Question 1

Collocation and word choice – select the best noun to fit the phrase "on the ____ of his fiftieth birthday".  Sentence: "The family gave father a gold watch on the ____ of his fiftieth birthday."  Choose the most idiomatic and precise word.

Accepted Answer

Given dataSentence context: marking a specific milestone date (fiftieth birthday).Options: time, event, occasion, celebration.Concept/ApproachThe fixed expression is on the occasion of + event. It is the natural, formal collocation used to mark notable dates.Option analysisoccasion — correct collocation: "on the occasion of his fiftieth birthday." ✅time — too general; "on the time of" is unidiomatic.event — a count noun but the fixed phrase is not "on the event of".celebration — names the act of celebrating, not the marked date; typical preposition would be "at the celebration".Usage tipSet phrase: "on the occasion of + noun phrase".Final Answeroccasion

Question 2

Spatial verb choice – select the verb that expresses reach/continuation in space.  Sentence: "The park ______ as far as the river."  Choose the option that best fits the spatial meaning.

Accepted Answer

Given dataWe need a verb that indicates how far an area reaches.Options: extends, advances, enlarges, emerges.Concept/ApproachExtend means to stretch/reach to a limit or boundary in space or time: "extends as far as…".Option analysisextends — correct and idiomatic: "extends as far as the river." ✅advances — implies moving forward (often militarily), not static spatial reach.enlarges — needs an object (to enlarge something) and refers to making bigger.emerges — means comes out/appears; does not take "as far as".Final Answerextends

Question 3

Idiom/collocation – identify the noun that fits the set phrase "on the ______ of adulthood".  Sentence: "Many of the advances of civilisation have been conceived by young people just on the ______ of adulthood."  Choose the word that correctly compl…

Accepted Answer

Given dataWe need the standard noun used with "on the ____ of" to mean "at the start of".Concept/ApproachThe idiom is on the threshold of, meaning about to begin a new stage.Option analysisthreshold — correct idiomatic choice: "on the threshold of adulthood." ✅boundary — a dividing line, but the set phrase is not "on the boundary of" for stages of life.peak — means highest point, not beginning.horizon — metaphor for the limit of vision/knowledge; not the standard idiom here.Usage noteCommon collocations: threshold of adulthood/success/a new era.Final Answerthreshold

Question 4

Idiom recognition – select the noun that completes the idiom "pull a long ____" (to look unhappy).  Sentence: "Arti pulled a long ______ when she was told that she could not go to Agra."  Choose the best completion.

Accepted Answer

Given dataIdiom: "to pull a long ____" meaning to look sad/disappointed.Concept/ApproachThe fixed idiom is pull a long face, i.e., to look gloomy.Option analysisface — correct idiom. ✅mouth — not part of this idiom.skirt — nonsense here.hand — does not form a known idiom in this context.Final Answerface

Question 5

Phrasal verb – harmony vs. quarrel: supply the particle that completes "fall ____" to mean "quarrel".  Sentence: "Brothers must live in harmony. They must never fall ____."  Choose the correct particle to complete the phrasal verb.

Accepted Answer

Given dataThe phrasal verb "fall ____" should convey "to quarrel, to stop being friendly".Concept/ApproachFall out (with someone) = have a quarrel or disagreement; relationship breaks down.Option analysisout — correct particle: "fall out." ✅apart — means disintegrate physically/emotionally, not specifically "quarrel".off — means decrease or depart; not the idiom for quarrelling.down — means collapse or reduce; not used here.Usage example"They fell out over money."Final Answerout

Question 6

Degree/intensity collocation – choose the adjective that best intensifies "lack of knowledge".  Sentence: "I was astounded at his ______ lack of knowledge about the Continent of Africa."  Select the most natural and emphatic adjective.

Accepted Answer

Given dataWe want a strong intensifier before "lack of knowledge".Concept/ApproachColossal collocates well with abstract nouns to indicate enormity (e.g., colossal ignorance, colossal mistake). The other choices are weaker/less idiomatic here.Option analysiscolossal — best collocation: "colossal lack/ignorance." ✅abundant — positive connotation of plentiful supply; does not fit "lack".huge — possible but less idiomatic with "lack of knowledge".great — generic and weaker; "great lack" sounds odd.Style tipCommon pairings: colossal ignorance, colossal blunder, colossal waste.Final Answercolossal

Question 7

Tense and subject–verb agreement – habitual action with "always": choose the correct finite verb form.  Sentence: "Ayesha always ______ the permission of her father before going for movies."  Pick the verb form that matches the subject and the adver…

