Question 1

In the following sentence, the blank must be filled with a suitable word. My grandmother exercise regime is to walk the mall at a __________ pace.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This blank filling question tests your understanding of collocations, that is, natural word combinations in English. The sentence describes a walking exercise routine in a shopping mall and asks you to choose the adjective that best describes the pace or speed of walking in a healthy and idiomatic way. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence: My grandmother exercise regime is to walk the mall at a __________ pace. Options: potent, brisk, strong, vital. The context is physical exercise that is beneficial but suitable for an older person. We assume that the pace is neither extremely slow nor dangerously fast. Concept / Approach: In health and fitness contexts, the phrase brisk walk or brisk pace is very common. It means fairly quick and energetic but still comfortable, especially for cardiovascular exercise. The other adjectives potent, strong, and vital may appear in other collocations but do not naturally describe pace in the same way. Recognising such set expressions is crucial for scoring well in vocabulary sections. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the noun that the blank modifies, which is pace. Step 2: Recall common phrases used to describe walking: slow pace, steady pace, brisk pace. Step 3: Recognise that brisk means quick, lively, and energetic, which fits an exercise routine. Step 4: Consider potent. This usually describes the strength of a drug, a smell, or an influence, not the speed of walking. Step 5: Consider strong. While one can talk about strong muscles or a strong wind, strong pace is not a common collocation for walking. Step 6: Consider vital. This usually refers to something essential or life giving, as in vital organs or vital role, and does not normally describe pace. Verification / Alternative check: Imagine reading a health article. You are likely to see sentences like Doctors recommend a brisk walk for thirty minutes a day. You would not normally read about a potent pace, strong pace, or vital pace in standard English. This real world usage check confirms that brisk is the most natural and idiomatic choice in the blank. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Potent is wrong because it refers to power or effectiveness in contexts like medicine or influence, not walking speed. Strong is wrong because it collocates with words like personality, flavour, or wind, and not commonly with pace in this sense. Vital is wrong because it describes importance or necessity, not the tempo of physical movement. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake is to choose any positive sounding adjective without considering collocation. Examiners design such questions to see whether you know the exact phrase used by native speakers. Another pitfall is to overthink and doubt the familiar combination brisk pace because it seems too obvious. When a simple and widely used phrase fits, it is often the correct answer. Final Answer: The correct word is brisk, giving the phrase at a brisk pace.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Spelling questions evaluate your familiarity with standard written English and your ability to recognise correct and incorrect forms of common words. Here you must identify the single correctly spelled word among options that are intentionally designed to look similar to real words but contain subtle errors. Given Data / Assumptions: Options: insolente, saphire, immersed, peperony. Only one of these is correctly spelled in standard English. The likely intended base words are insolent, sapphire, immersed, and pepperoni. Concept / Approach: The best strategy is to mentally match each option with the familiar correct form. Examiners typically add or remove letters, especially vowels and doubled consonants, to create confusing near misses. By carefully recalling the typical spelling patterns of these words, you can quickly separate the incorrect variants from the correct one. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Consider insolente. The standard adjective is insolent, meaning rude or disrespectful. The extra e at the end makes this spelling incorrect. Step 2: Consider saphire. The correct gemstone name is sapphire with double p and h before ire. Saphire with a single p is wrong. Step 3: Consider immersed. This is the past form of immerse, meaning to plunge or dip into a liquid or to involve deeply. Immersed with double m and s is correctly spelled. Step 4: Consider peperony. This looks like a misspelling of pepperoni, a type of spicy sausage. The correct spelling uses double p and ends in oni not ony. Step 5: Therefore, immersed is the only option that matches a standard English word with correct spelling. Verification / Alternative check: You can test immersed in a sentence: She was completely immersed in her work. This sentence appears correctly in many textbooks and articles. By contrast, insolente, saphire, and peperony do not appear in standard dictionaries when spelled in those ways. Thus, your memory of reading authentic texts supports the choice of immersed as the correct spelling. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Insolente is wrong because the extra e changes insolent into a non word. English adjectives ending in ent generally do not take an extra e at the end. Saphire is wrong because sapphire is a well known gemstone whose spelling is fixed with double p. Peperony is wrong because pepperoni is the accepted spelling and the ending ony does not match the standard form. Common Pitfalls: Spelling traps often exploit uncertainty about double consonants and silent letters. Many learners are unsure whether to write sapphire or saphire, and pepperoni or peperoni. The solution is to read widely and pay attention to correctly printed texts. Another pitfall is to distrust a correct looking word because the other three are clearly wrong, but in such a case the one familiar and obviously correct option is usually the answer. Final Answer: The correctly spelled word is immersed.

Question 3

In the following passage, some words have been left out. Select the correct answer for the blank. ______________ reader can add to the list and to the possibilities of a new ethical and moral politics that is being discussed.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question is part of a cloze passage, where several blanks must be filled with appropriate words. The sentence here talks about readers adding to a list and to the possibilities of a new ethical and moral politics. The aim is to choose a pronoun or determiner that fits both grammatically and logically when placed before reader, while matching the formal tone of the passage. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence fragment: ______________ reader can add to the list and to the possibilities of a new ethical and moral politics. Options: One, Some, Each, Anyone. The sentence is part of a reflective discussion on ethics and politics, probably in a formal article. We assume that the writer wishes to emphasise that every reader, individually, has the capacity to contribute. Concept / Approach: We must choose a word that can be followed directly by the singular countable noun reader and still produce a natural sounding phrase in philosophical or academic writing. Both One reader and Each reader are grammatically possible, but their meanings differ slightly. One reader focuses on a single unspecified person, while Each reader suggests that every individual reader has this ability. The flow of the passage suggests inclusiveness rather than pointing to a single reader, which favours Each. Some reader is unusual in positive statements, and Anyone reader is ungrammatical. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Test One reader can add to the list. This is grammatically correct but suggests just a single reader, not all readers. Step 2: Test Some reader can add to the list. In standard English, some is not usually used directly before a singular noun like reader in this way, unless in expressions such as some reader or other, which is not the case here. Step 3: Test Each reader can add to the list. This is grammatically correct and emphasises that every reader has this potential. Step 4: Test Anyone reader can add to the list. This is wrong, because anyone already functions as a pronoun and is not followed by another noun like reader. Step 5: Considering both grammar and the inclusive, reflective tone, Each reader is the best fit. Verification / Alternative check: Read the full sentence with Each inserted: Each reader can add to the list and to the possibilities of a new ethical and moral politics. This line fits naturally in an essay that invites all readers to contribute ideas. Using One instead would weaken that inclusive sense. Standard academic writing often uses Each reader in similar contexts, which confirms that this option is most appropriate. Why Other Options Are Wrong: One is less suitable because it does not clearly convey that the statement is meant for every reader; it merely identifies an unspecified single reader. Some is awkward in this position and sounds incomplete or colloquial, not matching the formal tone of the passage. Anyone reader is ungrammatical, since anyone already contains the idea of any person and should not be combined directly with reader. Common Pitfalls: A frequent pitfall in cloze tests is choosing words that seem roughly right without checking for fine differences in meaning and collocation. Another mistake is ignoring the broader style of the passage; in a philosophical or ethical discussion, more formal and inclusive expressions like Each reader are preferred over casual or loosely structured phrases. Final Answer: The correct word for the blank is Each, giving Each reader can add to the list.

