Question 1

In this English vocabulary question, you must select the word which is opposite in meaning (antonym) to the adjective "grotesque".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks your knowledge of antonyms in English vocabulary. The given word is "grotesque", which is commonly used to describe something that is extremely ugly, distorted, or bizarre in appearance. To answer such questions correctly in competitive exams, you must know both the meaning of the given word and the meanings of the options, then select the one that is opposite in sense, not just different. Given Data / Assumptions: The target word is "grotesque". We have four options: Free, Odd, Plain, and Queer. We must identify the antonym, i.e., the opposite meaning, not a synonym. Only one option should be clearly opposite to the main sense of "grotesque". Concept / Approach: "Grotesque" refers to something that is very ugly, unnatural, or absurdly distorted. It often combines elements of the comical and the horrifying. Therefore, the opposite will be a word that conveys normality, simplicity, and lack of distortion or bizarreness. Words like "odd" and "queer" actually move towards the same side of meaning as "grotesque" because they suggest strangeness. The only word that suggests simplicity and lack of decorative or bizarre features is "plain". Hence, "plain" is the antonym we are looking for. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the meaning of "grotesque" as extremely ugly, distorted, and bizarre. Step 2: Note that we need an antonym, which is a word opposite in meaning. Step 3: Check the meaning of "Free" which generally means not under control or not costing money; this is not the opposite of "grotesque". Step 4: Check "Odd" which means strange or unusual; this is somewhat similar to "grotesque", not opposite. Step 5: Check "Plain" which means simple, ordinary, not decorated, not unusual; this is the direct opposite of strange and bizarre. Step 6: Check "Queer" which also means strange or unusual; again it is near in meaning to "grotesque", not opposite. Step 7: Conclude that "Plain" is the only word that expresses a normal, simple appearance, making it the correct antonym. Verification / Alternative check: You can verify this choice by placing each option in a sample sentence and seeing whether it makes sense as the opposite. For example, "The building was not grotesque; it was quite plain." This contrast feels natural, because "plain" balances "grotesque". On the other hand, sentences like "The building was not grotesque; it was quite odd or quite queer" do not make sense as opposites, because "odd" and "queer" also suggest strangeness. The word "free" has no meaningful connection with appearance, so it cannot be the direct opposite of "grotesque". Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Free" is about freedom, cost, or lack of restriction, not about visual normality or ugliness, so it does not relate to the meaning of "grotesque". "Odd" means strange or unusual, which is close to the disturbing and strange sense of "grotesque", so it cannot be an antonym. "Queer" similarly means strange or unusual, again aligning with the idea of something bizarre or out of the ordinary, not its opposite. Common Pitfalls: Many students confuse antonyms with any word that is simply different from the original word. However, an antonym must be opposite, not just unrelated. Another common mistake is to jump at the first word that looks uncommon, assuming the examiners want a difficult option. In reality, sometimes the simplest sounding word, such as "plain", is the correct answer because it directly reverses the given concept. Always focus on the core meaning of the target word and then look for a word that reverses that core, not one that merely sounds complicated. Final Answer: The word that is opposite in meaning to "grotesque" is Plain.

Question 2

In this English vocabulary question, you must select the word which is opposite in meaning (antonym) to the verb "irk".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks your understanding of antonyms for common English verbs. The word given is "irk". In competitive exams, words like "irk" appear frequently to test whether you can map them correctly to their meanings and then choose exact opposites. Knowing these vocabulary pairs helps in reading comprehension and in accurately expressing emotions and reactions. Given Data / Assumptions: The target word is "irk". Options provided are Attract, Discourage, Irritate, and Please. We must choose one option that is opposite in meaning to "irk". Only one option should be clearly and directly opposite. Concept / Approach: "Irk" means to annoy, irritate, or make someone feel slightly angry and bothered. Therefore, the antonym must be a verb that expresses the opposite emotional effect, such as making someone happy, satisfied, or content. "Please" is the verb that means to make someone feel happy or satisfied. The other options do not express the opposite emotional state and are therefore incorrect. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that "irk" means to irritate, annoy or bother someone. Step 2: Note that "Irritate" is actually a synonym of "irk", not its antonym. Step 3: Examine "Attract", which refers to drawing someone towards something; this is not the opposite of annoyance, it is about attention or interest. Step 4: Examine "Discourage", which means to cause someone to lose confidence or enthusiasm; this does not express the opposite of annoyance, but it is also negative. Step 5: Examine "Please", which means to make someone happy or satisfied; this clearly contrasts with annoying or irritating someone. Step 6: Conclude that "Please" is the only word that truly reverses the emotional effect of "irk". Verification / Alternative check: We can verify the answer by constructing example sentences. Consider: "Loud, repetitive noises irk me" versus "Kind words please me". The emotional responses are on opposite sides: one causes irritation, the other causes satisfaction. Also, dictionary definitions support this: "irk" is defined as "to irritate; annoy", while "please" is "to give enjoyment or satisfaction to". Therefore, they form a natural antonym pair in the context of emotional impact on a person. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Attract" deals with drawing interest or attention. Something that attracts you may still irritate you (for example, flashy advertisements), so this is not a true opposite. "Discourage" is about reducing confidence or hope. A person could be discouraged and still feel irked, so this word is not the opposite of "irk". "Irritate" is a direct synonym of "irk", as both words refer to causing annoyance. This is exactly what we must avoid choosing in an antonym question. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake is to choose a word that simply feels different, without checking whether it is truly opposite. Another pitfall is to pick a word that is vaguely negative, assuming that the exam simply wants a different negative word. However, antonym questions require precision: you must find the word that reverses the meaning, not just any unrelated term. For verbs describing feelings, always consider the emotional result: annoyance versus pleasure, sadness versus happiness, etc. Here, moving from "annoy" to "please" gives a clear and strong contrast, which is what examiners test. Final Answer: The word that is opposite in meaning to "irk" is Please.

Question 3

In this English vocabulary question, you must select the word which is similar in meaning (synonym) to the adjective "morose".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question assesses your understanding of synonyms, that is, words which are close or similar in meaning. The given word is "morose", which often appears in reading passages and vocabulary-based questions. Knowing its sense helps you interpret the emotional tone of sentences and passages correctly. To score well, you must match "morose" with the option that best mirrors its emotional and descriptive quality. Given Data / Assumptions: The word to be explained is "morose". Options given are Flatter, Gloomy, Friendly, and Savvy. We must choose the synonym, that is, the word closest in meaning. Only one option should truly express the same emotional tone. Concept / Approach: "Morose" describes a person who is very gloomy, sullen, or in a depressed mood. It suggests a kind of silent sadness or ill-temper. Therefore, the synonym must also carry the idea of gloom or sadness. Among the choices, "Gloomy" is the word that matches this idea. The other words express completely different concepts such as praising someone, being friendly, or being clever. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that "morose" means very gloomy, sullen, or depressed in mood. Step 2: Look at "Flatter", which means to praise someone excessively; this has no connection with sadness or gloom. Step 3: Examine "Gloomy", which means sad, dark or depressed in mood; this is strongly aligned with "morose". Step 4: Consider "Friendly", which means kind, pleasant, and warm towards others, almost opposite to the idea of sullen or withdrawn. Step 5: Consider "Savvy", which means shrewd or knowledgeable; it is about intelligence, not mood. Step 6: Conclude that only "Gloomy" accurately captures the meaning of "morose". Verification / Alternative check: To verify, we can use both words in similar sentences and see if the meaning remains consistent. For instance: "He sat there, morose and silent, staring at the floor" can easily be changed to "He sat there, gloomy and silent, staring at the floor" without changing the basic sense. However, substituting "flatter", "friendly", or "savvy" in place of "morose" would make the sentence illogical or change its meaning completely. Standard dictionaries also define "morose" as sullen, gloomy, or ill-tempered, confirming that "Gloomy" is the correct synonym. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Flatter" refers to giving exaggerated praise, often insincerely, and has nothing to do with mood or sadness. "Friendly" indicates a warm, kind, and pleasant attitude, which is almost the opposite of the withdrawn and gloomy mood expressed by "morose". "Savvy" means knowledgeable or clever in practical matters, which again does not describe an emotional state like gloom or depression. Common Pitfalls: Some candidates focus too much on whether a word is positive or negative and ignore the specific quality of the emotion. "Morose" is not just negative; it is specifically gloomy and sullen. Another pitfall is choosing a word simply because it is unfamiliar, thinking that the exam setter wants a hard option. In reality, many correct answers are everyday words like "gloomy". Always compare the base meaning carefully and ensure that the chosen synonym can replace the original word in typical sentences without changing the overall sense. Final Answer: The word that is similar in meaning to "morose" is Gloomy.

