Question 1

Choose the best conditional opening for this sentence: _____, I would have been able to read for a while before bed time.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This item is a sentence-improvement question focusing on conditional clauses in English. The sentence describes an unreal past situation: “If the room had been brighter, I would have been able to read for a while before bed time.” The exam expects you to recognise correct third conditional structures and possibly a more concise, formal variant using inversion. Given Data / Assumptions: Meaning: The room was not bright enough, so I could not read before going to bed. The original sentence already uses a third conditional pattern: “If + past perfect, would have + past participle”. One of the answer choices offers an inverted conditional without “if”. We assume typical competitive exam preferences, which often reward concise and stylistically advanced structures. Concept / Approach: A third conditional is used to talk about unreal or hypothetical situations in the past. The standard structure is “If + had + past participle, would have + past participle”. However, English also allows an inverted form for formal writing: “Had + subject + past participle, …” without using “if”. Both versions are grammatically correct, but the inverted form is more compact and elegant. Sentence improvement questions sometimes test whether you can recognise such an advanced but correct pattern. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Confirm that the meaning involves an unreal past condition. The speaker could not read because the room was not bright; this is clearly hypothetical. Step 2: Check the original clause “If the room had been brighter”. It is grammatically correct but slightly longer and less formal. Step 3: Examine option C “Had the room been brighter”. This removes “if” and places “had” before the subject “the room”, forming a correct inverted conditional clause. Step 4: Options A and B (“If the room was brighter”, “If the room are brighter”) use incorrect tense or agreement for a past unreal condition. Step 5: Since the question is about improvement, and option C is both grammatically correct and stylistically superior, it is the best choice. Verification / Alternative check: We can compare similar examples: “If he had known the truth, he would have acted differently” can also be written as “Had he known the truth, he would have acted differently.” Likewise, “If they had arrived earlier, they would have caught the train” becomes “Had they arrived earlier, they would have caught the train.” In both cases, the inverted version is accepted in formal English and is often preferred in written style. This confirms that “Had the room been brighter” is a legitimate and polished alternative. Why Other Options Are Wrong: “If the room was brighter”: mixes a past simple verb with a conditional “would have been able”, which clashes with the unreal past meaning. It sounds more like a general or present-time condition. “If the room are brighter”: ungrammatical because “room” is singular and cannot take “are”; the tense is also wrong for a past condition. “No improvement”: fails to recognise that an equally correct but stylistically improved form is available and tested here. Common Pitfalls: Many learners are unaware of inversion in conditional sentences and assume that “if” must always be present. Others think that any change to a correct sentence is unnecessary, so they select “No improvement” without checking the alternatives carefully. In exams, however, you must evaluate whether a more concise, formal, and still correct option is given. Recognising patterns like “Had + subject + past participle” (third conditional), “Were + subject + to + verb” (second conditional), and “Should + subject + verb” (first conditional with inversion) can significantly raise your grammar score. Final Answer: The best improvement is Had the room been brighter, giving the sentence “Had the room been brighter, I would have been able to read for a while before bed time.”

Question 2

Choose the correct past tense form of the verb in the sentence: My mother _____ me to be a good human being.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question focuses on correct verb tense usage in a simple declarative sentence. The sentence is about something that happened in the past: “My mother teach me to be a good human being.” You must recognise that the teaching happened earlier in the speaker’s life and choose the verb form that correctly conveys a completed past action in standard English. Given Data / Assumptions: Subject: “My mother” (singular, third person). Base verb in the sentence: “teach”. Meaning: The speaker’s mother instructed or guided them in the past. We have options that include different verb forms such as “taught”, “thought”, “talked” and “No improvement”. Concept / Approach: When we talk about an action that was completed in the past and is not directly connected to the present moment, English typically uses the simple past tense. The simple past form of “teach” is “taught”. In addition, the verb must agree with the subject in number and person. “My mother” is singular, so in the present tense we would say “My mother teaches me”; in the past tense we say “My mother taught me”. The other given alternatives either change the meaning completely or use a different verb. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the tense implied by the context. The sentence refers to upbringing and moral instruction in the past, which suits the simple past tense. Step 2: Recognise that the base form “teach” is incorrect in the given sentence, because it lacks agreement with “mother” and does not show that the action is in the past. Step 3: Look at the available options. Option A “taught” is the simple past form of “teach” and fits perfectly with the intended meaning. Step 4: Option B “thought” is the past form of “think” and would completely change the meaning of the sentence; it does not convey the idea of teaching or instruction. Step 5: Option C “talked” is the past form of “talk” and again does not match the intended sense of “teach”. Step 6: “No improvement” would leave the ungrammatical phrase “mother teach me”, which is incorrect for a third-person singular subject. Verification / Alternative check: We can verify by constructing similar sentences: “My teacher taught me mathematics”, “Her grandfather taught her to ride a bicycle”, “Our coach taught us how to work as a team”. In every case, “taught” is the correct simple past form. If we used “teach” or “teached”, the sentences would be wrong. The verb “teach” is irregular, so you must memorise its forms: teach (base), taught (past and past participle), teaching (gerund/participle). Why Other Options Are Wrong: “thought”: changes the core meaning from teaching to thinking; “My mother thought me to be a good human being” is incorrect. “talked”: describes speaking, not instructing; the sentence would then mean only that the mother spoke to the child, not that she educated or guided them. “No improvement”: leaves a subject–verb agreement error, as “my mother teach me” is not acceptable in standard English. Common Pitfalls: A frequent mistake is to confuse similar-sounding verbs like “teach” and “think” or to forget that “teach” is irregular. Some students also forget to adjust the verb to match the subject when they change tense. To avoid this, practise listing the forms of common irregular verbs: “teach–taught–taught”, “bring–brought–brought”, “buy–bought–bought” and so on. Recognising these patterns will help you quickly eliminate wrong options in exam questions. Final Answer: The correct improvement is taught, so the sentence becomes “My mother taught me to be a good human being.”

