Question 1

Based on the passage about future health and diet technology, answer this question. What, according to the passage, will personalised DNA chips make possible in the future for ordinary people?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This comprehension question focuses on the future role of personalised DNA chips as described in the passage. The text explains that genomics will enable individuals to use these chips to understand their genetic risks and plan their diet. The question asks what will be possible once such DNA chips become available to ordinary people. Given Data / Assumptions: The passage mentions personalised DNA chips. It states that these chips will allow people to assess inherited predispositions for certain diseases. It also says that individuals will then be able to adjust their diets accordingly. The context emphasises prevention of disease and optimisation of health through nutrition. Concept / Approach: To answer this detail oriented question, the learner needs to locate the part of the passage discussing DNA chips and summarise exactly what they will do. The key ideas are assessment of genetic risk and adjustment of diet. Any option that talks only about risk without mentioning diet, or that introduces new ideas such as height tracking, must be discarded. The correct option should essentially paraphrase the sentence from the passage. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Find the sentence in the passage that discusses personalised DNA chips. Step 2: Note that the passage states these chips will allow us to assess inherited predispositions for certain diseases. Step 3: Note further that once we know these predispositions, we will be able to adjust our diets accordingly. Step 4: Compare this with option a, which clearly mentions both assessing genetic predispositions and adjusting diet. Step 5: Examine options b, c, d, and e, which either reverse the meaning or mention outcomes that are not described in the passage. Verification / Alternative check: Checking against the passage again confirms that the DNA chips are presented as tools for personalised prevention and optimisation. There is no suggestion that they will increase disease risk, prevent people from choosing foods, or be used only by athletes. Option a captures the full two step process: assessment of risk followed by diet adjustment. Because it matches the text in both content and tone, we can confidently select it as the correct answer. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option b states that the chips will place everyone at great risk for heart disease, which contradicts the preventive aim of genomics. Option c claims people will not be able to determine what food to eat, which is the opposite of the passage, where people use genetic information to guide food choices. Option d says people will be forced into the same food and prevented from adjusting diet, again contradicting the text. Option e shifts the focus to height and weight tracking in athletes, which is not mentioned at all in the passage. Common Pitfalls: Some students may misread the question and think about current uses of medical tests rather than the specific future described. Others may fall for options that include dramatic language about risk, without noticing that the passage is optimistic, not pessimistic. To avoid such errors, it is important to pay attention to the exact verbs used in the text, such as assess, adjust, and allow. Final Answer: According to the passage, personalised DNA chips will allow people to assess their inherited predispositions to certain diseases and adjust their diets accordingly, so option a is correct.

Question 2

In this spelling based vocabulary question, four words are given. Only one word is spelt correctly according to standard English usage. Choose the correctly spelt word from the options.

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Introduction / Context: This question tests spelling, an essential element of English vocabulary for competitive exams. The word in focus is the plural form of sanctuary, which refers to a protected place, often for wildlife or for worship. The candidate must recognise which of the given spellings matches standard English usage and which are incorrect variations. Given Data / Assumptions: The base word is sanctuary. The question provides several possible plural spellings. Only one option reflects the correct plural form used in dictionaries and formal writing. The test taker is assumed to have seen this plural in contexts such as wildlife sanctuaries. Concept / Approach: In English, the noun sanctuary forms its plural by changing the singular ending y to ies when preceded by a consonant. Thus, sanctuary becomes sanctuaries. The consonant r comes before y, so the pattern consonant plus y applies. Incorrect spellings often move or delete vowels or consonants, resulting in non standard forms. The strategy is to recall the correct singular, apply the rule, and compare carefully with each option. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Start from the singular sanctuary, which has the spelling s a n c t u a r y. Step 2: Apply the plural rule for nouns ending in consonant plus y, where y changes to ies. Step 3: Replace y with ies to get sanctuaries. Step 4: Compare this with option d, which is exactly sanctuaries. Step 5: Observe that options a, b, c, and e either remove letters, swap vowels, or add extra vowels, so they do not match the correct pattern. Verification / Alternative check: We can verify the spelling by recalling common usage in phrases like bird sanctuaries or wildlife sanctuaries. In standard textbooks, newspapers, and exam preparation material, the plural appears as sanctuaries. Checking a reliable dictionary would confirm this spelling. The other variants do not appear as accepted forms and look strange when compared side by side with the singular sanctuary. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option a, Sanctaries, drops the u and a, which no longer reflects the base word sanctuary. Option b, Sanctauries, has the vowel order a u instead of u a, which breaks the pattern and does not match the original word. Option c, Santuaries, misses the c and changes the internal sequence of letters. Option e, Sanctuarees, adds extra vowels and alters the ending, which is not how the plural is formed. None of these forms matches the standard pluralisation rule. Common Pitfalls: Many learners struggle with words ending in ary, or with the y to ies plural change, especially when the word is not used frequently in daily conversation. A typical pitfall is to rely on approximate pronunciation rather than letter by letter recall. Another mistake is to focus only on the ending and ignore the inner consonant cluster nctu, leading to missing or misplaced letters. Regular exposure to correct spellings through reading can reduce such errors over time. Final Answer: The correctly spelt plural form of sanctuary is Sanctuaries, so option d is correct.