Question 4

In this English vocabulary question, you must select the word which is similar in meaning (synonym) to the adjective "opulent".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question examines your knowledge of synonyms for descriptive adjectives related to wealth and luxury. The given word is "opulent". Such words are common in reading comprehension passages about lifestyle, history, and art. Knowing them helps you understand descriptions quickly and accurately. Here you must select the word that is closest in meaning to "opulent". Given Data / Assumptions: The target adjective is "opulent". Options are Fake, Gloomy, Rich, and Selfish. We must choose the synonym that best represents wealth and luxury. Only one option captures the correct sense of the word. Concept / Approach: "Opulent" is used to describe something that is very rich, luxurious, and expensive in appearance or quality. It often refers to grand houses, lavish decorations, or very wealthy lifestyles. Therefore, the synonym should also refer to wealth or richness. Among the given options, "Rich" clearly matches this idea. The other words, like "Fake", "Gloomy", and "Selfish", describe very different qualities and cannot be synonyms of "opulent". Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that "opulent" means very wealthy, luxurious, or richly decorated. Step 2: Look at "Fake", which means not genuine or not real; this is not related to wealth or luxury. Step 3: Consider "Gloomy", which describes a dark or sad mood; again this is about emotion and lighting, not richness. Step 4: Examine "Rich", which directly describes a person or thing having a lot of money, valuable resources, or luxurious quality. Step 5: Review "Selfish", which describes a person who only thinks of themselves; this is a moral quality, not a measure of wealth. Step 6: Conclude that "Rich" is the only option that matches the idea of "opulent". Verification / Alternative check: Check the words in sample sentences. "They lived in an opulent palace" can be paraphrased as "They lived in a rich, luxurious palace". The word "rich" naturally fits in that sentence, whereas "fake", "gloomy", or "selfish" would make the sentence illogical or change its meaning completely. Standard dictionary definitions also describe "opulent" as "rich and luxurious or lavish", which confirms that "Rich" is the closest synonym among the choices given. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Fake" talks about authenticity, not about the level of wealth or luxury. "Gloomy" relates to a sad or dark atmosphere, which does not define richness or luxury. "Selfish" describes a character trait in which a person only cares about themselves, not their financial status or lifestyle. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes confuse "opulent" with "opinionated" or other similar sounding words. Others may misinterpret it as something negative because very rich lifestyles are sometimes criticised, but the word itself is neutral and descriptive, referring simply to great wealth and luxury. In synonym questions, focus on the core meaning first and ignore any personal feelings about whether the quality is good or bad. Once you know "opulent" means richly luxurious, "Rich" becomes the clear and safe choice. Final Answer: The word that is similar in meaning to "opulent" is Rich.

Question 5

In this English grammar question on prepositions and tenses, fill in the blank with the most appropriate word in the sentence "Neha has been crying _____ morning."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your understanding of the correct preposition used with the present perfect continuous tense in English. The sentence is "Neha has been crying _____ morning." Prepositions like "since", "for", "from", and "till" are often confused in time expressions, and competitive exams frequently test the correct pairing of tense and preposition. Here, you need to identify which preposition correctly introduces a point of time in the present perfect continuous construction. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence is "Neha has been crying _____ morning." The tense structure "has been crying" is present perfect continuous. The word "morning" is used as a point in time, not a duration. The options are from, of, since, and till. Concept / Approach: In English grammar, the present perfect continuous tense (has been / have been + verb-ing) is frequently used with "since" and "for". "Since" is used to show the starting point of an action that began in the past and continues into the present. "For" is used to show the duration. In this sentence, "morning" refers to a starting point (this morning), not to a duration like "three hours". Therefore, the correct preposition to use with "has been crying" and "morning" is "since". The other prepositions do not form an idiomatic or grammatically correct expression in this context. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the tense: "has been crying" is present perfect continuous, indicating an action that started in the past and is still going on. Step 2: Note that the time expression "morning" functions as a point of time (today's morning) rather than a span of time. Step 3: Recall the rule: use "since" to refer to the starting point of an action (since morning, since 9 am, since Monday). Step 4: Test "Neha has been crying since morning." This sounds correct and natural in standard English. Step 5: Test "Neha has been crying from morning." This is awkward and incomplete; normally we say "from morning till evening". Step 6: Test "Neha has been crying of morning." This is grammatically incorrect. Step 7: Test "Neha has been crying till morning." This suggests the crying stopped at morning and would require a starting point earlier, so it does not match the intended meaning. Verification / Alternative check: We can verify by recalling standard phrases commonly used in English: "since morning", "since yesterday", "since childhood", all indicate the starting point of an ongoing action. For example, "I have been studying since morning" and "It has been raining since night". All these follow the same pattern as the sentence given in the question. Grammar books also teach that "since" is used with a point of time and "for" with a period of time. Here, "morning" functions as a point, so "since" is appropriate. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "from" usually needs a pair such as "from ... to ..." or "from ... till ...". Using it alone as "crying from morning" sounds incomplete and unnatural. "of" does not express time in this sense and would be grammatically incorrect in "crying of morning". "till" shows the ending point of an action (till evening, till night); it does not indicate when the action started, which is what we need here. Common Pitfalls: Learners often confuse "since" and "from" because both can refer to starting points. However, in combination with the present perfect continuous tense, "since" is almost always preferred when we do not explicitly mention the ending point. Another mistake is to insert "from" alone without completing the time range. To avoid this, remember the simple rule: with "has been" or "have been", when you mention the starting time only, use "since". This will help you quickly answer many similar questions in competitive exams. Final Answer: The correct preposition is since, so the complete sentence is "Neha has been crying since morning."

