Question 1

In the following question on idioms and phrases, choose the option that best explains the meaning of the expression “a dime a dozen”.

Accepted Answer

Introduction: Idioms are fixed expressions whose meanings cannot be understood simply by translating each word literally. The phrase a dime a dozen originates from American English, where a dime is a small coin and a dozen means twelve units. This idiom is widely used in daily conversations, media, and literature to comment on how common or ordinary something is. Recognising idiomatic meanings helps you understand real world English more accurately. Given Data / Assumptions: - Idiom: a dime a dozen. - Options include different possible meanings about value and quantity. - We must select the explanation that matches standard idiomatic usage. Concept / Approach: Literally, a dime a dozen suggests that you can get twelve items for just a dime, which is a very small amount of money. Figuratively, it means that the things being described are extremely common and not considered special or valuable. The correct option should capture both the sense of plentifulness and the lack of special worth. It does not praise strength in numbers or advise buying more; rather, it downplays importance or rarity. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall common usage, such as Good ideas are rare, but bad suggestions are a dime a dozen. Step 2: Focus on the implied meaning: these items or people are very common and not highly valued. Step 3: Evaluate option C, Very common and of no particular value, and see that it directly matches this meaning. Step 4: Check option A, Strength is in numbers, which talks about power in groups, not commonness and low value. Step 5: Notice that option B focuses on people who say bad things, which is too narrow and unrelated to the idiom's general meaning. Step 6: See that option D, You save more if you buy in large numbers, describes a shopping strategy and not the figurative value judgment the idiom makes. Verification / Alternative check: Use the idiom in additional sentences: In big cities, coffee shops are a dime a dozen or Influencers promising instant success are a dime a dozen. In both cases, the phrase clearly means that such things are everywhere and not particularly special. If we tried to apply the meaning Strength is in numbers or You save more if you buy in large numbers, the sentences would stop making sense, confirming that option C is correct. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A introduces a completely different proverb about collective strength, not about commonness or triviality. Option B mentions people who say bad things, which might also be common but does not reflect the generic nature of the idiom applied to many objects and situations. Option D is descriptive of bulk purchasing, whereas a dime a dozen is not advice but a comment on how ordinary something is. These choices therefore misrepresent the idiom's actual usage. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes try to connect idioms directly with everyday financial logic, thinking a cheaper price always implies a good deal. Here, however, the cheapness highlights lack of importance or special quality. The best way to master idioms is to learn them in context with example sentences and to note whether the speaker's attitude is positive, negative, or neutral. For a dime a dozen, the attitude is usually negative or dismissive. Final Answer: Very common and of no particular value is the correct explanation of the idiom a dime a dozen.

Question 2

Improve the bracketed part of the sentence by choosing the correct preposition: “The public vent their anger on social media to protest (toward) police brutality.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction: This question checks your understanding of prepositions that commonly follow particular verbs in English. The verb protest is frequently used in news reports and everyday speech to describe how people show opposition to something. Using the correct preposition after protest is essential for sounding natural and accurate. The sentence describes people expressing their anger on social media about police brutality, so we need to select the preposition that matches this meaning. Given Data / Assumptions: - Sentence: The public vent their anger on social media to protest (toward) police brutality. - Options: for, against, regards, no improvement. - The idea is that the public are opposing or objecting to police brutality. Concept / Approach: In standard English usage, the usual pattern is protest against something when you are showing strong disapproval or opposition. The preposition toward suggests direction but not necessarily opposition, and it is not normally used in this collocation. Protest for sometimes appears when supporting a cause, but here the sentence clearly describes resistance to police brutality. Therefore, the best improvement is to replace toward with against. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the verb phrase protest toward police brutality and ask whether this sounds natural. Step 2: Recall common phrases such as protest against injustice, protest against corruption, and protest against policies. Step 3: Compare this with protest for, which is more suitable when supporting something, for example protest for better wages. Step 4: Observe that regards is a noun or verb related to respect or consideration, not a preposition used after protest. Step 5: Replace toward with against and read the full sentence: The public vent their anger on social media to protest against police brutality. This sounds correct and natural. Verification / Alternative check: Check usage in real world contexts: People marched to protest against unfair laws or Citizens gathered in the square to protest against rising prices. The consistent use of against with protest in these examples confirms that it is the standard preposition. Using toward in these sentences would sound strange to most native speakers and does not appear in formal written English for this meaning. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A, for, would shift the focus to supporting police brutality, which is the opposite of the intended meaning. Option C, regards, does not fit grammatically and is not used after protest in this way. Option D, no improvement, would keep protest toward, which is not idiomatic English in the sense of opposing an injustice. Only against correctly conveys resistance and disapproval in this context. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes confuse protest for and protest against because both appear in different contexts. A useful guideline is that protest against is used when you oppose something, while protest for is used when you support a demand or cause. Remembering this distinction will help you avoid preposition errors in similar questions and in your own writing. Final Answer: against is the correct preposition, so the improved phrase is protest against police brutality.

Question 3

From the following options, select the word that is spelt correctly in standard English.

Accepted Answer

Introduction: Spelling questions test your familiarity with standard English spellings and help you avoid common mistakes in exams and professional writing. In this question, three of the given words have incorrect spellings, and only one matches the accepted dictionary form. Recognising typical patterns of vowels and consonants is important for identifying which form is correct without relying on a spell checker. Given Data / Assumptions: - Options: missible, saosages, emullator, abdicate. - Only one of these is correctly spelt according to standard English usage. - The correctly spelt word should be usable in normal written communication without correction. Concept / Approach: The word abdicate is a well known verb that means to give up a position of power or responsibility, especially a throne or high office. Its spelling is a b d i c a t e. The other given words appear to be incorrect versions of admissible or permissible, sausages, and emulator, each with altered or misplaced letters. Once you recognise abdicate as a familiar and correctly formed English word, it stands out from the other distorted variants. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Examine each option and ask whether you have seen it used in standard texts. Step 2: Note that missible does not correspond to a common English word and looks incomplete or shortened. Step 3: Observe that saosages appears to be a misspelling of sausages, with the vowels in the wrong order. Step 4: Recognise that emullator seems to be an incorrect form of emulator, with an extra l and an unusual vowel pattern. Step 5: Identify abdicate as a recognised verb meaning to resign from a position of authority, and confirm that its spelling matches dictionary usage. Verification / Alternative check: The verb abdicate is commonly used in sentences like The king decided to abdicate the throne or Leaders should not abdicate their responsibilities. In dictionaries and reliable sources, you will always see the same spelling abdicate. In contrast, you will not find missible, saosages, or emullator as standard entries, which verifies that they are incorrect spellings for exam purposes. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Missible is not a normal English word in this form and does not match a standard verb or adjective. Saosages clearly misplaces vowels in the common noun sausages. Emullator adds an extra l to emulator and has the wrong vowel combination. Because these forms do not appear in correct written English, they cannot be the right answers in a spelling question that demands standard usage. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes second guess themselves when they see familiar words alongside unfamiliar ones, assuming the familiar choice must be a trick. The safest approach is to trust your reading experience and choose the spelling that you have seen repeatedly in books, articles, and reliable websites. Over time, regular reading builds a mental dictionary that makes questions like this straightforward to answer. Final Answer: abdicate is the only correctly spelt word among the options given.

