English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is: Option 3.

Key Points

• The word "tangible" refers to something that can be touched, felt, or perceived physically; it is real and concrete. (स्पृश्य, ठोस)
• Example: The evidence presented in court was tangible and could not be ignored.
• "Intangible" is the opposite of tangible. It refers to something that cannot be touched or physically perceived, often related to abstract ideas or qualities. (अमूर्त)
• Example: Love and trust are intangible qualities that are vital in any relationship.
• Hence, the antonym of 'tangible' is 'intangible'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 3.

Additional Information

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

• Invisible (अदृश्य): Something that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
• Example: The virus is invisible to the human eye but can cause serious illnesses.
• Real (वास्तविक): Something that exists in reality and is not imaginary.
• Example: The fear of failure is very real for many people.
• Definite (निश्चित): Something that is clearly defined or certain.
• Example: We need a definite plan to execute this project successfully.

The correct answer is: Option 1.

Key Points

• The word "tear" (as used in the question) means to rip or pull apart something forcefully. (फाड़ना)
• Example: He had to tear the envelope to open it.
• "Tear" can also mean to shed a tear (a drop of liquid from the eyes due to emotion), which is a homonym of the original word. (आंसू)
• Example: The comedian caused the audience to tear up with laughter.
• Since homonyms are words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings, the sentence in Option 1 uses the homonym of the word "tear" (आंसू) instead of "tear" (फाड़ना).

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 1.

Additional Information

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

• Option 2: He found a small tear in the corner. (फाड़ा हुआ हिस्सा)
• Example: The bag had a small tear, so I used tape to fix it.
• Option 3: Please don’t tear the paper again. (फाड़ना)
• Example: The teacher asked the student not to tear pages from the notebook.
• Option 4: She used tape to fix the tear on the bag. (फाड़ा हुआ हिस्सा)
• Example: The tear in the fabric was repaired with a patch.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The verb "deny" is followed by a gerund (verb + "ing") when indicating refusal of an action.
• In the given sentence, the structure "denied to help" is incorrect because "deny" should be followed by "helping."
• The correct structure is "He denied helping me."

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "He denied helping me."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "help to me" – This is incorrect because "to" is unnecessary here and disrupts the sentence structure.
• Option 2: "for helping me" – This is incorrect as "deny" does not typically pair with "for" in this context.
• Option 4: "to helping me" – This is incorrect because the preposition "to" is redundant when paired with "helping."

The correct answer is: Discord.

Key Points

• The word "Cacophony" refers to a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds; a situation marked by loud and unpleasant noise. (कर्कश ध्वनि)
• Example: The cacophony of the city traffic made it hard to concentrate.
• "Discord" means a lack of harmony or agreement, especially in sound or relationships. It can also refer to unpleasant or conflicting sounds. (असामंजस्य)
• Example: The discord between the band members led to a chaotic performance.
• Hence, we can infer that the synonym of 'Cacophony' is 'Discord'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Discord.

Additional Information

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

• Harmony (सामंजस्य): A pleasing combination or arrangement of different things, especially sounds.
• Example: The choir sang in perfect harmony, creating a beautiful melody.
• Order (व्यवस्था): A state in which everything is in its correct or proper place.
• Example: The librarian ensured that all books were kept in order on the shelves.
• Silence (मौन): The absence of any sound or noise.
• Example: The silence in the library made it easier for the students to focus.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• Direct Speech: Rashmi said to Reshma, "Mahima was dancing on the floor when she was called by her mother."
• Reporting verb: The reporting verb "said" is in the past tense, so the tense in the reported clause must be backshifted (sequence of tenses).
• Key Conversions:
• The past continuous "was dancing" → past perfect continuous "had been dancing".
• The past simple passive "was called" → past perfect passive "had been called".
• Quotation marks are removed and the clause is introduced by "that".
• Result: The most accurate reported form preserves aspect and voice by converting to past perfect continuous and past perfect passive respectively: had been dancing / had been called.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: Rashmi told Reshma that Mahima had been dancing on the floor when she had been called by her mother.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: Rashmi told Reshma that Mahima had danced on the floor when she had been called by her mother.
• This changes the continuous action to simple past perfect ("had danced"), which loses the progressive aspect of the original ("was dancing").
• Option 2: Rashmi told Reshma that Mahima had been danching on the floor when was called by her mother.
• Contains a spelling error ("danching") and a grammatical omission ("when was called" lacks the subject); also tense/structure is incorrect.
• Option 4: Rashmi told Reshma that Mahima was dancing on the floor when she was called by her mother.
• This option fails to backshift the tenses after a past reporting verb and therefore is incorrect in reported speech.

