English Comprehension PYQs

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• To form a meaningful and coherent sentence, the correct sequence is 1-2-3-4.
• The athlete trained relentlessly (1), which logically leads to overcoming several injuries (2).
• After overcoming injuries, he qualified for the finals (3), and finally, he inspired young players (4).
• This arrangement ensures a chronological and logical progression of events.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "The athlete trained relentlessly. He overcame several injuries. He qualified for the finals. He inspired young players."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1 (2-1-3-4): This sequence disrupts the logical order by starting with overcoming injuries before the athlete's training effort.
• Option 3 (1-2-4-3): Placing "He inspired young players" before "He qualified for the finals" breaks the logical progression.
• Option 4 (1-3-2-4): This sequence misplaces "He qualified for the finals" before overcoming injuries, which does not make sense chronologically.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The sentence "The old lady wept a river of tears" uses an exaggerated expression to emphasize the extent of her sadness.
• This is an example of Hyperbole, a figure of speech that uses deliberate and obvious exaggeration for dramatic effect.
• Hyperbole is often used to evoke strong feelings or create a vivid mental image.
• In this case, the expression "a river of tears" is not literal but exaggerates the old lady’s intense emotions.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Explanation: The sentence does not employ euphemism, alliteration, or anticlimax, as these figures of speech serve different purposes. Instead, the vivid exaggeration aligns with hyperbole.

 

Additional Information

• Euphemism: A mild or indirect word/expression used to substitute something harsh or blunt (e.g., "passed away" for "died").
• Alliteration: The repetition of the same initial consonant sound in closely connected words (e.g., "She sells seashells by the seashore").
• Anticlimax: A sudden transition from a significant idea to a trivial one for humorous or ironic effect.
• Hyperbole: An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, often used for emphasis or effect.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• The idiom "Cast pearls before swine" means giving something valuable or precious to someone who does not appreciate its worth.
• It originates from the Bible and highlights the futility of offering valuable things to those who cannot understand or value them.
• In this context, "swine" metaphorically represents undeserving individuals.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Explanation: "If you cast pearls before swine, you are wasting your time by giving something valuable to someone who cannot appreciate it."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "Sell things at very high prices" – This does not align with the meaning of the idiom.
• Option 2: "Share secrets with close friends" – This is unrelated to the idiom.
• Option 3: "Hide something precious from everyone" – This is not the correct meaning of the idiom.
• Option 5: "No error" – This option is irrelevant in this context since the idiom clearly has a specific meaning.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The word "pompous" means excessively self-important, arrogant, or showy.
• An antonym is a word that has the opposite meaning of another word.
• The antonym of "pompous" is "submissive," which means humble, modest, or yielding.
• Options like "Energy," "Urgency," and "Delight" do not provide the opposite meaning of "pompous."

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Explanation: "The opposite of "pompous" is "submissive," as it conveys humility and modesty."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1 (Submissive): This is the correct antonym for "pompous" as it conveys humility or modesty.
• Option 2 (Energy): This is unrelated to the meaning of "pompous" and does not qualify as an antonym.
• Option 3 (Urgency): This is unrelated to the meaning of "pompous" and does not qualify as an antonym.
• Option 4 (Delight): This is unrelated to the meaning of "pompous" and does not qualify as an antonym.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The given sentence is in indirect speech, which describes a past event with the reporting verb in the past tense ("said").
• The phrase "he had been waiting there for more than two hours before the gates finally opened" indicates the use of past perfect continuous tense.
• In direct speech, past perfect continuous tense is typically converted to past continuous when quoting the exact words spoken.
• Option 3 correctly converts the sentence into direct speech: 'I was waiting here for more than two hours before the gates finally opened.'

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "He said, 'I was waiting here for more than two hours before the gates finally opened.'"