Question 3

In the following idiom and phrase based vocabulary question, you are given the everyday expression to get over it. Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of this idiom in simple English.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests understanding of a common modern English idiom, to get over it. Such expressions often appear in spoken English, movies, and informal writing, but they also show up in competitive exams. The examiner wants to know whether the candidate understands that this phrase refers to emotional recovery rather than a physical action or a technical achievement. Given Data / Assumptions: The idiom given is to get over it. There is no extra sentence context, so the meaning is the general idiomatic one. The expression is usually said to someone who is upset about a past event. The options present different possible interpretations of get over it. Concept / Approach: In everyday English, when someone says You need to get over it, they usually mean that the person should stop dwelling on a past disappointment, insult, or hurt and continue with life. The focus is emotional acceptance and moving forward, not simply finishing a task or controlling anger in one moment. Therefore, the correct option has to capture the idea of accepting what happened and moving on. The strategy is to compare each option with this core idea and eliminate those that do not match. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that to get over something often means to recover emotionally from an unpleasant experience. Step 2: Read option a and see that it describes accepting something that happened in the past and moving on, which fits perfectly. Step 3: Read option b, which talks about completing a project, and notice that this relates to finishing work, not emotional recovery. Step 4: Read option c, which focuses on controlling anger in a single moment, which is narrower than the idiom's usual sense. Step 5: Read options d and e, which talk about achieving something difficult or refusing to talk, which again do not match the common use of the phrase. Verification / Alternative check: You can test each option in a sample sentence: After the argument, his friend told him to get over it. If we substitute option a, it becomes His friend told him to accept what had happened and move on, which sounds natural. If we try option b, it becomes His friend told him to complete a project, which has no connection to the quarrel. Therefore option a is the only choice that consistently fits typical situations where this idiom is used. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option b confuses the idiom with the simple idea of finishing a task or assignment. Option c mentions controlling anger, which is sometimes related, but the idiom covers a broader emotional recovery from sadness, embarrassment, or disappointment, not just anger. Option d focuses on the level of effort involved in an achievement, which is a different concept. Option e introduces withdrawal from conversation, which does not match the active, forward looking meaning of get over it. Common Pitfalls: One common error is to interpret idioms too literally, such as imagining someone physically getting over an obstacle. Another pitfall is to choose an option that describes any kind of overcoming difficulty, without noticing the specific emotional and time based idea of moving on from the past. Practicing idioms with example sentences and contexts can help lock in the natural meaning in your memory. Final Answer: The idiom to get over it means to accept something that happened in the past and move on with life, which is option a.

Question 4

In the following sentence, a bracketed verb phrase creates a subtle tense and structure problem. Choose the option that best improves the bracketed part, or select no improvement if the original is correct. I wish I (knew what was) wrong with my dau…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question examines the use of wish clauses and tense sequence in English grammar. The sentence expresses a present regret or desire about not knowing something that is currently true. The structure I wish I knew what was wrong with my daughter is a standard way to express such a feeling. The learner must decide whether any proposed change improves the sentence or whether the original structure is already correct. Given Data / Assumptions: The main clause is I wish I knew, which expresses an unreal wish about a present situation. The subordinate clause is what was wrong with my daughter, referring to a present problem. The options attempt to change the auxiliary verb and tense in different ways. The context suggests that the speaker currently does not know what is wrong. Concept / Approach: In English, wish followed by a past simple tense often expresses a present unreal situation or regret. For example, I wish I knew means I do not know now, but I want to. When the content of the wish refers to a continuing situation, we still commonly use the past simple. The reported clause can use was even though the problem is present, because the entire structure is shifted back in tense to mark unreality. Therefore, I wish I knew what was wrong is a natural and correct expression. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recognise that the sentence expresses a present wish about knowledge the speaker does not have. Step 2: Recall the rule that wish plus past simple is used for unreal or hypothetical situations in the present. Step 3: Observe that knew in the main clause correctly applies this rule. Step 4: Note that the clause what was wrong is part of the same hypothetical framework, so the backshift to was is acceptable and idiomatic. Step 5: Compare the alternatives, which either misuse had known, mix tenses incorrectly, or produce ungrammatical past forms like had knew. Verification / Alternative check: We can compare parallel sentences for confirmation. For instance, I wish I knew where she was is standard English. The pattern I wish I knew what was wrong follows the same logic. On the other hand, I wish I had known what is wrong mixes past perfect with a present clause, which does not match the intended meaning. That combination would suggest regret about not knowing something at a past time, which is different from the current wish about the present situation. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option a, had known what is, uses the past perfect had known, which is normally used to refer to an earlier past event before another past event. This does not match the speaker's present wish. Option b, knew what is, creates an odd mixture of past and present in the same clause without the usual backshift, so it sounds less natural. Option c, had knew what was, is grammatically incorrect, because knew already functions as a past form and cannot combine with had in that way. Option e, had known what was, again suggests regret about knowledge in an earlier past time, not a present wish. Common Pitfalls: Many learners think that whenever a sentence contains wish, they must use past perfect, but that is true only when the speaker is regretting a past event. For unreal present situations, the correct tense is normally past simple. Another pitfall is assuming that present time reference always demands is inside the clause, but in wish structures, was is acceptable and even common in informal and standard contexts. Final Answer: The original sentence already uses the correct wish construction, so there is no improvement needed, and option d is correct.

Question 5

In this one word substitution vocabulary question, choose the single word that best expresses the meaning of the phrase extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: One word substitution questions test whether the learner can match a detailed descriptive phrase to a compact vocabulary item. Here, the phrase extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain refers to a strong negative emotional state. The candidate must know which of the given words most directly expresses that general sense, covering mental and sometimes physical suffering. Given Data / Assumptions: The descriptive phrase is extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain. The options are pique, vexation, chagrin, distress, and irritation. The correct word should be broad enough to include anxiety, sorrow, and pain. The question aims at common exam level vocabulary. Concept / Approach: The key is to analyse each option and see how wide its meaning is. Distress is a general term that can refer to severe suffering, whether emotional or physical, and it definitely covers anxiety and sorrow. The other words have narrower shades of meaning. Pique often means a feeling of slight anger or wounded pride. Vexation means annoyance or frustration. Chagrin refers to embarrassment or humiliation due to failure. Irritation means mild anger or discomfort. None of these fully expresses extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain as broadly as distress does. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the strength of the phrase: extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain, which points to strong suffering. Step 2: Consider the meaning of distress, which is severe suffering, anxiety, or sorrow in both emotional and physical senses. Step 3: Compare this with pique, which usually refers to a fit of slight anger or wounded pride, not full scale sorrow or pain. Step 4: Examine vexation and irritation, both of which describe annoyance or mild anger rather than deep sorrow. Step 5: Look at chagrin, which is disappointment mixed with humiliation, but not necessarily extreme pain or wide emotional suffering. Verification / Alternative check: We can test each word in a sample sentence: The family was in extreme anxiety and sorrow after the accident. The word distress fits perfectly: The family was in great distress after the accident. If we substitute pique, it becomes The family was in pique, which sounds wrong in this context. Similarly, vexation or irritation feel too weak. Chagrin suggests embarrassment rather than the deep hurt implied by sorrow and pain. Therefore, distress is the only choice that naturally collocates with this level of suffering. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option a, pique, is mainly used for slight anger or offended pride after a small insult, which is far from the severe state described. Option b, vexation, is annoyance or frustration caused by difficulties, not necessarily extreme pain. Option c, chagrin, is disappointment and humiliation over a setback, narrower than the broad suffering in the question. Option e, irritation, refers to mild annoyance or a physical itch, again too weak and specific. None of these options fully covers anxiety, sorrow, and pain together. Common Pitfalls: Candidates sometimes confuse distress with stress, or they overestimate the strength of words like vexation and chagrin. Another common issue is focusing on only one part of the phrase, such as anxiety, and ignoring sorrow and pain. Effective strategy is to choose the word whose meaning is broad enough to include all important parts of the description, not just one. Final Answer: The single word that best expresses extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain is distress, so option d is correct.

