Question 1

Identify the part of the sentence that contains a grammatical error in Due to me being new to the city, I had difficulty in finding a job.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This error spotting question checks your understanding of formal sentence structure and correct use of prepositions and subjects in English. The sentence is divided into parts: Due to me being new, to the city, I had, difficulty in finding a job. The test asks you to identify which part contains a grammatical or usage error. Such questions are common in competitive examinations because they force you to examine each phrase carefully rather than reading only for overall meaning. Given Data / Assumptions: The full sentence is Due to me being new to the city, I had difficulty in finding a job. Part A is Due to me being new. Part B is to the city, I had. Part C is difficulty in finding a job. Part D is No error. The intended meaning is Because I was new to the city, I had difficulty finding a job. Concept / Approach: The main issue lies in the phrase Due to me being new. In standard English, due to is usually used after a form of the verb be and functions like an adjective phrase, as in His unemployment was due to illness. When we want to introduce a subordinate clause of reason at the beginning of a sentence, a better choice is because or since. Also, the structure me being new is informal and awkward in formal written English. A more natural and grammatically sound version is Because I was new to the city, I had difficulty finding a job. Parts B and C, once the beginning has been corrected, are acceptable. Therefore, the error is located in part A. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the sentence for overall sense: the speaker is explaining why it was hard to find a job. Step 2: Examine part A Due to me being new and notice the combination of due to with a clause like me being new, which is more conversational than formal. Step 3: Recall that for clauses of reason at the start of a sentence, because or since plus subject plus verb is preferred in formal writing. Step 4: Mentally rewrite the sentence as Because I was new to the city, I had difficulty in finding a job and confirm that the problem disappears when part A is changed. Step 5: Check parts B and C and see that to the city and difficulty in finding a job are acceptable collocations in formal English, so there is no error there. Verification / Alternative check: Compare several possibilities. Due to me being new to the city sounds clumsy and slightly ungrammatical. Because I was new to the city is clear, formal, and accurate. If we tried to keep due to, we would need a different structure, such as My difficulty in finding a job was due to my being new to the city. That structure would move due to into the middle of the sentence and require a noun phrase before it. Since the original sentence uses due to at the start as if it were a conjunction, part A clearly needs correction. This confirms that the error lies in section A, not in the rest of the sentence. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B to the city, I had correctly completes the clause when combined with a corrected beginning and simply states where the speaker was new. Option C difficulty in finding a job is a common phrase and grammatically acceptable, so there is no need to change it. Option D No error would be chosen only if all parts were correct, but part A clearly contains a usage issue with due to and me being new. Common Pitfalls: A frequent mistake is to accept constructions that are common in speech but not ideal in formal writing, such as due to me being instead of because I was. Students also tend to overlook subtle differences between due to and because of, treating them as complete synonyms. In exam contexts, you should be particularly alert when you see due to at the beginning of a sentence. Ask whether it is linked to a form of be and a noun phrase or whether it is incorrectly being used like a conjunction. This habit will help you identify similar errors quickly. Final Answer: A

Question 2

Select the English synonym that best expresses the meaning of the verb purge.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This vocabulary question asks you to identify a synonym for the verb purge. The word purge often appears in political discussions, technical descriptions, and everyday contexts where something unwanted is removed or cleaned out. Recognising its closest synonym among similar sounding verbs is important for precise reading comprehension and accurate word choice in writing. Given Data / Assumptions: The target word is purge, used as a verb. The options provided are evacuate, pressurize, thrust, and float. We must select the word whose core meaning is closest to remove or get rid of unwanted things from a place, group, or system. Concept / Approach: To purge means to clean out or rid something of unwanted elements, such as to purge a system of errors or to purge corrupt officials from an organisation. The verb evacuate means to remove people or things from a place, especially for safety or to empty a space. In many technical and physical contexts, evacuate and purge can overlap in meaning, for example when removing air or gas from a container. The verbs pressurize, thrust, and float refer to different physical actions and do not share this meaning of clearing out or removing unwanted items. Therefore, evacuate is the synonym that best captures the sense of purge among the given options. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the main meaning of purge as to remove or get rid of something undesirable from a place, group, or system. Step 2: Examine evacuate, which means to empty a place of people or objects, or to withdraw contents, often for safety or cleanliness. Step 3: Notice how both purge and evacuate can involve clearing out what is inside something, such as purging a fuel line or evacuating a building. Step 4: Consider pressurize, which focuses on applying pressure, especially in containers or social situations, and does not mean to remove unwanted contents. Step 5: Evaluate thrust and float, which describe pushing with force and remaining on the surface of liquid or in the air, respectively, and clearly do not align with the idea of cleansing or removing. Verification / Alternative check: Use each verb in sample sentences similar to typical uses of purge. For example, Engineers purged the pipeline before starting the new process. Replacing purged with evacuated as Engineers evacuated the pipeline still gives a similar idea of emptying the pipeline. However, Engineers pressurized the pipeline changes the meaning completely to applying pressure, not clearing. Engineers thrust the pipeline is incorrect, and Engineers floated the pipeline is meaningless. In political contexts, purge is used figuratively, such as The party purged disloyal members, where evacuate cannot replace purge directly, but among the given options it remains closest in the sense of removal. This comparison confirms that evacuate is the best synonym here. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B pressurize means to apply pressure or to influence strongly, which is almost the opposite of clearing out or emptying something. Option C thrust focuses on pushing something suddenly or with force and has no element of cleansing or removal of unwanted content. Option D float describes remaining on the surface of a liquid or moving lightly in the air and is unrelated to removing or cleaning out contents. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes select words that sound technical, like pressurize, assuming that they must be related to processes like purging systems. However, sound and context are not enough; the core meaning must match. Another pitfall is not distinguishing between physical motion verbs such as thrust or float and verbs that describe changes in contents or state. To avoid such errors, always try to recall a simple definition of the target word and test each option in that definition or in example sentences before making a choice. Final Answer: evacuate

