English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: When converting direct speech to indirect speech, pronouns, verb tense, and time expressions often change.
• Key Conversions:
• "Where are you going" becomes "where I was going"
• Verb "are" is changed to "was" to match the past tense of the reporting verb.
• Pronoun "you" is changed to "I" to reflect the speaker (me).
• "at this time" becomes "at that time"
• Time expression "this" changes to "that" when reporting speech.
• Reporting verb:
• Direct: "He said"
• Converted to: "He asked" to reflect the question being posed.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Quotation marks are removed in indirect speech.
• Sentence structure changes to incorporate the question as part of the statement.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: He asked me where I was going at that time of the day.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "He asked me where I was going at this time of the day."
• Incorrect time expression: "this" should be converted to "that" in indirect speech.
• Option 3: "He asked me where was I going at this time of the day."
• Incorrect word order: "was I going" should be "I was going" in indirect speech.
• Option 4: "He asked me where was I going at that time of the day."
• Incorrect word order: "was I going" should be "I was going" in indirect speech.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

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 satellite has been launched successfully by ISRO."
• To convert to active voice: Place the subject "ISRO" at the beginning.
• Change the passive verb form "has been launched" to "has launched" (present perfect active).
• Ensure the object "the satellite" remains after the verb.
• Keep the adverb "successfully" intact for clarity.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "ISRO has launched the satellite successfully."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "ISRO have launched the satellite successfully." – Incorrect subject-verb agreement (use "has" instead of "have").
• Option 3: "ISRO has launch the satellite successfully." – Incorrect verb form (use "launched" instead of "launch").
• Option 4: "ISRO has launched the satellite successful." – Incorrect adverb usage (use "successfully" instead of "successful").

The correct answer is: Option 3 i.e. Fastidious.

Key Points

• The word "Fastidious" refers to a person who is very attentive to and concerned about accuracy, detail, or cleanliness; such a person is often difficult to please. (अतिसंवेदनशील, नखरेबाज)
• Example: She is so fastidious about her work that she double-checks every detail multiple times.
• A "Fastidious" person is often considered highly selective and may have high standards for everything. (नखरीला)

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 3.

Additional Information

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

• Docile (विनम्र, आज्ञाकारी): A person or animal that is easy to teach, control, or manage.
• Example: The puppy was so docile that it quickly learned all the commands.
• Hostile (शत्रुतापूर्ण): Showing or feeling opposition or dislike; unfriendly.
• Example: The villagers were initially hostile to the idea of building a factory nearby.
• Gullible (भोला-भाला): Easily persuaded to believe something; credulous.
• Example: He is so gullible that he believed the fake email promising him a million dollars.

The correct answer is: Option 2 i.e. Mysterious.

Key Points

• The word "Esoteric" means intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest. (गूढ़/दुर्गम)
• Example: The professor gave an esoteric lecture that only the graduate students could fully comprehend.
• "Mysterious" refers to something that is difficult or impossible to understand, explain, or identify. (रहस्यमय)
• Example: The old house had a mysterious charm that drew curious visitors from far and wide.
• Hence, we can conclude that "Mysterious" is a suitable synonym for "Esoteric".

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 2 i.e. Mysterious.

Additional Information

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

• Common (सामान्य): Refers to something occurring, found, or done often; prevalent.
• Example: It is common to see people commuting by bicycles in this area.
• Popular (लोकप्रिय): Liked, admired, or enjoyed by many people or by a particular group.
• Example: This singer is very popular among teenagers.
• Clear (स्पष्ट): Easy to perceive, understand, or interpret.
• Example: The instructions for the test were very clear and easy to follow.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: She said that she wished she could meet him once.
• Key Conversions:
• "How I wish I could meet him once!" becomes "she wished she could meet him once."
• Exclamatory statement "How I wish" is converted to the verb "wished" in indirect speech.
• Pronoun "I" is changed to "she" to match the subject in the reporting clause.
• The modal verb "could" remains unchanged, as it reflects possibility in both direct and indirect speech.
• "meet him once" remains unchanged
• The object and context of the sentence do not require alteration when converting to indirect speech.
• Reporting verb:
• Direct: "She said"
• Maintains the same reporting verb in indirect speech.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Direct speech enclosed in quotation marks is removed in indirect speech.
• Sentence structure is adjusted to reflect indirect speech format.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "She said that she wished she could meet him once."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "She hoped she would meet him."
• The word "hoped" changes the emotional tone of the original sentence, which is an exclamation of wish or desire.
• Option 2: "She exclaimed that she could meet him once."
• The word "exclaimed" is incorrect, as the sentence is not a mere exclamation but an expression of a wish.
• Option 4: "She asked that she meet him once."
• The word "asked" is incorrect, as the original sentence does not contain a question or request.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• The sentence is in passive voice: "All the books had been neatly arranged on the shelves by my grandfather."
• To convert to active voice, the subject "my grandfather" should perform the action.
• The correct active voice structure is: "My grandfather had neatly arranged all the books on the shelves."
• The verb "had been arranged" in passive voice becomes "had neatly arranged" in active voice.
• The sentence retains the past perfect tense.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: "My grandfather had neatly arranged all the books on the shelves."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "My grandfather has neatly arranged all the books on the shelves." – Incorrect tense (present perfect).
• Option 2: "My grandfather had arranged all the books on the shelves." – Missing "neatly," which is part of the original sentence.
• Option 3: "My grandfather have neatly arranged all the books on the shelves." – Incorrect subject-verb agreement ("have" should be "had").

