Comprehension Passages

Passage 1 - Opera

Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in which the emotional content is conveyed to
the audience as much through music, both vocal and instrumental, as it is through the lyrics. By contrast, in
musical theater an actor's dramatic performance is primary, and the music plays a lesser role. The drama in
opera is presented using the primary elements of theater such as scenery, costumes, and acting. However,
the words of the opera, or libretto, are sung rather than spoken. The singers are accompanied by a musical
ensemble ranging from a small instrumental ensemble to a full symphonic orchestra.

1. It is pointed out in the reading that opera ----.

A) has developed under the influence of musical theater

B) is a drama sung with the accompaniment of an orchestra
C) is not a high-budget production
D) is often performed in Europe
E) is the most complex of all the performing arts

2. We can understand from the reading that ----.

A) people are captivated more by opera than musical theater

B) drama in opera is more important than the music
C) orchestras in operas can vary considerably in size
D) musical theater relies above all on music
E) there is argument over whether the music is important or the words in
opera

3. It is stated in the reading that ----.

A) acting and costumes are secondary to music in musical theater

B) many people find musical theater more captivating than opera
C) music in musical theater is not as important as it is in opera
D) an opera requires a huge orchestra as well as a large choir
E) opera doesn't have any properties in common with musical theater

Passage 2 - Dolphins
Dolphins are regarded as the friendliest creatures in the sea and stories of them helping drowning sailors
have been common since Roman times. The more we learn about dolphins, the more we realize that their
society is more complex than people previously imagined. They look after other dolphins when they are ill,
care for pregnant mothers and protect the weakest in the community, as we do. Some scientists have
suggested that dolphins have a language but it is much more probable that they communicate with each
other without needing words. Could any of these mammals be more intelligent than man? Certainly the
most common argument in favor of man's superiority over them that we can kill them more easily than
they can kill us is the least satisfactory. On the contrary, the more we discover about these remarkable
creatures, the less we appear superior when we destroy them.

4. It is clear from the passage that dolphins ----.

A) don't want to be with us as much as we want to be with them

B) are proven to be less intelligent than once thought
C) have a reputation for being friendly to humans
D) are the most powerful creatures that live in the oceans
E) are capable of learning a language and communicating with humans

5. The fact that the writer of the passage thinks that we can kill dolphins more easily than they can kill us
----.

A) means that they are better adapted to their environment than we are
B) shows that dolphins have a very sophisticated form of communication
C) proves that dolphins are not the most intelligent species at sea
D) does not mean that we are superior to them
E) proves that Dolphins have linguistic skills far beyond what we
previously thought

6. One can infer from the reading that ----.

A) dolphins are quite abundant in some areas of the world

B) communication is the most fascinating aspect of the dolphins
C) dolphins have skills that no other living creatures have such as the
ability to think
D) it is not usual for dolphins to communicate with each other
E) dolphins have some social traits that are similar to those of humans

Passage 3 - Unsinkable Ship

Naval architects never claim that a ship is unsinkable, but the sinking of the passenger-and-car ferry Estonia
in the Baltic surely should have never have happened. It was well designed and carefully maintained. It
carried the proper number of lifeboats. It had been thoroughly inspected the day of its fatal voyage. Yet
hours later, the Estonia rolled over and sank in a cold, stormy night. It went down so quickly that most of
those on board, caught in their dark, flooding cabins, had no chance to save themselves: Of those who
managed to scramble overboard, only 139 survived. The rest died of hypothermia before the rescuers could
pluck them from the cold sea. The final death toll amounted to 912 souls. However, there were an
unpleasant number of questions about why the Estonia sank and why so many survivors were men in the
prime of life, while most of the dead were women, children and the elderly.

7. One can understand from the reading that ----.

A) the lifesaving equipment did not work well and lifeboats could not be
lowered
B) design faults and incompetent crew contributed to the sinking of the
Estonia ferry
C) 139 people managed to leave the vessel but died in freezing water
D) naval architects claimed that the Estonia was unsinkable
E) most victims were trapped inside the boat as they were in their cabins

8. It is clear from the passage that the survivors of the accident ----.

A) helped one another to overcome the tragedy that had affected them
all
B) were mostly young men but women, children and the elderly stood little
chance
C) helped save hundreds of lives
D) are still suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder
E) told the investigators nothing about the accident

9. According to the passage, when the Estonia sank, ----.

A) there were only 139 passengers on board

B) few of the passengers were asleep
C) there were enough lifeboats for the number of people on board
D) faster reaction by the crew could have increased the Estonia's
chances of survival
E) all the passengers had already moved out into the open decks
Passage 4 - Erosion in America

Erosion of America's farmland by wind and water has been a problem since settlers first put the prairies
and grasslands under the plow in the nineteenth century. By the 1930s, more than 282 million acres of
farmland were damaged by erosion. After 40 years of conservation efforts, soil erosion has accelerated due
to new demands placed on the land by heavy crop production. In the years ahead, soil erosion and the
pollution problems it causes are likely to replace petroleum scarcity as the nation's most critical natural
resource problem.

10. As we understand from the reading, today, soil erosion in America ----.

A) causes humans to place new demands on the land

B) is worse than it was in the nineteenth century
C) happens so slowly that it is hardly noticed
D) is the most critical problem that the nation faces
E) is worse in areas which have a lot of petroleum production

11. The author points out in the passage that erosion in America ----.

A) has damaged 282 million acres ever since settlers first put the prairies
and grasslands under the plow
B) has been so severe that it has forced people to abandon their
settlements
C) occurs only in areas with no vegetation
D) can become a more serious problem in the future
E) was on the decline before 1930s

12. It is pointed out in the reading that in America ----.

A) petroleum is causing heavy soil erosion and pollution problems

B) heavy crop production is necessary to meet the demands and to
prevent a disaster
C) soil erosion has been hastened due to the overuse of farming lands
D) water is undoubtedly the largest cause of erosion
E) there are many ways to reduce erosion
Passage 5
What is immediately needed today is the establishment of a World Government or an International
Federation of mankind. It is the utmost necessity of the world today, and all those persons who wish to see
all human beings happy and prosperous naturally feel it keenly. Of course, at times we feel that many of
the problems of our political, social, linguistic and cultural life would come to an end if there were one
Government all over the world. Travellers, businessmen, seekers of knowledge and teachers of
righteousness know very well that great impediments and obstructions are faced by them when they pass
from one country to another, exchange goods, get information, and make an efforts to spread their good
gospel among their fellow-men. In the past, religious sects divided one set of people against another,
colour of skin or shape of the body set one against the other.
But today when philosophical light has exploded the darkness that was created by religious differences, and
when scientific knowledge has falsified the superstitions, they have enabled human beings of all religious
views and of all races and colors to come in frequent contact with one another . It is the governments of
various countries that keep people of one country apart from, those of another. They create artificial
barriers, unnatural distinctions, unhealthy isolation, unnecessary fears and dangers in the minds of
common men who by their nature want to live in friendship with their fellow-men. But all these evils would
cease to exist if there were one Government all over the world.
1. What divides people of a country against another?
(a) Different religions
(b) Different language
(c) Different social and political systems of different people
(d) Government of various countries
2. What is the urgent heed of the world today?
(a) The establishment of an international economic order.
(b) The establishment of a world government.
(c) The creation of a cultural international social order.
(d) The raising of an international spiritual army.
3. What will the world Government be expected to do?
(a) it will arrange for interplanetary contacts
(b) it will end all wars for all time to come
(c) it will bring about a moral regeneration of mankind
(d) it will kill the evil spirit in man
4. Choose the word which is SIMILAR in meaning as the word "righteousness" as used in the passage.
(a) rectitude (b) religiosity
(c) requirement (d) scrupulousness5. Which of the following problems has not been mentioned in the
passage as likely to be solved with the establishment of world Government?
(a) Social Problems (b) Political Problems
(c) Cultural Problems (d) Economic Problems
6. Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word 'implediments' as used in the
passage.
(a) handicaps (b) furtherance
(c) providence (d) hindrances
7. The most appropriate title of the above passage may be ...........
(a) The evils of the world order.
(b) The man can make his destiny.
(c) The need of world Government.
(d) The role of Religion in the Modern Times.
8. What was the factor, according to the passage, that set one man against another?
(a) Material prosperity of certain people in the midst of grinding poverty.
(b) Superior physical strength of some persons.
(c) Colour of skin or shape of the body.
(d) Some people being educated and other illiterate.
9. The theory of racial superiority stands falsified today by ........
(a) knowledge derived from scientific advances.
(b) the ascendancy of peoplewhowere here to fore considered of inferior racial stock.
(c) the achievements of the so called backward countries in every field of life.
(d) the precedence given to the physical powers of different races.
10. In the part religious sects .............
(a) united the people with one another.
(b) Interfered in political affairs.
(c) did a good job by way of spreading message of
love and peace.
(d) divided one set of people from another.

