Question 1

In the following question, choose the word from the given alternatives which best expresses the meaning of the word SYCOPHANT.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your knowledge of advanced vocabulary, specifically words that describe types of people. The word given is sycophant, which often appears in reading comprehension passages about politics, offices and courts. Understanding this word helps you interpret attitudes and relationships between characters in a text, especially when power dynamics and flattery are involved. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: SYCOPHANT. Options given: PSYCHE, FLATTERER, CRITIC, SLAVE. We must pick the word closest in meaning to sycophant. Context: general English usage about behaviour around someone powerful. We assume a neutral sentence like He surrounded himself with sycophants at the office. Concept / Approach: A sycophant is a person who flatters someone powerful or important in order to gain advantage, favour or rewards. The key idea is insincere praise directed upward in a hierarchy. To solve, we recall which option directly captures the idea of a person who flatters others, and then rule out words that relate to mind, criticism or status but do not specifically describe flattering behaviour. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall or infer the meaning of sycophant as a servile flatterer or a person who praises others, especially superiors, for personal gain. Step 2: Consider option FLATTERER. A flatterer is someone who compliments or praises others, often excessively and insincerely, which matches the meaning very closely. Step 3: Consider option PSYCHE. Psyche refers to the human mind or soul, not to a type of person defined by flattery; so it is unrelated in meaning. Step 4: Consider option CRITIC. A critic is someone who judges or evaluates, often pointing out faults, which is the opposite attitude of a sycophant, who avoids criticism and prefers praise. Step 5: Consider option SLAVE. A slave is someone under complete control of another person, but this word refers to legal or social status, not specifically to flattering behaviour. Step 6: The only option that correctly expresses the meaning of sycophant is FLATTERER. Verification / Alternative check: To verify, place each option in a sample sentence: He is surrounded by sycophants at the office. Replacing sycophants with flatterers keeps the meaning intact. If you try He is surrounded by critics or slaves instead, the sense of the sentence changes completely. This substitution test confirms that flatterer is the correct synonym. Why Other Options Are Wrong: PSYCHE refers to the inner self or mind and has no link to flattery or social behaviour towards superiors. CRITIC denotes someone who judges or evaluates, often negatively, which is the opposite role of a sycophant in most contexts. SLAVE indicates lack of freedom or legal bondage, which is a different concept from someone who chooses to flatter others for benefit. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake is to associate sycophant with slave because both involve a power imbalance, but the exam expects you to focus on the active behaviour of flattering, not on social status. Another pitfall is being misled by the similar sound of PSYCHE and the first part of sycophant, but word roots do not always match meanings directly. Always prioritise meaning over sound in synonym questions. Final Answer: The word that best expresses the meaning of SYCOPHANT is FLATTERER.

Question 2

In the following question, choose the word from the options which is opposite in meaning (antonym) to the given word FORLORN.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This antonym question tests your understanding of emotional vocabulary. The word forlorn is commonly used in literature and everyday English to describe a deep, lonely sadness or a sense of abandonment. To find the antonym, you must identify which option expresses the opposite emotional state, not just a generally positive condition like being lucky or fortunate. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: FORLORN. Options: JOYFUL, LUCKY, FORTUNATE, FREE. You must choose the opposite in meaning to forlorn. Context: describing a person or scene, such as a forlorn child or a forlorn attempt. Assume we are focusing mainly on emotional tone rather than external circumstances like wealth or luck. Concept / Approach: Forlorn means very sad, lonely, abandoned, or hopeless. It combines emotional sadness with a sense of being left alone or without support. Therefore, the antonym should indicate a state of happiness or cheerful emotional fulfilment. Among the options, joyful directly captures an emotional state that is the clear opposite of forlorn. Lucky and fortunate refer to favourable circumstances, which do not always guarantee joy; free refers to lack of restriction rather than emotional mood. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Define forlorn as sad, lonely, and often abandoned or without hope. Step 2: Evaluate JOYFUL. Joyful means full of joy, very happy, or delighted. This directly opposes the sadness and hopelessness implied by forlorn. Step 3: Evaluate LUCKY. Lucky refers to having good luck, but a lucky person is not necessarily emotionally joyful; luck describes circumstances, not always inner feelings. Step 4: Evaluate FORTUNATE. Fortunate is similar to lucky and relates to favourable situations; again, it does not necessarily express the opposite of loneliness or emotional sadness. Step 5: Evaluate FREE. Free focuses on not being confined or controlled, which does not directly oppose sadness or loneliness; a free person can still feel forlorn. Step 6: Therefore, JOYFUL is the most accurate antonym of forlorn among the given options. Verification / Alternative check: You can compare example sentences: She sat there looking forlorn clearly contrasts with She sat there looking joyful. The emotional pictures are opposites. If you try She sat there looking lucky or fortunate, the sentences sound odd, because we do not normally describe facial expressions in those terms. This shows that joyful is the true emotional opposite. Why Other Options Are Wrong: LUCKY describes chance or fortune, not necessarily emotions, so it does not directly contrast with the sadness in forlorn. FORTUNATE has the same limitation; it emphasises favourable conditions rather than inner emotional state. FREE is about liberty or lack of restrictions; one may be free yet feel lonely and sad, so it is not an antonym of forlorn. Common Pitfalls: Candidates sometimes equate any positive sounding adjective with an antonym, but antonym questions require a close match in the same semantic field. Here, forlorn is an emotional word, so you need an emotional opposite, not just a word that implies success or good luck. Keeping track of whether a word describes feelings, situations, or moral qualities will help you choose more accurately in exam conditions. Final Answer: The correct antonym of FORLORN is JOYFUL.