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "I have been waiting here since two hours before the gates opened." – This is incorrect because "have been waiting" is present perfect continuous, which does not match the past context.
• Option 2: "I waited here two hours before gates opened." – This is incorrect as it uses simple past tense, which does not convey the continuous action described in the original sentence.
• Option 4: "I had waiting there before the gates opened." – This is grammatically incorrect as "had waiting" is an incorrect verb form.
• Option 3: "I was waiting here for more than two hours before the gates finally opened." – This is the correct conversion as it uses past continuous tense to represent the original meaning accurately.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The given sentence is in the passive voice: "The poem was composed by the student during the literature class."
• To convert it into the active voice, the subject (the student) should perform the action (composed).
• The correct active voice structure becomes: "The student composed the poem during the literature class."
• Option 1 correctly conveys the meaning in the active voice.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Sentence: "The student composed the poem during the literature class."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "The student composed the poem during the literature class." – This is a correct conversion to the active voice.
• Option 3: "The poem is being composed by the student during the class." – This sentence is in the passive voice, not active.
• Option 4: "The student is composing the poem during the literature class." – This sentence is in the present progressive tense, which changes the original meaning.
• Option 5: Not applicable in this context.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The word “satisfied” is typically followed by the preposition “with” to describe contentment or approval regarding something.
• Other prepositions like “for”, “to”, and “by” do not fit the context or grammatical structure of the sentence.
• Hence, the most appropriate option to complete the sentence is Option 2, “with.”

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "The manager was satisfied with the work."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: “for” – The preposition “for” typically indicates purpose or benefit, which does not align with the meaning of “satisfied” in this context.
• Option 3: “to” – The preposition “to” usually indicates direction or relationship, making it unsuitable here.
• Option 4: “by” – “By” generally denotes agency or means, which does not fit the context of the sentence.
• No error – This would be the correct option if there were no mistakes, but the correct preposition is missing in the original sentence.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• The phrase "in the limelight" is an idiomatic expression that means being the center of public attention or focus.
• In the context of the sentence, Harshith, as the president of a major company, is appropriately described as being "in the limelight."
• The other options provided are idioms, but they do not fit the context of the sentence:
• The elephant in the room: Refers to an obvious problem or issue that is being ignored.
• A dime a dozen: Means something is very common or easily available.
• Under the weather: Means feeling sick or unwell.
• Option 4 is the most appropriate choice as it correctly conveys the intended meaning.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: "As the president of a major company, Harshith is used to being in the limelight."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: The elephant in the room – While this is a valid idiom, it does not fit the context of the sentence as there is no mention of an ignored problem.
• Option 2: A dime a dozen – This phrase refers to commonality, which does not match the idea of being the focus of attention.
• Option 3: Under the weather – This idiom is used to describe feeling unwell, which is irrelevant to the context.
• Option 4: In the limelight – This is the correct choice as it aligns with the meaning of being the center of attention.

The correct answer is Option (3) They said that they would visit the museum the next day.

Key Points

• In indirect speech, when the reporting verb is in the past tense (“said”), the future tense “shall/will” usually changes to “would.”
• The word “tomorrow” also changes to “the next day” in reported speech.
• So, “We shall visit the museum tomorrow” becomes: They said that they would visit the museum the next day.
• This option preserves both tense consistency and time expression change.

Therefore, the correct answer is– They said that they would visit the museum the next day.

Additional Information

• They said they would visit the museum tomorrow. – Incorrect, because “tomorrow” should change to “the next day.”
• They said that they will visit the museum the next day. – Incorrect, because “will” should change to “would.”
• They said they would be visiting the museum. – Grammatically correct but incomplete; it omits the time reference, so it’s less accurate.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The sentence in Option 1 is correctly structured and conveys the intended meaning accurately.
• It correctly states that the authorities had already taken emergency steps before the storm hit, which aligns with proper grammatical structure.
• Options 2, 3, and 4 either lack clarity, omit necessary details, or are structured incorrectly.
• Option 1 maintains the proper tense and logical sequence of actions.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Sentence: "The authorities had taken the emergency steps before the storm hit."