Accepted Answer

Given dataSubject: Ayesha (3rd person singular).Adverb of frequency: always (habitual present).Concept/ApproachFor general truths/habits, use the simple present. With a 3rd person singular subject, the verb takes -s: "Ayesha always seeks …".Option analysisseeks — correct simple present, 3rd person singular. ✅seeking — participle/gerund; needs an auxiliary (is/was) or a role as noun.sought — simple past; mismatches the habitual present with "always".seeker — noun; grammatically wrong.Common pitfallsForgetting the -s ending with 3rd person singular in present simple.Using present participles without auxiliaries.Final Answerseeks

Question 8

Idiomatic noun choice – moral hesitation vs. ethical terms: choose the best noun for "felt no ____".  Sentence: "He felt no ______ as he plunged the knife into her back."  Select the noun that idiomatically follows "no" to mean "no moral hesitation …

Accepted Answer

Given dataThe idiom is "no qualms about (doing something)".We are choosing among several ethical/moral nouns.Concept/ApproachQualm(s) = a feeling of uneasiness, doubt, or misgiving, especially about one's own conduct. The standard phrase is "to have no qualms about …".Option analysisqualms — correct idiom and meaning: "no qualms". ✅scruple — usually appears as plural "scruples" or in the set phrase "without scruple"; "no scruple" is less common.conscience — one has "no conscience" (as a character trait), but the idiom with an act uses "no qualms about".morals — plural noun; "no morals" is a general condemnation, not a momentary hesitation.Usage noteTypical structure: "no qualms about + gerund/noun".Final Answerqualms

Question 9

Question tags – present perfect negative: supply the correct tag for "You haven’t had your lunch yet, ____ you?"  Sentence: "You haven’t had your lunch yet, ____ you?"  Choose the auxiliary and polarity that form the correct tag.

Accepted Answer

Given dataMain clause: present perfect negative "haven’t had".We must form a tag with opposite polarity and matching auxiliary.Concept/ApproachQuestion tags invert the polarity: negative main clause → positive tag. The auxiliary in the tag must match the main clause's auxiliary: here, have.Step-by-step logicMain clause: "You haven’t had …"Auxiliary = have; Subject = you; Polarity for tag = positive → "have you?"Option analysishave — correct: "… haven’t …, have you?" ✅haven’t — wrong polarity; would match a positive main clause.are / aren’t — wrong auxiliary (be), not used with present perfect in this sentence.Common pitfallsRepeating the negative in the tag after a negative main clause.Using be instead of the correct auxiliary have for perfect aspect.Final Answerhave

Question 10

Vocabulary in context (best noun to complete meaning)  “The manner in which bombs exploded in five trains within a short span of time suggests that it is a part of a ______.” Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence.

Accepted Answer

Given dataContext: Multiple coordinated bomb blasts in trains within a short time.Target: Noun that best explains such planned coordination.Concept/ApproachCoordinated, secret planning by a group to commit an unlawful act is called a conspiracy.Option analysisconspiracy — correct: a secret plan by a group to do something harmful/illegal.game — trivializes the seriousness; incorrect register.villainy — general wickedness; lacks the idea of planning by a group.sabotage — deliberate damage, usually to property/equipment; not necessarily coordinated across trains.Common pitfallsConfusing “sabotage” (act of damage) with “conspiracy” (secret plan behind such acts).Final Answerconspiracy

Question 11

Vocabulary in context (collocation with staple foods)  “Wheat ______ carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins, and dietary fibre in our daily diet.” Choose the verb that fits best in formal, scientific English.

Accepted Answer

Given dataNutritional role of wheat listed (carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins, fibre).Concept/ApproachIn nutrition/health contexts, the standard verb is provide when stating what a food supplies to the diet.Option analysisprovides — correct collocation: “X provides nutrients.”has — grammatically possible but less precise than “provides.”gives — informal; weaker collocation.yields — used in production contexts (e.g., crop yield), not typical for nutritional statements.Final Answerprovides

Question 12

Adverbs of time (negative present perfect)  “The waiter hasn't brought the coffee ______; I've been here an hour already.” Fill in the blank with the correct adverb.

Accepted Answer

Given dataTense: Present perfect negative (“hasn't brought”).Meaning: An expected action has not happened up to now.Concept/ApproachYet is used in negative statements and questions to indicate “up to the present.”Option analysisyet — correct with present perfect negatives: “hasn't … yet.”still — typically before the verb (“still hasn't brought”), not after the clause.till — a preposition/conjunction, not idiomatic here.up — incomplete phrase; would need “up to now.”Common pitfallsPlacing “still” at the end of the sentence; correct position is before the auxiliary.Final Answeryet

Question 13

Word choice (governance & power): Choose the best verb  “In our zeal for progress we should not ______ the executive with more power.” Select the most accurate verb for the context.