Question 3

Four words are given, out of which only one word is spelt correctly in standard English. Choose the correctly spelt word from the options given.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Spelling questions test your familiarity with common but often misspelt English words. The word separate is frequently spelled incorrectly by learners because the pronunciation can mislead you about the placement of the vowels. Learning the correct spelling helps you in formal writing, exams, and any context where accurate English usage is important. Given Data / Assumptions: The four options are: Separate, Saparate, Saperate, Seperate. Only one of these is the correct spelling in standard English. The word separate can be used as both a verb (to separate two things) and an adjective (a separate issue). We assume standard British or international English spelling, where separate is universally accepted. Concept / Approach: The correct spelling of separate uses the vowel pattern e a a: s e p a r a t e. Many incorrect versions mistakenly replace the e in the second syllable with an a, producing seperate, or introduce other wrong vowel sequences. The strategy is to recall or visualise the word as two parts: sep + arate, where sep is like the start of September, followed by arate. Keeping this mental image helps you avoid the common error seperate. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Write or visualise the known correct word separate, which has the letters S E P A R A T E. Step 2: Compare option A, Separate. It matches the correct sequence exactly, with e after S, then p, then a r a t e. Step 3: Compare option B, Saparate. This uses a in the second position instead of e, producing s a p a r a t e, which is incorrect. Step 4: Compare option C, Saperate. Here we see s a p e r a t e, which again misplaces the vowels; there is an a where e should be and an e where a should be. Step 5: Compare option D, Seperate. This spelling, s e p e r a t e, is extremely common as a mistake but is still wrong; the correct second vowel should be a, not e. Step 6: Therefore, Separate (option A) is the only correctly spelt form. Verification / Alternative check: As a memory trick, note that separate contains the word par in the middle, like a golf term, with an extra a: sep + a + rate. This structure ensures you remember the e first and then two a letters. When you check dictionaries or spell checkers, only separate is accepted; the others are flagged as errors. This confirms that option A is the correct spelling. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Saparate confuses the initial vowel and does not match the standard spelling in any variety of English. Saperate shuffles the vowels and does not appear in dictionaries; it is a typical phonetic guess, not a correct form. Seperate mirrors the pronunciation for many speakers but is still incorrect; exam setters often use it because it is a very common real-world mistake. Common Pitfalls: Candidates often rely too heavily on sound rather than visual memory when spelling. Because separate is pronounced with a schwa sound in the second syllable, it is easy to mishear the vowel as e and write seperate. To avoid this, consciously remember the phrase There is a rat in separate, which highlights the a r a sequence and fixes the correct vowels in your mind. Final Answer: The correctly spelt word is Separate (option A).

Question 4

In the following sentence, one part contains a grammatical or idiomatic error. Identify the part of the sentence that has the error. My elder son deals with (1) / spare parts and manages (2) / his bread and butter. (3) / No error (4).

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This error spotting question checks your understanding of English idioms, specifically the common phrase earn one's bread and butter. The sentence describes how someone supports himself financially. Your task is to identify which numbered part contains incorrect or non-idiomatic English, even though the individual words may look familiar. Given Data / Assumptions: Complete sentence: My elder son deals with (1) / spare parts and manages (2) / his bread and butter. (3) / No error (4). Part 1: My elder son deals with. Part 2: spare parts and manages. Part 3: his bread and butter. We must decide which part contains the main error, or choose No error if all parts are correct. Concept / Approach: In idiomatic English, we say someone earns his bread and butter, meaning he earns his basic livelihood or income. The verb manage is not normally used with bread and butter in this fixed expression. While deals with spare parts is acceptable as a description of his business, manages his bread and butter is awkward and unidiomatic. The approach is to identify which chunk breaks the recognised idiom. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Examine part 1: My elder son deals with. The phrasal verb deals with can mean is engaged in a particular business or handles a certain type of product, which fits well with spare parts. Step 2: Combine part 1 and part 2: My elder son deals with spare parts and manages. This still makes sense grammatically, with manages leading into an object. Step 3: Look closely at part 3: his bread and butter. Together with manages, it forms manages his bread and butter, which is not the idiomatic expression used in English. Step 4: The usual phrase is earns his bread and butter or makes his bread and butter from spare parts. The use of manages here is therefore incorrect from an idiomatic standpoint. Step 5: Parts 1 and 2 do not contain clear grammatical or idiomatic errors, so the error must be in part 3. Step 6: Therefore, part 3 is the answer to mark as containing the error. Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence correctly: My elder son deals in spare parts and earns his bread and butter from that business. Comparing this with the original shows that the only element needing change for natural English is manages his bread and butter. That part corresponds to segment 3, confirming your choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part 1, deals with, is acceptable in many exam contexts, though deals in would also be fine; examiners normally treat deals with spare parts as correct usage for business dealings. Part 2, spare parts and manages, simply continues the thought and is not itself incorrect; the problem only appears once we see the object in part 3. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes look for very small grammatical errors and overlook idiomatic usage. However, many exam questions specifically test whether you can recognise fixed expressions like earn one's bread and butter or make a living. When you see such an expression altered awkwardly, that is often the error the exam setter wants you to find. Final Answer: The error is in part 3, which incorrectly uses manages his bread and butter instead of the idiomatic earns his bread and butter.

Question 5

In the following sentence, one part contains an error. Identify the part with the error. Sneha was accused for murder of her husband (1) / but the court found her (2) / not guilty and acquitted her. (3) / No error (4).

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence improvement question focuses on the correct preposition used with the verb accused. Legal and formal English often appear in exam passages, so you must know standard patterns such as accuse someone of something, not accuse someone for something. Your task is to find which numbered segment of the sentence contains the error. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence: Sneha was accused for murder of her husband (1) / but the court found her (2) / not guilty and acquitted her. (3) / No error (4). Part 1: Sneha was accused for murder of her husband. Part 2: but the court found her. Part 3: not guilty and acquitted her. We are asked to choose the part that contains the grammatical error, or No error if all parts are correct. Concept / Approach: The key grammar rule here is the verb preposition combination accuse of. In standard English, we say someone is accused of a crime, not accused for a crime. While for is a common preposition, it does not form the correct collocation in this legal context. The rest of the sentence uses typical legal phrasing found her not guilty and acquitted her and is acceptable. The strategy is therefore to scan for incorrect prepositions with the verb accused. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Look at part 1: Sneha was accused for murder of her husband. The phrase accused for immediately stands out as unusual. Step 2: Recall the correct pattern: accuse someone of something. A correct version should read Sneha was accused of the murder of her husband. Step 3: Parts 2 and 3, but the court found her not guilty and acquitted her, are standard legal phrases. Courts find someone not guilty and acquit them; there is no error in those expressions. Step 4: Because only part 1 misuses the preposition with accused, it is the segment that contains the error. Step 5: No error (4) cannot be chosen because we have clearly identified an incorrect preposition in part 1. Step 6: Therefore, option 1 is the correct answer to mark. Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence correctly: Sneha was accused of the murder of her husband, but the court found her not guilty and acquitted her. This version is fully grammatical and idiomatic. Comparing it to the original shows that the only required change is for to of after accused, confirming that the error lies in part 1 alone. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part 2, but the court found her, is standard and introduces the contrasting outcome of the trial, so it contains no error. Part 3, not guilty and acquitted her, correctly uses both not guilty and acquitted in legal English. Acquitted her means legally declared her not guilty, which is a common collocation. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes overuse the preposition for after many verbs, as in punished for, blamed for, fined for, and think accused for follows the same pattern. However, English has specific verb preposition pairs, and accused of is one of the most frequently tested in exams. Remember that misusing prepositions is a favourite trap in error spotting questions. Final Answer: The incorrect part is part 1, which should use accused of rather than accused for.

