Question 1

Complete the sentence by choosing the most appropriate phrase: "This school isn't _____ from the last one."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question examines your understanding of comparative structures and natural-sounding English expressions. The sentence compares "this school" with "the last one" and states that there is no real difference between them. Knowing which phrase fits grammatically and idiomatically is crucial for clear, accurate communication. Given Data / Assumptions: - Sentence: "This school isn't _____ from the last one." - Options: more different, any different, difference, any difference, too different. - The negative "isn't" already suggests a comparison expressing lack of difference. Concept / Approach: The natural English phrase is "not any different from". We often say "This is not any different from that" to mean they are essentially the same. The word "different" is an adjective, and "any" is used with it in negative sentences to emphasise zero difference. The other options either misuse part of speech (difference as a noun) or create awkward or redundant comparisons. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the structure "isn't _____ from", which usually takes an adjective phrase like "any different". Step 2: Test "any different": "This school isn't any different from the last one." This is a standard, idiomatic English sentence. Step 3: Check "more different": "This school isn't more different from the last one" is not a natural expression; we would say "much different" or "very different" instead, and not with "isn't" in this context. Step 4: "difference" and "any difference" are nouns and would require a different structure, such as "There isn't any difference between this school and the last one." Verification / Alternative check: Compare two correct patterns: "This school isn't any different from the last one" (adjective pattern) and "There isn't any difference between this school and the last one" (noun pattern). Both say essentially the same thing, but you must keep the correct part of speech in each format. Because the given sentence already uses "isn't" and "from", the correct completion uses the adjective "different" with the qualifier "any". Why Other Options Are Wrong: - More different: unnatural with "isn't" in this construction; we do not usually say "isn't more different from". - Difference: noun form, which would require changing the sentence structure ("isn't difference from" is incorrect). - Any difference: again a noun, which does not fit grammatically with "isn't ... from". - Too different: would mean "excessively different", which contradicts the intended idea of similarity and does not combine well with "isn't ... from" in this form. Common Pitfalls: Students often mix noun and adjective patterns when talking about differences. To avoid this, remember two separate frames: "X is not any different from Y" (adjective) and "There is no difference between X and Y" (noun). Keeping these structures clear in your mind will help you choose the correct forms quickly in error-spotting and sentence-completion questions. Final Answer: The correct phrase is "any different": "This school isn't any different from the last one."

Question 2

Complete the sentence by choosing the correct preposition: "I have decided _____ my course of action."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence-completion question tests your knowledge of fixed verb-preposition combinations, also known as collocations. The verb "decide" is commonly followed by prepositions in different patterns, and choosing the correct one is important for natural and correct English usage. Here, the speaker is talking about having made a final choice about a course of action. Given Data / Assumptions: - Sentence: "I have decided _____ my course of action." - Options: upon, with, for, of. - We must pick the preposition that fits standard English collocation and conveys the sense of having made a decision. Concept / Approach: When "decide" is followed by a noun phrase (not directly by a verb), English often uses "on" or "upon". For example: "I have decided on a plan" or "They decided upon a strategy." "Decide with", "decide for", and "decide of" are either incorrect or used in different structures. In the given sentence, "upon" fits naturally and is traditionally used in formal contexts. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the pattern: "decided _____ my course of action". We need a preposition that connects "decided" to the noun phrase "my course of action". Step 2: Test "upon": "I have decided upon my course of action." This is a standard, formal-sounding sentence. Step 3: Test "with": "I have decided with my course of action" sounds wrong; "with" usually connects people, as in "decided with my team". Step 4: Test "for": "decided for my course of action" is not idiomatic here; "decided for" is used in structures like "decided for the children" meaning on their behalf. Step 5: "Of" does not work in this structure either ("decided of" is incorrect). Verification / Alternative check: Compare similar sentences: "She has decided on a career in medicine" and "They decided upon a compromise." In each case, "on/upon" links the act of deciding to the object of that decision. Replacing "upon" in the given sentence with "on" would also be correct, but "upon" is one of the traditional choices in formal exam-style English, and among the provided options it is the only suitable one. Why Other Options Are Wrong: - With: typically used for companionship or association ("with my friend"), not for connecting "decide" to its object. - For: used in contexts like "decide for someone", meaning to make a decision on another person's behalf, not with a course of action as the object. - Of: does not collocate with "decide" in this structure. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes overgeneralise "for" after many verbs, but "decide" has more specific patterns. To avoid errors, remember two main patterns: "decide to do something" (verb after decide) and "decide on/upon something" (noun after decide). Once you fix these patterns in your mind, choosing the right preposition in exam questions becomes much easier. Final Answer: The correct preposition is "upon": "I have decided upon my course of action."

Question 3

In each of the following questions, choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom "to bury the hatchet".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The idiom "to bury the hatchet" is a well-known expression in English, often used in news, films, and everyday conversation. It originates from a Native American tradition of literally burying weapons as a sign of peace. In modern usage, it is a figurative way of saying that people decide to stop fighting and become friendly again. This makes it an important idiom for exam preparation. Given Data / Assumptions: - Idiom: "to bury the hatchet". - Options: to make peace, to dig the ground, to negotiate, to make war, to postpone a decision. - We must choose the option that reflects the commonly accepted figurative meaning. Concept / Approach: Literally, a hatchet is a small axe or weapon. "Burying" it symbolically means putting away weapons and ending conflict. Therefore, the idiom "to bury the hatchet" means to end a quarrel, drop hostility, and become friendly or peaceful again. It is stronger than just "to negotiate", because it implies a final decision to stop fighting, not just talk about it. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Consider the literal image: people who were enemies dig a hole and bury their weapons, showing they will not use them again. Step 2: Translate this symbolic act into modern language: they decide to stop fighting and reconcile with each other. Step 3: Among the options, "To make peace" clearly captures this idea of reconciliation. Step 4: Reject other options that either focus on literal digging or starting conflict rather than ending it. Verification / Alternative check: Look at typical usage: "After years of rivalry, the two companies finally buried the hatchet" means they stopped competing aggressively or resolved their dispute. Another example: "Let us bury the hatchet and start fresh" in a personal relationship. In both cases, the meaning is to end enmity and return to friendly or neutral relations, which is exactly what "make peace" suggests. Why Other Options Are Wrong: - To dig the ground: focuses on the literal meaning of burying but ignores the idiomatic, figurative sense. - To negotiate: implies talking about possible agreement, but not necessarily ending hostility; negotiations can fail. - To make war: opposite in meaning; that would be "take up arms". - To postpone a decision: unrelated to conflict or weapons. Common Pitfalls: Some candidates loosely associate "bury" with earth or ground and pick an option about digging; others may think of "negotiation" because peace is sometimes reached through talks. Remember that idioms usually have fixed meanings that must be learned as whole units. For "bury the hatchet", connect the image of putting away weapons with the idea of restoring peace to remember the correct meaning. Final Answer: "To bury the hatchet" means to make peace and end a quarrel or conflict.