Question 4

In the passage, choose the correct word to fill the blank: moral politics ______________ requires a Gandhian inventiveness of ritual and politics.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This cloze passage question tests your understanding of relative pronouns and how they link clauses together. The sentence fragment describes moral politics and then adds a clause explaining something about it. You must choose the word that correctly introduces this relative clause, keeping the sentence grammatical and clear. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence fragment: moral politics ______________ requires a Gandhian inventiveness of ritual and politics. Options: which, why, where, what. The noun phrase moral politics is followed by a verb requires, so the blank must introduce a clause referring back to moral politics. We assume a formal, analytical context discussing ethics and political practice. Concept / Approach: Relative pronouns like which, who, and that are used to introduce additional information about a noun. In the sentence, we want to say that moral politics requires a Gandhian inventiveness. The word which is the standard relative pronoun used after an abstract noun in such formal writing. Why is used mainly after reason, where is used for places, and what usually introduces a noun clause rather than a relative clause referring to a preceding noun. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify that moral politics is the antecedent noun and that requires begins the verb phrase of the relative clause. Step 2: Test which in the blank: moral politics which requires a Gandhian inventiveness of ritual and politics. This forms a correct relative clause. Step 3: Test why: moral politics why requires a Gandhian inventiveness is ungrammatical because why does not function as a relative pronoun here. Step 4: Test where: moral politics where requires a Gandhian inventiveness is wrong because where refers to places, not abstract concepts like politics. Step 5: Test what: moral politics what requires a Gandhian inventiveness is ungrammatical as a relative clause and breaks the sentence. Step 6: Conclude that which is the only option that correctly introduces the clause relating back to moral politics. Verification / Alternative check: Consider how similar sentences are structured: A system which demands honesty from its leaders or A philosophy which emphasises non violence. In each case, which introduces a clause that adds more information about the preceding noun phrase. The sentence moral politics which requires a Gandhian inventiveness fits this same pattern, confirming that which is correct. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Why is wrong because it is used to introduce a reason clause, usually after the word reason, as in the reason why, not to refer to a noun like politics. Where is wrong because it refers to locations or places, for example, the city where I live, not to abstract ideas like moral politics. What is wrong in this context because it normally introduces clauses like what I want, not clauses describing a previous noun. Common Pitfalls: Some candidates choose what or why because these words are common in question formation. However, in relative clauses, which is often the safest choice after abstract nouns. Another pitfall is not paying attention to how the sentence would sound if read aloud. Pronouns that do not fit produce an immediate sense of wrongness when the sentence is spoken or mentally heard. Final Answer: The correct word to fill the blank is which, giving moral politics which requires a Gandhian inventiveness of ritual and politics.

Question 5

In the passage, select the best word for the blank in the sentence: What I wish to add is a ___________________.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This cloze passage question comes from a reflective discussion on ethics, apology, and justice. The author says What I wish to add is a ____ and you must choose the noun that fits both the grammar and the philosophical tone of the passage. The correct word should express a thoughtful qualification or warning rather than an emotion or a verb. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence fragment: What I wish to add is a ___________________. Options: fear, panic, warn, caveat. The wider passage discusses rituals of apology and ethical repair, suggesting a serious intellectual context. We assume that the writer wants to add a careful caution or qualification to the ideas already presented. Concept / Approach: Grammatically, the article a must be followed by a singular countable noun. Fear and panic are nouns, caveat is also a noun, while warn is a verb and does not fit after a. However, beyond grammar, we need a word that matches the tone of thoughtful analysis. In academic and philosophical writing, caveat is commonly used to mean a warning or condition that qualifies a statement or argument. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Eliminate warn first because it is a verb and cannot grammatically follow the article a in this position. Step 2: Compare fear and panic. Both are strong emotional states and would suggest that the author is adding an emotion, which does not match the context of an intellectual addition to an argument. Step 3: Evaluate caveat. This noun means a warning, caution, or additional condition that must be considered when accepting an idea. Step 4: Fit caveat into the sentence: What I wish to add is a caveat. This creates a natural and common phrase in philosophical or analytical writing. Step 5: Conclude that caveat is the only option that is both grammatically correct and contextually appropriate. Verification / Alternative check: In essays or lectures, authors often say I must add a caveat to this argument or There is an important caveat we must consider. They rarely say I must add a fear or I must add a panic, because emotions are not normally added as intellectual points. This real world usage confirms that caveat is the expected choice in such a passage. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Fear is wrong because it describes an emotional state, not a thoughtful qualification to an argument. Panic is wrong for the same reason; it is an intense emotion and does not fit the calm, analytical tone of the discussion. Warn is wrong because so warn is a verb, while the sentence structure clearly requires a noun after the article a. Common Pitfalls: A common error is to focus only on the rough meaning of warning and choose warn without noticing that the sentence needs a noun, not a verb. Another pitfall is not recognising caveat because it appears less frequently in everyday speech. Building vocabulary through reading serious articles and essays helps make words like caveat familiar and easy to identify in exams. Final Answer: The correct word is caveat, giving the sentence What I wish to add is a caveat.

