Question 1

Improve the bracketed verb phrase have had in the sentence Before I met your brother I have had a poor opinion of him by choosing the correct past tense form.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question examines your knowledge of English verb tenses, specifically the use of past perfect in relation to past simple. The sentence Before I met your brother I have had a poor opinion of him contains an underlined or bracketed verb phrase have had that must be corrected. Competitive exams often test such fine points of tense usage because they reveal whether a candidate can show time relationships accurately between two past actions. Given Data / Assumptions: The main sentence is Before I met your brother I have had a poor opinion of him. The action of meeting the brother is in the past and is expressed by met. The underlined phrase is have had, and we must choose the best replacement from the options had had, had, did have, or no improvement. Concept / Approach: When we describe two actions in the past where one happened before another, we usually express the earlier action in the past perfect tense and the later action in the simple past. In the sentence, meeting the brother is the later action, while holding a poor opinion is a state that existed before that meeting. Therefore, the verb phrase for the earlier state should be in the past perfect form had had to show that this opinion existed prior to the time of meeting. The present perfect form have had is not suitable because it connects the past action to the present, which clashes with the fully past time reference created by Before I met your brother. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the two distinct time events in the sentence: having a poor opinion and meeting your brother. Step 2: Recognise that meeting your brother is in simple past tense met, which fixes the reference time in the past. Step 3: Notice that the poor opinion existed even earlier than this meeting, so it is a prior state in relation to met. Step 4: Apply the rule that the earlier event should be expressed in past perfect, so have had must change to had had. Step 5: Rewrite the correct sentence as Before I met your brother I had had a poor opinion of him, and choose had had as the correct option. Verification / Alternative check: You can test the correctness by comparing three versions. Version one, Before I met your brother I have had a poor opinion of him, mixes present perfect with past simple, which feels awkward and suggests an effect continuing to the present. Version two, Before I met your brother I had a poor opinion of him, is understandable but does not clearly mark the earlier time relationship. Version three, Before I met your brother I had had a poor opinion of him, clearly shows that the opinion existed for some time before the meeting. Grammar books often use similar examples where past perfect is preferred for clarity when two past times are involved. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B had is in simple past, which does not clearly indicate that the state existed before the meeting, even though many speakers might use it informally. Option C did have introduces an unnecessary auxiliary did and usually appears in questions or emphatic statements, so it sounds unnatural in this context. Option D no improvement keeps have had, which is present perfect and inconsistent with the fully past time reference created by met, therefore it is grammatically weak. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes avoid using past perfect because had had looks repetitive and they are unsure of its correctness. This can lead them to rely only on simple past even when two time levels should be distinguished. Another common issue is confusion between present perfect and past perfect, especially when time markers like before and after are present. A good practice is to mark the later event first, then look back and see which action happened earlier and therefore needs the had plus past participle structure. Final Answer: had had

Question 2

Rearrange the given sentence fragments about party faithful and a political arrival into a single coherent English sentence.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This is a sentence rearrangement question about political supporters and their changing expectations. The sentence begins with The party faithful, who and provides three fragments labelled P, Q, and R. The task is to order these fragments correctly to produce a coherent and grammatically accurate sentence. Such questions evaluate understanding of clause structure, relative pronouns, punctuation, and the logical progression of ideas within complex sentences. Given Data / Assumptions: The base clause is The party faithful, who which introduces a relative clause. Fragment Q is had greeted his political arrival in 2004. Fragment R is with great enthusiasm, and. Fragment P is expectations, are now disillusioned. We must choose the option that arranges these fragments to form a meaningful sentence about supporters who are now disillusioned. Concept / Approach: A relative clause that begins with who normally has the structure who plus verb phrase plus additional modifiers, followed by the main clause. Here, who clearly refers to the party faithful. First, we need a verb that tells what they did in the past. Fragment Q had greeted his political arrival in 2004 supplies that verb phrase and specifies the time. Next, we need adverbial detail about how they greeted him, and R with great enthusiasm, and gives that detail. Finally, P expectations, are now disillusioned completes the main clause by linking their earlier enthusiasm and expectations with their current state of disappointment. The natural order is therefore Q R P, which produces a smooth and logical sentence. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Start with the fixed beginning The party faithful, who and look for the fragment that can follow who as the main verb of the relative clause. Step 2: Recognise that Q had greeted his political arrival in 2004 is a complete verb phrase suitable to follow who. Step 3: After this, consider additional details about the manner of greeting, which appear in R with great enthusiasm, and, so Q followed by R reads naturally. Step 4: Finally, connect the relative clause to the present state by adding P expectations, are now disillusioned, which returns to the main clause after the descriptive relative clause. Step 5: Combine everything into a full sentence: The party faithful, who had greeted his political arrival in 2004 with great enthusiasm, and expectations, are now disillusioned, matching the sequence Q R P. Verification / Alternative check: Test each suggested ordering. For R Q P, starting the relative clause with with great enthusiasm, and had greeted his political arrival in 2004 expectations feels grammatically broken and confuses the role of expectations. For P R Q, we get expectations, are now disillusioned with great enthusiasm, and had greeted his political arrival in 2004, which clearly disrupts both tense sequence and clause structure. For P Q R, the expectations fragment comes too early and interrupts the relative clause right after who. Only Q R P produces a sentence where the relative clause who had greeted his political arrival in 2004 with great enthusiasm, and expectations flows into the main clause are now disillusioned in a meaningful way. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A R Q P introduces with great enthusiasm, and directly after who, which lacks a main verb and leaves the reader waiting for the action. Option C P R Q incorrectly positions expectations immediately after who, which makes the clause structurally confusing and delays the main verb. Option D P Q R also misplaces expectations and leads to a sentence that does not clearly separate the description of past enthusiasm from the present disillusioned state. Common Pitfalls: A frequent difficulty in such questions is ignoring punctuation clues such as commas placed around relative clauses. Learners may also pay attention only to meaning fragments like enthusiasm or expectations without noticing that who must be followed by a complete verb phrase before any additional modifiers. Another pitfall is to choose the order that sounds somewhat familiar without reading the entire reconstructed sentence carefully. A practical strategy is always to identify the grammatical spine of the sentence first, specifically the subject, relative pronoun, and main verb, and only then attach additional phrases in places that keep the sentence smooth and logical. Final Answer: Q R P