Question 6

In the following sentence, a blank is given which must be filled with an appropriate word or phrasal verb. Select the correct alternative. My sister's marriage passed _____ peacefully.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your knowledge of English phrasal verbs, which are verb plus particle combinations that often have meanings different from the base verb. The sentence describes how an event, a marriage ceremony, happened. You need to choose the correct particle that forms a natural expression with passed to mean occurred or happened in a certain manner. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence: My sister's marriage passed _____ peacefully. Options: away, by, off, out. We are talking about an event, not a person dying or an object moving past. We assume the intended meaning is that the marriage ceremony took place or happened without problems, in a peaceful manner. Concept / Approach: In English, the phrasal verb pass off is commonly used for events and means to happen, especially in a particular way: The event passed off peacefully or The function passed off well. Other combinations like pass away and pass out have different meanings: pass away means to die; pass out means to faint or lose consciousness; pass by means to go past or be ignored. The approach is to recall which phrasal verb collocates naturally with an event and the adverb peacefully. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Insert each option mentally into the sentence and check the overall meaning. Step 2: My sister's marriage passed away peacefully would suggest that the marriage died, which is incorrect; pass away is used for death of a person. Step 3: My sister's marriage passed by peacefully implies that the marriage went past like time, which sounds odd when referring to a specific ceremony. Step 4: My sister's marriage passed out peacefully would suggest the marriage fainted, which is clearly wrong; pass out is used for people losing consciousness. Step 5: My sister's marriage passed off peacefully is idiomatic and means that the marriage ceremony took place without trouble or disturbance. Step 6: Therefore, the correct choice is off, forming the phrasal verb passed off. Verification / Alternative check: Check other common examples: The protest passed off without any violence, or The examination passed off smoothly. In all such sentences, the structure is passed off plus an adverb describing how the event happened. The same pattern perfectly fits My sister's marriage passed off peacefully, confirming that off is the right particle. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Away changes the meaning to death, which is inappropriate and grammatically wrong for a marriage ceremony. By suggests an event or person simply moving past, not an organised ceremony taking place, so it does not collocate with marriage in this structure. Out forms pass out, which is used for fainting or distributing items, not for a function or ceremony occurring smoothly. Common Pitfalls: Candidates often guess based on partial familiarity with pass away or pass out, forgetting that those phrasal verbs have specific meanings tied to death or fainting. Event-related contexts almost always require passed off when we want to say that something happened in a certain manner. Recognising these fixed patterns is crucial for scoring well in phrasal verb questions. Final Answer: The correct completion is off, giving the sentence: My sister's marriage passed off peacefully.

Question 7

In the following sentence, a blank is given which must be filled with an appropriate quantifier. Select the correct alternative. There are _____ books on computer science in your school library, so you need to purchase them from the market.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your understanding of quantifiers, especially the difference between few and a few when referring to countable nouns. The sentence discusses books on computer science in a library and the need to buy them from the market. The choice of quantifier changes the meaning of the sentence from neutral to negative, so you must pay attention to the implied attitude of scarcity. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence: There are _____ books on computer science in your school library, so you need to purchase them from the market. Noun: books (countable, plural). Options: a few, a little, few, the few. The second clause, so you need to purchase them from the market, implies that the number of books in the library is unsatisfactory or almost negligible. Concept / Approach: For countable plural nouns like books, we use few and a few, not a little, which is for uncountable nouns like water or money. A few has a positive or at least neutral sense: there are some books, enough to be noticed. Few has a negative sense: hardly any, not enough. The phrase so you need to purchase them from the market signals that the available number is insufficient, so we need the negative sense few, not the more positive a few. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Eliminate a little immediately, because a little is used with uncountable nouns (a little milk, a little time), and books is countable. Step 2: Consider a few. There are a few books on computer science in your school library, so you need to purchase them from the market suggests there are some books, which slightly contradicts the need to buy them because of scarcity. Step 3: Consider few. There are few books on computer science in your school library, so you need to purchase them from the market clearly conveys that the number is very small and inadequate, which fits the logic of the sentence. Step 4: Consider the few. The expression the few refers to a specific small number that does exist and is known or being emphasised: the few books that are there. This does not match the general statement that the library essentially lacks such books. Step 5: Therefore, the correct quantifier is few. Verification / Alternative check: You can paraphrase the sentence: Since there are hardly any books on computer science in your school library, you need to purchase them from the market. Hardly any matches the meaning of few, not a few. This paraphrase confirms that few is the best choice, as it carries the same negative implication of scarcity that the second clause suggests. Why Other Options Are Wrong: A few indicates some, a small but sufficient number, which weakens the justification for needing to purchase books from the market. A little is grammatically incorrect because it is used with uncountable nouns, not with plural countable nouns like books. The few would refer to a specific small set already identified, and would usually be followed by a phrase like the few books that are available, which is not the structure here. Common Pitfalls: Many learners treat few and a few as interchangeable, but exam questions often depend on this subtle difference. Remember that a few is like some (positive), while few is like hardly any (negative). Reading the second half of the sentence carefully is crucial, because it often contains the clue about whether the writer is expressing satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the quantity. Final Answer: The correct completion is few, giving: There are few books on computer science in your school library, so you need to purchase them from the market.

Question 8

In the following question, choose the word from the options which is similar in meaning (synonym) to the given word Atrocity.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This vocabulary question examines your understanding of words related to extreme cruelty or violence. The term atrocity often appears in news reports and history texts to describe very brutal acts, especially in war or crime. To answer correctly, you must choose a synonym that carries the same strong negative meaning rather than just any negative sounding word. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: Atrocity. Options: Difficulty, Barbarity, Shy, Gloomy. We are looking for the closest synonym in meaning. Context: events such as war crimes, mass killings or very cruel acts are commonly called atrocities. Concept / Approach: Atrocity refers to an extremely cruel, wicked, or violent act, often involving serious injury or death. The core idea is brutal cruelty. Barbarity means extreme cruelty or brutality, which matches this sense very closely. The other options describe general problems, personality traits or moods (difficulty, shy, gloomy) and are not related to cruelty. The strategy is to focus on the severity and moral judgment contained in atrocity and match it with an equally strong word. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the definition of atrocity as an extremely wicked or cruel act, typically physical or violent. Step 2: Examine Barbarity. Barbarity means brutal or inhuman cruelty, behaviour that is like that of a barbarian. This aligns very well with the meaning of atrocity. Step 3: Examine Difficulty. Difficulty refers to something hard to do or understand, not to cruelty or violence. Step 4: Examine Shy. Shy describes a person who is timid or nervous in social situations, again unrelated to violent acts. Step 5: Examine Gloomy. Gloomy means dark, depressing or sad, often describing mood or weather, not necessarily acts of cruelty. Step 6: Therefore, Barbarity is the word most similar in meaning to atrocity. Verification / Alternative check: Consider example sentences: The massacre was an atrocity committed during the war can be rephrased as The massacre was an act of barbarity committed during the war without changing the basic meaning. However, saying The massacre was a difficulty, was shy, or was gloomy makes no sense. This substitution test confirms your choice of Barbarity. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Difficulty describes a level of challenge or problem in doing something; it has no connection to moral or physical cruelty. Shy refers to a personality trait of being reserved or timid, which is almost the opposite of aggressive cruelty seen in atrocities. Gloomy refers to sadness, darkness or a depressing atmosphere; although atrocities can create a gloomy mood, the word itself does not mean cruelty and therefore is not a synonym. Common Pitfalls: Learners may sometimes connect gloomy with tragic events and feel tempted to choose it, but the exam expects precise equivalence, not indirect association. Atrocity is about the action itself being cruel and barbaric, not just about the sad mood that follows. To avoid mistakes, always anchor your choice in the core dictionary meaning of the keyword, not in side effects or emotional reactions. Final Answer: The word similar in meaning to Atrocity is Barbarity.