Passage 6
A Close look at the facts relating to political interference in administration shows that it is not a one-way
process. There is often a nexus between power hungry and corrupt politicians and civil servants with
convenient principles. Many civil servants are only too anxious to oblige the politicians, and then cash the
obligation when they need some special favour. So the attitude of self-righteousness adopted by the civil
service is sometimes only a way of covering their own flaws by blaming others.
Every now and then some retired civil servants come out with his memoirs, painting a glorious picture of
the heights of administrative efficiency reached during his reign. There is often the suggestion that had
there not been so much political interference, things would have been even more fantastic. It is not
unusual for the self styled hero to blame not only interfering politicians but also fellow civil servants who
are idiots or crooks, for his failures. This attitude of smug self-satisfaction is, unfortunately, developed
during the years of service. Self preservation rather than service is encouraged by our whole system of rules
and procedures.
The remedy has to be drastic and quickly effective. The over protection now granted to civil servants must
end. Today to remove an erring civil servant is just not possible. And the only thing that the highest
authority in the Government, both in the State and at the Centre, can do is to transfer an official from one
job to another. The rules for taking disciplinary action are so complicated that, in the end, the defaulting
civil servants gets away, and gets his full emoluments even for the period of the disciplinary proceedings,
thus making it a paid holiday for him.
The result is that the administration has become rule-oriented and not result-oriented. Action is possible
against the official who takes some interest in his work, but no action is ever taken against a person who
does not deliever the goods. If the country is to adopt a result-oriented approach, it is necessary to link job
performance with job retention.

1. The facts relating to the problem of political interference indicate that:

(a) honest bureaucrats are always being troubled by politicians.
(b) politicians are often misled and trapped by civil servants.
 (c) politicians and civil servants co-operate to gain mutual advantages.
(d) politicians and civil servants use interference as an excuse for victimising the common man.
Ans (c)

2. The attitude of self-righteousness adopted by the civil service, according to the writer:
(a) is not welcomed and supported by politicians.
(b) is dishonest and conceals the facts.
(C) is very difficult to maintain because of opposition.
(d) does not really help the public get fair treatment.
Ans (b)

3. Civil servants who write their memoirs after retiring:

(a) claim that they would have achieved outstanding success if interference had not come in the way.
(b) prove that constant political interference made it impossible for them to do anything properly.
(c) complain that the credit for their achievements goes to dishonest politicians.
(d) prove that people of inferior quality in the civil service bring about interference.
Ans (a)

4. The existing system of administration seems to encourage civil servants:

(a) to become self-styled heroes and boss over others.
(b) to present a glorious picture of the administration.
(c) to become self-centred and concerned mainly about their own gain.
(d) to become self-righteous and fight back against corrupt politicians.
Ans (c)

5. The problem with the present set-up needing urgent action is:
(a) a lack of accountability on the part of civil servants.
(b) a lack of control over the power of politicians.
(c) a neglect of the ideals of self-righteousness.
(d) complicated rules and procedures that greatly reduce efficiency.
Ans (a)

6. The main principle of the remedy proposed by the writer is, that:
(a) the politicians should be made accountable for all their decisions.
(b) the high level of protection enjoyed by civil servants should be reduced.
(c) the common man’s right to efficient and fair administration must be protected.
(d) rules should be simplified so that there is less scope for misuse.

Ans (b)

7. According to existing procedures, if a civil servant is found to be unsuitable or dishonest:

(a) he can appeal to an authority like the Supreme Court.
(b) politicians with whom he has special links will interfere to help him.
(c) transfering him to another post is the usual action taken.
(d) a conflict between Central Government and State Government interests can arise.
Ans (c)

8. The writer refers to a paid holiday to support his argument that:

(a) civil servants get a lot of extra benefits.
(b) disciplinary action is generally not quick or effective.
(c) lazy and inefficient bureaucrats seem to be on holiday even when on duty.
(d) special postings that favoured civil servants are necessary and wasteful.
Ans (b)

9. The expression linking job performance with job retention refers to a policy in which:
(a) selection to civil service jobs is on the basis of rigorous performance tests.
(b) selection to civil service jobs is on the basis of rigorous performance and not a minister’s opinion is
the basis of transfer or promotion.
(c) retention of good government servants by discouraging their going to private companies.
(d) continuation in service will depend on satisfactory performance.

Ans (d)

10. The expression deliver the goods means:

(a) show good job performance
(b) accept bribes or other illegal favours.
(c) make payments of black money as bribes.
(d) successfully defend oneself against a charge, in a disciplinary inquiry.
Ans (a)

Passage 7

It is a strange that, according to his position in life, an extravagant man is admired or despised. A successful
businessman does nothing to increase his popularity by being careful with his money. He is expected to
display his success, to have smart car, an expensive life, and to be lavish with his hospitality. If he is not so,
he is considered mean and his reputation in business may even suffer in consequence. The paradox remains
that if he had not been careful with his money in the first place, he would never have achieved his present
wealth. Among the two income groups, a different set of values exists. The young clerk who makes his wife
a present of a new dress when he hadn’t paid his house rent, is condemned as extravagant. Carefullness
with money to the point of meanness is applauded as a virtue. Nothing in his life is considered more worthy
than paying his bills. The ideal wife for such a man separates her housekeeping money into joyless little
piles- so much for rent, for food, for the children’s shoes; she is able to face the milkman with equanimity
and never knows the guilt of buying something she can’t really afford. As for myself, I fall into neither of
these categories. If I have money to spare, I can be extravagant, but when, as is usually the case, I am hard
up, then I am the meanest man imaginable.

1. In the opinion of the writer, a successful businessman:

(a) is more popular if he appears to be doing nothing.
(b) should not bother about his popularity.
(c) must be extravagant before achieving success.
(d) is expected to have expensive tastes.
Ans (d)

2. The phrase lavish with his hospitatlity signifies:

(a) miserliness in dealing with his friends.
(b) considerateness in spending on guests and strangers.
(c) extravagance in entertaining guests.
(d) indifference in treating his friends and relatives.
Ans (c)

3. We understand from the passage that:

(a) all mean people are wealthy
(b) wealthy people are invariably successful.
(c) carefulness generally leads to failure.
(d) thrift may lead to success.
Ans (d)

4. It seems that low paid people should:

(a) not pay their bills promptly.
(b) not keep their creditors waiting.
(c) borrow money to meet their essential needs
(d) feel guilty if they overspend
Ans (d)

5. The word paradox means:

(a) statement based on facts.
(b) that which brings out the inner meaning.
(c) that which is contrary to received opinion.
(d) statement based on the popular opinion.
Ans (c)

6. How does the housewife, described by the writer, feel when she saves money?
(a) is content to be so thrifty.
(b) wishes life were less burdensome.
(c) is still troubled by a sense of guilt.
(d) wishes she could sometimes be extravagant.
Ans (a)

[Link] of the following is opposite in meaning to the word applauded in the passage?
(a) Humiliated
(b) Decried
(c) Cherished
(d) Suppressed
Ans (b)

8. The statement she is able to face the milkman with equanimity implies that:
(a) she is not upset as she has been paying the milkman his dues regularly.
(b) she loses her nerve at the sight of the milkman who always demands his dues.
 (c) she manages to keep cool as she has to pay the milkman who always demads his dues.
(d) she remains composed and confident as she knows that she can handle the milkman tactfully.
Ans (a)

9. As far as money is concerned, we get the impression that the writer:

(a) is incapable of saving anything
(b) is never inclined to be extravagant
(c) would like to be considered extravagant
(d) doesn’t often have any money to save.
Ans (d)

10. Which of the following would be the most suitable title for the passage?
(a) Extravagance leads to poverty
(b) Miserly habits of the poor.
(c) Extravagance in the life of the rich and the poor.
(d) Extravagance is always condemnable.
Ans (c)
Passage 8

The capitalist system of society does not foster healthy relations among human beings. A few people own
all the means of production and others- though nominally few have to sell their labour under conditions
imposed upon them. The emphasis of capitalism being on the supreme importance of material wealth the
intensity of its appeal is to the acquisitive intensity. It promotes worship of economic power with little
regard to the means employed for its acquisition and the end that it serves. By its exploitation of human
beings to the limits of endurance its concentration is on the largest profit rather than maximum production.
Thus the division of human family is done on the basis of economic circumstance. All this is injurious to
division of human dignity. And when the harrowed poor turn to the founders of religion for succour, they
rather offer a subtle defence for the established order. They promise future happiness for their present
suffering and conjure up visions of paradise to redress the balance to soothe the suffering and the revolt of
the tortured men. The system imposes injustice, the religion justifies it.