Question 3

Rearrange the sentences P, Q, R and S about time management to form a coherent paragraph.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your ability to arrange jumbled sentences into a coherent and logically flowing paragraph. The topic is time management and the use of a practical time table. Such ordering questions are common in competitive exams because they check your understanding of cohesion, pronoun reference, and logical progression of ideas in English. Given Data / Assumptions: Four labelled sentences are given: P, Q, R and S. P: If we manage our time effectively we can accomplish all the activities and tasks we wish to. Q: It is important that we draw up a time table that we can adopt practically. R: If we can stick to the time table we can then succeed in achieving our goals whether they are in the short term or long term. S: This requires drawing up a practicable time table. We must choose the sequence that produces a smooth and meaningful paragraph. Concept / Approach: To solve jumbled paragraph questions, you should look for the introductory sentence, identify pronoun references (“this”, “it”, “they”), and track how ideas develop from general to specific. Typically, a good paragraph starts with a broad idea, then explains requirements or methods, and finally shows results or consequences. Sentences that contain pronouns like “this” usually refer back to an idea mentioned earlier, so they cannot logically be first. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the most general opening. Sentence P talks broadly about managing time effectively and accomplishing tasks. It sets the overall theme of time management, so P is a strong candidate for the first sentence. Step 2: Notice that S begins with “This requires drawing up a practicable time table.” The pronoun “This” must refer to something mentioned earlier, which is the idea of managing time effectively in P. Therefore, S logically follows P. Step 3: After S introduces the requirement of a practicable time table, Q elaborates by stating “It is important that we draw up a time table that we can adopt practically.” Here, “It” clearly refers to the need mentioned in S, so Q should come after S. Step 4: R then talks about the result of following the time table: “If we can stick to the time table we can then succeed in achieving our goals whether they are in the short term or long term.” Outcomes usually appear near the end of the paragraph, after the method or requirement has been explained. Step 5: Combining these observations gives the order P–S–Q–R. Verification / Alternative check: Read the paragraph in the proposed order: “If we manage our time effectively we can accomplish all the activities and tasks we wish to. This requires drawing up a practicable time table. It is important that we draw up a time table that we can adopt practically. If we can stick to the time table we can then succeed in achieving our goals whether they are in the short term or long term.” The ideas now flow logically from general statement, to requirement, to elaboration, to result. Any other ordering breaks this smooth flow or misuses pronouns. Why Other Options Are Wrong: QPRS: starts with Q but it refers to “It”, which has no clear antecedent if placed first. SPQR: starts with S, but “This” would have no prior reference, making the paragraph confusing. SQPR: again starts with S, leaving “This” dangling, and the transition to Q and then P becomes illogical. Common Pitfalls: Students often focus only on topic similarity and ignore pronoun reference. As a result, they sometimes place a sentence beginning with “This” or “It” at the start of the paragraph, which creates a logical gap. Another mistake is to rush without reading the full combined paragraph aloud in your mind. Always check that each sentence smoothly connects to the previous one and that every pronoun has a clear, unambiguous antecedent. Final Answer: The most logical sequence of sentences is PSQR.

Question 4

In this error-spotting sentence, identify the part that contains a grammatical error, if any: Are not your father and your elder brother out of town?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Error-spotting questions are designed to check your grasp of sentence structure, subject–verb agreement, word order, and standard usage in English. The sentence here is: “Are not your father (1)/ and your elder brother (2)/ out of town? (3)/ No Error (4)”. You must decide which numbered part contains a grammatical mistake, or whether the sentence is already correct. Given Data / Assumptions: Part (1): “Are not your father” Part (2): “and your elder brother” Part (3): “out of town?” Part (4): “No Error” The whole sentence is a yes/no question about two people (father and elder brother) being away from town. Concept / Approach: To analyse this sentence, you should verify three main points: subject–verb agreement, word order in questions, and overall meaning. The compound subject “your father and your elder brother” refers to two persons, so the verb must be plural: “are”. In formal English, especially in older or more literary styles, it is acceptable to place “not” after the auxiliary in questions, resulting in a structure like “Are not your father and your elder brother out of town?”. Modern conversational English usually prefers the contracted form “Aren’t your father and your elder brother out of town?”, but the form used in the sentence is grammatically correct. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the subject. The phrase “your father and your elder brother” refers to two individuals, making the subject plural. Step 2: Check the verb. The auxiliary “are” correctly agrees with the plural subject. Step 3: Examine word order. In a question, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject: “Are … your father and your elder brother … ?” This is exactly what we see here. Step 4: Consider the position of “not”. The pattern “Are not your father … ?” is formal but acceptable. It is structurally similar to “Is not your brother at home?” Step 5: Parts (2) and (3) simply add more information (“and your elder brother”, “out of town?”) and do not contain any grammatical errors. Step 6: Since none of the three numbered parts contain a clear grammatical error, the correct choice is “No Error”. Verification / Alternative check: Imagine rephrasing the sentence in a more common conversational style: “Aren’t your father and your elder brother out of town?” This variant uses the contraction “aren’t” but has the same subject–verb agreement and overall structure. Because the original sentence can be expanded as “Are not your father and your elder brother out of town?”, it is grammatically equivalent. The difference is only in register (formal vs informal), not in correctness. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option 1: “Are not your father” — correct verb form for a plural subject that will be completed by “and your elder brother”. Option 2: “and your elder brother” — correctly joins the second subject with “and”, maintaining the plural subject. Option 3: “out of town?” — correct idiomatic expression to indicate that someone is away from their usual place of residence. Therefore, none of these parts need correction. Common Pitfalls: Candidates sometimes over-correct sentences when they encounter a slightly old-fashioned but correct structure. They may wrongly think that “Are not your father … ?” must be changed to “Isn’t your father … ?”, forgetting that there are two subjects joined by “and”. Another common mistake is to assume that only modern contracted forms are grammatically acceptable. In exams, you should focus on actual grammar rules rather than stylistic preferences. Final Answer: There is No Error in the sentence, so the correct option is part (4).

Question 5

In this error-spotting sentence about an office building, identify the part that contains an error, if any: Our office building comprises seven floors and a restaurant at the top in an area of about eight hundred sq. metres.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This is another error-spotting question that tests your understanding of vocabulary, prepositions, and sentence structure. The sentence given is: “Our office building comprises (1)/ seven floors and a restaurant at the top in an (2)/ area of about eight hundred sq. metres. (3)/ No Error (4)”. You must locate the segment with a grammatical or usage error or confirm that the sentence is fully correct. Given Data / Assumptions: Part (1): “Our office building comprises” Part (2): “seven floors and a restaurant at the top in an” Part (3): “area of about eight hundred sq. metres.” Part (4): “No Error” The sentence describes the structure and total area of an office building. Concept / Approach: The main points to check are: correct use of the verb “comprise”, the noun phrase “seven floors and a restaurant at the top”, the preposition and article combination “in an area”, and the expression “about eight hundred sq. metres”. The verb “comprise” means “consist of” or “be made up of”. The standard and increasingly preferred pattern is “A comprises B and C”, without any preposition after “comprises”. The object of the verb can be a list of elements. The expression “in an area of about eight hundred square metres” is also idiomatic and grammatically acceptable. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Examine part (1) “Our office building comprises”. This correctly introduces the subject and uses the verb “comprises” in the sense of “consists of”. There is no need for “of” after “comprises” here. Step 2: Look at part (2) “seven floors and a restaurant at the top in an”. This part lists the components (seven floors and a restaurant) and begins the prepositional phrase “in an area”. The construction is acceptable. Step 3: Look at part (3) “area of about eight hundred sq. metres.” The phrase “an area of about eight hundred square metres” is correctly formed: article + noun + preposition + approximate quantity + unit of measure. Step 4: When the three parts are read together—“Our office building comprises seven floors and a restaurant at the top in an area of about eight hundred sq. metres.”—the sentence is meaningful and grammatically sound. Step 5: Because there is no clear grammatical or usage error in any of the first three parts, the correct answer must be “No Error”. Verification / Alternative check: We can compare the sentence with other correct uses of “comprise”: “The committee comprises ten members”, “The bouquet comprises roses, lilies and orchids”, “The course comprises three written papers and a viva”. In each case, “comprises” directly takes the objects without “of”. Our sentence follows the same pattern. If we changed it to “comprises of seven floors…”, it would be considered incorrect in formal English. The rest of the structure, including “in an area of about eight hundred square metres”, is standard. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (1): correct use of “comprises” as a transitive verb taking a list of components. Part (2): correctly joins “seven floors” with “a restaurant at the top” and starts the prepositional phrase without any incorrect preposition. Part (3): expresses the size of the building’s footprint or floor area correctly using “in an area of about eight hundred sq. metres”. Therefore, there is no grammatical error in any of these parts. Common Pitfalls: Many learners have seen “is comprised of” in everyday usage and mistakenly think that “comprise of” is correct. In standard formal English, “comprise” should not be followed by “of”; instead, we say “X comprises Y and Z” or “X is comprised of Y and Z” (passive). As a result, some candidates may wrongly assume that “comprises seven floors…” is incorrect and mark part (1) as the error, even though it is actually the correct formal pattern. Final Answer: The sentence is grammatically correct as written, so the answer is No Error, corresponding to part (4).