Question 4

In each of the following questions, choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom "selling like hot cakes".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The idiom "selling like hot cakes" is frequently used in business news reports, advertisements, and everyday speech. It describes items that are being bought very quickly and in large numbers. Such idioms are a regular feature of English vocab sections in competitive exams, so knowing them gives you an advantage in both questions and reading passages. Given Data / Assumptions: - Idiom: "selling like hot cakes". - Options: having a good season, becoming as planned, having a very slow sale, having a very good sale, being extremely expensive. - We must identify the option that reflects the established idiomatic meaning of the phrase. Concept / Approach: "Hot cakes" refers to freshly made, warm cakes that people eagerly buy and eat. If something is "selling like hot cakes", it means customers are buying it rapidly, as soon as it becomes available, and in large quantities. So the key ideas are high demand and fast sales, not slowness or high price. Among the options, "to have a very good sale" most clearly expresses this sense of strong, rapid sales. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Visualise a shop where fresh hot cakes are just out of the oven and people rush to buy them. Step 2: Transfer that image to a product, service, or book that is selling very quickly because it is popular. Step 3: Compare options and choose the one that mentions strong sales in clear terms: "To have a very good sale". Step 4: Reject options that refer to slow sales, planning, or price instead of demand and speed. Verification / Alternative check: Consider typical usage: "The new smartphone model is selling like hot cakes" or "Tickets for the concert are selling like hot cakes." In both examples, the meaning is that many people are buying them quickly, often causing stock to run out. The idiom does not focus on whether it is the right season or how expensive the item is; it focuses on the speed and volume of sales, which is best captured by "a very good sale". Why Other Options Are Wrong: - To have a good season: this may refer to a successful period for a business but does not necessarily convey the image of rapid, high-volume sales of a particular item. - To become as planned: relates to plans or outcomes, not to sales volume or speed. - To have a very slow sale: is the opposite of the idiom's meaning; "selling like hot cakes" means sales are fast, not slow. - To be extremely expensive: price is not the focus; even cheap items can sell like hot cakes if they are popular. Common Pitfalls: Some learners think the idiom must be about food or seasons when they see "hot cakes". Remember that idioms often use vivid images to express a more general idea. Here that idea is strong demand and rapid selling. Associating this phrase with headlines about popular products will help you remember it correctly. Final Answer: "Selling like hot cakes" means that something is selling very fast and in large quantities, i.e., it is having a very good sale.

Question 5

In each of the following questions, choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom "scot free" as used in English.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The idiom "scot free" is commonly used in news reports, crime stories, and everyday conversations. It refers to someone who escapes punishment, blame, or negative consequences after doing something wrong. Understanding this idiom is important for interpreting legal or social situations discussed in English texts and exams. Given Data / Assumptions: - Idiom: "scot free". - Options: unlimited, unpunished, to freedom, unrepentant, without paying any tax. - We must choose the explanation that correctly reflects the idiomatic meaning. Concept / Approach: Historically, the word "scot" referred to a kind of tax or payment. To go "scot free" originally meant to escape paying this tax, and over time, the phrase extended to mean escaping any form of penalty or punishment. In modern usage, it is almost always used to mean "without being punished" or "without suffering consequences", especially when the speaker feels that punishment was deserved. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the modern meaning, as used in media and everyday speech, rather than the historical tax meaning. Step 2: Among the options, "Unpunished" exactly describes someone who does something wrong but does not face any legal or social penalty. Step 3: "Unlimited" and "to freedom" are vague and do not convey the idea of escaping punishment specifically. Step 4: "Unrepentant" means not feeling sorry, which is different from not being punished, and "without paying any tax" is too narrow and historical for modern idiomatic use. Verification / Alternative check: Consider typical sentences: "After all the evidence, it is shocking that he got off scot free" or "They damaged public property and went scot free." In both examples, the phrase clearly describes people who were not punished despite their actions. If "unpunished" is inserted into these sentences, the meaning remains the same. None of the other options fit so neatly or widely. Why Other Options Are Wrong: - Unlimited: has to do with quantity or extent, not with punishment or consequences. - To freedom: sounds like a literal movement towards freedom, but "scot free" is about avoiding penalty, not about physical movement. - Unrepentant: describes a lack of regret, which can exist even when a person is punished; it is about attitude, not legal outcome. - Without paying any tax: reflects an old historical root but does not capture the current idiomatic meaning tested in exams. Common Pitfalls: Because the phrase sounds like it might relate to "Scotland" or "Scottish" ("Scot"), some learners misinterpret it as relating to nationality. Others focus only on the idea of "free". Remember that idioms often carry historical baggage but acquire a more general modern meaning. For exam purposes, always associate "scot free" with "escaping punishment". Final Answer: "Scot free" means unpunished or escaping without suffering the expected penalty.