1. The passage indicates that the capitalist system is:

(a) Fair
(b) ambitious
(c) prosperous
(d) dehumanising
Ans (d)

2. The established order is supproted by religion to:

(a) alleviate the suffering of the poor in the capitalist system.
(b) perpetuate the injustice imposed by the capitalist system.
(c) balance the suffering of the poor with hopes of future rewards.
(d) help the tortured men to seek redress.
Ans (b)

3. In a capitalist system:
(a) the means justify the ends.
 (b) the ends justify the means.
(c) the means endorsed by religion are strictly followed.
(d) means which lead to exploitation are strictly prohibited
Ans (b)

4. Capitalism is injurious to human relations because it divides society into two groups:
(a) working and non-working
(b) exploiters and exploited
(c) religious and irreligious
(d) buyers and sellers
Ans (b)

5. In a capitalistic system of society each man wishes:

(a) to acquire maximum wealth.
(b) to produce maximum wealth.
(c) to have visions of paradise.
(d) to soothe the sufferings of other.
Ans (a)
Passage 9

To some extent, it is the nature of the intellect to narrow our vision and give it focus. Tragedy comes in when we forget
this limitation and think the intellect can comprehend things as a whole. The intellect views the world through a slit.
When a cat walks by, it observes the eye, then fur, and then the tail, and then it infers that the eye is the cause of the tail,
unless of course, the cat was walking backward. If this sounds absurd, some of the theories about biochemistry and
behaviour use very similar reasoning. Nachiketa would object, “Man, why don’t you open the door? That’s just your black
cat Frodo, pacing back and forth.” But instead we usually get caught up in clarifying slit-information, even though without
a larger view our conclusions may be entirely wrong. To make matters worse, we specialize. I am not against
specialization per se but what often happens is that we do not even look through whole slit; we subdivide. My field is the
upper part of the tail; yours is the lower. I might even forget about the eye and the fur. My main concern will be my
debate with a colleague in Tokyo over whether hair on the tail grows up or down. If anybody asks how the eye fits in, I
refer him to another researcher. After all, what have eyes got to do with geotropichair growth?

Debates like this cannot be resolved on the slit level. What is required is to open the door; then argument becomes
unnecessary. Once the door is opened, even a little, we will not quarrel over whose slit is correct or whether we should
confine ourselves to the top of it or the bottom. As long as we see only part of the picture, logic and argumentation can
never settle an issue. When the intellect becomes calm and clear, theory gives way to demonstration. It is not beyond
our reach to see life whole. We have simply become so attached to this precious slit that we think there is no higher
mode of knowing. After a while, we become so used to slits that we put on a special mask with just a hairline crack in
front of the eyes. Try walking around wearing a mask like this and see what happens. Every little thing will fill your field of
vision.

The intellect that sees only a small corner of life makes a very poor guide. We follow it like the blind led by the blind. I see
this illustrated every day in the newspapers. To take just one urgent example, I have read that perhaps half a million
scientists and engineers around the world are engaged in weapons research. I have no doubt that the vast majority of
these people have no desire for war. They feel they are only doing a job, playing a small role in an inevitable activity.
Nevertheless, this is not a defence industry, this is a half a million highly skilled men and women preparing for war.
Producing and selling instruments of war is one of the biggest business in the world today. Even before the First World
War, George Bernard Shaw caught the spirit of the industry in the character of undershaft in Major Barbara. Undershaft
is no sinister “merchant of death”. He is just a businessman, whose credo is to give arms to all who offer an honest price
for them, without respect of persons or principles, to capitalist and socialist, to protestant and catholic, to burglar and
policeman, to black man, white man and yellow man, to all sorts and conditions, all nationalities and faiths, all follies, all
causes and all crimes.

The defence-minded intellect might object, “That’s unfortunate, but defence is necessary. Everybody has to have
weapons, and somebody is going to sell them. Here is a business that is thriving”. These sales”, the merchant argue,
“help supply allies who cannot produce needed equipment.” Needed for what? Any school boy knows that weapons are
needed by people in order to kill each other. From the evidence, we would have to conclude that death is a much more
desirable goal than health, education, or welfare.

Or, look at cancer. Many researchers today maintain that perhaps seventy to ninety per cent of all human cancers are
caused by environmental agents involved in manufacturing and processing new products. Most of these substances are
relatively recent additions to our environment. We made them, and we can cease to make them if we choose. Yet one
way or another such substances appeal to us so much that life without them seems untenable. As a result, instead of
trying to eliminate the causes of cancer, we pour millions of dollars into what one writer calls “the Vietnam of modern
medicine”: The Search for a Cancer Cure.

This kind of myopia is not a necessary fault of the intellect. Given a larger picture, the intellect can rise to the occasion.
Then even if the Nobel Prize is dangled before its eyes, it will refuse to work at any project that is at the expense of life,
but will give all its attention to matters of real urgency.

1. Which of these is true in context to the passage:

(1) humans are capable of unlimited applications of the mind
(2) whether the slit is small or large, conclusion is the same
(3) all researchers view through slit-like intellects
(4) it is not possible to view life as a whole
(5) the intellect is capable of adjustments

2. The passage is against:

(a) short-sightedness of the scientists
(b) the nature of the intellect
(c) narrowness of the intellect

(1) (a) only

(2) (b) only
(3) (a) and (b)
(4) (a) and (c)
(5) all (a), (b) and (c)

3. What should be the right approach for argumentation:

(1) to specialise in a particular field
(2) to study bio-chemistry
(3) sub-divide topics and research on them
(4) open the doors of the intellect
(5) leave attachment to our slits

4. According to the author, the intellect which sees a small corner of life, can:
(1) lead to scientific and engineering outcomes
(2) lead to follies and crimes
(3) race for better defence
(4) cause environmental pollution
(5) lead to harmful and unwanted results

5. What leads to cancer?

(1) pre-existing environmental pollutants
(2) man-made additions to environment
(3) tasty and good-looking things
(4) modern medicines
(5) None of the above

6. The difference between narrow and broad vision is:

(1) narrow vision leads to specialisations, while broad vision does not
(2) narrow vision leads to debates while broad vision easily settles them
(3) narrow vision leads to desire for war while broad vision leads to desire for defence sales
(4) narrow vision leads to greedy business while broad vision leads to fair salesmanship
(5) narrow vision leads to Nobel prizes and broad vision refuses them

7. In context to the passage, which one of these is false:

(1) weapons are needed by nations for money
(2) weapons are needed for security reasons
(3) a person with a broad intellect would not sell weapons to all
(4) the author is against specialisations
(5) scientists all over the world are preparing for war

8. The title to the passage can be:

(1) Disasters of science
(2) Nature of the intellect
(3) Intellectual misconducts
(4) Human debates
(5) Viewing life as a whole

9. The under shaft is:

(1) a very clever businessman
(2) an intellectual businessman
(3) an immoral character
(4) the major role in Major Barbara
(5) a blindly-led intellect

Directions (Qs. 10-12): In context of the above passage choose the word which is most similar in meaning to the
given word.

10. CREDO
(1) crime
(2) credit
(3) business
(4) job
(5) management

11. COMPREHEND
(1) absorb
(2) digest
(3) guide
(4) assimilate
(5) understand

12. GEOTROPIC
(1) falling to ground
(2) attracted towards earth
(3) touching the earth
(4) projected toward the earth
(5) None of these

Directions (Qs. 13-15): In context of the above passage choose the word which is most opposite in meaning to
the given word.

13. INEVITABLE
(1) blasting
(2) accidental
(3) certain
(4) incidental
(5) avoidable

14. MYOPIA
(1) narrow mindedness
(2) broad mindedness
(3) short sightedness
(4) evil sightedness
(5) hypermetropia

15. UNTENABLE
(1) probable
(2) cured
(3) unworthy
(4) worthsome
(5) pleasant

ANSWERS:
1. (5) Refer last few lines.
2. (4) Refer Ist and last paragraphs.
3. (4) Refer 2nd statement, para 2.
4. (5) Refer last para and the main theme. Other options also follow closely.
5. (2)
6. (2) Refer 2nd para.
7. (2) Refer para 1.
8. (2) Refer para 1, line 1 and subject theme.
9. (5) Refer 2nd line, para 3.
10. (4)
11. (5)
12. (2)
13. (5)
14. (5)
15. (1)
Passage 10

Giving loans to impoverished women to make ceramics or to farmers to buy milk cows were not seen as great
business. Microfinance was an industry championed by antipoverty activists. Today it is on the verge of a
revolution, with billions of dollars from big banks, private-equity shops and pension funds pouring in, driving
growth of 30% to 40% this year alone. In 1998, a nonprofit microfinance organization in Peru, converted into a
bank (called Mibanco). This demonstrated that the poor are good risks who repay loans on time and getting
them together, not only chips away at poverty but also turns a profit. The success of Mibanco has piqued the
interest of commercial banks, which had previously shunned the country’s poor. Now big banks are going after
Mibanco’s clients with low-rate loans and realizing it takes special know-how to work with the unbanked—are
hiring away Mibanco’s staff. But with the emergence of players who are only out for profit, microfinance
schemes could end up milking the poor. This could happen in countries where lenders don’t have to disclose
interest rates. It When a Mexican micro financier went public, revealing its loans had rates of about 86%
annually, the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) criticized it for putting shareholders ahead of clients.
The pressure to turn a profit also forces micro financiers to change their business models in ways that depart
from the industry’s core mission: to help poor people lead better lives. Such shifts have caused the average loan
size to triple. Moreover smaller loans being costlier to service, a lower percentage of loans go to women because
they tend to take out smaller sums. According to CGAP, with the flood of new large entities there is the risk that
a large percentage of cross-border funds go to Latin America and Eastern Europe, the world’s most developed
microfinance markets. “The poorest of the world’s poor, who are predominantly in Asia and Africa get left out,”
says the CEO of the nonprofit Grameen Foundation, which helps develop microfinance institutions. Segmenting
the industry, might be worthwhile if it allows more of the poor to get access to credit. Multinational
corporations could take the top microfinance institutions to the next level, and the remainder could be the
responsibility of development groups and regional banks. Yet making loans to poor people is hardly a poverty
cure. Property rights and the rule of law matter too. One cannot over idealize what microfinance alone can do.
Most nonprofits started with lending simply because local laws prohibited nonbanks from offering deposit
accounts. With an increase in competition and marketing efforts, poverty-alleviation experts are concerned that
people will be talked into loans they wouldn’t otherwise want. For example, organizations like Mibanco are
providing consumer loans. There is nothing wrong with buying TVs and microwaves on credit, but certain
markets, like Mexico, have been flooded with loans that have nothing to do with providing capital to aspiring
entrepreneurs — just increasing household debt.