Question 6

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate verb: John as well as his friends always _____ the permission of his mother before going for a rugby match.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This fill-in-the-blank question tests subject–verb agreement and collocation in English. The sentence is: “John as well as his friends always _____ the permission of his mother before going for a rugby match.” You need to choose the verb that both agrees with the true subject and combines naturally with the noun “permission”. Given Data / Assumptions: Subject phrase: “John as well as his friends”. Main noun in the complement: “the permission of his mother”. Options include verbs like “asks”, “receives”, “seeks”, and an incorrect form “soughts”. The sentence describes a regular habit (always) before going for a rugby match. Concept / Approach: Two key grammar concepts are tested: subject–verb agreement with “as well as” and verb–noun collocation with “permission”. In structures like “John as well as his friends”, the true grammatical subject is “John” (singular). The phrase “as well as his friends” is additional information and does not change the number of the subject, so the verb must be singular. Next, English uses certain standard combinations: “ask permission”, “seek permission”, “get permission”. By contrast, “receive the permission” is less common and feels awkward in this context. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the true subject. In “John as well as his friends”, John is the central subject, and the verb must agree with this singular noun. Step 2: Because “John” is singular and the sentence is in the simple present tense describing a habitual action, the verb must appear in the singular form (with -s): asks, seeks, etc. Step 3: Examine collocations with “permission”. The most natural expressions are “seek permission” and “ask permission”. The phrase “seek the permission of his mother” sounds formal but correct. Step 4: Compare the options. “asks the permission of his mother” is grammatically acceptable but not the most idiomatic; we normally say “asks his mother for permission”. Step 5: “seeks the permission of his mother” matches well with formal usage and fits the structure exactly. Step 6: “receives” does not convey the idea of taking initiative to obtain permission; it focuses on the outcome rather than the action John performs. Step 7: “soughts” is not a valid verb form in English. Verification / Alternative check: If we modify the complement slightly, the sentence “John as well as his friends always seeks permission from his mother before going for a rugby match” still reads smoothly. The key here is the verb “seeks” with the singular subject “John”. Native usage supports “seek permission from someone” and “seek the permission of someone” as formal variants. This confirms that “seeks” is the most accurate and idiomatic choice among the options. Why Other Options Are Wrong: “asks”: While “ask permission” is correct, “asks the permission of his mother” is slightly awkward in this exact structure. In exam settings, the best collocation is usually preferred. “receives”: Focuses on the result (getting permission) rather than the repeated action of requesting it. The adverb “always” also suggests an active repeated effort, which suits “seeks”. “soughts”: An incorrect and non-existent form; the past tense of “seek” is “sought”, not “soughts”. Common Pitfalls: Students often think that “John as well as his friends” makes the subject plural and choose a plural verb form. Remember that with expressions like “as well as”, “along with”, and “together with”, the verb agrees with the first noun. Another trap is ignoring collocation and choosing any verb that appears grammatically possible. In vocabulary-sensitive exams, collocation is a strong clue to the intended answer. Final Answer: The correct verb is seeks, so the complete sentence is “John as well as his friends always seeks the permission of his mother before going for a rugby match.”

Question 7

Fill in the blank with the correct verb: My sister unlike my brothers __________ to have a career in Engineering.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks your understanding of subject–verb agreement and the correct choice of verb to express desire or intention. The sentence reads: “My sister unlike my brothers __________ to have a career in Engineering.” You need to pick the verb that agrees with the singular subject “My sister” and conveys the intended meaning. Given Data / Assumptions: Subject: “My sister unlike my brothers” (the true subject is “my sister”). Contrast phrase: “unlike my brothers” simply shows a difference in preference. The sentence is about the wish or aspiration to have a career in Engineering. Options: “wants”, “want”, “wish”, “aspire”. Concept / Approach: The key concepts are subject–verb agreement and appropriate verb choice. The main subject is “my sister”, which is singular and third person, so the verb in the present simple tense must carry an -s ending (“wants”). The phrase “unlike my brothers” is only additional information and does not change the number of the subject. Next, the most natural way to talk about having a career is to say that someone “wants to have a career in …” rather than “wish to have” or “aspire to have” in this context. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Isolate the core subject and verb: “My sister ______ to have a career in Engineering.” Step 2: Because “my sister” is singular and we are talking about a present preference, the verb should be in the simple present tense with an -s ending: wants. Step 3: Consider the meaning. The sentence expresses a personal desire, and the idiomatic expression is “wants to have a career in Engineering”. Step 4: Option “want” without -s does not agree with the singular subject. Step 5: “wish” is usually used as “wishes to have” in the third person, but then the structure of the sentence changes, and it still sounds less natural than “wants”. Step 6: “aspire” would also need an -s (“aspires”) and usually takes “to” followed by a verb (“aspires to become an engineer”), which does not match the given pattern smoothly. Verification / Alternative check: We can verify by creating similar sentences: “My brother wants to study medicine”, “Her friend wants to start a business”, “Their cousin wants to work abroad.” In each case, the structure “wants to + verb” expresses desire clearly. Replacing “wants” with “wish” or “aspire” would require changes to the rest of the sentence and would not be the simplest or most natural choice in this exam-style question. Why Other Options Are Wrong: “want”: incorrect because it fails to agree with the singular subject “my sister”. “wish”: would also need to be “wishes” for agreement, and “wishes to have a career” is less common than “wants to have a career”. “aspire”: should be “aspires” and usually takes “to become” or “to be”, for example, “aspires to become an engineer”, so it does not fit neatly into the given sentence. Common Pitfalls: A frequent error is to let the noun nearest to the verb (“my brothers”) influence the choice of verb and to incorrectly use the plural form. Always identify the true subject first; phrases like “unlike my brothers”, “along with his friends”, or “together with his colleagues” do not change the number of the subject. Another pitfall is overcomplicating a simple sentence by choosing rare or formal verbs instead of the common, natural ones that examiners expect. Final Answer: The correct verb is wants, so the sentence reads “My sister unlike my brothers wants to have a career in Engineering.”

