Question 1

In this English spelling question, select the correctly spelled word from the four options given, focusing on standard modern English usage.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This item tests your knowledge of correct English spelling, which is crucial for clear written communication and for scoring well in language sections of competitive exams. You are given four similar looking words and asked to choose the one that is correctly spelled according to standard modern English. The target skill is distinguishing genuine English words from forms that contain extra letters, missing letters, or incorrect letter patterns. Given Data / Assumptions: Four candidate spellings are presented: splintted, goudiest, gibbered, and gleening. Only one of these words is spelled correctly in standard English. You are not asked for meaning, but meaning can help confirm which form actually exists in common usage. The tested vocabulary comes from everyday English rather than highly technical language. Concept / Approach: In spelling questions, a good approach is to ask two things: first, whether the word itself is familiar, and second, whether its pattern of letters follows normal English rules. "Gibbered" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "gibber", which means to talk rapidly and unintelligibly, often in fear or confusion. That word is well established and correctly formed by adding "-ed". The other options either do not represent standard words or contain incorrect doubling of consonants or vowels. Recognising common roots and suffixes, and recalling whether the base word is real, helps to eliminate wrong choices systematically. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Examine "splintted". The base word "splint" is real, but the correct past tense is "splinted", not "splintted", so this spelling is incorrect.Step 2: Examine "goudiest". This form is unfamiliar and does not relate to any common English word. A similar looking word "gaudiest" exists, but that is spelled differently.Step 3: Examine "gibbered". The verb "gibber" is real, and adding "ed" to form "gibbered" follows normal spelling rules and is recognised in dictionaries.Step 4: Examine "gleening". The regular word is "gleaning" from "glean", so "gleening" with double e in the middle and ing at the end is not correct.Step 5: Since only "gibbered" matches a real English word and a valid spelling pattern, select it as the correct answer. Verification / Alternative check: To verify, you can try forming different grammatical forms of the suspected base words. For "splint", you would say "He splinted the broken finger", not "He splintted the broken finger". For "gibber", however, you naturally say "He gibbered in fear" or "He had gibbered for several minutes". For "glean", you talk about "gleaning information", and the present participle is "gleaning", not "gleening". The absence of real, natural usage for the wrong options and the presence of clear, correct usage for "gibbered" confirm your choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Splintted" wrongly doubles the consonant t and ignores the standard formation "splinted". "Goudiest" does not correspond to a recognised English word and appears to be a distorted form of "gaudiest". "Gleening" misuses vowel doubling and conflicts with the real word "gleaning". Since exam setters often introduce such near miss forms to test careful reading, you should treat them as traps rather than genuine alternatives. Common Pitfalls: Candidates sometimes pick the option that simply looks most complicated, assuming that longer or stranger spellings are correct in English. Others may not recall the base verb clearly and treat all four forms as equally likely. A helpful habit is to think of simple example sentences that you may have read or heard. If you can comfortably imagine a sentence like "He gibbered in terror", you know that "gibbered" is an authentic word and the spelling is reliable. Final Answer: The correctly spelled word is gibbered.

Question 2

In this English spelling question, identify the correctly spelled standard English word from the four options given.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question asks you to choose the correctly spelled English word out of four similar looking options. Spelling accuracy is important not only for exam performance but also for clear written communication in academic and professional settings. Among the four choices, only one matches standard dictionary spelling; the others contain deliberate errors such as extra consonants, wrong vowel combinations, or missing letters. Given Data / Assumptions: The options are toxicety, mamalia, collumned, and notation. Only one of these words is correctly spelled according to standard English usage. You may or may not know the meanings, but recognising common suffixes and familiar roots can guide you. The question is purely about spelling, not about which word seems more technical or advanced. Concept / Approach: The word "notation" is a widely used term in mathematics, music, and other fields to refer to a system of symbols or signs. Its spelling is stable and familiar: n o t a t i o n. The other options appear to be distorted versions of real words. "Toxicity" is the correct spelling for a related concept about poison or harmfulness, not "toxicety". "Mammalia" is a scientific class name for mammals, not "mamalia". "Columned" is the correct past participle form meaning having columns, not "collumned". Recognising the roots "toxic", "mammal", and "column", and remembering their standard forms, allows you to see how each of those three options has been misspelled. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Analyse "toxicety". You can relate it to "toxic" and "toxicity". The standard noun is "toxicity", so this spelling is wrong.Step 2: Analyse "mamalia". This looks similar to "mammalia", the zoological term for the class of mammals, but it is missing an m, so it is incorrect.Step 3: Analyse "collumned". The base word "column" has only one l at the start, so "columned" is the correct form. Doubling the l makes this option wrong.Step 4: Analyse "notation". This word is familiar in many school subjects and matches the known spelling, with the suffix "-ation" added to "note".Step 5: Conclude that "notation" is the only correctly spelled word out of the four options. Verification / Alternative check: If you think about example sentences, you might remember phrases such as "musical notation", "mathematical notation", or "chemical notation", all of which use exactly this spelling. In contrast, you are unlikely to have seen "toxicety" in any textbook, whereas "toxicity" is common. Similarly, biology books refer to "Mammalia", with two m letters after the initial letter, and architecture or art books use "columned", not "collumned". The fact that only "notation" fits both your reading experience and standard morphological patterns confirms that it is the correct answer. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Toxicety" misrepresents the correct noun "toxicity" and uses the nonstandard ending "cety". "Mamalia" omits one m and therefore fails to match the accepted scientific term. "Collumned" incorrectly doubles the l in "column", which already contains a silent n and does not take an extra l. Examiners often create such near miss spellings to reward students who pay careful attention to letters and common suffixes. Common Pitfalls: Some candidates rely on a vague impression that scientific or technical words always have strange spellings, and they may therefore overtrust distorted forms like "mamalia" or "toxicety". Others skim quickly and do not notice small changes such as an extra l in "collumned". A reliable strategy is to identify the simplest, most familiar base word first and then add or check the suffix. When you see "notation", you can clearly link it to "note", and the pattern note plus ation is very regular in English. Final Answer: The correctly spelled word is notation.