Question 6

In this English grammar question, choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence "The higher you climb, the more difficult it _____ to breathe."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question evaluates your understanding of verb tense and the use of present simple in general truths. The sentence "The higher you climb, the more difficult it _____ to breathe" describes a general fact about what happens as altitude increases. In such cases, English normally uses the simple present tense. Your task is to choose the verb form that correctly completes this comparative structure and expresses a general truth clearly. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence is "The higher you climb, the more difficult it _____ to breathe." The options are became, becomes, has become, and is becoming. The statement describes a general rule about height and breathing difficulty, not a single past event. The structure "The higher you..., the more..." typically pairs with simple present verbs. Concept / Approach: In English, when we describe facts that are generally true at all times, such as scientific facts or universal truths, we use the simple present tense. The comparative correlative structure "The higher you climb, the more difficult it becomes" is a standard pattern. Using past tense ("became") or present perfect ("has become") would wrongly suggest a specific time period. The present continuous ("is becoming") would imply a temporary, ongoing change rather than a general rule. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recognize that the sentence describes a scientific or physical fact about climbing higher and breathing. Step 2: Recall that universal truths and general facts are usually expressed in the simple present tense. Step 3: Test "became": "The higher you climb, the more difficult it became to breathe." This sounds like a narrative about a past event, not a general rule. Step 4: Test "becomes": "The higher you climb, the more difficult it becomes to breathe." This correctly expresses a general truth in present simple. Step 5: Test "has become": "The higher you climb, the more difficult it has become to breathe." This incorrectly suggests that some recent change has occurred, which is not intended. Step 6: Test "is becoming": "The higher you climb, the more difficult it is becoming to breathe." This continuous form does not fit a timeless law and sounds awkward. Step 7: Conclude that "becomes" is the most appropriate verb form. Verification / Alternative check: You can confirm the pattern by looking at standard examples of similar comparative structures: "The harder you work, the luckier you get" or "The more you read, the more you learn." In each case, the verbs "get" and "learn" are in the simple present tense. Replacing them with past or continuous forms would spoil the general, all-time truth. Similarly, "The higher you climb, the more difficult it becomes to breathe" follows the same pattern and sounds natural to native speakers. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "became" changes the sentence into a description of a completed past event, which conflicts with the general truth being expressed. "has become" suggests a recent change or development, as if breathing difficulty has only now started to increase, which is not the intended meaning. "is becoming" focuses on a process happening currently and temporarily, rather than on a timeless rule. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake is to overuse continuous or perfect tenses because they sound more advanced. However, in many exam questions, the simple present is the most accurate and elegant choice, especially for scientific facts and habitual actions. Another pitfall is to ignore sentence structures like "The more..., the more..." which almost always take simple present verbs. If you remember this structure, you can quickly eliminate the incorrect options and confidently choose the right one. Final Answer: The correct verb form is becomes, so the complete sentence is "The higher you climb, the more difficult it becomes to breathe."

Question 7

In this English error-spotting question, identify the part of the sentence which contains an error in the comparison: "Everybody knows(1) that Bhutan is the most peaceful(2) of all other countries of the world.(3) No Error(4)".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks your ability to spot grammatical errors in comparative structures. The sentence given is: "Everybody knows that Bhutan is the most peaceful of all other countries of the world." The sentence is split into four parts, and you are required to identify which part contains the error. Such questions are very common in competitive exams to test your knowledge of comparative adjectives and redundant words like "other" when using superlatives such as "most peaceful". Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence has four parts: (1) Everybody knows, (2) that Bhutan is the most peaceful, (3) of all other countries of the world, (4) No Error. We must find which numbered segment contains an error. The key grammar area is the use of a superlative degree adjective "most peaceful" with the phrase "of all other countries". We assume the intended meaning is that Bhutan is more peaceful than any other country in the world. Concept / Approach: When we use a superlative degree like "the most peaceful", we compare one item with all the members of a group including it. Therefore, we typically say "the most peaceful of all countries in the world" or "the most peaceful country in the world". The word "other" is not used with a superlative when the subject is included in the group. "Other" is used with comparative degree, for example, "more peaceful than any other country". Thus, the phrase "of all other countries of the world" is incorrect and redundant. It should be "of all countries of the world" or rephrased in some other correct way. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Examine part (1) "Everybody knows" – this is grammatically correct and natural. Step 2: Examine part (2) "that Bhutan is the most peaceful" – "the most peaceful" is the correct superlative form for this context. Step 3: Examine part (3) "of all other countries of the world" – here we notice the combined use of "all" and "other" with a superlative. Step 4: Recall the rule: with superlative degree adjectives ("the most peaceful") we normally use "of all" or "in the world", not "of all other". Step 5: Realize that "other" is appropriately used with comparative structure such as "more peaceful than any other country". Step 6: Conclude that part (3) contains the error and should be corrected to "of all countries of the world" or "in the world". Verification / Alternative check: We can rewrite the sentence in two clearly correct ways: "Everybody knows that Bhutan is the most peaceful country in the world." or "Everybody knows that Bhutan is more peaceful than any other country in the world." The first sentence uses superlative degree correctly without "other". The second sentence uses comparative degree and includes "any other country", which is the correct combination. Therefore, the original phrase "of all other countries of the world" is neither of these standard patterns and must be considered incorrect. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (1) "Everybody knows" is a common, grammatically correct phrase; there is no issue with subject-verb agreement here. Part (2) "that Bhutan is the most peaceful" correctly uses the superlative degree "most peaceful" with the definite article "the". Part (4) represents "No Error" and is not itself a sentence component; the error has already been found in part (3). Common Pitfalls: Students often overlook redundancies when dealing with comparative and superlative structures. A frequent mistake is mixing up the patterns "the most ... of all" and "more ... than any other". Remember that "other" is not required with superlative degree and, in fact, makes the expression incorrect or awkward. During exams, whenever you see "most" combined with "other", inspect the sentence carefully, as it is often a clue to an error in usage. Final Answer: The error is in part 3, so option "3" is the correct choice.

Question 8

In this English error-spotting question, identify the part of the sentence which contains the pronoun error: "The two men were(1) quarrelling with one another(2) claiming the same watch as their own.(3) No Error(4)".

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your understanding of reciprocal pronouns in English, specifically the correct use of "each other" and "one another". The sentence is: "The two men were quarrelling with one another claiming the same watch as their own." You are asked to find which part of the sentence contains a grammatical error. Such questions are common in competitive exams to check how accurately you use pronouns according to the number of people involved. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence is divided into four parts: (1) The two men were, (2) quarrelling with one another, (3) claiming the same watch as their own, (4) No Error. The subject is clearly "The two men", which refers to exactly two persons. The phrase "quarrelling with one another" uses a reciprocal pronoun. We must identify any mismatch between the number of persons and the pronoun chosen. Concept / Approach: In traditional grammar, "each other" is typically used when referring to two persons or things, while "one another" is used when referring to more than two. Although modern usage sometimes blurs this distinction, competitive exam questions usually follow the traditional rule very strictly. Since we are talking about exactly two men, the correct reciprocal pronoun should be "each other", not "one another". Therefore, the error lies in the part that uses "one another". Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the subject: "The two men" clearly indicates that only two people are involved. Step 2: Note that they are "quarrelling with one another", which is the reciprocal pronoun phrase. Step 3: Recall the rule: use "each other" for two persons and "one another" for more than two persons in formal grammar. Step 4: Recognize that because the sentence speaks about "two men", the pronoun should be "each other". Step 5: Check parts (1) and (3) for other possible errors and see that they are grammatically fine. Step 6: Conclude that part (2) contains the error and should be corrected to "quarrelling with each other". Verification / Alternative check: You can test the rule with other examples: "The two friends hugged each other" is the standard form, not "hugged one another". When referring to a group, such as "The players congratulated one another", we naturally use "one another" because more than two people are involved. Applying this pattern to the given sentence confirms that "each other" is the appropriate choice for two men, and therefore the phrase "quarrelling with one another" is incorrect in the strict exam sense. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (1) "The two men were" correctly introduces the subject and verb; there is no agreement error. Part (3) "claiming the same watch as their own" is grammatically correct, as "their own" appropriately refers back to "the two men". Part (4) represents the option "No Error", but we have already identified a genuine error in part (2), so option 4 cannot be correct. Common Pitfalls: Many learners have seen modern usage where "each other" and "one another" are used interchangeably, leading them to wrongly select "No Error". However, competitive examinations usually expect candidates to follow the traditional rule strictly. Another pitfall is focusing on less important phrases like "claiming the same watch as their own" while ignoring the pronoun rule. To do well on such questions, always scan for standard textbook rules about pronouns, prepositions, and comparisons. Final Answer: The error is in part 2, so option "2" is the correct choice. The corrected sentence should read: "The two men were quarrelling with each other, claiming the same watch as their own."