1. What does the transformation of Peru’s nonprofit organization into a bank illustrate?

(A) To compete with commercial banks, microfinance institutions should convert into banks and offer a wide
variety of services.

(B) Microfinance institutions turn higher profits as banks since interest rates on loans are at their discretion. (C)
The poor prefer to go to large banks rather than NGOs to obtain loans.

(1) None

(2) Both (A) & (B)

(3) All (A), (B) & (C)

(4) Only (A)

(5) None of these

2. What was the impact of the non disclosure of their interest rates by lending institutions ?

(1) The Government issued sanctions against such firms. ,

(2) Shareholders interests were not protected.

(3) More microfinance institutions were motivated to go public.

(4) The poor were exploited.

(5) None of these

3. What is the author’s opinion about the competition for customers among micro financiers?

(1) It benefits the poor by providing them with loans they would have otherwise not had access to.

(2) It is futile since the poor have to pay high rates of interest on property loans.

(3) It is not beneficial since firms waste their profits on marketing rather than helping the poor.

(4) It is a disadvantage since micro financiers use any means possible to recover loans.

(5) None of these

4. Which of the following is/are the challenge/s faced by Mibanco at present from big banks ?

(A) Ensuring loyalty of their customers. . (B) Retention of employees. (C) Maintaining low interest rates.

(1) Only (C)

(2) Both (A) & (B)

(3) Both (B) & (C)

(4) Only (B)

(5) None of these

5. Which of the following is/are consequence/s of micro financiers altering their business models ?

(A) Larger loan amounts get sanctioned. (B) Debt among the poor has fallen in some countries. (C) Drop in the
loans awarded to women.

(1) Both (A) & (B)

(2) Both (A) & (C)

(3) Only (C)

(4) All (A), (B) & (C)

(5) None of these

[Link] the word which is most similar in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage. 6.
depart : (1) absent (2) retirement (3) divide (4) expire (5) vary

7. piqued : (1) provoked (2) irritated (3) disturb (4) offended (5) fascinated

8. verge : (1) tend (2) crossroad (3) ascent (4) slope (5) threshold

[Link] the word which is most opposite in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage. 9.
aspiring : (1) uninterested (2) ungrateful (3) anxious (4) miserable (5) fraudulent

10. core : (1) clear (2) unnecessary (3) crust (4) beside (5) uncoordinated

Answers 1. (E) 2. (D) 3. (C) 4. (C) 5. (C) 6. (E) 7. (A) 8. (A) 9. (A) 10. (B)
Words are divided into different kinds or classes according to the work they do in a sentence. These kinds or
classes are known as Parts of Speech. They are eight in number:
1. Noun
2. Pronoun
3. Verb
4. Adjective
5. Adverb
6. Preposition
7. Conjunction
8. Interjection.
What is noun?
Noun is a word used to name a person, place or thing.
For example:
Rama was an epic king.

Kinds of Noun
1. Common Noun
A common noun is a name given in common to every person or thing of the same class or kind. For example;
I write with a pen.
The student asked me a few questions.

2. Proper Noun
A proper noun is the name of a particular person or place.
For example:
Ramu is a wise fellow.
Patna lacks basic civic amenities.

Rule: Proper nouns are always written with a capital letter at the beginning.
Incorrect: Earlier the capital of india was in calcutta.
Correct: Earlier the capital of India was in Calcutta.

Rule: Proper nouns are sometimes used as common nouns.

Incorrect: LK Advani is today regarded as Sardar
Patel of India.
Correct: LK Advani is today regarded as the Sardar Patel of India.

Rule: In this case proper nouns are always preceded by articles.

She is a Lata Mangeshkar.
Kalidas is the Shakespeare of India.

3. Collective Noun
A Collective noun is the name of a group of persons or things. For example army, committee, crowd, fleet, flock,
herd, jury, mob, parliament, team.

Rule: A collective noun usually takes a singular verb and is substituted by a singular pronoun.
Incorrect: The jury were unanimous in their opinion.
Correct: The jury was unanimous in its opinion.

Rule: A collective noun takes a plural verb and is substituted by a plural pronoun when the individuals of which
it is composed are thought of net behaving as a single unit
Incorrect: The jury was divided in its opinions.
Correct: The jury were divided in their opinions.

4. Abstract Noun
An abstract noun is usually the name of a quality, action or state considered apart from the object ( which is
usually a common noun and often qualified by an adjective) to which it belongs. For example:
Innocence is integral to a child.
Love knows no bound.
5. Material Noun
A material noun is the name of a material ( matter from which a thing is made). For example:
Cotton is the source of natural fibre.
Milk constitutes a nutritious food.

Rule: A material noun does not take an article (a, an, the) before it.
Incorrect: The tobacco is a cash crop.
Correct: Tobacco is a cash crop.

Rule: It takes articles when treated as common nouns.

Incorrect: They offered me glass of water.
Correct: They offered me a glass of water.
Numbers
Numbers are of two kinds-
(1) Singular Number
(2) Plural Number
Generally while changing singular noun to plural we add s, es in the end.
For example
cow-cows
chair-chairs
school-schools
Mango-Mangoes
On the surface some nouns appear to be singular but in meaning they are treated as plural.
For example,
cattle, clergy, people, children, police, poultry
Incorrect: The peasantry has always stood as rockstars for the development of a country.
Correct: The peasantry have always stood as rockstars for the development of a country.
Some nouns look like plural but are always used as singular. For example,
Subjects - Mathematics, economics, physics, ethics, politics, classics.

Rule: When these subjects denote qualities or property, they are used in plural sense. For example,
Incorrect: His mathematics is weak.
Correct: His mathematics are weak.
Diseases - Rickets, AIDS, diabetes, mumps, measles. Some other nouns - News, gallows, summons, innings.
Some nouns are plural in form and in meaning, normally they are instruments or dress articles which have two
parts and make a kind of pair. Do not use a/an before these nouns.
For example,
Spectacles, tongs, scissors, pincers, bellows, trousers, drawers, breaches, pants, knickers, pantaloons.
Certain other nouns - caves, riches (valuables), alms, funds, proceeds (profit), annals (record).
Incorrect : I bought a trousers yesterday.
Correct :I bought a pair of trousers yesterday.
Some nouns are always singular and used as singular only. For example Poetry, information, machinery, dust,
furniture, dirt, traffic, money, music. Some nouns have one meaning in singular form and another in plural.

Quiz based on above concepts :

1. When he returned (a)/ from America, he informed me (b)/ that he had come here (c)/ to do urgent work. (d)/ No
error (e)
2. I do my best (a)/ but I don’t understand (b)/ why I do not get expected (c)/ marks in the examination. (d)/ No
error (e)
3. The pretty woman (a)/ sitting in the car (b)/ is the daughter of one of (c)/ the headman of the village. (d)/ No
error (e)
4. You will not be (a)/ allowed to go (b)/ anywhere else to (c)/ play outdoor games. (d)/ No error (e)
5. The beautiful surrounding (a)/ of the palace (b)/ attracted a large number of (c)/ tourists coming from
abroad. (d)/ No error (e)
6. He did not know (a)/ that the headquarter (b)/ of the army (c)/ was in Delhi. (d)/ No error (e)
7. Liberalisation of economy (a)/ has given birth to (b)/ many uncommon (c)/ phenomenon in the society.(d)/ No
error (e)
8. Thousand of young (a)/ protesters were standing (b)/ at Jantar Mantar and (c)/ supporting Anna Hazare. (d)/ No
error (e)
9. It is very difficult (a)/ to chase (b)/ a huge score in the (c)/ fourth inning. (d)/ No error (e)
10. He gave me (a)/ a five-rupees note (b)/ and asked me to get (c)/ him a few cigarettes. (d)/ No error (e)

1. e; No error
2. e; No error
3. d; Replace “headman” with “headmen”
4. e; No error
5. a; Replace “surrounding” with “surroundings”
6. b; Replace “headquarter” with “headquarters”
7. d; Replace “phenomenon” with “phenomena”
8. a; Replace “thousand” with “thousands”
9. d; Replace “inning” with “innings”
10. b; Replace “rupees” with “rupee”

Verb
A Verb is a word that tells or asserts something about a person or thing. It tells about the person or thing in the state of
(a) doing, (b) being or (c) being acted up on. Thus a verb is a doing or being word.

