English Comprehension PYQs

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 active voice, the sentence is: "Mrs. Leela opened the window."
• To convert to passive voice: Place the object "the window" at the beginning.
• Change the active verb form "opened" to "was opened" (past simple passive).
• Add the preposition "by" followed by the original subject "Mrs. Leela."

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: "The window was opened by Mrs. Leela."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "The window was being opened by Mrs. Leela." – Incorrect tense (past continuous passive).
• Option 2: "The window is being opened by Mrs. Leela." – Incorrect tense (present continuous passive).
• Option 3: "The window is opened by Mrs. Leela." – Incorrect tense (present simple passive).

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: Mother warned me not to make a mess of the living room again.
• Key Conversions:
• "warned me not to make a mess" becomes "Don't make a mess"
• The warning is converted to a direct command.
• "of the living room again" remains unchanged
• The phrase specifying the place and repetition is kept the same.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks.
• Starts with a capital letter "Don't" and ends with an exclamation mark "!".
• Reporting clause follows the quoted speech, starting with a lowercase letter after the comma.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: "Don't make a mess of the living room again!" warned Mother.

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "You may not be making a mess of the living room again." instructed Mother.
• Incorrect verb form "may not be making" instead of a direct command.
• Option 2: "Don't you dare to have made a mess of the living room again." warned Mother.
• Awkward phrasing and incorrect tense "to have made".
• Option 3: "Do not make a mess from the living room again." told Mother.
• Incorrect preposition "from" and less forceful phrasing.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: The Minister explained that he was working for the benefit of the country.
• Key Conversions:
• "he was working" → "I am working"
• Pronoun "he" is changed to "I" because it refers to the speaker (the Minister).
• Verb "was working" is changed to "am working" because the past tense in indirect speech changes back to present tense in direct speech when the reporting verb (explained) is in past tense.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks.
• Sentence begins with a capital letter.
• Correct verb tense and pronoun adjustments maintain original meaning.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Sentence: "The Minister explained, 'I am working for the benefit of the country.'"

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: "The Minister explained, 'I was working for the benefit of the country.'" – Incorrect because "was working" implies past action, but the Minister was referring to a present, ongoing action.
• Option 3: "The Minister explained, 'He was working for the benefit of the country.'" – Incorrect because "he" refers to someone else rather than the Minister himself.
• Option 4: "The Minister explains, 'I will work for the benefit of the country.'" – Incorrect because "explains" changes the reporting verb to present tense, which alters the meaning of the sentence.

The correct answer is 'with'.

 

Key Points

• The preposition "with" is used to indicate an association or relationship between two entities.
• In the context of the sentence, "disagreed with" is the correct phrase to use when expressing that someone holds a different opinion from another person.
• Options 1, 2, and 3 are grammatically incorrect in this context.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Complete Sentence: "His friends disagreed with him on that point."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "for" is incorrect because "disagreed for" is not a standard English phrase.
• Option 2: "on" is incorrect; though "disagreed on" can be used in some contexts, it is not appropriate here without the preposition "with."
• Option 3: "to" is incorrect because "disagreed to" is not a standard English phrase.

The correct answer is 'Stare'.

 

Key Points

• The word "stare" means to look fixedly or vacantly at someone or something with one's eyes wide open.
• The context of the sentence indicates that the tiger was looking at the speaker in a serious manner.
• Options 1, 2, and 3 are not appropriate in this context because they do not convey the seriousness of the tiger's look.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Complete Sentence: "The tiger looked at me with a serious stare."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "Nap" is incorrect because it refers to a short sleep, not a look.
• Option 2: "Wink" is incorrect because it refers to closing and opening one eye quickly, usually as a signal or joke.
• Option 3: "Smile" is incorrect because it refers to a pleased, kind, or amused facial expression, not a serious look.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

• Passive voice structure: The subject receives the action, and the doer of the action is either unknown or less important.
• In the active voice, the sentence is: "Drinking contaminated water causes jaundice."
• To convert from passive voice to active voice: Identify the original subject, verb, and object.
• The original sentence "Jaundice is caused by drinking contaminated water" in active voice is "Drinking contaminated water causes jaundice."
• The verb changes from "is caused" (passive) to "causes" (active).

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "Drinking contaminated water causes jaundice."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "Drinking contaminated water caused jaundice." – Incorrect tense (past simple).
• Option 2: "Drinking contaminated water has caused jaundice." – Incorrect tense (present perfect).
• Option 4: "Drinking contaminated water can cause jaundice." – Incorrect modality (possibility).

The correct answer is: Dilemma.

Key Points

• The word "quandary" means a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation. (दुविधा)
• Example: He was in a quandary about whether to accept the job offer or not.
• "Dilemma" refers to a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially ones that are equally undesirable. (दुविधा)
• Example: She faced a dilemma about whether to move to a new city for a better job or stay close to her family.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Dilemma.