Question 9

In the following question, choose the word from the options which is similar in meaning (synonym) to the given word Procrastinate.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your knowledge of verbs that describe habits and behaviour, particularly the tendency to put things off. The word procrastinate appears often in discussions about time management, productivity and study habits. To answer correctly, you must recall which option describes postponing actions rather than changing direction, cheating, or lowering quality. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: Procrastinate. Options: Divert, Deceive, Debase, Delay. We are looking for a synonym, a word with the same or very similar meaning. Context: A common sentence might be Students often procrastinate before exams, which refers to delaying work. Concept / Approach: Procrastinate means to delay or postpone doing something, especially something that should be done now. It refers to putting off tasks intentionally, often out of laziness, fear, or lack of motivation. Among the options, only delay directly captures this idea of postponement. The other options refer to changing directions (divert), cheating or lying (deceive), or lowering the quality or value of something (debase). Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the core meaning of procrastinate: to keep putting off doing something important. Step 2: Option Delay means to make something happen later than planned or to postpone it. This matches the concept of procrastination closely. Step 3: Option Divert means to change direction or to entertain; it can mean to divert attention, but that is not the same as postponing a task itself. Step 4: Option Deceive means to mislead or trick someone by hiding the truth, which is related to honesty, not time management. Step 5: Option Debase means to reduce the quality, value or dignity of someone or something, again unrelated to postponing actions. Step 6: Therefore, Delay is the best synonym for Procrastinate in this list. Verification / Alternative check: Try using each option in a typical sentence: He tends to procrastinate on his homework can be rephrased as He tends to delay his homework, which means the same. But He tends to divert his homework, deceive his homework, or debase his homework do not make sense. This direct substitution in context confirms that delay is the correct synonym. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Divert implies changing direction or drawing someone's attention away, which is only indirectly related and not the meaning of procrastinate. Deceive refers to lying or cheating, which can happen in any time frame and has nothing to do with postponing a task. Debase relates to lowering quality, status, or moral standards; again, it has no inherent time-related meaning and therefore cannot be a synonym of procrastinate. Common Pitfalls: Some students remember that procrastination often involves distractions and may confuse divert with delay. However, the exam expects you to match the central meaning, which is postponement, not distraction. To avoid confusion, always ask: what is the primary dictionary definition of the target word, and which option matches that definition most closely? Final Answer: The word similar in meaning to Procrastinate is Delay.

Question 10

In the following question, choose the word from the options which is opposite in meaning (antonym) to the given word Raucous.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This antonym question tests vocabulary related to sound quality. The word raucous is often used to describe harsh, loud or unpleasant noises, such as a raucous crowd or raucous laughter. You must choose the word that describes the opposite kind of sound: soft, sweet or pleasant to the ear. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: Raucous. Options: Dulcet, Hoarse, Jarring, Torrent. The correct option should be opposite in meaning, not just unrelated. We assume raucous is used in its common sense of harsh and noisy, describing sound or atmosphere. Concept / Approach: Raucous means harsh, loud, and unpleasant sounding. Therefore, the antonym should refer to something sweet, melodious or gentle. Dulcet means sweet and soothing, especially in sound, and so it is a direct opposite to raucous. Hoarse and jarring are actually similar to raucous in describing rough sounds, while torrent refers to a violent rush of water or words and is not a direct opposite in terms of sound quality. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the meaning of raucous as harsh and loud in sound, like raucous music or raucous laughter. Step 2: Examine Dulcet. Dulcet describes a sound that is sweet and pleasant to hear, often used for voices or music, like dulcet tones. This contrasts sharply with harsh and noisy. Step 3: Examine Hoarse. A hoarse voice is rough and harsh, usually because of strain or illness. This is similar in sound quality to raucous, not opposite. Step 4: Examine Jarring. Jarring means shocking or disturbing, especially because of a harsh or discordant sound, again close in sense to raucous. Step 5: Examine Torrent. Torrent refers to a strong and fast moving stream of water or a violent outpouring of words. The word is about quantity and speed, not about sound quality, so it is not a precise antonym. Step 6: Therefore, Dulcet is the best antonym among the options. Verification / Alternative check: Consider example phrases: a raucous voice versus a dulcet voice. These two phrases paint opposite pictures in your mind, one harsh and grating, the other sweet and soothing. You can also try substituting in a sentence: The party was too raucous for my taste can be contrasted with The music was dulcet and relaxing. The contrast confirms that dulcet is the opposite of raucous in sound quality. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Hoarse describes a rough, strained voice and therefore tends towards the same harsh sound quality as raucous, making it more of a near synonym than an antonym. Jarring also suggests harsh, shocking or discordant sounds, again reinforcing rather than opposing the idea of raucousness. Torrent is not primarily about sound quality; it describes a flow of water or words and does not express the idea of gentle, pleasing sound, so it does not work as an antonym here. Common Pitfalls: One common mistake is to choose a word just because it seems different from the original, rather than truly opposite. Another pitfall is to be distracted by words that are contextually related to noise, like hoarse or jarring, and forget that the question asks for the opposite, not another harsh sound. Always focus on the key semantic feature: here, the harshness of raucous must be matched with the sweetness of dulcet. Final Answer: The correct antonym of Raucous is Dulcet.