Question 3

Select the correct antonym of the adjective genteel, which means polite, refined, and well mannered.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This vocabulary question asks you to choose an antonym for the word genteel. In English, genteel describes people or behaviour that is polite, refined, and often associated with high social class or good breeding. Antonym questions require you to identify a word that expresses the opposite quality. Understanding such pairs is very important for reading literature, newspaper editorials, and social commentary where nuance about manners and class is common. Given Data / Assumptions: The word to be matched is genteel. Options are uncivilized, stuffy, urbane, and prim. We must pick the option that most clearly represents a lack of refinement or polite manners, which is opposite in meaning to genteel. Concept / Approach: Genteel suggests a polished, cultivated, and well mannered character, sometimes even excessively so. The opposite would be rough, crude, or lacking in social refinement. The word uncivilized carries this sense strongly, implying behaviour that does not follow accepted social norms or standards of civility. Stuffy means overly formal, narrow minded, or boring in manner, which is not opposite but rather a different kind of social behaviour. Urbane means suave, courteous, and refined, and is almost a synonym of genteel. Prim means very proper and formal in behaviour, again close in tone to genteel rather than opposite. Therefore, uncivilized is the only option that functions as a clear antonym in this set. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the meaning of genteel as polite, refined, and associated with good social manners. Step 2: Identify the opposite quality as rude, rough, or lacking in cultured behaviour. Step 3: Examine uncivilized, which directly suggests lack of civilised manners, rough behaviour, or absence of refinement. Step 4: Compare this with stuffy, which describes someone who is overly formal or old fashioned in manners, not someone without manners. Step 5: Consider urbane and prim, both of which describe refined or very proper behaviour, making them similar in tone to genteel rather than opposite. Verification / Alternative check: Use each word in a sentence alongside genteel. A genteel family behaves with grace and politeness, while an uncivilized family behaves rudely and ignores social norms. This contrast shows a true antonym relationship. A genteel host and an urbane host both sound polished and refined, so urbane cannot be an antonym. A genteel lady and a prim lady both suggest proper, conservative behaviour. A genteel atmosphere might even be described as somewhat stuffy if it feels too formal. Thus, stuffy, prim, and urbane are either similar or overlapping in meaning with genteel rather than opposite. This confirms that uncivilized is the correct antonym. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B stuffy implies excessive formality or narrow minded respectability, which is not opposite to genteel but may coexist with it. Option C urbane describes someone smooth, polished, and sophisticated in manner and is nearly a synonym of genteel. Option D prim means very precise, formal, or easily shocked by improper behaviour, which again overlaps with genteel rather than opposing it. Common Pitfalls: Students often choose words that simply feel negative or unusual without carefully considering whether they are truly opposite in meaning. With genteel, many of the distractor options are near synonyms, which can confuse candidates who rely only on vague impressions. Another pitfall is to confuse social formality with lack of manners; in fact, genteel, urbane, and prim all describe different shades of proper or refined behaviour. To avoid such mistakes, always start by clearly defining the given word in your own mind, then look for the option that best matches the reverse of this definition rather than just a random negative sounding word. Final Answer: uncivilized

Question 4

In English idioms and phrases, choose the correct meaning of the expression saved by the bell.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your understanding of the idiom saved by the bell. Idioms are fixed expressions whose meanings cannot always be guessed from the individual words. In this expression, the image of a bell is used figuratively to show a sudden interruption that rescues someone from a difficult or embarrassing situation. Such phrases are common in spoken English, films, and television shows, so knowing them improves both listening skills and expressive ability. Given Data / Assumptions: The idiom given is saved by the bell. The options include when time is in your favour, saved at the last moment, the bell rings at the most opportune time, and prayers are answered when the church bell rings. We must choose the meaning that best matches the established figurative use of this expression in everyday English. Concept / Approach: Saved by the bell originally comes from boxing, where a boxer who is in trouble is rescued from defeat when the end of the round is signalled by a bell. Over time, the phrase extended to general situations where someone is rescued at the very last moment by some interruption, such as a phone call, a visitor, or the end of a class. It does not literally refer to time being in your favour, nor does it have a religious association with church bells. The key idea is last moment rescue. Therefore, saved at the last moment is the option that accurately captures the idiomatic meaning. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall typical situations where people say saved by the bell, for example when a teacher ends a difficult oral test because the period is over. Step 2: Focus on the crucial elements of the idiom: there is a rescue or relief, and it happens at the final possible moment. Step 3: Compare this with option B saved at the last moment, which directly expresses both the rescue and the timing. Step 4: Evaluate option A when time is in your favour, which is too broad and vague, since time can favour someone in many ways, not only by sudden interruption. Step 5: Consider options C and D and recognise that they focus on literal bells rather than the figurative meaning, making them unsuitable interpretations of the idiom. Verification / Alternative check: Insert the idiom and each option into example contexts. Imagine a student about to be questioned by a strict teacher when the lunch bell rings. The student might say I was saved by the bell. Here, the obvious meaning is I was saved at the last moment by the bell ending the class. If you replace this with when time is in your favour, the phrase loses the sense of sudden rescue. The idea that the bell rings at the most opportune time simply describes a literal bell, not the idiomatic sense. The religious explanation about church bells is unrelated. Dictionaries and phrase guides consistently define saved by the bell as rescued at almost the last possible moment, which confirms option B as correct. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A when time is in your favour is too general and does not imply the sudden last minute rescue that is central to the idiom. Option C the bell rings at the most opportune time describes a literal event and not the figurative meaning of being rescued from trouble. Option D prayers are answered when the church bell rings connects the idiom to religion, which is not part of its actual historical origin or common usage. Common Pitfalls: Learners often interpret idioms too literally, focusing on individual words such as bell or saved. This can lead them to choose options that describe bells or religious practices instead of the figurative meaning used in everyday speech. Another pitfall is selecting a vague positive sounding option like when time is in your favour, which seems encouraging but does not match the specific last second rescue implied by the idiom. A good strategy is to remember a few typical scenarios for each idiom from movies or stories and use those mental images to test each possible meaning. Final Answer: saved at the last moment

Question 5

In the passage about Greek mythology and Lycurgus, choose the verb that best completes the clause it is said that Lycurgus, the ruler of Sparta, _________ a promise from his subjects.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This passage completion question refers to a historical and mythological context involving Lycurgus, the lawgiver of Sparta. The sentence describes how he obtained a promise from his people. You are asked to choose the verb that best expresses the idea of drawing out or obtaining a promise through request or influence. The context is formal and narrative, so the verb must be both semantically accurate and stylistically appropriate. Given Data / Assumptions: The relevant clause is it is said that Lycurgus, the ruler of Sparta, blank a promise from his blank. The options given are elicited, derived, evinced, and attested. The continuation of the sentence mentions a promise assuring him of the immutability of his laws till he returned from a journey. We assume that Lycurgus asked for or secured this promise from his people. Concept / Approach: The verb elicit means to draw out or bring forth something such as a response, information, or a promise from someone, usually by discussion, questioning, or persuasion. This matches the idea that Lycurgus obtained a promise from his subjects. Derived means obtained from a source by reasoning or transformation, often used for information, formulas, or words, not promises from people. Evinced means showed clearly or revealed, usually referring to feelings or qualities, not the act of obtaining a promise. Attested means provided evidence of or certified something, which again does not fit the context of drawing a promise out of someone. Therefore, elicited is the most appropriate choice. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify what Lycurgus is doing in the myth: he is getting a promise from his people regarding his laws. Step 2: Recall that elicit is commonly used with words such as promise, response, confession, and information, meaning to draw them out of someone. Step 3: Evaluate derived and note that it usually attaches to things like energy, words, or ideas, not to promises from a group of people. Step 4: Consider evinced, which is used for showing a feeling or quality, such as evinced courage, rather than for obtaining a commitment. Step 5: Examine attested, which means to certify or bear witness to something, and see that it is inappropriate for the act of securing a promise. Verification / Alternative check: Insert each option into the sentence and read it as part of the passage. It is said that Lycurgus, the ruler of Sparta, elicited a promise from his subjects sounds natural and clearly indicates that he drew this promise out of them. Using derived would give derived a promise from his subjects, which sounds out of place because promises are not derived in this way. Evinced a promise from his subjects is incorrect because one evinces qualities, not promises. Attested a promise from his subjects is also unnatural; the subjects could have attested to a fact, but Lycurgus would not attested a promise. Elicited is widely used in historical and political writing to describe leaders drawing agreements or commitments from people, confirming its correctness here. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B derived is associated with obtaining something from an original source by transformation or reasoning, not with persuading people to give a promise. Option C evinced means showed clearly and is used with emotions or attitudes; it does not take promise as a natural object. Option D attested means certified or gave evidence of something and is not used in the sense of extracting a promise from others. Common Pitfalls: Because all four options are relatively formal verbs, students may be tempted to pick one based on sound or general impression rather than precise meaning. Some candidates also assume that any difficult word will fit a formal passage, which is not a safe strategy. A better approach is to always recall a simple definition or an example sentence for each option and test it with the given object, in this case a promise. Noticing standard pairings like elicit a promise or elicit a response will help you avoid confusion and choose more confidently. Final Answer: elicited