Question 6

In English vocabulary, which word is used for a thing that is no longer in use and has become outdated or out of fashion?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This is a classic one word substitution question from English vocabulary. The examiner gives a short definition a thing no longer in use and asks you to choose the single word that best matches this idea. Such questions are very common in competitive exams because they test both your vocabulary range and your ability to distinguish between similar looking but different words. Given Data / Assumptions: The phrase given in the stem is a thing no longer in use. We need a word that describes objects, ideas, or practices that are no longer used because they are outdated or have been replaced. Option A: Illusion. Option B: Illegal. Option C: Obsolete. Option D: Historic. We assume standard modern English dictionary meanings for all options. Concept / Approach: The key word in the definition is no longer in use. When an object, a practice, or a technology has been replaced by something newer and is not used any more, we describe it as obsolete. For example, floppy disks are now obsolete. Illusion means something that deceives the senses or a false impression. Illegal means against the law. Historic means important in history or old in a positive sense. Only obsolete directly captures the idea that something has fallen out of use due to age or progress. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the idea no longer in use and connect it with real life examples such as old machines or outdated customs.Step 2: Recall that obsolete is typically used for old technologies, rules, or ideas that people do not use any more.Step 3: Check illusion; it refers to something that appears real but is not, such as a magic trick or optical effect, and is unrelated to being out of use.Step 4: Check illegal; this describes something that breaks a law, not something that has simply become outdated.Step 5: Check historic; this word emphasises historical importance, not the fact that a thing has stopped being used. Therefore, obsolete is the only word that exactly fits the definition. Verification / Alternative check: Try using each option in a test sentence. A typewriter is now ______. If we insert obsolete, the sentence becomes A typewriter is now obsolete, which sounds natural and correct. If we use illusion, illegal, or historic, the meaning changes completely and no longer matches the idea that people do not use typewriters any more. This quick substitution test confirms that obsolete is the intended answer for a thing no longer in use. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Illusion is connected with deception and false appearances, not with being outdated. Illegal means not permitted by law and is used for actions or items banned by legal rules, such as illegal drugs. Historic describes something that is famous or important in history, like a historic building or a historic event, and does not necessarily mean that it is no longer used. None of these alternatives expresses the specific concept given in the stem. Common Pitfalls: Some learners assume that any word related to the past, such as historic, might match no longer in use, but that is not always true. Historic often has a positive tone and focuses on importance, whereas obsolete is neutral or negative and focuses on the fact that something has been replaced and discarded. Remembering that obsolete goes with old technology and rules, while historic goes with important events and monuments, will help you avoid confusion in exam situations. Final Answer: The correct one word substitution for a thing no longer in use is Obsolete, so option C is correct.

Question 7

In general science vocabulary, what do we call a place where astronomical observations of stars, planets, and other celestial bodies are made using telescopes and instruments?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This one word substitution question comes from basic science and general awareness. The stem describes a place where astronomical observations are made. Competitive exams frequently test whether you can connect such definitions with the correct technical term. Here the focus is on astronomy, telescopes, and sky watching, so you must recall the standard word used in this field. Given Data / Assumptions: The description is: a place where astronomical observations are made. Such a place normally has telescopes, domes, and other instruments for observing the sky. Option A: Laboratory. Option B: Observatory. Option C: Astrolibrary. Option D: Astrophery. Concept / Approach: The correct word for a place where scientists systematically observe stars, planets, comets, and other space objects is observatory. Famous examples include radio observatories and optical observatories. A laboratory is a place for experiments in many branches of science, not specifically astronomy. Astrolibrary and astrophery are not standard English words; they look like invented distractors formed from astro, but they are not used in real scientific contexts. Therefore observatory is the only precise and accepted term. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the domain: the phrase astronomical observations clearly points to astronomy and the study of celestial bodies.Step 2: Recall that buildings or locations dedicated to systematic observation of the sky are called observatories.Step 3: Evaluate laboratory; this can refer to any general science lab in schools or research centres and does not specifically mean an astronomy site.Step 4: Recognise that astrolibrary and astrophery are not recognised standard words; they mix the prefix astro with random endings and are present only to confuse you.Step 5: Conclude that observatory is the correct and widely accepted term for the place described in the stem. Verification / Alternative check: Think of real life examples. When you read about astronomers discovering an exoplanet, the news reports often say that it was detected at an observatory using a powerful telescope. You rarely see the phrase astronomy laboratory for such activities, and astrolibrary or astrophery do not appear in serious science writing. This real world usage supports observatory as the correct answer. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Laboratory is too general. It can be a chemistry lab, a biology lab, or even a computer lab; it does not inherently connect with observing stars. Astrolibrary sounds like a place to store astronomy books, but even that term is not used in standard English. Astrophery has no recognised meaning and is simply a distractor. None of these captures the idea of a specially designed building with telescopes for sky observation. Common Pitfalls: Exam setters often create fake words with scientific sounding prefixes like astro to tempt candidates who rely only on guesswork. It is important to remember a small core list of genuine scientific terms such as observatory, planetarium, and telescope. When you encounter unknown options that look artificial, cross check them mentally with your reading experience. If you have never seen a term in books or articles, it is probably a distractor in a vocabulary question like this one. Final Answer: The place where astronomical observations are made using telescopes and instruments is called an Observatory, so option B is correct.

Question 8

In English one word substitutions, which term is used for the act of killing one own sister?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your knowledge of specific words ending in cide, which refer to the killing of a particular person or category of person. Knowing the exact term for the act of killing one own sister is useful in law, criminology, and advanced vocabulary. The options include several related words that look similar but refer to different relationships. Given Data / Assumptions: The definition given is: killing one own sister. Option A: Regicide. Option B: Fratricide. Option C: Matricide. Option D: Sororicide. We assume the standard meanings derived from Latin roots. Concept / Approach: The suffix cide comes from Latin and means killing. The prefix tells you who is being killed. Frater corresponds to brother, mater to mother, soror to sister, and rex to king. Therefore, sororicide is the killing of a sister. Regicide refers to killing a king, fratricide to killing a brother, and matricide to killing a mother. Matching the correct Latin root with sister is the key to this question. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Note that the target relationship is sister, not brother, mother, or king.Step 2: Recall that Latin soror means sister, and cide means killing, so sororicide literally means killing of a sister.Step 3: Check regicide; this combines rex or reg meaning king with cide and refers to the killing of a king.Step 4: Check fratricide; this combines frater with cide and refers to the killing of a brother.Step 5: Check matricide; this combines mater with cide and refers to the killing of a mother. Only sororicide matches the required definition. Verification / Alternative check: Think of related pairs like homicide (killing of a person), suicide (killing of oneself), patricide (killing of one father), and infanticide (killing of an infant). Each word has a clear root that hints at the victim. Sororicide fits into this family with soror as the root for sister. If you remember even a small table of these roots, it becomes easy to eliminate similar looking but incorrect options. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Regicide does not involve any family relationship and specifically refers to the killing of a king or monarch. Fratricide refers to the killing of a brother and is sometimes used more broadly for killing a fellow soldier, but it is still linked to brotherhood, not sisterhood. Matricide refers to the killing of a mother, often used in psychology and criminal law. None of these matches the exact relationship mentioned in the stem, which is sister. Common Pitfalls: Exam takers sometimes confuse fratricide and sororicide because both relate to siblings. A simple memory device is that fraternal twins are brothers, which links frater and brother, while sorority in universities refers to a women organisation, which links soror and sister. Connecting these familiar modern words with the older Latin based terms will help you recall the correct one even under exam pressure. Final Answer: The correct one word substitution for the act of killing one own sister is Sororicide, so option D is correct.