Question 3

Select the correct English antonym for the verb feign meaning to pretend or fake.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This vocabulary question asks for an antonym of the verb feign. Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Feign is a commonly used verb in literary and formal English and appears in contexts where someone pretends, fakes, or simulates a feeling or action. Understanding its opposite helps in accurately interpreting passages and choosing precise words while writing essays or reports. Given Data / Assumptions: The target word is feign, which means to pretend, simulate, or fake something. The options given are bluff, affect, act, and fact. Only one option represents the opposite idea of pretending or faking. Concept / Approach: To solve antonym questions, first recall the central meaning of the word. Feign means to make a false show of something, such as feign illness or feign interest, when the feeling is not genuine. Therefore, its antonym should represent realness, truth, or actual state. Bluff, affect, and act all relate to behaviour that may be artificial or deceptive. Fact, on the other hand, represents reality or something that is true. Thus, fact stands in clear contrast to the idea of pretending or faking implied by feign, making it the correct antonym among the options. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the meaning of feign as to pretend or to give a false appearance of something. Step 2: Examine option A bluff, which also means to deceive or pretend, especially in card games or negotiations, so it is similar to feign, not opposite. Step 3: Examine option B affect, which in this context can mean to put on a false display of behaviour, again close in meaning to feign. Step 4: Consider option C act, which often refers to performing or behaving in a role that may not reflect true feelings, still within the field of pretence. Step 5: Recognise that option D fact signifies a piece of true information or reality, which directly opposes the concept of feigned or pretended behaviour, so it is the correct antonym. Verification / Alternative check: A quick verification can be done through example sentences. If a person feigns sadness, the emotion is not real. The opposite situation would be where the sadness is real and based on fact. In reading comprehension, you might see a line such as He did not feign surprise; his shock was based on the facts of the case. Here, fact stands as a marker of truthfulness. While the answer choice fact is a noun and feign is a verb, exam questions sometimes permit cross part of speech antonyms as long as the core meaning is clearly opposite. This is acceptable in many competitive English tests. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A bluff means to pretend confidence or strength to mislead others, which is almost a direct synonym of feign. Option B affect, in the sense used here, means to put on an artificial manner or style, which again aligns closely with pretending. Option C act refers to performing or behaving in a way that may not reflect inner reality, which is conceptually similar to feigning. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes focus only on whether the words belong to the same grammatical category and ignore meaning. They may reject fact simply because it is a noun while feign is a verb, even though in terms of sense it is the only real opposite. Another pitfall is assuming that all unfamiliar words are opposites, leading to random guessing. A better approach is to build a strong mental picture of the base word, in this case someone pretending, and then look for an option that suggests the opposite situation of genuine truth or reality. Final Answer: fact

Question 4

In English grammar, change the present perfect question Has anyone from our team answered your question into its correct passive voice form.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks your understanding of converting an active voice question in present perfect tense into passive voice while preserving tense, meaning, and correctness of auxiliary verbs. The given active sentence is Has anyone from our team answered your question. Passive voice is frequently used in formal communication, customer service interactions, and academic writing, so it is important to master question forms as well as statements. Given Data / Assumptions: Active sentence: Has anyone from our team answered your question. Subject in active voice: anyone from our team. Object in active voice: your question. Tense: present perfect, as shown by has answered. We must form a passive question where your question becomes the grammatical subject. Concept / Approach: To convert active to passive in present perfect, we use the structure has or have plus been plus past participle of the main verb. In the original sentence, the object your question becomes the subject in the passive version. The new subject your question is singular, so it needs has as the auxiliary. Then we add been answered followed by a by phrase that contains anyone from our team. Because the original sentence is a yes or no question, the auxiliary has remains at the beginning of the sentence in passive voice as well. The correct passive form therefore is Has your question been answered by anyone from our team. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the tense as present perfect: has answered. Step 2: Identify the object your question, which will become the new subject in passive voice. Step 3: Form the passive auxiliary pattern using has plus been plus the past participle answered, giving has been answered. Step 4: Place the new subject your question after has, forming Has your question been answered. Step 5: Add the agent phrase by anyone from our team to complete the sentence: Has your question been answered by anyone from our team. Verification / Alternative check: Check the meaning by comparing with the original. The active sentence asks whether some person from our team has already provided an answer. The passive sentence asks whether the question itself has received an answer from anyone in our team. Both express the same idea from different grammatical perspectives. The tense remains present perfect because has been answered corresponds correctly to has answered. The subject verb agreement is correct because your question is singular and takes has, not have. The structure matches the standard pattern for passive questions in present perfect tense. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A Did someone from our team answer to your question changes the tense to simple past and uses answer to, which is less natural in this context. Option B Is your question been answered by someone from our team uses is with been, which is not the correct auxiliary combination for present perfect passive. Option D Have your question been answered by anyone from our team uses have with the singular subject your question, which violates subject verb agreement. Common Pitfalls: Many learners forget to include been when forming present perfect passive structures and produce sentences like Has your question answered, which are incomplete. Another common mistake is mismatching has and have with singular or plural subjects. Some students also change the tense accidentally while converting active to passive. A good strategy is to always mark the tense and subject number first, then apply the correct form has or have plus been plus past participle systematically. Final Answer: Has your question been answered by anyone from our team?

Question 5

In English grammar, identify the part of the sentence that contains an error in article or conjunction use in the sentence This town has an ancient temple and beautiful waterfall so many tourists come here.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This is an error spotting question focusing on correct use of articles and connectors in English sentences. The sentence given is This town has an ancient temple and beautiful waterfall so many tourists come here. Such questions are common in competitive exams and are designed to test whether you can notice missing articles, incorrect conjunctions, and sentence fragments that affect clarity and correctness. Given Data / Assumptions: The complete sentence reads This town has an ancient temple and beautiful waterfall so many tourists come here. It is divided into parts: This town has an ancient temple, and beautiful waterfall, so many tourists come here, and No error. We assume that the writer wants to mention two attractions, an ancient temple and a beautiful waterfall, as reasons why many tourists visit. Concept / Approach: In English, when two singular countable nouns are listed, each usually requires an article, especially when they are distinct items. The phrase an ancient temple is correct, but beautiful waterfall lacks any article. It should be a beautiful waterfall to match the parallel structure. Another nuance is the conjunction so, which normally introduces a result clause and is often preceded by a comma in writing, although the main grammatical error here is clearly the missing article. The question asks for the part that contains the error, so we must choose the segment where the noun waterfall appears without its required article. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the two attractions mentioned: an ancient temple and a beautiful waterfall. Step 2: Notice that the first noun phrase an ancient temple has the article an, indicating a single specific temple. Step 3: Look at the second noun phrase beautiful waterfall and recognise that waterfall is also a singular countable noun. Step 4: Realise that a singular countable noun normally requires an article such as a, an, or the, so the correct phrase should be a beautiful waterfall. Step 5: Conclude that the error lies in part B and that the corrected sentence should read This town has an ancient temple and a beautiful waterfall, so many tourists come here. Verification / Alternative check: Read the corrected sentence aloud and observe its flow. This town has an ancient temple and a beautiful waterfall, so many tourists come here sounds natural. If you remove the article before beautiful waterfall, the phrase feels incomplete and unbalanced against an ancient temple. Additionally, grammar rules for parallel structures support the idea that both coordinated nouns should be of similar form. Therefore, adding a before beautiful waterfall is necessary to maintain grammatical correctness and stylistic harmony in the sentence. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A This town has an ancient temple is grammatically correct with the proper use of the article an before ancient temple. Option C so many tourists come here is acceptable as a result clause meaning that many tourists visit this town because of these attractions. Option D No error cannot be correct because we have identified a clear missing article in part B. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes overlook missing articles because they focus only on obvious tense or subject verb agreement errors. Another frequent issue is believing that the article before the first noun automatically covers the second noun as well. This can be true in special cases where two nouns refer to a single combined idea, but here a temple and a waterfall are separate attractions. A useful strategy is to check each singular countable noun individually and confirm that it has an appropriate article unless there is a strong reason to omit it. Final Answer: and beautiful waterfall

