English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• The subject of the sentence is "She," which is singular. Therefore, the verb used with it must also be singular.
• The word "aren't" is incorrect because it is a plural verb that does not agree with the singular subject "She."
• The correct verb to use is "doesn't believe," which correctly matches the singular subject "She."
• This correction ensures subject-verb agreement in the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: "She doesn't believe in wasting time during working hours."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "isn't believe" – This option is grammatically incorrect because "isn't" is not used to express belief or action in this context.
• Option 2: "No substitution required" – This is incorrect because the original sentence contains an error in subject-verb agreement.
• Option 3: "wasn't believes" – This option is grammatically incorrect due to the improper use of "wasn't" with "believes."

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: She said that she needed some rest.
• Key Conversions:
• "I need some rest" becomes "she needed some rest"
• The first-person pronoun "I" is changed to "she" to match the reporting subject.
• The present tense verb "need" is changed to the past tense "needed" in accordance with the rules of indirect speech.
• Reporting verb:
• The reporting verb "said" remains unchanged as it is a neutral verb.
• Punctuation and Format:
• In indirect speech, quotation marks are removed.
• The sentence is introduced with "that" after the reporting verb.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Sentence: "She said that she needed some rest."

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: "She said that she needs some rest."
• Incorrect because the present tense "needs" is used instead of changing it to past tense "needed" as per the rules of indirect speech.
• Option 3: "She said that she had needed some rest."
• Incorrect because the past perfect tense "had needed" changes the meaning and is unnecessary here.
• Option 4: "She said that she will need some rest."
• Incorrect because the future tense "will need" is used, which does not align with the original sentence in the present tense.

The correct answer is: Option 2 (Confront difficulties).

Key Points

• The idiom "Face the music" means to confront or accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions or decisions. (किसी समस्या या परिणाम का सामना करना)
• Example: After being caught cheating on the exam, he had no choice but to face the music and accept the punishment.
• Confront difficulties means to boldly deal with challenges or problems without avoiding them. (कठिनाइयों का सामना करना)
• Example: Instead of running away from his debts, he decided to confront the difficulties and work hard to repay them.
• Hence, the idiom "Face the music" signifies the act of confronting difficulties or taking responsibility for one’s actions.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 2 (Confront difficulties).

Additional Information

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

• Run away (भाग जाना): To escape from a situation or avoid facing it.
• Example: Instead of solving the issue, he decided to run away from his responsibilities.
• Hide feelings (भावनाओं को छुपाना): To suppress or not express one's emotions.
• Example: She tried to hide her feelings of disappointment after losing the competition.
• Avoid trouble (मुसीबत से बचना): To steer clear of problems or difficulties.
• Example: He always follows the rules to avoid trouble at work.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The digital divide deepens social inequalities by limiting access to technology.
• Sentence S is the first sentence as it highlights the unequal distribution of technology's benefits:
• "Technology's benefits are unequally distributed."
• Sentence Q follows as it emphasizes the lag in rural and underserved areas:
• "Those in rural or underserved areas lag behind."
• Sentence P is the third sentence because it addresses the limitation in educational opportunities due to unequal access:
• "Unequal access to the internet limits educational opportunities."
• Sentence R is the fourth as it highlights the broader impact on skill development and employment:
• "It prevents skill development and employment access."
• The correct sequence is SQPR.

 

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"Technology's benefits are unequally distributed. Those in rural or underserved areas lag behind. Unequal access to the internet limits educational opportunities. It prevents skill development and employment access. Bridging this gap is critical for inclusive growth."

The correct answer is: Eagerness.

Key Points

• The word "Alacrity" refers to a brisk and cheerful readiness to do something; it implies eagerness or enthusiasm. (चुस्ती और उत्साह)
• Example: She accepted the job offer with alacrity and was excited to start her new role.
• "Eagerness" denotes a strong desire or enthusiasm to do something or achieve something. (उत्सुकता)
• Example: The children showed eagerness to participate in the school play.
• Hence, we can infer that the synonym of 'Alacrity' is 'Eagerness'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Eagerness.