Question 6

In the following sentence reordering question, the parts of a sentence are labelled P, Q, and R. Reorder the parts to form a meaningful and grammatically correct sentence. Accepting that one form P of price discrimination is okay opens Q the door to…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Sentence rearrangement questions test a learner ability to recognise logical and grammatical order in English. Here, a sentence about price discrimination and discrimination in general has been split into three labelled parts. The candidate must decide in which order P, Q, and R should follow the introductory phrase to produce a clear and correct statement. Given Data / Assumptions: The fixed opening is Accepting that one form. Part P is of price discrimination is okay opens. Part Q is the door to all other forms. Part R is of discrimination as well. The final sentence must be meaningful and grammatically correct. Concept / Approach: We need to build the sentence slowly, using both meaning and grammar. After Accepting that one form, we must specify what the form is. Part P begins with of price discrimination, which fits naturally, resulting in Accepting that one form of price discrimination is okay opens. Then we need to state what this acceptance opens. Part Q contains the phrase the door to all other forms, which directly follows opens in a natural collocation opens the door to. Finally, Part R completes the phrase all other forms of discrimination as well. Therefore, the logical order is P, then R, then Q in relation to the introductory portion, but we must check how the parts are actually joined. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Attach Part P to the introductory chunk: Accepting that one form of price discrimination is okay opens. Step 2: Notice that the verb opens usually takes an object such as the door to something. Step 3: Combine the phrase opens the door to, which comes from opens plus the first words of Part Q: the door to all other forms. Step 4: Finally, attach Part R to complete the noun phrase: of discrimination as well, which correctly modifies all other forms. Step 5: Putting this together, the full sentence is Accepting that one form of price discrimination is okay opens the door to all other forms of discrimination as well, which corresponds to the order PRQ. Verification / Alternative check: We can test other sequences to see why they fail. For example, PQR would give opens the door to all other forms of discrimination as well out of order if we join incorrectly, or QRP would begin with the door immediately after Accepting that one form, which breaks the phrase structurally. Only PRQ produces a fluent sentence where each phrase follows gracefully and grammatically from the previous one. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option a, QRP, would place the door to all other forms right after the opening phrase, creating Accepting that one form the door to all other forms, which is incorrect. Option b, RPQ, starts with of discrimination as well, which cannot follow one form directly. Option d, PQR, misplaces R, disrupting the natural pairing opens the door to. Option e, RQP, begins with of discrimination as well immediately after the opener, which makes no sense. None of these orders preserve both the collocation of opens the door to and the logical flow of the sentence. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake is to focus purely on meaning without noticing fixed expressions such as opens the door to, which must stay together. Another pitfall is ignoring how prepositional phrases like of price discrimination and of discrimination as well must attach to the correct nouns. Careful attention to collocations and to the roles of prepositions can greatly improve performance in paragraph and sentence jumbles. Final Answer: The correct order of the parts is PRQ, giving the sentence Accepting that one form of price discrimination is okay opens the door to all other forms of discrimination as well.

Question 7

In this vocabulary question on synonyms, select the word that is closest in meaning to the verb dare in the sense used in standard English.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests knowledge of synonyms, specifically for the verb dare. In English, to dare someone often means to challenge that person to do something difficult, risky, or bold. The candidate must choose the option that best captures this core meaning. The distractors include words that describe opposite actions, such as hesitation or retreat, which must be eliminated. Given Data / Assumptions: The target word is dare, used as a verb. The general sense is to challenge someone to attempt something. The options offered are challenge, hesitate, obey, retreat, and avoid. Only one option should match the meaning of dare closely. Concept / Approach: When we say I dare you to do this, we are essentially challenging someone to perform an action, often under social pressure or as a test of courage. Therefore, a good synonym would be challenge. The other words describe very different actions. Hesitate means to pause because of uncertainty. Obey means to follow a command. Retreat means to move back or withdraw. Avoid means to stay away from something. None of these share the core sense of encouraging or provoking an action. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall common expressions like I dare you to jump or She did not dare to speak, which show that dare is linked with courage and challenge. Step 2: Compare this with the meaning of challenge: to invite someone to enter a contest or to call someone to prove their ability or courage. Step 3: Note that when you dare someone, you effectively challenge them to prove their bravery. Step 4: Examine hesitate, which is to pause or delay because of fear or indecision, which is more or less the opposite of daring action. Step 5: Examine obey, retreat, and avoid, all of which involve compliance, withdrawal, or staying away, none of which express the idea of encouraging risk. Verification / Alternative check: Try replacing dare with each option in a simple sentence. In I dare you to try this, replacing dare with challenge gives I challenge you to try this, which fits well. But I hesitate you to try this is incorrect, as is I obey you to try this or I retreat you to try this. This replacement test confirms that challenge is the true synonym in this context. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option b, hesitate, describes uncertainty and delay rather than boldness. Option c, obey, means to follow orders and shows submission, not challenge. Option d, retreat, refers to moving back physically or withdrawing from a situation. Option e, avoid, indicates staying away or not facing something. All of these meanings conflict with the active and provocative sense of dare. Common Pitfalls: Some learners confuse dare with fear based words like hesitate because both appear in contexts involving risk. However, dare pushes a person toward action, while hesitation pulls them away. Another pitfall is to think of dare only in the reflexive sense of not daring to do something, and then incorrectly link it with avoid. Remember that in many exam questions, the verb is understood in the pattern dare someone, which is clearly related to challenge. Final Answer: The word that is closest in meaning to dare in this context is challenge, so option a is correct.