Question 6

Select the correct English synonym that best expresses the meaning of the adjective cheeky meaning rude in a playful or impudent way.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your vocabulary by asking for a synonym of the adjective cheeky. Cheeky describes behaviour that is somewhat rude, bold, or disrespectful, but often in a playful or amusing way. It is frequently used to describe children, friends, or advertisements that push boundaries in a light hearted manner. Knowing precise synonyms helps you to understand tone and attitude in reading passages and to choose appropriate words when writing. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: cheeky. Options: nervous, aghast, brash, and startled. We need to find the word closest in meaning to cheeky in normal usage. Concept / Approach: Cheeky refers to a kind of impudent or bold behaviour where a person speaks or acts in a way that may be slightly disrespectful yet often humorous or charming. Brash describes someone who is bold in a rude, noisy, or overconfident way, which is close to the sense of cheeky. Nervous indicates anxiety or lack of confidence, which is opposite in attitude. Aghast means filled with shock or horror. Startled means surprised or taken aback suddenly. Only brash shares the idea of boldness and disregard for polite limits, so it is the correct synonym among the given choices. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that cheeky describes playful rudeness or impudent boldness, as in a cheeky comment or a cheeky grin. Step 2: Examine option C brash, which describes a person who is aggressively self assertive or rudely bold, close to the cheeky attitude. Step 3: Compare this with option A nervous, which suggests fearfulness or tension and does not match cheeky at all. Step 4: Consider option B aghast, which shows strong shock or horror and is an emotional reaction, not a character trait like being cheeky. Step 5: Look at option D startled, referring to a sudden feeling of surprise or alarm, again unrelated to playful rudeness, and therefore select brash as the best synonym. Verification / Alternative check: Use a sample sentence for verification. For example, The child gave a cheeky answer to the teacher. Replacing cheeky with brash yields The child gave a brash answer to the teacher, which still conveys the idea that the answer was boldly disrespectful. Replacing cheeky with nervous, aghast, or startled produces unnatural or meaningless sentences, since these words describe emotional states instead of intentionally rude behaviour. Standard dictionaries and thesaurus entries also list brash, impudent, and saucy as near synonyms of cheeky, supporting this choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A nervous means anxious or worried and suggests a lack of confidence, which is the opposite of cheeky boldness. Option B aghast means horrified or shocked, usually as a reaction to something terrible, not as a description of daring behaviour. Option D startled refers to being suddenly surprised or alarmed; it does not describe playful or daring speech or action. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes confuse emotional reaction words with personality or attitude words. Cheeky is about how someone acts toward others, while nervous, aghast, and startled describe inner feelings. Another pitfall is to rely on sound or general familiarity rather than exact meaning. Building a habit of checking context and using a good dictionary or thesaurus during practice can strengthen word sense knowledge and reduce errors in synonym and antonym questions. Final Answer: brash

Question 7

Select the one word that best substitutes the phrase the conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This is a one word substitution question. You are given a descriptive phrase and must choose the single word that conveys the same meaning. The phrase here is the conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated. One word substitution questions are popular in competitive exams because they check precision of vocabulary and understanding of subtle differences between related terms. Given Data / Assumptions: Descriptive phrase: the conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated. Options: illustration, elucidation, implication, and explication. We must find the word that best matches the idea of an unstated but suggested conclusion. Concept / Approach: The phrase points to a meaning or conclusion that is suggested indirectly rather than openly declared. In English, implication refers to a meaning, suggestion, or conclusion that can be inferred from what is said or done, even when not clearly expressed. Illustration generally means an example or picture that helps explain something. Elucidation means clarification or explanation, making things clearer. Explication refers to detailed explanation or interpretation, especially of a text. Only implication captures the idea of an indirect or unstated conclusion that a listener or reader can draw. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Highlight the key part of the phrase: conclusion that can be drawn although it is not explicitly stated. Step 2: Recall the meaning of implication as a suggested meaning or conclusion that is not directly expressed but can be inferred. Step 3: Compare this with illustration, which usually gives examples or pictures to make an idea clearer and is an explicit tool, not an unstated conclusion. Step 4: Consider elucidation, which means the act of explaining something clearly, again an explicit process rather than an indirect hint. Step 5: Note that explication implies detailed explanation or analysis, not a hidden meaning, and therefore choose implication as the correct answer. Verification / Alternative check: Test the word implication in a sentence similar to the definition. For example, The implication of his statement is that he may resign soon. Here, the actual resignation is not said directly, but it is the conclusion that listeners can draw. If we try illustration, elucidation, or explication in this sentence, the meaning changes completely and no longer refers to an unstated conclusion. Dictionaries clearly define implication as something that is suggested or inferred, confirming that this is the best substitution for the given phrase. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A illustration denotes an example, image, or case used to clarify an idea, not a hidden or indirect conclusion. Option B elucidation focuses on making something clearer through direct explanation, which contradicts the idea of something not explicitly stated. Option D explication is a detailed explanation or interpretation, again emphasising explicit discussion rather than an implied meaning. Common Pitfalls: Students often confuse implication with explanation or illustration because all four words are used in academic contexts. The important difference is that implication is about what is suggested indirectly, while elucidation, explication, and illustration refer to processes that make ideas more explicit. A good learning strategy is to group vocabulary into families like imply, implication, implicit versus explain, explanation, explicit and create example sentences that highlight the differences. Final Answer: implication