Question 11

In the following question, choose the word from the options which is opposite in meaning (antonym) to the given word Predilection.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This antonym question assesses your grasp of abstract nouns related to liking and preference. Predilection is a formal word that often appears in essays and articles. To answer correctly, you must distinguish between words related to liking, duration, hostility and residence, and then select the strongest opposite in sense to a liking or preference. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: Predilection. Options: Inclination, Enduring, Enmity, Domicile. We are asked for the word opposite in meaning to predilection. In context, predilection normally appears in sentences like He has a predilection for classical music, meaning a special liking for it. Concept / Approach: Predilection means a strong liking, preference, or special fondness for something. The closest direct opposite would normally be aversion or dislike. Among the given options, Enmity comes closest because it signals active hostility or hatred, which is much more than merely lacking a liking. Inclination is actually a synonym, Enduring refers to something lasting, and Domicile means place of residence. While enmity is not a perfect dictionary antonym of predilection, within the given choices it represents a strong negative attitude that best contrasts with preference. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Define predilection as a strong liking or bias in favour of something. Step 2: Option Inclination also means a tendency or liking towards something; it is clearly a synonym, not an antonym. Step 3: Option Enduring means lasting or continuing for a long time; it refers to duration, not to liking or disliking. Step 4: Option Domicile means place of residence or permanent home; it relates to where a person lives, not to preferences or attitudes. Step 5: Option Enmity means deep seated hostility, hatred or ill will. While it is not simply lack of liking, it does represent a strong negative attitude that is opposite in spirit to fondness or preference. Step 6: Therefore, Enmity is the best available antonym among the given choices. Verification / Alternative check: Compare example sentences: He has a predilection for spicy food versus He harbours enmity towards his rival. The first shows a positive leaning or liking; the second shows a strongly negative attitude. If the exam had offered aversion, it would have been an even closer antonym, but in this set, only enmity expresses this strong negative orientation. The other words simply do not occupy the same semantic field of preference or attitude. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Inclination is nearly synonymous with predilection and so cannot be its antonym; choosing it would be the opposite of what the question asks. Enduring speaks about duration of time and can describe anything long lasting; it has no inherent meaning of like or dislike. Domicile concerns place of living or legal residence and is unrelated to personal preferences or tastes. Common Pitfalls: A frequent error is to choose any word that simply seems different from the original, without confirming that it is truly opposite. Another mistake is to be thrown off because the ideal textbook antonym is not present. In such cases, you must pick the option that is most opposite in spirit among the choices provided. Here, enmity, meaning hostility, stands as a strong negative stance against something and so best contrasts with predilection, meaning a strong liking. Final Answer: The best antonym of Predilection among the given options is Enmity.

Question 12

In the following question, select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the given idiom or phrase: A wild goose chase.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This idiom question tests your knowledge of fixed English expressions whose meanings cannot be guessed directly from the individual words. The phrase a wild goose chase is a colourful metaphor, and you must know its established meaning, which is very common in spoken and written English. Such idioms often appear in reading comprehension and listening sections as well. Given Data / Assumptions: Idiom: A wild goose chase. Options: Fruitful search, Timely search, Useless search, Wrong decision. You must choose the option that best captures the meaning of the idiom as a whole. We assume the idiom is used in sentences like We were on a wild goose chase all day. Concept / Approach: Literally, chasing a wild goose would be nearly impossible and pointless, because wild geese are hard to catch and unpredictable. Over time, the idiom a wild goose chase has come to mean a hopeless or futile search, a pursuit that is unlikely to succeed and wastes time and effort. The key idea is uselessness or futility, not being fruitful or timely. Therefore, the best match is useless search. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the figurative meaning of a wild goose chase from common usage: a long and pointless search or pursuit. Step 2: Examine Fruitful search. Fruitful means productive or successful, which is the opposite of what a wild goose chase suggests. Step 3: Examine Timely search. Timely simply means done at the right time; the idiom does not comment on timing but on the result and usefulness. Step 4: Examine Useless search. Useless directly conveys the idea of being pointless, with no effective result, which matches the idiom perfectly. Step 5: Examine Wrong decision. A wild goose chase may be caused by a wrong decision, but the phrase itself describes the nature of the search, not the correctness of the initial decision. Step 6: Therefore, the correct explanation of the idiom is Useless search. Verification / Alternative check: Consider an example: The address he gave me was wrong, so my entire trip across the city turned out to be a wild goose chase. Here, the speaker means that the effort and search were wasted and did not lead to the desired result. Replacing a wild goose chase with a useless search keeps the meaning intact, confirming the choice. Trying fruitful search or timely search would contradict the speaker's frustration. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Fruitful search suggests a successful outcome with good results, which is completely opposite to the feeling of frustration implied by a wild goose chase. Timely search focuses on when the search was conducted, not on whether it was effective or pointless. Wrong decision describes a choice, not a search; while wrong decisions may lead to wild goose chases, the idiom itself labels the search, not the decision. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes overthink idioms and look for highly abstract answers. In many exam questions, the simplest paraphrase is the correct one. Another common error is to focus on just one word, such as chase, and assume it means any search, ignoring the crucial modifier wild goose. Remember that the whole phrase must be taken together, and its established usage in real language should guide your choice. Final Answer: The idiom A wild goose chase means a useless search (option C).

Question 13

In the following question, select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the given idiom or phrase: A moot point.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This idiom question focuses on a phrase often used in legal, academic and everyday discussions: a moot point. Although the word moot has slightly different nuances in British and American English, in exam contexts it is usually tested with the meaning of being debatable or open to argument. You must select the option that captures this sense of something being a matter of dispute rather than settled fact. Given Data / Assumptions: Idiom: A moot point. Options: Agreeable, Disputed, Unclear, Unknown. We want the best paraphrase of the idiom as used in formal and semi formal English. Typical usage: Whether the policy will actually solve the problem is a moot point. Concept / Approach: In many exam syllabi and traditional British usage, a moot point means a debatable issue about which reasonable people may disagree. It is not settled and may be argued from different sides. Therefore the closest meaning is disputed. Unclear or unknown may be related ideas, but they focus on lack of clarity or information rather than on the presence of argument or controversy. Agreeable clearly does not fit, as a moot point is not something universally accepted. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall that a moot point typically refers to a point that is still open to debate or argument. Step 2: Examine Disputed. Disputed means argued about, contested, or not universally accepted, which fits the idea of a debatable issue. Step 3: Examine Agreeable. Agreeable means pleasant or acceptable to everyone, which is almost the opposite of a point that is still being argued. Step 4: Examine Unclear. Unclear means not easy to understand; while a moot point may also be unclear, the main focus of the idiom is disagreement rather than confusion. Step 5: Examine Unknown. Unknown means not known or not identified; again, this is about absence of information, not about people actively debating a known issue. Step 6: Therefore, Disputed is the best expression of the meaning of a moot point. Verification / Alternative check: Consider the example: Whether the new law will reduce corruption is still a moot point. Here the speaker means that people disagree about this; some think it will help, others doubt it. Replacing moot point with disputed issue or a matter of dispute keeps the meaning unchanged, confirming the choice. If you substitute unclear or unknown, the sentence shifts towards lack of information, not towards disagreement among informed people. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Agreeable suggests consensus and comfort, which is incompatible with the idea of an issue that is still being debated. Unclear emphasises difficulty in understanding, but many moot points are very clear; what is unclear is not the point itself but which side is right. Unknown refers to facts we do not yet have, whereas a moot point usually concerns facts or outcomes that are known but interpreted differently by different people. Common Pitfalls: One common confusion arises from some American uses of moot, where it can also mean irrelevant. However, most exam questions, especially in Indian and British contexts, test the traditional sense of debatable. To avoid mistakes, always check what best matches the standard explanation taught in your preparation materials and grammar books: a moot point is a point open to argument and therefore disputed. Final Answer: The idiom A moot point means a disputed point (option B).