Question 8

In this sentence reordering question, the parts of a sentence about George Orwell and his essays are labelled P, Q, and R. Arrange the parts in the correct order to form a meaningful sentence. Seven decades ago, P Orwell wrote a clutch Q for the pos…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This jumbled sentence question asks the learner to arrange segments about the writer George Orwell and his essays in a British journal. The candidate must determine the order of the labels P, Q, and R after the fixed opening words Seven decades ago, so that the final sentence is grammatically correct and semantically clear. Given Data / Assumptions: The fixed beginning is Seven decades ago, Part P is Orwell wrote a clutch. Part Q is for the post World War II British journal Polemic. Part R is of essays. The final sentence should read smoothly and make sense historically and grammatically. Concept / Approach: We first continue the subject and verb after Seven decades ago,. It naturally leads to a subject Orwell and a verb wrote. Part P provides exactly this: Orwell wrote a clutch. Next, we need to complete the object a clutch of essays, which requires part R, of essays. Finally, we can add the prepositional phrase stating where these essays appeared, which is part Q, for the post World War II British journal Polemic. This gives a clear, complete sentence that follows normal English word order. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Attach Part P after the opening to get Seven decades ago, Orwell wrote a clutch. Step 2: Recognise that a clutch is usually followed by a prepositional phrase of something, so we join Part R to form a clutch of essays. Step 3: Now we have Seven decades ago, Orwell wrote a clutch of essays. Step 4: Attach Part Q to specify the context: for the post World War II British journal Polemic. Step 5: The full sentence becomes Seven decades ago, Orwell wrote a clutch of essays for the post World War II British journal Polemic, which corresponds to the order PRQ. Verification / Alternative check: We can test other orders quickly. If we used RPQ, we would get Seven decades ago, of essays Orwell wrote a clutch, which is clearly wrong. If we used QRP, the phrase for the post World War II British journal appears too early, leaving Orwell wrote a clutch of essays detached in an unnatural way. Only PRQ respects the natural sequence subject plus verb plus object plus prepositional phrase. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option a, RPQ, begins with of essays after Seven decades ago, which breaks the subject verb structure. Option b, QRP, starts with for the post World War II British journal directly after the opening, leaving Orwell without a clear verb in the correct position. Option d, QPR, also misorders the elements and disrupts the flow of the sentence. Option e, RQP, starts with of essays in isolation, which is ungrammatical. None of these options preserve the logical grouping a clutch of essays or the natural placement of the prepositional phrase. Common Pitfalls: A frequent problem in jumbled sentence questions is ignoring how certain nouns require specific prepositional partners. For example, clutch of essays is a fixed and meaningful phrase, while clutch for essays or essays of clutch are not. Another pitfall is to place long prepositional phrases too early, leaving the main clause broken. To avoid such errors, learners should look for natural collocations and build the core subject verb object structure first. Final Answer: The correct order of the parts is PRQ, giving the complete sentence Seven decades ago, Orwell wrote a clutch of essays for the post World War II British journal Polemic.

Question 9

In this one word substitution question from medical vocabulary, choose the single word that best matches the definition a region of injured tissue or skin in which blood capillaries have been ruptured, that is, a bruise.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This vocabulary question asks for a technical or semi technical medical term that corresponds to the everyday word bruise. The phrase in the definition explicitly mentions ruptured blood capillaries under the skin. The candidate must select the word that fits this description accurately, rather than a different type of skin or tissue condition. Given Data / Assumptions: The descriptive phrase is a region of injured tissue or skin in which blood capillaries have been ruptured. The parenthetical explanation says a bruise. The options include pustule, knurl, contusion, tumour, and scar. Only one of these matches the idea of a bruise. Concept / Approach: A contusion is a medical term for a bruise. It is caused by a blow or impact that breaks small blood vessels under the skin without breaking the skin surface. Pustule refers to a small blister or pimple with pus. Knurl is a small ridged knob or raised pattern, not a medical injury. Tumour is an abnormal mass of tissue formed by growth of cells. Scar is a mark left on the skin after the healing of a wound. Therefore, only contusion matches the definition given in the question. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on key words in the definition: injured tissue, skin, blood capillaries ruptured, bruise. Step 2: Recall that contusion is used in first aid, sports medicine, and medical reports as the technical term for bruise. Step 3: Check pustule and note that it is associated with pus and infection, such as in acne, not with a bruise. Step 4: Check knurl and recognise that it belongs to mechanical or design vocabulary, meaning a small ridged feature on a surface. Step 5: Check tumour and scar, both of which refer to different types of tissue change, either growth or healing marks, rather than a simple bruise. Verification / Alternative check: To verify, imagine a medical report after an accident. Doctors may write that the patient has contusions on the arm and leg. In everyday language, we would say the patient has bruises on the arm and leg. This equivalence supports contusion as the correct choice. None of the other words can naturally replace bruise in such a context. For example, saying the patient has pustules from the impact is clearly incorrect. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option a, pustule, is a small inflamed, pus filled lesion on the skin and is typical in infections, not blunt trauma. Option b, knurl, has nothing to do with injuries and is used for textured metal or plastic parts. Option d, tumour, is an abnormal tissue mass, often unrelated to a single impact or ruptured capillaries. Option e, scar, appears after healing and does not describe the fresh injury where blood is pooled under the skin. Therefore only contusion matches the injury described in the question. Common Pitfalls: Some students may confuse medical terms because they are not frequently used in everyday speech. Another pitfall is to associate tumour or scar with any visible mark on the body and therefore choose them without reading the detailed definition. To avoid such mistakes, it is important to focus on each keyword in the phrase, particularly capillaries ruptured and bruise, which point strongly to contusion. Final Answer: The correct one word substitution for a region of injured tissue or skin in which blood capillaries have been ruptured, a bruise, is contusion, so option c is correct.