Question 8

In the given passage about learning outcomes and private schools, choose the most appropriate conjunction to complete the clause blank it became difficult to empirically prove.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question is based on a passage discussing learning outcomes and comparisons between private and government schools. You are asked to choose the correct conjunction to fill the blank in the clause blank it became difficult to empirically prove that children learn better in private schools. Such questions test your understanding of how conjunctions link clauses logically in a sentence and maintain the correct flow in a longer passage. Given Data / Assumptions: The fragment under focus is blank it became difficult to empirically prove that children learn better in private schools. The options are So, Therefore, When, and Then. The surrounding context talks about how a certain argument changed once it became hard to prove a claim about private schools. Concept / Approach: We need a word that introduces a time based clause and fits before it became difficult. The word when is a subordinating conjunction used to connect a time clause to a main clause, meaning at the time that. So and therefore are used to show results or conclusions, usually at the beginning of an independent clause, not before a subject like it in this structure. Then can be an adverb of time or result, but would sound broken when placed directly before it became difficult. The passage is describing what happened at the time it became difficult to prove a point, so when is the natural choice. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the full sentence in the passage: blank it became difficult to empirically prove that children learn better in private schools, the attack invented a new weapon. Step 2: Recognise that the sentence describes a change that occurred at a particular time in the argument. Step 3: Evaluate when, which gives the sense of at the time that it became difficult, and see that it easily introduces a subordinate time clause. Step 4: Consider so and therefore, which normally start a result clause and are usually followed by a comma or directly by a clause, not structured as so it became difficult in a subordinate way. Step 5: Note that then functions as an adverb rather than a conjunction here and would not comfortably fit at the beginning of a subordinate clause, so select when as the best option. Verification / Alternative check: Insert each option into the sentence and read it as part of the passage. When it became difficult to empirically prove that children learn better in private schools, the attack invented a new weapon reads smoothly and clearly marks the time relationship between the two actions. So it became difficult and therefore it became difficult both sound more like the start of independent result clauses and do not fit naturally before the rest of the sentence. Then it became difficult lacks the subordinating role required here, leaving the main clause without a clear connector. This confirms that when is the only choice that aligns with both grammar and the logical flow of the passage. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A So is mainly used to show consequence or result and would normally be placed before a main clause, not as a subordinator before it became difficult. Option B Therefore is a conjunctive adverb used to introduce a conclusion and is not suitable to form a dependent time clause. Option D Then works as an adverb of time or sequence, but it does not create a subordinate clause linked to the main statement in a natural way. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes overuse connectors like so and therefore whenever they see cause and effect relationships without checking whether the grammar of the sentence allows them. Another pitfall is ignoring the larger passage structure and treating the sentence fragment in isolation. A good strategy is always to reconstruct the full sentence mentally and see which option creates a natural and grammatically complete relationship between the clauses. Remember that when commonly introduces time clauses and fits smoothly before expressions like it became difficult. Final Answer: When

Question 9

In the given passage about learning outcomes and private schools, choose the most appropriate verb to complete the clause children blank better in private schools.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question continues from the same passage that compares learning outcomes in private and government schools. The fragment to be completed is children blank better in private schools. The correct choice must match the object and grammatical structure of the sentence and fit the academic context of discussing educational research. Understanding common collocations in English, such as learn better, is crucial for answering this type of question. Given Data / Assumptions: The incomplete clause is children blank better in private schools. Options are learn, study, educate, and train. The full sentence around it is about empirically proving whether children perform better in private schools. Concept / Approach: In discussions of educational outcomes, it is natural to talk about how well children learn. The verb learn means to gain knowledge or skills. Study is something that children do intentionally, but the phrase children study better in private schools is less common than children learn better. Educate is usually used in passive form, as in children are educated, or with a person as object, such as schools educate children, so it does not fit directly as children educate better. Train also needs an object or a reflexive pronoun and usually refers to practicing skills. Therefore, learn is the most appropriate verb to complete the clause meaningfully and grammatically. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that the passage is about whether children achieve better learning outcomes in private schools. Step 2: Evaluate the phrase children learn better, which is a very common collocation in educational discussions. Step 3: Consider children study better; while possible, it sounds less natural and emphasises effort rather than outcomes. Step 4: Note that children educate better is ungrammatical because educate is a transitive verb that normally takes an object. Step 5: Recognise that children train better also requires an object or different structure and is not standard in this context, so choose learn as the correct answer. Verification / Alternative check: Insert each option into the sentence. It became difficult to empirically prove that children learn better in private schools matches the style of research writing, where learning outcomes are measured. With study, the focus would be children study better, which shifts the meaning from outcomes to habits. With educate, the sentence would become that children educate better, which fails grammatically. With train, that children train better remains vague and incomplete. The phrase learn better in private schools is also widely used in debates about school quality, confirming that learn is the correct choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B study can be used with children but would normally appear as children study in private schools, and study better is less idiomatic for outcome based research. Option C educate is transitive and requires an object, as in schools educate children, so using children educate better is incorrect. Option D train usually needs an object or reflexive pronoun and is more common in physical or vocational training contexts, not in general academic learning comparisons. Common Pitfalls: Candidates sometimes focus on the general theme of education and pick a verb that sounds academic without checking grammar and usual collocations. Another pitfall is to assume that any verb related to schooling, such as educate or train, is acceptable. A better approach is to read the fragment as part of the full sentence and ask which verb you have seen most often in reliable sources when discussing how well children perform in schools. In this context, learn is clearly the standard choice. Final Answer: learn

Question 10

In the given passage about learning outcomes and private schools, choose the most appropriate verb form to complete the clause the attack blank a new weapon.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question continues the passage about arguments regarding private schools and learning outcomes. The sentence fragment to be completed is the attack blank a new weapon: per unit cost of learning outcomes. The passage narrates a sequence of events that has already occurred, so the correct verb form must fit that narrative past context. Such questions test both tense consistency and your ability to read a line as part of a larger logical argument. Given Data / Assumptions: The full sentence is similar to When it became difficult to empirically prove that children learn better in private schools, the attack blank a new weapon: per unit cost of learning outcomes. The options are invents, had invented, is inventing, and invented. The passage is written in past tense, describing how a new line of attack appeared once a certain claim could no longer be easily proved. Concept / Approach: The phrase the attack invented a new weapon is best expressed in simple past because it describes a completed action in the same time frame as became difficult. Using invents would move the sentence into simple present, breaking tense consistency. Had invented would indicate that the invention occurred even earlier than the difficulty in proving the claim, which is not intended. Is inventing would be present continuous and suggests an action in progress, again inconsistent with the narrative past tone. Therefore, invented is the verb form that properly matches both the temporal sequence and the style of a retrospective discussion. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Note that became in When it became difficult is in simple past, so the surrounding context is past narration. Step 2: Recognise that the action of adopting a new argument or weapon follows this time frame and should also be described in simple past. Step 3: Evaluate invented as the simple past form of invent, which fits naturally: the attack invented a new weapon. Step 4: Check had invented and see that it would unnecessarily push the event further back in time than became, which the passage does not indicate. Step 5: Reject invents and is inventing as present tense forms that conflict with the past narrative, and choose invented as correct. Verification / Alternative check: Read the sentence with each option. With invented, we get When it became difficult to empirically prove that children learn better in private schools, the attack invented a new weapon: per unit cost of learning outcomes, which reads smoothly as historical narration of how the argument changed. With invents, the sentence awkwardly shifts into present tense and feels inconsistent with became. With had invented, the sentence suggests that the new weapon existed before the difficulty arose, which does not match the logic of cause and effect. With is inventing, the action seems ongoing now, which is clearly wrong in a reflective passage. Thus, invented is the only option that aligns with the intended meaning and grammar. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A invents is simple present and would require a different structure and context, such as a general truth, which is not the case here. Option B had invented is past perfect and misrepresents the sequence of events by placing invention before the difficulty, contrary to the passage logic. Option C is inventing is present continuous and is incompatible with the past tense narration of became difficult. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes overuse past perfect had plus past participle whenever they see more than one past event, even when simple past is sufficient. Another common error is not looking at the previous verb for tense guidance and choosing a form that sounds impressive but does not match the narrative. A helpful habit is always to identify the main timeline of the passage first and then select verb forms that keep the narration consistent unless a clear earlier or later time is explicitly indicated. Final Answer: invented