Question 4

In the following sentence about a visit to Kerala, identify the part that contains an error, or select “No error”: “Recently I visited Kerala (A) and found the sceneries (B) to be breathtaking. (C) No error (D).”

Accepted Answer

Introduction: This error spotting question focuses on correct usage of countable and uncountable nouns in English. The sentence describes a recent trip to Kerala and the beautiful views observed there. Although it seems correct at first glance, one segment contains a subtle grammatical issue related to how the noun scenery is used. Identifying such errors is important for writing polished, natural English. Given Data / Assumptions: - Part A: Recently I visited Kerala - Part B: and found the sceneries - Part C: to be breathtaking. - Part D: No error - We must decide which part contains the mistake, if any. Concept / Approach: The word scenery is normally an uncountable noun in English. It refers to the general appearance of the natural environment, especially when it is attractive. Because it is uncountable, we do not usually add s to make a plural form in standard usage. Instead of saying sceneries, we say the scenery, beautiful scenery, or a piece of scenery. Therefore, the plural form the sceneries in Part B is incorrect in standard English and needs to be replaced with the scenery. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the sentence carefully: Recently I visited Kerala and found the sceneries to be breathtaking. Step 2: Focus on the word sceneries and recall how scenery is usually used. Step 3: Remember that scenery is generally uncountable and does not take a plural s in ordinary usage. Step 4: Test the corrected version: Recently I visited Kerala and found the scenery to be breathtaking. Step 5: Confirm that Parts A and C contain no grammatical errors and fit naturally with this corrected structure. Verification / Alternative check: Check typical examples: The mountain scenery was stunning, The scenery along the coast is beautiful, or Tourists come here for the scenery. In each case, scenery is used in the singular, uncountable form. Using sceneries would sound odd and is not found in standard English dictionaries as a recommended plural. This comparison confirms that the error is in Part B. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part A, Recently I visited Kerala, is grammatically correct and places the time expression and verb properly. Part C, to be breathtaking, correctly functions as an infinitive clause describing the scenery. Part D, No error, cannot be chosen because we have identified a clear misuse of an uncountable noun in Part B. Therefore, only option B is the correct answer. Common Pitfalls: Many learners assume that any noun referring to many views or places can take a plural form, so they write sceneries when they think of multiple locations. However, English treats scenery as a mass noun like furniture or information, which also do not take regular plurals. A useful strategy is to remember that if a noun describes a general mass or background, it is often uncountable and remains in singular form even when referring to different examples. Final Answer: B is the part that contains the error because the correct form is the scenery, not the sceneries.

Question 5

Rearrange the parts of the sentence to form a meaningful statement about the twenty-four tributes and the arena: P – that could hold anything from a Q – will be imprisoned in a vast outdoor arena R – burning desert to a frozen wasteland.

Accepted Answer

Introduction: This rearrangement question tests your ability to organise sentence fragments into a coherent and grammatically correct sentence. The sentence describes twenty four tributes imprisoned in a large arena with different possible environments, such as a burning desert or a frozen wasteland. You must identify the order in which the three labelled parts combine naturally after the introductory phrase The twenty four tributes. Given Data / Assumptions: - Introductory phrase: The twenty four tributes - Part P: that could hold anything from a - Part Q: will be imprisoned in a vast outdoor arena - Part R: burning desert to a frozen wasteland - Only one of the given orders results in a smooth and meaningful sentence. Concept / Approach: The sentence must first state what will happen to the tributes, then describe the arena in more detail. The fragment will be imprisoned in a vast outdoor arena functions as the main predicate, so it should follow directly after the subject The twenty four tributes. The description that could hold anything from a needs to be attached to the arena, and burning desert to a frozen wasteland completes that descriptive range. The correct order will preserve logical flow from main clause to detailed description. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Attach each fragment after The twenty four tributes and test readability. The most natural next part is Q: will be imprisoned in a vast outdoor arena. Step 2: Recognise that P, that could hold anything from a, describes the arena, not the tributes themselves, and should therefore follow the word arena. Step 3: Observe that R, burning desert to a frozen wasteland, completes the range begun in P by telling us what the arena could hold. Step 4: Combine them: The twenty four tributes will be imprisoned in a vast outdoor arena that could hold anything from a burning desert to a frozen wasteland. Step 5: This arrangement matches the order QPR, which corresponds to option C. Verification / Alternative check: Read the full sentence aloud and check whether it is grammatical and clear. It has a subject (The twenty four tributes), a main verb phrase (will be imprisoned), a location phrase (in a vast outdoor arena), and a relative clause describing the arena (that could hold anything from a burning desert to a frozen wasteland). Trying other orders, such as PQR or PRQ, either leaves phrases hanging or interrupts the natural flow between arena and its description, which shows that QPR is the only fully coherent option. Why Other Options Are Wrong: PQR begins with a relative clause that could hold anything from a, which has nothing clear to refer back to yet. PRQ similarly starts with a description before we know what is being described, and then the placement of burning desert to a frozen wasteland becomes awkward. RQP would start with burning desert to a frozen wasteland, which makes no sense immediately after The twenty four tributes. These incorrect orders break the logical relationship between the tributes, the arena, and its possible environments. Common Pitfalls: Many candidates look only at local links, such as from a followed by burning desert, and try to join fragments P and R first without considering where the main verb belongs. A reliable strategy is to locate the main verb phrase, in this case will be imprisoned, and attach it early to the subject. After that, relative clauses beginning with that and descriptive ranges like from a to are easier to place correctly. Final Answer: QPR is the correct order that forms a complete and meaningful sentence.

Question 6

A sentence is given in the causative form of the imperative: “Have the car stolen!” Choose the option that best expresses the same meaning in clear active voice.