Accepted Answer

Given dataContext: Warning against granting the executive excessive power.Concept/ApproachThe idiom arm (someone) with means to equip or endow with something powerful (here, authority).Option analysisarm — correct idiom: “arm the executive with more power.”give — too plain; lacks idiomatic force.enhance — to increase/improve (usually an object like “enhance power,” not “enhance the executive with power”).avoid — wrong meaning.Final Answerarm

Question 14

Phrasal verb (motivation): Fill in the blank with the correct particle  “You've only three months to complete the course. Don't give ______ now.” Choose the correct option to complete the phrasal verb.

Accepted Answer

Given dataContext: Urging someone not to stop trying before completing a course.Concept/ApproachThe phrasal verb give up means to stop trying/quit.Option analysisup — completes the phrasal verb “give up.”in — “give in” means yield/surrender to pressure; not intended.out — “give out” = distribute/stop functioning; incorrect here.away — “give away” = donate/reveal; wrong meaning.Common pitfallsConfusing “give in” with “give up”; the former is yielding to someone, not quitting a task.Final Answerup

Question 15

Collocation (adjective + shade)  “The traveler slept under the ______ shade of a banyan tree.” Select the adjective that best collocates with “shade.”

Accepted Answer

Given dataNoun phrase: “______ shade” describing a pleasant place to rest.Concept/ApproachThe natural collocation is cool shade, describing temperature comfort under a tree.Option analysiscool — correct collocation: “cool shade.”cold — too strong/harsh; not idiomatic in this context.cooling — participle; would modify an action, not a fixed collocation with “shade.”dark — possible descriptively, but the common set phrase is “cool shade.”Final Answercool

Question 16

Prepositions (fixed pattern with “aversion”)  “She has an aversion ______ taking even onions and garlic.” Fill in the blank with the correct preposition.

Accepted Answer

Given dataNoun: “aversion,” meaning strong dislike.Concept/ApproachThe standard preposition with aversion is to (aversion to something).Option analysisto — correct: “aversion to X.”against — used with actions/opposition, not this noun pattern.with/at — wrong prepositions here.Common pitfallsChoosing “against” by analogy with “bias against”; “aversion” governs “to.”Final Answerto

Question 17

Vocabulary in context (river terminology)  “The river overflowed its ______ and flooded the area.” Choose the most appropriate noun.

Accepted Answer

Given dataSituation: River water rose and spread beyond its usual confines.Concept/ApproachThe sides of a river are called its banks; flooding occurs when water overflows its banks.Option analysisbanks — correct technical/common term.edges/limits — generic, not the precise river term.fronts — not used for rivers.Final Answerbanks

Question 18

Conjunctions/Prepositions of time  “______ the arrival of the police, nobody went near the victim.” Select the correct word to indicate “up to the time of.”

Accepted Answer

Given dataMeaning intended: No one approached the victim until the police arrived.Concept/ApproachTill (or “until”) indicates duration up to a point in time and fits before a noun phrase: “Till the arrival of …”.Option analysisTill — correct: “Till the arrival of the police.”Unless — conditional, not temporal.Although — concessive, wrong relation.Even — an adverb; incomplete without “until.”Final AnswerTill

Question 19

Tense & adverb “every day” (simple past habit)  “When I was a child, I ______ to school every day instead of going by cycle.” Choose the correct simple past form that expresses a past habit.

Accepted Answer

Given dataTime marker: “When I was a child” (finished time in the past).Habitual action: going to school on foot every day.Concept/ApproachUse the simple past for habitual actions in a finished past period.Option analysiswalked — correct simple past for a finished past habit.had walked — past perfect; requires a later past reference point.have walked / have been walking — present perfect forms; incompatible with the finished past time marker.Common pitfallsOverusing present perfect with clear past-time expressions (e.g., “when I was a child”).Final Answerwalked

Question 20

English grammar – correlative affirmation using inversion with 'so'  Complete the sentence with the correct linking word to show that the second subject shares the same positive statement: "Farida sings very well and ______ does Salim."  Choose the …

Accepted Answer

Given dataSentence: "Farida sings very well and ______ does Salim."We need a word that links a second subject (Salim) to the same affirmative idea.Concept/ApproachEnglish uses the pattern so + auxiliary + subject to show agreement with a previous positive statement (correlative affirmation). With the main verb in the simple present ("sings"), we use the auxiliary does for the second clause and place it before the subject: "so does Salim".Option analysisso — correct: "and so does Salim." ✅too — usually appears at the end ("Salim does too."), not before the auxiliary.as — would require a different structure ("as does Salim") but is less idiomatic here.thus — adverb of result; not used for agreement with inversion.Common pitfallsWriting "and so Salim does" (wrong order). Inversion after so is required.Using "too" in the blank, which misplaces the adverb.Final Answerso

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