Question 3

In this English vocabulary question, select the antonym (word with the opposite meaning) of the adjective "abominable", which is used to describe something very bad, hateful, or disgusting.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks your understanding of antonyms in English vocabulary. The given word "abominable" is a strong negative adjective used to describe something extremely bad, hateful, or disgusting, such as "abominable behaviour" or "abominable conditions". Your task is to choose the option that expresses the opposite meaning, not just another negative meaning. Distinguishing between similar negative words and a genuine opposite is a key skill in verbal ability sections of competitive examinations. Given Data / Assumptions: The target word is "abominable". The options are attractive, gross, grim, and lousy. Only one option should convey a positive or pleasing quality that clearly contrasts with the sense of something hateful or disgusting. The context is general descriptive language, not a specialised technical field. Concept / Approach: "Abominable" is strongly negative. It can refer to behaviour, acts, or conditions that are morally or emotionally offensive. Typical synonyms include "detestable", "horrible", and "loathsome". For an antonym, you must look for a word that describes something pleasant, appealing, or good. "Attractive" is positive and denotes something pleasing to look at or appealing in some way. The other three options, "gross", "grim", and "lousy", all carry negative meanings and are therefore more like synonyms or near synonyms rather than opposites. The strategy is to separate negative and positive options first, then choose the one that best opposes the sense of the stem word. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that "abominable" means detestable, horrible, or extremely unpleasant.Step 2: Classify the options by overall tone. "Gross", "grim", and "lousy" are negative adjectives, while "attractive" is positive.Step 3: Examine "attractive". It describes something pleasant or appealing, which is clearly the opposite of disgusting or hateful.Step 4: Examine "gross". This can itself mean disgusting, which is close in meaning to "abominable".Step 5: Examine "grim". It suggests something harsh, severe, or depressing, again negative in tone.Step 6: Examine "lousy". This also means very bad or poor in quality, which is another negative term.Step 7: Conclude that "attractive" is the only genuine opposite of "abominable" among the given options. Verification / Alternative check: Test each option in a sample sentence. If you say "an abominable sight", you mean something extremely bad or disgusting. The opposite would be "an attractive sight", something pleasing or beautiful. "A gross sight" would still be disgusting, "a grim sight" remains bleak, and "a lousy sight" is simply very poor. None of those represent a true opposite in emotional reaction. This simple sentence substitution confirms that "attractive" is the correct antonym. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Gross" frequently means disgusting, vulgar, or extremely objectionable in casual and formal English, so it is close in meaning to "abominable". "Grim" means gloomy, harsh, or severe, again a negative quality. "Lousy" is informal slang meaning very bad, poor, or unpleasant. All three share a negative character and cannot serve as antonyms for another negative word. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes focus on intensity rather than polarity. Because "gross" is also very strong, they may pick it due to its emotional impact, forgetting that both "abominable" and "gross" are negative. Another error is to think that any unfamiliar word must be the correct option. Instead, use clear reasoning about positive versus negative meaning. When a question asks for an antonym, the correct answer should reverse the emotional or evaluative direction of the original word. Final Answer: The antonym of "abominable" from the given options is attractive.

Question 4

In this direct and indirect speech question, convert the sentence "I said to her, \"I will do it now or never.\"" into the correct indirect speech form.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question examines your understanding of how to change a sentence from direct speech to indirect (reported) speech in English. The original sentence is "I said to her, \"I will do it now or never.\"". When converting to indirect speech, you must adjust the reporting verb phrase, change pronouns and time expressions appropriately, and maintain the original meaning and intention of the speaker. This is a standard grammar topic in many competitive exams. Given Data / Assumptions: Direct speech: "I said to her, \"I will do it now or never.\"" The reporting verb is in the past ("said"). The options present different possible indirect speech versions. We must preserve the meaning that the speaker is willing to do the action at that very moment or not at all. Concept / Approach: When changing from direct to indirect speech, several transformations are usually required. The reporting verb "said to" generally becomes "told" when followed by an object pronoun such as "her". The first person pronoun "I" remains "I" because the reporter and original speaker are the same person. The simple future "will do" changes to "would do" because the reporting verb is in the past. The time expression "now" is shifted to "then" in indirect speech. Finally, the structure "now or never" becomes "then or never". A correct indirect form must apply all these rules without changing the overall meaning. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Replace "said to her" with "told her" to follow standard reporting patterns.Step 2: Introduce the conjunction "that" after "told her" (often optional but common in formal exam answers).Step 3: Change the verb "will do" to "would do" because the main reporting verb is in the past tense.Step 4: Change the time expression "now" to "then" to reflect reported timing.Step 5: Keep "I" as "I" because the speaker is reporting his own words.Step 6: The final form should read: "I told her that I would do it then or never." Verification / Alternative check: Compare the suggested answer with each option. Option A says "I informed her that I would do it that moment or never." Although close in meaning, the phrase "that moment" is less standard than "then" for reporting "now", and "informed" is not the usual choice when reproducing a promise in direct speech. Option B omits "that", which is acceptable, but "I told her I would do it then or never" is structurally fine and similar to option D. Option C changes the sense completely by saying "would not do it then or ever", which reverses the meaning. Option D, "I told her that I would do it then or never", accurately applies tense shift, time shift, and pronoun consistency. It is the best and most complete answer. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A uses "informed", which is less natural for reporting a promise or threat and also uses "that moment", which is not the usual indirect equivalent of "now". Option B is grammatically acceptable but is slightly less complete in formal style without "that", and exam keys often prefer the explicitly introduced clause. Option C is clearly incorrect because it changes "I will do it now or never" into a refusal, "I would not do it then or ever", which contradicts the original meaning. Thus only option D fully satisfies the grammar rules and preserves sense. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes forget to change "now" to "then" or incorrectly keep the future tense "will" after a past reporting verb. Another common error is to alter the meaning while trying to sound formal. You should always apply three checks: change the reporting expression ("said to" to "told"), adjust tense and time adverbs, and confirm that the final statement has the same intention as the original words. Final Answer: The correct indirect speech form is I told her that I would do it then or never.

Question 5

In this English idiom and phrase question, select the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom "smell a rat".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your knowledge of idiomatic expressions in English. The phrase "smell a rat" is an idiom, meaning that its overall sense cannot be understood by literally interpreting the individual words. Many exams include idioms because they reveal how well candidates understand natural, everyday language. To answer correctly, you must recall what feelings or situation this expression describes in real life communication. Given Data / Assumptions: The idiom given is "smell a rat". You must choose the option that explains what this idiom means in simple English. The options present different possible interpretations: sensing unfair events, suspecting trickery, being warned of danger, or preventing calamity. The idiom is used mainly in informal and semi formal contexts to describe suspicion that something dishonest is happening. Concept / Approach: In English, "to smell a rat" means to suspect that something is wrong, dishonest, or deceptive, even if there is no clear proof yet. The image suggests that, like a bad smell, something feels off and suspicious. The focus is on suspicion of trickery or fraud, not necessarily on danger or misfortune in general. When choosing an explanation for an idiom, look for the option that matches this emotional shade and usual context, rather than one that only partially overlaps in meaning. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall situations when native speakers use the phrase "I smell a rat". It often appears when someone doubts a story, an excuse, or a deal.Step 2: Evaluate option A: "To sense that events will not be in your favour". This is about expecting bad luck or unfavourable results, not necessarily about dishonesty.Step 3: Evaluate option B: "To begin to suspect trickery or deception". This directly matches the idea of believing that something shady or dishonest is going on.Step 4: Evaluate option C: "To be forewarned of danger to oneself". This focuses on personal danger, which is only one possible outcome and does not capture the central idea of deceit.Step 5: Evaluate option D: "To prevent calamity by chance". This suggests accidentally stopping a disaster, which is unrelated to suspicion.Step 6: Choose option B because it precisely represents the standard meaning of the idiom. Verification / Alternative check: Insert the idiom into an example sentence: "When he offered to handle all the paperwork himself, I smelled a rat." This sentence implies that the speaker suspected something dishonest, not simply a bad outcome or danger. Replacing "smelled a rat" with "began to suspect trickery" preserves the meaning almost exactly. If you insert option A, it becomes something like "I sensed that events would not be in my favour", which does not necessarily involve deceit. Options C and D move even further away from the idea of dishonesty. The alignment between the idiom and option B in examples confirms that B is correct. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A focuses on outcomes being unfavourable, which could happen even when everyone is honest. Option C refers to being warned of danger but says nothing about fraud or trickery, which are central to the idiom. Option D talks about preventing calamity by chance, which is completely different from feeling suspicious. None of these capture the specific idea of suspecting that someone is cheating or lying. Common Pitfalls: Some learners confuse "smell a rat" with general intuition about bad events or danger. Because the image of a rat can be associated with filth and risk, they may link it to physical danger rather than dishonesty. A good way to remember the meaning is to associate rats with sneaky behaviour and hidden problems, just as a scam or fraud is hidden beneath a friendly surface. Final Answer: The idiom "smell a rat" means to begin to suspect trickery or deception.