Accepted Answer

Introduction: Voice transformation questions often involve not just changing between active and passive voice, but also understanding causative structures. The imperative sentence Have the car stolen uses a causative form, where the subject is not performing the action directly but is arranging for the action to be done. To choose the correct equivalent, you must recognise this causative meaning and select the option that clearly expresses the idea of arranging for the car to be stolen. Given Data / Assumptions: - Original sentence: Have the car stolen. - It is an imperative, giving a command or instruction. - Options describe different possible actions involving the car. - Exactly one option must match the causative sense of arranging for theft. Concept / Approach: In English, the structure have plus object plus past participle can indicate a causative meaning, where you arrange for something to be done by someone else. For example, have the house painted means arrange for someone to paint the house. In the imperative Have the car stolen, the speaker is telling someone to ensure that the car is stolen by getting another person to do it. Therefore, the best active equivalent is Get someone to steal the car, which makes that meaning more explicit. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recognise that have in this sentence does not mean possess but means cause to be done. Step 2: Understand that the car is the object that the action stolen will affect. Step 3: Convert the causative structure have the car stolen into an equivalent with get, which is also used in causatives: get someone to steal the car. Step 4: Compare this with the options to see which matches. Step 5: Identify option C, Get someone to steal the car, as the only choice that clearly expresses causing another person to perform the theft. Verification / Alternative check: Look at other examples of causatives: Have the report typed means get someone to type the report, and Have your hair cut means arrange for the hairdresser to cut your hair. Similarly, Have the car stolen in this artificial exam sentence must mean arrange for theft, not simply report that theft has taken place. Rewriting it as Get someone to steal the car accurately mirrors those patterns, confirming option C as correct. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A, Steal the car, is a direct command instructing the listener to personally steal the car, which removes the causative idea of arranging for someone else to do it. Option B, You should have the stolen car, sounds like advice about possessing a car that has already been stolen, which is a different meaning. Option D, They have stolen the car, is a statement in the present perfect tense, not an imperative, and simply reports that the car is now stolen, so it does not match the instruction to cause an action. Common Pitfalls: Candidates often confuse causative have with simple possession or with passive voice. The key is to notice the pattern have plus object plus third form of the verb and recognise that it usually describes arranging for a service or action. Practising with common causative examples such as have the room cleaned, have the letter delivered, and have the watch repaired makes it easier to spot this structure quickly in exams. Final Answer: Get someone to steal the car. is the correct active voice equivalent of the causative imperative.

Question 7

Improve the bracketed part of the sentence by arranging the pronouns and noun in correct polite order: “Look at this video clip in which (I, my friend and you) are enjoying a boat ride.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction: This question tests your understanding of the conventional order of pronouns and nouns when listing people in a sentence. Although several orders may be grammatically possible, English has preferred sequences that sound more polite and natural, especially in formal contexts. The sentence describes a video clip in which three people are enjoying a boat ride, and you must choose the best way to order I, my friend, and you. Given Data / Assumptions: - Original bracketed order: I, my friend and you. - The three entities are the speaker (I), the listener (you), and a third person (my friend). - Options present different sequences for these three. - The aim is to follow standard conventions and courtesy in listing people. Concept / Approach: In English, a commonly observed polite order in lists is to mention the person being addressed (you) first, then other people (third person), and finally the speaker (I) last. This reflects modesty and courtesy. Therefore, you, my friend and I sounds more polite and natural than placing I first. While some variations may still be grammatically acceptable, examinations usually expect the conventional order that aligns with formal writing and spoken etiquette. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the three elements: you, my friend, and I. Step 2: Recall the typical courteous order you, he or she, and I, where the listener comes first and the speaker last. Step 3: Apply this pattern to the sentence, giving you, my friend and I as the correct sequence. Step 4: Insert this into the sentence: Look at this video clip in which you, my friend and I are enjoying a boat ride. Step 5: Confirm that this version sounds natural and respectful. Verification / Alternative check: Compare the options in full sentences. Saying I, you and my friend places the speaker first, which can sound less modest in formal English. My friend, you and I is more acceptable but still slightly less conventional than you, my friend and I, which directly addresses the listener before mentioning others. The no improvement option keeps the original order that most style guides would adjust in polished writing. Thus option A provides the most standard and courteous formulation. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B, I, you and my friend, puts the speaker first, which is usually avoided in formal contexts because it may sound self centred. Option C, my friend, you and I, is not ungrammatical but does not follow the widely preferred you first convention. Option D, no improvement, fails to correct the ordering and leaves the least polite version unchanged. Therefore, these options are not considered the best improvements in standard exam settings. Common Pitfalls: Many learners assume that any order is acceptable as long as the meaning is clear, but competitive exams often test finer points of style and courtesy. Remembering the pattern you, third person, and I will help you in similar questions. It is also helpful to read edited English texts and note how lists of people are typically arranged, especially in formal speeches and literature. Final Answer: you, my friend and I is the best improvement of the bracketed part.

Question 8

The teacher said to the students, “Do not make noise.” Choose the option that best expresses this sentence in indirect (reported) speech.

Accepted Answer

Introduction: Direct and indirect speech questions require you to change the form of a quoted sentence while keeping its meaning intact. The original sentence shows a teacher instructing students not to make noise. When we convert this into reported speech, we need to adjust the verb of reporting, remove quotation marks, and choose an appropriate reporting verb like ask, tell, or warn, while keeping the negative command structure correct. Given Data / Assumptions: - Direct speech: The teacher said to the students, “Do not make noise.” - Reporting structure: said to the students. - The quoted sentence is a negative imperative, telling students not to do something. - We must choose a reported version that is grammatically correct and natural. Concept / Approach: To report an imperative, we usually use a verb like asked, told, or ordered followed by the object and an infinitive phrase. A negative command Do not make noise becomes not to make noise in reported speech. The phrase said to the students typically changes to asked the students or told the students in this context. The simplest, most neutral choice here is asked, because the sentence does not explicitly show anger or threat. Therefore, The teacher asked the students not to make noise is an accurate and grammatically correct reported version. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Replace said to with an appropriate reporting verb and object phrase, such as asked the students. Step 2: Remove quotation marks and convert Do not make noise into the infinitive structure not to make noise. Step 3: Join the parts to form The teacher asked the students not to make noise. Step 4: Check that the tense and meaning are preserved: there is still a present instruction not to create noise, reported from the teacher's point of view. Verification / Alternative check: Think of similar transformations: The teacher said to the students, “Sit down.” becomes The teacher asked the students to sit down. For a negative command, “Do not talk,” the reported speech is The teacher asked the students not to talk. The structure in this question is parallel, confirming that The teacher asked the students not to make noise is correct. The sentence is clear, concise, and follows standard grammar rules for reporting commands. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B, The teacher scolded the students, they should not make noise, uses an incorrect sentence structure with a comma splice and adds should, changing the original form. Option C, The teacher warned the students not to make noise, is grammatically acceptable but introduces the idea of a warning, which is stronger than the original neutral said to. Exams usually prefer the most direct equivalent, which is asked. Option D, The teacher told the students that do not make noise, is ungrammatical because the that clause is not correctly formed; it should be that they should not make noise or simply not to make noise. Common Pitfalls: Students often ignore the need to use an infinitive for reported commands or forget to change do not to not to. Others try to keep said to instead of choosing a more suitable verb like asked or told. To avoid these mistakes, remember that imperatives normally become to plus base verb in reported speech and that negative imperatives use not to. Practising with many examples of reported commands will make this transformation feel natural. Final Answer: The teacher asked the students not to make noise. is the best and most accurate reported speech version.

