize' is 'grab'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Grab.

Additional Information

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

• Release (मुक्त करना / छोड़ना): To allow someone or something to move, fly, or fall freely.
• Example: The wildlife experts decided to release the eagle once its wing had fully healed.
• Avoid (बचना / टालना): To stay away from someone or something, or to prevent something from happening.
• Example: You should avoid walking alone in the dark to ensure your safety.
• Drop (गिराना / छोड़ना): To let something fall vertically, either accidentally or on purpose.
• Example: Be careful not to drop that box as it contains very fragile items.

The correct answer is prudence.

Key Points

• The word prudance in the sentence is incorrectly spelled. The standard English spelling is prudence, which utilizes the -ence suffix. This suffix is commonly found in nouns derived from Latin roots such as prudentia, meaning foresight or sagacity.
• Prudence is defined as the ability to govern and discipline oneself through the use of reason and caution. In the context of governance and public administration, it signifies exercising discretion and wisdom in managing public resources.
• In the field of macroeconomics, the term fiscal prudence refers to the practice of maintaining a sustainable budget and managing national debt responsibly. In India, the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003 was established to enforce such discipline and ensure long-term economic stability.
• The error prudance is a frequent orthographic mistake caused by the unstressed schwa sound in the final syllable, leading to confusion between -ance and -ence. Hence, prudence is the correctly identified misspelt word from the provided sentence.

 Additional Information

• The other underlined terms are central to economic policy and financial communication:
• Stressed: This verb means to give particular emphasis or importance to a point. In monetary policy statements, Central Banks like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or the Federal Reserve use such language to signal policy stances to investors.
• Fiscal: Relating to government revenue, particularly taxes and expenditure. While monetary policy controls money supply and interest rates, fiscal policy involves budgetary decisions made by the government.
• Currency: A medium of exchange for goods and services. A stable national currency is a key indicator of a healthy economy, as it prevents hyperinflation and encourages foreign direct investment (FDI).

The correct answer is Option(4) i.e. Exclude.

Key Points

• The word 'include' refers to the act of making something or someone part of a larger group, set, or total. (शामिल करना)
• Example: The membership fee does include access to the gym and the swimming pool.
• 'Exclude' means to deliberately keep someone or something out of a place, group, or privilege; it is the direct opposite of including. (निकाल देना/वर्जित करना)
• Example: It is unfair to exclude certain students from the competition based on their age.
• Hence, we can infer that the opposite of 'include' is 'exclude'.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Exclude.

Additional Information

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

• Add (जोड़ना): To put something with another thing to increase the total number, amount, size, or quality.
• Example: You need to add more details to your report to make it clear.
• Contain (होना/रखना): To have something within; to hold or be made up of certain components.
• Example: These vegetables contain many essential vitamins and minerals.
• Accept (स्वीकार करना): To agree to receive something or to agree to a proposal or request.
• Example: I am happy to accept your invitation to the wedding.

The correct answer is A huge profit has been reported by the company this year..

Key Points

• The original sentence is in the Active Voice and follows the Present Perfect Tense structure: Subject (The company) + has + V3 (reported) + Object (a huge profit).
• To convert a Present Perfect sentence into Passive Voice, the structure must be: New Subject (the original object) + has/have + been + V3 (past participle) + by + New Object (the original subject).
• The Object of the active sentence, 'A huge profit', becomes the Subject in the passive sentence. Because it is singular, the auxiliary verb 'has' is retained.
• The word 'been' is mandatory in the passive form of all Perfect Tenses to indicate the state of completion while shifting the focus to the object.
• The past participle form of the verb 'reported' is used, followed by the preposition 'by' and the agent (the company).
• The temporal adverbial phrase 'this year' remains unchanged as the conversion from active to passive voice does not require a change in time references, unlike Indirect Speech.

 Additional Information

• Distinguishing between incorrect structures:
• Past Perfect Passive: Option 1 uses 'had been', which is the Past Perfect form. This is incorrect because the original sentence is in the present timeline.
• Simple Past Passive: Option 2 uses 'was reported' and changes the time phrase to 'that year'. This incorrectly shifts the tense and follows Narration (Direct/Indirect) rules instead of Voice rules.
• Grammatical Incompleteness: Option 3 omits the word 'been'. Without 'been', the sentence 'has reported' remains in the active voice but lacks a proper logical subject-object relationship.
• Subject-Verb Agreement: In passive voice, the auxiliary verb (has/have) must agree with the new subject. If the object were plural (e.g., profits), the verb would change to 'have been reported'.

The correct answer is The police had recovered the stolen jewellery before the case went to trial..