Question 14

Improve the bracketed part of the sentence by choosing the best alternative: I wish I (was) a superman.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence improvement question tests your understanding of the English subjunctive mood, which is used to talk about wishes, unreal situations and hypothetical conditions. The sentence expresses a wish about something that is contrary to fact: the speaker is not actually a superman. Standard grammar in such cases prefers I wish I were rather than I wish I was. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence: I wish I (was) a superman. Bracketed part to improve: was. Options: am, have been, were, No improvement. We assume the speaker is imagining an unreal situation in the present or future, not talking about a real past event. Concept / Approach: In formal and examination English, when we express an unreal or hypothetical situation after I wish, we use the past subjunctive form were with all subjects, including I and he or she. This is similar to If I were rich or I wish he were here. Although many native speakers informally say I wish I was, exams still treat were as the correct and more formal form. Therefore, we must replace was with were in the sentence I wish I were a superman. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recognise that the sentence uses I wish, signalling a desire about a situation that is not true at present. Step 2: Recall the rule: after I wish or if in unreal, present time conditions, we use were with singular subjects to show that the situation is imaginary. Step 3: Check option am. I wish I am a superman is wrong because am refers to the present reality, not an unreal wish. Step 4: Check option have been. I wish I have been a superman is wrong in tense and meaning; have been points to completed past time, not an unreal present wish. Step 5: Check option were. I wish I were a superman follows the rule of the subjunctive and correctly marks the situation as hypothetical. Step 6: No improvement cannot be correct because was is not the exam standard in this context. Therefore, were is the best improvement. Verification / Alternative check: Compare similar sentences: I wish I were taller, I wish it were Sunday, If I were the prime minister. These are classic textbook examples of the subjunctive used for unreal present or future situations. Replacing were with was in such sentences is often marked as incorrect in formal examinations. The same pattern applies to I wish I were a superman, confirming that option were is the correct choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Am indicates a real present state, which contradicts the idea of wishing for something that is not true now. Have been indicates a completed action or state in the recent past and does not match the structure of wishes about current impossibilities. No improvement would keep was, which is widely considered less formal and is not the standard expected in competitive exams testing the subjunctive mood. Common Pitfalls: Because many native speakers say I wish I was, learners sometimes think this is acceptable in all contexts. Exams, however, stick to traditional grammar rules and expect were with I, he, she, and it in unreal conditional or wish sentences. To remember this, associate I wish with If I were, not If I was, and you will consistently choose the correct option in tests. Final Answer: The correct improvement is were, giving: I wish I were a superman.

Question 15

In the following question, select the one word which is the best substitute for the given phrase: One who is honourably discharged from service.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This one word substitution question focuses on a term often used in academic and professional contexts. When someone leaves a position after long and honourable service, they may continue to hold an honorary title. You must recognise which word among the options captures this idea of honourable retirement, rather than warlike behaviour, absence, or working purely for money. Given Data / Assumptions: Phrase: One who is honourably discharged from service. Options: Belligerent, Emeritus, Truant, Mercenary. We look for a word typically used as a title or description for retired professionals who have served with distinction. Common context: professors, judges or officers who retire but are still honoured with their title. Concept / Approach: Emeritus is a Latin derived adjective and sometimes noun, used especially for retired professors and bishops, meaning having retired but allowed to retain their title as an honour. It implies that the person left the position honourably and is respected for past service. Belligerent means warlike or aggressive; truant refers to someone who stays away from duty or school without permission; mercenary describes someone primarily motivated by money. Only emeritus matches the idea of an honourable discharge from service. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the phrase honourably discharged from service, which suggests retirement with honour, not punishment or dismissal. Step 2: Consider Emeritus. In phrases like Professor Emeritus or Chairman Emeritus, it refers to someone who has retired from the position but keeps the title as an honour, which fits our phrase perfectly. Step 3: Consider Belligerent. Belligerent means hostile or aggressive, especially in war; it is unrelated to retirement or honourable discharge. Step 4: Consider Truant. Truant means someone who absents himself from duty or school without permission, which suggests neglect, not honour. Step 5: Consider Mercenary. Mercenary refers to someone who works only for money or a soldier hired to fight for foreign armies; again, this does not describe honourable discharge. Step 6: Therefore, Emeritus is the correct one word substitute. Verification / Alternative check: Look at common real world usage: many universities list retired senior scholars as Professor Emeritus or Professor Emerita. This shows that emeritus is closely associated with honourable retirement from service while retaining an honorary link with the institution. None of the other words are used in this way, confirming emergitus as the right choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Belligerent focuses on aggressiveness or a state of war and does not refer to employment status at all. Truant is actually negative, describing someone who avoids duty or school; such a person is not honourably discharged but may be punished or dismissed. Mercenary emphasises financial motivation rather than honour or service; a mercenary may even be viewed negatively in moral contexts. Common Pitfalls: Some learners may not recognise the word emeritus because it is somewhat formal and specialised. In such cases, eliminating clearly wrong options based on meaning can still lead you to the correct answer. Remember that one word substitution questions often target words that appear in news articles, university brochures and institutional descriptions, so building familiarity with such terms is useful for exams. Final Answer: The best substitute for the phrase is Emeritus (option B).