Question 9

In the sentence "Government officials keep throwing the buck to others", which option best replaces the incorrect phrase so that the standard idiom for shifting responsibility is correctly expressed?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence improvement question tests your understanding of the English idiom pass the buck. The sentence Government officials keep throwing the buck to others is attempting to use this idiom but does so incorrectly. Your job is to select the option that gives the correct verb and preserves the idiomatic meaning of shifting responsibility to someone else. Given Data / Assumptions: Original sentence: Government officials keep throwing the buck to others. The idiom intended is pass the buck, which means to shift responsibility or blame to another person. Option A: giving. Option B: passing. Option C: donating. Option D: No improvement. Concept / Approach: The correct and widely used idiom is pass the buck, not throw the buck, give the buck, or donate the buck. In this idiom, buck refers to responsibility or blame. When government officials avoid taking responsibility and push it onto others, we say that they pass the buck. Therefore, the verb that must replace throwing in the sentence is passing, so that the phrase becomes keep passing the buck to others. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recognise that throwing the buck sounds odd and is not a standard English expression.Step 2: Recall the correct idiom pass the buck, which means to avoid responsibility by making someone else deal with a problem.Step 3: Replace the incorrect verb throwing with each option in turn: giving the buck, passing the buck, donating the buck, and leaving it unchanged.Step 4: Observe that only passing the buck is a known idiomatic expression in English that fits the context of government officials avoiding responsibility.Step 5: Conclude that passing is the required improvement and that No improvement is incorrect because the original phrase is not idiomatic English. Verification / Alternative check: You can confirm the meaning by thinking of typical political commentary. Journalists often say The minister tried to pass the buck to his subordinates, meaning he shifted blame to them. The phrase throw the buck is not used in this context. Similarly, giving the buck or donating the buck would be understood literally and would lose the idiomatic sense. This real world usage verifies that passing the buck is the correct standard expression. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Giving the buck suggests handing over something but does not carry the idiomatic meaning of evading responsibility. Donating the buck sounds like giving money or something valuable to charity and is completely out of place here. No improvement is wrong because the sentence as given contains a non standard phrase that exam setters clearly want you to correct. Only passing preserves both the correct idiom and the intended criticism of government officials behaviour. Common Pitfalls: Some learners mistakenly judge idiomatic sentences only by grammar without checking whether the phrase is actually used in English. The words throwing and buck can appear together in sports contexts, so the phrase may not sound obviously wrong to an untrained ear. In exam preparation, it is important to build a strong list of standard idioms such as pass the buck, beat around the bush, and bury the hatchet. Recognising these fixed expressions quickly will make sentence improvement questions much easier. Final Answer: The incorrect phrase throwing the buck should be replaced so that the idiom reads keep passing the buck to others, therefore the correct option is passing, and option B is correct.

Question 10

In the sentence "She angrily broke up the letter", which option best replaces the phrasal verb so that the sentence correctly expresses tearing the letter into pieces?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence improvement question tests your understanding of common phrasal verbs in English. The sentence She angrily broke up the letter is grammatically awkward because broke up is not the standard phrasal verb used when you destroy a letter by ripping it into pieces. You need to choose the option that gives a natural and idiomatic way to express this action. Given Data / Assumptions: Original sentence: She angrily broke up the letter. The intended meaning is that she destroyed the letter by tearing it into small pieces. Option A: tore up. Option B: break in. Option C: teared up. Option D: No improvement. Concept / Approach: The correct phrasal verb for destroying a piece of paper by ripping it into pieces is tear up. In the past tense, this becomes tore up. We say She tore up the letter when we want to describe this action. Break up is used for ending a relationship or causing something to separate in a more general sense, not specifically for ripping paper. Break in is used for entering a building illegally or interrupting. The form teared up is incorrect for this meaning. Therefore, tore up is the best improvement. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the intended action: out of anger, she destroyed the letter by ripping it.Step 2: Recall that the idiomatic expression in English is to tear up a letter.Step 3: Convert tear up to the correct past tense form, which is tore up, matching the past tense in She angrily.Step 4: Test option A in the sentence: She angrily tore up the letter. This sounds natural and conveys the exact intended meaning.Step 5: Examine the other options and see that none of them produce a standard or correct expression for destroying a letter. Verification / Alternative check: Compare similar examples. You might say He tore up the contract when he discovered the cheating. In both cases, tore up expresses ripping paper into pieces. The sentence He broke up the contract is not idiomatic. Similarly, He teared up the contract is incorrect, because the correct past of tear in this sense is tore, not teared. These examples confirm that tore up is the accepted form for this kind of action. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Break in is a completely different phrasal verb, usually meaning to enter a building by force or to interrupt someone speaking. It does not relate to ripping paper. Teared up is wrong because teared is not the usual past form of tear in this meaning; the correct form is tore. In addition, tear up can also mean to become emotional and start to have tears in one eyes, but that meaning does not fit the context of a letter either. No improvement cannot be chosen because broke up the letter is not standard English. Common Pitfalls: Many learners struggle with irregular verbs like tear, whose past tense is tore and past participle is torn. They may form incorrect past forms such as teared. Phrasal verbs add another layer of difficulty because you must remember both the main verb form and the correct particle. A good strategy is to study common phrasal verbs in context, noting sentences like tear up a letter, throw away a ticket, or burn down a house to strengthen your usage instincts. Final Answer: The correct and idiomatic phrasing is She angrily tore up the letter, so the best replacement for broke up is tore up, and option A is correct.