Question 10

In this idiom and phrase question, you are given the expression to get up on the wrong side of the bed. Choose the option that best explains the meaning of this idiom in everyday English.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests understanding of the idiom to get up on the wrong side of the bed. Such idioms are common in conversational English and indicate emotional states rather than literal actions. The examiner wants to know whether the learner recognises that this phrase refers to starting the day in a bad mood and staying irritable, not to physically getting out of bed from a particular side. Given Data / Assumptions: The idiom is to get up on the wrong side of the bed. It appears without extra sentence context, so the general meaning is tested. The options describe different morning related situations. The correct option must refer to mood and behaviour during the day. Concept / Approach: The idiom does not refer to an actual side of a bed or to physical movement. Instead, it is a figurative way to say that a person begins the day in a bad or irritable mood, often without a clear reason, and this mood influences their interactions for the rest of the day. When choosing the correct option, we look for the one that focuses on negative mood and its continuation rather than on drinking, arguing, or physical movements in bed. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that when someone says He must have got up on the wrong side of the bed, they usually mean that he is unusually grumpy or irritable. Step 2: Read option b, which describes starting the day in a bad mood and continuing in that mood all day. Step 3: Notice that this aligns exactly with the typical usage of the idiom. Step 4: Check option a, which mentions waking up in a strange place after heavy drinking, which is not part of the idiomatic meaning. Step 5: Check options c, d, and e, which introduce arguments with a spouse, rolling in bed, or extra energy, none of which match the figurative sense of the expression. Verification / Alternative check: We can test the options in a sample dialogue. Suppose a colleague is snapping at everyone, and another colleague says, He has really got up on the wrong side of the bed today. If we insert option b, it matches the situation of a person in a persistent bad mood. None of the other interpretations fit this office scenario. Therefore option b is the only one that agrees with real life usage of the idiom. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option a wrongly connects the idiom to being drunk and waking up in an unfamiliar place, which is a completely different idea. Option c focuses on an argument with a spouse, which may cause a bad mood but is not included in the idiom itself. Option d describes physical restlessness while sleeping, but the idiom refers to emotional state after waking. Option e suggests early rising and high energy, which is almost the opposite of the typical grumpy mood implied by the phrase. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes interpret idioms literally and imagine a person physically climbing out from the wrong side of a bed. This leads them to choose an option linked to position or movement instead of emotional state. Another pitfall is to connect the phrase with a specific cause like alcohol or an argument, while the idiom actually focuses on the unexplained bad mood itself, regardless of the cause. Final Answer: The idiom to get up on the wrong side of the bed means to start the day in a bad mood and remain irritable throughout the day, so option b is correct.

Question 11

In this antonym based vocabulary question, choose the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to snag, which means an obstacle, hitch, or unexpected difficulty.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests a candidate understanding of antonyms, focusing on the word snag. In everyday English, a snag is a small obstacle, a hitch, or an unexpected difficulty that stops smooth progress. The task is to choose the word that expresses the opposite idea, that is, something helpful or beneficial rather than something that obstructs. Given Data / Assumptions: The target word is snag, meaning obstacle or difficulty. The options given are hurdle, boon, bug, glitch, and setback. Several options are close synonyms that also refer to problems. Only one option functions as an antonym, referring to a benefit. Concept / Approach: An antonym of snag should denote something good, helpful, or advantageous instead of a problem. Among the options, boon means a blessing, benefit, or something extremely helpful. Hurdle, bug, glitch, and setback all refer to types of obstacles, errors, or delays. Therefore, they are near synonyms of snag rather than opposites. The strategy is to classify each option as either problem related or benefit related and choose the one from the second group. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the meaning of snag as a problem, difficulty, or obstruction. Step 2: Examine option b, boon, and recall that it means a blessing or something very helpful and beneficial. Step 3: Recognise that benefit is the opposite idea of obstacle, making boon a good antonym for snag. Step 4: Analyse option a, hurdle, which means a barrier or obstacle, clearly similar to snag. Step 5: Observe that bug, glitch, and setback all represent types of problems, errors, or delays, so they are also close to the meaning of snag. Verification / Alternative check: We can test the words in a sentence. Consider the expression There was a snag in the plan, which indicates a difficulty. Its opposite would be There was a boon in the plan, which is unusual phrasing but carries the idea of some positive advantage. If we substitute hurdle, bug, glitch, or setback, the meaning remains negative, confirming that they cannot be antonyms. This simple test reinforces that boon is the only word going in the opposite direction. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option a, hurdle, is another word for obstacle and is often used metaphorically to describe difficulties, so it matches snag rather than opposes it. Option c, bug, is usually used for a defect in software or a small problem. Option d, glitch, means a minor fault or malfunction and again is a type of snag. Option e, setback, refers to a reversal or delay in progress, another difficulty. Since all of these describe problems or obstacles, they cannot serve as antonyms for snag. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes misinterpret antonym questions and accidentally select a synonym because they focus only on the problem based context and forget they are looking for an opposite. Another pitfall is not being fully sure of the meaning of boon, which appears less frequently in casual speech. Learning that boon means blessing or great benefit can help you recognise it quickly in exams as the opposite of many problem related words. Final Answer: The word most nearly opposite in meaning to snag is boon, so option b is correct.

Question 12

In this synonym based vocabulary question, select the word that is closest in meaning to the verb to delude, which means to mislead someone into believing something that is not true.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question examines understanding of the verb to delude. In English, to delude someone means to mislead, deceive, or make someone believe something false. The learner has to select a word with a similar meaning. Most of the options describe honest or sincere behaviour, so they contrast with delude rather than match it. The goal is to find the one option that truly expresses deception. Given Data / Assumptions: The target verb is to delude. The options are hoodwink, conscientious, scrupulous, bona fide, and forthright. Only one of these is a deceptive action. The others describe honesty or carefulness. Concept / Approach: To delude is similar in meaning to deceive, mislead, or fool someone. Hoodwink is a verb that means to deceive or trick someone, often by hiding the truth. Conscientious and scrupulous both describe people who are careful, responsible, and morally strict. Bona fide means genuine or in good faith. Forthright means direct and honest. Therefore, the only word that shares the dishonest, misleading sense of delude is hoodwink. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that delude involves making someone believe a false idea, often through trickery. Step 2: Consider hoodwink, which means to trick or deceive someone, usually by giving them a false impression. Step 3: Recognise that this matches the sense of delude very closely. Step 4: Examine conscientious and scrupulous, which both refer to strong moral sense and careful behaviour, the opposite of deception. Step 5: Look at bona fide and forthright, both of which highlight honesty and genuineness, again contrasting with delude. Verification / Alternative check: We can test hoodwink and delude in similar sentences. You can delude people into thinking the scheme is safe, and You can hoodwink people into thinking the scheme is safe both convey misdirection. In contrast, You can conscientious people into thinking makes no sense. This comparison confirms that hoodwink functions as a true synonym in context, while the others do not. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option b, conscientious, refers to someone who does their work carefully and properly, not someone who misleads. Option c, scrupulous, means having strong moral principles and being very honest and fair, which conflicts with the idea of deliberate deception. Option d, bona fide, means genuine or real, used for honest transactions. Option e, forthright, describes a person who is direct and truthful. None of these words implies trickery or falsehood, so they cannot be synonyms of delude. Common Pitfalls: Some learners may be unfamiliar with hoodwink and assume that a more familiar word is correct. Others may not remember that bona fide and scrupulous are positive words connected with honesty. It is useful to build a mental map where words like delude, deceive, mislead, and hoodwink are grouped together, and words like bona fide, forthright, and scrupulous are grouped as honesty related. Final Answer: The word that is closest in meaning to to delude is hoodwink, so option a is correct.