Question 8

In this vocabulary question, choose the word that is most similar in meaning to Boisterous.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Vocabulary questions that ask for synonyms check not just your memory of word meanings, but also your sense of nuance and context. The word given here is “Boisterous”. You must select the option that is closest in meaning, especially in the way the word is commonly used in everyday English and exam passages. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: “Boisterous”. Options: “Clamorous”, “Ferocious”, “Fissiparous”, “Voluminous”. The typical context for “boisterous” is describing noisy, lively, or rowdy people, behaviour, or environments. We assume standard dictionary meanings for all options. Concept / Approach: A synonym is a word that has the same or very similar meaning in most contexts. “Boisterous” is often used for children, crowds, parties, or weather that is noisy, energetic, and a little out of control. We should therefore look for an option that conveys loud and noisy behaviour, rather than aggression or size. Eliminating obviously unrelated meanings is a reliable strategy in such questions. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the meaning of “boisterous”. It usually means noisy, cheerful, energetic, and sometimes slightly rough or unruly. Step 2: Consider “Clamorous”. This word describes a loud, noisy outcry or a situation full of shouting and loud demands. It strongly suggests excessive noise. Step 3: Compare the two words. Both “boisterous” and “clamorous” refer to loudness, especially in a crowd or group, so they are close in meaning in many situations. Step 4: Check “Ferocious”. It indicates extreme fierceness or savagery, usually for animals, attacks, or storms. The focus is on violence, not merely noise. Step 5: Check “Fissiparous”. This is a technical word meaning inclined to break into parts or causing division; it is used in biology and politics. It does not relate to noisy behaviour. Step 6: Check “Voluminous”. This means very large, bulky, or having great volume, as in “voluminous hair” or “voluminous documentation”. Again, it is unrelated to noisy or rowdy behaviour. Step 7: Therefore, the option that best matches “boisterous” is “Clamorous”. Verification / Alternative check: Consider sample sentences: “The boisterous children ran through the corridors, laughing and shouting.” We could also say, “The clamorous children ran through the corridors.” In both versions, the idea of loud, disruptive noise is clear. By contrast, replacing “boisterous” with “ferocious” or “voluminous” would change the meaning completely and sound wrong in context. Thus, context-based substitution confirms that “Clamorous” is the closest synonym among the options. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Ferocious: emphasises cruelty and savage aggression, not normal noisy liveliness. Fissiparous: technical term about division or splitting, especially in biology or political groups; unrelated to noise levels. Voluminous: describes size or quantity, not behaviour or sound. Common Pitfalls: Some students confuse “boisterous” with “violent” or “ferocious” simply because both can describe storms or crowds. However, “boisterous” usually suggests noisy high spirits rather than actual danger. Another pitfall is not recognising rare words like “fissiparous” and “voluminous” and picking them at random. In such cases, always fall back on the known meaning of the target word and choose the option that fits best with that meaning. Final Answer: The word most similar in meaning to “Boisterous” is Clamorous.

Question 9

In this vocabulary question, choose the word that is most similar in meaning to Haggard.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This is another synonym-based vocabulary question. The word given is “Haggard”. You are asked to select the option that is closest in meaning to this adjective. Such questions are important because words like “haggard” often appear in reading comprehension passages to describe the physical or emotional state of characters. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: “Haggard”. We will consider “haggard” in its common descriptive sense for a person’s appearance. Options (reconstructed for clarity and correctness): “Emaciated”, “Cheerful”, “Robust”, “Prosperous”. Only one option accurately captures the core meaning of “haggard”. Concept / Approach: “Haggard” is typically used to describe someone who looks extremely tired, worn out, and often very thin, usually because of worry, lack of sleep, illness or hardship. A good synonym must therefore convey the idea of being gaunt or wasted in appearance. We should eliminate any words that suggest positive energy, strength or wealth, because they are opposite to the sense of “haggard”. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the meaning of “haggard”. It means looking exhausted, thin, and unwell, as if one has suffered great mental or physical strain. Step 2: Examine “Emaciated”. This adjective means extremely thin and weak, especially because of illness or lack of food. It often describes someone who is gaunt and wasted. Step 3: Compare “haggard” and “emaciated”. Both words describe a person who looks physically worn and unhealthy, so they are very close in meaning. Step 4: Look at “Cheerful”. This refers to mood or temperament, meaning happy and optimistic. It does not describe physical appearance and is almost the opposite of the gloomy feeling associated with “haggard”. Step 5: Consider “Robust”. This means strong and healthy, often the direct opposite of how a haggard person looks. Step 6: Consider “Prosperous”. This refers to being financially successful or flourishing, which again does not match the sense of extreme tiredness or gaunt appearance. Step 7: Therefore, “Emaciated” is the closest synonym. Verification / Alternative check: Imagine a sentence: “After weeks of anxiety and sleepless nights, he looked haggard.” Replacing “haggard” with “emaciated” gives: “After weeks of anxiety and sleepless nights, he looked emaciated.” Both sentences paint a picture of someone whose face is drawn and whose body looks worn down. If you try “cheerful”, “robust” or “prosperous” in the same sentence, the meaning becomes contradictory, which confirms that they cannot be synonyms. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Cheerful: describes a happy emotional state, not a tired and worn physical appearance. Robust: means strong, energetic and healthy, almost the opposite of the weakness implied by “haggard”. Prosperous: refers to material success or wealth, not to how someone looks after stress or illness. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes confuse “haggard” with “angry” or “wild” because it can also describe a wild expression, but the main idea is still that of exhaustion and strain. Another trap is choosing an unfamiliar word at random, hoping that a rare-looking option might be correct. Instead, you should rely on the core meaning of the given word and eliminate clearly positive or unrelated adjectives. Final Answer: The word that is most similar in meaning to “Haggard” is Emaciated.

Question 10

In this antonym question, choose the word that is opposite in meaning to Ostentation.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question asks for the antonym (opposite in meaning) of the word “Ostentation”. Antonym questions check whether you understand not only what a word means, but also which quality stands directly opposite to it. “Ostentation” is a common term in reading passages about wealth, lifestyle, and social behaviour. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: “Ostentation”. Options: “Comical”, “Insane”, “Modest”, “Swanky”. You must select the option that expresses the opposite quality. We assume the standard dictionary sense of “ostentation” as display of wealth or luxury. Concept / Approach: “Ostentation” refers to the excessive, showy display of wealth, knowledge, or importance, usually to attract attention or admiration. An ostentatious person flaunts possessions or status. The opposite of this quality is modesty or simplicity, where someone deliberately avoids showing off and prefers not to draw attention to their wealth or achievements. So the correct antonym must express restraint rather than display. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the meaning of “ostentation”: a flashy, showy display, especially of luxury or importance. Step 2: Examine “Modest”. This adjective describes someone who does not brag, does not show off, and prefers simple or restrained behaviour and appearance. Step 3: Compare the two ideas. “Ostentation” emphasises loud display, while “modesty” emphasises quietness and lack of display, making them opposites. Step 4: Check “Swanky”. It means stylish or expensive in a way that is meant to impress. This is similar to “ostentatious”, not opposite to it. Step 5: Check “Comical”. It means funny or amusing; it has nothing to do with showing off or hiding wealth. Step 6: Check “Insane”. It means mentally ill or extremely foolish, again unrelated to the idea of display versus modesty. Step 7: Therefore, “Modest” is the only word that expresses the opposite quality. Verification / Alternative check: Consider the sentence: “His ostentation at the party made everyone uncomfortable.” Rewriting it with the opposite quality: “His modesty at the party impressed everyone.” You can see that in the second sentence, instead of flaunting his wealth, he behaves quietly and without show. Also note how “swanky party” and “ostentatious party” both suggest a display of luxury, which confirms that “Swanky” is not the antonym. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Comical: relates to humour; it neither supports nor contradicts the idea of showy display. Insane: refers to mental illness or extreme foolishness; again, it is unrelated to showing off. Swanky: actually describes something stylish and attention-grabbing, similar to ostentatious behaviour. Common Pitfalls: Students may be tempted by “Swanky” because it appears to be a strong, impressive word, but in antonym questions you must think in terms of opposite qualities, not just strong associations. Another mistake is to choose an option simply because it is unfamiliar, assuming that rare words are more likely to be correct. Always start from a clear understanding of the target word and then systematically eliminate options that do not form a true opposite. Final Answer: The word that is opposite in meaning to “Ostentation” is Modest.