Question 9

In this sentence-improvement question on advanced grammar, choose the correct option about whether the highlighted phrase "has not been profitable for them to do so" needs any correction in the sentence "The political masters of health care system h…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your ability to judge whether a complex sentence is already grammatically correct or whether a suggested alternative phrase is better. The sentence is: "The political masters of health care system have not listened to professional health planners because it has not been profitable for them to do so." The phrase in bold is "has not been profitable for them to do so". You are also given three alternative phrases (i, ii, iii). You must decide whether any of these should replace the bold phrase or whether the original phrase requires no correction at all. Given Data / Assumptions: Original phrase: "has not been profitable for them to do so". Option (i): has not been profitable for them to do that things. Option (ii): has been unprofitable for the professionals to do so. Option (iii): has been not profitable for them to do so. The subject "it" refers to the act of listening to professional health planners. The pronoun "them" refers to the political masters of the health care system. Concept / Approach: We must check the original phrase for correctness in grammar, clarity, and reference. "It has not been profitable for them to do so" is a perfectly acceptable construction in standard English. It employs a clear subject ("it"), the present perfect tense ("has not been"), and an infinitive phrase ("for them to do so") that correctly indicates that listening has not yielded profit for the political masters. We then examine the suggested alternatives and check whether they improve or damage correctness and meaning. If none of the alternatives are acceptable, we conclude that no correction is required. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the original sentence: "The political masters of health care system have not listened to professional health planners because it has not been profitable for them to do so." Step 2: Confirm that "it" refers back to the act of listening to professional health planners, and "for them" correctly refers to the political masters. Step 3: Observe that "has not been profitable" is a correct present perfect passive-like structure indicating that in the past up to now, listening has not given profit. Step 4: Examine option (i) "has not been profitable for them to do that things" – this is clearly ungrammatical because "that things" is wrong; it should be "those things". Step 5: Examine option (ii) "has been unprofitable for the professionals to do so" – this changes the meaning by suggesting that it is unprofitable for the professionals, not the political masters, which is not intended. Step 6: Examine option (iii) "has been not profitable for them to do so" – the word order is awkward; standard English prefers "has not been profitable". Step 7: Conclude that none of the alternatives improve the sentence, and therefore "No correction required" is the correct choice. Verification / Alternative check: You can verify by rephrasing the original sentence in simpler words: "The political leaders have ignored professional health planners because listening to them has not been profitable for the leaders." This rephrasing clearly matches the original meaning and shows that the grammar of the original phrase is sound. No change in tense, subject reference, or structure is necessary. Each suggested alternative either introduces a new grammatical mistake or shifts the meaning away from the intended subject, which is the political masters, not the professionals. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option (i) contains the phrase "that things", which is grammatically incorrect. It should be either "those things" or a singular form, and it still would not add clarity. Option (ii) wrongly shifts the focus to the professionals by saying it is unprofitable for them, which changes the meaning of the sentence. Option (iii) uses an unnatural word order "has been not profitable", whereas natural English says "has not been profitable". Common Pitfalls: Many students think that because alternatives are offered, one of them must be better. This leads them to change a sentence that is already correct. In sentence-improvement questions, always remember that "No correction required" is a valid and often the correct option. Carefully examine the original sentence for actual mistakes before assuming a change is needed. Also, pay attention when the alternatives shift the meaning by changing the subject or the pronoun reference; such subtle changes make them unsuitable replacements. Final Answer: The original phrase is already correct, so the answer is No correction required.

Question 10

In this sentence-improvement question on tense and aspect, choose which phrase, if any, should replace the highlighted part "and this would hopefully open up the market" in the sentence "The co-production agreement has already resulted in several fi…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question focuses on the correct use of tense and aspect in a complex sentence talking about present results and expected future impact. The given sentence is: "The co-production agreement has already resulted in several film ventures being signed, and this would hopefully open up the market for more Indian films and television programs." You must decide whether the highlighted phrase "would hopefully open up the market" should be replaced by one of the suggested alternatives (i, ii, iii), or whether no correction is required. Given Data / Assumptions: Main clause: "The co-production agreement has already resulted in several film ventures being signed". Highlighted phrase: "and this would hopefully open up the market for more Indian films and television programs." Option (i): and this hopefully open up the market. Option (ii): and this hopefully opened up the market. Option (iii): and this is hopefully opening up the market. The sentence describes current results and an ongoing positive impact, not a distant hypothetical situation. Concept / Approach: The first part of the sentence is in the present perfect tense ("has already resulted"), which connects past actions to their current results. The second part speaks about the effect of this agreement on the market. Using "would" is more appropriate when expressing a hypothetical situation or a future in the past, which is not the case here. We require a form that shows an ongoing, current process of opening up the market. Among the options, "is hopefully opening up the market" best matches the tense and meaning of the first clause and keeps the statement anchored in the present time. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Notice the tense in the first clause: "has already resulted", which is present perfect. Step 2: Recognize that the effect on the market is not hypothetical; it is a real and current process. Step 3: Evaluate the original phrase with "would hopefully open up", which sounds like a future possibility from a past viewpoint and is less appropriate here. Step 4: Consider option (i) "and this hopefully open up the market" – this is grammatically incorrect because "open" should be "opens" or "is opening"; the verb form is wrong. Step 5: Consider option (ii) "and this hopefully opened up the market" – simple past "opened up" does not match well with "has already resulted" and suggests a completed action in the past. Step 6: Consider option (iii) "and this is hopefully opening up the market" – present continuous describes an effect that is happening now as a result of the agreement, which fits the meaning. Step 7: Conclude that only option (iii) gives a grammatically correct and contextually appropriate replacement. Verification / Alternative check: Rewriting the sentence with option (iii), we get: "The co-production agreement has already resulted in several film ventures being signed, and this is hopefully opening up the market for more Indian films and television programs." This combination flows smoothly, connects past actions to current results, and expresses ongoing change. In contrast, "would hopefully open up" would be more suitable if we were describing what might happen under some condition, such as "If the agreement were signed, this would hopefully open up the market", which is a different structure. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option (i) lacks correct verb agreement; "this hopefully open up" is ungrammatical without "opens" or "is opening". Option (ii) uses simple past "opened up", which conflicts with the present perfect in the main clause and implies the market effect is already fully completed in the past. "No correction required" would keep "would hopefully open up", but this suggests an unreal or hypothetical effect and is less accurate than the present continuous for the given context. Common Pitfalls: A common error in such questions is to ignore the tense of the first part of the sentence and choose an option that sounds fine in isolation. Another trap is assuming that any sentence containing "would" must be more formal or correct. In reality, "would" is used for conditional or hypothetical situations and cannot replace present forms when describing actual ongoing effects. Always align the tense and aspect of the second clause with the logical time frame established in the first clause. Final Answer: The correct choice is Only iii, so the improved sentence uses the phrase "and this is hopefully opening up the market".

Question 11

In this sentence-improvement question on prepositional phrases, decide which phrase, if any, should replace the highlighted part "one puts in to the professional front" in the sentence "My father told me that all the labor and effort one puts in to …