Question 13

In this active and passive voice question, the sentence The candidates are writing an essay is given in the active voice. Choose the option that correctly expresses the same idea in the passive voice.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests the ability to change a present continuous sentence from the active voice to the passive voice. The original sentence is The candidates are writing an essay, where the subject candidates performs the action of writing. In the passive voice, the focus shifts to the object an essay, while preserving the tense and aspect. Given Data / Assumptions: Active sentence: The candidates are writing an essay. Subject: the candidates. Verb phrase: are writing, present continuous. Object: an essay. The passive form must keep the same time reference and continuous aspect. Concept / Approach: To convert a present continuous active sentence to passive, the structure is subject plus am or is or are plus being plus past participle. The object moves to subject position. Thus, an essay becomes the new subject. The auxiliary are becomes is, because essay is singular. Then we add being and the past participle written. Finally, we may include the original subject in a by phrase, resulting in An essay is being written by the candidates. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the object an essay, which will become the subject in the passive sentence. Step 2: Note the tense and aspect: are writing is present continuous. Step 3: Form the passive auxiliary for a singular subject: is being. Step 4: Use the past participle of write, which is written. Step 5: Add the agent with by, giving An essay is being written by the candidates. Verification / Alternative check: We can check by reversing the passive back to active. From An essay is being written by the candidates, we obtain The candidates are writing an essay, which matches the original sentence exactly in meaning and tense. The presence of is being written confirms the correct continuous passive form. This shows that option b is the correct transformation. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option a, An essay was wrote by the candidates, has two problems: the tense changes to past simple and wrote is not a correct past participle. Option c, An essay has had been written by the candidates, is an incorrect and overcomplicated tense that does not correspond to the present continuous. Option d, An essay had been written by the candidates, is past perfect passive, again not matching the original time frame. Option e, An essay is written by the candidates every day, expresses a general habitual action rather than an action in progress right now, so it changes the meaning. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes forget to include being in continuous passive forms and write is written instead of is being written. Another common mistake is to change the tense unintentionally, for example shifting from present continuous to past or present simple. A clear mental formula for present continuous passive is is or am or are plus being plus past participle, which should be applied consistently. Final Answer: The correct passive voice form of The candidates are writing an essay is An essay is being written by the candidates, so option b is correct.

Question 14

In this direct and indirect speech question, the sentence Bunty said, I have done my class work is given in direct speech. Choose the option that best expresses the same idea in indirect speech.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks knowledge of converting direct speech into indirect or reported speech, with correct tense backshift. The direct sentence is Bunty said, I have done my class work. When reporting this later, the tense of have done usually changes to had done, because the reporting verb said is in the past tense. The learner must pick the option that follows standard rules without adding punctuation errors. Given Data / Assumptions: Direct speech: Bunty said, I have done my class work. Reporting verb: said (past tense). Reported clause: I have done my class work, present perfect tense. The indirect speech should be introduced by that in formal writing. Concept / Approach: When changing from direct to indirect speech with a past tense reporting verb, the tense in the reported clause is usually shifted one step back. Present perfect have done becomes past perfect had done. The first person pronoun I changes to third person he because Bunty is being referred to in the third person by the reporter. The overall structure becomes Bunty said that he had done his class work. Option b fits this pattern exactly. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the reporting verb said and note that it is in the past tense. Step 2: Recognise that the reported speech has present perfect tense have done, which should normally backshift to past perfect had done in indirect speech. Step 3: Change the pronoun I to he, since Bunty is the person speaking and is now referred to by a third person pronoun. Step 4: Introduce the reported clause with that for formal correctness: Bunty said that he had done his class work. Step 5: Compare this result with the options and identify option b as the exact match. Verification / Alternative check: We can check the time relationship. In the original, at the time of speaking, Bunty has already completed his class work. When we report this later, we want to show that his completion is earlier than the act of saying, which is itself in the past. The past perfect had done does exactly this. Therefore, Bunty said that he had done his class work correctly preserves the timing between the actions. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option a omits the conjunction that and keeps a comma, which is not standard for reported speech. Option c uses was saying and has done, which is a strange combination and not required here. Option d changes the tense from have done to did, which loses the perfect sense that the work was completed before the time of speaking. Option e keeps has done, which fails to apply the usual backshift in tense and makes the time relationship less clear in formal grammar. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes forget to backshift present perfect to past perfect after a past reporting verb, or they change the tense to simple past without considering the nuance. Others ignore pronoun changes and leave I instead of he. To avoid such mistakes, it is helpful to remember a simple rule: with a past reporting verb, present perfect normally becomes past perfect in reported speech, and pronouns must be adjusted according to the perspective of the reporter. Final Answer: The correct indirect speech form is Bunty said that he had done his class work, so option b is correct.

Question 15

Improve the bracketed part of the sentence. If I (just had) the money, I would have bought the car in the past but could not do so.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence improvement question tests your understanding of unreal or hypothetical conditionals in the past, sometimes called third conditionals. These structures describe situations where something did not actually happen, but we imagine what would have happened if conditions had been different. Mastery of this pattern is very important in competitive exams that test English grammar and usage. Given Data / Assumptions: The original sentence is: If I (just had) the money I would have bought the car. The bracketed phrase just had is grammatically doubtful. The result clause I would have bought the car clearly refers to an unreal past situation. We must choose the best phrase to make the entire conditional grammatically correct and natural. Concept / Approach: A third conditional sentence normally has this structure: If + subject + had + past participle, subject + would have + past participle. It is used to describe events that did not happen in the past but are imagined hypothetically. For the verb have, the past participle is had, so we need had had after the auxiliary had. Learners often find this strange because had is repeated, but this is the standard and correct form in English. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recognise that would have bought shows a past unreal result, which normally pairs with an if clause in past perfect. Step 2: Recall the formula for third conditionals: If + past perfect, would have + past participle. Step 3: Past perfect of have is had had, where the first had is the auxiliary and the second had is the past participle. Step 4: Replace just had with had had to form: If I had had the money, I would have bought the car. Step 5: Check the options: had had, have had, was having, and no improvement. Step 6: Only had had fits the required past perfect structure and matches the meaning of an unreal past condition. Verification / Alternative check: Compare similar sentences to confirm the pattern. For example, If she had studied harder, she would have passed. If they had left earlier, they would have caught the train. If I had had more time, I would have visited you. In each case, the past perfect in the if clause expresses a condition that was not fulfilled. The phrase If I just had the money sounds like a present time wish rather than a past unreal situation, so it does not align with would have bought. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Have had is usually used in present perfect constructions such as I have had enough, and does not match the structure after if in this unreal past conditional. Was having suggests an action in progress in the past, which does not combine naturally with would have bought in this context. No improvement is wrong because the original phrase just had does not use the correct third conditional form and creates a tense mismatch. Common Pitfalls: Candidates often avoid had had because it looks repetitive or awkward. They may incorrectly choose have had or just had, thinking that one had is enough. To avoid this error, remember that had in had had plays two roles, auxiliary and main verb, and both are required for correct grammar. Another mistake is to ignore the time reference of would have bought and treat the sentence as if it were about the present. Final Answer: The correct improvement is had had, giving the sentence: If I had had the money, I would have bought the car.