Kinds of verbs :
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

A Transitive verb is a verb that denotes an action which passes over from the doer or agent to an object, Transitive
means passing over. For example,

India won the World Cup.

An Intransitive verb is a verb that denotes an action which does not pass over to an object, or that expresses a state of
an object, or that expresses a state of being. Intransitive means not passing over. For example,
The sun shines brightly.

Rule: When an intransitive verb is used in a causative sense, it becomes transitive.

1. He sat in a chair.

2. He sat me on chair.

Rule: Verbs like, fall, lie, rise and sit are made transitive by a slight change in their spellings. The transitive is the
causative of the corresponding intransitive verb.

Incorrect: The poachers were caught yesterday when they fell trees illegally.

Correct : The poachers were caught yesterday when they felled trees illegally.

Verbs of Incomplete Predication

The intransitive verb which requires something to make the sense complete is called a verb of incomplete predication.

For example be, become, seem, grow, taste, appear.

That which is required to make the sense (of these verbs) complete is known as the complement of the verb or the
completion of the predicate.

For example,

The family appears.

Rule: When the subjective complement is a noun (or a pronoun), it is in the same case as the subject, that is, in the
nominative case.

For example

The lawyer called the witness a liar.

Rule: When the objective complement is a noun it is in the objective case in agreement with the object.

Subject-Verb Agreement :

Language has its base in logic and harmony. The subject and the verb are the essential parts of a sentence. It is
imperative that the verb agree with the subject in number and person.

Rule: Two or more singular subjects connected by and usually take a verb in the plural.

Incorrect: Computer and telecommunication has metamorphosed information technology.

Correct: Computer and telecommunication have metamorphosed information technology.

Rule: If two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing, the verb must be singular.

Incorrect : The poet and critic have been honoured.

Correct : The poet and critic has been honoured.

Rule: If two subjects together express one idea, the verb is in the singular.

Incorrect: Bread and butter are essential for one's life.

Correct: Bread and butter is essential for one's life.

Rule: If the singular subjects are preceded by each or every, the verb is usually singular.

Incorrect: Every man and woman in a family are responsible for the upbringing of a child.

Correct: Every man and woman in a family is responsible for the upbringing of a child.

Rule : Two or more singular subjects connected by or, nor, either ... or, neither... nor take a verb in the singular.

Incorrect: Either Manoj or Madhukar have the key to this problem.

Correct: Either Manoj or Madhukar has the key to this problem.

Rule: When the subjects, joined by or or nor are of different numbers, the verb must be plural, and the plural subject
must be placed next to the verb.
Incorrect : Neither Rekha nor her friends was present at the party.

Correct : Neither Rekha nor her friends were present at the party.

Rule: When the subjects, joined by or or nor are of different persons, the verb agrees in person with the one nearest to
it.

Incorrect : Either she or I pays the fees.

Correct : Either she or I pay the fees.

Error of Proximity: The verb is made to agree in number with a noun near it instead of with its proper subject. This is
wrong and should be avoided.

Incorrect : The behaviour of the students were not proper.

Correct: The behaviour of the students was not proper.

Rule: Words joined to a singular subject by with, as well as, etc. are parenthetical. The verb should therefore be put in
the singular.

Incorrect: The guru as well as his disciples are committed to celibacy.

Correct: The guru as well as his disciples is committed to celibacy.

Rule: Either, neither, each, everyone, many a must be followed by a singular verb.

Incorrect: Many a man have resigned in crisis.

Correct: Many a man has resigned in crisis.

Rule: When a plural noun denotes some specific quantity or amount considered as a whole, the verb is generally
singular.

Incorrect: Five hours are too short a time to judge one's character.

Correct: Five hours is too short a time to judge one's character.

The Infinitive

Usually a verb is limited by the number and person of its subject.

For example,

He plays cricket.

They play cricket.

A verb, which is not limited by person and number as a verb that has a subject, is called the verb infinite or the infinitive.
Infinitives are of two kinds.
(1) Simple Infinitive and

(2) Gerundial or Qualifying Infinitive.

(1) Simple Infinitive - when the infinitive is used like a noun.

(i) as the subject of a verb. To name is to give an identity.

(ii) as the object of a verb. I have decided to leave the place.

(iii) as the complement of a verb. Her hobby is to dance.

(iv) as the object of a preposition. He is about to go.

(v) as the complement of the object. She heard her weep.

(2) Gerundial or Qualifying Infinitive-when the infinitive is used for the following purposes:

(i) to qualify a verb. He slept to refresh himself.

(ii) to qualify an adjective. Tea is easy to prepare.

(iii) to qualify a noun. He has a point to make.

(iv) to qualify a sentence. To be very frank, I hate your smile.

Rule: The infinitive is used without to after verbs like help, watch, bid, dare, hear, let, make, need and see.

Incorrect : I bid him to quit the organisation.

Correct : I bid him quit the organisation.

Rule: If, however, the structure is do + dare or do + need, the infinitive is used with to.

Incorrect: You do not need worry about us.

Correct: You do not need to worry about us.

Rule: The following verbs are followed by the infinitive.

Agree, arrange, attempt, care, cease, consent, decide, determine, endeavour, fall, forget, hesitate, hope,learn, manage,
neglect, prepare, promise, propose, refuse, regret, remember, seem, swear, undertake.

Incorrect: I agree for helping you out in trouble.

Correct: I agree to help you out in trouble.

Rule: Prepositions but and except take the infinitive without to.

Incorrect: There is no alternative but to help him out.

Correct : There is no alternative but help him out.

Rule: Expressions would rather, would sooner, rather than, sooner than, had better are followed by infinitive without to.

Incorrect : I would rather to go for batting.

Correct : I would rather go for batting.

Participle

(1) Present Participle

(2) Past Participle

(3) Perfect Participle

Rule: Present participle is used when all the parts of a sentence have the same subject;

Incorrect: Opened the drawer, he took out his gun.

Correct: Opening the drawer, he took out his gun.

Rule: When a sentence has two different subjects, avoid using present participle. Instead a clause should be used in
such instances.

Incorrect: While going to school, a dog jumped at me.

Correct: While I was going to school, a dog jumped at me.

Rule: Some past participles are used only as adjectives and qualify a noun. They can be used as past participles with
changed spellings. For example, shrunken, drunken, sunken, graven, molten.

Incorrect: He and his brother have drunken wine last night.

Correct: He and his brother have drunk wine last night.

Rule: Perfect participle is used when one activity is completely over. Having worked hard, he felt tired.

Auxiliary Verb

Auxiliary literally means giving help, So an auxiliary verb is one that helps the main verb form in tenses, moods, voices
etc. The following verbs are auxiliaries: is, are, am, was, were, be, can, could, dare, do, does, did, have, has, had, may,
might, must, need, ought, shall, should, will, would, used to.

1. May implies permission, doubt or possibility.

Ex. May I come in? (permission)

It may rain tonight. (possibility)

2. Might is the past form of “may” and it implies more doubt than “may”.

Ex. If the clouds are salted, the rains might come.

3. Can is used to express ability.

Ex. He can do the work.

4. Could is the past form of can but it does not necessarily represent past time. Often it implies a more uncertain
condition.

Ex. He could refuse, but she never does.

5. Should expresses the idea that something must be done or is important.

Should and ought to have similar meanings, but ought is followed by “to” “Ought to” has a more objective force and is
used when we are talking about laws, duties and regulations.

Ex. We ought to see her tomorrow.

6. Must is used to give strong advice or orders.

Ex. He really must stop drinking.

7. Do is used to make question and negative forms of ordinary verbs.

Ex. Do you know him?

I don’t like swimming.

“Do” is always used in question-tags.

Ex. You know painting, do you?

Quiz based on above concepts:

Directions: In the following questions, some of the sentences have errors and some have none. Find out which
part of the sentence has an error. If there is no mistake, the answer is ‘No error’.