Question 6

In the passage, choose the correct preposition for the blank: They require a rigour and an inventiveness _____________ ethical thinking.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This cloze passage sentence deals with the collocation of abstract nouns and prepositions. The writer is talking about rituals of apology and justice that require certain qualities related to ethical thinking. You must choose the preposition that correctly links rigour and inventiveness with ethical thinking in formal written English. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence fragment: They require a rigour and an inventiveness _____________ ethical thinking. Options: with, of, to, against. The pronoun they refers to rituals of apology and questions of justice, reconciliation, and ethical repair. We assume that ethical thinking is the domain or area in which rigour and inventiveness are needed. Concept / Approach: In English, abstract nouns such as rigour and inventiveness often take the preposition of to indicate the domain to which they belong, especially in formal writing. Phrases like a rigour of analysis and the inventiveness of imagination are common. The preposition with might suggest association, to often suggests direction, and against implies opposition, none of which properly express the idea that ethical thinking is the field in which these qualities are manifested. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify that rigour and inventiveness are qualities, and ethical thinking is the sphere or context where these qualities are demanded. Step 2: Test with: a rigour and an inventiveness with ethical thinking sounds awkward and does not match standard usage. Step 3: Test of: a rigour and an inventiveness of ethical thinking is a natural formal expression, similar to depth of understanding. Step 4: Test to: a rigour and an inventiveness to ethical thinking is not idiomatic and suggests an incorrect direction. Step 5: Test against: a rigour and an inventiveness against ethical thinking reverses the meaning entirely, implying opposition. Step 6: Conclude that of is the only preposition that produces a smooth, formal phrase that fits the context. Verification / Alternative check: Consider analogous phrases in academic writing: They require a rigour of reasoning and an inventiveness of method. These patterns show that the preposition of is standard for linking qualities to a field of thought. If we substitute ethical thinking for reasoning, we get rigour and inventiveness of ethical thinking, which feels natural in philosophical discourse. Why Other Options Are Wrong: With is wrong because it suggests simple accompaniment rather than inherent qualities arising within ethical thinking. To is wrong as it indicates movement or direction, which is not the intended relation here. Against is clearly wrong because it means in opposition to ethical thinking, which contradicts the rest of the passage that values ethical reflection. Common Pitfalls: Preposition questions are tricky because many combinations sound almost acceptable. Candidates sometimes choose with by habit, since it is widely used. The key is to remember common formal collocations such as strength of character and rigour of analysis, which guide you towards the correct choice of of in this sentence. Final Answer: The correct preposition is of, giving a rigour and an inventiveness of ethical thinking.

Question 7

In the passage, choose the verb that best completes the sentence: ethical thinking which ___________________ new experiments with the idea of truth and healing in India.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This cloze passage blank focuses on the verb that describes what ethical thinking does in relation to new experiments with truth and healing. The passage is philosophical and formal in style, and the verb needs to match both this tone and the grammatical structure of the sentence. Your job is to pick the word that naturally expresses a strong requirement for such experiments. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence fragment: ethical thinking which ___________________ new experiments with the idea of truth and healing in India. Options: necessitate, ask, take, oblige. Ethical thinking is the subject of the clause introduced by which. We assume that the passage is arguing that serious ethical reflection demands or requires experimentation with new ideas of truth and healing. Concept / Approach: In formal academic English, when we want to say that one thing makes another thing necessary, we often use the verb necessitate. For example, social change necessitates legal reform. The other options either do not fit grammatically (ask without an object or for) or do not collocate naturally in this structure. We must choose the verb that clearly and powerfully indicates requirement. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Test necessitate: ethical thinking which necessitate new experiments with the idea of truth and healing in India. Here we must adjust to subject verb agreement, but in the cloze context, the base form will be interpreted as necessitates. Step 2: Understand that necessitate means make something necessary, which is exactly the intended idea. Step 3: Test ask: ethical thinking which ask new experiments sounds incomplete and needs a preposition like for, as in ask for new experiments. Step 4: Test take: ethical thinking which take new experiments is odd and does not convey the meaning of requirement; it suggests receiving or performing experiments rather than making them necessary. Step 5: Test oblige: ethical thinking which oblige new experiments is not idiomatic because oblige normally takes a person as object, as in oblige someone to do something. Step 6: Conclude that necessitate is the only verb that correctly expresses the idea that ethical thinking makes new experiments necessary. Verification / Alternative check: Consider similar constructions: Changing social conditions necessitate new laws, or Modern technology necessitates new approaches to education. In each case, the verb necessitate naturally links a cause with its required effect. Replacing it with ask, take, or oblige would produce sentences that either require more words or change the meaning. This pattern shows that necessitate is the best choice in the passage. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Ask is wrong because it needs a preposition and often a human subject or object, and ask new experiments sounds incomplete. Take is wrong since ethical thinking does not take new experiments; rather, it demands or requires them. Oblige is wrong because it is usually used in the pattern oblige someone to do something, which does not match the noun phrase new experiments as a direct object. Common Pitfalls: One pitfall is ignoring subject verb agreement and collocation, and choosing a word that vaguely fits the context but creates an awkward sentence. Another common problem is not recognising formal vocabulary like necessitate and preferring more familiar but less precise verbs. Building a strong bank of formal verbs helps significantly in cloze tests based on editorial style passages. Final Answer: The correct verb is necessitate, giving ethical thinking which necessitates new experiments with the idea of truth and healing in India.