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: He said that he had to reach early.
• Key Conversions:
• “must” becomes “had to” in indirect speech
• When converting from direct to indirect speech, “must” is often replaced with “had to” to match the past tense of the reporting verb.
• The pronoun “I” changes to “he”
• In indirect speech, the pronoun is adjusted to align with the subject of the reporting verb.
• The sentence structure is adjusted
• The reporting clause introduces the statement with “that,” which is commonly used in indirect speech.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Direct speech is replaced with a reported statement.
• No quotation marks are used in indirect speech.
• The reporting verb “said” is retained, followed by “that.”

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: He said that he had to reach early.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: “He said that he should reach early.”
• Incorrect as “must” is not replaced with “should” in this context.
• Option 2: “He said that he must reach early.”
• Incorrect as “must” is not converted to the past form “had to.”
• Option 3: “He said that he will reach early.”
• Incorrect as “will” does not match the past tense of the reporting verb.

The correct answer is: Veteran.

Key Points

• The word "Veteran" refers to a person who has long experience in a particular field or activity. It is typically used to describe someone who is highly skilled or knowledgeable due to their extensive practice or participation over a significant period. (अनुभवी)
• Example: He is a veteran journalist who has covered major events for decades.
• Hence, the correct word for "A person who has long experience in a field" is "Veteran".

Therefore, the correct answer is: Veteran.

Additional Information

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

• Novice (नवसिखिया): A person who is new to a particular activity or field.
• Example: The novice player struggled to keep up with the pace of the game.
• Trainee (प्रशिक्षु): Someone who is undergoing training to gain skills in a specific field.
• Example: As a trainee chef, he is learning how to prepare gourmet dishes.
• Amateur (शौकिया): A person who engages in an activity for pleasure rather than professionally.
• Example: The amateur photographer captured stunning landscapes during his travels.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The error lies in the phrase "with her mother".
• The verb "resembles" does not require a preposition like "with".
• The correct construction is simply "She resembles her mother."
• Including "with" is a grammatical error and should be removed.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "She resembles her mother."

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The use of "accused for theft" is incorrect because the preposition "for" does not align with the verb "accused."
• The correct preposition to use with "accused" is "of" when referring to the crime or wrongdoing.
• The phrase should be revised to "accused of theft" for grammatical accuracy and clarity.
• Thus, the error lies in the incorrect preposition usage.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Sentence: "The criminal was accused of theft."

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• The primary issue in the sentence is the incorrect usage of "that where."
• When reporting questions in indirect speech, the word "that" should not be used with question words such as "where."
• The correct phrase should be "He asked me where I was going" to ensure grammatical correctness.
• Thus, the error is located in Option 4 of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: "He asked me where I was going."

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The error in the sentence is the use of the preposition "with" after "married."
• The verb "married" does not require the preposition "with" in standard English usage.
• Instead, the correct structure is simply "She married a doctor."
• Thus, the error is located in Option 1.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Sentence: "She married a doctor."

 

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 to it.

The correct answer is 'since'.

 

Key Points

• The word "since" is used to indicate a point in time when something started and has continued until now.
• In the given sentence, the word "yesterday" refers to a specific point in time in the past, making "since" the most appropriate choice.
• Options 1, 2, and 4 are incorrect as they do not fit grammatically or contextually in this sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Complete Sentence: "The child has been missing since yesterday."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "on" is incorrect because "on" is used for specific days or dates (e.g., "on Monday").
• Option 2: "from" is incorrect as it implies a starting point without continuity.
• Option 4: "for" is incorrect because it refers to a duration rather than a starting point.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• Passive voice structure: The object of the active voice sentence becomes the subject of the active voice sentence.
• In the passive voice, the sentence is: "The bill was passed in the parliament."
• To convert to active voice: Identify the agent (the person or entity performing the action).
• Use the subject "The parliament" as the doer of the action in the active sentence.
• Ensure the verb "was passed" is converted to its active form "passed."

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "The parliament passed the bill."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "The members of the parliament passed the bill in the parliament." – Too wordy and redundant.
• Option 3: "The bill has passed in the parliament." – Incorrect verb form; it changes the tense.
• Option 4: "They have passed the bill in the parliament." – Incorrect tense; it introduces unnecessary complexity.