Question 16

Select the antonym of the word diligence, which means careful and persistent effort in work or duties.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This vocabulary question asks you to select the antonym of the word diligence. Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Diligence is a common term in academic and professional contexts and is frequently tested in competitive examinations. Understanding its opposite helps you sharpen your sense of nuance in English adjectives describing behaviour and work ethic. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: diligence. Options: lethargy, exertion, vigour, assiduity. You must pick the word whose meaning is opposite to diligence, not simply unrelated. We assume the standard dictionary meaning of diligence as careful, persistent effort in doing something. Concept / Approach: Diligence refers to steady, earnest, and energetic effort. A diligent person is careful, active, and hardworking. An antonym should therefore describe laziness, lack of energy, or absence of steady effort. It should not be another positive word for hard work. By evaluating each option, we can identify which one clearly represents laziness or inactivity and therefore stands opposite to diligence. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that diligence means constant, attentive, and persistent effort in work or duties. Step 2: Examine lethargy, which means a state of sluggishness, lack of energy, or laziness. Step 3: Examine exertion, which means vigorous physical or mental effort and is close in sense to hard work. Step 4: Examine vigour, which means strength, energy, or enthusiasm, again linked to activity rather than laziness. Step 5: Examine assiduity, which refers to constant or close attention to what one is doing and is almost a synonym of diligence. Step 6: Among these, lethargy alone expresses the opposite of energetic, careful effort, and is therefore the correct antonym. Verification / Alternative check: You can verify by placing the words in example sentences. A diligent student studies regularly and completes assignments on time, while a student full of lethargy avoids work and delays tasks. Exertion and vigour would describe the same hardworking student, not an opposite type. Assiduity reinforces the idea of diligence by emphasising careful attention. This comparison confirms that lethargy is the most suitable opposite. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Exertion is wrong because it refers to effort and often strenuous effort, which is aligned with diligence, not opposed to it. Vigour is wrong because it denotes energy and enthusiasm, qualities commonly found in diligent people. Assiduity is wrong because it is a near synonym, meaning persistent application or close attention, and therefore cannot be an antonym. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes confuse antonyms and synonyms when they see several strong words in the options. In such cases, it helps to rewrite the question: diligence versus what. If you rephrase it as hard work versus what, the natural answer is laziness or lethargy. Another common mistake is picking a word that simply feels unfamiliar, assuming that the unknown option is likely to be correct. Instead, carefully match meanings to ensure you are choosing the actual opposite. Final Answer: The antonym of diligence is lethargy.

Question 17

In the following sentence, the blank must be filled with the most appropriate word. The relocation of the car factory to our struggling town is an economic ___________.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This blank filling question tests your ability to choose vocabulary that fits both grammatically and contextually. The sentence is about an economic impact on a struggling town caused by the relocation of a car factory. You must select the word that best captures the positive and beneficial nature of this development in economic terms. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence: The relocation of the car factory to our struggling town is an economic ___________. Options: boon, good, donation, present. The town is described as struggling, which suggests that any major industry moving there would likely be very helpful. We assume that the speaker views the relocation in a positive way from the perspective of jobs and growth. Concept / Approach: The key is to understand the collocation economic plus a noun. In formal English, economic boon is a common phrase used in news reports and analysis to describe something that brings great benefit to an economy. Words like good, donation, and present are either too general or not normally paired with economic in this way. Therefore, we focus on choosing a word that fits both meaning and idiomatic usage. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Interpret the situation: a car factory moving into a struggling town will bring jobs, investment, and activity. Step 2: Recognise that this describes a significant benefit or blessing for the local economy. Step 3: Recall the phrase an economic boon, which means a great benefit to the economy. Step 4: Examine boon, which is defined as a timely benefit or blessing. Step 5: Examine good, which is too vague and is rarely used as economic good in this sense. Step 6: Examine donation and present, which involve gifts and do not typically describe large scale economic advantages from industrial relocation. Verification / Alternative check: If you read newspapers and magazines, you will often see sentences like The new highway is an economic boon for the region or Tourism has been an economic boon for the coastal towns. These examples show that boon is the natural choice when discussing big positive changes in financial and employment conditions. The other options do not appear in such contexts and feel informal or incorrect when combined with economic. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Good is wrong because it lacks specificity and does not form a strong collocation with economic in this sentence. Donation is wrong because relocation of a factory is a business decision, not a charitable act of giving money or goods. Present is wrong because it usually refers to a personal gift, not to large economic developments that transform a town. Common Pitfalls: Some candidates may choose good simply because it is a positive word. However, exams often test precise collocations rather than general positivity. Another pitfall is to misread the sentence as describing a single act of kindness, which might suggest donation or present, but the context clearly concerns the broader economic effect of a factory relocation. Final Answer: The most appropriate word is boon, giving the phrase economic boon.