Question 8

In the following sentence, the blank must be filled with a suitable word. It does not suit you to cast ____________ on the character of such a pure woman.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your knowledge of common English idiomatic expressions, particularly the phrase cast aspersions on someone character. The sentence warns the listener that it is inappropriate to make negative remarks about a pure woman. Your task is to choose the noun that completes the fixed expression cast ____________ on. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence: It does not suit you to cast ____________ on the character of such a pure woman. Options: praise, abuses, vituperations, aspersions. The overall tone is disapproving of negative talk, suggesting that the missing word refers to criticism or unjust accusations. We assume the exam expects recognition of the standard idiom cast aspersions on. Concept / Approach: In English, cast aspersions on is a set phrase meaning to make harmful, often unfair remarks about someone reputation or character. While abuses and vituperations relate to harsh language, they do not form this particular idiom. Praise, on the other hand, is positive and would contradict the idea that it does not suit you to cast something on her character. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Consider the overall meaning: The speaker is saying that it is not appropriate for you to criticise or question her character. Step 2: Recognise the common collocation cast aspersions on someone character, which means to express doubts or negative judgments about them. Step 3: Check praise. Cast praise on is not standard usage, and praise is positive, not negative. Step 4: Check abuses. Although one can hurl abuses, the phrase cast abuses on is not idiomatic. Step 5: Check vituperations. This word means abusive language but is rarely used in the phrase cast vituperations on. Step 6: Check aspersions, which fits perfectly into the established idiom cast aspersions on the character of someone. Verification / Alternative check: Search your memory or reading experience for the phrase cast aspersions on and you will recall examples like They cast aspersions on his honesty or We should not cast aspersions on her reputation without evidence. You will not typically see cast abuses on or cast vituperations on in standard texts. This strong idiomatic pattern confirms that aspersions is the correct choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Praise is wrong because casting praise on someone character would actually be positive, and the sentence clearly criticises the act being described. Abuses is wrong because while abuse can be used as a verb or noun, the collocation cast abuses on someone character is not standard. Vituperations is wrong because, although it denotes abusive language, it is not used in this idiom and would sound unnatural in the sentence. Common Pitfalls: Many learners focus too much on the raw meaning of the individual words and ignore idiomatic usage. Abuses and vituperations may seem attractive because they are negative, but the exam is testing whether you know the complete phrase. To avoid such mistakes, learn common idioms in full rather than as isolated words. Final Answer: The correct word is aspersions, giving the idiom cast aspersions on the character of such a pure woman.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question asks you to identify the correctly spelled word among four similar looking options. Spelling questions check your familiarity with everyday vocabulary as well as less frequent words. Here, three options contain typical spelling errors, while one matches standard English usage. Given Data / Assumptions: Options: marothon, seagulls, pungancy, palpatted. We assume the intended base words are marathon, seagulls, pungency, and palpated. Only one option should be correctly spelled in standard English. Concept / Approach: The best method is to think of familiar real world contexts where these words might appear: sports pages for marathon, nature writing for seagulls, taste descriptions for pungency, and medical or physical exams for palpated. When you recall these contexts, the correct spelling usually comes to mind. Then you compare the options with that internal reference. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Examine marothon. The correct spelling for the long distance running race is marathon, with a spelling pattern mar a thon, not mar o thon. Step 2: Examine seagulls. This is the plural of seagull, the sea bird often seen near coasts. The spelling sea plus gulls is correct. Step 3: Examine pungancy. The correct noun from pungent is pungency with e n c y, not a n c y. So pungancy is wrong. Step 4: Examine palpatted. The correct past tense of palpate is palpated with one t in the middle, not double t before e d. Step 5: Thus, seagulls is the only option that matches a standard correctly spelled English word. Verification / Alternative check: Think of example sentences: Seagulls circled above the fishing boats. You will find this spelling in dictionaries and nature articles. In contrast, you will always see the race spelled as marathon, the noun pungency for a strong taste or smell, and palpated as the past tense when a doctor examines a patient by touch. None of these standard spellings use the forms found in the other options here. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Marothon is wrong because the vowel o is incorrect; the event is marathon. Pungancy is wrong because the suffix is ency in pungency, not ancy. Palpatted is wrong because it doubles the t incorrectly; the regular past form is palpated. Common Pitfalls: Spelling traps often play on confusion about vowels and doubled consonants. To avoid them, pay attention to how words look in print. Another pitfall is to overcomplicate by distrusting even simple correct words like seagulls. When one option is clearly familiar and the others contain obvious distortions, it is usually safe to choose the familiar one. Final Answer: The correctly spelled word is seagulls.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In this spelling question you must choose the correctly spelled word from four options that all look somewhat similar to real English words. Three contain deliberate errors, while one matches the standard spelling. Identifying the correct word relies on your awareness of common roots, prefixes, and suffixes, as well as your reading experience. Given Data / Assumptions: Options: garotte, dillution, variably, exhumming. The likely intended words are garrote or garotte, dilution, variably, and exhuming. We assume the exam setter wants a single, unambiguous correct spelling among the choices. Concept / Approach: The word variably comes from the adjective variable plus the adverbial suffix ly. Its spelling obeys regular morphological rules. By contrast, dillution and exhumming show doubled consonants that break standard patterns, and garotte, though sometimes seen as a variant, is less straightforward in exam contexts. Variably stands out as the clearly correct and undisputed standard form. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Examine dillution. The correct noun from dilute is dilution with a single l and one l in the middle; dillution with double l is incorrect. Step 2: Examine exhumming. The verb is exhume, and the present participle is exhuming with a single m; exhumming with double m is wrong. Step 3: Examine variably. It is formed from variable plus ly, yielding variably, which is a correctly spelled adverb meaning in varying ways. Step 4: Examine garotte. English dictionaries record two main spellings for the noun and verb: garrote and garotte. However, in exam settings where only one option is intended to be clearly correct, the less ambiguous and fully regular word among the options is variably. Step 5: Therefore, variably is chosen as the correct spelling for the purposes of this question. Verification / Alternative check: Consider how these words appear in standard writing. Scientific and mathematical texts use variably to describe changing quantities. The word appears with this spelling in many reliable sources. Dilution is universally spelled with one l after the initial d and i. Exhuming is always written with one m. Garotte versus garrote involves regional variation, and exams usually avoid such ambiguous variants when testing pure spelling, strengthening the case for variably as the intended answer. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Dillution is wrong because it incorrectly doubles the consonant l. The correct form is dilution. Exhumming is wrong because the standard verb exhuming doubles the m only in some non standard contexts; the accepted spelling uses a single m. Garotte is avoided here because of variation and because the exam requires a clear, uncontested choice; among these, variably is the safest correct spelling. Common Pitfalls: Students often struggle with words containing Latin or French roots, where double consonants are common. Another pitfall is to overvalue exotic looking spellings like garotte or exhumming and overlook simple, regularly formed words like variably. When in doubt, choose the word that follows straightforward formation rules and that you have seen consistently in reliable texts. Final Answer: The correctly spelled word is variably.

Question 11

Select the antonym of the word homogeneous, which means of the same kind or nature throughout.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This vocabulary question asks for the antonym of homogeneous. The word homogeneous describes a group or mixture that is of the same kind throughout, with similar parts or elements. To find the antonym, you must select the word that conveys the idea of difference, variety, or lack of uniformity. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: homogeneous. Options: akin, ditto, disparate, cognate. We assume homogeneous refers to things that are similar or uniform. The correct antonym should describe things that are unlike one another, varied, or composed of very different elements. Concept / Approach: Homogeneous literally means of the same kind, from the Greek roots homo (same) and genos (kind). The opposite idea is heterogeneity or disparity. Thus, a good antonym must express difference or diversity. Words such as akin and cognate tend to mean related or similar, while ditto is informal for the same. Disparate, on the other hand, means essentially different or not allowing comparison, which strongly contrasts with homogeneous. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that homogeneous is used when all parts of a group or mixture are similar, as in a homogeneous population. Step 2: Examine akin, which means related or similar in character. This is close to being a synonym, not an antonym. Step 3: Examine ditto, an informal term meaning the same or likewise, again aligned with similarity. Step 4: Examine disparate, which means different in kind, essentially unlike or distinct. Step 5: Examine cognate, which refers to things having a common origin or being related in nature, especially in languages, again pointing to similarity. Step 6: The only word that clearly expresses difference rather than similarity is disparate, so it must be the antonym. Verification / Alternative check: Think of example sentences: The group is homogeneous in its social background versus The group is disparate in its interests. These descriptions stand in opposition. You would not say a group is homogeneous and akin at the same time because akin supports similarity, not contrast. Likewise, ditto would be used to echo sameness rather than variety. Cognate is used to show common linguistic or conceptual roots, not divergence. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Akin is wrong because it means similar or related, aligning with homogeneity rather than opposing it. Ditto is wrong because it informally means the same, which directly reinforces sameness. Cognate is wrong because it refers to shared origin or relationship, again highlighting similarity between things. Common Pitfalls: Sometimes students confuse high level vocabulary and think that rare words must be opposites. However, many advanced words like cognate and akin simply mean similar or related. A reliable approach is to break down the root of the target word and then search for a word that gives the opposite linguistic concept, in this case disparity for homogeneity. Final Answer: The antonym of homogeneous is disparate.