The correct answer is: Option 1.

Key Points

• The word "lead" in the sentence refers to the metal "lead," which is a heavy, toxic element used in plumbing and other applications. (सीसा)
• Example: The old house still had lead pipes, which posed a health hazard.
• In Option 1, the word "lead" is a homonym, meaning it is spelled the same but has a different meaning. Here, "lead" refers to guiding or directing, such as leading troops into battle. (नेतृत्व करना)
• Example: The captain will lead his team to victory in the tournament.
• Homonyms are words that are spelled or pronounced the same but have different meanings. In this case, "lead" as a metal and "lead" as guiding are homonyms.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 1.

Additional Information

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

• Option 2: Exposure to lead can cause health issues in children. (सीसा)
• Example: Lead poisoning is a serious issue in areas with old plumbing systems.

This uses "lead" as the toxic metal and does not involve a homonym.

• Option 3: The old house still had lead in its plumbing system. (सीसा)
• Example: The government recommends replacing lead pipes to prevent contamination.

This option repeats the meaning of "lead" as a metal and does not involve a homonym.

• Option 4: They tested the soil for traces of lead. (सीसा)
• Example: High levels of lead in the soil can harm crops and groundwater.

This again refers to "lead" as the toxic metal.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• The phrase "you start" is incorrect in the context of the sentence.
• The expression "It is high time" is always followed by the past tense of the verb, not the present tense.
• The correct phrase should be "you started" instead of "you start" to maintain grammatical accuracy.
• Thus, the error lies in part 4 of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: "It is high time you started studying seriously."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "studying seriously" – This part is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.
• Option 2: "It is high time" – This part is grammatically correct and does not require any changes.
• Option 3: "No error" – This would be the correct option if there were no mistakes in the sentence, but there is an error in part 4.

The correct answer is: Petty.

Key Points

• The word "magnanimous" means generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person. (महान या उदार)
• Example: Despite the competition, she was magnanimous in victory, congratulating her opponent sincerely.
• "Petty" refers to being narrow-minded, mean-spirited, or concerned with trivial matters. (छोटा दिल या तुच्छ)
• Example: He was being petty when he refused to forgive his friend over a minor misunderstanding.
• Hence, the opposite of 'magnanimous' is 'petty'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Petty.

Additional Information

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

• Noble (उदार ): Having high moral qualities and principles.
• Example: His noble actions inspired everyone in the community.
• Forgiving (क्षमा करने वाला ): Willing to pardon someone for their mistakes or wrongdoings.
• Example: She showed a forgiving nature by letting go of past grievances.
• Generous (उदार ): Willing to give more than what is expected or required.
• Example: His generous donation helped build a school for underprivileged children.

The correct answer is: Option 2) Observatory.

Key Points

• "Observatory" is a facility equipped with telescopes and instruments to observe celestial bodies like stars, planets, and galaxies. (वेधशाला)
• Example: The observatory on the hill allows scientists to study the movement of planets.
• Hence, the correct one-word substitution for the given statement is "Observatory".

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 2) Observatory.

Additional Information

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

• Astronomy (खगोल विज्ञान): The scientific study of stars, planets, and other celestial phenomena.
• Example: He studied astronomy at university to understand the mysteries of space.
• Greenhouse (ग्रीनहाउस): A building made of glass used for growing plants in controlled conditions.
• Example: The farmer built a greenhouse to grow vegetables during winter.
• Archive (अभिलेखागार): A place where historical documents and records are stored.
• Example: The old letters were preserved in the national archive.

The correct answer is 'waist'.