Question 6

In this sentence rearrangement question, arrange the parts P, Q, and R to form a coherent sentence: "An engineer building a bridge P-find easy to comprehend Q-picks the best plan R-and not the one that motorists".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your ability to rearrange jumbled parts of a sentence into a grammatically correct and meaningful order. You are given an initial phrase, "An engineer building a bridge", followed by three labelled parts P, Q, and R. The task is to decide the sequence in which P, Q, and R should appear after the introductory phrase so that the full sentence is logical and clear. Sentence rearrangement is a common test of both grammar and meaning in English exams. Given Data / Assumptions: Starting fragment: "An engineer building a bridge". P: "find easy to comprehend". Q: "picks the best plan". R: "and not the one that motorists". You must choose among four sequences: RQP, RPQ, PRQ, and QRP. Concept / Approach: The core idea of the sentence is that an engineer selects bridge plans based on engineering criteria rather than on what motorists find easy to understand. The natural structure in English after the subject phrase "An engineer building a bridge" is a verb phrase such as "picks the best plan". Then we expect a contrasting clause introduced by "and not the one that ...". Finally, we complete that clause by specifying who finds it easy to comprehend. So we need to place the verb phrase first, the contrast phrase second, and the completion of that contrast phrase last. This guides us toward a sequence of Q, R, then P. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the main verb phrase. Q, "picks the best plan", clearly acts as the main predicate after "An engineer building a bridge".Step 2: Look for a phrase that begins a contrast or adds extra information. R, "and not the one that motorists", introduces such a contrast.Step 3: Notice that R is incomplete by itself because it needs something that motorists do. P, "find easy to comprehend", naturally completes the idea: "the one that motorists find easy to comprehend".Step 4: Combine them to form the full sentence: "An engineer building a bridge picks the best plan and not the one that motorists find easy to comprehend."Step 5: The order of segments is therefore Q followed by R followed by P, which corresponds to option QRP. Verification / Alternative check: Test other orders quickly. If you start with P, you get "... find easy to comprehend", which cannot follow the subject without a clear reference and does not begin the main verb phrase. Starting with R gives "and not the one that motorists", which is a conjunction fragment and cannot stand immediately after the subject. Starting with Q is the only choice that yields a complete and meaningful continuation of "An engineer building a bridge". After Q, R and P combine neatly into a relative clause about the preference of motorists. This analysis confirms that QRP is the only fully coherent order. Why Other Options Are Wrong: RQP starts with a conjunction "and", which requires prior information to contrast with, so it cannot directly follow the subject phrase. RPQ also begins with an incomplete contrast and then adds "find easy to comprehend" without a clear grammatical link to "motormen" or "motorists". PRQ begins with "find easy to comprehend", which lacks a subject and leaves the sentence ungrammatical. None of these sequences produce a smooth, well structured sentence. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes rely on purely grammatical clues like verb forms without considering logical meaning. They may also overlook that "and not the one that motorists" clearly expects a completion such as "find easy to comprehend". A reliable strategy is to first identify the main clause that can follow the subject, then add modifying or contrasting clauses in a way that preserves both logic and grammar. Final Answer: The correct order of parts is QRP, giving: "An engineer building a bridge picks the best plan and not the one that motorists find easy to comprehend."

Question 7

In this sentence completion question, choose the most appropriate adjective to complete the sentence "You may try but she is too ______________ to fall for your trick."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question evaluates your understanding of appropriate word choice and collocation in English. The sentence "You may try but she is too ______________ to fall for your trick." describes someone who is clever enough not to be deceived. Your task is to select the adjective that naturally fits both the grammatical structure and the intended meaning. This tests not only vocabulary but also how certain words are normally used with "too" and with phrases like "to fall for your trick". Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence structure is "too + adjective + to + verb". The options are brilliant, intelligent, genius, and witty. The meaning suggested is that the woman is clever enough not to be fooled. The tone is conversational but grammatically standard. Concept / Approach: In English, collocations like "too intelligent to fall for that" or "too smart to fall for a trick" are very common. The focus is on mental sharpness and good judgment, not necessarily on an exceptionally high level of talent or on sense of humour. "Intelligent" directly describes general mental ability and is widely used with "too" in this kind of negative infinitive structure. "Brilliant" is stronger and usually used for exceptional talent, which might sound slightly exaggerated in everyday speech. "Genius" functions mainly as a noun, and using it as an adjective here feels unnatural. "Witty" describes someone who is humorous and quick with jokes, not necessarily someone who simply does not get deceived. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the idea conveyed: the person is clever and sensible enough not to be tricked.Step 2: Test "brilliant". "Too brilliant to fall for your trick" is possible but gives a more dramatic tone and is less standard than "too intelligent".Step 3: Test "intelligent". "Too intelligent to fall for your trick" is natural and matches typical everyday and exam style English.Step 4: Test "genius". "Too genius to fall for your trick" is grammatically awkward because "genius" is normally a noun in such sentences.Step 5: Test "witty". "Too witty to fall for your trick" changes the focus to humour and clever talk, not general intelligence.Step 6: Choose "intelligent" as the best fit in terms of meaning, grammar, and collocation. Verification / Alternative check: Try replacing the blank and reading the sentence aloud: "You may try but she is too intelligent to fall for your trick." This sounds smooth and matches common spoken and written English. If you substitute "brilliant", the sentence becomes slightly exaggerated but still possible; however exam questions usually prefer the most neutral and standard option. "Too genius" is clearly incorrect and unidiomatic. "Too witty" does not focus on resistance to deception but on a humorous personality. The naturalness of "too intelligent to fall for your trick" confirms the choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Brilliant" tends to describe extraordinary talent in a particular field, such as "a brilliant student" or "a brilliant scientist", and while not completely wrong, it is not the simplest and most direct choice for general cleverness here. "Genius" is normally used as a noun in sentences like "She is a genius", so using it in this syntactic frame is incorrect. "Witty" refers to being humorous and quick with jokes, which does not necessarily imply resistance to being tricked. Common Pitfalls: Many candidates overvalue dramatic or impressive sounding words like "brilliant" and "genius". Examiners, however, usually expect the option that is most idiomatic and grammatically straightforward in the specific sentence. A good strategy is to think about what native speakers would most commonly say in everyday conversation in a similar situation and then choose that expression. Final Answer: The most appropriate adjective is intelligent, giving "You may try but she is too intelligent to fall for your trick."