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Introduction / Context: This question checks whether you can judge if a complex prepositional phrase in a sentence really needs correction. The sentence reads: "My father told me that all the labor and effort one puts in to the professional front is meant to make life easier and therefore any professional success coming at the cost of personal happiness is pointless." The highlighted phrase is "one puts in to the professional front". You must decide whether one of the suggested alternatives improves the grammar and meaning, or whether the original phrase is acceptable as it is. Given Data / Assumptions: Original phrase: "one puts in to the professional front". Option (i): one puts at the professional front is meant to make life. Option (ii): one puts onto the professional front is meant to make life. Option (iii): one who puts into the professional front is meant to make life. The intended meaning is that labour and effort that a person invests in their professional life is meant to make life easier. Concept / Approach: In the phrase "the labor and effort one puts in", the phrasal verb "put in" is natural and correct in English. It means "to invest" or "to devote time and effort". The additional phrase "to the professional front" further specifies where that effort is invested. While the wording is somewhat formal or slightly unusual, it is still grammatically acceptable: "to the professional front" can be understood as "in the area of one's professional life". The key is to check whether any suggested alternative gives a clearer and more idiomatic expression without introducing new errors. As we shall see, all three alternatives actually damage the grammar or the sense. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the original: "labor and effort one puts in to the professional front". Step 2: Recognize "puts in" as a correct phrasal verb meaning "invests" or "devotes". Step 3: Understand that "to the professional front" means "towards the professional side of life", which is conceptually acceptable, even if slightly formal. Step 4: Examine option (i): "one puts at the professional front" – here "puts at" is not idiomatic; we normally say "puts in" or "invests in". Step 5: Examine option (ii): "one puts onto the professional front" – "puts onto" is also awkward and unidiomatic in this context. Step 6: Examine option (iii): "one who puts into the professional front" – this changes the structure and creates a mismatch between subject and verb ("one who puts ... is meant to make life" is unclear). Step 7: Conclude that the original phrase, although formal, is grammatically acceptable and better than the proposed alternatives. Verification / Alternative check: We can paraphrase the sentence as: "My father told me that all the labor and effort one puts in at the professional front is meant to make life easier." This confirms that "puts in" is the key phrasal verb and that adding a preposition like "at" or "on" in the alternatives does not truly improve clarity. Since the exam offers only the slightly awkward alternatives and not a nicely polished option such as "puts into his or her professional life", it is reasonable to treat the original as acceptable and to choose "No correction required". Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option (i) uses "puts at", which is not idiomatic for describing invested labor or effort. Option (ii) uses "puts onto", which again is unnatural in this context and does not match standard usage. Option (iii) changes the structure to "one who puts into the professional front", which breaks the original grammatical balance and confuses the subject of the verb "is meant". Common Pitfalls: Many students assume that a long or slightly formal phrase must be wrong just because simpler language exists. However, in sentence-improvement questions, you are not free to rewrite the entire sentence; you may only choose among the given options. If none of the alternatives are free from errors and truly better, you must confidently choose "No correction required". Always check each suggested replacement carefully for grammar and meaning rather than changing the sentence automatically. Final Answer: The original phrase is acceptable, so the correct choice is No correction required.

Question 12

In this sentence-improvement question on subject–pronoun agreement, choose which phrase, if any, should replace the highlighted part "The trees shed his leaves every time autumn approaches" in the sentence "The trees shed his leaves every time autum…

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Introduction / Context: This question tests your understanding of subject–pronoun agreement and tense consistency. The sentence is: "The trees shed his leaves every time autumn approaches but a healthy tree always gets its leaves back in the spring, which explains the point that fighting spirit is enough to keep one afloat." The highlighted portion "The trees shed his leaves every time autumn approaches" must be checked against the three suggested alternatives (i, ii, iii). You must determine which replacement gives the grammatically correct and logically consistent form. Given Data / Assumptions: Original highlighted phrase: "The trees shed his leaves every time autumn approaches". Option (i): has shed their leaves every time autumn approaches. Option (ii): shed their leaves every time autumn approaches. Option (iii): shed its leaves every time autumn approaches. The subject "trees" is plural, while each individual "tree" mentioned later is singular. The sentence describes a general, repeated event, not a single completed action. Concept / Approach: The main problem in the original phrase is the pronoun "his". The subject is "The trees", which is plural and non-human, so the possessive pronoun should be "their" rather than "his". Furthermore, the sentence describes a general habit that happens "every time autumn approaches", so the simple present tense "shed" is appropriate. We must choose the alternative that corrects the pronoun and keeps the general present tense structure for a repeated natural phenomenon. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the subject: "The trees" is clearly plural. Step 2: Notice the incorrect pronoun "his leaves", which mismatches the plural, non-human subject. Step 3: Recall the correct possessive pronoun for plural, non-human subjects is "their". Step 4: Check the tense: the phrase "every time autumn approaches" indicates a habitual, repeated action, so simple present "shed" is correct. Step 5: Evaluate option (i): "has shed their leaves every time autumn approaches" – here "has shed" is present perfect, which does not fit well with "every time", a habitual marker. Step 6: Evaluate option (ii): "shed their leaves every time autumn approaches" – this correctly uses "shed" as the simple present and "their leaves" to match the plural subject. Step 7: Evaluate option (iii): "shed its leaves every time autumn approaches" – the pronoun "its" is singular, but the subject "trees" is plural, so this is incorrect. Step 8: Conclude that only option (ii) is fully correct. Verification / Alternative check: If we rewrite the first clause using option (ii), we get: "The trees shed their leaves every time autumn approaches but a healthy tree always gets its leaves back in the spring." This version is grammatically sound: "trees ... their leaves" is correct, and the simple present "shed" matches the habitual sense. It also connects logically to the later clause that speaks about a single healthy tree getting its leaves back, forming a clear comparison between many trees and an individual tree. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option (i) "has shed their leaves every time autumn approaches" mixes present perfect "has shed" with the time phrase "every time", which normally goes with simple present, making the sentence less natural. Option (iii) "shed its leaves every time autumn approaches" has a singular pronoun "its" referring back to the plural subject "trees", causing a pronoun agreement error. The original phrase with "his leaves" is also wrong because "his" suggests a singular male person, not plural trees. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes focus only on the verb tense and ignore pronoun agreement, or they change the tense unnecessarily while trying to fix the pronoun. Another frequent mistake is to think that "has shed" sounds more advanced, but it may be incorrect with repetitive expressions like "every time". In exam questions, always check both pronoun agreement and tense consistency together: the subject should agree in number and type with its pronouns, and the tense must match the time expression given in the sentence. Final Answer: The correct replacement is Only ii, so the clause should read "The trees shed their leaves every time autumn approaches".

Question 13

In this sentence-improvement question on superlative noun phrases, decide which phrase, if any, should replace the highlighted words "the vilest of the thing that can be done by a person" in the sentence "The vilest of the thing that can be done by …

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Introduction / Context: This question checks your understanding of the correct structure with superlative adjectives and singular nouns. The sentence is: "The vilest of the thing that can be done by a person is to ill-treat dogs and other defenseless animals." The highlighted part is "the vilest of the thing that can be done by a person". You must decide which suggested alternative, if any, gives a grammatically correct and natural expression of the idea that ill-treating defenseless animals is the worst possible thing a person can do. Given Data / Assumptions: Original phrase: "the vilest of the thing that can be done by a person". Option (i): vile things that can be done by persons. Option (ii): vilest things that can be done by a person. Option (iii): vilest thing that can be done by a person. The sentence is meant to highlight a single worst action: ill-treating dogs and defenseless animals. Concept / Approach: The word "vilest" is the superlative form of "vile", so it refers to something that is the worst among all. When we speak of one worst action, we should use a singular noun "thing" without "of the" between the superlative and noun. The correct structure is "the vilest thing that can be done by a person". The original phrase "the vilest of the thing" is ungrammatical, and options that use plural "things" are not suitable because the sentence clearly points to one particular act as the single vilest action. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Notice that the sentence is comparing different actions a person can do and calling one of them the worst (vilest). Step 2: Understand that the intention is to say: "The vilest thing that can be done by a person is to ill-treat dogs and other defenseless animals." Step 3: Check the original phrase: "the vilest of the thing that can be done" – the combination "of the thing" after a superlative is not acceptable with a singular noun. Step 4: Evaluate option (i) "vile things that can be done by persons" – this is plural and general; it lists all vile things, not the single vilest thing. Step 5: Evaluate option (ii) "vilest things that can be done by a person" – again this plural "things" conflicts with the idea of one single vilest action. Step 6: Evaluate option (iii) "vilest thing that can be done by a person" – this singular form correctly presents just one worst action. Step 7: Conclude that option (iii) is the correct replacement. Verification / Alternative check: Insert option (iii) into the sentence: "The vilest thing that can be done by a person is to ill-treat dogs and other defenseless animals." This flows naturally and clearly states that among all possible actions, ill-treatment of defenseless animals is the most vile. It matches the intended structure: definite article ("The"), superlative adjective ("vilest"), singular noun ("thing"), and relative clause ("that can be done by a person"). No other option achieves this combination accurately. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option (i) "vile things that can be done by persons" talks about several vile things, not the single vilest one, so it changes the meaning. Option (ii) "vilest things that can be done by a person" is grammatically possible but logically odd: it suggests several "vilest" things, which contradicts the usual idea of a single worst action. The original phrase "the vilest of the thing" is clearly ungrammatical in standard English usage. Common Pitfalls: Candidates sometimes overlook the singular versus plural contrast when choosing between very similar options. When a sentence highlights "the worst thing", "the best way", "the finest example", you should expect a singular noun after the superlative. Another common mistake is to accept "of the thing" because they have seen similar patterns like "the best of the students", which is used with plural nouns. Always check whether the noun following the superlative is singular or plural and choose the correct pattern accordingly. Final Answer: The correct replacement is Only iii, giving the phrase "the vilest thing that can be done by a person".