Question 12

In the following sentence, the blank must be filled with an appropriate word. The comatose patient was kept under observation till his body systems came back from suspended ______________.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This blank filling question tests your familiarity with the fixed expression suspended animation. In medical and popular science contexts, suspended animation describes a state where vital functions are slowed down to a very low level, almost as if life has been paused. The sentence speaks about a comatose patient whose body systems were inactive for a time and then recovered. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence: The comatose patient was kept under observation till his body systems came back from suspended ______________. Options: dynamism, elation, animation, ebullience. The patient is in a coma, which implies a state of greatly reduced activity, not excitement or joy. We assume that the exam is pointing towards the well known phrase suspended animation. Concept / Approach: The phrase suspended animation is often used to describe a condition where metabolic processes are slowed or halted, either naturally or artificially, making the body appear lifeless while still being technically alive. Among the options, animation forms this idiom with suspended. The other words dynamism, elation, and ebullience relate to energy or happiness and do not fit the medical description of a coma. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recognise that the expression suspended animation is a standard phrase in English. Step 2: Identify that animation in this context means life or movement, not cartoons. Step 3: Test the phrase suspended animation in the sentence: till his body systems came back from suspended animation, which sounds natural and medically accurate. Step 4: Consider dynamism, which refers to energy and vigorous activity, not a near death state. Step 5: Consider elation and ebullience, both of which describe strong positive emotions, such as great joy or exuberant enthusiasm, not appropriate in describing a comatose state. Step 6: Conclude that animation is the only word that completes the recognised phrase and matches the medical context. Verification / Alternative check: Review common phrases in medical dramas or science articles: The subject was placed in suspended animation or The frogs survived winter in a state of suspended animation. You will not find suspended dynamism or suspended elation in such contexts. This confirms that animation is the correct and idiomatic choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Dynamism is wrong because it describes active energy and drive, which directly opposes the near lifeless state implied by suspended. Elation is wrong because it is an emotion of great happiness, which has nothing to do with coma or reduced bodily function. Ebullience is wrong because it means cheerful, energetic excitement, again incompatible with the medical situation described. Common Pitfalls: Some students may be tempted by dynamism because it sounds technical or energetic. However, the key is to recognise the complete idiom suspended animation. A useful strategy is to read the phrase before and after the blank together; when you see suspended, your mind should automatically recall its usual partner, animation, in this kind of sentence. Final Answer: The correct word is animation, completing the phrase suspended animation.

Question 13

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the one word that best substitutes the phrase an event serving as an introduction to something more important.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: One word substitution questions test your ability to replace a descriptive phrase with a single precise word. The phrase given here refers to an event that comes before something more important and acts as its introduction or preparation. This concept is widely used in music, literature, and history to describe preliminary actions or events. Given Data / Assumptions: Phrase to be replaced: an event serving as an introduction to something more important. Options: perform, prelude, introduce, preface. We assume the question expects a noun describing such an event, not a verb. The word should be applicable to events, not just to texts. Concept / Approach: The correct term for an event that comes before a major event and prepares the way for it is prelude. In music, a prelude is a short piece that introduces a longer work, and in general usage, any action or event that precedes something more significant can be described as a prelude. Perform and introduce are verbs, and preface usually refers to introductory words in a book, not to events. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recognise that the phrase describes a thing, specifically an event, and thus requires a noun as the substitute. Step 2: Check perform, which is a verb meaning to carry out or execute and cannot replace a noun phrase like an event serving as an introduction. Step 3: Check introduce, another verb that means to present or bring something into use and therefore does not fit as a one word noun substitute. Step 4: Check preface, a noun meaning an introduction to a book or speech, usually written or spoken text, not an event. Step 5: Check prelude, a noun meaning an action or event serving as an introduction to something more important, which matches the phrase exactly. Step 6: Conclude that prelude is the correct one word substitute. Verification / Alternative check: Consider sentences such as The protests were a prelude to major political reforms or The short piece of music was a prelude to the main symphony. In both examples, prelude directly carries the idea of a preliminary event leading to something larger. You would not say The protests were an introduce or The protests were a preface in this context. This confirms that prelude is the most accurate choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Perform is wrong because it is a verb and refers to the action of doing something, not to the event itself as an introduction. Introduce is wrong because it is also a verb and describes the act of presenting someone or something, not the preliminary event. Preface is wrong because it is mainly used for a written or spoken introduction to a book or speech, not for an event that precedes another event. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes pick preface because they associate it with introductions. However, the key difference is that preface is tied to texts, while prelude can apply more broadly to events, actions, and musical pieces. Another pitfall is ignoring the part of speech needed and choosing a verb even though the phrase clearly calls for a noun. Final Answer: The correct one word substitute is prelude.