Question 11

In the sentence "They told me that they had build a new house", which option best corrects the verb form so that the reported speech is grammatically accurate?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence improvement question checks your understanding of verb forms in the past perfect tense, especially with irregular verbs. The sentence They told me that they had build a new house attempts to use the past perfect had built to describe an action completed before another past action. However, the past participle form is wrong. You must select the option that corrects this error without disturbing the meaning. Given Data / Assumptions: Original sentence: They told me that they had build a new house. Reported speech with that suggests a prior completed action. The verb build is irregular: present build, past built, past participle built. Options: have built, have build, had built, No improvement. Concept / Approach: In reported speech that describes a past action completed before another past event, English uses the past perfect tense: had plus past participle. The main verb in the reporting clause is told, which is past, and the reported action building the house happened before that. Therefore the correct structure is had built. The phrase had build is incorrect because build is the base form, not the past participle. Have built would move the tense to present perfect and not match the past reporting verb told. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the two time levels in the sentence: telling happened in the past, and building the house happened even earlier.Step 2: Recall the rule that for an action completed before another past action we use past perfect: had plus past participle.Step 3: Determine the correct past participle of build, which is built, not build.Step 4: Combine had with built to form had built and fit it into the sentence: They told me that they had built a new house.Step 5: Compare with the options and see that had built (option C) is the only one that follows both the tense rule and the correct verb form. Verification / Alternative check: Test the other options. If you use have built, the sentence becomes They told me that they have built a new house. Mixing a past reporting verb (told) with present perfect in the subordinate clause is unusual in standard exam English; we normally backshift to had built. If you use have build or leave the sentence unchanged, the form build after a perfect auxiliary is incorrect because the auxiliary must be followed by the past participle built. This confirms that had built is the correct correction. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Have built uses the present perfect, which is generally used with a present context, such as They have built a new house this year. In reported speech after told, we expect a past perfect form instead. Have build is doubly wrong because both tense and verb form are incorrect. No improvement cannot be chosen since had build clearly breaks the rule of using the past participle after had. Common Pitfalls: Learners often forget that irregular verbs do not form their past and past participle by adding ed. Build follows the pattern build, built, built. Confusion also arises when reporting speech, especially about whether to change tenses. A good strategy is to practice common irregular verbs in all three forms and to remind yourself that when a past event is reported as having taken place before another past event, past perfect is the safest choice. Final Answer: The grammatically correct version of the sentence is They told me that they had built a new house, so the correct option is had built, and option C is correct.

Question 12

In the sentence "One should exercise their right to vote", which pronoun best replaces "their" to maintain correct formal usage with the indefinite subject "One"?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence improvement question tests your knowledge of formal pronoun agreement in English, especially with the indefinite subject one. The sentence One should exercise their right to vote mixes one with their. In strict formal usage, there is a standard pattern that should be followed. You must choose the option that best matches this pattern and keeps the sentence grammatically and stylistically correct for exam standards. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence: One should exercise their right to vote. Subject: One, used in a general sense to mean any person in general. Pronoun replacing their must refer back to one in a consistent way. Options: his, our, one with possessive ending, and No improvement. Concept / Approach: In traditional and formal English, when the subject is one, the possessive pronoun that follows is written as one with a possessive ending, spoken as ones with an apostrophe. The pattern is one should do one duty or one should exercise one right to vote. Using their is increasingly common in modern informal English to avoid gender bias, but most competitive exams still expect the classical one plus possessive form. Therefore, replacing their with the possessive form of one gives the most formally correct sentence. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Note that the subject is one, a singular indefinite pronoun used for general statements.Step 2: Recall the standard pairing in formal grammar: one should take care of one responsibilities, using the possessive form of one.Step 3: Test each option: his would give One should exercise his right to vote, which introduces a specific male reference and does not perfectly match the neutral one.Step 4: Our would give One should exercise our right to vote, wrongly shifting from singular general one to plural inclusive our.Step 5: The possessive form of one maintains consistency: One should exercise that general person right to vote, and is the choice preferred in formal exam writing. Verification / Alternative check: Consider other examples: One must do one duty for the nation. Here, the repetition of one and its possessive form is the classic pattern taught in grammar books. If we say One must do their duty, many modern speakers accept this, but formal exam keys usually mark it as less precise. Similarly, One should guard one health is considered formally correct. In this exam context, the safest answer is the option that gives the possessive form of one, not their, his, or our. Why Other Options Are Wrong: His is grammatically possible, but it introduces a gender specific pronoun for a gender neutral subject and is therefore not ideal in modern exam settings that aim for gender neutrality. Our is clearly incorrect because it mixes a singular subject one with a first person plural possessive. No improvement cannot be chosen because the sentence is constructed to highlight the inconsistency between one and their, which the exam setter wants you to correct. Common Pitfalls: Learners often struggle with balancing formal rules and modern usage. In everyday conversation, many native speakers now say Everyone should do their best or One should exercise their right to vote, so the use of their feels natural. However, in competitive exams that follow classical grammar guides, one is paired with its own possessive form. The best strategy is to learn the conservative rule for exams while also being aware of real life usage. Final Answer: The pronoun that best replaces their while keeping consistent formal usage with one is the possessive form written as one with an apostrophe and s, so the correct option is one's, and option C is correct.

Question 13

In the sentence "She sank back with a mourn of pain", which word should replace "mourn" so that the sentence correctly expresses a low cry of pain?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This spelling and usage question checks whether you can choose the correct noun to describe a sound of pain. The sentence She sank back with a mourn of pain contains a word that looks similar to several English words but is incorrectly used here. You must select the correct spelling and word that matches the context of a low, drawn out sound made due to suffering or discomfort. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence: She sank back with a mourn of pain. Context suggests she made a sound because she was in pain. Option A: morn. Option B: mourne. Option C: moan. Option D: No improvement. Concept / Approach: The correct noun for a long, low sound expressing pain or sadness is moan. The verb is to moan, and the noun is a moan. The word mourn refers to the feeling and expression of deep sorrow, especially after someone has died, but it is not used in the countable noun form a mourn. Morn is a poetic word for morning. Mourne is not a standard English word in this sense. Therefore, moan fits both the grammar and the context. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the meaning needed: a sound of pain made as she sank back.Step 2: Recall that the noun for that sound is moan, as in a moan of pain or a moan of despair.Step 3: Check the grammatical structure: article a plus noun, which matches a moan.Step 4: Examine mourn; it is mainly used as a verb meaning to feel or show sorrow and is not normally used as a countable noun after a.Step 5: Examine morn and mourne; morn is an old fashioned word for morning, and mourne is not standard, so neither fits the context. Thus moan is the appropriate correction. Verification / Alternative check: Try common collocations. We say phrases like She let out a moan of pain, He gave a low moan as the doctor examined his injury, or The room was filled with moans and cries. The pattern a moan of pain is very common. In contrast, a mourn of pain does not appear in natural English, and native speakers would find it strange. This usage test confirms that moan is the only acceptable choice among the options. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Morn refers to morning in poetic contexts, as in On some bright morn. It has nothing to do with pain sounds. Mourne is not recognised as a separate word in standard English and seems to be a misspelling. Mourn is a verb that deals with grief, such as to mourn a loss, and its noun form mourning involves wearing black or observing rituals, not making a sound. No improvement is wrong because the original sentence clearly uses an incorrect form and spelling. Common Pitfalls: Words that sound similar but have different spellings and grammatical roles often cause confusion, especially for non native learners. Moan, mourn, and morn all sound alike in many accents but are not interchangeable. A useful tip is to connect moan with sound, mourn with sorrow, and morn with morning. Visualising example sentences for each will help fix their meanings and correct spellings in your memory. Final Answer: The correct word to describe a low cry of pain is moan, so the sentence should read She sank back with a moan of pain, and option C is correct.