Question 6

In the passage about Lycurgus, choose the most appropriate noun to complete the phrase a promise from his ________, assuring him of the immutability of his laws.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question continues the passage about Lycurgus, the legendary lawgiver of Sparta. It focuses on the phrase a promise from his blank, which must describe the people over whom he ruled. The sentence speaks about a formal promise that his laws would remain unchanged until his return from a journey. Therefore, the noun must fit both the political relationship and the formal tone of the passage. Given Data / Assumptions: The critical fragment is a promise from his blank, assuring him of the immutability of his laws. The options are nation, society, subjects, and community. We know that Lycurgus is described as the ruler of Sparta, which was a city state in ancient Greece. Concept / Approach: The term subjects is historically used to describe people who live under the authority of a monarch, ruler, or lawgiver. It directly reflects the relationship between Lycurgus and the population of Sparta in this mythological setting. Nation and community are more modern, broad terms that do not emphasise the ruler ruled relationship as clearly. Society is a more abstract term for social structure and does not usually appear in the phrase a promise from his society. In contrast, a promise from his subjects fits naturally in historical and legal contexts, and clearly indicates that the people under his rule gave him the promise regarding his laws. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify Lycurgus as the ruler of Sparta, which implies that the people he governs are his political dependants. Step 2: Recall that the word subjects is traditionally used for people who owe allegiance to a sovereign or ruler. Step 3: Evaluate nation and society, which refer broadly to the people of a country or the social structure but do not clearly show a direct personal relation to the ruler. Step 4: Consider community, which describes a group of people living in the same place or sharing common interests, again without highlighting the ruler ruled relationship. Step 5: Choose subjects as the noun that both reflects the political role of Lycurgus and fits the formal tone of the passage. Verification / Alternative check: Insert each option into the sentence. A promise from his subjects, assuring him of the immutability of his laws till he returned, sounds natural and historically appropriate. A promise from his nation is less idiomatic, since nation usually refers to the state itself rather than to people bound personally to a ruler. A promise from his society feels vague, because society is an abstract concept rather than a group that promises collectively. A promise from his community is possible but more suited to modern local contexts and lacks the grandeur and formal political sense required by the mythological narrative. Historical and legal writing frequently uses expressions like the subjects of the king or his subjects made a promise, confirming that subjects is the best fit. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A nation emphasises the collective state rather than the personal bond of allegiance between ruler and people, and it is not common in the phrase a promise from his nation. Option B society is abstract and refers more to social structure and institutions than to a group of people making a concrete promise to a ruler. Option D community usually describes a local group tied by common interest or location, not necessarily by legal or political subordination to a ruler. Common Pitfalls: Many learners confuse these terms because they all relate to groups of people. The subtle but important difference is the type of relationship implied. Subjects highlight a formal, often hierarchical relation under a ruler, which is exactly the situation described for Lycurgus. Nation, society, and community are broader and more modern terms. To avoid confusion in similar questions, always ask what the nature of the relationship is in the passage and select the noun that captures that specific relationship, not just any word referring to people in general. Final Answer: subjects

Question 7

In the Lycurgus passage, choose the most appropriate adjective to complete the phrase till he returned from an ___________ journey.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question continues the narrative about Lycurgus from Greek mythology. The sentence refers to a promise that would last until he returned from an blank journey. The adjective must fit naturally with journey in formal narrative style and convey the idea of a journey that is about to happen in the near future. Such questions often test your understanding of subtle differences in meaning and collocation among similar sounding adjectives. Given Data / Assumptions: The relevant fragment is till he returned from an blank journey. The options are impending, brewing, approaching, and looming. The journey is one that Lycurgus plans to start, and the promise is valid until he comes back from it. Concept / Approach: Impending is commonly used to describe events that are about to happen soon and are expected or known to be coming, often with a serious tone. An impending journey therefore means a journey that is soon to take place. Brewing is usually used with trouble, storm, or conflict, suggesting something negative that is developing. Approaching is often used for times, deadlines, or physical objects that come nearer, such as an approaching train or the approaching year, but it is less idiomatic before journey in this structure. Looming is used for threats or dangers that appear large and frightening on the horizon, like a looming crisis. Among these, impending fits best with journey in a formal, narrative context, and matches the idea that the journey is expected and soon to begin. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the idea that the journey has not yet taken place but is planned, so the adjective must indicate future nearness. Step 2: Recall that impending describes events that are about to occur and is frequently used in formal or serious contexts. Step 3: Evaluate brewing and note that it collocates best with words like storm, conflict, or trouble, and not with journey in historical narrative. Step 4: Consider approaching journey and see that while understandable, it is not as idiomatic or formal sounding as impending journey. Step 5: Recognise that looming journey feels odd, as looming is tied to threats or fears, not neutral travels, and therefore select impending. Verification / Alternative check: Insert each option into the sentence. Till he returned from an impending journey fits smoothly, suggesting that he was about to depart and the promise would stay in force until he came back. Till he returned from a brewing journey sounds strange because brewing implies something negative that is developing, not a journey itself. Till he returned from an approaching journey is less natural, since the usual pattern is an approaching storm or approaching exam. Till he returned from a looming journey again sounds awkward and suggests a threatening journey rather than a simple mythological narrative. Reading the entire passage with impending restores a dignified and coherent tone consistent with historical and legal discussion. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B brewing is normally combined with words that represent trouble or conflict and does not fit comfortably with journey in this formal sentence. Option C approaching could be used in some contexts but is not the strongest collocation here and lacks the formal tone of impending in this mythological and constitutional comparison. Option D looming stresses threat and fear and usually modifies problem, disaster, or crisis, not a neutral or honoured journey. Common Pitfalls: Students may select adjectives based on their general sense of future direction without considering typical word partners. Approaching and looming sound dramatic and may attract attention, but they do not collocate naturally with journey in this context. Another pitfall is guessing based on partial familiarity with idioms like brewing storm and looming crisis, then incorrectly extending these adjectives to other nouns. To avoid such errors, always test each adjective in the full phrase and ask whether you have seen that combination in real texts, especially in formal or literary writing similar to the passage style. Final Answer: impending