The correct answer is: Option 4 (Paragon).

Key Points

• The word "Knave" refers to a dishonest or unscrupulous man; it describes a person who is deceitful or untrustworthy. (धोखेबाज़ व्यक्ति)
• Example: The knave tricked the villagers into giving him all their money.
• The word "Paragon" refers to a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality, typically representing virtue or excellence. (उत्कृष्ट उदाहरण)
• Example: She is considered a paragon of honesty and integrity in the community.
• As "Knave" indicates dishonesty, its antonym would be "Paragon," which represents exemplary and virtuous behavior.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 4 (Paragon).

Additional Information

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

• Shady (छायादार): Something darkened due to shade or something suspicious.
• Example: The shady alley seemed dangerous at night.
• Fuzzy (धुंधला): Something unclear or not sharply defined.
• Example: The photograph was fuzzy and difficult to make out.
• Dark (अंधेरा): The absence of light or brightness.
• Example: The room was completely dark after the power went out.

The correct answer is: Sojourn.

Key Points

• "Sojourn" means a temporary stay at a place. (अस्थायी निवास)
• Example: During his sojourn in Paris, he learned French and explored the city’s culture.
• Hence, we can infer that the correct word for a "short stay at a place" is "Sojourn". (अस्थायी निवास)

Therefore, the correct answer is: Sojourn.

Additional Information

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

• Odyssey (लंबी यात्रा): A long, adventurous journey.
• Example: The explorers embarked on an odyssey to discover new lands.
• Peregrination (भ्रमण): A long journey, especially one undertaken on foot.
• Example: His peregrination across Europe was both tiring and fulfilling.
• Exodus (प्रस्थान): A mass departure of people.
• Example: The exodus of workers from the city after the factory shut down was unprecedented.

The correct answer is 'sanitary'.

 

Key Points

• The word "sanitary" means clean and hygienic, especially to prevent disease. (स्वच्छ)
• The hospital staff ensures that sanitary conditions are maintained to promote health and safety.
• The other options: "sanity," "sanitarium," and "sanitery" do not fit the context correctly.

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

Complete Sentence: The hospital staff ensured proper sanitary condition in every ward.

Additional Information

• Sanity (समझदारी): Refers to the state of having a sound mind.
• Sanitarium (स्वास्थ्यगृह): Refers to a medical facility for long-term illness, typically tuberculosis.
• Sanitery: This is a misspelled version of the word "sanitary."

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The sentence "I have visited Delhi last year" is incorrect because the present perfect tense (have visited) should not be used with a specific time reference like "last year."
• The past simple tense ("visited") is the appropriate choice when referring to completed actions in the past with a specific time mentioned.
• Other options like "had visited" or "was visiting" do not fit the context of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "I visited Delhi last year."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "had visited" – This is incorrect as the past perfect tense is used when there are two past events and this sentence mentions only one.
• Option 3: "was visiting" – This is incorrect as the past continuous tense is used for actions in progress in the past, which does not apply here.
• Option 4: "did visit" – While grammatically correct, it is usually used for emphasis and is unnecessary here.

The correct answer is: Cowardice.

Key Points

• The word "audacity" means boldness, courage, or a willingness to take risks, sometimes in a rude or shocking way. (साहस / दुस्साहस)
• Example: He had the audacity to question the manager in front of everyone.
• "Cowardice" refers to a lack of courage or bravery; being easily frightened. (कायरता)
• Example: Running away from the problem showed his cowardice.
• Hence, we can infer that the opposite of 'audacity' is 'cowardice'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Cowardice.

Additional Information

• Boldness (साहस): Showing confidence and courage.
• Example: Her boldness helped her succeed in the competition.
• Bravery (बहादुरी): The quality of being courageous.
• Example: The soldier was awarded for his bravery.
• Modesty (विनम्रता): The quality of being humble or not showing off.
• Example: Despite her success, she is known for her modesty.

The correct answer is: Fragile.

Key Points

• The word "durable" means something that is strong and able to withstand wear, pressure, or damage over time. (टिकाऊ)
• Example: This furniture is made of durable materials and can last for decades.
• "Fragile" refers to something that is delicate, easily broken, or damaged. (नाजुक)
• Example: Handle the glass vase carefully; it is very fragile.
• Hence, we can infer that the opposite of 'durable' is 'fragile'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Fragile.

Additional Information

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

• Strong (मजबूत): Having great physical power or strength.
• Example: The bridge is strong enough to support heavy vehicles.
• Sturdy (मजबूत): Firmly built or robust in structure.
• Example: The backpack is sturdy and can hold heavy books.
• Firm (दृढ़): Solid, strong, or unyielding.
• Example: She has a firm belief in justice and equality.