 

Key Points

• The word "waist" refers to the part of the body between the ribs and hips, typically where a belt is tied. (कमर)
• In the given sentence, the context indicates that the belt is tied around a part of the body, which is the waist.
• The other options: "waste," "weist," and "west" do not fit the context or are incorrect spellings.

​Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Complete Sentence: She tied the belt tightly around her waist.

Additional Information

• Waste (अपशिष्ट): means material that is not needed and is discarded.
• Weist: is an incorrect spelling and has no meaning in this context.
• West (पश्चिम): refers to one of the cardinal directions.

The correct answer is 'for'.

 

Key Points

• The preposition "for" is used to indicate the purpose or reason behind an action.
• In this context, "for" signifies the soldiers' sacrifice made on behalf of their country.
• Options 1, 2, and 3 do not convey the correct meaning in this sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Complete Sentence: "The soldiers died for their country."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "in" is incorrect because "in" typically indicates location or position, which does not fit the context.
• Option 2: "at" is incorrect as it refers to a point in time or place, which is not suitable here.
• Option 3: "by" is incorrect; it indicates the agent performing an action, not the reason or purpose.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• Passive voice structure: "The house is cleaned by her every morning before breakfast."
• To convert to active voice, the subject performing the action ("her") comes first.
• The object of the passive sentence ("the house") follows the subject.
• The verb form is adjusted from passive present simple ("is cleaned") to active present simple ("cleans").
• The time phrase "every morning before breakfast" remains at the end.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: She cleans the house every morning before breakfast.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: She is cleaning the house every morning before breakfast. – Incorrect tense (present continuous) instead of simple present.
• Option 2: She had been cleaning the house every morning before breakfast. – Incorrect tense (past perfect continuous).
• Option 4: She has cleaned the house every morning before breakfast. – Incorrect tense (present perfect) which does not match the passive present simple.

The correct answer is: Destroy.

Key Points

• The word "Construct" means to build or form by putting together parts; to create something. (निर्माण करना)
• Example: The engineers construct bridges to connect distant cities.
• "Destroy" refers to causing something to end, break, or cease to exist; to ruin or demolish. (नष्ट करना)
• Example: The earthquake destroyed several buildings in the town.
• Hence, we can infer that the antonym of 'Construct' is 'Destroy'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Destroy.

Additional Information

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

• Create (सृजन करना): To bring something into existence.
• Example: She loves to create paintings in her free time.
• After (बाद): Indicates a later time or subsequent position.
• Example: We went for ice cream after the movie.
• Hide (छिपाना): To put or keep out of sight.
• Example: He tried to hide the gift behind his back.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: He told that when they had reached the station, the train had already left.
• Key Conversions:
• "when they had reached the station" becomes "When we reached the station"
• Pronoun "they" is changed to "we" to match the speaker's perspective.
• Past perfect tense "had reached" is simplified to past tense "reached" in direct speech.
• "the train had already left" remains "the train had already left"
• Past perfect tense is retained since it describes an action completed before another past event.
• Reporting verb:
• Indirect: "He told"
• Converted to: "He said," maintaining the reporting structure for direct speech.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks.
• Starts with a capital letter "When" and ends with a period "." inside the quotation marks.
• Reporting clause follows the quoted speech, starting with a lowercase letter after the comma.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "“When we reached the station, the train had already left,” he said."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "When we have reached the station, the train had already left."
• Incorrect tense: "have reached" is present perfect, which does not match the past narrative.
• Option 3: "When we were reaching the station, the train was already leaving."
• Incorrect tense: Changes both actions to continuous tense, altering the original meaning.
• Option 4: "When we reach the station, the train has already left."
• Incorrect tense: "reach" and "has already left" are present tense, conflicting with the past narrative.

The correct answer is: Arsenal.

Key Points

• The word "Arsenal" refers to a place where weapons and ammunition are stored or manufactured. (हथियारों और गोला-बारूद का भंडार या निर्माण स्थान)
• Example: The government has decided to increase the security around the arsenal to prevent any unauthorized access.
• An arsenal is critical for ensuring the availability of arms and ammunition during emergencies and military operations. (यह सैन्य संचालन और आपात स्थितियों में हथियारों और गोला-बारूद की उपलब्धता सुनिश्चित करता है।)

Therefore, the correct answer is: Arsenal.