Question 8

In the Lycurgus passage, choose the correct past tense clause to complete To make his laws immutable, Lycurgus ____________.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This item continues the mythological narrative about Lycurgus and his laws. The sentence explains what Lycurgus did in order to make his laws unchangeable. The passage treats the story as completed history. Therefore, the blank must be filled with a verb phrase in an appropriate past tense that matches the narrative style and fits logically with the idea of an unending promise tied to his return. Given Data / Assumptions: The fragment to be completed is To make his laws immutable, Lycurgus blank. Options are did not return, never did return, never returns, and never returned. Earlier in the passage, Lycurgus obtained a promise that his laws would remain unchanged until he returned from a journey. The traditional version of the story is that he did not come back, so that the laws would remain fixed. Concept / Approach: The passage narrates past events, so the simple past tense is the most natural choice for describing what Lycurgus actually did. The key idea is that he never came back, which ensured that the condition in the promise was never fulfilled and his laws remained in force. Both did not return and never returned could express this idea, but never returned is smoother and more standard in narrative prose. Never did return is emphatic and possible, but it sounds slightly more colloquial. Never returns, in present simple, does not match the past tense narrative. Therefore, never returned is the best balance of grammatical correctness, narrative style, and clarity. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Note that the entire passage is told in past tense, describing what was said about Lycurgus and what he supposedly did. Step 2: Understand the logic that, to keep his laws unchangeable, he ensured the condition of his return was never fulfilled. Step 3: Examine never returned, the simple past form, which states plainly that Lycurgus did not come back. Step 4: Consider did not return and never did return, which are grammatically possible, but less elegant in this formal historical style. Step 5: Reject never returns because it shifts the narrative into present tense, which conflicts with the rest of the passage, and select never returned. Verification / Alternative check: Insert never returned into the sentence. To make his laws immutable, Lycurgus never returned creates a clear and concise explanation: his physical absence ensured that the promise tied to his return could never expire. With did not return, the sentence becomes To make his laws immutable, Lycurgus did not return, which is acceptable but slightly less smooth. Never did return adds unnecessary emphasis and may sound informal in an otherwise formal passage. Never returns would read To make his laws immutable, Lycurgus never returns, which incorrectly suggests an ongoing present situation rather than a completed historical action. The overall passage structure strongly supports the simple past narrative, and never returned is the most natural form. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A did not return is grammatically correct but lacks the clarity of finality and narrative smoothness present in never returned, and the test expects the most idiomatic choice. Option B never did return is an emphatic structure more common in spoken or dramatic storytelling, which is less suitable for the sober constitutional comparison in the passage. Option C never returns is in present tense and clashes with the past tense frame introduced by it is said that Lycurgus and the rest of the historical narrative. Common Pitfalls: Students often treat did not and never as interchangeable without considering tone and emphasis. Another pitfall is not paying attention to overall tense consistency within a passage. When everything else is in past tense, switching to present for a key action often signals a wrong option. A good habit is to read surrounding sentences, identify the main narrative tense, and ensure that your answer fits that tense unless there is a clear reason for a shift, such as a general truth or commentary outside the historical storyline. Final Answer: never returned

Question 9

In the Lycurgus passage, choose the adverb that best completes the phrase an island of immutability, _________ titled the basic structure.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question completes a sentence comparing the Indian Supreme Court justices to Lycurgus. They are said to have created an island of immutability, blank titled the basic structure. The adverb here must describe how appropriate or fitting the title is in relation to the concept of an unchangeable core of the constitution. This is a stylistic and semantic choice that tests knowledge of subtle adverb meanings. Given Data / Assumptions: The fragment is an island of immutability, blank titled the basic structure. Options are timely, aptly, opportunely, and pertinently. The idea is that the name basic structure is suitable for the constitutional principle being described. Concept / Approach: Aptly means in a way that is suitable or appropriate to the circumstances, often used for names, titles, and descriptions that match their subjects well. Saying something is aptly titled basic structure means that the title fits the concept very well. Timely refers to something happening at the right time, not to the suitability of a name. Opportunely also focuses on timing, meaning at a favourable or convenient moment. Pertinently means in a relevant or directly related way, and is more often applied to remarks or questions rather than titles. Among these, aptly is the only adverb that directly conveys the idea of a well chosen, appropriate title. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify that the clause is evaluating the suitability of the phrase basic structure as a name for an unchangeable constitutional core. Step 2: Recall that aptly is commonly used with verbs like named, called, or titled to say that a label fits its object. Step 3: Examine timely and opportunely, which focus on whether something happens at the right time, not whether a name is appropriate. Step 4: Consider pertinently, which usually modifies questions, remarks, or issues that are relevant to a topic, and is rarely used with titled. Step 5: Choose aptly as the adverb that naturally combines with titled and expresses that basic structure is an appropriate and fitting label for the principle. Verification / Alternative check: Insert each adverb into the sentence. An island of immutability, aptly titled the basic structure, conveys clearly that the term basic structure is a suitable name for this unchanging constitutional idea. An island of immutability, timely titled the basic structure, sounds odd because timely does not usually modify titled. Opportunely titled suggests that the title was chosen at a convenient time, which is not the focus of the passage. Pertinently titled is possible but uncommon; pertinently more often relates to arguments and questions, not to naming. Legal and academic writing often uses expressions like aptly termed or aptly called, confirming that aptly is the most idiomatic choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A timely describes time appropriateness and is used for actions or decisions happening at a suitable moment, not for evaluating whether a title fits a concept. Option C opportunely also emphasises timing and favourable moments, not the semantic suitability of names or titles. Option D pertinently focuses on relevance in argument or discussion and is not the standard adverb used with titled when praising a name as well chosen. Common Pitfalls: Candidates sometimes focus only on the general positive tone of the options and select words that sound sophisticated without checking their usual collocations. Timely and opportunely both feel positive but are semantically tied to time, not naming. Another pitfall is confusing apt with apt time; in this context, apt describes suitability, and aptly naturally follows from that meaning. When you face similar questions, always think about which adverb you have actually seen used with that particular verb or noun in quality reading material. Final Answer: aptly

Question 10

Identify the part of the sentence that contains an error in The boy who (1) sat close him (2) was his son. (3).