1. Many a student (a)/ are frustrated (b)/ because of unemployment. (c)/ No error (d)
2. It is true (a)/ that the poor is unable (b)/ to get nourishing food even today. (c)/ No error (d)

3. People have a right to criticise (a)/ but at the same time each of them (b)/ have to remember his duty also. (c)/ No
error (d)

4. The child (a)/ picked up a burned paper (b)/ from the street. (c)/ No error (d)

5. Never did this exhibition of contempt and anger ceased (a)/ so long as British rule remained (b)/ a live thing in India.
(c)/ No error (d)

6. The teacher was angry (a)/ when he found that (b)/ you are not there. (c)/ No error (d)

7. I would like you to (a)/ complete this assignment (b) before you will leave for Mumbai. (c)/ No error (d)

8. Ordinarily, when in difficulty (a)/ Ruchi prefers keeping her counsel (b)/ than running about taking advice. (c)/ No
error (d)

9. One of the drawbacks (a)/ of modern education are (b)/ that it does not encourage original thinking. (c)/ No error (d)

10. I enquired of him (a)/ why he is so negligent (b)/ in his studies. (c)/ No error (d)

Answers:

1. b; Replace ‘are’ with ‘is’

‘Many a’ takes singular subject and singular verb.
2. b; Replace ‘is’ with ‘are’
Here, ‘poor’ stands for ‘poor people’.
3. c; Replace ‘have’ with ‘has’
4. b; Replace ‘burned’ with ‘burnt’
5. a; Replace ‘ceased’ with ‘cease’
6. c; Replace ‘are’ with ‘were’
7. c; Remove ‘will’
8. c; Replace “than” with “to”
9. b; Replace ‘are’ with ‘is’
10. b; Replace ‘is’ with ‘was’

DJECTIVE:

An adjective is a word used with a noun ( or a pronoun) to add something for its meaning. The adjective
may be used
(i) attributively: when it is used along with the noun as an epithet or attribute; for example,
There were dark clouds in the sky.
(ii) predicatively : when it forms part of the predicate; for example.
The clouds in the sky were dark.

Rule : The adjective is correctly used with a verb when some quality of the subject rather than of the
action of the verb, is to be expressed.
Incorrect: Flowers were plucked freshly.
Correct: Flowers were plucked fresh.

Rule: Due to and prior to should be used as predicative adjectives. When prepositional functions are to
be performed, use because of in place of due to, and before in place of prior to.
Incorrect : Wickets fell due to superb bowling.
Correct : Wickets fell because of superb bowling.

Kinds of Adjective
1. Adjective of Quality : Also known as Descriptive Adjective, it shows the kind of quality of a person
or a thing. For example,
He loves her soft skin.

2. Adjective of Quantity : It is an adjective which shows how much of a thing is meant. For example,
There is little sense in it.
3. Adjective of Number : Also known as Numeral Adjective, it shows how many persons or things are
meant, or in what order a person or a thing stands. For example,
The face of a clock has sixty divisions.

Numeral Adjectives are of three kinds:

(i) Definite Numeral Adjective: It denotes an exact number. It may be a cardinal denoting how many;
as, one, two, three, etc. It may be an ordinal denoting the order, as first, second, third etc.

Rule: When a number together with a unit of measurement is to be used as an adjective, it is a

compound word and the unit of measurement is taken in the singular.
Incorrect : It is a twenty-kilometres walk.
Correct : It is a twenty-kilometre walk.

Rule: Definite Numeral Adjective always takes plural countable noun.

Incorrect: When I was in Punjab, I had twenty money.
Correct: When I was in Mumbai, I had twenty rupees.

Rule: If in a sentence one noun is used for all ordinals and the first ordinal has 'the' while, other not, the
noun will be in the plural.
Incorrect: I have read the literature of the seventeenth and eighteenth century.
Correct: I have read the literature of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

(ii) Indefinite Numeral Adjective : It does not denote an exact number. For example. There are many
petitions lying on the tables.

Rule :Many takes plural noun while "Many a/an singular noun.
Incorrect: He has observed many an uncommon phenomena.
Correct: He has observed many an uncommon phenomenon.

Rule : The few is used before plural countable noun and the little before uncountable noun. Both follow a
clause.
Incorrect: I gave the beggar a little coins I had.
Correct: I gave the beggar the few coins I had.

(iii) Distributive Numeral Adjective : It refers to each one of a number. Distributive numeral adjectives
are the same as distributive pronouns (see Pronoun). They only differ in function. For example,
Each time he missed the bus.

4. Demonstrative Adjective : It points out which person or thing is meant. For example,
This table is made of wood.

Rule : The plural forms these and those are often wrongly used with the singular nouns kind and sort.
Incorrect : These kind of clothes are not acceptable.
Correct : This kind of clothes are not acceptable.

5. Interrogative Adjective: When an interrogative pronoun is used with a noun to ask a question, it is
called an interrogative adjective. For example,
What options are available after graduation?

6. Exclamatory adjective: It is used with a noun in-exclamatory sentence. For example,

What a show!

Confusing Words
Later, latter, latest, last: Later and latest refer to time. Latter and last refer to position.
Incorrect: The later part of the novel is not neatly written.
Correct: The latter part of the novel is not neatly written.
Incorrect: What is the last news?
Correct: What is the latest news?

Elder, older, eldest, oldest: Elder and eldest are used of members of the same family. Besides, both of
them are used only attributively (that is, before the noun). Older and Oldest are used in the general
sense.
Incorrect : I have an older brother.
Correct : I have an elder brother.. (Since brother is a member of the same family)
Incorrect : Mohan is the eldest boy in the town.

In a town there may be so many families. We are talking of boys in general sense. So eldest should be
replaced by oldest.
Correct : Mohan is the oldest boy in the town.

Degree of Comparison
Degrees are of three kinds.
1. Positive Degree
2. Comparative Degree
3. Superlative Degree

Rule: When a selection is made out of the two, and two is given in the sentence, the is used before the
adjective denoting comparison.
Incorrect: Shikha is better of the two sisters.
Correct: Shikha is the better of the two sisters.

Rule: Preferable takes to and is not preceded by more.

Incorrect: Coffee is more preferable than tea in Brazil.
Correct: Coffee is preferable to tea in Brazil.

Rule: When two adjectives in different degrees of comparison are used in the same sentence, each
should be complete in itself.
Incorrect: My father is as rich if not richer than your mother.
Correct: My father is as rich as if not richer than your mother.

Rule: If two adjectives are connected by and, they should be in the same degree throughout.
Incorrect: Raj is more intelligent and most active.
Correct: Raj is more intelligent and more active.

Rule: The comparative in -er is not used when we compare two qualities of the same person or thing.
Incorrect : Mohan is wiser than strong.
Correct : Mohan is more wise than strong.

Rule: When two objects are compared with each other, the latter term of comparison must exclude the
former.
Incorrect : Satish is cleverer than any student in his class.
Correct : Satish is cleverer than any other student in his class.

Rule: The comparative degree is generally followed by than but the following comparative adjectives are
followed by the preposition to : inferior, superior, prior, anterior, posterior, senior, junior.
Incorrect: India's fielding is inferior than South Africa's.
Correct: India's fielding is inferior to South Africa's.

Rule: Adjectives expressing qualities that do not admit of different degrees cannot be compared.
Incorrect: Our field is more square.
Correct: Our field is square.

Rule: Double comparatives and superlatives are to be avoided.

Incorrect: Zarda mangoes are more sweeter than Maldah ones.
Correct: Zarda mangoes are sweeter than Maldah ones.

Exercise:

Directions: In the following questions, some of the sentences have errors and some have
none. Find out which part of the sentence has an error. The letter corresponding to that part
is your answer. If there is no mistake, the answer is ‘No error’.

1. Firstly you should a)/ think over the meaning of the words b)/ and then use them. c)/ No error d)
2. The driver tried his best a)/ to avert the accident by b)/ bringing the car to a suddenly stop. c)/ No
error d)
3. The Sunrise Hotel was a)/ fully equipped to offer b)/ leisure stay c)/ to its clients. d)/ No error e)
4. The technician reminded a)/ them to have a thoroughly cleaning of the b)/ machine after each use.
c)/ No error d)
5. I am much glad a)/ that you have b)/ won the prize. c)/ No error d)
6. My observation is that a)/ between Vivek and Shashi, b)/ Vivek is the most intelligent. c)/ No error d)
7. It very often a)/ happens that b)/ a man who talks most does little. c)/ No error d)
8. From all accounts a)/ I learn that b)/ he is the best and honest member of the new
Cabinet. c)/ No error d)
9. He is a)/ too intelligent b)/ to make a mistake. c)/ No error d)
10. The flood situation this year a)/ is worst than b)/ that prevailed in the last year, c)/ No error d)
Answers

1. a; Replace ‘Firstly’ with ‘First’

2. c; Replace ‘suddenly’ with ‘sudden’
3. c; Replace ‘leisure’ with ‘leisurely’
4. b; Replace ‘thoroughly’ with ‘thorough’
5. a; Replace ‘much’ with ‘very’
6. c; Replace ‘the most’ with ‘more’
7. c; Replace ‘most’ by ‘much’
8. c; The correct form is ‘he is the best and most honest member....’
9. d; No error

10. b; Replace ‘worst’ with ‘worse’

ADVERB:

An adverb is a word which modifies the meaning of a verb, an adjective or an adverb. For example

Rama runs quickly.

Govinda reads quite clearly.

Kinds of Adverb
(a) According to meaning
1) Adverbs of Time : They are the adverbs which tell us when an action takes place. For example,
I shall meet you tomorrow.

Rule : Time adverbs cannot be used in the present perfect, instead the past indefinite is used for them.
Incorrect : I have seen a 3D movie last night.
Correct : I saw a 3D movie last night.