Question 11

In the given passage about learning outcomes and private schools, choose the most appropriate adverb to complete the clause researches almost blank fail to understand.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question focuses on an adverb that best completes the line Most of the learning outcome researches almost blank fail to understand the entire purpose of education. The sentence comes from a critical passage about how certain studies look only at narrow measures and ignore broader educational aims. Choosing the correct adverb helps preserve the intended criticism and tone of the author. Given Data / Assumptions: The key structure is almost blank fail to understand. Options are sometimes, always, often, and rarely. The author wants to make a strong point that many researches do not properly grasp the full purpose of education. Concept / Approach: The word almost suggests that the failure is frequent and very close to universal, but not necessarily without exception. The phrase almost always is a common collocation that means in nearly every case. Almost sometimes and almost often sound awkward in this structure and do not convey strong criticism. Almost rarely would mean that failure hardly ever happens, which clearly contradicts the critical tone of the passage. Therefore, the natural choice is always, giving the phrase almost always fail, which aligns with the author’s negative view of such researches. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the full fragment: Most of the learning outcome researches almost blank fail to understand the entire purpose of education. Step 2: Recognise that the author is criticising these researches for consistently missing a deeper understanding. Step 3: Consider the collocation almost always, which clearly expresses that the failure happens in nearly all cases. Step 4: Test almost often and almost sometimes and notice that they sound clumsy and weaker in emphasis. Step 5: Notice that almost rarely would reverse the intended meaning by suggesting that they usually succeed, which contradicts the critical tone, and therefore choose always. Verification / Alternative check: Insert each option into the sentence. Most of the learning outcome researches almost always fail to understand the entire purpose of education sounds natural and strongly critical. Most of the learning outcome researches almost often fail is awkward in standard English and does not have a common usage pattern. Most of the learning outcome researches almost sometimes fail is ungrammatical and confusing. Most of the learning outcome researches almost rarely fail means they usually succeed, which is opposite to the intended meaning. Since the passage clearly argues that many of these researches are flawed, almost always is the only option that correctly reinforces that argument. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A sometimes used with almost produces almost sometimes, a combination that is unusual and does not strongly convey frequency. Option C often might fit in sometimes, but almost often is again an awkward collocation and less forceful than almost always. Option D rarely directly conflicts with the critical sense of the passage because almost rarely fail would imply that such failures are uncommon. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes focus more on matching meaning than on checking whether two words form a natural collocation in English. They may feel that often suits the context but not notice that almost often is not a standard phrase. Another pitfall is missing the author’s tone. If the writer is clearly criticising a practice, the chosen adverb should strengthen, not weaken, that criticism. Paying attention to both grammar and overall attitude in the passage will help avoid these errors. Final Answer: always

Question 12

In the given passage about learning outcomes and private schools, choose the most appropriate noun to complete the phrase the entire blank of education.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question uses the same passage about learning outcome researches and asks you to complete the phrase the entire blank of education. The sentence criticises researchers for failing to understand something fundamental about education. Choosing the correct noun is important for preserving the meaning that education has a broad goal or intent beyond mere test scores. Given Data / Assumptions: The phrase to complete is the entire blank of education. Options include purpose, target, scheme, and ambition. The context is a critique of narrow measures of learning outcomes. Concept / Approach: Education is often said to have a purpose, meaning an underlying aim or reason for which it exists. Purpose fits naturally with entire and education in many academic and philosophical writings. Target is usually used for specific goals in tasks, such as sales targets or score targets, and feels too narrow. Scheme often means a plan or program, not the underlying meaning of education itself. Ambition refers to a strong desire of a person or organisation, not the core nature of education. Therefore, purpose is the noun that best completes the phrase and reflects the idea of a broad educational aim. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the full sentence fragment: fail to understand the entire blank of education in any depth. Step 2: Recognise that the writer is talking about the deeper aim and philosophy of education, not a small numerical goal. Step 3: Test purpose in the blank: the entire purpose of education, which clearly means the full aim, role, and meaning of education. Step 4: Test target and note that the entire target of education sounds odd because target normally refers to a specific number or limited aim. Step 5: Examine scheme and ambition and see that they relate to plans and desires rather than the essence of education, so select purpose as correct. Verification / Alternative check: Consider how education is commonly discussed in policy documents and philosophical texts. Phrases like the purpose of education, the aims of education, or the goals of education are common. The entire purpose of education therefore fits naturally. In contrast, expressions like the entire target of education or the entire scheme of education are rare and awkward, and they change the meaning to something more like a project design. The passage argues that focusing only on learning outcomes reduces education to a narrow function, so the word purpose precisely matches that criticism. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B target is better suited to specific numeric goals and does not express the broad philosophical aim indicated by entire. Option C scheme usually refers to a plan, program, or arrangement, which is too limited compared to the overall meaning of education. Option D ambition relates to personal or organisational desire and does not fit well with the idea of the intrinsic nature of education. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake is to choose a word simply because it often appears in educational contexts without checking whether it collocates naturally with the given phrase. Target and scheme are seen frequently in educational policy writing, so candidates may be tempted by them. However, collocation and overall meaning matter. A careful reading of the passage and familiarity with standard phrases such as purpose of education will guide you to the correct choice. Final Answer: purpose