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This error spotting question checks your understanding of correct prepositional phrases in English. The sentence is divided into numbered segments: The boy who, sat close him, was his son, and No Error. You need to identify which segment contains incorrect or incomplete grammar. Such questions are common in exams because they focus attention on small but important details like prepositions and relative clauses that can easily be overlooked in normal reading. Given Data / Assumptions: The full sentence is The boy who sat close him was his son. Part 1 is The boy who. Part 2 is sat close him. Part 3 is was his son. Part 4 represents No Error. We want a natural English sentence that states which boy was his son. Concept / Approach: The main structure is a relative clause describing the boy. The phrase sat close him is incorrect because the preposition to is missing. In English, we say sit close to someone, stand next to someone, or sit near someone. The correct form here is sat close to him. The rest of the sentence, The boy who and was his son, is grammatically correct when combined with the corrected middle part. Therefore, the error exists in segment 2, which omits the required preposition to after close. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the sentence silently as if it were one piece: The boy who sat close him was his son. Step 2: Focus on the phrase sat close him and ask whether this matches natural English usage. Step 3: Recall that the usual expression is sit close to a person or sit close by someone, not sit close someone. Step 4: Replace sat close him with sat close to him and see that the full sentence now becomes The boy who sat close to him was his son, which is correct. Step 5: Confirm that parts 1 and 3, The boy who and was his son, work perfectly with the corrected middle part, so only part 2 contains an error. Verification / Alternative check: Compare this sentence with similar correct sentences. For example, The girl who sat next to me was my friend uses next to with a preposition. Another example is The child who sat close to her mother felt safe. In both cases, a prepositional phrase close to or next to a pronoun or noun is required. Without to, the phrase becomes ungrammatical. If we try to construct other sentences with close followed directly by a pronoun, they sound wrong. This shows that the error is indeed the missing preposition to in segment 2. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A The boy who correctly introduces a defining relative clause and has no grammatical problem. Option C was his son forms the main verb phrase of the sentence and is correctly constructed in simple past tense. Option D No Error would only be correct if all three segments were grammatically sound, but the missing preposition in part 2 proves that this is not the case. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes overlook small missing words like prepositions because meaning is still understandable from context. Another pitfall is thinking that close can be used like near without a preposition. In fact, we can say he stood near him but usually say he sat close to him. Remember that close to is a standard collocation when referring to physical proximity between people or objects. Training yourself to pay attention to these small patterns will help you catch similar errors quickly in examination questions. Final Answer: 2

Question 11

Identify the part of the sentence that contains an error in When I returned I felt (1) a big cat brush side me (2) as I opened the door. (3).

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This error spotting question checks correct verb object patterns and prepositional use in English. The sentence is divided into three parts followed by a No Error option. The scene describes someone returning and feeling a big cat move past them as they open the door. The task is to identify which part of the sentence is grammatically incorrect or unnatural in standard English usage. Given Data / Assumptions: The full sentence reads When I returned I felt a big cat brush side me as I opened the door. Part 1 is When I returned I felt. Part 2 is a big cat brush side me. Part 3 is as I opened the door. Part 4 indicates No Error. The intended meaning is that the speaker physically felt a cat touch or pass by their side as they entered. Concept / Approach: The problematic phrase is brush side me. In natural English, we would typically say brush past me, brush against me, or brush by my side. The structure brush side me is incorrect because the noun side cannot directly follow brush without a preposition or possessive. The verb felt is correctly followed by the bare infinitive brush in this causative or sensory construction, so felt a big cat brush is fine. The error lies in the phrase side me, where a preposition such as past or against is missing. The rest of the sentence, including When I returned I felt and as I opened the door, is grammatically acceptable. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the sentence smoothly and focus on the phrase a big cat brush side me, which sounds awkward. Step 2: Recall standard expressions like brush past me or brush against me that describe brief physical contact as something moves by. Step 3: Notice that side is a noun that usually appears in phrases like by my side or at my side, not directly after a verb without a preposition. Step 4: Recognise that a more natural version of the sentence would be I felt a big cat brush past me as I opened the door. Step 5: Conclude that the error occurs in part 2, because the phrase brush side me is grammatically faulty. Verification / Alternative check: Try repairing the sentence by changing only part 2. Replace a big cat brush side me with a big cat brush past me and read the full sentence: When I returned I felt a big cat brush past me as I opened the door. This is now correct and idiomatic. Another option would be brush against me, which also reads well. Both alternatives show that the original phrase side me needs a preposition or possessive form to be correct, such as by my side or at my side. Since the exam is concerned only with detecting the error, it is enough to identify that part 2 needs correction, even if the exact replacement is not requested. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A When I returned I felt uses correct past tense and introduces a sensory perception, which is grammatically sound. Option C as I opened the door correctly functions as a time clause describing when the sensation occurred. Option D No Error would mean that all parts are correct, but the unnatural and incorrect structure in part 2 proves that an error exists. Common Pitfalls: Students often read for overall meaning and may not notice slightly incorrect collocations if the sentence still makes some sense. Another pitfall is assuming that side can be used like beside without prepositions, which is not the case. In sensory verb constructions such as feel, see, or hear followed by an object and bare infinitive, it is easy to miss errors in the words that follow the infinitive. Training yourself to examine every word in such sequences and compare them with familiar expressions will help you catch subtle grammatical issues like this more reliably. Final Answer: 2

Question 12

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word in the sentence Ever since Anita lost her job, she has done _________ but wallow in self-pity.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your understanding of a common English fixed expression used with but. The sentence is Ever since Anita lost her job, she has done blank but wallow in self-pity. The phrase do nothing but plus base verb is a standard pattern meaning that someone has done only one thing and nothing else. Recognising such fixed patterns is essential for natural, grammatically correct usage in both speech and writing. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence fragment is she has done blank but wallow in self-pity. The options are none, nothing, no, and never. The auxiliary has done requires either an object or a complement to form a complete expression. The intended meaning is that since losing her job, she has only wallowed in self-pity and done nothing else. Concept / Approach: In English, the fixed structure has done nothing but plus base verb expresses exclusivity of action. For example, He has done nothing but complain or They have done nothing but argue all day. The word nothing functions as the object of has done, and but introduces the only action they have been doing. None would not fit because it is typically used as a pronoun replacing a noun phrase, not as a direct object in this specific pattern. No usually precedes a noun, as in no work or no time, and never is an adverb of frequency, which does not match the structure has done never but. Therefore, nothing is the correct choice. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recognise the familiar pattern do nothing but plus base verb, which is often used to emphasise that only one activity has taken place. Step 2: Identify has done as the auxiliary plus verb that requires a direct object, suggesting the structure has done nothing but wallow. Step 3: Test nothing in the blank and read the sentence: she has done nothing but wallow in self-pity, which sounds natural and idiomatic. Step 4: Try inserting none, no, and never and notice that each one breaks the normal pattern or produces an ungrammatical phrase. Step 5: Based on this fixed collocation and grammatical fit, select nothing as the correct answer. Verification / Alternative check: Compare the sentence with similar examples. We often say He has done nothing but work for weeks or The children did nothing but play during the holidays. Replacing nothing with none would give He has done none but work, which is incorrect. Using no would require a following noun, such as He has done no work, not no but work. Never is used with the auxiliary, as in He has never worked, and cannot be used in the slot before but in this structure. The pattern has done nothing but plus base form is stable and well attested, confirming that nothing is the only grammatically correct and idiomatic option. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A none functions as a pronoun meaning not any, but it does not fit as a direct object in the fixed expression has done none but wallow. Option C no must be followed by a noun, such as no effort or no progress, and cannot stand on its own before but in this sentence. Option D never is an adverb used with verbs to indicate zero frequency, as in has never worked, and does not combine correctly with done in the structure done never but. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes treat none, nothing, and no as interchangeable simply because they all convey negation. However, each has its own grammatical role and position. Another pitfall is ignoring fixed phrases and trying to compose new combinations spontaneously. Memorising common structures like nothing but, anything but, or everything but will greatly improve both comprehension and exam performance. When you see a verb like do or has done followed by but and a base verb, look for nothing before but to match this familiar pattern. Final Answer: nothing