Question 18

Select the word with the correct spelling from the following options.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This spelling question checks your ability to recognise the standard correct form of common English words. Spelling accuracy is important for clear written communication, and competitive exams frequently include questions where you must spot the correctly or incorrectly spelled word. Here you must choose the only option that follows standard English spelling conventions. Given Data / Assumptions: Options: thrashere, fiefedoms, snifing, squashed. Exactly one option is correctly spelled in standard English. We assume the intended words are common vocabulary items that you are likely to have seen before in reading. Concept / Approach: The strategy for such questions is to identify the likely base words and recall how they are normally spelled. Non standard extra letters, missing letters, or wrong vowel combinations are typical traps. By comparing each option with the familiar correct forms, you can quickly eliminate the misspellings and choose the single correct one. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Consider thrashere. The likely intended word is thrasher or thresher. The form thrashere does not match any standard English spelling. Step 2: Consider fiefedoms. The correct spelling of the plural noun is fiefdoms, with no extra e after fief. Step 3: Consider snifing. The base verb is sniff, and the present participle or gerund is sniffing with double f and double n. Snifing with a single f and single n is incorrect. Step 4: Consider squashed. This is the correct past participle of squash, meaning pressed or crushed into a flat shape. Step 5: Since squashed is a recognised correct spelling and the others contain obvious errors, squashed must be the correct answer. Verification / Alternative check: You can verify by recalling common phrases. People talk about squashed tomatoes or squashed insects in everyday English. Dictionaries list squashed as the standard past tense and past participle form. On the other hand, neither thrashere nor fiefedoms nor snifing appear in standard dictionaries with those spellings. This confirms that only squashed is correct. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Thrashere is wrong because English words ending in er typically do not use the ere pattern after sh here, and there is no common noun spelled thrashere. Fiefedoms is wrong because the correct plural is fiefdoms, with dom indicating domain and no extra e between fief and dom. Snifing is wrong because it omits necessary letters from sniffing, specifically one f and the second n, resulting in a non standard form. Common Pitfalls: Spelling questions often rely on your visual memory of words. A common mistake is to overthink and doubt even familiar words like squashed. Another pitfall is to focus only on one part of a word and overlook subtle errors such as missing consonants or extra vowels. Reading widely and paying attention to spelling in books, articles, and quality websites helps build a strong internal dictionary, making these questions easier over time. Final Answer: The correctly spelled word is squashed.

Question 19

In the following sentence, identify the part that has an error. If the sentence is free from error, select the option indicating no error. Her heart was (A) / pounding as he (B) / stopped front of her. (C) / No error (D).

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Error spotting questions test your ability to notice small but important mistakes in grammar, usage, or prepositions. The sentence here describes a dramatic moment when someone stops near another person. The error lies in the choice of prepositions, which is a common area of confusion for learners of English. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence is divided into four parts: Her heart was (A) / pounding as he (B) / stopped front of her. (C) / No error (D). We must decide which part contains the grammatical error. Part A: Her heart was. Part B: pounding as he. Part C: stopped front of her. Part D: No error. Concept / Approach: The phrase that native speakers use to describe someone being positioned ahead of another person is in front of, not simply front of. Prepositions such as in, on, and at are often required before certain nouns to form correct expressions. Therefore we focus on part C, where the phrase stopped front of her appears. Parts A and B look grammatically correct as they stand, expressing a continuous action and a past simple action in sequence. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the sentence smoothly: Her heart was pounding as he stopped front of her. Step 2: Recognise that the expression front of her sounds incomplete. Step 3: Recall the correct fixed phrase in front of her, which uses the preposition in. Step 4: Check part A: Her heart was is correct because it leads into the progressive form was pounding. Step 5: Check part B: pounding as he is also correct, as it connects continuous and simple actions. Step 6: Conclude that the error is in part C, where stopped front of her should be stopped in front of her. Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence with the corrected phrase: Her heart was pounding as he stopped in front of her. This version sounds natural and grammatically correct. If you try changing other parts, such as Her heart were pounding or stopped at front of her, the sentence becomes incorrect or unnatural. This confirms that part C is the only part containing an error. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A is not wrong because Her heart was pounding is a standard way to express fear or excitement. Option B is not wrong because pounding as he correctly introduces the clause describing the second action. Option D, representing No error, is wrong because we have clearly identified a mistake in part C. Common Pitfalls: A frequent pitfall is ignoring small function words like prepositions and focusing only on verbs and nouns. However, prepositions are crucial for idiomatic English. Another mistake is thinking that if a phrase is understandable, it must be correct. In exams, you are expected to know the exact standard expressions like in front of, on behalf of, and in charge of, not compressed or altered forms. Final Answer: The error is in part C, which should read stopped in front of her.

Question 20

In the following sentence, some part may have an error. Identify the part that has an error. He only plays a subsidiary (A) / role in the management (B) / of this organization. (C) / No error (D).

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question examines your understanding of word order and adverb placement in English sentences. The sentence talks about a person who is not very important in the management of an organisation. The word only is placed in such a way that it creates a slight awkwardness or ambiguity, and you must recognise the more natural and grammatically preferred position for only. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence parts: He only plays a subsidiary (A) / role in the management (B) / of this organization. (C) / No error (D). Part A: He only plays a subsidiary. Part B: role in the management. Part C: of this organization. We assume that the intended meaning is that the role is small or minor, not that he does nothing other than play in some sense. Concept / Approach: In English, the adverb only usually comes immediately before the word or phrase it is meant to modify. If we say He only plays a subsidiary role, it can be interpreted as he does nothing besides playing a subsidiary role, which is close but not perfectly focused. The more precise phrasing is He plays only a subsidiary role, which clearly shows that the role itself is limited and minor. Therefore, the error is in the placing of only in part A. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the sentence as given: He only plays a subsidiary role in the management of this organization. Step 2: Consider what the speaker wants to emphasise: that the role is only subsidiary and not major. Step 3: Recall that only should be placed immediately before the word it modifies. In this case, it should modify subsidiary role. Step 4: Rewrite the sentence as He plays only a subsidiary role in the management of this organization. Step 5: Notice that this change involves shifting only from before plays to before a subsidiary, which lies in part A. Step 6: Parts B and C do not contain any grammatical or usage errors, so the mistake is localised to part A. Verification / Alternative check: Compare different versions: He only plays a subsidiary role versus He plays only a subsidiary role. The second version is more natural, because it directly qualifies the noun phrase a subsidiary role. If we wanted to emphasise the verb plays, we could say He only plays, not manages, but that is not the meaning in the question. Hence the original placement of only is not the best for the intended idea, confirming an error in part A. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part B, role in the management, is correct and expresses clearly that the role is related to management activities. Part C, of this organization, is also correct as a standard prepositional phrase showing possession or association. No error (D) is wrong because we have identified a definite problem in the positioning of only in part A. Common Pitfalls: Learners often overlook word order subtleties when sentences are broadly understandable. However, competitive exams expect awareness of such fine distinctions. Another pitfall is memorising rules without applying them to the specific meaning of the sentence. Always ask yourself what exactly the word only is meant to limit, and place it right before that word or phrase. Final Answer: The error is in part A, and the improved sentence should read: He plays only a subsidiary role in the management of this organization.

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