Question 13

Select the correctly spelled English word from the given options that sound similar.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests spelling, a fundamental aspect of English language proficiency often checked in competitive examinations. You are given four similar looking words and must identify the correctly spelled one. Spelling questions help ensure that candidates can recognise standard written forms which are important for formal writing, form filling, and reading comprehension. Given Data / Assumptions: Four options are given: brooches, linoleam, limekilne, and cherubick. Only one represents the standard spelling of a real English word. Concept / Approach: Brooches is the plural form of brooch, a decorative pin worn on clothing. The correct spelling is b r o o c h e s. Linoleum is a type of flooring, correctly spelled l i n o l e u m, not linoleam. Limekiln is a structure for burning limestone, spelled l i m e k i l n, not limekilne. Cherubic is the adjective meaning like a cherub, spelled c h e r u b i c, while cherubick is incorrect. Therefore, brooches is the only option that matches the standard spelling of a common English word. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify whether each option resembles any familiar English word. Step 2: Recognise brooches as the plural of brooch, a known word referring to a decorative pin or ornament. Step 3: Recall that linoleum is the correct spelling for a type of floor covering and compare it with linoleam, which uses the wrong vowel combination. Step 4: Note that limekiln is the accepted form for a type of furnace, so limekilne has an unnecessary extra e at the end. Step 5: Remember that cherub leads to cherubic as the adjective, so cherubick again has an incorrect k at the end, leaving brooches as the only correct choice. Verification / Alternative check: You can quickly check dictionary memory or mental images of common words. Brooches often appears in contexts like jewellery catalogues or descriptive passages in literature. The other forms do not match typical spelling patterns in English. For instance, endings like e a m in linoleam are less common than e u m in scientific or technical terms. Similarly, English adjectives derived from cherub end in i c rather than c k. These spelling patterns support selection of brooches as the correct answer. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B linoleam is a misspelling of linoleum, with incorrect vowel placement. Option C limekilne incorrectly adds a final e to limekiln, which is not used in standard spelling. Option D cherubick is a wrong variant of cherubic, which does not take a final k. Common Pitfalls: Many candidates rely on vague visual memory and may be misled by extra letters that look decorative but are incorrect. Another pitfall is not knowing the base words at all, leading to random guessing. To improve spelling skills, it is helpful to read widely and pay attention to word forms, especially in headings, captions, and labels where spelling is usually carefully checked. Spelling practice with word families also reinforces correct patterns. Final Answer: brooches

Question 14

In English vocabulary, choose the word that means an outline representing or bounding the shape or form of something.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This vocabulary question gives you a definition and asks you to choose the word that matches it. The definition is an outline representing or bounding the shape or form of something. Many competitive exams test such meaning based questions to check whether candidates can connect precise definitions with appropriate technical or semi technical terms. Given Data / Assumptions: The definition focuses on an outline that shows the shape or boundary of an object. Options are tracery, contour, doodle, and pattern. We are looking for the most accurate match for the definition provided. Concept / Approach: Contour is the term used to describe the outline or shape of something, for example the contour of a hill or the contour of a face. It directly matches the idea of a bounding line that defines form. Tracery refers to decorative stonework in the upper part of a Gothic window, with branching patterns. Doodle means a rough or aimless drawing made while one is thinking of something else. Pattern is a broader term for a repeated decorative design or arrangement. Therefore, contour is the only option that exactly fits the narrow definition of an outline representing or bounding shape. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the key words in the definition: outline and bounding the shape or form of something. Step 2: Recall that contour is commonly used in geography, art, and anatomy to describe lines that mark the limits of shape. Step 3: Compare this with tracery, which deals with detailed ornamental stone or metal patterns in architecture, not simple outlines. Step 4: Consider doodle, which refers to a casual, often meaningless drawing and does not emphasise precise boundaries or form. Step 5: Examine pattern, which describes repeated decorative designs and arrangements rather than a single outline, and therefore select contour. Verification / Alternative check: Use the word in a sentence that matches the definition. For example, The artist sketched the contour of the mountain range before adding details. Here, contour clearly refers to the outline. Tracery would not fit this sentence. Doodle would imply a casual or playful drawing, not a careful boundary line. Pattern would suggest repetition rather than a single surrounding outline. Dictionaries also define contour as the outline of a figure or body, confirming that it is the correct match for the definition given in the question. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A tracery describes elaborate stonework or ornamental lines, not a basic bounding outline of shape. Option C doodle refers to an aimless or rough drawing and does not emphasise accurate shape or boundary. Option D pattern usually refers to repeated decorative designs and is more general than an outline, so it does not match the precise definition. Common Pitfalls: A common error is to pick pattern because it seems broadly related to shape and design. However, the definition specifically mentions an outline, which is a key clue that the term is contour. Another difficulty is that students may not be familiar with tracery and assume that any unfamiliar technical word is correct. Building vocabulary by reading varied materials and noting context for new words helps you avoid such guesswork and choose the answer that precisely matches the definition. Final Answer: contour

Question 15

In the following sentence, identify the part that contains an error, or select "No error": "Soon as he / saw the policeman, / he ran away."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question is an example of error spotting in English grammar. The sentence describes a simple past situation in which someone sees a policeman and immediately runs away. The task is to examine each underlined segment and decide which part contains a grammatical or structural error, or decide that the sentence is correct as it is. Given Data / Assumptions: - The sentence is broken into four labelled parts: A, B, C, and D. - Part A: Soon as he - Part B: saw the policeman, - Part C: he ran away. - Part D: No error, which is chosen only if A, B, and C are completely correct. Concept / Approach: The phrase that expresses immediate sequence of events in standard English is as soon as, not soon as on its own. The complete structure should be as soon as he saw the policeman. Parts B and C appear grammatically correct in tense and word order. Therefore, the focus falls on Part A, which is missing the word as at the beginning, and this omission makes the expression incomplete and incorrect. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the entire sentence mentally as it is written: Soon as he saw the policeman, he ran away. Step 2: Recall the standard conjunction used to show one action happening immediately after another, which is as soon as. Step 3: Compare the standard structure with Part A. The given part Soon as he lacks the initial as and therefore does not match the correct phrase. Step 4: Check Part B, saw the policeman, and confirm that it is a correct simple past clause. Step 5: Check Part C, he ran away, and see that it is a correct independent clause in the simple past. Step 6: Since only Part A is faulty, mark option A as the part containing the error. Verification / Alternative check: A good way to verify the answer is to rewrite the sentence correctly and see where the change occurs. The corrected version is: As soon as he saw the policeman, he ran away. The only difference from the original is that an extra as has been added before soon. Parts B and C remain unchanged, which confirms that the original error lies in Part A alone. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part B uses saw, which is the correct simple past form of see, followed by the object the policeman. There is no error in tense or article usage. Part C, he ran away, is also correct and expresses a completed action in the past. Therefore, choosing B or C would incorrectly mark a correct phrase as wrong. Part D, No error, would imply that the entire sentence is acceptable, but the missing as shows that this is not true. Common Pitfalls: Many learners get used to spoken shortcuts and may hear expressions like Soon as he came spoken quickly. However, in formal written English, the full form as soon as is required. Another common mistake is to suspect an error in verb tense when the real issue is a missing word in a conjunction. The safest strategy is to check fixed phrase patterns such as as soon as, in spite of, or as far as before looking at tenses. Final Answer: A is the correct choice, because Part A is missing the word as and should be written as As soon as he.