Question 11

In this antonym question, choose the word that is opposite in meaning to Commiserate.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Here you are asked for the antonym of the verb “Commiserate”. Such questions test your ability to understand emotional states and attitudes expressed by verbs. “Commiserate” is often used in contexts involving sympathy, condolence, and shared sadness. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: “Commiserate”. Options: “Debatable”, “Empathize”, “Indifferent”, “Legion”. We assume the standard meaning of “commiserate” as to express sympathy or sorrow with someone. We must choose the word that stands in direct contrast to this meaning. Concept / Approach: To commiserate with someone means to show that you feel sorry for them and share their suffering or disappointment. The core idea is sympathy and emotional involvement. Therefore, the opposite must be a lack of sympathy, emotional distance, or not caring about someone’s suffering. Words that show similar emotions (like “empathize”) are synonyms, not antonyms. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the definition: “to commiserate” means to express or feel sympathy or pity. Step 2: Examine “Empathize”. This means to understand and share another person’s feelings, especially their suffering. It is very close in meaning to “commiserate”, so it cannot be an antonym. Step 3: Examine “Indifferent”. This adjective describes a person who does not care much one way or the other; they are unconcerned or apathetic. Step 4: Compare the two ideas. Commiseration shows deep concern and shared sadness, while indifference shows no concern at all, which makes them opposites. Step 5: Consider “Debatable”. This simply means “open to debate” or “arguable” and is unrelated to feelings of sympathy. Step 6: Consider “Legion”. This means “very many” or “numerous”, again unrelated to emotional response to someone’s suffering. Step 7: Therefore, “Indifferent” is the correct antonym. Verification / Alternative check: Imagine the sentence: “We commiserated with him after his loss.” This clearly shows that we felt sorry for him. Now imagine the opposite: “We were indifferent to his loss.” In the second case, no sympathy is shown, which is exactly the opposite attitude. Replacing “commiserated” with “empathized” would keep the meaning similar, which shows that “empathize” is actually a synonym rather than an antonym. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Debatable: refers to issues that can be discussed or argued; has nothing to do with sympathy or emotional support. Empathize: means to share and understand another person’s feelings; it is very close in meaning to “commiserate”. Legion: means very numerous; not connected to emotional attitudes toward someone’s suffering. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake is to choose “empathize” because it “feels emotional” like “commiserate”. However, in antonym questions you must look for the opposite, not just any emotionally coloured word. Another pitfall is to select a difficult-looking word like “legion” without knowing its meaning. In vocabulary questions, guessing purely based on how unfamiliar a word looks is risky and often wrong. Final Answer: The word opposite in meaning to “Commiserate” is Indifferent.

Question 12

In this idiom question, choose the alternative that best expresses the meaning of the phrase: Pillar to post.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Idiom and phrase questions check your understanding of fixed expressions in English that cannot be interpreted literally. The expression here is “Pillar to post”. You must choose the option that best captures the idiomatic meaning of this phrase, as it is used in everyday speech and in exam passages. Given Data / Assumptions: Idiom: “Pillar to post”. Usually used in the structure “from pillar to post”. Options: “Main support of an object”, “One place to another”, “To be reluctant”, “To incite others”. We assume the standard idiomatic meaning used in Indian and international English exams. Concept / Approach: The phrase “from pillar to post” does not literally refer to physical pillars and posts. Instead, it describes a situation in which a person is sent repeatedly from one place, person, or authority to another, usually in search of help, information, or justice, but without getting a proper response. The key ideas are movement between places and the sense of inconvenience or frustration. Therefore, the correct option should at least convey the idea of being moved from place to place. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the standard meaning: “to go from pillar to post” means to be sent all around, from one office or person to another, often uselessly. Step 2: Examine option B “One place to another”. This matches the core idea of being moved or going from one place to another, especially repeatedly. Step 3: Check option A “Main support of an object”. This refers to a structural pillar or key support, focusing on a literal meaning, which is not the idiomatic sense. Step 4: Option C “To be reluctant” describes a lack of willingness, which has nothing to do with being sent around. Step 5: Option D “To incite others” means to provoke or stir people to action, again unrelated to the idea of being pushed around places. Step 6: Therefore, option B is the best match. Verification / Alternative check: Consider a sentence: “For weeks, he was sent from pillar to post by government offices just to get one certificate.” If we paraphrase, we can say: “For weeks, he was sent from one place to another by government offices just to get one certificate.” The meaning remains essentially the same, with the focus on the tiresome movement and lack of resolution. None of the other options can replace the idiom in this sentence without changing the meaning completely. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Main support of an object: relates to a literal “pillar” and misses the entire idiomatic sense of repeated movement. To be reluctant: concerns someone’s attitude or willingness, not their physical or bureaucratic movement. To incite others: means to provoke action or agitation, which is conceptually unrelated to being sent from place to place. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes overthink idioms and try to connect them to very specific meanings, like “seeking justice” or “facing corruption”. While those contexts are common, the core idea of the idiom is simpler: unnecessary or repeated movement from one place or person to another. If you remember this basic sense, you will not get confused by superficial similarities to more complex options. Final Answer: The idiom “Pillar to post” (usually “from pillar to post”) means one place to another, especially in a troublesome or unproductive way.

Question 13

In this idiom question, choose the alternative that best expresses the meaning of the phrase: Hobson's choice.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This idiom question focuses on the phrase “Hobson's choice”. Many competitive exams include this expression because its surface meaning is not obvious from the individual words. Understanding such idioms helps you interpret editorial pieces, essays, and reading passages more accurately. Given Data / Assumptions: Idiom: “Hobson's choice”. Options: “To choose first in row”, “To make a careful choice”, “No real choice at all”, “To seek all favourable alternatives to choose from”. You must pick the option that best captures the established idiomatic meaning. Concept / Approach: “Hobson's choice” is a historical idiom meaning a situation where there is effectively no real choice: you must either accept what is offered or get nothing. It does not mean the best choice or a careful choice; instead, it means the absence of true alternatives. When you encounter this phrase, think “take it or leave it”. The correct answer should clearly express this idea. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the meaning: “Hobson's choice” means a so-called choice in which there is actually only one option. Step 2: Examine option C “No real choice at all”. This directly states that there is no genuine choice, which matches the idiom perfectly. Step 3: Check option A “To choose first in row”. This suggests priority or getting the first pick, which is unrelated to the idea of having no choice. Step 4: Check option B “To make a careful choice”. This implies that you have multiple options and are selecting among them thoughtfully, the opposite of having to accept whatever is given. Step 5: Check option D “To seek all favourable alternatives to choose from”. This again suggests many options and deliberate selection, which contradicts the original sense. Step 6: Therefore, option C is the correct interpretation. Verification / Alternative check: Consider a sentence: “The company offered him Hobson's choice: accept the transfer or resign.” If we paraphrase, we would say: “The company gave him no real choice at all: he had to accept the transfer or leave the job.” The idiom clearly signals that the so-called “choice” is actually forced. None of the other options—choosing first, making a careful choice, or seeking many alternatives—fit this scenario. Why Other Options Are Wrong: To choose first in row: focuses on ordering and priority, not on the nature of the choice itself. To make a careful choice: suggests plenty of options and time to evaluate them, which is the opposite of “take it or leave it”. To seek all favourable alternatives to choose from: again assumes multiple favourable options, which does not match an imposed single option. Common Pitfalls: Some students assume that because “choice” appears in the idiom, it must involve selecting among many alternatives. Others guess based on the “important” sound of the name “Hobson”. In idioms, however, historical origins often have little to do with the literal words. It is better to memorise the phrase “Hobson's choice = no real choice at all (take it or leave it)” as a fixed unit. Final Answer: The correct meaning of the idiom “Hobson's choice” is No real choice at all.