Question 14

In this sentence-improvement question on noun–preposition combinations, choose which phrase, if any, should replace the highlighted part "represented for a policy" in the sentence "Insurance is a contract, represented for a policy, in which an indiv…

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Introduction / Context: This question examines your understanding of correct prepositional usage in formal definitions, particularly in financial and legal contexts. The sentence given is: "Insurance is a contract, represented for a policy, in which an individual or entity receives financial protection." The phrase "represented for a policy" is highlighted. You must decide which of the given alternatives best expresses the idea that the contract takes the form of a policy document, or whether the original phrase already does that correctly. Given Data / Assumptions: Original phrase: "represented for a policy". Option (i): represented in a policy. Option (ii): represented by a policy. Option (iii): represented with a policy. The intended meaning is that the insurance contract is expressed or embodied in an insurance policy document. Concept / Approach: In standard financial and legal English, we say that a contract is "represented by" or "evidenced by" a document. The document is the representation of the contract. Therefore, the natural and correct preposition is "by", not "for", "in", or "with" in this context. "Represented by a policy" clearly indicates that the policy is the document that stands for the contract. We must therefore choose the option that uses "by" correctly while keeping the rest of the sentence coherent. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the key idea: insurance is a contract, and the policy is the formal representation of that contract. Step 2: Note that "represented for a policy" is not idiomatic or standard in English; we do not usually use "for" with "represented" in this way. Step 3: Examine option (i) "represented in a policy" – this suggests that the contract exists inside the policy, which is possible but less precise and not the most natural phrase. Step 4: Examine option (ii) "represented by a policy" – this correctly shows that the policy is the document that represents the contract, matching typical legal wording. Step 5: Examine option (iii) "represented with a policy" – "with" is vague here and does not clearly show the same representational relationship. Step 6: Choose option (ii) as the best, most accurate expression according to standard usage. Verification / Alternative check: We can test the improved sentence: "Insurance is a contract, represented by a policy, in which an individual or entity receives financial protection." This is the standard kind of definition you might find in textbooks or policy documents. It reads smoothly and clearly indicates that the policy is the formal representation of the contract. Expressions like "represented for a policy" are not used in such definitions, which confirms that the original phrase was incorrect. Why Other Options Are Wrong: The original phrase "represented for a policy" is wrong because "represented for" is not a recognised collocation in this context. Option (i) "represented in a policy" is grammatically possible, but less precise because it suggests location rather than representation; the contract is more accurately represented by the policy, not simply located in it. Option (iii) "represented with a policy" is vague and does not clearly show that the policy is the primary form in which the contract exists. Common Pitfalls: A frequent mistake is to treat prepositions as interchangeable. However, in legal and financial language, specific prepositions carry precise meanings. "By" is often used to show agency or representation, as in "represented by a lawyer" or "evidenced by a document". Remembering this pattern helps you quickly eliminate incorrect combinations like "represented for" or "represented with". When in doubt, try to recall how definitions are phrased in textbooks and official documents. Final Answer: The correct replacement is Only ii, so the phrase should read "represented by a policy".

Question 15

In this sentence-improvement question on verb patterns, choose which phrase, if any, should replace the highlighted part "will helped in stop the drain" in the sentence "The government cannot realize good price from certain assets but their disposal…

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Introduction / Context: This question tests your knowledge of correct verb forms and infinitive constructions in English. The sentence is: "The government cannot realize good price from certain assets but their disposal will helped in stop the drain." The highlighted phrase "will helped in stop the drain" is clearly incorrect. You must choose which alternative phrase, if any, makes this part grammatically correct while keeping the intended meaning that disposing of certain assets will reduce financial loss or wastage. Given Data / Assumptions: Original faulty phrase: "will helped in stop the drain". Option (i): help in stoppage in the drain. Option (ii): help stop the drain. Option (iii): be helping in draining. The sentence earlier uses the modal "will", which must be followed by the base form of the verb. "The drain" refers to financial loss or wastage of resources. Concept / Approach: After a modal verb like "will", we must use the base form of the main verb, not a past form and not a continuous form unless specifically required. The natural expression is "will help stop the drain", where "help" is in base form and "stop" is also base form in an infinitive-like structure linked to "help". Phrases like "help in stoppage in the drain" or "be helping in draining" are grammatically awkward and stylistically poor. The best option is the one that gives us a concise and correct verbal phrase. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify that "will helped" is incorrect because "will" must be followed by base form "help". Step 2: Recognize that "in stop the drain" is also incorrect; we usually say "help stop the drain" or "help in stopping the drain". Step 3: Examine option (i): "help in stoppage in the drain" – this is an awkward noun phrase and uses "stoppage in the drain", which is unnatural. Step 4: Examine option (ii): "help stop the drain" – this is short, grammatical and uses two base forms "help" and "stop" after "will". Step 5: Examine option (iii): "be helping in draining" – combined with "will", this would read "will be helping in draining", which reverses the intended meaning and suggests ongoing draining rather than stopping it. Step 6: Conclude that the correct, idiomatic replacement is option (ii) "help stop the drain". Verification / Alternative check: Insert option (ii) in the full sentence: "The government cannot realize good price from certain assets but their disposal will help stop the drain." This is clear and grammatically correct. The modal "will" is followed by "help", and "help" is then followed by another base verb "stop", which is a standard English pattern: "help improve performance", "help reduce costs", etc. The meaning is preserved: selling or disposing of the assets will help to reduce the loss or wastage. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option (i) "help in stoppage in the drain" is clumsy and unidiomatic. "Stoppage in the drain" does not match the idea of financial loss, and the double use of "in" sounds awkward. Option (iii) "be helping in draining" combined with "will" would produce "will be helping in draining", which suggests the disposal will contribute to more draining, the exact opposite of what is intended. The original phrase "will helped in stop the drain" contains both tense and form errors, and cannot be kept. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes overcomplicate sentences by adding extra prepositions and nouns, thinking it makes the sentence sound formal. However, exam questions often reward simple, correct structures like "help stop the drain". Another common mistake is forgetting that modals such as "will, shall, can, may" are always followed by the base form of the verb. Keeping this rule in mind allows you to quickly reject any option that uses "helped", "helping", or other non-base forms directly after "will". Final Answer: The correct replacement is Only ii, making the clause read "but their disposal will help stop the drain".