Question 8

In this one word substitution question, select the single word that best expresses the phrase "the tendency to recur at intervals".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question belongs to the topic of one word substitutions in English. You are given a descriptive phrase, "the tendency to recur at intervals", and asked to select a single word that captures the same idea. Such questions are common in competitive exams because they test both vocabulary depth and precision. The phrase clearly relates to something happening repeatedly after fixed or roughly regular time gaps. Given Data / Assumptions: The phrase is "the tendency to recur at intervals". The options are rotation, wheel, sequence, and periodicity. The correct answer should denote recurring events in time rather than physical objects or loosely related concepts. The usage is general and can apply to phenomena in nature, science, or daily life. Concept / Approach: The key words in the phrase are "recur" and "intervals". In English, "periodic" describes something that happens at regular intervals, and the noun "periodicity" refers to the quality or property of being periodic. Thus "periodicity" captures exactly the tendency of something to recur after a fixed period. "Rotation" usually refers to spinning or turning, especially of an object around an axis. "Wheel" is a physical object, not a property of recurrence. "Sequence" refers to order or arrangement, not to repetition at intervals. Therefore, the concept we need is clearly linked to the adjective "periodic". Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Interpret the phrase "tendency to recur at intervals" as "quality of happening again and again after a fixed period".Step 2: Consider "rotation". Although rotations can be repetitive, the word itself primarily expresses turning motion, not general recurrence in time.Step 3: Consider "wheel". A wheel may rotate, but as a noun it does not describe a tendency to recur; it is simply an object.Step 4: Consider "sequence". This refers to things arranged in a particular order, which may happen only once and does not necessarily imply repetition.Step 5: Consider "periodicity". This noun directly denotes the characteristic of recurring at regular intervals, matching the phrase perfectly.Step 6: Select "periodicity" as the correct one word substitution. Verification / Alternative check: Check typical uses of each candidate word. In physics and mathematics, we talk about the "periodicity" of a wave or the periodicity of an economic cycle, meaning the pattern of repetition over time. We do not usually speak of the "wheel" or "sequence" of a disease to describe how it recurs. While you may say that Earth completes a rotation every day, the noun "rotation" in isolation does not cleanly stand for "tendency to recur". The fact that textbooks and scientific descriptions regularly use "periodicity" for repeated cycles confirms that it is the intended answer. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Rotation" emphasises movement around an axis and is too specific, missing the general notion of recurrence at intervals. "Wheel" is simply an object used for movement and has no meaning related to recurring events. "Sequence" refers to ordered arrangement, such as in a number sequence, but not necessarily repeated patterns. None of these three words inherently convey the idea of something repeatedly happening with a fixed or regular time gap. Common Pitfalls: Some candidates are tempted by "rotation" because rotating things do repeat their position, so they loosely associate it with recurrence. Others may confuse "sequence" with repeated patterns. The safest strategy is to ask yourself which word is used in definitions and explanations when describing cycles or repeated phenomena. That word is "periodicity", which is directly derived from "periodic". Final Answer: The one word substitution for "the tendency to recur at intervals" is periodicity.

Question 9

In this sentence completion question, choose the most appropriate adjective to fill the blank in "As the improvement in his situation was ______________, the doctor did not discharge him."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks your ability to choose the most appropriate descriptive word in a medical or formal context. The sentence reads: "As the improvement in his situation was ______________, the doctor did not discharge him." The idea is that the patient s condition has improved only slightly, and therefore the doctor decides he should remain under observation. You must choose the adjective that expresses "only a small improvement" in a formal and natural way. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence describes a patient whose situation has changed only a little. The options are marginal, tiny, microscopic, and negated. The doctor decides not to discharge the patient due to the limited improvement. The style is semi formal, like a report or exam passage. Concept / Approach: The key phrase here is "improvement in his situation". In medical or formal English, small positive changes are often described as "marginal improvements". The word "marginal" suggests that the improvement exists but is only at the edge or small in degree, which fits the context perfectly. "Tiny" and "microscopic" are informal or metaphorical ways to say very small, but they do not collocate as naturally with "improvement in his situation" in standard formal writing. "Negated" means cancelled out or made ineffective, which would normally imply no improvement at all rather than a small one. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Understand that the patient has improved, but not enough for the doctor to send him home.Step 2: Evaluate "marginal". The phrase "marginal improvement" is widely used in reports to indicate a slight but real improvement.Step 3: Evaluate "tiny". Though it means very small, "tiny improvement" sounds more informal and slightly childish compared with "marginal improvement".Step 4: Evaluate "microscopic". This typically refers to things visible only under a microscope; using it for improvement is more metaphorical and not standard in such a sentence.Step 5: Evaluate "negated". This suggests that improvement has been cancelled, which contradicts the idea that some improvement did occur.Step 6: Select "marginal" as the adjective that best matches the tone and meaning. Verification / Alternative check: Read the full sentence with each option. "As the improvement in his situation was marginal, the doctor did not discharge him." This sounds like a sentence from a medical report or exam passage. "As the improvement in his situation was tiny" is understandable but less formal. "Microscopic improvement" would generally be used jokingly or in a very figurative way. "Improvement was negated" would mean the improvement disappeared, which clashes with the cause and effect relationship expressed in the sentence. The sentence flows best and maintains a professional tone when "marginal" is used. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Tiny" and "microscopic" both emphasise smallness but do not fit the tone of a clinical or formal statement as neatly as "marginal". "Microscopic" is strongly tied to visual size, not to degree of change in a situation. "Negated" means cancelled or reversed, suggesting that there is effectively no improvement, which does not support the idea that the doctor observed some change but found it insufficient. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes default to the strongest negative sounding word, thinking that an extreme description must be right. Others may ignore collocation and choose any synonym for "small". However, exam questions often check whether you know the exact expression typically used in formal English, and "marginal improvement" is one such fixed collocation. Always pay attention to how adjectives combine with abstract nouns like "improvement" in real texts. Final Answer: The most suitable adjective here is marginal, giving "As the improvement in his situation was marginal, the doctor did not discharge him."

Question 10

In this English vocabulary question, select the antonym (word with the opposite meaning) of the verb "flog", which commonly means to beat or whip severely.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question asks you to find the antonym of the verb "flog". In English, "to flog" usually means to beat, whip, or punish severely, either literally with a whip or figuratively in terms of harsh criticism. To answer correctly, you must identify the option that expresses the opposite concept, that is, treating someone positively rather than punishing them. Given Data / Assumptions: The given word is "flog". The options are whop, compliment, flay, and flax. The correct antonym should involve praise or positive treatment, not another form of violence or a meaningless word. The context is general vocabulary, not a specialised technical domain. Concept / Approach: "Flog" and "flay" are both associated with physical or severe verbal punishment. "Whop" is an informal verb that means to hit or strike hard. These words belong to a semantic field of beating or harming. An antonym must show positive treatment, gentle behaviour, or praise. "Compliment" is the only option that directly involves saying something good to or about someone. It is the opposite of harsh punishment or criticism, and therefore serves as a natural antonym for "flog" in this context. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that "flog" means to whip, beat, or punish severely, either physically or figuratively.Step 2: Examine "whop". This is an informal verb meaning to hit hard, so it is similar in meaning to "flog" and cannot be an antonym.Step 3: Examine "compliment". This means to say something positive or to praise someone, which contrasts sharply with punishing them.Step 4: Examine "flay". This again means to strip the skin off or to criticise very severely, closely related to extreme punishment.Step 5: Examine "flax". This is a plant used to make linen and has no relation to the meaning of "flog" at all.Step 6: Since "compliment" is the only option representing positive and kind behaviour, select it as the antonym. Verification / Alternative check: Think of example sentences. "The coach flogged the players for their poor performance" suggests harsh criticism or punishment. The opposite situation would be "The coach complimented the players on their excellent performance", which clearly involves praise. If someone flogs a subordinate in a story, they are mistreating them, whereas complimenting the subordinate would show appreciation. This comparison confirms that "compliment" is the true opposite in spirit. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Whop" is near synonymous with "flog" because it means to hit hard. "Flay" is even more intense, describing severe physical or verbal punishment. "Flax" is unrelated to behaviour or treatment of a person and therefore cannot be considered in an antonym pair. None of these offer a positive or opposite action to flogging. Common Pitfalls: Some candidates see unfamiliar or similar looking words like "flay" and assume that the exam wants the rare word. Others may think that an unrelated word such as "flax" counts as an opposite simply because its meaning is neutral. However, antonyms must show a clear contrast in semantic direction. Here the contrast is between punishment and praise, and only "compliment" satisfies that requirement. Final Answer: The antonym of "flog" from the given options is compliment.