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: "The storm was faced with emergency steps." – This sentence lacks clarity and does not accurately describe the sequence of events.
• Option 3: "The authorities took emergency steps." – This sentence does not specify the timing of the actions relative to the storm.
• Option 4: "The emergency steps were taken before the storm hit." – While grammatically correct, it is less precise and lacks the subject performing the action (i.e., the authorities).

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• The term vindicate means to clear someone of blame or suspicion or to justify their actions.
• Its antonym would be a word that conveys the opposite meaning, such as accuse, which means to charge someone with wrongdoing or fault.
• Other options like exonerate, defend, and justify are synonyms or closely related in meaning to "vindicate" and cannot be considered antonyms.
• Thus, the correct antonym of "vindicate" is Option 2: Accuse.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: Exonerate – This means to clear someone from blame or fault, making it a synonym of "vindicate."
• Option 3: Defend – This means to support or protect someone, which is similar in meaning to "vindicate."
• Option 4: Justify – This means to show or prove that something is right, which aligns with the meaning of "vindicate."
• Option 5: No error – This option is not relevant to the given question.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The correct preposition to use when referring to a plane landing at an airport is "at." This ensures proper grammatical usage and clarity.
• Options like "to", "into", and "towards" are incorrect in this context because they do not align with how the preposition is used for a location.
• Using "at" indicates that the plane landed at a specific location, the airport, which is the correct phrasing.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "The plane landed at the airport."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "to the airport" – Incorrect because "to" suggests movement towards the airport, not the act of landing.
• Option 2: "into the airport" – Incorrect because "into" implies entering a building or enclosed space, which is not applicable here.
• Option 4: "towards airport" – Incorrect because "towards" indicates direction but not the act of landing.
• No error – This option would only be correct if the original sentence were grammatically accurate, which it is not.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The original sentence is in the passive voice: "All the entries must have been verified by the auditor before submission."
• In the active voice, the subject (the auditor) is the doer of the action.
• The active voice structure ensures that the auditor is explicitly performing the action of verifying the entries.
• Thus, the correct transformation is: "The auditor must have verified all the entries before submission."

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "The auditor must have verified all the entries before submission."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "All the entries are to be verified before submission." – This is in the passive voice, and the modal verb "must" is omitted, changing the meaning.
• Option 2: "The auditor was verifying all entries before submission." – This is not correct as it uses the past continuous tense, which changes the meaning of the original sentence.
• Option 4: "All entries were verified by the auditor." – This is in the past simple tense and passive voice, which changes the tense and meaning.
• Option 5: There is no Option 5 provided in the question.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The paragraph is about the Galápagos Islands and their significance in Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
• Sentence 2 introduces the topic by mentioning the Galápagos Islands and their connection to Darwin's theory of evolution.
• Sentence 4 builds on this by describing Darwin's observation of finches with distinct beak shapes on different islands.
• Sentence 3 logically follows, explaining how Darwin's observations led to the concept of natural selection.
• Sentence 1 concludes the paragraph by mentioning how these observations contributed to his famous book, On the Origin of Species.