Question 16

In this sentence-improvement question on idiomatic expressions, choose which phrase, if any, should replace the highlighted part "he really sticks on his guns" in the sentence "Despite the abuse and insults that were hurled at him, he really sticks …

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Introduction / Context: This question checks your knowledge of idiomatic expressions and tense consistency. The sentence reads: "Despite the abuse and insults that were hurled at him, he really sticks on his guns and showed the protesters how to be calm." The highlighted phrase "he really sticks on his guns" is intended to express the idiom "stick to one's guns", which means to remain firm in one's opinion or position despite pressure. You must decide which suggested alternative phrase uses the idiom correctly and matches the tense of the rest of the sentence. Given Data / Assumptions: Original phrase: "he really sticks on his guns". Option (i): he really stuck onto his guns and showed the protesters. Option (ii): he really stuck to his guns and showed the protesters. Option (iii): he really is sticking his guns onto the protesters. The earlier clause uses past tense: "insults that were hurled at him" and "showed the protesters". We need the idiom "stuck to his guns" in a consistent past tense form. Concept / Approach: The correct idiom is "stick to one's guns", not "stick on" or "stick onto". It means to remain firm in one's position. Because the narrative is in the past ("were hurled", "showed"), the idiom should also appear in the past tense ("stuck to his guns"). Option (ii) preserves both the correct preposition and the correct tense. Option (i) changes the preposition to "onto", which is wrong for this idiom, and option (iii) changes the meaning and structure entirely. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the idiom intended: "stick to his guns" meaning remain firm in his position. Step 2: Note that the sentence uses past tense verbs "were hurled" and "showed", so the main clause should also be in the past tense. Step 3: Evaluate option (i): "he really stuck onto his guns and showed the protesters" – the preposition "onto" is incorrect; the idiom is "stick to", not "stick onto". Step 4: Evaluate option (ii): "he really stuck to his guns and showed the protesters" – this uses the correct past tense "stuck" and the correct preposition "to". Step 5: Evaluate option (iii): "he really is sticking his guns onto the protesters" – this changes the meaning completely and misuses the idiom; it also conflicts with past tense context. Step 6: Conclude that only option (ii) gives a correct and idiomatic sentence. Verification / Alternative check: Insert option (ii) into the sentence: "Despite the abuse and insults that were hurled at him, he really stuck to his guns and showed the protesters how to be calm." This is grammatically correct, maintains past tense throughout, and clearly expresses that he remained firm in his calm stance despite provocation. Native speakers also commonly use this exact form of the idiom in past narratives, which further confirms its accuracy. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option (i) uses "stuck onto his guns", which is not the standard idiom; the correct preposition is "to", not "onto". Option (iii) "is sticking his guns onto the protesters" is incorrect for at least three reasons: wrong tense (present continuous), wrong structure (suggesting physical guns), and loss of the idiomatic meaning. The original "sticks on his guns" is also incorrect in both preposition and tense. Common Pitfalls: Many students misremember idioms and change prepositions, leading to incorrect forms like "stick on" or "stick with". Another common error is neglecting tense consistency and leaving one part of a sentence in present tense while the rest is in past tense. In exams, always check idioms in their standard, textbook form, and ensure the verb tense matches the surrounding narrative. This attention to detail can significantly improve your accuracy in sentence-improvement questions. Final Answer: The correct replacement is Only ii, so the clause should read "he really stuck to his guns and showed the protesters how to be calm".

Question 17

In this sentence-correction question on tense consistency, decide which phrase, if any, should replace the highlighted part "that had provided" in the sentence "For the people living below the poverty line, it is important to find jobs that had prov…

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Introduction / Context: This question examines your understanding of tense consistency in relative clauses. The sentence is: "For the people living below the poverty line, it is important to find jobs that had provided enough money to attain a minimum standard of living." The highlighted part "that had provided" uses past perfect tense. You must decide whether one of the suggested alternatives is better or whether the original is correct, based on the intended meaning about jobs that currently provide sufficient income. Given Data / Assumptions: Original phrase: "jobs that had provided enough money". Option (i): will have provided. Option (ii): has provided. Option (iii): provide. Main clause verb: "it is important", which is present tense. The intended meaning is to talk about jobs that, when obtained now, give enough money to live at a minimum standard. Concept / Approach: Because the main clause is in the present tense ("it is important"), the relative clause describing the jobs should also refer to the general, present-time characteristic of those jobs. We are not referring to jobs that provided money only in some past period, but to jobs that provide enough money as a continuing fact. Therefore, the simple present "provide" is the most suitable verb. The past perfect "had provided" would indicate an action completed before another past event, which does not fit the context here. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify that the main clause uses present tense: "it is important". Step 2: Understand the meaning: people currently living below the poverty line need jobs that, when held, give them enough money to live decently. Step 3: Evaluate the original "jobs that had provided enough money" – this suggests that these jobs provided money in the past but not necessarily now; it clashes with the present-time advice. Step 4: Evaluate option (i) "will have provided" – this tense is future perfect and is used for events completed before a future point; it is not appropriate here. Step 5: Evaluate option (ii) "has provided" – this is present perfect but would usually be used with a definite subject and time context, not with generic "jobs" in a general statement. Step 6: Evaluate option (iii) "provide" – simple present describes a general, habitual truth about such jobs, which exactly matches the intended meaning. Step 7: Conclude that "jobs that provide enough money" is the correct and natural form. Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence using option (iii): "For the people living below the poverty line, it is important to find jobs that provide enough money to attain a minimum standard of living." This sounds entirely natural and correctly links the general property of the jobs (they provide enough money) with the present importance of finding such jobs. The sentence now states a general truth about what kind of jobs are needed, rather than describing some past action. Why Other Options Are Wrong: The original "had provided" is past perfect and is normally used when comparing two past events; here we are dealing with current needs, not past history. Option (i) "will have provided" introduces an unnecessary future perfect sense, which is unrelated to the present need for suitable jobs. Option (ii) "has provided" could be grammatical in some contexts, but with generic "jobs" in a general statement, simple present "provide" is better and more accurate. Common Pitfalls: Many candidates tend to select complex tenses like past perfect or future perfect simply because they appear in exam questions, even when a simple present form is more correct. Remember that when a sentence talks about general facts, ongoing truths, or usual qualities of things, the simple present tense is often the best choice. Always align the tense of the subordinate clause with the time frame and generality expressed in the main clause. Final Answer: The correct replacement is Only iii, giving "jobs that provide enough money to attain a minimum standard of living".

Question 18

In this sentence-correction question on idiomatic usage, choose which phrase, if any, should replace the highlighted part "a ballparks worth of figures of how much this event is going to cost us" in the sentence ""I need you to give me a ballparks w…

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Introduction / Context: This question tests your knowledge of idiomatic business English, particularly the phrase "ballpark figure", which means an approximate estimate. The original sentence is: ""I need you to give me a ballparks worth of figures of how much this event is going to cost us in the next two months."" The highlighted part is "a ballparks worth of figures of how much this event is going to cost us". You must decide which suggested alternative phrase best expresses this idea correctly and naturally, or whether no correction is needed. Given Data / Assumptions: Original phrase: "a ballparks worth of figures of how much this event is going to cost us". Option (i): give me a ballpark figure of how much this event is going to cost. Option (ii): give me the biggest ballpark of your figure, how much this event is going to cost. Option (iii): give me a ballpark figure of how much this event is coming to cost. The speaker wants a rough estimate of the cost of the event over the next two months. Concept / Approach: The standard idiomatic expression is "ballpark figure", not "ballparks worth of figures". The noun "ballpark" is used attributively to modify "figure". The correct structure is "give me a ballpark figure of how much this event is going to cost us". Among the options, only option (i) uses this standard phrase with correct grammar and natural tense. Option (iii) is not as natural because "is coming to cost" is an awkward tense choice in this context, and option (ii) is clearly incorrect and unidiomatic. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recognize that "a ballparks worth of figures" is not an idiomatic expression in English. Step 2: Recall the correct phrase "a ballpark figure", meaning an approximate amount. Step 3: Examine option (i): "give me a ballpark figure of how much this event is going to cost" – this is grammatical and uses the idiom correctly. Step 4: Examine option (ii): "give me the biggest ballpark of your figure, how much this event is going to cost" – this is grammatically confused and does not reflect correct usage. Step 5: Examine option (iii): "give me a ballpark figure of how much this event is coming to cost" – "is coming to cost" is unnecessarily awkward; "is going to cost" is the natural future expression. Step 6: Choose option (i) as the best, idiomatic replacement that corrects both wording and structure. Verification / Alternative check: Insert option (i) into the sentence: ""I need you to give me a ballpark figure of how much this event is going to cost us in the next two months."" This is fluent and natural business English. It clearly communicates that the speaker wants an approximate estimate, not an exact calculation. The phrase "is going to cost us in the next two months" correctly expresses a near-future financial impact. Option (iii) would slightly change this to "is coming to cost", which is not a standard usage in such contexts. Why Other Options Are Wrong: The original phrase uses "a ballparks worth of figures", which incorrectly pluralises "ballpark" and adds "worth of figures", making the idiom unrecognisable. Option (ii) "the biggest ballpark of your figure" is not a recognised expression and is grammatically awkward, adding unnecessary confusion. Option (iii) "a ballpark figure of how much this event is coming to cost" is close but uses an unnatural tense; examiners will prefer the more standard "is going to cost". Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes invent their own variants of idioms by adding extra words like "worth of" or changing the plurality, which makes the expression sound strange. Another mistake is to overcomplicate the tense in the verb phrase, for example "is coming to cost" instead of the simple and widely accepted "is going to cost". In sentence-improvement problems, always aim for the version that matches standard written English and commonly used business or conversational phrases. Final Answer: The correct replacement is Only i, so the sentence should use the phrase "give me a ballpark figure of how much this event is going to cost us in the next two months".