Additional Information

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

• Sluggishness (सुस्ती): Lack of energy or enthusiasm; being slow or inactive.
• Example: His sluggishness in completing tasks often delayed the project timeline.
• Hesitation (झिझक): A delay or pause due to uncertainty or reluctance.
• Example: She showed hesitation before answering the difficult question.
• Delay (विलंब): The act of postponing or making something late.
• Example: The heavy rain caused a delay in the train's arrival.

The correct answer is 'manner'.

 

Key Points

• The word "manner" means a way in which something is done or happens.
• In the given sentence, "manner" fits the context perfectly as it describes how the story was read.
• The other options: "meaner," "miner," and "manor" do not fit the context appropriately.

​Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Complete Sentence: She read the story aloud to the class in a calm and steady manner.

Additional Information

• Meaner: means more unpleasant or cruel.
• Miner: refers to a person who works in a mine.
• Manor: refers to a large country house or estate.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• Passive voice structure: The object of the active voice sentence becomes the subject of the passive voice sentence.
• In the passive voice, the sentence is: "The letter has been written by the manager carefully."
• To convert to active voice: Place the original subject "the manager" at the beginning.
• Change the passive verb form "has been written" to the active verb form "has written" (present perfect active).
• Ensure the adverb "carefully" remains at the end of the sentence for clarity.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: "The manager has written the letter carefully."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "The manager was writing the letter carefully." – Incorrect tense (past continuous).
• Option 2: "The manager will write the letter carefully." – Incorrect tense (future simple).
• Option 3: "The manager is writing the letter carefully." – Incorrect tense (present continuous).

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

 

Key Points

• The sentence should start with the subject "the students" (B).
• Next, the verb "accepted" (C) logically follows the subject.
• Then comes the object "his advice" (A), which is what was accepted.
• Finally, the adverb "happily" (D) completes the sentence, showing the manner of acceptance.

Therefore, the correct answer is BCAD.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1 (BACD): Incorrect because "the students his advice accepted happily" is not a grammatically valid order.
• Option 2 (BADC): Incorrect as "the students advice happily accepted" misplaces the object and adverb.
• Option 4 (ABCD): Incorrect because "his advice the students accepted happily" is awkward and not the most natural structure.

The correct answer is: Option 2.

Key Points

• The idiom "A picture is worth a thousand words" means that a single image can convey complex ideas or emotions more effectively than a lengthy description. (एक तस्वीर हजार शब्दों के बराबर होती है)
• Example: The old family photograph brought back memories that no words could describe – truly, a picture is worth a thousand words.
• The correct usage of this idiom is shown in Option 2, where the photograph effectively communicates emotions and meaning without the need for words.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 2.

Additional Information

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

• Option 1: "I prefer reading detailed descriptions rather than looking at images, even though a picture is worth a thousand words."
• Explanation: This sentence contradicts the meaning of the idiom by stating a preference for descriptions over images, which is opposite to the actual meaning. (यह वाक्य मुहावरे के अर्थ के विपरीत है।)
• Example: Incorrect usage of the idiom.
• Option 3: "Since she couldn’t take a picture, she decided to write a long paragraph, as a picture is worth a thousand words."
• Explanation: This implies that writing a long paragraph is equivalent to taking a picture, which is not the correct interpretation of the idiom. (यह वाक्य मुहावरे का सही उपयोग नहीं करता है।)
• Example: Incorrect usage of the idiom.
• Option 4: "He described the entire scene in detail because a picture is worth a thousand words."
• Explanation: This contradicts the idiom’s meaning, as it emphasizes detailed descriptions instead of relying on the power of a picture. (यह वाक्य मुहावरे के अर्थ के विपरीत है।)
• Example: Incorrect usage of the idiom.

The correct answer is '2' i.e. It is an honour to be here.

Key Points

• The word 'honour' begins with a silent 'h', which makes it phonetically start with a vowel sound ('onour').
• When a word starts with a vowel sound, the article 'an' is used before it instead of 'a'.
• Option 2, 'It is an honour to be here,' correctly follows this rule.

Correct sentence: It is an honour to be here.