Question 14

Choose the correct phrase to complete the superlative comparison: William Shakespeare is the greatest of ____ writers.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence-improvement question tests your understanding of how superlative adjectives like “greatest” are used with comparison phrases in English. The sentence is: “William Shakespeare is the greatest of (all other) writers.” You must decide which alternative phrase in brackets correctly completes the superlative structure. Given Data / Assumptions: Subject: “William Shakespeare”. Superlative adjective: “the greatest”. Comparison phrase currently: “of all other writers”. Options: “all the”, “any other”, “the other”, and “No improvement”. We assume a standard grammar rule regarding superlatives. Concept / Approach: With superlative adjectives such as “the greatest”, “the tallest”, or “the best”, we usually compare one person or thing with the whole group they belong to. The correct pattern is “the + superlative + of all …” or “the + superlative + in the …”. Phrases like “all other” are used more often with comparatives (“greater than all other writers”) rather than with superlatives. Therefore, we should choose a phrase that fits naturally after “the greatest of”. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Consider the idea being expressed: Shakespeare is being compared to every other writer in the world, and he is at the top. Step 2: The structure “the greatest of all the writers” or simply “the greatest of all writers” is idiomatic and widely used. Step 3: Option A “all the” gives us the phrase “the greatest of all the writers”, which fits perfectly. Step 4: Option B “any other” would create the phrase “the greatest of any other writers”, which is awkward and ungrammatical. Step 5: Option C “the other” would produce “the greatest of the other writers”, which restricts the comparison to some specific “others” rather than all writers. Step 6: “No improvement” would keep “all other” and result in “the greatest of all other writers”, which is not the standard pattern with a superlative. Step 7: Therefore, the best option is “all the”. Verification / Alternative check: Compare with similar examples: “Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest of all batsmen in cricket history”, “Mount Everest is the highest of all the mountains in the world.” In each case, the phrase “of all the …” follows the superlative. When we use a comparative adjective like “greater”, we switch to a different pattern: “Shakespeare is greater than all other writers.” Notice how “all other” fits with “greater than” but not with “the greatest of”. This confirms that “all the” is correct here. Why Other Options Are Wrong: any other: works after “greater than”, not after “the greatest of”; “the greatest of any other writers” is unidiomatic. the other: implies a limited, specific set of “other writers” and feels incomplete in the global, universal sense intended here. No improvement: leaves a slightly incorrect and non-standard phrase “of all other writers” after a superlative. Common Pitfalls: Students often mix up the comparative and superlative patterns. Remember: for comparatives, we generally use “than” plus “any other” or “all other” (e.g., “richer than any other man in the town”), while for superlatives, we use “of all the …” or “in the …” (e.g., “the richest man in the town”). Confusing these patterns leads to errors in questions like this one. Final Answer: The correct improvement is all the, giving the sentence “William Shakespeare is the greatest of all the writers.”

Question 15

Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence: She is not used ____ for so long.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence-improvement question tests your understanding of the expression “to be used to” and the verb form that should follow it. The sentence given is: “She is not used (to sleep) for so long.” You must choose the option that produces a natural and grammatically correct sentence in standard English. Given Data / Assumptions: Main clause: “She is not used … for so long.” The underlined phrase in the exam: “to sleep”. Options: “to be sleeping”, “to sleep”, “to sleeping”, and “No improvement”. The context implies that long periods of sleep are not normal or habitual for her. Concept / Approach: English distinguishes between “used to do something” (past habit) and “be used to something” (be accustomed to something). After “be used to”, we use a noun or a gerund (verb + ing): “She is used to noise”, “He is used to working late.” In this question, “is not used to …” clearly belongs to the second pattern, meaning “is not accustomed to”, so the correct completion should be a gerund: “sleeping so long”. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the structure: “She is not used to …” expresses a lack of habit or familiarity with something. Step 2: Recall the rule: after “be used to”, we use a noun or gerund (verb + ing), not the bare infinitive. Step 3: Examine option C “to sleeping”. If we expand the sentence, it becomes “She is not used to sleeping for so long”, which is correct and idiomatic. Step 4: Option B “to sleep” would work with the pattern “used to + verb” in the sense of past habit (e.g., “She used to sleep for so long”), but that is a different structure and meaning. Step 5: Option A “to be sleeping” sounds unnatural in this context and suggests a specific moment rather than a general habit. Step 6: “No improvement” would keep the incorrect pattern “used to sleep” after “is”, mixing the two structures. Step 7: Therefore, the correct improvement is “to sleeping”. Verification / Alternative check: Compare the two patterns side by side: Pattern 1 (past habit): “She used to sleep for so long” (no auxiliary “is”; describes what she did regularly in the past). Pattern 2 (accustomed to): “She is used to sleeping for so long” (describes what she is accustomed to now). In our sentence, we already have the verb “is”, so we are clearly in Pattern 2. Therefore, “to + gerund” is required, supporting “to sleeping” as the correct choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: to be sleeping: grammatically possible in some contexts but awkward and not the standard pattern with “is used to” for habits. to sleep: belongs to the “used to + verb” pattern of past habits, which conflicts with the “is not used to” structure in the sentence. No improvement: leaves the sentence in a mixed and incorrect form. Common Pitfalls: Many learners confuse “used to do” with “be used to doing”. The first refers to a former habit (“I used to play cricket”), while the second refers to present familiarity or comfort (“I am used to playing cricket in hot weather”). Mixing these structures leads to errors. The safest strategy is to check whether “am/is/are/was/were” appears before “used”; if it does, then “to” is a preposition and must be followed by a noun or gerund. Final Answer: The correct improvement is to sleeping, making the sentence “She is not used to sleeping for so long.”