Question 14

Improve the bracketed part of the sentence by choosing the correct option. The good fortune of (my being) your disciple in my youth has greatly benefited me in my career.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence improvement question focuses on choosing the most grammatically correct and stylistically refined form of a gerund phrase after a preposition. The sentence speaks about the good fortune of having been someone disciple in youth and how that experience has benefited the speaker career. You must decide which option best expresses this idea while respecting standard English grammar. Given Data / Assumptions: Original sentence: The good fortune of (my being) your disciple in my youth has greatly benefited me in my career. Bracketed phrase: my being. Options: my having been, myself being, being, no improvement. The context clearly refers to a past state or role that existed in the speaker youth. Concept / Approach: When a gerund phrase refers to an action completed in the past relative to the time of the main verb, English often uses the perfect gerund, formed with having plus past participle. Here, the speaker is talking about the fact that in the past he or she was a disciple, and that completed past relationship has led to later benefits. The phrase the good fortune of my having been your disciple captures this meaning neatly and formally. It is also standard to use a possessive determiner like my before a gerund or gerund phrase in formal writing. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Notice that the main tense of the sentence is present perfect, has greatly benefited, showing an effect that continues to the present. Step 2: Recognise that the role of disciple in my youth is earlier than that benefit, so it should be expressed as a completed past action. Step 3: Recall that the perfect gerund has the structure having + past participle, here having been. Step 4: Combine this with the possessive pronoun my to form my having been, which is the grammatically preferred subject of the gerund phrase after of. Step 5: Compare with myself being, which uses a reflexive pronoun and sounds informal or awkward in this structure. Step 6: Compare with being alone, which lacks both the possessive my and the perfect form needed to show that the disciple relationship is a completed past state. Step 7: Therefore, my having been is the most accurate and elegant choice. Verification / Alternative check: Consider similar structures: The memory of my having worked there helps me now or The impact of her having studied abroad is visible in her outlook. In these sentences, the perfect gerund expresses a prior completed action that still has effects. Replacing my having been with my being would weaken the sense of prior completion and sound less polished. Additionally, style guides often recommend using the possessive form my before gerunds when the person is the agent of the gerund action. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Myself being is wrong because myself is a reflexive pronoun typically used for emphasis or when the subject and object are the same in a clause, not as a determiner before a gerund. Being alone is wrong because it loses the possessive my and the perfect aspect, making the phrase less specific and grammatically weaker. No improvement is wrong because the original my being, while understandable, does not express the past completed nature of the disciple relationship as clearly as my having been, and formal grammar favours the perfect gerund here. Common Pitfalls: Many learners are uncomfortable with the repetition of having been and avoid it, even though it is standard in formal English. Another common mistake is to drop the possessive pronoun before a gerund, but in phrases like my having been your disciple, the possessive shows clearly who performed the action. In competitive exams, the more precise and formally correct structure is usually expected. Final Answer: The bracketed phrase should be replaced with my having been, giving The good fortune of my having been your disciple in my youth has greatly benefited me in my career.

Question 15

In English grammar, convert the exclamatory question Will none of you help me, spoken by an injured old man, into its correct indirect speech form.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests conversion from direct to indirect speech for an exclamatory yes or no type question in English grammar. The original line shows an injured old man expressing pain and disappointment that nobody is willing to help him. When we change this into reported speech, we must adjust the tense, pronouns, word order, and the reporting verb so that the sense of exclamation and complaint is preserved accurately. Many exam questions use such structures to check whether learners can combine question forms and exclamations correctly in one reported form. Given Data / Assumptions: The direct speech sentence is: Will none of you help me. The speaker is an injured old man, and he is clearly in distress. The reporting verb in the question is exclaimed which expresses a strong feeling. Standard rules of indirect speech for questions apply, including backshifting of tense and change of pronouns and word order. Exactly one of the given options correctly follows these rules while retaining the meaning of complaint and helplessness. Concept / Approach: In indirect speech, a direct question usually changes its word order to that of a statement. For a will type future question, the auxiliary will generally becomes would in reported speech. The pronoun you changes according to the new point of view and becomes them, and the pronoun me becomes him to agree with the third person subject old man. Because the reporting verb is exclaimed with pain, we can add an appropriate phrase such as with pain or in despair while still using a that clause instead of a direct question form. Therefore, the correct indirect version is built around the structure subject plus reporting verb plus that plus reported clause in statement order. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the reporting verb and subject in the original sentence: The injured old man exclaimed. Step 2: Remove the quotation marks around the spoken words and convert the question into a statement: none of you will help me. Step 3: Backshift the future auxiliary will to would in reported speech, because the reporting verb is in the past: would help. Step 4: Change pronouns from speaker listener perspective to third person: you becomes them, and me becomes him. Step 5: Join the reporting clause and reported clause using that and optionally keep a phrase that shows strong feeling: exclaimed with pain that none of them would help him. Verification / Alternative check: A quick check is to read the indirect sentence and ask whether it naturally answers the question What did the injured old man say. The sentence The injured old man exclaimed with pain that none of them would help him clearly reports his feeling that nobody was willing to help. The tense sequence is correct because would corresponds to will after a past reporting verb. The pronouns match the speaker and listeners correctly. The meaning is preserved without any extra idea being added, so the option is grammatically and semantically sound. Other options either break tense rules or fail to represent the original sense of exclamation and complaint. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B uses asked if with will which fails to backshift the tense and weakens the emotional exclamation expressed by exclaimed. Option C says that anyone of them could help him, which changes the meaning to a neutral possibility rather than a complaint that none of them is helping. Option D uses whether someone was helping him, which changes the sense to a question about present action instead of a future oriented plea for help. Common Pitfalls: Learners often forget to change the auxiliary will to would in indirect speech when the reporting verb is in the past tense. Another common mistake is to keep question word order after the conjunction that, which is not correct in a reported statement. Many students also ignore the emotional force of exclaimed and replace it with neutral verbs such as said without thinking about meaning. Finally, pronoun changes from you and me to them and him must be handled carefully so that the reported sentence still clearly refers to the same people as the original direct speech. Final Answer: The injured old man exclaimed with pain that none of them would help him.