Question 14

In the context of English vocabulary, which of the following words best expresses the meaning of "LETHARGIC" (feeling very slow, inactive, and lacking energy)?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This synonym question asks you to choose the word that best matches the meaning of lethargic. The capital letters indicate that the target word is being tested directly. Lethargic is commonly used to describe a person who feels unusually tired, slow, or lacking in enthusiasm. You must pick the option that comes closest to this sense. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: LETHARGIC. Option A: ENERGETIC. Option B: LAZY. Option C: LETHAL. Option D: LEGAL. We assume the everyday sense of lethargic as slow and lacking energy. Concept / Approach: Lethargic describes a state of sluggishness, low energy, and inactivity. A lethargic person moves slowly, finds it hard to concentrate, and often appears lazy or uninterested. Among the options, lazy is the closest in meaning because it describes a person who does not like to work or move, often appearing slow or inactive. Energetic is the opposite of lethargic. Lethal means deadly, and legal refers to something allowed by law, neither of which is connected to low energy or sluggishness. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Fix the meaning of lethargic as very tired, slow, and lacking energy or enthusiasm.Step 2: Compare this with lazy, which describes a person who avoids work and prefers inactivity.Step 3: Notice that both lethargic and lazy involve slowness and lack of action, though lethargic can also have medical causes like illness or lack of sleep.Step 4: Examine energetic; this describes someone full of energy and activity, which is the direct opposite of lethargic.Step 5: Reject lethal and legal as they relate to danger and law, not to the level of physical or mental energy. Thus, lazy is the best match available. Verification / Alternative check: Think of example sentences. A doctor might say The patient feels lethargic because of the fever. In casual speech, you might say I feel so lazy today when you lack energy and do not want to move. You cannot substitute energetic, lethal, or legal in these contexts without completely changing the meaning. This shows that lazy and lethargic share a similar area of meaning, making lazy the best answer choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Energetic is almost the opposite of lethargic. An energetic person is lively, active, and full of enthusiasm. Lethal means deadly and is used about weapons, poisons, or injuries, for example a lethal dose of a drug. Legal refers to what is permitted by law, as in legal tender or legal action. These words are unrelated to the idea of tiredness or lack of energy and therefore cannot be correct synonyms for lethargic. Common Pitfalls: Some candidates misread the question and think it asks for the opposite in meaning, leading them to choose energetic. Always pay attention to whether the question asks for the word that best expresses the meaning or the one which is opposite in meaning. Another trap is to be distracted by similar looking words like lethal and legal, but spelling similarity does not guarantee semantic similarity. Focus on the core meaning instead. Final Answer: The word that best expresses the meaning of LETHARGIC in this list is LAZY, so option B is correct.

Question 15

In the following question, which word is opposite in meaning to "MALLEABLE" (easily shaped, influenced, or bent)?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question asks for the antonym of malleable. Malleable is used both in physical science, where it refers to metals that can be bent or hammered into shape, and in a psychological sense, where it describes people who are easily influenced. To find the correct opposite, you must recall the core idea of malleability and then choose the option that negates that idea. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: MALLEABLE. Option A: TEACHABLE. Option B: INTRACTABLE. Option C: MANAGEABLE. Option D: PLIABLE. We assume the general sense: easily shaped or influenced. Concept / Approach: Malleable means capable of being shaped or bent without breaking, and by extension, easily influenced or controlled. Pliable has a very similar meaning, describing something that bends easily or a person who can be easily influenced. Teachable and manageable also carry the idea of being easy to handle or guide. Intractable, on the other hand, means difficult or impossible to manage, control, or influence. Therefore, intractable is the direct opposite of malleable in this list. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Fix the meaning of malleable as easily shaped, bent, or influenced.Step 2: Look for a word that expresses the opposite, that is, something or someone hard to control or resistant to change.Step 3: Recognise that intractable means very difficult to manage, control, or deal with.Step 4: Evaluate teachable; this describes a person who can easily be taught, which is close to being open or flexible, not the opposite of malleable.Step 5: Evaluate manageable and pliable; both describe ease of control or bending, again similar to malleable. Thus intractable is the only valid antonym among the options. Verification / Alternative check: Consider example sentences. A malleable child may accept suggestions easily, while an intractable child refuses to listen and resists every attempt to guide them. Similarly, a malleable metal like gold can be beaten into thin sheets, whereas an intractable material is difficult to shape. If you tried to substitute teachable or manageable as opposites, the sentences would no longer contrast correctly. This confirms that intractable is the antonym being tested. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Teachable suggests that someone can be educated or trained without much difficulty, which is close to malleable in the sense of being open to influence. Manageable means easy to control or handle, again a similar idea. Pliable is almost a synonym for malleable and is often used in the same contexts. Because the question specifically asks for a word opposite in meaning, these similar words cannot be correct. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes confuse synonym and antonym questions, especially when several options seem friendly or positive. It is important to read the question carefully and to underline phrases like opposite in meaning. Another common error is to be attracted to pliable because it looks similar in concept, but that is exactly why it is a trap here. Training yourself to quickly separate similar and opposite meanings will improve vocabulary accuracy. Final Answer: The word that is opposite in meaning to MALLEABLE is INTRACTABLE, so option B is correct.