Question 16

Rearrange the parts P, Q, and R to form a coherent sentence: "We are told that its P – Public Distribution System Q – creating a functional R – sole purpose is the noble goal of."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This is a jumbled sentence question where parts of a longer sentence have been marked as P, Q, and R. The full sentence discusses what we are told about the purpose of a system, namely the Public Distribution System. The task is to place P, Q, and R in the correct order so that the final sentence is grammatical and meaningful. Given Data / Assumptions: - Fixed beginning: We are told that its - Part P: Public Distribution System - Part Q: creating a functional - Part R: sole purpose is the noble goal of - We must form a complete, fluent English sentence about the purpose of a system. Concept / Approach: The key to solving this type of question is to identify which part can logically follow the fixed beginning and which parts must remain together as a phrase. The phrase sole purpose is the noble goal of clearly needs to come immediately after its, giving us its sole purpose is the noble goal of. After that, we need a phrase that states what noble goal is being referred to, which is creating a functional Public Distribution System. Therefore, Q and P must appear after R in that order. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Attach Part R to the fixed beginning: We are told that its sole purpose is the noble goal of. Step 2: Recognise that the phrase noble goal of must be followed by a noun or gerund phrase that names a goal or activity. Step 3: Notice that Part Q, creating a functional, begins a gerund phrase and must be followed by a noun to complete it. Step 4: Attach Part P, Public Distribution System, after Part Q to complete the phrase creating a functional Public Distribution System. Step 5: Combine all parts: We are told that its sole purpose is the noble goal of creating a functional Public Distribution System. Step 6: From this construction, see that the correct order of parts is R Q P, which matches option B. Verification / Alternative check: If we test other orders, such as Q R P, we obtain We are told that its creating a functional sole purpose is the noble goal of Public Distribution System, which is clearly ungrammatical. Similarly, P R Q and P Q R break the natural flow of the clause its sole purpose is the noble goal of and leave phrases like creating a functional without an immediate noun. This confirms that the only smooth, meaningful sentence comes from R Q P. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A, QRP, places creating a functional immediately after its, which does not fit the pattern its sole purpose is. Option C, PRQ, starts with Public Distribution System after its, which would give its Public Distribution System, an incomplete and confusing phrase. Option D, PQR, also fails to create a clear subject and predicate relationship and leaves the important phrase sole purpose is the noble goal of at the end in an awkward position. Common Pitfalls: Many learners try to join jumbled parts by surface proximity, such as joining creating a functional directly with whatever follows, without checking how the beginning of the sentence demands a particular structure. A more reliable strategy is to first identify the main clause and verb, such as its sole purpose is, then add phrases that logically describe that main idea. In this sentence, focusing on sole purpose is the noble goal of makes it much easier to see that R must come directly after its. Final Answer: RQP is the correct order of parts, so option B is the right answer.

Question 17

From the following options, select the correctly spelt English word.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This spelling question checks whether you can recognise the correct spelling of a standard English word when it is presented among several similar looking incorrect forms. Accurate spelling is important in competitive exams, descriptive answers, and professional communication, so being familiar with the visual form of common words offers a clear advantage. Given Data / Assumptions: - Four options are provided: lammented, scabbard, ordenance, synaptick. - Exactly one of these words is correctly spelt in standard English. - The others are deliberate misspellings of real words. - You must select the correctly spelt word, not guess based only on pronunciation. Concept / Approach: The word scabbard is a common noun meaning the sheath or cover for a sword or dagger. This spelling, s c a b b a r d, is the accepted dictionary form. The other options attempt to resemble genuine words but contain spelling errors: lammented tries to mimic lamented or lament, ordenance misrepresents ordinance or ordnance, and synaptick distorts the adjective synaptic. Recognising these base words and their normal spelling allows you to safely reject the incorrect variants. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Look at lammented. The familiar verb form is lamented with a single m and no double t after n, so lammented is incorrect. Step 2: Examine ordenance. Standard English has ordinance, meaning a law or regulation, and ordnance, meaning military weapons, but ordenance with e after d does not match either accepted spelling. Step 3: Consider synaptick. The correct adjective related to synapse is synaptic or sometimes synaptical, but not synaptick with a final k. Step 4: Check scabbard. This is the recognised spelling for the protective sheath of a blade, often appearing in historical or literary texts. Step 5: Conclude that scabbard is the only correctly spelt option among the four. Verification / Alternative check: Imagine each word in a sentence. For example, The knight drew his sword from its scabbard is a natural and correct sentence. Spell checkers in word processors and browsers will flag lammented, ordenance, and synaptick as errors, but scabbard will usually pass without underlining. This mental check, based on prior reading and exposure, is a useful way to confirm your choice under exam conditions. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Lammented incorrectly doubles the m and t and does not appear as a standard form in dictionaries. Ordenance is a confused mixture of ordinance and ordnance and is not accepted as a correct spelling of either. Synaptick attaches an unnecessary k and does not correspond to standard scientific usage, which prefers synaptic. Since none of these forms match recognised spellings, they must all be rejected. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes assume that the longest or most complex looking word is correct, or they may believe that scientific sounding words like synaptick must be technical terms. A better approach is to connect the options with words you have actually seen in books, articles, or reliable websites. Over time, regular reading helps to build a visual memory of correct spellings, so words like scabbard immediately look right while others appear suspicious. Final Answer: scabbard is the correctly spelt word among the given options.

Question 18

Change the following direct question into indirect speech: Gokul said to Sumit, "Why did you not attend the meeting yesterday?"