Question 9

From the following options, select the word that has the correct spelling in standard English.

Accepted Answer

Introduction: Correct spelling is essential for clear written communication and is frequently tested in competitive examinations. In this question, three options contain extra letters or incorrect vowel patterns, while one option matches the standard dictionary spelling. Knowing common base words and their correct endings helps you eliminate incorrect variants quickly, even when they look similar at first glance. Given Data / Assumptions: - Options: eraseable, probabble, secretes, esteemeed. - Only one option is spelled correctly. - The correct word must match a recognised English verb or adjective. Concept / Approach: The word secretes is the third person singular form of the verb secrete, meaning to produce and release a substance, often used in biology and medicine. Its spelling is s e c r e t e s. The other words look like distorted forms of erasable, probable, and esteemed, each of which has a different correct spelling. Comparing each option with the standard forms quickly reveals that secretes is the only correct choice in this list. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Examine eraseable and recall that the usual spelling is erasable, without the extra e after erase. Step 2: Look at probabble and remember that the correct spelling of the adjective is probable, with only one b in the final syllable. Step 3: Consider esteemeed and recognise that the correct spelling is esteemed, with two e letters together only once, not three in a row. Step 4: Identify secretes as a proper verb form derived from secrete and check that this form appears in dictionaries and science texts. Step 5: Select secretes as the one correctly spelt word. Verification / Alternative check: Think of example sentences: The gland secretes hormones into the bloodstream and The plant secretes a sticky substance. In both cases, secretes is used correctly and matches the spelling in option C. By contrast, you will not find eraseable, probabble, or esteemeed as standard spellings in dictionaries. Instead, you will see erasable, probable, and esteemed, confirming that the given forms are incorrect. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Eraseable incorrectly adds an extra e, probably by directly attaching able to erase without adjusting the spelling. Probabble wrongly doubles the letter b in the last syllable. Esteemeed adds an unnecessary extra e, making the word look awkward and unlike the standard esteemed. Since exam questions on spelling rely on standard dictionary forms, these three options must be rejected. Common Pitfalls: Many learners are misled by pronunciations and simply add letters based on how a word sounds rather than how it is usually written. A good long term strategy is to pay close attention to spellings when reading books, articles, and reliable online sources. Additionally, making personal lists of commonly misspelled words and their correct forms helps reduce uncertainty in exam situations. Final Answer: secretes is the correctly spelt word among the options.

Question 10

Select the synonym (word closest in meaning) of “inscription”, which refers to words cut, carved, or written on a surface.

Accepted Answer

Introduction: Synonym questions test how precisely you understand the meanings of related words. The noun inscription usually refers to words or symbols that are cut, carved, or written on a hard surface such as stone, metal, or wood, especially on monuments, coins, or jewellery. To choose the best synonym, we need a word that matches this idea of carving or cutting words into a surface, even if the grammatical form differs slightly. Given Data / Assumptions: - Target word: inscription. - Options: scrubbed, rivet, jaded, engrave. - We seek the option closest in meaning to the action or result of carving words into a surface. Concept / Approach: Although inscription is a noun and engrave is a verb, engrave comes closest to representing the act that produces an inscription. To engrave means to cut or carve words or designs on a hard surface. The other options refer to unrelated actions or states: scrubbed means cleaned by rubbing, rivet means to fasten with metal pins or to hold attention firmly, and jaded describes a person who is tired or bored. Because exams sometimes allow a verb as a synonym for a noun describing the result of that action, engrave is the best choice here. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall the meaning of inscription as writing carved or etched onto a surface. Step 2: Examine engrave and remember that it means to cut or carve letters or designs on a surface such as stone or metal. Step 3: Compare this with scrubbed, which simply means cleaned vigorously. Step 4: Notice that rivet is related either to a type of metal fastener or to strongly holding someone's attention. Step 5: Recognise that jaded describes an emotional state of weariness or boredom. Step 6: Conclude that engrave is the only option directly connected to the idea of creating an inscription. Verification / Alternative check: Consider example sentences: The ring had an inscription on the inner band versus The jeweller will engrave your name on the ring. In both cases, the idea is the same, but one focuses on the result (inscription) and the other on the action (engrave). This close relationship justifies selecting engrave as the synonym in the exam context, where near equivalence of meaning is more important than identical grammatical form. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Scrubbed has to do with cleaning, which does not relate to writing or carving. Rivet concerns fastening pieces of metal or capturing attention and has nothing to do with text on surfaces. Jaded refers to emotional exhaustion or boredom, a completely different concept. None of these bear a semantic relationship to inscription, so they cannot be considered synonyms. Common Pitfalls: Some students get distracted by partial associations such as rivet holding attention and the idea of attention being focused on an inscription, but the relationship is too indirect. When dealing with synonym questions, focus on the core dictionary meaning rather than indirect or metaphorical associations. Recognising families of related words like engrave, carve, etch, and inscribe will help you quickly identify the most appropriate answer in similar questions. Final Answer: engrave is the synonym that best matches the meaning of inscription.