Question 16

In English grammar, identify the part of the sentence that contains an error in subject verb agreement in the sentence All the furnitures has been replaced by the landlord.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question belongs to the category of error spotting in English grammar, specifically subject verb agreement and use of countable or uncountable nouns. The sentence given is All the furnitures has been replaced by the landlord. Learners are expected to identify which part contains the grammatical error. Such questions are very common in competitive examinations because they quickly test whether candidates know correct standard usage for everyday words and basic agreement rules in English sentences. Given Data / Assumptions: The complete sentence is All the furnitures has been replaced by the landlord. The sentence is divided into four parts: All the furnitures, has been replaced, by the landlord, and No error. Only one part contains the mistake according to standard English usage. The noun furniture is normally treated as an uncountable noun in modern standard English. The context suggests that the landlord has changed all the tables, chairs, cupboards and other items in the house or flat. Concept / Approach: The key concept is the distinction between countable and uncountable nouns and how they behave in singular and plural constructions. The noun furniture is an uncountable noun similar to luggage, information, and advice. Such nouns do not generally add a plural s in standard usage. We say much furniture or pieces of furniture, not furnitures. The verb phrase has been replaced is a present perfect passive form used with a singular or uncountable subject, so it is grammatically fine. The prepositional phrase by the landlord is also correct, since it simply identifies the agent responsible for the replacement. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the full sentence and understand the general meaning, which is that the landlord replaced all the furniture. Step 2: Examine part A All the furnitures and check whether the noun form is correct for this meaning. Step 3: Recall that furniture is an uncountable noun and that standard English does not use a plural furnitures. Step 4: Check parts B and C, that is has been replaced and by the landlord, and see that both are grammatically acceptable. Step 5: Conclude that the error lies in part A, and the correct sentence should read All the furniture has been replaced by the landlord. Verification / Alternative check: To verify, rephrase the sentence using a clearly singular quantity. For example, you can say All this furniture has been replaced. The verb has still agrees with the uncountable singular idea of furniture. If we needed to show separate items, we would say All the pieces of furniture have been replaced and then the subject becomes plural pieces, not furniture itself. No other correction is needed in the sentence, as has been replaced is the right passive structure for a completed action and by the landlord is the correct prepositional phrase describing who carried out the action. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B has been replaced is a standard present perfect passive construction that correctly matches the uncountable subject furniture, so it has no error. Option C by the landlord correctly uses a by phrase to introduce the agent in a passive sentence and therefore remains grammatically sound. Option D No error cannot be correct because we have already identified a clear nonstandard plural form furnitures in part A. Common Pitfalls: Many learners wrongly assume that adding s to any noun will make its plural. For uncountable nouns like furniture, advice, information, scenery, and baggage this rule does not work. Another common error is to change the verb to have in an attempt to match a mistaken plural furnitures, which makes the sentence doubly incorrect. A safer approach is to memorize some of the most frequent uncountable nouns and practice using expressions like some furniture, much furniture, or several pieces of furniture instead of incorrect plural forms. Final Answer: All the furnitures

Question 17

Rearrange the given sentence fragments about drought and the hope for a good monsoon into a single coherent English sentence.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks the ability to rearrange jumbled parts of a sentence into a meaningful and grammatically correct order. The topic relates to drought and hope for a better monsoon in the coming financial year. In examinations, sentence rearrangement questions test understanding of logical sequence, connectors, and natural English word order. Solving them requires careful reading of each fragment and mentally reconstructing a sentence that is both grammatically sound and meaningful in context. Given Data / Assumptions: The base clause is There is also and three labelled fragments P, Q, and R follow it. Fragment Q is the hope that after two years of. Fragment P is drought, the. Fragment R is monsoon will be good in the coming fiscal. We must combine these with There is also to create one clear sentence about expectations for the monsoon. Concept / Approach: The main idea is to recognise the natural flow of English phrases. The phrase There is also normally introduces a noun phrase or a clause starting with the. Fragment Q begins with the hope that, which fits directly after There is also. This segment expects a continuation that names what has been experienced for two years, and P drought, the logically supplies the noun drought with the definite article the placed after it. Finally, R monsoon will be good in the coming fiscal completes the idea by stating the expectation for the monsoon. The correct order must therefore respect both grammatical structure and logical meaning, which leads us to Q P R. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Begin with the fixed start There is also and identify which fragment can immediately follow it. Q starts with the hope that, so There is also the hope that sounds natural. Step 2: Examine Q closely: the hope that after two years of clearly requires a noun phrase that names what has lasted two years. Step 3: Fragment P drought, the contains the noun drought and the article the, which can combine to form after two years of drought, the. Step 4: Notice that after two years of drought, the introduces a subject that will be described further, and fragment R monsoon will be good in the coming fiscal completes this idea well. Step 5: Put everything together as There is also the hope that after two years of drought, the monsoon will be good in the coming fiscal, which corresponds to the order Q P R. Verification / Alternative check: Check each of the answer patterns by reading them with the opening phrase. For R Q P, we would get There is also monsoon will be good in the coming fiscal the hope that after two years of drought, which is clearly ungrammatical. For P Q R, the phrase There is also drought, the hope that after two years of does not connect smoothly. For P R Q, the sentence breaks completely. Only Q P R gives a smooth, logically ordered sentence that explains there is hope that after two years of drought the monsoon will be better in the coming fiscal year. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B R Q P places the clause monsoon will be good directly after There is also, which disrupts the required pattern the hope that after two years of drought. Option C P Q R begins with drought after There is also and introduces the hope that later, which feels forced and grammatically awkward. Option D P R Q mixes drought and monsoon fragments without the logical connector of hope placed correctly, leading to a confused and ungrammatical sentence. Common Pitfalls: A frequent mistake is to focus only on vocabulary and not on the function of words like the and that, which strongly influence ordering. Learners sometimes ignore the requirement that prepositions such as of and phrases like after two years of must be directly followed by appropriate noun phrases. Another pitfall is to choose an order that sounds partially right in the middle but does not connect smoothly from the very beginning There is also. A reliable strategy is to always read the full reconstructed sentence from start to end to confirm that both grammar and meaning work together. Final Answer: Q P R

Question 18

Select the correct English synonym that best expresses the meaning of the word scarcity.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This vocabulary question asks for the synonym of the word scarcity. Synonym questions test whether you understand not only the dictionary meaning of a word, but also its usage in real sentences. Scarcity is a commonly used term in economics, environmental studies, and daily conversation. Knowing its meaning and similar words helps in reading comprehension and precise writing, which are essential for competitive examinations and academic success. Given Data / Assumptions: The key word in the question is scarcity. The four answer options are opulence, myriad, plethora, and dearth. Only one word among the options has a meaning similar to scarcity. We assume standard modern English usage as found in newspapers and academic writing. The goal is to choose the option that most closely matches the idea of shortage or insufficient supply. Concept / Approach: Scarcity refers to a state where the supply of something is very limited compared to demand. For example, scarcity of water means there is not enough water available. We need to compare each option with this meaning. Opulence means wealth or great abundance, especially of luxury. Myriad means a very large number of something. Plethora means an excess or overabundance. Dearth means a lack or shortage of something. Therefore, dearth is the only option that carries the same negative sense of not having enough of a resource, making it the correct synonym of scarcity. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the meaning of scarcity as a situation of shortage or limited availability. Step 2: Consider the meaning of opulence, which refers to lavish wealth and plenty, the opposite of shortage. Step 3: Recall that myriad indicates a very large number and generally suggests many or numerous items, not shortage. Step 4: Note that plethora represents an excessive or overflowing quantity of something, which again contrasts with scarcity. Step 5: Recognise that dearth denotes a lack or insufficient amount, matching the sense of scarcity, and therefore select dearth as the correct answer. Verification / Alternative check: To verify your choice, insert each option into a sample sentence and test whether the meaning remains similar. For example, there is a scarcity of jobs in this region. Changing scarcity to dearth gives there is a dearth of jobs in this region, which clearly preserves the meaning. Replacing scarcity with opulence, myriad, or plethora changes the sense completely and sounds unnatural. This substitution test confirms that dearth is the most accurate synonym of scarcity in common usage and fits both formal and informal contexts. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A opulence means great wealth or luxurious abundance, which is almost the opposite of scarcity. Option B myriad means a countless or extremely great number, which suggests plenty rather than shortage. Option C plethora refers to an excess or much more than is needed, again the reverse of a scarce situation. Common Pitfalls: A common trap in synonym questions is choosing a word that feels familiar rather than one whose meaning has been carefully checked. Learners may wrongly select plethora because they have seen it in contexts of quantity without remembering it means too much rather than too little. Another frequent mistake is to think that any word used with resources must be similar, but context matters. Developing a habit of learning words in groups of opposites, such as scarcity and dearth versus abundance, plethora, and opulence, helps to fix meanings more firmly in memory and reduces confusion during the exam. Final Answer: dearth