Question 16

In the following question, select the one word which is the best substitute for the given phrase: A perception without objective reality.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This one word substitution question comes from the field of psychology, but the terms are common in general English as well. The phrase a perception without objective reality describes seeing, hearing or feeling something that is not actually present in the external world. You must pick the technical term that fits this description most precisely. Given Data / Assumptions: Phrase: A perception without objective reality. Options: Cynicism, Hallucination, Illusion, Optimism. We assume objective reality means something really existing in the outside world, not just in the mind. The correct term is widely used in psychology, medicine and even everyday speech when discussing mental states. Concept / Approach: A hallucination is a sensory perception in the absence of an external stimulus: that is, the person sees, hears, feels, smells or tastes something that is not actually there. An illusion, by contrast, is a misperception or distorted perception of a real external stimulus, such as seeing a stick in water as bent. Since the phrase emphasises perception without objective reality, hallucination is the more accurate term. Cynicism and optimism refer to attitudes, not sensory perceptions, and are therefore not suitable. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the key idea: perception without objective reality. This means the mind experiences something, but there is no real external object causing that experience. Step 2: Examine Hallucination. This is exactly defined as a false sensory perception occurring in the absence of external reality, such as hearing voices when nobody is speaking. Step 3: Examine Illusion. An illusion is a misinterpretation of a real external stimulus; something exists out there, but the brain misjudges it. This does not match the absence of objective reality. Step 4: Examine Cynicism. Cynicism is an attitude of distrust or negativity about people's motives; it has nothing to do with sensory perception. Step 5: Examine Optimism. Optimism is a hopeful or positive attitude about the future, also unrelated to seeing or hearing nonexistent things. Step 6: Therefore, Hallucination is the best one word substitute for the given phrase. Verification / Alternative check: Compare two brief definitions: Hallucination is perception without object; illusion is misperception of a real object. The phrase in the question explicitly uses without objective reality, which aligns with the first definition. If the phrase had been mistaken perception of a real object, illusion would have been closer. This direct comparison confirms that hallucination fits the phrase most accurately. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Cynicism describes a negative attitude about people's sincerity or motives, not a sensory error or mental image without reality. Illusion involves an external object being perceived incorrectly; since the question stresses the absence of objective reality, illusion does not match fully, even though it is related to perception. Optimism refers to a hopeful outlook or positive expectation and is unrelated to whether perceptions match reality. Common Pitfalls: Because illusion and hallucination both deal with incorrect perceptions, test takers often confuse them. The key difference is the presence or absence of an external stimulus. Remember this: in hallucination, there is no real object; in illusion, there is an object but the brain misreads it. Many exam questions intentionally use phrases like without objective reality to push you towards hallucination rather than illusion. Final Answer: The correct one word substitute is Hallucination (option B).

Question 17

In the following question, four words are given out of which one word is incorrectly spelt. Select the incorrectly spelt word.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Spelling questions like this check your familiarity with common English words that appear frequently in reading and writing. The test here is to identify which one of the four given spellings is incorrect according to standard English usage. Such questions reward careful reading and prior exposure to correctly written vocabulary in books, newspapers and exams. Given Data / Assumptions: Options: Anxiety, Believe, Height, Peity. Three of these words are correctly spelt; one is not. We assume standard modern English spelling as found in dictionaries and textbooks. We must identify the incorrectly spelt word, not the rarest or hardest word. Concept / Approach: The words Anxiety, Believe and Height are common and their spellings are well established. The word related to religious devotion is Piety, not Peity. The incorrect option thus shows a transposition of vowels e and i. The strategy is to mentally recall each word in context and see whether the spelling matches the familiar dictionary form. If you are unsure, try to pronounce each and visualise how it usually appears in print. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Check Anxiety. Anxiety is correctly spelt A N X I E T Y and refers to a feeling of worry or nervousness. Step 2: Check Believe. Believe is correctly spelt B E L I E V E and is the standard verb meaning to accept something as true. Step 3: Check Height. Height is correctly spelt H E I G H T and refers to how tall something is. Step 4: Check Peity. The correct word for religious devotion is Piety, spelled P I E T Y. The given spelling P E I T Y (Peity) is incorrect. Step 5: Because the only incorrect spelling is Peity, option D is the answer to mark. Verification / Alternative check: You can verify by placing each word in a typical sentence: She felt great anxiety before the exam, I believe you, His height is above average, and Her piety impressed everyone at the temple. When written correctly, these words match the standard spellings Anxiety, Believe, Height and Piety. The spelling Peity never appears in reputable dictionaries, confirming that it is the error. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Anxiety is a common word and its spelling with x and ety is standard; changing it would produce a non existent form. Believe follows the familiar rule i before e except after c in this specific pattern; it is widely known and correctly spelt here. Height may be tricky because of the unusual order of letters e i g h t, but this is the correct and accepted spelling in English. Common Pitfalls: Learners may hesitate on Height because it looks irregular, but in fact it is a high frequency word that must simply be memorised. The real trap here is Peity, which may look plausible at first glance, but the correct pattern in related words is Piety, Pious, and Pietism, all using pi, not pe. Training your eye to recognise vowel patterns in families of words is a useful strategy for spelling questions. Final Answer: The incorrectly spelt word is Peity (option D); the correct spelling is Piety.

Question 18

In the following question, four words are given out of which one word is incorrectly spelt. Select the incorrectly spelt word.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This spelling question focuses on common English verbs in their past or past participle forms. The exam tests your ability to recognise correct doubling of consonants when adding ed, as well as typical patterns for regular verbs. You must pick the one incorrect spelling out of four similar looking past tense forms. Given Data / Assumptions: Options: Admited, Benefited, Married, Offered. All four words are intended to be past tense or past participle forms of admit, benefit, marry and offer. We must identify the form that does not match standard spelling rules. Concept / Approach: The verbs admit, marry and offer involve doubling certain final consonants when adding ed, depending on stress and final letter patterns. Admit becomes admitted (double t), marry becomes married (change y to i and add ed), offer becomes offered (add ed without doubling r in most varieties of English). Benefited is correctly formed from benefit by simply adding ed. The spelling Admited with a single t is incorrect; it should be Admitted with double t because the stress falls on the last syllable and the word ends consonant vowel consonant. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Check Admited. The base verb is admit. When forming the past tense, we double the final consonant because admit is stressed on the last syllable and has the pattern consonant vowel consonant. The correct form is admitted, not admited. Step 2: Check Benefited. Benefit is stressed on the first syllable and ends in consonant vowel consonant, but the stress is not on the last syllable, so we do not double the final consonant. Benefited is correctly spelt. Step 3: Check Married. Marry ends with consonant plus y. When forming the past tense, we change y to i and add ed, giving married, which is correctly spelt. Step 4: Check Offered. Offer forms its past tense by simply adding ed to become offered; this is standard spelling. Step 5: Since Admited is the only form that does not follow the correct pattern, it is the incorrectly spelt word. Verification / Alternative check: Compare dictionary forms: admit admitted admitted, benefit benefited benefited, marry married married, offer offered offered. All show double t for admitted, single t for benefited, and the expected changes for married and offered. This directly confirms that Admited is wrong and should be Admitted. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Benefited may look suspicious to some learners who expect double t, but standard English spelling (especially in British and Indian contexts) accepts benefited with a single t. Therefore, it is not the error here. Married correctly reflects the rule of changing y to i before adding ed for verbs like carry, marry or study. Offered correctly adds ed to a verb whose stress is not on the last syllable and which does not require consonant doubling. Common Pitfalls: A frequent mistake is to double consonants based solely on the letters without considering stress pattern. The rule of doubling final consonants applies primarily when the last syllable is stressed in words like admit (admit admitted), commit (committed), or occur (occurred). Benefited can mislead candidates into thinking it should be benefitted, but that form is less common and often considered non standard in exam contexts. Here, Admited clearly violates the doubling rule and stands out as the incorrect spelling. Final Answer: The incorrectly spelt word is Admited (option A); the correct spelling is Admitted.