Question 11

Choose the correct collective noun to complete the sentence: “Every evening a ____________ of wolves descends into the valley to hunt.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction: Collective noun questions test your knowledge of standard English terms used to describe groups of animals, people, or things. The sentence mentions wolves descending into a valley to hunt, which gives a natural context involving wild animals and their hunting behaviour. You must select the collective noun that is conventionally used for a group of wolves, without changing the rest of the sentence. Given Data / Assumptions: - Sentence: Every evening a ____________ of wolves descends into the valley to hunt. - Options: pack, gang, company, herd. - Only one of these is the standard collective noun for wolves in English. Concept / Approach: In English, a group of wolves is commonly referred to as a pack of wolves. This usage is well established in both scientific contexts and popular literature, reflecting the social structure of wolves that hunt and live together in organised groups. Herd is used for animals such as cows, deer, or elephants. Company is rarely used as a collective noun for animals, and gang is informal and usually associated with people or urban animals like street dogs in nonstandard usage. Therefore, the correct answer is pack. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the animal mentioned, which is wolves. Step 2: Recall standard collective nouns: a pack of wolves, a herd of cattle, a flock of birds, and so on. Step 3: Match pack to wolves, as this combination is widely recognised. Step 4: Read the completed sentence: Every evening a pack of wolves descends into the valley to hunt, and check that it sounds natural. Step 5: Confirm that the other options do not normally collocate with wolves. Verification / Alternative check: Look at typical usage in books or documentaries: A pack of wolves followed the herd across the plains or The pack of wolves worked together to bring down a large animal. These examples reinforce that pack is the established term. By contrast, phrases like a herd of wolves or a gang of wolves sound odd and are not standard. Company of wolves may appear poetically, but it is not the usual collective noun taught in grammar contexts. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Gang is mainly used to describe organised groups of people, often with negative connotations, such as a gang of thieves. Company is more abstract and used for human groups or for the idea of companionship. Herd is reserved for grazing animals like cattle, horses, or deer. Because the question aims to test knowledge of conventional animal group terms, these alternatives do not fit. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes apply collective nouns too widely without remembering that specific animals have specific group names. A helpful study technique is to learn animal names and their standard collective nouns together, such as a pride of lions, a shoal of fish, a flock of sheep, and a pack of wolves. Revising these pairs regularly makes it easy to answer such questions quickly in an exam. Final Answer: pack is the correct collective noun for wolves in this sentence.

Question 12

In the following question on idioms and phrases, choose the option that best explains the meaning of the expression “a drop in the bucket”.

Accepted Answer

Introduction: Idioms often use vivid images to express ideas in a memorable way, but their meanings are not always obvious from the literal words. The expression a drop in the bucket compares a single drop of liquid with the large volume of an entire bucket. This image is used to comment on how small or insignificant a contribution is when compared to the size of the problem or need. Understanding such idioms is essential for interpreting news reports, speeches, and everyday conversation. Given Data / Assumptions: - Idiom: a drop in the bucket. - Options present different possible interpretations. - The context is about relative size or effect, not actual sound or physical action. Concept / Approach: A drop is tiny when compared with a whole bucket of liquid. Idiomatically, a drop in the bucket means that a small contribution or amount makes almost no noticeable difference to a large task or requirement. The correct option must express this idea of being too little relative to what is necessary. It does not refer to silence, final steps, or the emotional value of a favour, but to the mismatch between a problem and a solution. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Visualise the literal image: one drop of water falling into a large bucket. Step 2: Understand that this drop does not significantly change the amount of water in the bucket. Step 3: Read option B, A very small amount compared with what is needed, and note that it matches this idea exactly. Step 4: Check option A, which talks about silence and sound, a completely unrelated concept. Step 5: Observe that option C mentions the final act before a task is done, which suggests completion, not insufficiency. Step 6: Recognise that option D, about a small favour being worth a lot, actually conveys the opposite sentiment to the idiom, suggesting importance instead of triviality. Verification / Alternative check: Consider example sentences: Donating a small amount to a huge project may feel like a drop in the bucket or Their efforts, though sincere, were just a drop in the bucket compared to what was required. In both cases, the idiom emphasises that the contribution is far too small to solve the problem. None of the alternative meanings about silence, final actions, or emotional value fit into such sentences, which confirms that option B is the correct explanation. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A misinterprets the word drop as related to sound, ignoring the comparison with a bucket. Option C focuses on the end of a task, whereas a drop in the bucket usually describes something that barely begins to address the task. Option D suggests that a small action has great value, which is the opposite of saying that a contribution is almost meaningless. These options do not align with the idiom's established usage. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes guess meanings based on single words in the idiom instead of considering the whole image and how it is used in real speech. Reading a variety of English texts, especially opinion articles and feature stories, can expose you to idioms in context and help you remember that a drop in the bucket is about insufficiency, not about noise or gratitude. Keeping a personal list of idioms and their meanings is another effective study method. Final Answer: A very small amount compared with what is needed is the correct meaning of the idiom a drop in the bucket.

Question 13

In the passage about Bhagat Singh and British measures, choose the correct word to complete the blank: “Instead of finding the root cause of ________ of Indians, the British government took to more ____________ measures.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction: Cloze passage questions assess your ability to understand context and select words that fit both meaning and collocation. The passage describes how the British government responded to Indian resistance by choosing harsh measures instead of addressing underlying causes. The blank in this sentence refers to what the British failed to address in relation to Indians as a group. Your task is to choose the noun that best completes the phrase root cause of ________ of Indians in a historically and grammatically appropriate way. Given Data / Assumptions: - Sentence fragment: Instead of finding the root cause of ________ of Indians. - Options: discontent, problem, sadness, protest. - The context is colonial rule, political oppression, and the reaction of Indians. - The missing word should describe an underlying state that leads to resistance. Concept / Approach: The phrase root cause of is typically followed by a noun that describes a persistent condition or issue, such as root cause of unrest, injustice, or discontent. In the context of British rule in India, discontent is a natural fit because it refers to widespread dissatisfaction with policies and oppression. Problem is too vague and does not specifically describe the feelings of Indians. Sadness is mainly an emotional term used for personal grief, and protest refers to outward actions rather than underlying causes. Therefore, discontent best completes the phrase. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the phrase root cause of and recall common collocations like root cause of discontent or root cause of unrest. Step 2: Consider the historical setting: British colonial rule and the rising freedom movement. Step 3: Recognise that discontent refers to general dissatisfaction with a situation, which fits this context. Step 4: Evaluate problem and note that it is too broad and does not clearly express a collective feeling of dissatisfaction among Indians. Step 5: Observe that sadness usually relates to personal sorrow, not political or social frustration on a national scale. Step 6: Notice that protest is an external act of resistance rather than the internal cause the British government should have examined. Verification / Alternative check: Read the completed sentence in the full passage: Instead of finding the root cause of discontent of Indians, the British government took to more repressive measures. This version clearly describes how the authorities ignored underlying dissatisfaction. If we insert problem, sadness, or protest, the sentence becomes awkward or less precise. For example, root cause of protest shifts the meaning to causes of actions rather than feelings, and root cause of sadness sounds emotionally narrow for a political context. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Problem lacks specificity and sounds weak in a historical passage, where writers usually refer to discontent, unrest, or grievance. Sadness does not capture the organised political frustration and anger associated with colonial rule. Protest describes visible actions like marches and demonstrations, which are effects rather than the root causes being discussed. These words therefore do not match the intended nuance of the passage. Common Pitfalls: Many candidates choose words that are generally negative without checking whether they fit the exact phrase and context. To avoid this, always read a few lines before and after the blank in a cloze passage to understand the topic and tone. Also, learn common phrase pairs like root cause of discontent or root cause of unrest so that they come to mind quickly during the exam. Final Answer: discontent correctly completes the phrase root cause of discontent of Indians in the passage.

