ENGLISH
Read the passage given below carefully and choose the most appropriate option for the questions that follow.
Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the north-east huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body, and when he returned he exclaimed, “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.” With a satisfied expression he regarded the field of ripe corn with its flowers, draped in a curtain of rain. But suddenly a strong wind began to blow and along with the rain very large hailstones began to fall. These truly did resemble new silver coins.
The boys, exposing themselves to the rain, ran out to collect the frozen pearls. “It’s really getting bad now,” exclaimed the man. “I hope it passes quickly.” It did not pass quickly. For an hour the hail rained on the house, the garden, the hillside, the cornfield, on the whole valley. The field was white, as if covered with salt.
According to the given passage, what began to fall along with the rain ?
- Snowflakes
- Hailstones
- Leaves
- Sand
Explanation:
- The passage mentions that hailstones began to fall along with the rain.
According to the given passage, how did the field look after the hailstorm?
- As if covered with grass
- As if covered with flowers
- As if covered with silver
- As if covered with salt
Explanation:
- The field looked as if it was covered with salt after the hailstorm.
According to the given passage, what did the boys run out to collect?
- Mangoes
- Frozen pearls
- Flowers
- Gold
Explanation:
- The boys ran out to collect the frozen pearls (hailstones).
According to the given passage, why did Lencho go out of the house?
- To call his sons
- To collect coins
- To enjoy the feeling of rain on his body
- To check the animals
Explanation:
- Lencho went out of the house to enjoy the feeling of rain on his body.
According to the given passage, what did Lencho compare the raindrops to?
- Flowers
- Pearls
- New coins
- Stars
Explanation:
- Lencho compared the raindrops to new coins.
Read the passage given below carefully and choose the most appropriate option for the questions that follow.
A few moments later we all lifted our eyes in awe as a spectacular array of South African jets,helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings. It was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force, but a demonstration of the military’sJoyalty to democracy,to a new government that had been freely and fairly elected. Only moments before, the highest generals of the South African defence force and police, their chests bedecked with ribbons and medals from days gone by, saluted me and pledged their loyalty. I was not unmindful of the fact that not so many years before they would not have saluted but arrested me. Finally, a chevron of Impala jets left a smoke trail of the (plack, red, green,blue and goldof thenew South African flag.
The day was symbolised for me by the playing of our two national anthems, and the vision ofwhites singing ‘Nkosi Sikelel -iAfrika’ and blacks singing ‘Die Stem’, the old anthem of the Republic. Although that day neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem they once despised,they would soon know the words by heart.
According to the given passage, what did the military display represent ?
- A preparation for war
- Loyalty to democracy and the new government
- Celebration of an old government
- Anger against the citizens
According to the given passage, what symbolized the day for Mandela?
- The military parade alone
- The cheering of the crowd
- The Union Buildings
- The playing of the two national anthems
Explanation:
- Based on the passage context, the two national anthems symbolized the day for Mandela.
According to the given passage, why was Mandela deeply aware of the generals saluting him?
- Because they had always supported him
- Because they had once wanted to honour him
- Because a few years earlier they would have arrested him
- Because they were afraid of him
Explanation:
- Mandela was aware because a few years earlier they would have arrested him.
What colours did the Impala jets leave in the smoke trail according to the given passage?
- White, yellow and blue
- Red and white only
- Black, red, green, blue and gold
- Green and black only
Explanation:
- The Impala jets left the colours black, red, green, blue and gold in the smoke trail.
What flew over the Union Buildings in perfect formation as mentioned in the passage?
- Ships and tanks
- South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers
- Birds and balloons
- Cars and buses
Explanation:
- South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers flew over the Union Buildings.
Read the passage given below carefully and choose the most appropriate option for the questions that follow.
The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had takena little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings he became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long way down – miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night. Even when each of his brothers and his little sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran to the brink, flapped their wings, and flew away, he failed to muster up courage to take that plunge which appeared to him so desperate. His father and mother had come around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away.
But for the life of him he could not move that was twenty-four hours ago. Since then, nobody had come near him.
According to the given passage, when had the young seagull’s brothers and sister flown away?
- A week before
- The same day
- The day before
- Two days before
Explanation:
- The passage states that “His two brothers and his sister had already flown away the day before.”
According to the given passage, how did the parents try to make the young seagull fly?
- By carrying him in the air
- By threatening to let him starve
- By pushing him from the ledge
- By ignoring him completely
Explanation:
- The parents threatened to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away.
What did the young seagull do after becoming afraid?
- He jumped into the sea
- He called his parents
- He ran back to the little hole under the ledge
- He followed his brothers
Explanation:
- The seagull “ran away back to the little hole under the ledge” after becoming afraid.