Question 11

In this one word substitution question, select the term that best describes "a dramatic entertainment in which performers express through gestures" instead of spoken words.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question is about one word substitutions, a common topic in English vocabulary exams. You are given the description "a dramatic entertainment in which performers express through gestures" and must select the single word that names this kind of performance. The focus is on a type of drama where meaning is conveyed by bodily movement and facial expression rather than spoken dialogue. Given Data / Assumptions: The phrase describes a dramatic entertainment performed mainly through gestures. The options are mimicry, ham, pantomime, and depiction. The correct answer must refer specifically to this style of theatre or performance. Spoken dialogue is either absent or very limited in such performances. Concept / Approach: The term "pantomime" refers to a form of theatrical performance in which actors tell a story primarily through gesture, facial expression, and movement rather than speech. In many traditions, pantomime is almost entirely silent. "Mimicry" refers to imitation, especially of voice or mannerisms, but not necessarily to a full dramatic production. "Ham" is slang for an actor who overacts in a showy way. "Depiction" is a general term for representation and can apply to any art form. Only "pantomime" precisely matches the idea of a dramatic entertainment based on gestures. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the key features of the description: dramatic entertainment and expression through gestures instead of normal speech.Step 2: Consider "mimicry". This is simply the act of copying another person s speech or behaviour and may not involve a formal stage performance.Step 3: Consider "ham". In theatre slang, a ham is an actor who overacts, which does not define a particular dramatic form.Step 4: Consider "pantomime". This is a theatrical performance where the story is communicated mainly by gesture and movement, fitting the description exactly.Step 5: Consider "depiction". This is a broad word for portraying or representing something, which lacks the specific link to dramatic entertainment through gesture.Step 6: Choose "pantomime" as the one word substitution that aligns with the given phrase. Verification / Alternative check: Think of classical or modern stage shows where actors perform silently, relying on exaggerated body language and facial expressions. These are generally classified as pantomimes. Dictionaries define "pantomime" as a kind of theatrical entertainment in which the performers express meaning through gestures accompanied by music. While mimicry could appear inside such a performance, it is not the name of the entire genre. "Ham" describes a type of actor, not a type of show. "Depiction" could be used for paintings, descriptions, or stories, and thus is too broad. This confirms that "pantomime" is the precise term the question is targeting. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Mimicry" focuses on imitation and usually involves copying accents, voices, or mannerisms, but it may take place off stage and is not restricted to drama. "Ham" is informal and negative, describing an actor who exaggerates but not a special form of drama. "Depiction" is an abstract noun that can apply to any representation, including in writing or art, and does not specify non verbal dramatic performance. None of these capture the idea of a whole dramatic entertainment based on gesture. Common Pitfalls: Students often confuse "mimicry" with pantomime because both involve physical imitation. However, the phrase "dramatic entertainment" signals that we are looking for a recognised theatrical form. Remember that many vocabulary questions rely on specific technical terms from art and literature, and pantomime is one such term. Final Answer: The correct one word substitution is pantomime.

Question 12

In this active and passive voice question, change the sentence "My father is going to build a six bedroom bungalow." into the correct passive form.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your understanding of how to convert a sentence from active voice to passive voice while preserving tense, aspect, and meaning. The original active sentence is "My father is going to build a six bedroom bungalow." You need to rewrite this sentence in passive voice, focusing on the object "a six bedroom bungalow" and expressing the same future plan or intention. Given Data / Assumptions: Active sentence: "My father is going to build a six bedroom bungalow." Subject: "My father". Verb phrase: "is going to build". Object: "a six bedroom bungalow". The passive version should bring "a six bedroom bungalow" to the subject position and keep the sense of a future plan. Concept / Approach: In English, to form the passive of a sentence like "X is going to build Y", we place Y at the start and use "is going to be built" plus "by X". The phrase "is going to build" indicates a near future plan or intention. In passive voice, we maintain the same structure but insert "be" before the past participle: "is going to be built". The tense remains present form of "to be" plus "going to", and we simply change the focus from the doer to the object of the action. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the object in the active sentence: "a six bedroom bungalow".Step 2: Move this object to the subject position in the passive sentence: "A six bedroom bungalow".Step 3: Convert "is going to build" to "is going to be built" to maintain the future intention while forming the passive voice.Step 4: Add the agent phrase "by my father" at the end to show who will perform the action.Step 5: The complete passive sentence becomes "A six bedroom bungalow is going to be built by my father." Verification / Alternative check: Compare this result with the options. Option D reads "A six bedroom bungalow is going to be built by my father", which matches exactly the structure we obtained. Option A uses "was going to be built", which incorrectly shifts the time reference into the past. Option B ("will have built a bungalow which will have six bedrooms") changes the meaning and even stays active. Option C ("will have been built") moves to a different future perfect passive construction and does not preserve the original "is going to" sense. Therefore, only option D keeps the original tense, intention, and meaning while correctly forming the passive voice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A changes the tense to a past reference by using "was going to be built". Option B is active voice and introduces "will have built" and an additional relative clause, rewriting the meaning. Option C uses a future perfect passive "will have been built", which suggests that the bungalow will already be completed by a certain future time, not simply that there is a plan to build it. These changes do not meet the requirement of a straightforward active to passive transformation. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes overlook the need to retain the same tense and aspect and are distracted by complex sounding options like the future perfect. Others forget to include "be" in "going to be built" and may produce incorrect forms such as "is going to built". A good rule is to keep the auxiliary verbs unchanged as far as possible and simply insert "be" before the past participle when moving from active to passive. Final Answer: The correct passive voice sentence is A six bedroom bungalow is going to be built by my father.

Question 13

In this sentence rearrangement question, arrange parts P, Q, and R to form a meaningful sentence from the fragment "To begin with," followed by P: "is not that they are 'unsmart'", Q: "the problem with Indian cities", and R: "but that they are dysfu…