Question 13

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate adverb in the sentence As I think back to my childhood, I ____________ recall the fun summers on my grandfather's farm.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence completion question tests your understanding of adverbs that describe emotional tone, especially in the context of memory and nostalgia. The sentence is As I think back to my childhood, I blank recall the fun summers on my grandfather's farm. The adverb must match the reflective and emotional mood of recalling happy times from the past. Given Data / Assumptions: The key fragment is I blank recall the fun summers on my grandfather's farm. Options are wistfully, fiscally, hopefully, and Awfully. The context is nostalgic remembrance, not finance, expectation, or strong negative feeling. Concept / Approach: Wistfully means in a way that shows a feeling of vague or regretful longing, often used when someone looks back on the past with a mixture of happiness and sadness. This fits perfectly with recalling fun summers from childhood on a farm. Fiscally relates to finance and money matters, which clearly does not suit the emotional content of the sentence. Hopefully describes hope or desire for something in the future, which again does not match the backward looking perspective. Awfully is an informal intensifier meaning very or badly, and does not normally modify recall in a reflective, nostalgic context. Therefore, wistfully is the most appropriate choice. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Note that the sentence begins with As I think back to my childhood, which signals a nostalgic or reflective mood. Step 2: Identify that the speaker is remembering fun summers on the farm, likely with fondness and perhaps a little longing. Step 3: Recall the meaning of wistfully as with gentle sadness or longing for something in the past or out of reach. Step 4: Compare this with fiscally, which relates to economics and has no connection to emotional recollection. Step 5: Evaluate hopefully and Awfully and see that neither one naturally conveys the gentle, nostalgic mood described, leaving wistfully as the best option. Verification / Alternative check: Insert each adverb into the sentence. I wistfully recall the fun summers on my grandfather's farm sounds natural and paints a picture of someone smiling softly while remembering childhood. I fiscally recall is nonsensical, since finances are unrelated. I hopefully recall suggests that the speaker is not sure about the memories and is hoping to recall them, which does not match the clear, vivid fun summers mentioned. I awfully recall the fun summers sounds clumsy and could even imply that recalling them is unpleasant, which contradicts the positive description of those summers. Literature and personal essays often use phrases like look back wistfully or recall wistfully, confirming that wistfully is the best match. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B fiscally belongs to the domain of finance and taxation and is completely out of place in a sentence about childhood memories. Option C hopefully expresses hope for the future or wishful thinking about present events and does not describe the emotional flavour of recalling past events. Option D Awfully is an informal intensifier used before adjectives or adverbs like awfully cold or awfully hard and does not function well before recall in this reflective, literary context. Common Pitfalls: Sometimes students pick adverbs simply because they are familiar or frequently heard in conversation, such as hopefully or awfully, without checking whether they logically match the context. Another pitfall is ignoring the emotional tone established by phrases like think back to my childhood. When you see language about remembering the past with mixed joy and sadness, adverbs like wistfully or nostalgically are far more likely to fit than those related to money or strong negative intensity. Paying attention to mood and not just grammar will help you make better choices in similar questions. Final Answer: wistfully

Question 14

Select the word that is most similar in meaning to the verb Pillage.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This vocabulary question asks you to find the word closest in meaning to the verb pillage. Pillage is frequently used in historical and military contexts and refers to violent looting, especially during war. Understanding its approximate synonym among words that describe actions toward property is important for reading history texts, news reports about conflicts, and literary descriptions of war or invasion. Given Data / Assumptions: The target word is pillage. The options are Bequeath, Consign, Entrust, and Desecrate. We must choose the verb that best captures the idea of violating or plundering property associated with pillage. Concept / Approach: Pillage means to rob a place using violence, especially in wartime, often combined with destruction of property. Desecrate means to treat a sacred place or object with violent disrespect or to violate its sanctity, often involving damage or destruction. While desecrate focuses on lack of respect for sacredness rather than stealing belongings, it still carries the sense of violent violation and destruction. The other options all describe actions of giving or transferring property in a lawful or respectful way, which is opposite in nature to pillage. Therefore, among the options given, desecrate is the nearest in meaning to pillage in that both involve disrespectful and damaging treatment of property or places. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the meaning of pillage as to plunder, rob, or loot, typically using violence during war or invasion. Step 2: Examine desecrate, which means to violate the sanctity of something, especially a holy place, often with physical damage or defilement. Step 3: Note the common idea between pillage and desecrate, namely violent or morally shocking treatment of objects and places. Step 4: Review Bequeath, which means to leave property to someone by will after death, a respectful legal action totally unlike pillage. Step 5: Consider Consign and Entrust, both of which involve handing over property for safekeeping or delivery, again very different from violent theft or destruction. Verification / Alternative check: Use each option in a sentence similar to a typical context for pillage. For pillage, you might read Soldiers pillaged the town, stealing valuables and burning homes. Now try desecrate: The invaders desecrated the temple, smashing idols and looting offerings. The tone and type of action are quite similar. By contrast, Bequeath appears in sentences like She bequeathed her estate to her children, showing kindness and legality. Consign suits business contexts such as The goods were consigned to the warehouse. Entrust appears in sentences like They entrusted the documents to a lawyer, again implying responsibility and care. None of these positive, lawful actions resemble the violent and immoral nature of pillage, confirming desecrate as the closest option. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A Bequeath is about leaving property by will to heirs and has a respectful, legal meaning that contrasts sharply with violent looting. Option B Consign means to deliver something into the hands of another, often for storage or sale, and is neutral or business like in tone. Option C Entrust involves giving someone responsibility for something valuable, implying trust and care, which is opposite to the destruction and theft implied by pillage. Common Pitfalls: Some learners may be unfamiliar with the word desecrate and avoid it, choosing a more familiar term even if its meaning does not match well. Others may focus on dictionary lists where desecrate is associated more with religious violation than with theft and forget that pillage also often involves damage to culturally important places. In many exam questions, perfect synonyms are not available, and you must choose the best approximate match from the set given. Checking the emotional tone negative or positive and the general field of use war, law, business can guide you toward the most suitable option. Final Answer: Desecrate