According to the given passage, why was the young seagull afraid to fly?
- He was injured badly
- He thought his wings would not support him
- He disliked the sea and sleeping
- He was waiting for his food
Explanation:
- He felt certain that his wings would never support him.
According to the given passage, who was alone on the ledge?
- The young seagull
- His sister
- His father
- His mother
Explanation:
- The passage begins with “The young seagull was alone on his ledge.”
Read the passage given below carefully and choose the most appropriate option for the questions that follow.
The moon was coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear sky above me. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone high up above the sleeping countryside. I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England. I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family.
I looked at my watch: one thirty in the morning. ‘I should call Paris Control soon,’ I thought. As I looked down past the nose of the aeroplane, I saw the lights of a big city in front of me.
I switched on the radio and said, “Paris Control, Dakota DS 088 here. Can you hear me? I’m on my way to England. Over.”
The voice from the radio answered me immediately: “DS 088, I can hear you. You ought to turn twelve degrees west now, DS 088. Over.”
I checked the map and the compass, switched over to my second and last fuel tank, and turned the Dakota twelve degrees west towards England.
‘I’ll be in time for breakfast,’ I thought. A good big English breakfast! Everything was going well – it was an easy flight.
According to the given passage, what did the narrator see in front of him?
- A mountain
- A river
- Another aeroplane
- The lights of a big city
Explanation:
- The narrator “saw the lights of a big city in front of me.”
According to the given passage, what did the narrator think about the flight?
- It was dangerous and difficult
- It was easy and going well
- It was too slow
- It was full of problems
Explanation:
- The narrator thought, “Everything was going well – it was an easy flight.”
According to the given passage, why was the narrator happy during the flight?
- Because he was winning a race
- Because he was flying a new aeroplane
- Because he was looking forward to his holiday and family
- Because he wanted to stay in France
Explanation:
- The narrator was happy because he was “looking forward to being with my family.”
According to the given passage, what did Paris Control instruct the narrator to do?
- Land immediately
- Turn twelve degrees west
- Fly lower
- Return to Paris
Explanation:
- Paris Control instructed: “You ought to turn twelve degrees west now.”
According to the given passage, where was the narrator flying?
- From England to France
- From France to England
- From Paris to Germany
- From America to England
Explanation:
- The narrator was “flying my old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England.”
In the question below, an idiom is given, followed by four options. Select the option that gives the correct meaning of the idiom.
Beat the clock
- to waste time
- leave without notice
- spend a lot of time in something
- do something very quickly
Explanation:
- ‘Beat the clock’ means to do something very quickly before time runs out.
A part of the sentence is underlined. Below are alternatives to the underlined part that may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case no improvement is required,
choose the “No Improvement” option.
An immense crowd had gather to witness this ceremony.
- had gathering
- had gathered
- gather
- No improvement
Explanation:
- The correct past participle form is ‘had gathered’.
In each of the questions below, a sentence is given in direct/indirect speech. Change the statement from direct to indirect speech or vice versa and choose the option that gives the correct statement.
Tarun said that he was washing the car.
- Tarun said, “I will wash the car.”
- Tarun said, “I had been washing the car.”
- Tarun said, “I wash the car.”
- Tarun said, “I am washing the car.”
Explanation:
- The indirect speech ‘was washing’ changes to direct speech ‘I am washing’.
A sentence is given with a blank to be filled in with appropriate word. Four alternatives are suggested. Choose the correct option.
He is one among the ______ of people who received the Padmashri award.
- ganged
- pantheon
- pioneer
- history
Explanation:
- ‘Pantheon’ refers to a group of notable people, which fits the context.
A sentence is given with a blank to be filled in with appropriate word. Four alternatives are
suggested. Choose the correct option.
On Halloween morning they woke to the delicious smell of baked pumpkin ______ through the corridors.
- awaiting
- wafting
- crafty
- bellowing
Explanation:
- ‘Wafting’ means spreading through the air, which fits the smell moving through corridors.
In the sentence, identify the segment which contains the grammatical error.
As the human population has grown, (1) / people have chopped down the forests (2) / and replaced them with (3) / spices, teas and rubber plantations. (4)
- (1)
- (2)
- (3)
- (4)
Explanation:
- There is no grammatical error; the sentence is correct.
In each of the following questions, the first part of the sentence is fixed and the remaining three are jumbled. Rearrange the parts in the correct order and choose the correct option.
The U.S. says it is
P – moving forward with plans
Q – protect waters around Iran and Yemen
R – to build an international military coalition to
- PRQ
- RPQ
- QPR
- PQR
Explanation:
- Correct order: P – moving forward with plans, R – to build an international military coalition to, Q – protect waters around Iran and Yemen (PRQ).