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Introduction / Context: This question evaluates your ability to reorder jumbled sentence parts into a coherent and grammatically correct statement. You are given the introductory phrase "To begin with," followed by three labelled segments P, Q, and R. The topic is "the problem with Indian cities", and the sentence contrasts a common misconception with the writer s actual criticism. You must arrange P, Q, and R in the order that creates a logical and well structured sentence. Given Data / Assumptions: Introductory phrase: "To begin with,". P: "is not that they are 'unsmart'". Q: "the problem with Indian cities". R: "but that they are dysfunctional". You must pick an order from RPQ, QRP, QPR, or PRQ. Concept / Approach: In English, a sentence that begins "To begin with," and then introduces a topic often follows the pattern "To begin with, the problem with X is not that ..." and then introduces a contrast with "but that ...". Therefore, the natural order is to have Q immediately after the introductory phrase, then P to complete the clause "the problem with Indian cities is not that they are unsmart", and then R to present the contrast "but that they are dysfunctional". This yields a clear and balanced sentence structure where Q contains the subject, P completes the predicate, and R provides the contrasting clause. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recognise that Q, "the problem with Indian cities", naturally follows "To begin with," as the topic of the discussion.Step 2: Observe that P, "is not that they are unsmart", starts with a verb and negative phrase that must attach to the subject in Q to form a complete clause.Step 3: Connect Q and P to form "To begin with, the problem with Indian cities is not that they are unsmart".Step 4: Realise that R, "but that they are dysfunctional", introduces the contrasting real problem starting with the conjunction "but".Step 5: Put R after QP to complete the contrast: "To begin with, the problem with Indian cities is not that they are unsmart but that they are dysfunctional."Step 6: Map this sequence to the option QPR. Verification / Alternative check: Check other possibilities quickly. If you begin with P after the introduction, you get "To begin with, is not that they are unsmart", which lacks a clear subject. Starting with R gives "To begin with, but that they are dysfunctional", which begins incorrectly with a contrast without the earlier clause. Starting with Q followed by R would read "To begin with, the problem with Indian cities but that they are dysfunctional", which is also unfinished. Only Q followed by P and then R yields a complete and logically structured sentence. Why Other Options Are Wrong: RPQ begins with "but that they are dysfunctional", which cannot stand immediately after "To begin with," because "but" must connect two contrasted clauses. QRP places the contrast R before the negative clause P, breaking the logical pattern "is not that X but that Y". PRQ starts with a verb phrase that has no subject and therefore becomes ungrammatical. These sequences fail either grammatically or logically. Common Pitfalls: Some candidates focus only on grammatical correctness within single parts and ignore the overall structure of contrast, which in English is usually "not that ... but that ...". Others are confused by the quotation marks around "unsmart" and forget that this phrase must come after the verb "is". A good strategy is to identify the main subject phrase first, then attach verbs and negations to it, and finally add contrast clauses that start with conjunctions such as "but". Final Answer: The correct sequence is QPR, giving the sentence: "To begin with, the problem with Indian cities is not that they are unsmart but that they are dysfunctional."

Question 14

In this sentence improvement question on verb tense and aspect, choose the best replacement for the bracketed part in "My patients (were waited) for me since morning." so that the sentence is grammatically correct.

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Introduction / Context: This question assesses your understanding of correct tense and voice in English. The sentence given is "My patients (were waited) for me since morning." The bracketed portion is incorrect, and you must choose the alternative that makes the full sentence grammatical and natural. The time expression "since morning" is a clear clue about which tense and aspect should be used. Given Data / Assumptions: Subject: "My patients". Incorrect verb phrase: "were waited". Time expression: "since morning". Options: wait, had been waited, have been waiting, and no improvement. The meaning is that the patients started waiting in the morning and are still waiting at the time of speaking. Concept / Approach: In English, the pattern "since + point in time" usually takes the present perfect or present perfect continuous tense to describe an action that began in the past and continues into the present. For actions that are ongoing, the present perfect continuous ("have been waiting") is especially appropriate. The phrase "were waited" is also wrong because "wait" is an intransitive verb here; patients do the waiting themselves, so a passive construction is not suitable. Therefore the correct verb phrase should be active and in the present perfect continuous: "have been waiting". Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recognise that the action of waiting began in the morning and continues to the present moment.Step 2: Recall that "since + a point of time" (for example, since morning) typically pairs with present perfect or present perfect continuous tense.Step 3: Evaluate "wait". The simple present "My patients wait for me since morning" is incorrect with "since".Step 4: Evaluate "had been waited". This is past perfect passive, which does not fit the idea of an ongoing present action and is wrong because "wait" should be intransitive here.Step 5: Evaluate "have been waiting". This is present perfect continuous, indicating that the patients started waiting in the past and are still waiting.Step 6: Reject "no improvement" because the original phrase "were waited" is ungrammatical and passive inappropriately.Step 7: Choose "have been waiting" as the correct replacement. Verification / Alternative check: Read the corrected sentence aloud: "My patients have been waiting for me since morning." This structure correctly expresses an action that began at a specific time in the past and continues to now. If you try "My patients wait for me since morning", it sounds wrong to native speakers. "My patients had been waited for me" is grammatically flawed and also wrongly passive. "No improvement" leaves the obviously incorrect phrase "were waited", which fails in both tense and voice. The corrected version with present perfect continuous fits all grammatical requirements and common usage patterns. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Wait" in the simple present does not combine naturally with "since morning" to describe a continuous action. "Had been waited" is both the wrong tense and the wrong voice, because it suggests that someone else was waiting for the patients, not that the patients themselves were waiting. "No improvement" cannot be correct because "were waited" misuses the passive form and sounds completely unnatural. Only "have been waiting" properly expresses continuous action from a point in the past up to the present moment. Common Pitfalls: Many learners confuse "for" and "since", as well as present perfect and simple present. A useful rule is that "since" marks a starting point in time and almost always calls for a perfect tense when describing an ongoing situation. Additionally, remember that transitive verbs take objects and can form passive structures, but intransitive verbs like "wait" cannot normally be used in the passive voice with the original subject still present in the same way. Final Answer: The correct improved sentence is "My patients have been waiting for me since morning."

Question 15

In English vocabulary and idiom usage, choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the common expression "sixth sense".

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Introduction / Context: The idiom sixth sense is a very common expression in English that learners meet in newspapers, films, and conversations. It does not refer to a real biological sense like sight or hearing, but to a mysterious extra awareness that people sometimes feel. Competitive exams often test such idioms, because they check whether a candidate can understand figurative language instead of taking words literally. In this question the task is to select the option that gives the best meaning of sixth sense in simple, clear English. Given Data / Assumptions: - The expression in focus is the idiom sixth sense. - The context is general English usage, not a scientific or medical definition. - Only one option should capture the accepted figurative meaning. - Other options may sound interesting but must not match the standard idiomatic sense. Concept / Approach: To interpret sixth sense correctly, we recall that humans are usually said to have five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. When people speak about a sixth sense, they mean a special kind of awareness or perception that appears to work beyond these five senses. It is often connected with intuition, gut feeling, or instinct. Therefore the correct option should contain the idea of intuitive perception rather than a physical power or supernatural ability like seeing ghosts. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the idiom sixth sense and remember that it refers to an additional sense beyond the basic five. Step 2: Check option A, which mentions an intuitive power of perception that goes beyond the five physical senses. Step 3: Check option B, which talks about strong physical strength, not awareness or perception. Step 4: Check option C, which limits the meaning to seeing ghosts, which is more of a supernatural claim than a general idiom. Step 5: Check option D, which narrows the meaning to taste and smell and ignores the broader idea of intuition. Step 6: Compare all four definitions and see which best captures the usual figurative use of sixth sense. Verification / Alternative check: A good way to verify is to place the idiom in a sentence, for example, She has a sixth sense about danger, or He found the solution almost by sixth sense. In these sentences the speaker is clearly talking about a special intuitive awareness, not physical strength, ghost vision, or only taste and smell. Option A fits naturally into such contexts. If we rephrase sixth sense as intuitive feeling or gut instinct, option A again matches, because it refers to an intuitive power of perception beyond the normal senses. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B is wrong because physical strength and stamina relate to the body, not to mental or intuitive perception. Option C is wrong because sixth sense is not restricted to seeing ghosts and is used much more broadly in everyday language. Option D is wrong because a strong sense of taste and smell is still part of the ordinary five senses and does not suggest an extra intuitive power. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes confuse sixth sense with supernatural abilities shown in horror films, where characters see spirits or predict the future in a dramatic way. While native speakers may sometimes use the phrase in a playful or exaggerated manner, its core meaning is simple intuition or instinct. Another mistake is to connect it with only one physical sense, such as taste or smell, forgetting that it is considered an additional sense as a whole. In exams it is important to choose the option that is broad enough to match most real life uses of the idiom. Final Answer: The correct answer is An intuitive power of perception that seems to go beyond the five physical senses.