Additional Information

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

• Gallery (दीर्घा): A room or building for the exhibition of art or historical objects.
• Example: The art gallery displayed works by famous painters from around the world.
• Library (पुस्तकालय): A place where books, magazines, and other materials are stored and made available for reading or borrowing.
• Example: She spends her weekends at the library reading novels and researching topics of interest.
• Laboratory (प्रयोगशाला): A place equipped for scientific experiments, research, or testing.
• Example: The laboratory was filled with advanced equipment for chemical analysis.

The correct answer is 'in one eye'.

Key Points

• The correct idiomatic expression is "blind in one eye".
• The preposition "in" is used to refer to loss of sight in a particular eye.
• Thus, the sentence should read: "The man is blind in one eye."
• Options 2, 3, and 4 use incorrect prepositions with the adjective "blind".

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

Correct Sentence: "The man is blind in one eye."

Additional Information

• Common expressions with blind:
• Blind in one eye
• Blind to someone's faults (unaware of them)
• Blind from birth (blind since birth)

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• Passive voice structure: The subject of the passive voice sentence becomes the object in the active voice sentence.
• In the passive voice, the sentence is: "The hall is being decorated by the staff."
• To convert to active voice: Place the subject "the staff" at the beginning.
• Change the passive verb form "is being decorated" to "are decorating" (present continuous active).
• Ensure the object "the hall" follows the active verb for clarity.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: "The staff are decorating the hall."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "The hall is decorated by the staff." – This is still in passive voice.
• Option 2: "The staff has decorated the hall." – Incorrect tense (present perfect active).
• Option 3: "The staff decorates the hall." – Incorrect tense (simple present active).

The correct answer is: Option 3.

Key Points

• The word "mellifluous" means sweet-sounding or pleasant to hear. (मधुर स्वर)
• Example: The singer's mellifluous voice captivated the entire audience.
• "Dulcet" is a synonym of "mellifluous," meaning melodious, soothing, or pleasing to the ear. (सुगम/मधुर)
• Example: The dulcet tones of the piano made the evening truly enchanting.
• Hence, we can infer that the synonym of 'mellifluous' is 'dulcet'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 3.

Additional Information

• Bland (निर्जीव/रसहीन): Lacking strong features or characteristics; uninteresting.
• Example: The soup was bland and needed more seasoning.
• Conspire (साज़िश करना): To make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act.
• Example: The two officials conspired to leak confidential information.
• Obnoxious (अत्यंत अप्रिय): Extremely unpleasant or offensive.
• Example: His obnoxious behavior annoyed everyone at the party.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: They told that they had had a very good habit.
• Key Conversions:
• Pronoun:
• Direct speech pronoun "they" is retained as "they" in indirect speech.
• If third person is as subject in reported speech, there will be no change.
• Tense:
• Simple past "had" (v2) will be changed into past perfect "had had" (had + v3)
• Reporting verb:
• "Said" is changed to "told" to complete the indirect speech structure.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Direct speech is converted to indirect speech without quotation marks.
• The reporting clause precedes the indirect speech.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "They told that they had had a very good habit."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "They told that we had a very good habit."
• Incorrect tense; simple past "had" (v2) will be changed into past perfect "had had" (had + v3)
• Option 3: "They told that we have had a very good habit."  
• Incorrect tense; present perfect "have had" does not match the past context.
• Option 4: "They told that we had had a very good habit."
• Pronoun "we" is incorrect as the subject is "they."

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The correct sequence of the sentences is 4, 2, 3, 1.
• Sentence 4 is the first sentence as it introduces Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's role as a scientist at ISRO for forty years, setting the context for his career achievements.
• Sentence 2 follows as it highlights his significant contributions and the title "Missile Man of India" that he earned during his career.
• Sentence 3 comes next as it transitions into his presidency in 2002, showing the progression of his professional and public life.
• Sentence 1 is the last as it concludes the paragraph by summarizing his inspirational impact through his speeches and writings.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 2.