Question 15

In the following sentence, identify the part that contains an error, or select 'No error': "He was going to / like the clothes she / bought for the trip."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question belongs to the common competitive exam type called error spotting. You are given a sentence divided into numbered parts. Your task is to identify which specific part contains a grammatical or usage error, or decide that there is no error at all. The sentence here describes someone's expectation that another person will like the clothes bought for a trip. Given Data / Assumptions: - Part 1: He was going to - Part 2: like the clothes she - Part 3: bought for the trip. - Part 4: No error (to be chosen only if Parts 1, 2, and 3 are fully correct). - The intended meaning is that he would probably like the clothes that she purchased for the trip. Concept / Approach: To solve error spotting questions, it is important to check tense consistency, preposition use, and natural collocations. The phrase bought for the trip is the standard way to express that clothes were purchased with the purpose of using them on the trip. A phrase like bought of the trip is incorrect in this context, because the preposition of does not show purpose or intended use. Therefore, we must focus on the preposition in Part 3. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the whole sentence smoothly: He was going to like the clothes she bought for the trip. Step 2: Check Part 1. The structure was going to like is acceptable and indicates a future in the past, so there is no error in Part 1. Step 3: Check Part 2. The phrase like the clothes she is the beginning of a clause and is grammatically fine when followed by bought for the trip. Step 4: Look carefully at Part 3. The correct collocation is bought for the trip, not bought of the trip. Using of would be wrong. Step 5: Recognise that the only incorrect element in the original version is the preposition of in Part 3. Step 6: Conclude that Part 3 is where the error lies, so option 3 is the correct answer. Verification / Alternative check: Replace of with for and read the corrected sentence again: He was going to like the clothes she bought for the trip. This revised version sounds natural and follows standard English usage. No other part requires any change. This confirms that the problem was limited to the preposition in Part 3 and that Parts 1 and 2 are grammatically sound. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part 1 correctly uses the pattern was going to plus base verb to show expectation in the past. Part 2 simply continues the object of like and does not contain any tense or agreement error. Part 4, No error, cannot be chosen because we have clearly identified a preposition error. Therefore, options 1, 2, and 4 are all incorrect choices. Common Pitfalls: Many learners read quickly and fail to notice small preposition errors. They may incorrectly assume that because the overall meaning is clear, there is no grammatical problem. In error spotting tasks, however, exam setters often hide the mistake in a tiny word like of, to, for, or on. Training yourself to pay close attention to such small but important words will improve your accuracy significantly. Final Answer: 3 is the correct choice, because the preposition in Part 3 should be for, not of.

Question 16

In the following sentence, identify the part that contains an error, or select 'No error': "\"You did not answer my / question," he said, / stepping toward her."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This is another error spotting question where a sentence is broken into numbered segments. The sentence reports dialogue and a physical action that follows it. Your job is to identify which segment contains a grammatical or usage error, or declare that there is no error if all parts are correct. Given Data / Assumptions: - Part 1: "You did not answer my - Part 2: question," he said, - Part 3: stepping to her. - Part 4: No error. - The intended meaning is that he spoke these words and then moved closer in her direction. Concept / Approach: The phrase stepping to her is not idiomatic in standard English when describing movement toward a person. More natural expressions include stepping toward her or stepping up to her. The rest of the sentence, including the reported speech and the reporting verb he said, is grammatically sound. Therefore, we must focus on the preposition and object in Part 3 to locate the error. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the entire sentence as one unit: "You did not answer my question," he said, stepping to her. Step 2: Examine Part 1. The negative past form did not answer is correct, and my question is also correct. There is no error here. Step 3: Check Part 2. The punctuation "question," he said, correctly follows direct speech conventions, and there is no grammatical issue. Step 4: Focus on Part 3. The collocation stepping to her sounds awkward; English normally uses toward with verbs of movement when indicating direction towards a person or object. Step 5: Recognise that a better expression would be stepping toward her or stepping up to her. This shows that the original preposition to is not the best choice. Step 6: Conclude that Part 3 contains the error, since the preposition used after stepping is incorrect. Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence with the corrected phrase: "You did not answer my question," he said, stepping toward her. This version reads smoothly and reflects standard usage. The rest of the sentence still sounds correct, which confirms that only Part 3 required change. Therefore, the error is restricted to the misused preposition to in the original fragment stepping to her. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part 1 forms a grammatically correct clause in the simple past. Part 2 correctly joins the spoken words to the reporting clause. Part 4, No error, would be chosen only if the entire sentence were acceptable. Because we have clearly identified a usage error in Part 3, options 1, 2, and 4 cannot be correct answers. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes underestimate the importance of small prepositions like to, toward, or at and assume that any of them will work. In reality, English has strong preferences in set expressions such as go to school, look at him, and step toward her. For error spotting tasks, training your ear with natural collocations through reading and listening practice greatly reduces the chance of overlooking such subtle errors. Final Answer: 3 is the correct choice, because stepping to her should be stepping toward her or stepping up to her.

Question 17

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate noun: "After missing four days of school due to a _________ of flu, Babita struggled to make up for her missing work."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This vocabulary based cloze question tests your ability to select the correct word that naturally fits a common medical or health related expression. The sentence describes Babita missing several days of school because she was ill with the flu, and it focuses on the correct noun used to describe a short period of illness. Given Data / Assumptions: - Sentence: After missing four days of school due to a _________ of flu, Babita struggled to make up for her missing work. - Options: bout, about, amount, array. - The context describes a short period of sickness with influenza. - We need a noun that collocates naturally with flu. Concept / Approach: In everyday English, the standard expression is a bout of flu or a bout of illness. The word bout refers to a short period of intense activity or suffering, especially illness or an episode of some condition. The other options either have different meanings or do not form a standard phrase with flu. Therefore, the most appropriate and idiomatic word to complete the blank is bout. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the key phrase due to a _________ of flu. The missing word must describe a period or episode of illness. Step 2: Recall the common collocation bout of flu, which means a short spell of flu. Step 3: Insert bout into the sentence: After missing four days of school due to a bout of flu, Babita struggled to make up for her missing work. Step 4: Check whether the complete sentence reads naturally and conveys the intended meaning. It does. Step 5: Examine about, which is a preposition or adverb and cannot follow the article a in this way to give a suitable meaning. Step 6: Consider amount and array, which refer to quantity or an ordered display and do not fit the idea of an episode of illness. Verification / Alternative check: Think of similar expressions used in news or health articles, such as a bout of fever, a bout of depression, or a bout of coughing fits. In all these examples, bout refers to a temporary spell of a condition. Substitute amount or array into those examples and they immediately sound unnatural. This comparison confirms that bout is the only option that fits both the meaning and the collocational pattern with flu. Why Other Options Are Wrong: About mainly functions as a preposition or adverb (for example, talk about something or move about the room) and cannot serve as a countable noun in this context. Amount refers to quantity, usually of something that can be measured, such as an amount of money, and does not describe a short spell of illness. Array refers to a large group or an impressive display and is not used with flu in standard English. Common Pitfalls: In cloze questions, some learners focus only on grammar and overlook the importance of set phrases. All four words might appear to fit structurally after a, but only bout forms a recognised expression with flu. Paying attention to collocations in your reading practice, especially common medical phrases, helps you quickly eliminate incorrect options and improves both comprehension and accuracy in exams. Final Answer: bout correctly completes the sentence as a bout of flu.