Additional Information

• Other options are incorrect:
• Option 1: 'the honour' is inappropriate here because 'the' is used for something specific or already mentioned.
• Option 3: 'honour' without an article is grammatically incomplete.
• Option 4: 'a honour' is incorrect because 'a' cannot precede words with vowel sounds.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The given sentence begins by emphasizing the vital role of honeybees in pollination.
• Sentence P is the first part as it explains the process of how honeybees transfer pollen between flowers:
• "They transfer pollen between flowers."
• Sentence Q follows as it logically explains the result of this process:
• "This helps in the growth of fruits and seeds."
• Sentence R comes next as it highlights the critical importance of bees for crops:
• "Without bees, many crops would fail."
• Sentence S is the fourth as it introduces the problem of declining bee populations:
• "But bee populations are declining globally."
• The correct sequence is PQRS.

 

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"Honeybees are vital for pollination. They transfer pollen between flowers. This helps in the growth of fruits and seeds. Without bees, many crops would fail. But bee populations are declining globally. Protecting bees is essential for food security."

The correct answer is Option 1 (QPRS).

 

Key Points

• Q ("From cave paintings to modern murals, art evolves") provides a historical/chronological opening that sets the stage.
• P ("It communicates emotions beyond words") explains art’s primary function — emotional communication.
• R ("Artists express views on culture, politics, and identity") gives specific ways artists use art to comment on society.
• S ("It also raises awareness on social issues") follows naturally as a consequence of R and leads into the concluding statement (6).
• Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1 (QPRS).

 

Coherent passage after rearrangement (Q → P → R → S):

From cave paintings to modern murals, art evolves. It communicates emotions beyond words. Artists express views on culture, politics, and identity. It also raises awareness on social issues. Hence, art holds immense power in society.

 

Why other options are weaker

• PRQS (option 3) starts with the general function of art before establishing its historical context — less natural than Q first.
• QRPS (option 2) places R before P so specifics (artists’ views) come before the general communicative function — slightly less logical.
• RSPQ (option 4) disrupts chronology and logical progression (puts specific expression and social awareness before the explanatory/emotional and historical context).

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The error in the sentence lies in the preposition "for" used after "congratulated."
• The correct preposition to use with "congratulated" is "on," not "for."
• The phrase should read: "She congratulated him on his success."
• Using the correct preposition ensures proper grammatical structure and clarity.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "She congratulated him on his success."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "No error" – This option is incorrect because the sentence contains an error in the use of the preposition "for."
• Option 3: "his success!" – This part of the sentence is correct and does not require any changes.
• Option 4: "She congratulated," – This part of the sentence is correct and does not require any changes.

The correct answer is option 1.

Key Points

The correct spelling for the leadership role is 'Lieutenant'.

• The word 'Lieutenant' is a noun which refers to a rank in the armed forces or a deputy or substitute acting for a superior.
• Other spellings such as 'Luitenant', 'Lieutanant', and 'Leuitenant' are incorrect.
• For Example -
• The lieutenant led his team with courage and determination.

Therefore, the correct spelling is 'Lieutenant'.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The phrase "married with a doctor" is incorrect because it implies a different meaning.
• The correct preposition to use with "married" when referring to a person is "to."
• The revised sentence should be "She is married to a doctor," which is grammatically correct and clear.
• Options 1, 3, and 4 do not fit the context of the sentence, and Option 5 is irrelevant.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "She is married to a doctor."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "in a doctor" – This is incorrect because "in" is not the correct preposition to describe a marital relationship.
• Option 3: "by a doctor" – This is incorrect as it implies that the doctor performed the action, which is not the intended meaning.
• Option 4: "from a doctor" – This is incorrect because it changes the meaning entirely and does not make sense in this context.

The correct order is CDBA.

Key Points

• Here’s the correct reasoning:
• C starts with the subject: "The construction company."
• D follows with the action: "promised to."
• B continues the sentence with: "complete the new building"
• A finishes with: "by the end of the year."

So, the correct sequence is: C, D, B, A.