Question 14

Continuing in the same passage, select the best word to fill the blank: “Instead of finding the root cause of discontent of Indians, the British government took to more ____________ measures.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction: This cloze question focuses on choosing a word that accurately describes the type of measures adopted by the British government in response to Indian discontent. The passage narrates political actions such as increasing police powers under the Defense of India Act. The correct adjective must fit both historically and linguistically, reflecting how these measures aimed to suppress opposition rather than address its causes. Given Data / Assumptions: - Sentence fragment: the British government took to more ____________ measures. - Options: drastic, angrier, repressive, damaging. - The measures described include greater police powers and arrests to stop processions. - The passage deals with political suppression rather than personal emotions. Concept / Approach: Repressive is the adjective commonly used to describe laws, regimes, or measures that restrict freedom and suppress dissent. It fits well with historical descriptions of colonial and authoritarian rule. Drastic means severe or extreme, but does not specifically indicate suppression of freedoms. Angrier is an emotional comparison and does not describe official measures. Damaging describes harmful effects but again lacks the political nuance of repression. Therefore, repressive is the most suitable choice in this context. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Consider the actions mentioned in the passage, such as giving more power to the police to arrest persons and stop processions. Step 2: Recognise that these actions are intended to control and suppress public movements. Step 3: Recall that repressive measures is a standard phrase in political history to describe such actions. Step 4: Evaluate drastic measures and note that while they can be severe, they are not necessarily about suppression of rights. Step 5: See that angrier is an adjective of emotion, not appropriate to describe legal or administrative measures. Step 6: Observe that damaging focuses on negative effects, but does not directly convey the idea of systematic suppression. Verification / Alternative check: Insert each option into the full sentence and read it: the British government took to more repressive measures sounds natural and is consistent with typical historical writing. The phrase repressive measures is widely used to talk about colonial rule and autocratic policies. Drastic measures is possible English but fails to highlight the oppressive, freedom restricting nature of the acts. Angrier measures and damaging measures sound unnatural and imprecise in this formal political context. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Drastic focuses on the degree of change and could describe harsh policies of many kinds, including economic reforms, but here the emphasis is on suppression of movements and arrests. Angrier is inappropriate because governments are described by their policies as harsh or repressive, not angrier. Damaging simply describes harmful consequences and does not capture the intention to restrict political activity and civil liberties. Thus, these alternatives do not fully match the tone and meaning of the passage. Common Pitfalls: Some test takers choose drastic because they associate it with strong action without paying attention to political vocabulary. In cloze passages that deal with history or politics, it is particularly important to recognise specialised words like repressive, oppressive, and authoritarian. Building familiarity with such terms through reading history texts and editorials can greatly improve your performance on similar questions. Final Answer: repressive is the correct word to describe the kind of measures the British government took in the passage.

Question 15

In the same historical passage, choose the correct word to fill the blank: “Under the Defense of India Act, it gave more power to the police to arrest persons to stop processions with ____________ movements and actions.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction: This cloze question asks you to select a word that describes the type of movements and actions in processions that the British government wanted to stop under the Defense of India Act. The context is political unrest and the authorities granting more powers to the police. The correct word must capture how officials viewed these processions, justifying arrest and control in their eyes, even if those views were unfair or harsh. Given Data / Assumptions: - Sentence fragment: to stop processions with ____________ movements and actions. - Options: out of the ordinary, suspicious, cautious, skeptical. - The passage mentions increased police powers and repressive measures. - The blank refers to how authorities judged the behaviour in these processions. Concept / Approach: In security and political contexts, suspicious is the usual adjective used to describe behaviour that is considered potentially dangerous or subversive by authorities. It suggests that the movements and actions raised doubts or fears of trouble. Out of the ordinary is a phrase, not a single adjective, and is less precise for legal or official language. Cautious describes careful behaviour, which would reduce risk, not increase it. Skeptical is about doubt in thinking, not about physical movement or actions. Therefore, suspicious is the best fit. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Imagine how a government document or official might describe processions that they want to control or ban. Step 2: Recall common terms such as suspicious behaviour, suspicious activity, or suspicious movements, all used in law and order contexts. Step 3: Insert suspicious into the sentence: to stop processions with suspicious movements and actions, and notice that it sounds natural and formal. Step 4: Test out of the ordinary, cautious, and skeptical in the same place and see that they are either wordy or semantically inappropriate. Step 5: Confirm that suspicious is the only choice that aligns with the overall tone of policing and repression in the passage. Verification / Alternative check: Compare with real world usage: Security forces monitor crowds for suspicious movements and actions or The law allows detention on grounds of suspicious activity. These examples show the direct link between suspicious and actions that authorities consider threatening. Out of the ordinary is more informal and would not normally appear in formal legislative language. Cautious movements would imply careful, non threatening behaviour, and skeptical movements has no clear meaning at all. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Out of the ordinary is a multi word expression and, while it can mean unusual, it lacks the strong negative connotation that justifies arrests in a political context. Cautious suggests that people are being careful, which would not be a reason to arrest them. Skeptical describes an attitude of doubt, usually about ideas, and does not describe physical actions or movements. None of these options provides the precise, security related nuance conveyed by suspicious. Common Pitfalls: Some learners may choose out of the ordinary because they focus only on the idea of unusual behaviour. However, cloze passages often require you to pick words that fit typical collocations, such as suspicious movement or suspicious activity, especially in legal or political narratives. Learning these common combinations and paying attention to tone and context will help you avoid such traps. Final Answer: suspicious is the correct word to complete the phrase processions with suspicious movements and actions.