Additional Information

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

• Solution (समाधान): A means of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation.
• Example: The team worked together to find a solution to the issue.
• Certainty (निश्चयता ): Firm conviction that something is the case.
• Example: She knew with certainty that she had made the right decision.
• Harmony (सद्भाव): Agreement or concord.
• Example: They lived together in perfect harmony.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The primary issue in the sentence is the usage of the infinitive form "to watching", which is incorrect.
• After the phrase "other than", the correct form should be the gerund "watching".
• Thus, "watching movies" is the correct substitution.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Sentence: "What do you like to do on your free days other than watching movies?"

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: "watches movies" – This option is incorrect because "watches" is not the appropriate form to use after "other than".
• Option 3: "having watched movies" – This option is incorrect because it changes the meaning of the sentence.
• Option 4: "watch movie" – This option is incorrect due to the singular form "movie" and the need for a gerund form.

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: The old man told his grandson that he would teach him.
• Key Conversions:
• "I will teach you" becomes "he would teach him"
• Pronoun "I" is changed to "he" to match third person reporting.
• Future tense "will" is changed to "would" in reported speech.
• Pronoun "you" is changed to "him" to match the indirect object.
• Reporting verb:
• Direct: "said"
• Converted to: "told" to indicate the act of informing.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Reported speech does not use quotation marks.
• Sentence structure is altered to fit indirect speech format.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Correct Sentence: The old man told his grandson that he would teach him.

 

Additional Information

• Option 2: "The old man said that he will teach you."
• Incorrect tense conversion from "will" to "would".
• Pronoun "you" should be changed to "him".
• Option 3: "The old man told his grandson to teach him."
• Changes the meaning of the original sentence.
• Option 4: "The old man told his grandson that he taught him."
• Incorrect tense "taught" instead of "would teach".

The correct answer is 'fatally'.

 

Key Points

• The word "fatally" means in a way that causes death or disaster. (घातक रूप से)
• Using "fatally" emphasizes that the flaw in the plan was so severe that it was bound to lead to failure.
• The other options: "cheerfully," "biblically," and "amicably" do not fit the context as appropriately.

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

Complete Sentence: Their plan of acquisition was fatally flawed from the very beginning; it was bound to fail.

Additional Information

• Cheerfully (प्रसन्नतापूर्वक): means in a happy and optimistic way.
• Biblically (बाइबिल के अनुसार): means in a way that relates to the Bible.
• Amicably (सौहार्दपूर्वक): means in a friendly and peaceable manner.

The correct answer is 'blink'.

 

Key Points

• The phrase "in the blink of an eye" means very quickly or suddenly. (पल भर में)
• This idiomatic expression is used to describe something that happens almost instantaneously.
• The other options: "sparkling," "core," and "back" do not fit the context as appropriately.

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

Complete Sentence: At the sight of the police, the thief ran away in the blink of an eye.

Additional Information

• Sparkling (चमकदार): means shining brightly with flashes of light.
• Core (मूल): means the central or most important part of something.
• Back (पीछे): means the rear surface or part of something.

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

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: "How was it written by Pragya?"
• To convert to active voice: Place the subject "Pragya" at the beginning.
• Change the passive verb form "was written" to "did write" (past simple active).
• Ensure the object "it" remains at the end of the sentence for clarity.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "How did Pragya write it?"

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "How has Pragya written it?" – Incorrect tense (present perfect active).
• Option 2: "How does Pragya write it?" – Incorrect tense (present simple active).
• Option 4: "How will Pragya write it?" – Incorrect tense (future simple active).

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

• The paragraph discusses the importance of respect and compromise in a diverse society.
• Sentence D is the first sentence as it introduces the key idea of respect and compromise:
• "Respect and compromise are essential components of human dignity among the diverse members of any community."
• Sentence A follows as it elaborates on the diversity among people:
• "People come from divergent families, nations, faiths, political structures and ethnicities."
• Sentence B comes next as it describes how these people have distinct moral beliefs:
• "Their beliefs constitute distinct moral frameworks."
• Sentence C is the last as it concludes by stating that respect for these ideals defines society’s functioning:
• "Respect for these ideals or for human dignity will define society's functioning."
• The correct sequence is DABC.

 

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"Respect and compromise are essential components of human dignity among the diverse members of any community. People come from divergent families, nations, faiths, political structures and ethnicities. Their beliefs constitute distinct moral frameworks. Respect for these ideals or for human dignity will define society's functioning."

The correct answer is: Option 4 i.e. Aloof.

Key Points

• The word "Remote" means situated far from the main centers of population; distant. (दूरस्थ)
• Example: The cabin was located in a remote area, far away from the city.
• "Aloof" refers to someone who is not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant. (अलग)
• Example: She remained aloof during the meeting, not engaging much with others.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 4 i.e. Aloof.