Question 16

In this English grammar error detection question, identify the part of the sentence that contains a mistake in the structure "There is no question of me failing in the examination".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Error spotting questions test a candidate knowledge of standard grammatical patterns in English. The sentence given here is There is no question of me failing in the examination. At first glance it may look almost correct, but competitive exams often hide a small but important mistake in such structures. Understanding the correct use of gerunds and possessive forms is crucial to selecting the right answer. Given Data / Assumptions: - The full sentence is: There is no question of me failing in the examination. - The sentence is divided into four parts labelled A, B, C, and D. - Only one part contains a grammatical error. - We assume standard formal British or Indian English usage as in exams. Concept / Approach: The expression there is no question of is often followed by a gerund, which is the ing form of a verb used as a noun, as in there is no question of his failing. In careful formal English, a noun or possessive pronoun normally precedes such a gerund. Therefore, instead of me failing, the preferred structure is my failing. The underlying idea is that failing functions as a noun, and my acts like a determiner for this verbal noun. We need to check which part carries this error in the original sentence division. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Look at part A: There is no question. This is a correct fixed phrase meaning there is no possibility. Step 2: Look at part B: of me failing. Here the combination of me with the gerund failing sounds informal and is not considered correct in formal written English. Step 3: Look at part C: in the examination. This prepositional phrase is grammatically fine and follows standard usage. Step 4: Part D represents the option that the sentence has no error. Step 5: The acceptable formal form should be of my failing in the examination, not of me failing in the examination. Step 6: Therefore, part B is the portion that requires correction, so it is the error containing segment. Verification / Alternative check: We can verify by rewriting the sentence in a clearly correct form: There is no question of my failing in the examination. Another way is to test with pronouns like he or she. We say there is no question of his failing, not there is no question of him failing in formal written English. This pattern confirms that the possessive form is required before the gerund. Thus the problem lies precisely in the phrase of me failing, which should be of my failing. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A is wrong as the phrase there is no question is an accepted expression meaning no doubt or no possibility. Option C is wrong because the phrase in the examination correctly describes the location or situation and does not contain any error. Option D is wrong because the sentence is not completely error free; it needs a correction in part B. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake is to accept conversational patterns like me failing, him failing, or them failing as fully correct in formal written English. Exams at this level usually expect the more standard structure with possessive pronouns before gerunds, such as my failing or his coming. Students may also over focus on obvious elements like in the examination and think it should be during the examination, but the preposition in is perfectly acceptable here. Concentrating on the known rule that a gerund often takes a possessive pronoun helps avoid confusion. Final Answer: The correct answer is Part B: "of me failing".

Question 17

In English vocabulary, select the option that gives the closest meaning to the word "decree" as it is used in legal and official contexts.

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Introduction / Context: The word decree appears frequently in legal news, government notifications, and even religious announcements. Competitive exams often test whether a candidate can distinguish between terms like law, decree, order, and award. Although these words all belong to formal or official language, they are not interchangeable. In this question, the aim is to identify the option that best captures the core meaning of decree. Given Data / Assumptions: - The target word is decree. - The context is formal English, especially legal or administrative usage. - Only one option should give the closest standard dictionary meaning. - Other options may be related to official documents but must not match the exact sense. Concept / Approach: A decree is generally understood as an official and authoritative order, especially one that comes from a court, a ruler, or a religious authority. It is usually written, formally announced, and expected to be obeyed. It is not necessarily a whole body of law, nor is it simply a prize or a certificate. To solve this question, we compare each option with this core idea and choose the one that best reflects the sense of an authoritative command or decision issued by a recognized power. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the basic meaning of decree as an official order or decision, especially by a court or ruler. Step 2: Examine option A, which describes an official order issued by a legal or religious authority. This clearly matches the remembered meaning. Step 3: Examine option B, which talks about a formal law code that covers an entire system. That describes a larger collection of laws, more like legislation or a penal code, not a single decree. Step 4: Examine option C, which explains a certificate that proves identity or qualification. That is closer to documents such as degrees, identity cards, or licenses. Step 5: Examine option D, which refers to an honour or award for achievement, such as a trophy or medal. This is a different concept from an order that must be obeyed. Step 6: Since option A fits the idea of a single official order and the others do not, option A is the closest synonym. Verification / Alternative check: To verify, we can place decree in a sample sentence, such as The court issued a decree that the land must be divided equally, or The king proclaimed a decree banning the practice. In both cases the word clearly means an authoritative order. Substituting option A, we can say The court issued an official order. The meaning stays almost the same. Substituting the other options changes the sense of the sentence and makes it unnatural. Therefore our choice of option A is confirmed. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B is wrong because a complete system of law is usually called a code, act, or statute, not a decree. Option C is wrong because a certificate is only a document of proof and does not by itself command people to act. Option D is wrong because an award or prize celebrates success, whereas a decree is about ordering, directing, or deciding. Common Pitfalls: Many learners confuse decree with degree because the words sound similar, but a degree is an academic qualification, while a decree is an order. Another confusion is between decree and law. A law is usually more general and permanent, while a decree can be a specific decision applying to a particular case or situation. In exam situations, always focus on the central idea of command or authoritative decision when you see the word decree. Final Answer: The correct answer is An official order issued by a legal or religious authority.

Question 18

In this English grammar error detection item, identify which part of the sentence "One should respect religious beliefs of others, as much as his owns" contains a mistake.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence looks like a moral statement about tolerance and respect for religion, but the exam tests grammar rather than ethics. Error spot questions of this type normally hide the problem in pronouns, articles, or small word forms such as own and owns. The sentence reads One should respect religious beliefs of others, as much as his owns. We must find which segment violates standard patterns of English usage. Given Data / Assumptions: - The sentence is: One should respect religious beliefs of others, as much as his owns. - It is divided into four parts labelled A, B, C, and D. - Only one part is grammatically incorrect. - The register is formal written English as used in competitive exams. Concept / Approach: The first important structure is One should respect religious beliefs of others. This is a general statement using the pronoun one to talk about people in general. When we compare with a possessive reference to the same subject, we normally say as much as one respects one own beliefs or as much as he respects his own. The adjective own does not take a plural s in this context. The phrase his owns is therefore incorrect. We need to locate the part of the sentence where this incorrect phrase appears. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Look at part A: One should respect. This is grammatically correct and is a standard moral style in English. Step 2: Look at part B: religious beliefs of others,. This correctly expresses the idea of the beliefs held by other people. Step 3: Look at part C: as much as his owns. Here, the word owns appears where we expect own, which is an adjective. Step 4: Recognise that own functions as a possessive adjective, and it does not take the plural marker s in this construction. Step 5: Part D claims there is no error, but we have already seen an error in part C. Step 6: Conclude that the incorrect portion lies in part C, which should read as much as his own. Verification / Alternative check: We can rewrite the sentence in a corrected form: One should respect religious beliefs of others as much as his own. Another check is to see how own behaves with other pronouns, for example, her own, my own, our own. We never say my owns or their owns in standard grammar. This confirms that the extra s in owns is wrong. Therefore our identification of part C as the error containing segment is correct. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A is wrong because the phrase One should respect is perfectly standard for giving general advice or moral principles. Option B is wrong because religious beliefs of others is a clear and grammatically correct noun phrase. Option D is wrong because, as discussed, the sentence does contain an error, so we cannot claim No error. Common Pitfalls: A frequent trap in such questions is that test takers focus only on big vocabulary words like religious or beliefs, and they overlook small function words. However, competitive exams often hide the error in small but crucial items, such as prepositions, possessive adjectives, and singular plural endings. Another pitfall is to think that owns is acceptable because we say owns as a verb, for example, He owns a house. In this sentence, however, own is not a verb but an adjective modifying an understood noun such as beliefs or faith. Remembering this difference helps you avoid the confusion. Final Answer: The correct answer is Part C: "as much as his owns."