Key Points

• The original sentence is in the Passive Voice and utilizes the Past Perfect Tense. The passive structure for this tense is: Object + had + been + V3 (Past Participle) + by + Subject.
• To convert a sentence from Passive Voice to Active Voice, the agent (the doer of the action) becomes the grammatical subject, and the receiver of the action becomes the direct object.
• In the provided sentence, the police is the agent, the stolen jewellery is the object being acted upon, and had been recovered is the verb phrase.
• The Active Voice structure for the Past Perfect Tense follows the formula: Subject + had + V3 (Past Participle) + Object. Applying this, had been recovered transforms into had recovered.
• The phrase before the case went to trial is a subordinate clause indicating the sequence of events; it remains unchanged during the voice conversion.
• Combining these elements results in the sentence: The police (Subject) + had recovered (Verb) + the stolen jewellery (Object) + before the case went to trial.

 Additional Information

• Different tenses used in the incorrect options include:
• Present Perfect Tense: Uses has/have + V3. It is used for actions that happened at an unspecified time or have relevance to the present.
• Past Continuous Tense: Uses was/were + V-ing. This tense describes an ongoing action that was happening at a specific point in the past.
• Simple Past Tense: Uses the V2 (second form) of the verb. It denotes an action that was completed in the past at a definite time.
• Voice Consistency: When transforming sentences, the tense must remain the same. Since the original used had been (Past Perfect), the active version must use had (Past Perfect).

The correct answer is 'of'.

 

Key Points

• The verb approve is typically followed by the preposition of when it means to have a favorable opinion or to think that someone or something is good or acceptable.
• In the given sentence, the phrase approve of is used to indicate that wise people do not find careless behaviour morally or logically acceptable.
• The construction approve of something is a fixed prepositional phrase in English grammar.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Complete Sentence: 'The wise will never approve of such type of careless behaviour.'

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: Off is used to indicate separation, disconnection, or moving away from a place.
• Option 2: about is used to mean concerning a particular subject, but it does not collocate with approve in this context.
• Option 4: with is used to indicate accompaniment, possession, or the instrument used for an action, which is incorrect here.

The correct answer is criticised for being excessively verbose.

Key Points

• The verb criticised (or criticized) is a transitive verb that requires the preposition for when followed by the reason or cause for the criticism.
• In English grammar, the standard idiomatic construction is criticise someone/something for doing something. Using the preposition to in this context is grammatically incorrect.
• The word verbose is an adjective used to describe a person or piece of writing that uses more words than are needed. It is the most appropriate term to describe a book that is being criticized for its length or repetitive nature.
• The original sentence contains a prepositional error by using to being instead of the correct gerund phrase for being.

 Additional Information

• Understanding the distinctions between similar-sounding words is crucial for sentence improvement:
• Verbose: This refers to wordiness or prolixity. It carries a negative connotation in literary criticism when a book is unnecessarily long.
• Verbal: This pertains to words in general or spoken rather than written communication. Saying a book is excessively verbal is semantically redundant as all books consist of words.
• Vocal: This describes someone who expresses their opinions freely and loudly. While a person can be vocal, a book itself cannot be described as excessively vocal in the context of being wordy.
• Prepositional Collocations: Certain verbs are strictly paired with specific prepositions. For example, one is accused of, punished for, or charged with. Mastering these collocations is essential for competitive exams.

The correct answer is is no laughing matter.

Key Points

• The sentence requires the use of the standard idiomatic expression no laughing matter to convey that the safety of passengers is a grave and serious issue.
• In English grammar, the word no acts as a determiner that can directly modify a noun phrase like laughing matter to indicate the total absence of that quality.
• The original phrasing 'not laughing matter' is grammatically incorrect because the adverb 'not' typically requires an article (such as 'a') when modifying a singular countable noun phrase in this context (e.g., 'not a laughing matter').
• Therefore, replacing the underlined part with is no laughing matter ensures the sentence adheres to standard idiomatic usage and syntactic rules.

 Additional Information

• Idiomatic Usage:
• The phrase no laughing matter is frequently used in formal and safety-related contexts to emphasize that a situation is perilous or significant.
• Usage Example: Financial fraud is no laughing matter and can lead to imprisonment.
• Distinction between 'No' and 'Not':
• No is used to negate a noun or gerund directly (e.g., no smoking, no entry).
• Not is used to negate verbs, adjectives, or adverbs and often precedes an article before a noun (e.g., not a priority).
• Analysis of Other Options:
• is not for laughing: This is unidiomatic and fails to capture the categorical seriousness implied by the original intent.
• is not laughing material: The word material is used incorrectly here; material usually refers to content for a performance (like a comedy set) rather than the nature of a situation.

The correct answer is: Tailor.