Question 16

In this passage about Bhagat Singh and the Defence of India Act, choose the option that best completes the blank: It was a carefully laid out _________, not to cause death or injury but to attract the attention of the government.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This English passage based question is taken from a historical context involving Bhagat Singh and the Defence of India Act. The narrative explains that Bhagat Singh planned an event in the Central Legislative Assembly in order to send a political message rather than to cause physical harm. The blank tests whether the learner can choose the most appropriate word for a carefully designed political action, keeping in mind both meaning and tone. Given Data / Assumptions: • The sentence reads: It was a carefully laid out _________, not to cause death or injury but to attract the attention of the government.• Four options are given: scam, trick, trap, plot.• The action was political and revolutionary, designed to send a strong message.• The passage itself treats Bhagat Singh as a serious revolutionary, not as a petty cheat. Concept / Approach: The correct word must capture the idea of a serious, deliberate political plan. In English, plot often refers to a secret plan, especially one designed to bring about a political change or protest. Scam usually refers to a dishonest scheme to cheat people of money. Trick normally means a small deception or prank. Trap focuses on catching someone unsuspectingly, usually to harm or accuse that person. The overall tone of the passage requires a word that suggests organised planning for a cause, which points towards plot rather than the other options. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Note the phrase carefully laid out, which emphasises planning and organisation.Step 2: Observe the purpose: not to cause death or injury but to attract the attention of the government, which is clearly political and ideological.Step 3: Compare each option. Scam focuses on cheating for money, which does not fit a freedom struggle context.Step 4: Trick sounds too light and playful for an act described in a serious historical passage.Step 5: Trap highlights catching someone, whereas the aim here is to send a message and court arrest openly.Step 6: Plot accurately conveys a secret or strategic political plan, which matches the description of Bhagat Singh volunteering to throw a bomb and then surrender. Verification / Alternative check: If we insert each option into the sentence, only plot preserves the serious tone. It was a carefully laid out scam suggests Bhagat Singh wanted to cheat people, which is completely wrong. It was a carefully laid out trick makes the event sound like a prank. It was a carefully laid out trap implies the main goal was to catch someone, which the passage does not mention. It was a carefully laid out plot reads naturally in political and historical writing and agrees with the act of throwing a bomb without the intention to kill. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Scam is associated with financial fraud and dishonest money making schemes, which does not match a revolutionary protest against colonial rule. Trick refers to a simple deception or magic style action and does not convey the gravity of a planned assembly bombing. Trap suggests that someone else was being lured into danger, but the passage describes Bhagat Singh and his comrade choosing to court arrest themselves. None of these carry the connotation of a serious political plan that plot carries. Common Pitfalls: Students may be tempted by trick because of the idea of drawing attention, but that underestimates the seriousness of the incident. Others may think of trap because police and arrests are mentioned, but again the text focuses on protest, not ambush. A good strategy in such questions is to feel the overall tone of the passage and choose the option whose usual usage fits that tone and context. Final Answer: The most appropriate word to fill the blank is plot.

Question 17

In this passage about Bhagat Singh and the Defence of India Act, choose the option that best completes the blank: not to cause death or injury but to _________ the attention of the government.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question is another blank from the same historical passage about Bhagat Singh. After describing that the bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly was not intended to kill, the text explains that it was meant to focus the government mind on injustice. The blank tests knowledge of common English collocations, especially the natural verb that accompanies the phrase the attention of the government. Given Data / Assumptions: • The relevant sentence is: not to cause death or injury but to _________ the attention of the government, that the modes of its suppression could no more be tolerated.• Options are: draw, bring, get, notice.• The object is the attention of the government.• We assume standard modern English usage with typical verb noun combinations. Concept / Approach: In English, the most natural collocation is draw attention. Phrases like draw public attention or draw the attention of authorities are extremely common in formal writing. Bring attention or get attention do exist, but draw attention has a more idiomatic and formal tone, which suits the historical and political context. Notice is a noun in this list, but here the sentence requires a verb in order to complete the infinitive structure to plus base verb. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recognise the structure not to cause death or injury but to plus verb, which means we need a base form verb.Step 2: Check draw. It is a base form verb and fits directly to draw the attention of the government.Step 3: Check bring. While to bring the attention of the government is grammatically possible, common usage prefers bring something to the attention of the government, not bring the attention of the government.Step 4: Check get. To get the attention of the government sounds informal and does not match the tone of a serious passage.Step 5: Notice in this option list is a noun, and to notice the attention of the government is an entirely different structure and does not match the given wording. Verification / Alternative check: Insert each option into the sentence and read it aloud. not to cause death or injury but to draw the attention of the government flows smoothly and sounds like a line from a history or civics textbook. Using bring, we would have but to bring the attention of the government, which feels incomplete without the phrase to the issue. To get the attention of the government is possible in casual speech but lacks the formal tone of the passage. Notice does not fit syntactically because the sentence is set up for a verb, not a noun. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Bring would normally be used in a phrase like bring the matter to the attention of the government, which is not the structure here, so it feels clumsy and incomplete. Get is far too informal for a historical description of a revolutionary act and is rarely used with the long object the attention of the government in serious writing. Notice is a noun here and would break the grammatical pattern of the sentence. Therefore, these options either clash with standard usage or with the required grammatical form. Common Pitfalls: Many learners only think about literal meaning and ignore collocations. They may reason that bring and get also involve moving or obtaining attention and therefore look acceptable. However, examinations often test familiarity with the natural combinations that native speakers actually use. Remembering standard collocations such as draw attention, pay attention, and attract attention helps avoid such mistakes. Final Answer: The correct verb to complete the blank is draw, giving the phrase to draw the attention of the government.

Question 18

A letter series is given with one term missing. Choose the correct alternative that will complete the series: BC, GHI, NOPQ, ?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This reasoning question presents a series of letter groups in the English alphabet and asks you to identify the next term. Such series questions test pattern recognition, understanding of alphabetical positions, and the ability to generalise a rule from a few examples. Here, both the length of each term and the starting letter are changing in a systematic way. Given Data / Assumptions: • The given series is: BC, GHI, NOPQ, ?• Each term is a sequence of consecutive letters.• The number of letters in each term increases as we move forward.• We assume that the alphabet cycles from Z back to A if needed. Concept / Approach: To solve this type of series, we examine two aspects. First, we look at how many letters each term contains. Second, we see how the starting letter of each term moves through the alphabet. The increasing lengths suggest a pattern in the number of letters, while the jump in starting letters reveals a separate numeric sequence. Combining both gives the correct missing term. If a term needs letters beyond Z, the series continues by wrapping around to A. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Count the letters in each term: BC has 2 letters, GHI has 3, and NOPQ has 4. The lengths follow the pattern 2, 3, 4, so the next term must have 5 letters.Step 2: Look at the starting letters and their positions in the alphabet. B is 2, G is 7, N is 14.Step 3: Note the jumps between these positions. From 2 to 7 the increase is 5, and from 7 to 14 the increase is 7. The differences themselves follow an odd number pattern, increasing by 2 each time.Step 4: The next increase should be 9. Add 9 to 14, giving 23, which corresponds to the letter W.Step 5: Since the next term must contain 5 consecutive letters starting from W, we write W, X, Y, Z, and then wrap to A.Step 6: This produces the group WXYZA, which matches option C. Verification / Alternative check: Check that the pattern holds for every term. The first term starts at B and has 2 letters. The second starts at G (5 letters ahead) and has 3 letters. The third starts at N (7 letters ahead from G) and has 4 letters. Our proposed fourth term starts at W (9 letters ahead from N) and has 5 letters. Both the increasing starting letter jumps and the increasing lengths are consistent. No other option in the list both begins at the correct letter and contains exactly 5 consecutive letters with correct wrap around at Z. Why Other Options Are Wrong: BCDEF has 5 letters but restarts from B and ruins the increasing jump pattern. UVWXY begins at U, which does not match the calculated starting letter W and also fails the jump sequence. WXYZA is the only option that begins at W and has 5 consecutive letters, including the wrap back to A. STUVW begins at S and therefore also does not satisfy the numeric pattern of starting letters. Common Pitfalls: Many learners look only at the number of letters in each term and ignore how the starting letters move. Others may not consider wrap around from Z to A and get stuck. A reliable method is always to convert letters to their numeric positions, look for arithmetic patterns in the differences, and also verify the length pattern. Taking both aspects together makes the correct answer clear and avoids random guessing. Final Answer: The missing term in the series is WXYZA.