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests knowledge of reported speech, specifically how to convert a direct question into indirect or reported form. The original sentence shows Gokul asking Sumit why he failed to attend a meeting the previous day. To create the correct indirect speech, we must adjust pronouns, verb tense, and time expressions while preserving the original meaning. Given Data / Assumptions: - Direct speech: Gokul said to Sumit, "Why did you not attend the meeting yesterday?" - Reporting verb: said to, which becomes asked in indirect speech because it introduces a question. - The verb inside the quoted question: did attend (in the form did you not attend, simple past). - Time expression inside the quote: yesterday, which must be adjusted in reported speech. Concept / Approach: When converting a direct question introduced by a past tense reporting verb into indirect speech, several changes usually occur. First, said to becomes asked. Second, the auxiliary did in a question changes to past perfect had attended. Third, the second person pronoun you changes to he, because it now refers to Sumit from the point of view of the reporter. Finally, the time expression yesterday changes to the day before or the previous day in indirect speech, to keep the time reference relative rather than direct. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Change said to into asked, because a question is being reported: Gokul asked Sumit. Step 2: Remove the question mark and use the conjunction why to introduce the reported clause: why he. Step 3: Change you to he, since the question is about Sumit and he is the third person in the reported sentence. Step 4: Backshift the verb from simple past did not attend to past perfect had not attended, matching the pattern used after a past tense reporting verb. Step 5: Replace yesterday with the day before or the previous day. Here, the option uses the day before, which is correct. Step 6: Combine the pieces: Gokul asked Sumit why he had not attended the meeting the day before. Verification / Alternative check: Check the final reported sentence against the original meaning. It still indicates that Gokul wanted to know the reason for Sumit's absence from a meeting held one day prior to the act of speaking. The change in tense from did not attend to had not attended simply shows that the meeting happened before the time of the question. The time expression the day before ensures that the timing is clear even when the sentence is reported later. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A keeps the verb in simple past (did not attend) and changes yesterday to the day before, which makes the tense less accurate in reported speech. Option B incorrectly keeps yesterday and adds that, which leads to a mixture of direct and indirect styles and uses that meeting unnecessarily. Option D keeps both did not attend and yesterday, which is closer to direct speech and does not reflect the expected tense and time shifts. Only option C correctly adjusts the pronoun, tense, and time reference. Common Pitfalls: Learners often forget to change time adverbials like yesterday, tomorrow, and last week when converting to reported speech. Another frequent mistake is to keep the auxiliary did in the reported clause, which is not needed outside of direct questions. A systematic method is to first remove the question structure, then adjust pronouns, move the tense one step back, and finally rewrite time expressions to relative forms like the day before or the following day. Final Answer: Gokul asked Sumit why he had not attended the meeting the day before. is the correct indirect speech version of the given sentence.

Question 19

In the following idiom and phrase question, choose the option that best explains the meaning of "to lose one's head".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests understanding of a common English idiom. The phrase to lose one's head does not literally refer to someone's head being removed. Instead, it is an expression about mental state and behaviour. The task is to select the option that best captures its figurative meaning in everyday use. Given Data / Assumptions: - Idiom: to lose one's head. - Options describe different possible consequences or behaviours. - Only one option should capture the idea used in real conversations and texts. - The context is usually situations of stress, panic, intense emotion, or sudden shock. Concept / Approach: In idiomatic English, to lose one's head means to lose self control, become irrational, or behave in a wild and foolish way because of strong emotion, fear, or confusion. It implies that someone stops thinking clearly and may act in an extreme or unreasonable manner. Among the given options, the idea of losing sense and starting to behave like a lunatic is the closest to this meaning, even though it uses dramatic language to express the loss of mental balance. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall examples of usage, such as He completely lost his head when he heard the bad news or In an emergency you must not lose your head. Step 2: Notice that in these examples the phrase refers to panic or irrational action, not literal loss of social respect or a slow decline in performance. Step 3: Examine option D: to lose sense or start behaving like a lunatic. This matches the idea of losing control and acting in an unreasonable way. Step 4: Look at option C: to become confused or overly emotional about someone or something. This suggests emotional reaction but does not fully convey the strong, rash behaviour implied by the idiom. Step 5: Recognise that options A and B refer to social respect or complacency over time, which are not the focus of this idiom. Step 6: Conclude that option D best expresses the figurative sense of to lose one's head. Verification / Alternative check: Use the options in an example sentence. In a fire drill, the teacher told the students not to lose their heads means not to panic or act wildly. If we replace lose their heads with become complacent, the sentence becomes illogical. If we use lose respect within your community, the meaning changes entirely. Using option D fits naturally: not to lose sense or behave like lunatics. This confirms that it best matches the idiom. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A, to lose respect within your community, refers to reputation, not mental control. Option B, to become complacent and gradually worsen your performance, describes slow decline rather than sudden emotional reaction. Option C, to become confused or overly emotional about someone or something, is closer but still weaker, as it does not emphasise the foolish or irrational actions that typically follow losing one's head. Common Pitfalls: Candidates sometimes misinterpret idioms by focusing on one word, such as head, and treating it literally instead of recognising the set phrase. Another mistake is to choose an option that seems emotionally related but is too mild. A helpful technique is to think of crisis situations where people are told to keep their heads. The opposite action, losing one's head, must then involve serious loss of calm and sensible judgement. Final Answer: to lose sense or start behaving like a lunatic is the correct meaning of the idiom to lose one's head.

Question 20

Select the best one-word substitute for the phrase: "A person famous and respected within a particular sphere."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks your knowledge of one-word substitutes in English vocabulary. The phrase describes a person who is both famous and respected, but only within a particular field, profession, or area of activity. The aim is to choose the single word that most accurately and commonly expresses this meaning in standard English usage. Given Data / Assumptions: - Phrase: A person famous and respected within a particular sphere. - Options: eminent, obscure, despotic, imperative. - Only one option should carry the idea of fame and respect in a specific domain. - The context is typically professions or areas like science, art, politics, or scholarship. Concept / Approach: The adjective eminent refers to someone who is famous, distinguished, and highly respected in a particular profession or sphere. For example, an eminent scientist or an eminent lawyer is widely recognised for outstanding work. By contrast, obscure means not well known, despotic refers to a ruler who exercises power in a cruel or arbitrary way, and imperative is either an adjective meaning absolutely necessary or a grammatical term. Thus, only eminent matches the idea in the phrase. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the key ideas in the phrase: famous, respected, and within a particular sphere. Step 2: Examine eminent. It is commonly used for well known and highly regarded people in a given field, such as eminent doctors or eminent historians. Step 3: Look at obscure, which describes people or things that are little known or hidden from public notice, the opposite of famous. Step 4: Consider despotic, which refers to oppressive rule or behaviour, not to fame and respect. Step 5: Check imperative, which usually means essential or urgent, and also functions as a grammatical label for command forms. Step 6: Conclude that eminent is the only word that matches all parts of the given phrase. Verification / Alternative check: Insert each option into a sample sentence. The phrase He is an eminent cardiologist fits perfectly and means he is widely respected in cardiology. He is an obscure cardiologist would mean the opposite. Calling someone a despotic cardiologist or an imperative cardiologist is unnatural and either produces nonsense or completely changes the intended meaning. This confirms that eminent is the correct choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Obscure contradicts the idea of being famous, because it refers to being unknown or not clearly seen. Despotic conveys harsh, tyrannical behaviour and has no built in sense of admiration. Imperative describes necessity or command, neither of which relates to being respected in a professional sphere. None of these options combine both fame and respect in a particular area, so they cannot be accepted as correct substitutes. Common Pitfalls: Some test takers choose unfamiliar words at random, assuming that the hardest word must be correct. Others may vaguely remember despotic and imperative as important sounding and confuse importance with respect. A more reliable method is to learn one-word substitutes with example phrases that show their typical usage. When you see eminent together with titles like scholar or judge in reading materials, it becomes easier to recall its meaning accurately in exams. Final Answer: eminent is the correct one-word substitute for a person who is famous and respected within a particular sphere.

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