Key Points

• The phrase 'a person whose job is to cut and sew clothes for others' describes a professional skilled in the art of garment construction and repair. (दर्जी)
• Example: She hired a skilled tailor to design and sew a unique outfit for the award ceremony.
• A 'Tailor' is an individual who professionally makes, repairs, or alters clothing, particularly suits and other outer garments, according to a client's specific measurements. (दर्जी)
• Example: After losing weight, he had to take all his trousers to the tailor to be resized.
• Hence, we can infer that the correct one-word substitute for the given description is 'tailor'.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Tailor.

Additional Information

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

• Cobbler (मोची): A person who repairs shoes and other leather goods.
• Example: The cobbler did an excellent job of fixing the broken heel on my favorite pair of boots.
• Barber (नाई): A person whose business is cutting and dressing hair and shaving or trimming beards.
• Example: He visits the local barber every month to keep his hair looking neat and tidy.
• Washerman (धोबी): A man whose occupation is washing clothes for others.
• Example: The washerman comes every Friday to collect the dirty linens and return the clean ones.

The correct answer is: Incorrigible.

Key Points

• The phrase 'a person who cannot be corrected or reformed' refers to an individual whose habits, behaviors, or tendencies are so firmly established that they cannot be changed or improved. (वह व्यक्ति जिसे सुधारा न जा सके)
• Example: The teacher realized that the boy's disruptive behavior was incorrigible after multiple failed attempts at intervention.
• 'Incorrigible' means (of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed. (असुधार्य / असंसोधनीय)
• Example: He is an incorrigible optimist, always looking for the silver lining in every disaster.
• Hence, we can infer that the one-word substitute for 'a person who cannot be corrected or reformed' is 'incorrigible'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Incorrigible.

Additional Information

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

• Criminal (अपराधी): A person who has committed a crime.
• Example: The criminal was caught by the police shortly after the robbery.
• Reckless (लापरवाह): Doing something dangerous and not worrying about the risks and the possible results.
• Example: His reckless driving led to a serious accident on the highway.
• Unlawful (गैरकानूनी): Not conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law or rules.
• Example: The company was fined for the unlawful disposal of hazardous waste.

The correct answer is Option (4) i.e. Missing narrowly is still a failure.

Key Points

• The idiom 'A miss is as good as a mile' is used to express that failing to achieve a goal by a small margin is still a complete failure, just as if you had failed by a large margin. (चूक तो चूक ही होती है, चाहे वह थोड़ी ही क्यों न हो)
• Example: He failed the exam by just one mark, but a miss is as good as a mile as he still has to retake the entire course.
• 'Missing narrowly is still a failure' means that the final result remains unsuccessful regardless of how close the person was to succeeding. (थोड़े से अंतर से चूकना भी विफलता ही है)
• Example: Missing the winning goal by an inch meant they lost the championship; missing narrowly is still a failure.
• Hence, we can infer that the meaning of the idiom matches this option perfectly as both emphasize that the outcome of failure is what matters, not the extent of the miss.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Missing narrowly is still a failure.

Additional Information

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

• A situation in which danger or problems are barely avoided (एक ऐसी स्थिति जिसमें खतरे या समस्याओं से बाल-बाल बचा जाता है): This refers to a narrow escape or a close shave.
• Example: It was a situation in which danger was barely avoided when the driver swerved just in time to miss the oncoming truck.
• Act as a subordinate agent (एक अधीनस्थ एजेंट के रूप में कार्य करना): This means to work in a secondary or supportive role under someone else's authority.
• Example: He was tired of having to act as a subordinate agent and decided to start his own consulting firm.
• A feast day that falls on the same day of the week each year (एक पर्व जो हर साल सप्ताह के एक ही दिन पड़ता है): This refers to a specific type of recurring holiday or festival scheduled by day rather than date.
• Example: In many cultures, the harvest festival is a feast day that falls on the same day of the week each year.

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points

• The passage follows a logical cause-and-effect progression regarding the disruption of the Earth's climate.
• Sentence 1 establishes the initial condition: 'The Earth's climate was once stable.'
• Sentence P follows as the first step in the sequence because it introduces the primary cause of change:
• 'Human activities began adding more pollution.'
• Sentence Q follows P as it describes the immediate physical consequence of increased pollution (the greenhouse effect):
• 'The temperature started rising slowly.'
• Sentence R is the third part of the sequence because it highlights a specific environmental impact caused by the rising temperature:
• 'Ice began melting in many cold regions.'
• Sentence S is the final part of the sequence as it describes the broader, more complex result of the warming and melting ice:
• 'Weather patterns became more extreme.'
• Sentence 6 provides the concluding summary of how these changes culminated in a global crisis: 'Climate change started affecting all living beings.'
• The correct logical order is PQRS.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

'The Earth's climate was once stable. Human activities began adding more pollution. The temperature started rising slowly. Ice began melting in many cold regions. Weather patterns became more extreme. Climate change started affecting all living beings.'