Question 16

Choose the best one-word substitution for the phrase: Giving undue favours to one's own kith and kin.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This one-word substitution question comes from general English vocabulary and often appears in current affairs discussions about politics and organisations. The phrase to be replaced is “Giving undue favours to one's own kith and kin”. You need to choose the single word that expresses this idea accurately. Given Data / Assumptions: Phrase: “Giving undue favours to one's own kith and kin”. Options: “Ableism”, “Iconoclast”, “Maiden”, “Nepotism”. We assume standard dictionary meanings of all four words. Only one option correctly refers to unfair favouritism towards relatives. Concept / Approach: The key idea is unfair advantages or special treatment granted to relatives, especially in jobs, positions of power, or distribution of benefits. The technical term for this is “nepotism”. The other options refer to completely different concepts—discrimination based on ability, a person who attacks established beliefs, and a woman's first time or state—so they can be eliminated by meaning. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Understand the phrase: “Giving undue favours” means granting benefits that are not deserved, primarily because of personal relationships. Step 2: “Kith and kin” is an idiom meaning friends and especially close relatives. Step 3: Recall that “nepotism” is defined as favouritism shown to relatives, especially by giving them jobs or advantages in public life or organisations. Step 4: Examine the options: “Ableism” means discrimination in favour of able-bodied people; “Iconoclast” is a person who attacks traditional beliefs or institutions; “Maiden” refers to an unmarried girl or the first attempt at something. Step 5: Only “Nepotism” fits the idea of unjust favours to one's relations. Verification / Alternative check: Consider a sentence: “The minister was criticised for appointing his relatives to key posts, an example of blatant nepotism.” If we replace the phrase “giving undue favours to one's own kith and kin” with “nepotism”, the meaning remains the same and the sentence becomes more concise. Trying to insert any other option would make the sentence nonsensical: “blatant ableism”, “iconoclast”, or “maiden” would not match the context of favouring relatives. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Ableism: prejudice in favour of able-bodied people and against people with disabilities; unrelated to familial favouritism. Iconoclast: a person who attacks or criticises cherished beliefs or institutions; describes a type of person, not a pattern of favouritism. Maiden: an unmarried girl or a first attempt (“maiden voyage”); has no connection to giving favours to relatives. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes mix up “nepotism” with “favouritism” in general. While favouritism can be toward anyone, nepotism specifically refers to relatives. Remember the root “nepos” from Latin, meaning nephew or grandson, which hints at family relationships. Recognising this root will help you retain the correct meaning for exam questions. Final Answer: The correct one-word substitution for “Giving undue favours to one's own kith and kin” is Nepotism.

Question 17

Choose the best one-word substitution for the phrase: One who does not care for literature or art.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This one-word substitution question asks you to identify a term for “One who does not care for literature or art”. Such questions often appear in English sections to test whether you know specific words used to describe attitudes toward culture and learning. Given Data / Assumptions: Phrase: “One who does not care for literature or art”. Options: “Dictator”, “Hypocrite”, “Philistine”, “Primitive”. Standard dictionary meanings apply to all four options. Only one word is regularly used to describe a person indifferent or hostile to art and culture. Concept / Approach: We are looking for a word that describes a person who is indifferent to or even contemptuous of art, literature, and higher culture. In English, the established term for such a person is “philistine”. The other options describe different personality types or developmental stages and do not carry this specific meaning. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Understand the phrase: it describes a person who neither appreciates nor values literature, music, painting, or other forms of culture. Step 2: Recall that “philistine” is used for someone who is uncultured or indifferent to intellectual or artistic values, often focusing only on material or practical aspects of life. Step 3: Examine “Dictator”. This refers to an absolute ruler with total power, usually in a political sense; it does not specifically indicate an attitude toward art or literature. Step 4: Examine “Hypocrite”. This means a person who pretends to have beliefs or virtues that they do not actually possess. It focuses on insincerity, not cultural indifference. Step 5: Examine “Primitive”. This refers to something very simple or ancient, or a person belonging to an early stage of development; again, it is not about attitude toward the arts. Step 6: Therefore, “Philistine” is the only word that fits the description. Verification / Alternative check: Consider an example sentence: “He is such a philistine that he finds classical music boring and never reads novels.” Replacing the phrase “one who does not care for literature or art” with “philistine” makes the sentence concise and precise. Using “dictator”, “hypocrite” or “primitive” in the same sentence would change the meaning entirely and no longer accurately describe a lack of interest in culture. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Dictator: describes a political role and style of governance, not a cultural attitude. Hypocrite: focuses on false appearance of virtue or belief, not the rejection of culture. Primitive: relates to early or undeveloped stages, not specifically to caring or not caring about the arts. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes hesitate over “philistine” because the word also appears in historical or biblical contexts, but in modern English it has a very clear figurative meaning associated with cultural indifference. Remember it as a label for someone who cares only about practical or material things and dismisses art, literature and intellectual pursuits as unimportant. Final Answer: The correct one-word substitution for “One who does not care for literature or art” is Philistine.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests basic English spelling and vocabulary. Many competitive examinations include such items because accurate spelling is essential for clear written communication. In this item, four common English words are given. Three of them are correctly spelt, while one has an incorrect spelling. The learner has to recognise which spelling does not match standard English usage. The words chosen include one whose pronunciation is slightly misleading, and another that looks similar to a common error, so the item checks careful visual memory of words as well as understanding of common spelling patterns. Given Data / Assumptions: - Four options are given: Colonel, Hypocracy, Offence and Strength. - Exactly one of these options is spelt incorrectly. - Standard British English spelling norms are assumed for this examination context. - The task is to select the incorrectly spelt word, not to correct it. Concept / Approach: The key concept is recognition of correct standard spellings in English. Some words in English have irregular or non phonetic spellings that cannot be guessed directly from pronunciation. For this reason, students must rely on familiarity with printed text and prior learning. The strategic approach is to mentally compare each option with the correct spelling that you remember, and to recall common rules such as use of the letter sequence ph for the sound of f in words of Greek origin, or the correct use of single and double consonants. When unsure, you can also think of related forms, such as hypocrisy and hypocrite, or offensive and defend, which share roots with the words in the options. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Examine option Colonel. Although it is pronounced like kernel, the established spelling in English is c o l o n e l, so this is a correct spelling. Step 2: Examine option Hypocracy. The word is meant to represent the noun formed from hypocrite. The standard spelling is hypocrisy, with the letter sequence c r i s y at the end rather than c r a c y. Therefore Hypocracy is not the correct standard form. Step 3: Examine option Offence. In British English, offence with c e is an accepted and common spelling, so this option is correct in this examination context. Step 4: Examine option Strength. The word strength, meaning power or force, is correctly spelt s t r e n g t h, so this option is also correct. Step 5: Since Hypocracy is the only option whose spelling does not match the standard dictionary form, it is the incorrectly spelt word and should be selected as the answer. Verification / Alternative check: A useful way to verify is to recall related words and check consistency of spelling. For example, from the base noun hypocrisy we get the adjective hypocritical, which retains the o c r y pattern rather than adding a second a. The incorrect spelling Hypocracy would instead suggest a relation to words like democracy or bureaucracy, where the ending c r a c y denotes rule or government. This meaning does not match the idea of pretending to have higher standards than one really has. Checking a standard English dictionary, you will find an entry for hypocrisy but no entry for hypocracy, confirming that it is a misspelling. Similarly, you can confirm that colonel, offence and strength appear exactly in these forms in good dictionaries, which supports the conclusion that Hypocracy is the only incorrect choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A: Colonel looks unusual but is the correct spelling for the army rank pronounced kernel. Option C: Offence is the standard British English spelling for an illegal act or an act that causes displeasure, so it is not incorrect in this setting. Option D: Strength is correctly spelt and is a very common everyday word, so it cannot be the misspelt one. Common Pitfalls: Some learners may suspect colonel because its pronunciation does not seem to match its spelling. Others may not be sure about offence and may confuse British English offence with American English offense. A further trap is to glance quickly at Hypocracy and feel that it looks similar to democracy and so assume that it is acceptable. The safest method is to slow down, recall the base word hypocrite and then remember that the related noun is hypocrisy, not hypocracy. Always avoid relying only on how a word sounds, and instead train yourself to notice typical letter patterns and families of related words. Final Answer: The incorrectly spelt word in this set is Hypocracy, so that is the correct option to mark.