Note: This is a PYP question, and the official answer key has marked (correct option) as the correct answer, hence we cannot make any changes the options, but we changed the solution with the actual right answer.

The correct answer is: Option 2 (Preside over).

Key Points

• The word "chair" in this context is used as a verb, meaning to preside over or lead a meeting. (अध्यक्षता करना)
• Example: The professor will chair the discussion on climate change policies.
• "Preside over" means to lead or manage a formal meeting, gathering, or event. It implies taking charge or being responsible for the conduct of the meeting. (अध्यक्षता करना)
• Example: The judge will preside over the courtroom proceedings.
• Hence, in the given sentence, the word "chair" is most appropriately replaced by "preside over."

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 2 (Preside over).

Additional Information

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

• Observe (देखना): To watch carefully, especially with attention to details.
• Example: Scientists observe the behavior of animals in their natural habitat.
• Cancel (रद्द करना): To call off or annul something that was planned.
• Example: The event was canceled due to bad weather conditions.
• Furniture (फर्नीचर): Objects like chairs, tables, and beds that are used in a room.
• Example: We need to buy some new furniture for the living room.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The error lies in the phrase "he had arrived". The auxiliary verb "did" is required for the correct construction of the sentence.
• The expression "No sooner" is always followed by an auxiliary verb (e.g., "did") to maintain proper syntax.
• The correct structure should be "No sooner did he arrive than the meeting started."
• Thus, the error is located in Option 1.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Sentence: "No sooner did he arrive than the meeting started."

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: "No error" – This is incorrect because there is an error in the sentence.
• Option 3: "No sooner" – This part is correct and does not require any changes.
• Option 4: "than the meeting started" – This part is also correct and does not require any changes.

The correct answer is: Option 3 (Vague).

Key Points

• The word "lucid" means something that is clear, easily understood, or expressed in an easy and logical manner. (स्पष्ट, सुस्पष्ट)
• Example: The teacher gave a lucid explanation of the complex topic, making it easy for all the students to understand.
• "Vague" refers to something that is unclear, not well-explained, or lacking definite meaning. It is the direct opposite of "lucid." (अस्पष्ट)
• Example: The directions he gave were so vague that I got lost on my way to the event.
• Hence, we can infer that the antonym of 'lucid' is 'vague'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 3 (Vague).

Additional Information

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

• Transparent (पारदर्शी): Something that allows light to pass through so objects behind it can be distinctly seen. It can also mean being open and honest.
• Example: The glass window was so transparent that I could see the garden clearly.
• Clear (स्पष्ट): Free from doubt or confusion; easy to understand.
• Example: The instructions were clear, so I knew exactly what to do next.
• Coherent (सुसंगत): Logical and consistent; well-structured and easy to follow.
• Example: The speaker presented a coherent argument that convinced the audience.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: Rukmini asked Sanjana why she had not appeared in the UPSC Preliminary Examination the previous year.
• Key Conversions:
• "Why didn’t you appear" becomes "why she had not appeared"
• Pronoun "you" is converted to "she" to match the indirect speech.
• Verb "didn’t appear" is converted to "had not appeared" to match the past perfect tense in indirect speech.
• "last year" becomes "the previous year"
• Time expression "last year" is converted to "the previous year" in indirect speech.
• Reporting verb:
• Direct: "said to" becomes "asked" to indicate a question in indirect speech.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Quotation marks are removed in indirect speech.
• The sentence structure is adjusted to follow the rules of indirect speech.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "Rukmini asked Sanjana why she had not appeared in the UPSC Preliminary Examination the previous year."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "Rukmini asked Sanjana why had she not appeared in the UPSC Preliminary Examination the previous year."
• Incorrect word order: "had she not appeared" is not the correct form for indirect speech.
• Option 3: "Rukmini told Sanjana why she had not appeared in the UPSC Preliminary Examination the last year."
• Incorrect reporting verb: "told" is not appropriate for a question.
• Option 4: "Rukmini asked Sanjana why she did not appear in the UPSC Preliminary Examination last year."
• Incorrect tense: "did not appear" does not match the past perfect requirement for indirect speech.