Question 19

In this English sentence improvement question, choose the best option to replace the word in brackets in the sentence "He is an atheist (yet) he goes to church every Sunday", or select "No improvement" if the sentence is already correct.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Sentence improvement questions test a learner ability to select conjunctions and connectors that correctly show the relation between two ideas. The given sentence is He is an atheist yet he goes to church every Sunday. The contrast here is important, because an atheist is a person who does not believe in the existence of God, while going to church regularly is normally associated with religious belief. The question asks whether the bracketed word yet needs improvement, or whether it is already the correct choice in this context. Given Data / Assumptions: - The sentence under examination is: He is an atheist yet he goes to church every Sunday. - The bracketed word yet may be replaced by another connector. - The options available are because, and, however, and no improvement. - The aim is to preserve the contrasting relationship between the two clauses. Concept / Approach: Connectors in English signal different logical relations. Because introduces reason or cause. And usually joins similar or related ideas without contrast. However is a sentence level connector that usually comes at the beginning of a new sentence or after a semicolon. Yet is a coordinating conjunction that introduces a surprising contrast, similar to but. Since the sentence intends to show that his regular church visits are surprising given that he is an atheist, a contrastive connector is required. We must choose the option that most naturally and correctly expresses this contrast in one sentence. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Check the meaning of the first clause: He is an atheist. This indicates lack of belief in God. Step 2: Check the second clause: he goes to church every Sunday. This suggests regular religious attendance. Step 3: Decide that the intended relationship between the clauses is one of contrast or unexpected combination, not simple cause or addition. Step 4: Evaluate because. This would suggest that he goes to church every Sunday as a result of being an atheist, which does not make logical sense. Step 5: Evaluate and. This would simply add information without highlighting the surprising contrast. Step 6: Evaluate however. This word is contrastive but functions better at the start of a new sentence, for example, He is an atheist. However, he goes to church every Sunday. Step 7: Recognise that yet is already a correct coordinating conjunction for contrast inside a single sentence, similar to but. Verification / Alternative check: We can try rewriting the sentence with similar meaning: He is an atheist but he goes to church every Sunday. This proves that a coordinating conjunction of contrast is needed. Since yet functions almost like but in such contexts, He is an atheist yet he goes to church every Sunday is natural and grammatically correct. If we insert however without adjusting punctuation, as in He is an atheist however he goes to church every Sunday, the sentence sounds awkward and less standard. Therefore the best answer is that no improvement is required. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A, because, would wrongly suggest that his atheism is the reason why he goes to church, which distorts the meaning. Option B, and, fails to show any contrast, and the sentence would lose its sense of surprise. Option C, however, is mainly used as a conjunctive adverb at the start of a second sentence or after a semicolon, so it does not fit smoothly in the given structure without punctuation changes. Common Pitfalls: Students often rush to replace the given connector just because a more formal sounding word like however appears in the options. Another common mistake is to ignore punctuation and the difference between coordinating conjunctions such as but and yet, and conjunctive adverbs such as however and therefore. For sentence improvement questions, it is essential to imagine how native speakers usually form such sentences in real communication. In this case, the original wording is already natural and correct, so the safest and most accurate choice is to leave it unchanged. Final Answer: The correct answer is no improvement.

Question 20

In the passage about the debate on a Uniform Civil Code, choose the most appropriate preposition to complete the phrase "___________ nearly eight decades, the women movement has discussed and debated the desirability and feasibility of a Uniform Civ…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question is taken from a cloze passage that discusses the long standing debate on a Uniform Civil Code and women rights. Cloze tests require the reader to choose words that fit both grammar and meaning in context. The phrase in focus is blank nearly eight decades, the women movement has discussed and debated the desirability and feasibility of a Uniform Civil Code. We must decide which preposition correctly introduces a period of time in this sentence. Given Data / Assumptions: - The partial sentence is: blank nearly eight decades, the movement has discussed and debated the issue. - The options available are About, Of, With, and For. - The passage is written in standard formal English. - The blank stands at the beginning of the sentence before an expression of duration. Concept / Approach: In English, the preposition for is commonly used to express duration, for example, for three years, for many weeks, for a long time. At the beginning of a sentence, For nearly eight decades works smoothly and tells us how long the movement has been engaged in the discussion. The other prepositions about, of, and with do not form a natural collocation with a pure time phrase at the start of a sentence in this way. Therefore, the correct preposition must be the one that fits normal patterns of duration expression. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Rewrite the structure with each option to test it: About nearly eight decades, the movement has discussed the issue. Step 2: Notice that About nearly eight decades sounds awkward and is not commonly used to mark duration in such a sentence. Step 3: Try Of nearly eight decades, the movement has discussed the issue. This also sounds incorrect, because of is not used this way before a time span. Step 4: Try With nearly eight decades, the movement has discussed the issue. This suggests accompaniment, not duration, and feels unnatural. Step 5: Try For nearly eight decades, the movement has discussed and debated the desirability and feasibility of a Uniform Civil Code. Step 6: Recognise that For nearly eight decades is a standard English pattern to indicate duration and smoothly leads into the rest of the sentence. Verification / Alternative check: To verify, we can compare with similar sentences: For several centuries, people have argued about this topic. For many years, reformers have demanded changes. In all such examples, for introduces the length of time. Replacing for with of, about, or with makes the sentences ungrammatical or very unnatural. Additionally, reading the entire passage, we see that the author is emphasising the long period of discussion by women activists. The natural way to stress this length is For nearly eight decades. Hence option D is clearly correct. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A, About, can mean approximately, as in about eight decades, but the pattern About nearly eight decades at the start of this sentence is clumsy and not idiomatic for duration. Option B, Of, usually links a noun to another noun but does not lead a pure time expression in this way. Option C, With, expresses association or accompaniment and does not function as a marker of duration before a time span. Common Pitfalls: Some learners see the word nearly and are tempted to choose about, because the two words are close in meaning when indicating approximation. However, the preposition must also work grammatically before the phrase nearly eight decades. In exam passages, it is important to test options not only for meaning but also for common collocations. Remember that for is the default preposition for duration, especially with a phrase such as nearly eight decades, which is exactly what the author wishes to emphasise here. Final Answer: The correct answer is For.

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