Question 16

Four alternative spellings of a word meaning "extremely economical or unwilling to spend money" are given. Which one is the correctly spelt form?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This spelling question asks you to identify the correct form of a relatively advanced vocabulary word meaning very unwilling to spend money. That word is commonly used in formal English to describe people who are extremely frugal or stingy. The options present several close but incorrect spellings along with the correct one. Being able to recognise the correct form is important for both writing and vocabulary based questions. Given Data / Assumptions: The intended word is parsimonious, meaning extremely economical or unwilling to spend money. Option A: Persemonious. Option B: Persimonoius. Option C: Parsemonious. Option D: Parsimonious. We assume standard British and American spellings are the same for this word. Concept / Approach: The correct spelling is parsimonious with the letters p a r s i m o n i o u s. The root is parsimony, meaning extreme unwillingness to spend money. The distractor spellings change the positions of e and i, insert extra vowels, or alter the consonant pattern. By recalling the root parsimony and its correct spelling, you can easily recognise parsimonious as the only accurate option. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the base noun parsimony, which is spelt p a r s i m o n y.Step 2: Form the adjective by adding the ending i o u s, giving parsimonious.Step 3: Compare this with option D: Parsimonious, which matches exactly.Step 4: Check option A: Persemonious; here, the letters e and i are misplaced, and the core root parsim is broken.Step 5: Check options B and C, which contain letter sequences like simonoius or semonious that do not match the known word. Therefore, only option D preserves the correct and recognised spelling. Verification / Alternative check: Use the word in a sample sentence: His parsimonious lifestyle meant that he rarely spent money on luxuries. If you try to write persemonious or parsemonious, most spell checkers will underline them as incorrect. Dictionaries and vocabulary books also list only parsimonious as the correct form. This cross checking between memory, usage, and reference confirms the right spelling. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Persemonious (option A) is not a recognised English word; the segment perse does not reflect the root parsimony. Persimonoius (option B) includes the extra o i u sequence in the middle and does not match the pattern from parsimony. Parsemonious (option C) also misplaces vowels and does not correspond to any known English adjective. All of these are deliberate misspellings designed to test careful attention to letter order. Common Pitfalls: Because parsimonious is not a word used in everyday conversation, many students have only seen it a few times in reading and may not have memorised its exact spelling. Words ending in ious are also common sources of error. A helpful strategy is to learn the noun adjective pair together: parsimony and parsimonious, economy and economical, generosity and generous. Seeing the family of forms together strengthens your memory of correct spellings. Final Answer: The correctly spelt form of the word meaning extremely economical or unwilling to spend money is Parsimonious, so option D is correct.

Question 17

In the sentence "Sooner had he come his colleagues organised a get together", which underlined part contains the grammatical error that must be corrected?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This error spotting question tests your understanding of a common correlative structure in English that uses no sooner with than. The sentence is broken into parts labelled A, B, C, and D, and you must decide which part contains the error. Carefully examining the standard pattern will help you identify what is missing or misused. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence fragments are: Sooner had he come (A) / his colleagues (B) / organised a get together (C) / No error (D). The intended meaning is that as soon as he came, his colleagues organised a get together. We assume the exam expects the standard formal pattern no sooner had he come than plus clause. Concept / Approach: The correct correlative expression is no sooner plus auxiliary verb plus subject plus past participle, followed by than and another clause. For example, No sooner had he come than his colleagues organised a get together. In the given sentence, the word no is missing before sooner, and there is no than connecting the two clauses. The main detectable error in the broken parts is in part A, which begins with Sooner had he come instead of No sooner had he come. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the full idiomatic structure: No sooner had he arrived than they welcomed him.Step 2: Compare this pattern with the given first part Sooner had he come.Step 3: Notice that the word no is missing, so the phrase no sooner is incomplete in part A.Step 4: Recognise that parts B and C, his colleagues and organised a get together, form a normal subject verb object group and are otherwise acceptable.Step 5: Conclude that the primary and testable error lies in part A, which should read No sooner had he come rather than Sooner had he come. Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence correctly as a whole: No sooner had he come than his colleagues organised a get together. Now break it into parts again. The phrase No sooner had he come is complete and idiomatic. The second clause his colleagues organised a get together is also correct. Since the question is about identifying the part with the error, and the only missing crucial word appears at the start, part A must be chosen. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part B, his colleagues, correctly supplies the subject of the second clause, so it has no grammatical fault. Part C, organised a get together, uses the past tense verb organised plus object and is acceptable in standard English. Part D, No error, is wrong because we have clearly found an error in the form of the incomplete expression Sooner had he come, which lacks the important word no. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes focus too narrowly on verb forms and miss correlative pairs like no sooner and than or hardly and when. Exam setters often exploit this by removing only one small word. A good strategy is to train yourself to recognise these fixed pairs so that you can immediately see when a sentence like Sooner had he come is missing no sooner plus than. Marking the first part as containing the error then becomes straightforward. Final Answer: The grammatical error is in the first part, which should read No sooner had he come, so the correct choice is A, and option A is correct.