Additional Information

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

• Rash (उतावला): Acting or done without careful consideration of the possible consequences.
• Example: His rash decision led to unforeseen problems.
• Sociable (मिलनसार): Willing to talk and engage in activities with other people; friendly.
• Example: He is very sociable and loves to meet new people.
• Remorse (पछतावा): Deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed.
• Example: She felt remorse after realizing her mistake.

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

• The word "embarrassed" is more appropriate in the context than "ashamed and shy".
• "Embarrassed" conveys the feeling of self-consciousness and discomfort better in this context.
• "Ashamed and shy" can be seen as redundant and less precise.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: "Suman felt embarrassed about admitting his fault before his boss."

 

Additional Information

• Sad: This word means feeling sorrowful, which does not fit the context.
• Exalted: This word means elevated in rank, character, or status, which is not suitable here.
• Brazen: This word means bold and without shame, which is the opposite of what is needed in this context.

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

• Indirect Speech: Megha asked Reena where she was going that day.
• Key Conversions:
• "where she was going that day" becomes "Where are you going today"
• Indirect question "where she was going" is converted to direct question "Where are you going."
• Pronoun "she" is changed to "you" to match direct speech.
• Adverb "that day" is changed to "today" to match the current context in direct speech.
• Punctuation and Format:
• Direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks.
• Starts with a capital letter "Where" and ends with a question mark "?".
• Reporting clause follows the quoted speech, starting with a lowercase letter after the comma.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "Megha asked Reena, ‘Where are you going today?’"

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "Megha asked Reena, 'Where have you been going today?"
• Incorrect tense: "have been going" implies a continuous action, not a simple question about current plans.
• Option 3: "Megha asked Reena, 'Where were you going today?"
• Incorrect tense: "were you going" implies a past action, not a current or future plan.
• Option 4: "Megha asked Reena, 'Where were you going that day?"
• Incorrect use of "that day" in direct speech, which should be "today" to match the context.

The correct answer is: Option 4.

Key Points

• The word "Wholly" means completely or fully; in every respect. (पूरी तरह से)
• Example: She was wholly unaware of the situation.
• "Entirely" refers to something that is done completely or fully, without any exception. (पूरी तरह से)
• Example: The project was completed entirely by the team.
• Hence, we can infer that the synonym of 'Wholly' is 'Entirely'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 4.

Additional Information

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

• Barely (मुश्किल से): Only just; almost not.
• Example: She could barely stand after the long hike.
• Lonely (अकेला): Sad because one has no friends or company.
• Example: He felt lonely after moving to a new city.
• Weekly (साप्ताहिक): Happening once a week or every week.
• Example: We have a weekly meeting every Monday.

The correct answer is: Option 4 i.e. 'Undiplomatic'.

Key Points

• The word "tactful" means having or showing skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues. (कुशल)
• Example: He gave a tactful response to the sensitive question.
• "Undiplomatic" refers to lacking tact, being blunt or direct, often in a way that can offend people. (अकुशल)
• Example: His undiplomatic comments caused a lot of tension in the meeting.
• Hence, we can infer that the opposite of 'tactful' is 'undiplomatic'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 4 i.e. 'Undiplomatic'.

Additional Information

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

• Humble (नम्र): Having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's importance.
• Example: Despite his achievements, he remains a very humble person.
• Affordable (सस्ती): Inexpensive; reasonably priced.
• Example: We found an affordable place to stay during our vacation.
• Ambiguous (अस्पष्ट): Open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious meaning.
• Example: The politician's statement was ambiguous and caused confusion.

The correct answer is Option 4.

Key Points

• The paragraph discusses the perspective of successful people on failure and learning.
• Sentence C is the first sentence as it introduces the belief of successful people:
• "Many successful people believe that"
• Sentence D follows as it continues the idea introduced in sentence C:
• "There is no failure in anybody's life,"
• Sentence A is the third sentence because it provides more details on what successful people think:
• "They think there are some bitter learning experiences"
• Sentence B is the fourth as it completes the thought about learning experiences:
• "Which, over a period of time, guide them to take a good path"
• The correct sequence is CDAB.

 

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"Many successful people believe that there is no failure in anybody's life. They think there are some bitter learning experiences which, over a period of time, guide them to take a good path."

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 active voice, the sentence is: "These toys were made by my uncle."
• To convert to active voice: Place the subject "my uncle" at the beginning.
• Change the passive verb form "were made" to "made" (simple past active).
• Ensure the object "these toys" remains after the verb for clarity.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "My uncle made these toys."

 

Additional Information

• Option 1: "My uncle had made these toys." – Incorrect tense (past perfect).
• Option 3: "My uncle was making these toys." – Incorrect tense (past continuous).
• Option 4: "My uncles have made these toys." – Incorrect subject (plural).