Question 19

In the following question, four English verbs are given, out of which one word is spelt incorrectly. Select the incorrectly spelt word from the given options.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This item checks the learner's ability to recognise correct spellings of commonly used English verbs. Such questions are popular in competitive examinations because they quickly identify whether a candidate reads widely and pays attention to written forms. The four options here are related in meaning and sound, but only one is spelt in a way that does not match standard English usage. The task is to identify the incorrect spelling among the four. Given Data / Assumptions: - Four verbs are given: Preceed, Proceed, Recede and Succeed. - Exactly one of these spellings is incorrect. - Standard British English spellings are assumed. - The objective is to mark the wrongly spelt word, not to provide the corrected form in the answer box. Concept / Approach: The question is based on knowledge of word families and common Latin roots in English verbs. Proceed, recede and succeed all come from Latin roots meaning to go forward, to go back and to go under or follow in order. The related verb precede, meaning to go before, is often misspelt because of confusion between pre and pro. The method to solve such questions is to recall the standard spelling of each word, paying special attention to the arrangement of vowels and the doubling of consonants. If you know one member of a word family, you can usually infer the correct spelling of others from that pattern. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Look at option Proceed. You may recall the common phrase proceed further, and you know it is spelt p r o c e e d with double e in the centre. This matches the standard spelling, so option B is correct. Step 2: Look at option Recede. The root here is c e d e, which also appears in words like concede and precede. Recede is correctly spelt r e c e d e, so option C is correct. Step 3: Look at option Succeed. This verb is often seen in phrases like to succeed in life. It is correctly spelt s u c c e e d, with double c and double e, so option D is also correct. Step 4: Look at option Preceed. The intended word is precede, meaning to go before. The correct spelling is p r e c e d e, not p r e c e e d. Therefore the form Preceed is wrong because it uses double e instead of the correct d e ending. Step 5: Since Preceed is the only option whose spelling does not match the standard word, it is the incorrectly spelt word and should be chosen. Verification / Alternative check: To verify, compare the noun forms. From proceed we get procedure and process, from recede we get recession and receding, and from succeed we get success and succession. All of these retain the root c e e d or c e s s. For the sense of going before, we have precedence and precedent, where the root is p r e c e d. This shows that the correct verb must be precede, not preceed. A quick check with a good English dictionary will confirm that preceed does not appear as a valid entry, while precede does. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B: Proceed is correctly spelt and widely used in formal and informal English. Option C: Recede follows the correct root pattern and is the accepted spelling, so it is not incorrect. Option D: Succeed is also correctly spelt with double c and double e and is therefore not the misspelt word. Common Pitfalls: Candidates often confuse precede and proceed because they sound similar. Some memorise only one pattern and then wrongly copy it to all related words, which leads to errors like preceed. Another pitfall is to assume that the presence of double letters always indicates a mistake. Here, proceed and succeed both legitimately contain double letters. The best way to avoid such mistakes is to learn families of words together and to read regularly so that you repeatedly see correct spellings in context. Final Answer: The incorrectly spelt verb in this list is Preceed, which should in standard English be spelt precede.

Question 20

The following question consists of four labelled sentences P, Q, R and S. Select the most logical order of these sentences to form a coherent paragraph about the meaning of a lie.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests skills in paragraph jumbled sentence ordering. Four related statements labelled P, Q, R and S are given, and the learner must arrange them in a sequence that produces a coherent and logically flowing paragraph. The theme here is the meaning of a lie and the contrast between events that actually happened and those that did not happen. By understanding the logic of the ideas and the connectors used, we can determine the correct order. Given Data / Assumptions: - Sentence S defines a lie as saying that something happened when it did not. - Sentence Q states that there is only one thing that actually happened at a specific time and place. - Sentence R explains that there are infinite things that did not happen at that time and place. - Sentence P talks about thinking about something that did not happen and then thinking about many other things that did not happen. - We must choose among given permutations of P, Q, R and S. Concept / Approach: The key concept is logical cohesion. A good paragraph usually begins with a definition or general statement, then moves to supporting facts, and finally to consequences or extended reflections. Connectors such as but, and and if also give clues about sequence. Here, the paragraph needs to move from the definition of a lie to a contrast between actual events and non events, and finally to the narrator's reflections about thinking of things that never happened. We look for a starting sentence that can introduce the theme clearly, followed by sentences where each idea naturally follows from the previous one. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Sentence S defines a lie: a lie is when you say something happened which did not happen. This is a strong candidate for the opening because it provides the basic concept. Step 2: Sentence Q begins with the connector but and says that there is only ever one thing that actually happened at a particular time and place. This contrasts real events with the earlier idea of invented events, so S should be followed by Q, giving the sequence S Q. Step 3: Sentence R continues the contrast introduced in Q by mentioning that there are an infinite number of things that did not happen at that time and place. This extends the idea in Q, so Q should be followed by R. Step 4: Sentence P then refers back to things that did not happen and explains that if the narrator thinks about one such non event, it leads to thinking about many others. This naturally follows R, which has just mentioned infinite things that did not happen. Step 5: Putting these links together, the logical order is S Q R P, which corresponds to option D, written as SQRP. Verification / Alternative check: To verify, read the combined paragraph with the chosen order: a lie is when you say something happened which did not happen. But there is only ever one thing which happened at a particular time and a particular place. And there are an infinite number of things which did not happen at that time and that place. And if I think about something which did not happen I start thinking about all the other things which did not happen. This sequence flows smoothly, with each sentence building on the previous one. Any other order either breaks the logical contrast or misuses connectors like but and and. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A (QSRP): Starting with Q is awkward because it assumes the reader is already thinking about what happened at a particular time and place, without first defining the context of lies and non events. Option B (SQPR): Inserting P immediately after S ignores the contrast established in Q and R between real events and non events, so the reasoning feels incomplete. Option C (SRQP): Placing R directly after S and then Q disrupts the logical order because Q uses but to contrast with the definition and should appear before the explanation in R. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake in such questions is to focus only on the content of individual sentences and ignore discourse markers like but, and and if. Another pitfall is to choose an order that seems roughly correct in theme but does not read smoothly when combined as a single paragraph. Always test the full paragraph by reading it aloud or silently from start to end, and check that references such as something which did not happen clearly relate to what has just been discussed. Paying attention to these details will help you avoid near correct but logically weak sequences. Final Answer: The most logical and coherent order of the sentences is SQRP, which corresponds to option D.

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