Question 18

In the sentence "I enjoyed during my tenure at Shimla", which part contains the grammatical error that must be corrected?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This error spotting question checks whether you understand how the verb enjoy is used in English. The sentence is split into parts labelled A, B, C, and D, and you must identify which part contains a mistake. The incorrect part involves an incomplete verb phrase that needs an object or reflexive pronoun to be grammatically complete. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence fragments: I enjoyed during (A) / my tenure (B) / at Shimla (C) / No error (D). The intended meaning is that the speaker had an enjoyable experience during their time at Shimla. In English, enjoy is typically transitive and needs an object, such as enjoy myself or enjoy the trip. Concept / Approach: The verb enjoy usually takes a direct object. You say I enjoyed the show or I enjoyed myself. Writing I enjoyed during my tenure is incomplete because the verb does not have an object. The sentence should be corrected to I enjoyed myself during my tenure at Shimla. The incorrect construction appears in part A, where enjoyed stands alone without an object or reflexive pronoun. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Examine part A: I enjoyed during. Ask if enjoy can be used without an object here.Step 2: Recall that in this context we usually say I enjoyed myself during my tenure, where myself is the object of enjoyed.Step 3: Notice that parts B and C simply give details of time and place, my tenure and at Shimla, and are otherwise fine.Step 4: Conclude that the missing element is in part A, which lacks the necessary object, making that part grammatically incorrect.Step 5: Therefore, part A is where the error lies, since the corrected sentence would attach myself to enjoyed. Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the complete sentence in correct English: I enjoyed myself during my tenure at Shimla. Now break it again: I enjoyed myself during (A) / my tenure (B) / at Shimla (C). The only change is the addition of myself in A, confirming that part A was incomplete earlier. Parts B and C remain unchanged and correct, describing when and where the enjoyment took place. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part B, my tenure, correctly functions as the object of the preposition during and does not contain any grammatical error. Part C, at Shimla, is a standard prepositional phrase indicating place. Part D, No error, cannot be chosen because we have identified that enjoy needs an object in part A for the sentence to be complete. Common Pitfalls: Learners may sometimes translate directly from languages where enjoy can stand alone without an object, leading to forms like I enjoyed during the trip. In standard English, however, enjoy almost always requires an object, either a noun like the trip or a reflexive pronoun like myself. A helpful tip is to remember common patterns: I enjoyed the movie and I enjoyed myself at the party. These patterns can guide your choices in error spotting questions. Final Answer: The error lies in part A, where enjoyed is used without an object, so option A is correct.

Question 19

In the sentence "The Government offered him clerical job but he turned it over", which underlined part contains the error in standard idiomatic usage?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your understanding of phrasal verbs in the context of job offers and rejections. The sentence The Government offered him clerical job but he turned it over contains a phrasal verb that is not idiomatically correct for rejecting an offer. You must decide which part of the sentence is wrong according to standard English usage. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence fragments: The Government offered him (A) / clerical job (B) / but he turned it over (C) / No error (D). Intended meaning: the Government offered him a clerical job, but he refused or rejected that offer. Standard phrasal verb for rejecting an offer is turn down, not turn over. Concept / Approach: The phrase turn down is used when someone refuses an offer or request. For example, He turned down the promotion means he rejected it. Turn over, however, has different meanings, such as to flip something to the other side, or in some contexts to transfer control. In this sentence, part C uses turned it over, which does not convey the intended meaning of refusal. Therefore, part C contains the main idiomatic error. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify what the subject did with the offer. The context suggests he refused the job.Step 2: Recall that the phrasal verb for refusing an offer is turn down an offer.Step 3: Compare this with part C, turned it over, which usually means to flip or hand something to someone, not to refuse it.Step 4: Check parts A and B: The Government offered him and clerical job, which, aside from a missing article, are structurally acceptable and not the main focus of this phrasal verb question.Step 5: Conclude that part C is where the idiomatic error lies, and therefore that is the part which must be marked as incorrect. Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence correctly: The Government offered him a clerical job, but he turned it down. This version communicates clearly that he rejected the offer. If we instead say he turned it over, the sentence becomes confusing, as it may suggest he physically turned some item over or transferred it to someone else, which does not match the expected meaning. This confirms that the issue is with the phrasal verb in part C. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part A, The Government offered him, correctly uses the verb offered with an indirect object. Part B, clerical job, should ideally be a clerical job with an article, but exam questions sometimes focus on only one central idiomatic error, and the key point here is the phrasal verb. Part D, No error, is incorrect because there is clearly an error present. Among the given labelled parts, part C best represents the tested concept and must be chosen. Common Pitfalls: Phrasal verbs are a major source of difficulty, since small changes in the particle, such as down, over, up, or off, can change the meaning completely. Learners sometimes rely on literal translations or guess that any combination will work, which leads to errors like turned it over instead of turned it down. A good strategy is to study phrasal verbs in fixed collocations, such as turn down an offer and turn over a page, so that you remember which particle goes with which meaning. Final Answer: The incorrect expression is but he turned it over in part C, which should be turned it down, so option C is correct.

Question 20

In the sentence "After a noisy and tumultuous supper, we __________ for the day", which verb form correctly completes the idea that we ended the day and went to rest?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This fill in the blank question checks your understanding of a fixed expression in English: to retire for the day. The sentence describes what happened after a noisy and tumultuous supper, and you need to choose the correct form of the verb retire to match the past narrative and complete the expression naturally. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence: After a noisy and tumultuous supper, we ________ for the day. The context is a past narrative about events that have already happened. The expression retire for the day means to go to one room or to bed in order to rest. Options: retirement, retiring, retired, retire. Concept / Approach: The phrase to retire for the day is normally used in the past tense when telling a story about what happened, such as We retired for the day. The subject we requires a past tense verb form to match the narrative about a supper that has already taken place. Retirement is a noun, retiring is a participle, and retire is the base form. Only retired fits grammatically and semantically here. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Notice that the sentence begins with After a noisy and tumultuous supper, which clearly refers to a past event.Step 2: Recognise that the next action we performed at that time must also be in the past tense.Step 3: Recall the fixed expression to retire for the day, meaning to end the day activities and usually go to sleep.Step 4: Choose the past tense form retired to match the subject we and the completed action.Step 5: Confirm that retirement is a noun, retiring would require an auxiliary like were, and retire is the base form, so none of these fits as well as retired. Verification / Alternative check: Test each option in the sentence. We retirement for the day is ungrammatical because retirement is a noun. We retiring for the day is incomplete and would need an auxiliary verb like were. We retire for the day would be simple present and would not match the past context set by After a noisy and tumultuous supper. We retired for the day fits smoothly and sounds like natural storytelling English, confirming that it is the correct choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Retirement is used in phrases like after his retirement, not directly after we. Retiring can be used as an adjective, as in a retiring person, or as part of a continuous verb form, but not as a standalone main verb after we in this context. Retire is the base form of the verb and would either be used in the infinitive to retire or in present tense, which would clash with the past narrative already established in the sentence. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes forget to align verb tense with the time markers in the sentence, especially when phrases like after appear. As a rule, when the opening phrase clearly describes a completed event, the main clause that follows should usually be in the past tense as well. Memorising common phrases like retired for the night or retired for the day can also help you answer quickly and confidently in the exam. Final Answer: The correct form is the simple past retired, giving After a noisy and tumultuous supper, we retired for the day, so option C is correct.

English Questions