Question 19

In English idioms and phrases, choose the correct meaning of the expression to bite the dust.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question focuses on the English idiom to bite the dust. Idioms are fixed expressions whose meanings cannot always be guessed from the individual words. They are widely used in literature, films, and everyday speech. Knowing idioms improves listening and reading comprehension and allows you to sound more natural when you speak or write. The expression to bite the dust has a specific figurative meaning in modern English which you must recognise among similar sounding but incorrect options. Given Data / Assumptions: The idiomatic expression given is to bite the dust. The options are To be killed, To fall down, To be dirt poor, and To get dirty. The question asks for the meaning that best captures the figurative sense of the idiom, not the literal action. Concept / Approach: To bite the dust is historically connected with images of people in battle falling onto the ground face first. Over time, the phrase developed a figurative meaning. In many contexts, especially in stories or reports of fights and wars, it means to die or to be completely defeated. For example, Many soldiers bit the dust in the fierce battle clearly refers to soldiers who were killed. While falling and dust are involved in the image, the established idiomatic meaning goes beyond a simple fall or getting dirty and refers to final defeat, often death. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall common uses of the idiom in films, books, or conversations, such as another villain bites the dust. Step 2: Understand that in these contexts, the expression refers to a character who is eliminated, defeated, or killed rather than someone who simply trips. Step 3: Compare this understanding with option A To be killed, which exactly matches the strong and final nature of the defeat suggested by the idiom. Step 4: Compare with option B To fall down, which is too mild and can be temporary, thus failing to capture the finality of the idiom. Step 5: Recognise that options C and D relate only to poverty or physical dirt and not to defeat or death, so they do not fit the established meaning. Verification / Alternative check: Consider a sample sentence such as Many companies have bitten the dust during the economic slowdown. Here, the phrase clearly does not mean that the companies have become dirty or merely slipped. It means they have closed down completely or have failed. In action movies, when a character says Another one bites the dust after an enemy is shot, the meaning is clearly that the enemy has been killed. These examples confirm that the idiom expresses final defeat or death, so the option closest in sense is To be killed. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B To fall down refers only to a physical act of losing balance and can be temporary, so it is weaker than the idiom which usually implies permanent defeat. Option C To be dirt poor describes a financial condition of extreme poverty and has no connection with the idea of defeat or death. Option D To get dirty only suggests physical contact with dust or mud and is a literal interpretation of dust that ignores the idiomatic meaning. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake is to interpret idioms literally, especially when the words create a vivid physical picture. Learners may focus on dust and imagine falling in the dirt rather than recalling common idiomatic use in media. Another pitfall is to confuse this idiom with others related to poverty because of the word dust. Building a personal vocabulary notebook for idioms and regularly revising them with example sentences can help avoid guessing based on literal meanings and instead rely on how native speakers actually use the expression. Final Answer: To be killed

Question 20

In English idioms and phrases, choose the correct meaning of the expression to burn the midnight oil.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your knowledge of the idiom to burn the midnight oil. Idioms enrich language by expressing ideas in colourful and compact ways. The phrase comes from a time when people used oil lamps for light while studying or working at night. Modern exams include such idioms to see if candidates understand and can interpret figurative expressions commonly used in spoken and written English. Given Data / Assumptions: The idiom presented is to burn the midnight oil. The options describe different possible interpretations about resources, lamps, and work habits. Only one option correctly captures the widely accepted idiomatic meaning. Concept / Approach: To burn the midnight oil means to stay up very late in the night in order to study, read, or work on some task. The focus is on the long hours and effort put in beyond normal time, not on wasting or saving resources. Historically, burning oil at midnight implied that a person was working so late that the lamp oil was being used during hours when most people would sleep. Therefore, the meaning centres around late night hard work or study rather than literal burning or any idea of conservation. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Think of common sentences you have heard, such as She burnt the midnight oil before the exam or They are burning the midnight oil to complete the project. Step 2: Notice that in these examples, the phrase always refers to people staying awake and working into the late hours. Step 3: Compare this concept with option B To read or work late into the night, which exactly reflects this idea. Step 4: Check option A When resources get finished half way, which focuses on resource depletion and not on working late. Step 5: Check options C and D, which talk about the value of a lamp or saving resources, and see that they do not describe the context of long hours of work. Verification / Alternative check: You can test the options by inserting them into a sentence. For example, Rahul has been burning the midnight oil to prepare for his engineering entrance exam. Replacing the idiom with option B gives Rahul has been reading or working late into the night to prepare, which clearly fits the context. Substituting any of the other options leads to sentences that feel unnatural or do not describe exam preparation accurately. Additionally, standard dictionaries and English usage guides confirm that the idiom means working or studying late into the night, not anything about resource saving or lamp value. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A suggests that resources are finished halfway, which introduces an idea of failure or shortage that is not present in the idiom. Option C speaks about the value of a small lamp being greatest in darkness, which sounds like a proverb but does not match the established meaning of the idiom. Option D To save some resources for the future is closer to the idea of conservation and planning, which is unrelated to staying awake and working late at night. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes confuse idioms with proverbs or treat them as literal statements about physical objects, such as oil and lamps. This leads them to choose answers related to saving or wasting oil rather than understanding the figurative sense of effort and time. Another pitfall is to overthink the imagery and invent meanings that are not recognised in standard English. Regular reading of newspapers, novels, and high quality articles helps to fix idiomatic meanings through repeated exposure in natural contexts. Final Answer: To read or work late into the night

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