Question 18

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate noun: "The company refunded the customer's money in _______________ with the laws."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks your understanding of fixed prepositional phrases used in formal English, especially in legal or business contexts. The sentence describes a company refunding money in a way that follows the relevant laws. The task is to choose the noun or related form that correctly completes the well known expression in accordance with. Given Data / Assumptions: - Sentence: The company refunded the customer's money in _______________ with the laws. - Options: according, accordingly, accordance, accord. - The company must follow legal rules while refunding. - The phrase is formal and commonly used in contracts and regulations. Concept / Approach: The standard form of the expression is in accordance with, which means in agreement with or in conformity with rules, laws, or instructions. Here, we need the noun accordance to complete that phrase. According is usually part of according to, accordingly is an adverb meaning in a suitable way, and accord can be a noun or verb with slightly different usage. Only accordance forms the exact collocation needed. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the key phrase in _______________ with the laws, which signals a set expression. Step 2: Recall that the fixed phrase is in accordance with the law or in accordance with the rules. Step 3: Insert accordance into the sentence: The company refunded the customer's money in accordance with the laws. Step 4: Confirm that this sentence now sounds like a typical formal statement in legal or business writing. Step 5: Test according and accordingly and see that they require different prepositions or structures such as according to, not in according with. Step 6: Note that accord alone is used in slightly different phrases such as in accord with, but the more common and precise exam choice is in accordance with. Verification / Alternative check: Look at similar examples: The policy was changed in accordance with the new regulations or The decision was made in accordance with company procedures. All these use the noun accordance. Replacing it with any of the other options would sound incorrect or at least non standard, particularly in examination level English. This consistency across examples confirms that accordance is the correct answer. Why Other Options Are Wrong: According is typically used in the structure according to, as in according to the report, and cannot directly follow in. Accordingly is an adverb and would fit in a sentence like The company acted accordingly, but not inside the phrase in accordingly with. Accord can appear in in accord with, which is grammatical, but the test question clearly targets the more widely taught phrase in accordance with, making accordance the proper choice. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes confuse words that look similar, such as accord and accordance, and may pick an option simply because it seems familiar. It is crucial to remember whole phrases, not just individual words, especially in formal English. Learning and revising common legal and official collocations like in accordance with prevents mistakes in cloze tests and improves formal writing skills. Final Answer: accordance correctly completes the phrase in accordance with the laws.

Question 19

Out of the following options, select the word that is closest in meaning to "affectionate".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This synonym question tests your grasp of words describing emotional attitude towards other people. The target word affectionate is frequently used to describe behaviour that shows love, warmth, and tender feelings. Your task is to pick the option that is closest in meaning to affectionate among the four given choices. Given Data / Assumptions: - Target adjective: affectionate. - Options: Neglectful, Aloof, Sympathetic, suppressive. - The word affectionate usually describes a person who shows caring behaviour, physical warmth, or kind feelings. - Only one option should share a similar positive and caring emotional tone. Concept / Approach: Affectionate refers to someone who readily shows love, fondness, or tenderness. Typical collocations include affectionate parents, an affectionate hug, or affectionate behaviour. Sympathetic means showing understanding and care about someone else's problems or feelings, which is emotionally close to affectionate. The other options describe negative or distant attitudes and therefore move in the opposite direction. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that affectionate persons are warm, loving, and ready to show their feelings in a kind way. Step 2: Examine Neglectful. This word describes someone who ignores duties or fails to give proper care, which is the opposite of warm attention. Step 3: Look at Aloof. Aloof people are distant and detached, not emotionally close or expressive, so this is contrary to affectionate. Step 4: Consider Sympathetic. A sympathetic person shows understanding, kindness, and concern for others, which fits well with the general idea of caring emotion. Step 5: Check suppressive, which suggests holding things down or controlling them harshly rather than expressing warmth. Step 6: Conclude that Sympathetic, with its caring and understanding tone, is the closest in meaning to affectionate. Verification / Alternative check: Try using each option in a sample sentence. She gave the child an affectionate smile and She gave the child a sympathetic smile both describe kind and caring expressions. In contrast, a neglectful smile or an aloof smile sound unnatural or even contradictory. A suppressive smile does not match common English usage at all. This test confirms that Sympathetic is the best available synonym in this set. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Neglectful focuses on absence of care and attention, the opposite of what affectionate suggests. Aloof emphasises emotional distance and coldness, again clashing with the warmth implied by affectionate. Suppressive points to controlling or repressing, perhaps of feelings or actions, and bears no similarity to expressions of love or tenderness. Since all three show negative or distant attitudes, they cannot be synonyms of affectionate. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes confuse sympathetic with pitying, but sympathetic usually carries a positive sense of understanding and fellow feeling. Another mistake is to rely only on partial memory of how a word sounds rather than on its meaning and emotional tone. To avoid such errors, connect new words to clear mental images or short example sentences, such as an affectionate parent or a sympathetic friend, so that the correct synonym becomes easier to recall. Final Answer: Sympathetic is the word most similar in meaning to affectionate.

Question 20

Out of the following options, select the word that is closest in meaning to "consequent".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This synonym question focuses on the adjective consequent, a word that often appears in formal writing, logic, and reports. Consequent describes something that follows as a result of a previous action, event, or condition. You must select the option that best captures this sense of following or resulting. Given Data / Assumptions: - Target word: consequent. - Options: Inception, Ensuing, Dawn, Creation. - The context is usually cause and effect, where one event is consequent upon another. - Only one option should clearly convey a sense of something that comes after. Concept / Approach: Consequent means following as a result or effect. For example, a consequent rise in prices is an increase that follows from some earlier cause. Ensuing is an adjective and participle that also means following or coming afterward, especially as a result. The other options mainly refer to beginnings or acts of bringing something into existence, not to what follows from prior causes. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that consequent is used in expressions like consequent damage or consequent events, which clearly follow from something earlier. Step 2: Examine Ensuing. It is typically used in phrases like the ensuing months or the ensuing events, meaning the months or events that followed. Step 3: Note that this meaning of following fits closely with consequent. Step 4: Consider Inception, which means the beginning or start of something, not the result that comes after. Step 5: Look at Dawn, which usually refers to the first light of day or the beginning of an idea or period. Step 6: Check Creation, which refers to bringing something into existence, also linked to starting rather than to resulting. Ensuing remains the only good synonym. Verification / Alternative check: Use sample sentences to compare. The consequent confusion among customers and the ensuing confusion among customers have very similar meanings, both indicating confusion that followed some action. Replacing consequent with inception or dawn would shift the focus to beginning stages, which is incorrect. Likewise, creation would emphasise making something new, not the outcome. This cross check confirms Ensuing as the best synonym. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Inception emphasises the start of a process or institution. Dawn typically marks the beginning of a day or metaphorically the start of an era or idea. Creation highlights the act of making or bringing into existence. None of these words indicate something that follows as a result, which is central to consequent. Only Ensuing shares that meaning of following events or outcomes. Common Pitfalls: Because many exam words occur in abstract contexts, students sometimes mix up terms linked to beginnings and results. A simple way to keep them clear is to think of a timeline. Words like inception, dawn, and creation sit at the start of the timeline, while consequent and ensuing appear later as outcomes or later stages. Visualising this timeline helps you choose the correct synonym quickly. Final Answer: Ensuing is the word closest in meaning to consequent.

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