Question 19

A letter series is given with one term missing. Choose the correct alternative that will complete the series: DE, BG, YJ, ?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This is another alphabet series question where each term contains two letters. To solve such problems, you need to analyse both the first letter sequence and the second letter sequence separately. The series DE, BG, YJ, ? follows a non simple pattern that involves forward and backward movement through the alphabet, so careful observation is required. Given Data / Assumptions: • Series: DE, BG, YJ, ?• Each term has two letters.• The first letters form the sequence D, B, Y, ?• The second letters form the sequence E, G, J, ? Concept / Approach: A systematic way to tackle such problems is to convert letters into their positions in the English alphabet and then examine the pattern of differences. Often, there is one rule for the first letters and another rule for the second letters. Here, the first letters are moving backwards around the alphabet in increasing steps, while the second letters are moving forwards with increasing steps. Recognising these patterns leads us to the correct missing pair. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Convert the first letters to numbers. D is 4, B is 2, Y is 25.Step 2: Look at the movement: from 4 to 2 the change is minus 2. From 2 to 25 we consider the alphabet in a circular way. Counting backwards, 2 minus 3 gives 25, which corresponds to a shift of minus 3.Step 3: The pattern for first letters is therefore minus 2, minus 3, and should then be minus 4. Apply minus 4 to 25. 25 minus 4 is 21, which corresponds to the letter U.Step 4: Now convert the second letters to numbers. E is 5, G is 7, J is 10.Step 5: Observe the movement: from 5 to 7 we add 2, from 7 to 10 we add 3. The pattern for second letters is plus 2, plus 3, so the next step should be plus 4.Step 6: Add 4 to 10 to get 14, which corresponds to N. Thus the missing term is UN. Verification / Alternative check: Check the pattern for all positions. First letters: D (4) to B (2) is minus 2, B (2) to Y (25) is minus 3 counted circularly, and Y (25) to U (21) is minus 4. Second letters: E (5) to G (7) is plus 2, G (7) to J (10) is plus 3, and J (10) to N (14) is plus 4. The consistent step increase confirms that UN fits perfectly. No other option matches both the backward increasing step pattern in the first component and the forward increasing step pattern in the second component. Why Other Options Are Wrong: ST has first letter S, which does not follow the minus 4 pattern from Y. RQ also fails both the calculated first and second letter positions. XY and ST only show simple consecutive letters rather than the mixed forward and backward sequence present in the given series. None of these maintain the gradual increase in step sizes, so they break the hidden arithmetic rule. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes try to see only simple alphabetical sequences, such as always moving forward by the same number of letters, and overlook circular movement or changing increments. Others focus only on one position in the pair and ignore the other, leading to a partial match that is actually incorrect. The safest approach is always to convert letters to numbers, write the differences explicitly, and ensure that the same rule explains every step for both the first and second letters. Final Answer: The missing term that completes the series correctly is UN.

Question 20

In the following vocabulary question, choose the word which best expresses the meaning of the given word ADAPT in standard English usage.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This vocabulary question asks for a synonym of the verb adapt. Questions of this kind appear frequently in competitive examinations to test how well a learner understands common English verbs and their shades of meaning. To choose the best answer, it is important to focus on the core sense of adapt as it is used in everyday life and in reading passages. Given Data / Assumptions: • Target word: ADAPT.• Options: BRING UP, ADJUST, ENCOURAGE, SERVE.• The question asks for the word that best expresses the meaning.• We assume general English usage, not a very technical or specialised context. Concept / Approach: The verb adapt usually means to change something or to change oneself so that it works better in a particular situation or environment. A closely related idea is to adjust, which also suggests making suitable changes to fit new conditions. Bring up refers to raising a child or introducing a topic. Encourage means to give someone support or confidence. Serve relates to providing a service or performing duties. Only adjust expresses the idea of fitting or modifying in the way adapt does. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recall typical sentences with adapt, such as Adapt to a new climate or Adapt the machine for another use.Step 2: Identify the common idea in these sentences making suitable changes to fit new circumstances.Step 3: Look at adjust, which is used in phrases like Adjust the settings or Adjust to a new school, both of which express very similar ideas.Step 4: Examine bring up. This is used for raising children or starting a discussion and does not involve modification to fit conditions.Step 5: Check encourage. It relates to supporting or giving confidence, not to changing shape or behaviour to fit something.Step 6: Consider serve, which is about performing duties or being useful, again not about modifying or fitting. Verification / Alternative check: Try substituting each option into a typical sentence. In the sentence We must adapt our plan to the new rules, using adjust gives We must adjust our plan to the new rules, which still makes perfect sense. However, We must bring up our plan to the new rules or We must encourage our plan to the new rules are clearly wrong. We must serve our plan to the new rules also sounds meaningless. This confirms that only adjust preserves the meaning and the grammatical pattern. Why Other Options Are Wrong: BRING UP most often means to raise children or to mention something for discussion, and does not involve changing form or behaviour. ENCOURAGE refers to motivating someone or giving moral support, which is a different type of action. SERVE is about providing a service, working for someone, or being suitable for a purpose. None of these words can replace adapt in sentences involving modification or adjustment to a new situation. Common Pitfalls: Some examinees may think of serve because it appears in phrases like serve a purpose and can be used where something is suitable. However, adapt is about changing to become suitable, while serve does not carry the idea of change. Others may be distracted by familiar phrasal verbs like bring up. Concentrating on basic example sentences and checking if the replacement works in them is a reliable way to avoid such errors. Final Answer: The word that best expresses the meaning of ADAPT is ADJUST.

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