2) Adverbs of Place : They are the adverbs which tell us where an action takes place. For example,
He left his bag there.

3) Adverbs of Manner : They are the adverbs which tell us how an action takes place or in what manner. For example,
Gautam Buddha left his family stealthily.

4) Adverbs of Frequency : They are the adverbs which tell us how often an action takes place. For example, The Delhi
Police is always with you .

5) Adverbs of Degree or Quantity : They are the adverbs which tell us how much or in what degree or to what extent.
For example,
I have pleaded enough and now I give up.

Rule : The adverb “so” as an adverb of degree must not be used absolutely.
Incorrect : He is so rich.
Correct : He is very rich.

Rule : That “should not be used instead of ” so “as an adverb”.

Incorrect : He went only that far.

Correct : He went only so far.

Rule : The adverb “too” should not be used instead of “very” or “much” and vice versa.
Incorrect : She is too intelligent.
Correct : she is very intelligent.

Rule : Much is used with past participles used as adjectives not with present participles.
Incorrect : The match became much interesting.
Correct : The match became very interesting.

Rule : Adverb of degree comes just before the adjective it qualifies.

Incorrect : He too is weak to run.
Correct : He is too weak to run.
They are so honest that they cannot tell a lie.
6) Adverbs of Affirmation and Negation : They are the adverbs which tell us whether an action is done or not. For
example,
He has not left the place.

7) Adverbs of Reason : They are the adverbs which tell us why an action takes place. For example,
She therefore decided to be a rich woman.

(b) According to use

1) Simple Adverb : It only modifies some words (verb, adjective or an adverb). All the above examples belong to this
category.

2) Interrogative Adverb : It not only modifies some words but also introduces a question. For example, How did you
come here?

3) Relative Adverb : It not only modifies some words but also refers back to some antecedent. For example,
How can I forget the day when happiness was
showered on me from all sides?

Forms of adverb :

Rule : Adjective should not be used for adverb.

Incorrect: The moon shone bright in the sky.
Correct: The moon shone brightly in the sky.

Rule : Some adverbs have two forms, the form ending in-ly and the form which is the same as adjective. For example,
loud, quick, high, hard, near, late, pretty.
Incorrect: He fought hardly for the No. 1 spot.
Correct: He fought hard for the No. 1 spot.
Similarly, Incorrect: It would hard rain today.
Correct : It would hardly rain today.

Comparison of adverbs :

Rule : If the adverb is of one syllable, the comparative is formed by adding-er and the superlative by addingest to the
positive.
Incorrect : The hare ran more fast than the dog.
Correct : The hare ran faster than the dog.

Rule : Adverbs ending in -ly form the comparative by adding more and the superlative by adding most.
Incorrect : The petrol price hike issue has been debated hotlier than the urea scam.
Correct : The petrol price hike issue has been debated more hotly than the urea scam.

Position of adverbs :

Rule : Adverbs of manner, place and time are generally placed after the verb or after the object if there is one.
Incorrect: He wrote last year a book.
Correct: He wrote a book last year.

Rule : When there are two or more adverbs after a verb (and its object), the normal order is; adverb of manner, adverb of
place, adverb of time.
Incorrect: I read the proof yesterday meticulously at home.
Correct: I read the proof meticulously at home yesterday.

Rule : Adverbs of frequency and most of the adverbs of quantity are

i) normally put between the subject and the verb if the verb consists of only one word;
ii) put after the first word if there is more than one word in the verb;
iii) put after the verb if the verb is am/are/is/was/were;

Some more rules :

Rule : Two negatives should not be used in the same sentence unless we wish to make an affirmation.
Incorrect: she did not despise none of her lovers.
Correct: She did not despise any of her lovers.

Rule : Ever should not be used for never.

Incorrect: She seldom or ever has sweet talks with her son.
Correct: She seldom or never has sweet talks with her son.
Rule : Else should be followed by but.
Incorrect: It is nothing else than fatigue.
Correct: It is nothing else but fatigue.

Rule : Never should not be used for not.

Incorrect: She met her friend after a long time and her friend never recognised her.
Correct: She met her friend after a long time and her friend did not recognise her.

Exercise :

Directions: Find out the error in each of the following sentences, if any. If there is no error, the answer is ‘d’.

1. She behaved in a cowardly manner (a)/ before the headmaster (b)/ and hesitated to do the work. (c)/ No error (d)
2. The girl refused (a)/ not to (b)/ return the articles. (c)/ No error (d)
3. The real important thing (a)/ of our life is our livelihood (b)/ which discriminates us from animals. (c)/ No error (d)
4. She is too much beautiful (a)/ so most of the boys (b)/ run after her and want to influence her. (c)/ No error (d)
5. The taxi driver who had come (a)/ to receive us at (b)/ the airport was speaking fluently French. (c)/ No error (d)
6. The observers feel that (a)/ the stronger team has to face defeat (b)/ because the players don’t play whole hearted.
(c)/ No error (d)
7. Although he is usually (a)/ rude with everyone, (b)/ he behaved nice with all of us today. (c)/ No error (d)
8. He ran so fastly (a)/ that he reached first and (b)/ realised that he had (c)/ not earned anything substantial. (d)/ No
error (e)
9. In spite of toiling (a)/ very hardly he (b)/ realised that he had not earned anything substantial. (c)/ No error (d)
10. We were very much (a)/ carefully in our approach (b)/ and hence we would complete the complicated task. (c) No
error (d)

Answers..

1. d; No error
2. b; Omit the word “not”
3. a; Replace “real” with “really”
4. a; Replace “too much” with “very”
5. c; Replace “fluently French” with “French fluently”
6. c; Replace “whole-hearted” with “whole-heartedly”
7. c; Replace “nice” with “nicely”
8. a; Replace “fastly” with “fast”
9. b; Replace “hardly” with “hard”

10. b; Replace “carefully” with “careful”

Subject – Verb Agreement relates to number agreement (singular or plural) between the subject and the verb
that follows it ……

e.g. The girl plays all day. (singular subject)

The girls play all day. (plural subject)

 There are two important exceptions to subject – verb agreement. Firstly, agreement only applies when the verb
is in the present tense. In the past tense, there is no overt agreement between the subject and the verb.

e.g. The girl played all day.

The girls played all day.

 And secondly, agreement applies only to third person subjects. There is no distinction between a first person
singular subject and a first person plural subject.

e.g. I play all day.

We play all day.

The main principle is : Singular subjects need singular verbs : plural subjects need ; plural subjects need plural
verbs. Some basic rules:
1. When subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, we use a plural verb.
He and his friends are at the fair.
This rule is not follow when two nouns refer to the same object.
The wicket keeper and Captain was given the man of the match award.

2. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, we use a singular verb.
e.g. The paper or the pencil is in the desk.

3. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should
agree with the part of the subject that is nearer to the verb.
e.g. Shivin or his friends run every day.
His friends or Shivin runs every day.

4. Doesn’t is contraction of does not and should be used only with a singular subject. Don’t is a contraction of do not and
should be used only with a plural subject. The exception to this rule appears in the case of the first person and second
person pronouns I and you. With these pronouns the contraction don’t should be used.
e.g. She doesn’t like it.
They don’t like it.

5. A phrase between the subject and the verb should not be misleading, the verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun
or pronoun in the phrase.
e.g. The captain, as well as his players, is anxious.
The book, in parts, is boring.
The building, with all its contents, is insured.

6. Each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, nobody, somebody, some one and no one are
singular and require a singular verb.
e.g. Each of these books is good.
Everybody knows him.
Either is correct.

7. Nouns such as civics, mathematics, rupees and news require singular verbs.
e.g. The news is on at eight.
When talking about an amount of money, it requires a singular verb, but when referring to the rupees themselves, a
plural verb is required.
e.g. Five hundred rupees is a lot of money.
Rupees are often used instead or Rupiahs in Nepal.

8. Nouns such as scissors, trousers, shears and shorts require plural verbs.
e.g. These shears are dull.
These shorts are made of cotton.

9. In sentences beginning with there is, there are, the subject follows the verb. Since there is not the subject, the verb
agrees with what follows.
e.g. There are many questions
There is a question.

10. Collective nouns are words that imply more than one person but are considered singular and take a singular verb,
such as : group, team, committee, class and family.
e.g. The family has a long history of writers.
The committee has prepared the agenda.

11. With, together with, including, accompanied by, in addition to, or as well do not change the number of the subject. If
the subject is singular, the verb is too.
e.g. The Chairman, including his team, is travelling to China.
The boys, together with their friends, are going for a picnic.

12. The relative pronouns (who, whom, which, and that) are either singular or plural, depending on the words they refer
to.
e.g. The sales manager is good researcher who spends a great amount of time surfing the Web for information.
Subject : The sales manager Verbs: is, spends

13. A few nouns can be either plural or singular, depending on whether they mean a group or Separate individuals.
These words are rarely used as plurals in modern writing.
e.g. 1. The jury has decided unanimously.
Subject: jury Verb: is
2. The jury are having an argument.
Subject: jury Verb: are having
14. Do not be misled by a phrase that comes between the subject and the verb. The agrees with the
subject, not with a noun or pronoun in the phrase.
e.g. One of the boxes is open.
The people who listen to music are few.