Question 19

In this error-identification question on passive structures, choose which statement is grammatically incorrect among A, B, C, and D about "the deceased soldier's family banking upon the government for justice and support."

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Introduction / Context: This question asks you to identify which of the four given statements is grammatically incorrect. All four sentences describe the same idea in different ways: that the family of a deceased soldier is relying on the government for justice and support. The task is to recognise which sentence does not follow standard English grammar and usage, even though it may contain similar words. Such identification questions are common in competitive exams to test your sensitivity to subtle errors in structure and collocation. Given Data / Assumptions: Option A: "The deceased soldier’s family is banking upon the government for justice and support." Option B: "The government is being banked upon by the deceased soldier’s family for justice and support." Option C: "For justice and support, the deceased soldier’s family is banking upon the government." Option D: "The family of the deceased soldier is the banking of the government for justice and support." The verb phrase "bank on" or "bank upon" means "to rely on" or "to depend on". We assume the intended meaning is that the family is relying on the government. Concept / Approach: The phrasal verb "bank on" or "bank upon" is used in active voice where a person "banks on" something. In passive constructions, it can be transformed to "is banked upon by", but we must still retain a clear agent and correct object. Statements A, B, and C correctly convey the idea of reliance using either active or passive forms. Statement D, however, is structurally wrong: "is the banking of the government" is not a standard or meaningful English expression for "is relying on the government". Therefore, D is the incorrect statement. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Examine statement A: "The deceased soldier’s family is banking upon the government for justice and support." This uses the active form "is banking upon", which is idiomatic and grammatically correct. Step 2: Examine statement B: "The government is being banked upon by the deceased soldier’s family for justice and support." This is the passive equivalent of A and, although less common, is grammatically acceptable. Step 3: Examine statement C: "For justice and support, the deceased soldier’s family is banking upon the government." This is a simple inversion for emphasis and is grammatically correct. Step 4: Examine statement D: "The family of the deceased soldier is the banking of the government for justice and support." Here, the phrase "is the banking of the government" is incorrect; "banking" cannot be used as a noun in this way to mean "relying", and the preposition "of" is wrong. Step 5: Conclude that statement D is grammatically wrong and does not convey the intended meaning correctly. Verification / Alternative check: We can paraphrase the correct sentences to verify their meaning. Options A and C both clearly mean "The family relies on the government for justice and support." Option B, in passive voice, also means "The family relies on the government", just expressed differently. However, if we try to paraphrase D, we get a nonsensical idea: "The family is the banking of the government" does not correspond to any usual structure in English and confuses the roles of subject and object. This confirms that D is the outlier and therefore the incorrect statement. Why Other Options Are Wrong (as answers): Option A is an example of correct, natural active voice: "is banking upon" is a continuous action of relying. Option B, though not commonly used in everyday speech, is a grammatically correct passive voice transformation: the government is being relied upon by the family. Option C simply moves the prepositional phrase "For justice and support" to the beginning for emphasis and remains grammatically sound. Common Pitfalls: One common mistake is to be suspicious of passive constructions like B and assume they must be wrong, but passive voice is often grammatically correct. Another pitfall is not recognizing when a gerund or present participle ("banking") is being misused as a noun. In sentence D, "the banking of the government" does not express "reliance on the government" and therefore fails both grammatically and semantically. In such questions, always compare each option carefully against known patterns of active and passive structures, and check whether the resulting phrase conveys a clear, sensible meaning. Final Answer: The grammatically incorrect statement is D. The family of the deceased soldier is the banking of the government for justice and support.

Question 20

Four sentences are given below as A, B, C and D. Choose the sentence that is grammatically incorrect in the use of the phrasal verb boil down to in the context of a war of succession.

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Introduction / Context: This question tests your understanding of English phrasal verbs, specifically the expression boil down to, which is widely used in political and historical writing to express that a complex conflict is essentially about one core factor. Mastering such fixed expressions is essential for exams that assess advanced grammar and usage, especially in error spotting and sentence improvement sections. Given Data / Assumptions: The focus is on four sentences about a war of succession. Each sentence uses a variation of the verb boil with different particles such as down, on, and to. You must identify which sentence is grammatically incorrect in standard written English. The context is a struggle for power during a war of succession. Assume modern standard English and formal register are required. Concept / Approach: In English, many verbs combine with particles to form phrasal verbs that have fixed patterns. The expression boil down to means that something can be reduced to a basic explanation or cause. It always takes the preposition to followed by a noun phrase or clause. Changing the particle, as in boil down on, or breaking the pattern usually makes the expression ungrammatical or unnatural. The approach is to check which sentence violates this fixed usage. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that the correct phrasal verb is boil down to, meaning to be mainly about something. Step 2: Examine option A. It says boiled down to who had more power, which correctly follows the pattern verb + down + to + clause. Step 3: Examine option B. It says boiled down to the question of who held more power, which is also correct and even slightly more explicit and formal. Step 4: Examine option D. It says boiled down to which faction had greater power, which again follows the standard pattern and is acceptable. Step 5: Examine option C. It says boiled down on who had more power. Here the particle on replaces to, which breaks the fixed pattern of the phrasal verb and makes the sentence incorrect. Step 6: Conclude that only option C misuses the phrasal verb and is therefore the grammatically incorrect sentence. Verification / Alternative check: A quick way to verify is to replace the entire clause after the phrasal verb with a simple noun phrase. For example, the conflict boiled down to power is correct. However, the conflict boiled down on power sounds wrong to a native speaker and does not appear in standard references. This confirms that only to can follow boiled down in this meaning. You can also compare with similar verbs like come down to or reduce to, which all take to, not on, reinforcing the pattern. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A is acceptable because it uses boiled down to with a clause who had more power, which is a natural structure. Option B is acceptable because it adds the phrase the question of but retains boiled down to and remains grammatically sound. Option D is acceptable because it uses boiled down to followed by which faction had greater power, which is also correct usage. Only option C replaces to with on, so it is the incorrect sentence we need to select. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake in phrasal verb questions is to focus only on overall meaning and ignore small function words like prepositions. Many learners think that on, to, and about are interchangeable, but in fixed expressions they are not. Another pitfall is to assume that if the sentence seems understandable, it must be correct, but examinations usually require idiomatic standard usage, not just approximate meaning. Final Answer: The grammatically incorrect sentence is Option C. The war of succession ultimately boiled down on who had more power.

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