Therefore, the most logical sequence is 2-4-3-1, and the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Paragraph: "The Galápagos Islands are famous for their diverse wildlife and their role in Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Darwin observed that finches on different islands had distinct beak shapes suited to their specific diets. This led him to propose the idea of natural selection, where species evolve over time to adapt to their environment. His observations eventually contributed to his groundbreaking book, On the Origin of Species."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1 (2-4-1-3) is incorrect because sentence 1 prematurely concludes the paragraph before explaining Darwin's concept of natural selection.
• Option 2 (4-2-3-1) is incorrect as it disrupts the logical flow by starting with an observation instead of introducing the topic.
• Option 4 (1-3-2-4) is incorrect because it starts with the conclusion and ends abruptly without a proper introduction to the topic.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The phrase "If I was you" is grammatically incorrect because it uses the verb "was" in a subjunctive mood.
• In hypothetical or unreal conditions, the verb "were" is used instead of "was" with the pronoun "I."
• The correct form is "If I were you," which aligns with the rules of subjunctive grammar.
• The use of "were" indicates a situation that is contrary to reality or hypothetical.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "If I were you, I would accept the offer."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "am you" – This is grammatically incorrect as "am" cannot be used in place of "were" in hypothetical situations.
• Option 2: "have been you" – This is incorrect as it does not fit the context of a hypothetical condition.
• Option 4: "would be you" – This is grammatically incorrect as "would be" cannot replace "were" in this type of conditional sentence.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• The sentence compares the abilities of Hari and Sohan in solving mathematical problems, indicating the need for the comparative degree of the adjective.
• The adjective "talented" is used to describe their skill, and its comparative form is "more talented."
• Other options like "most talented" (superlative degree) and "talenter" (incorrect form) do not fit the context of comparison between two individuals.
• Thus, the correct answer is "more talented."

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "Hari is more talented than Sohan in solving mathematical problems."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "most talented" – This is the superlative form, used for comparisons among more than two individuals. It is incorrect in this context.
• Option 2: "talented" – This is not a valid option and is irrelevant to the question.
• Option 4: "talenter" – This is not a grammatically correct word in English.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The preposition "of" is used to indicate the relationship between the soldier and the suspicion of being a spy.
• The phrase "suspected of" is the correct collocation in English grammar.
• Other options, like "after", "by", or "up", do not fit grammatically or contextually in this sentence.
• Therefore, the correct preposition to fill the blank is "of".

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Sentence: "The soldier was suspected of being a spy and was put behind bars."

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: "after" – This is incorrect as it does not convey the intended meaning in the context of suspicion.
• Option 3: "by" – This is incorrect as it typically indicates the agent performing the action, not the cause of suspicion.
• Option 4: "up" – This is incorrect as it does not fit grammatically or contextually here.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The phrase "since two months" in the sentence is incorrect because "since" is used to refer to a specific point in time, not a duration.
• To indicate a duration, "for" is the appropriate preposition. Hence, the phrase should be "for two months."
• Replacing "since two months" with "for two months" ensures grammatical accuracy and proper usage of prepositions.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Sentence: "The team has been preparing for the match for two months without a break."

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: "in two months" – This option is incorrect because "in" suggests something will happen after a specified period, not during an ongoing duration.
• Option 3: "between two months" – This option is incorrect because "between" implies something happening within two distinct points or periods of time, which does not fit the context.
• Option 4: "No changes required" – This option is incorrect because the original sentence contains an error in the use of the preposition "since."

The correct answer is Option (2) picked me up.

Key Points

• The verb form is incorrect because the sentence begins with “Can you”, which requires the base form of the verb, not past tense.
• Instead of “picked me up,” it should be “pick me up.”
• Correct sentence: “Can you pick me up from the airport?”
• The modal verb “can” is always followed by the root/base form of the verb (e.g., can go, can do, can see).

Therefore, the correct answer is– picked me up.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• The word "sentence" is a homonym, meaning it has multiple meanings depending on the context.
• In the original statement, "sentence" refers to a legal judgment given by a judge.
• Option 4, "She wrote a beautiful sentence in her diary," uses "sentence" in a different context, referring to a grammatical unit of language.
• This demonstrates the homonym usage of the word "sentence."

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Explanation: The homonym "sentence" can mean either a legal decision (as in the original statement) or a collection of words forming a coherent thought (as in Option 4).

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "He received a ten-year sentence for the crime." – This uses "sentence" in the same legal context as the original statement.
• Option 2: "The lawyer defended the sentence fiercely." – Again, "sentence" is used in the legal context, not as a homonym.
• Option 3: "The courtroom fell silent during the sentence." – This also refers to the legal judgment, not demonstrating the homonym usage.
• Option 4: "She wrote a beautiful sentence in her diary." – This correctly uses "sentence" as a homonym, referring to a grammatical expression.