In the question below, four words are given. Choose the option that provides the correctly spelled word..
- dogmatic
- elicit
- exhort
- flagrant
Explanation:
- All words are correctly spelled – ‘dogmatic’, ‘elicit’, ‘exhort’, ‘flagrant’ are all correct spellings.
In each of the following questions, the first part of the sentence is fixed and the remaining three are jumbled. Rearrange the parts in the correct order and choose the correct option. Since the 1980s, neoliberal policies
Since the 1980s, neoliberal policies
P – have cut the social safety net, deregulated
Q – goods around the world
R – global corporations, and privatized public
- PRQ
- RQP
- PQR
- QPR
Explanation:
- Correct order: P – have cut the social safety net, deregulated, R – global corporations, and privatized public, Q – goods around the world (PRQ).
A part of the sentence is underlined. Below are alternatives to the underlined part that may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case no improvement is required, choose the “No Improvement” option.
The Prime Minister has affected a new policy today.
- effect
- affect
- effected
- No Improvement
Explanation:
- ‘Affected’ means influenced; the correct word should be ‘effected’ meaning brought about. So ‘effected’ is correct.
In the following questions,, a sentence has been given in Active/Passive Voice. Out of the four alternatives suggested select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Passive/Active Voice.
Ila packed Sushant’s lunch for him every day.
- Sushant’s lunch was packed for him every day by Ila.
- Sushant’s lunch is packed for him every day by Ila.
- Sushant’s lunch has been packed for him every day by Ila.
- Sushant’s lunch was being packed for him every day by Ila.
Explanation:
- The active voice past tense changes to passive ‘was packed’.
In the question below, a phrase is given. From the options, choose the one that sums up the meaning of the given phrase in one word.
That cannot be erased
- inaudible
- invincible
- indelible
- infallible
Explanation:
- ‘Indelible’ means that cannot be erased or removed.
In the sentence, identify the segment which contains the grammatical error.
The journey was a great undertaking (1) / in those days, especially (2) / to people of small means. (3)/ No error (4)
- (1)
- (3)
- (2)
- (4)
Explanation:
- There is no error; the sentence is grammatically correct.
A part of the sentence is underlined. Below are alternatives to the underlined part that may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case no improvement is required, choose the “No Improvement” option.
Banning food and beverages is not desirable nor feasible in a civilised society.
- nor
- none
- neither
- No Improvement
Explanation:
- ‘Neither’ should be used with ‘nor’ – the correct pair is ‘neither…nor’.
In each of the questions below, a sentence is given active/passive voice. Change the statement from active to passive voice or vice versa and choose the option that gives the correct statement.
The boy refilled the cup with water and handed it to the man.
- The cup is refilled with water and handed to the man by the boy.
- The cup was refills with water and handed to the man by the boy.
- The cup has been refilled with water and handed to the man by the boy.
- The cup had been refilled with waters and handed to the man by the boy.
Explanation:
- The correct passive voice is ‘was refilled’ (past tense), so none of the options are completely correct. The closest is ‘was refilled’.
A part of the sentence is underlined. Below are alternatives to the underlined part that may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case no improvement is required,
choose the “No Improvement” option.
None only did the men aid in the work, but the women also did their part.
- No only
- Not only
- Only no
- No Improvement
Explanation:
- The correct phrase is ‘Not only…but also’.
In the sentence, identify the segment which contains the grammatical error.
One of the oldest tree in the (1) /ancient forest, a massive oak, (2) / stood as a living testament to the (3) / passage of time and the resilience of nature. (4)
- (1)
- (3)
- (2)
- (4)
Explanation:
- Error is in part (1): ‘One of the oldest tree’ should be ‘One of the oldest trees’.
In the following questions, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Direct/Indirect speech.
“We will not go home this weekend,” said Usha.
- Usha said that they will not go homes this weekend.
- Usha said that they will not gone home that weekend.
- Usha said that they would not go home that weekend.
- Usha said that they will not be goings home that weekend.
Explanation:
- ‘Will’ changes to ‘would’ and ‘this weekend’ to ‘that weekend’ in indirect speech.
In the following questions, four words are given, out of which only one word is incorrectly spelled. Find the incorrectly spelled word.
- miniature
- mischievous
- milieu
- mezzanine
Explanation:
- All words are correctly spelled: miniature, mischievous, milieu, mezzanine.
In the sentence, identify the segment which contains the grammatical error.
Research suggests that sound waves (1) / from typing on a phone can be (2) / intercepted and decoded. (3) /No error (4)
- (4)
- (3)
- (2)
- (1)
Explanation:
- There is no error; the sentence is grammatically correct.