Question 19

The following sentences are labelled P, Q, R and S. Out of the four options given, select the most logical order of these labelled parts to form a coherent paragraph about political defection and democracy.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your ability to arrange jumbled sentences into a logical and coherent paragraph. The four labelled parts discuss political defection, its opportunistic nature, the illogical details of the current law, and the impact of a proposed blanket ban on democracy. You need to choose the order that builds the argument in a natural, persuasive way. Given Data / Assumptions: P: Granted, political defection is increasingly less an act of ideological defiance than one of pure opportunism. Q: Yet, for all it flaws, the current law recognizes and respects one fundamental principle: The right to dissent. R: A blanket ban on defection will weaken rather than strengthen democracy, in whose name it is being sought to be imposed. S: Granted also that it is illogical to allow a third of the party to split but not in a lesser number. We must select one of the given sequences (RPSQ, PSRQ, RSPQ, PRSQ) that produces a clear argument. Concept / Approach: The paragraph has a classic argumentative structure: first, it concedes some criticisms of the current defection situation (two granted statements), then it states the main claim about a blanket ban on defection, and finally it defends the current law despite its flaws. P and S both start with granted or granted also, so they naturally form the opening concessions. R expresses the key thesis that a blanket ban will weaken democracy, and Q begins with Yet, which is used to introduce a contrasting point in favour of the current law. Therefore, the most logical sequence is P S R Q (option PSRQ). Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify sentences that clearly look like concessions. P starts with Granted, and S starts with Granted also, so these two sentences should come at the beginning to acknowledge criticisms. Step 2: Decide the order between P and S. P is a general criticism about political defection being opportunistic, while S is a more technical criticism about allowing a third of a party to split but not a smaller group. It is natural to move from the general point (P) to the specific detail (S). Step 3: After making concessions, the writer will usually state his main argument. R makes a strong claim: A blanket ban on defection will weaken rather than strengthen democracy. This fits as the central thesis. Step 4: Q begins with Yet, signaling a contrast or qualification that follows the main claim. It says that despite flaws, the current law still respects the right to dissent, which supports the idea that a blanket ban is not required. Step 5: Putting it all together: P (general concession) → S (specific concession) → R (main argument against blanket ban) → Q (final justification of current law). This yields the sequence PSRQ. Step 6: Among the options, PSRQ is given as option B, so that is the correct answer. Verification / Alternative check: Read the full paragraph in the PSRQ order: Granted, political defection is increasingly less an act of ideological defiance than one of pure opportunism. Granted also that it is illogical to allow a third of the party to split but not in a lesser number. A blanket ban on defection will weaken rather than strengthen democracy, in whose name it is being sought to be imposed. Yet, for all its flaws, the current law recognizes and respects one fundamental principle: The right to dissent. The argument now flows smoothly from concessions to a warning against overreaction and a defence of existing law. Why Other Options Are Wrong: RPSQ starts directly with the thesis about the blanket ban, then jumps back to the concessions; this disrupts the natural pattern of concede, then argue, and makes the Yet in Q less effective. RSPQ also begins with R, and then the granted sentences appear in a less coherent order, with P awkwardly placed just before Q. PRSQ puts P first but then jumps to R before giving the second concession in S, making Granted also that in S feel out of place and poorly connected. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake is to place the strongest statement (R) first simply because it sounds decisive, ignoring the discourse markers granted and yet that signal concession and contrast. Another pitfall is to underestimate the importance of also in S, which clearly ties it to a previous granted, showing that S should follow P. Paying attention to these small discourse markers often makes sentence ordering questions much easier to solve. Final Answer: The most logical and coherent order of sentences is PSRQ (option B).

Question 20

The following question consists of four labelled sentences P, Q, R and S about forgiveness and self-awareness. Choose the most logical order of these sentences to form a coherent and meaningful paragraph.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests the skill of arranging jumbled sentences into a coherent paragraph. The four labelled sentences P, Q, R and S all talk about forgiveness, self awareness and changing our relationships by looking inward. To answer correctly, the learner has to identify the most logical and natural order in which these ideas should appear so that the paragraph reads smoothly and develops its main message step by step. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence R: We need to recognize our reaction to the other person as a mirror of something in ourselves. Sentence P: As difficult as it may be to recognize what it is inside us that is making us respond with negativity, that is the path towards forgiveness. Sentence S: Whatever the issues might be, once you have discovered them, you can work on forgiving yourself. Sentence Q: This will automatically change your relationship with the other person and you will feel much better. Concept / Approach: To arrange such sentences, we look for the logical flow of ideas: introduction of the key idea, explanation of its difficulty, consequences once the idea is applied, and final results. Usually, the sentence that introduces the central concept in a general way works best as an opening line. Supporting sentences then build on that idea, and finally a concluding line describes the outcome or benefit. Pronouns like this and that also help us connect sentences by pointing back to actions mentioned earlier in the paragraph. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Sentence R introduces the main idea in general terms: treating our reaction as a mirror of something in ourselves. This is a natural starting point. Step 2: Sentence P follows well, because it adds that recognizing this inner cause is difficult but is the path towards forgiveness. It explains the challenge in applying the idea in R. Step 3: Sentence S then states that once we discover these inner issues, we can work on forgiving ourselves. This shows the action taken after the recognition mentioned in R and P. Step 4: Sentence Q logically concludes the paragraph by describing the result: this inner work will change the relationship with the other person and make us feel better. The word This clearly refers back to the self forgiveness process in S. Step 5: The order R P S Q therefore creates a smooth progression from insight to difficulty, then to self work and finally to changed relationships. Verification / Alternative check: If we read the sequence R P S Q as one paragraph, it flows naturally and each sentence connects clearly to the previous one. Trying other sequences such as S Q R P or R Q P S breaks the logic, because the concluding effect in Q would come too early or the introduction in R would appear in the middle. Therefore, R P S Q is the only ordering that gives a coherent and meaningful paragraph on the theme of forgiveness through self awareness. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option SQRP starts with S, which refers to issues already discovered, but the discovery is explained only later, so it feels abrupt. Option SRQP also begins in the middle of the process and ends without a strong conclusion. Option RQPS brings Q too early, giving the result before the detailed steps. Option PRSQ lacks a clear introductory context before P and leaves R appearing too late. None of these options produce as clear and logical a paragraph as R P S Q. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes choose an order where a pronoun like This or That appears before the idea it refers to, which makes the paragraph confusing. Another mistake is to start with a sentence that assumes information that has not yet been introduced. A helpful strategy is to identify the sentence that can stand alone as an introduction and the sentence that best works as a conclusion, and then fit the remaining ones in between based on reference words and logical sequence. Final Answer: The most logical order of the sentences is RPSQ, so option D is correct.

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