15. Two singular subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor require a singular verb as in Rule 1.
e.g. Neither John nor Abraham is available.
Either Bipasha or neelam is helping today with stage decoration.

16. When/is one of the two subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor, put it second and follow it with the singular
verb am.
e.g. Neither she nor I am going to the festival

17. With words that indicate portions-percent, fraction, part, majority, some, all, none, remainder, and so forth – look at
the noun in your ‘of phrase (object of the preposition) to determine whether to use a singular of plural verb. If the object
of the preposition is singular, use a singular verb. If the object of the preposition is plural, use a plural verb.
e.g. 1. Fifty percent of the pie has disappeared. (Pie is the object of the preposition of.)
2. Fifty percent of the pies have disappeared.
3. One-third of the city is unemployed.
4. One-third of the people are unemployed.

NOTE: Hyphenate all spelled-out fractions.

5. All of the pie is gone.
6. All of the pies are gone.
7. Some of the pie is missing.
8. Some of the pies are missing.

18. Use a singular verb with sums of money or periods of time.

e.g. Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.

Identifying the subject

Word groups often come between the subject and the verb. These word groups may contain a noun that at first appears
to be the subject. Identify the word group between the subject and the verb in order to isolate the noun.
e.g. The girl plays all day. (singular subject)
e.g. The slaughter of pandas for their pelts have caused panda population to decline Drastically. (Incorrect)
The slaughter of pandas for their pelts has caused the panda population to decline drastically. (Correct)

Thus, the subject is slaughter and not pandas or pelts.

Phrases beginning with the prepositions as well as, in addition to, accompanied by, and along with, do not make
a singular subject plural.
e.g. The Chief Minister, as well as his principal secretary, was shot.
e.g. If a customer buys a burger, he or she has to pay service tax. (correct)
If a customer buys a burger, they have to buy a parking ticket. (incorrect)

Questions:
Directions: Find out the error, if any in questions given in each practice set. If there is no error, the answer is (e),
i.e No error (ignore the errors of punctuation, if any.)

1. A few kilometers beyond (a) /that villa was seen two aliens (b )/along with (c)/ a few Americans and Russian
scientists (d)/ No error (e).

2. It is well known fact that (a)/the upper middle class have no soft (b)/ corner for the poor and the oppressed
who are the (c)/real victims of this social system (d)/ No error (e).

3. Sheetal as well as (a)/ some of her friends (b)/have fallen in love with a hunky fellow, who (c)/ is the eldest son
of an I.A.S. officer (d)/ No error (e).

4. More than one successful candidate of this institute (a)/have taken the interview for one (b)/of the most
popular dailies (c)/being published from Los Angels (d)/ No error (e).

5. More than one book on life style (a)/ and motivation by this writer (b)/have been published so far and (c)/all are
selling like a hot cake (d)/ No error (e).

6. Many a man along with (a)/a few friends of mine are going (b)/to DevGhar to offer flowers and (c)/milk to Lord
Shiva (d)/ No error (e).

7. Many an employee of this company (a)/ are supposed to be transferred (b)/ to some other company (c)/ of the
same category because of recession (d)/ No error (e).

8. The political leader as well as (a)/ his retinues are going on a hunger (b)/ Strike to protest this (c)/
unnecessary price hike (d)/ No error (e).

9. Although this book as well as those (a)/ books of yours are similar (b)/ in many ways, mine has (c)/ an edge
over many a book of yours (d)/ No error (e).

10. The prime minister along with his (a)/ attendants are coming tomorrow (b)/ to address the sensational (c)/
and controversial issues of terrorism (d)/ No error (e).

Answers..
1. b
2. b
3. c
4. b
5. c
6. b
7. a
8. b
9. b
10. b

Conjunction

A conjunction is a word which merely joins together sentences or clauses, and sometimes words.
1. That is a beautiful place and I have been there.
2. That is the beautiful place where I have been to.

Classes of Conjunctions
Conjunctions are divided into two classes: 1) Co-ordinating and 2) Sub-ordinating.
1. Co-ordinating conjunction :
It joins together clauses of equal ranks. For eg. He is slow, but he is sure.
2. Sub-ordinating conjunction :
It joins together clauses in which one is dependent on the other. For eg. Since you wish to excel in life, you must learn
English.

Some rules

Rule: Scarcely should be followed by when, not by than.

Incorrect: Scarcely had he arrived than he had to leave again.
Correct: Scarcely had he arrived when he had to leave again.

Rule : No sooner is followed by than, not by but.

Incorrect: No sooner had we reached the station but the train left.
correct: No sooner had we reached the station than the train left.
Note : "No sooner A ... than B" is very similar to "Scarcely A... when B" and has almost the same meaning.

Rule : Do not use seldom or ever in place of seldom or never.

Incorrect: The national network seldom or ever telecasts good programmes.
Correct: The national network seldom or never telecasts good programmes.

Rule : Correlative conjunctions should be followed by the same part of speech.

Incorrect: He neither agreed to my proposal nor to his.
Correct: He agreed neither to my proposal nor to his.

Rule : Neither is followed by nor, not by or.

Incorrect: The phone neither went dead or worked properly.
Correct: The phone neither went dead nor worked properly.

Rule : The conjunction that is not used before

i) a sentence in direct narration.
ii) an interrogative adverb or interrogative pronoun in the indirect narration.
Incorrect: He said that, "it is none of my business".
Correct: He said, "It is none of my business."
Incorrect: He asked me that which was the way to the station.
Correct: He asked me which was the way to the station.
Rule : Although goes with yet or a comma (,) in the other clause.
Incorrect: Although Manohar is hardworking, but he does not get a job.
Correct: Although Manohar is hardworking, yet he does not get a job.
Note : Though/Although is used with contradictory sentences (sentences expressing opposite views).
Incorrect: Since she was sick, she attended the party.
Correct: Though she was sick, she attended the party.

Rule : Nothing else should be followed by but, not by than.

Incorrect: Mr Bureaucrat! This is nothing else than red-tapism.
Correct: Mr Bureaucrat! This is nothing else but red-tapism.

Rule : The correlative conjunctions indeed... but are used to emphasis the contrast between the first and the second
parts of the statement.
Incorrect: I am indeed happy with my school but it produces famous men.
Correct: I am indeed happy with my school that it produces famous men.

Rule : In a "not only ... but also ... "sentence, the verb should agree with the noun or pronoun mentioned second, that is,
the one after but also because this is the part being emphasised.
Incorrect: Not only the students but also the teacher were responsible for what happened in the class.
Correct: Not only the students but also the teacher was responsible for what happened in the class.

Rule : Not only ... but also always comes before the same part of speech.
Incorrect: They not only gave me standing ovation but also a cash prize of `1000.
Correct: They gave me not only standing ovation but also a cash prize of `1000.

Rule : Such...as is used to denote a category whereas such...that emphasises the degree of something by mentioning its
consequence.
Incorrect: Each member of the alliance agrees to take such action as it deems necessary.
Correct: Each member of the alliance agrees to take such action that it deems necessary.

Rule : The conjunction “lest” is followed by “should”.

Incorrect: Work hard lest you would fail.
Correct: Work hard lest you should fail.
Note: “Lest” is a negative word. There should be no use of “not”, “nothing”, “never”, “no” with lest”.
Incorrect: Word hard lest you should not fail.
Correct: Word hard lest you should fail.

Rule : The conjunction so—as is used for comparison in a negative sentence whereas—as is used in a positive or
affirmative sentence.
Incorrect: He is not as tall as his brother.
Correct: He is not so tall as his brother.

Rule : The conjunction, “both” is followed by “and” and not by “as well as” or “along with”.
Incorrect: Both the boys as well as the girls were asbent.
Correct: Both the boys and the girls were absent.

Rule : The conjunction “unless” denotes condition whereas “until” denotes time.
Incorrect: Until you work hard, you will not succeed.
Correct: Unless you work hard, you will not succeed.
Note : “Unless” and “Until” are negative words. There should be no use of “not” “nothing”, “never” with unless and until.

Questions based on above concepts.

Directions: In each of the following questions, find out which part of the sentence has an error. The error may be
grammatical or idiomatic. If there is no mistake, the answer is ‘No error’.

1. The managing director well as (a)/ the Board members was in (b)/ favour of taking strict action (c)/ against the striking
workers. (d)/ No error (e)

2. Unless he does not return (a)/ all the library books (b)/ he will not be relieved (c)/ from the service.(d)/ No error (e)

3. You must either tell me (a)/ the whole story or (b)/, at least, the (c)/ first half of it. (d)/ No error (e)

4. The old woman has had the (a)/ best medical facilities available (b)/ but she will not be cured unless she does not
have (c)/ a strong desire to live.(d)/ No error (e)

5. Hardly had I reached (a)/ the airport where (b)/ I learnt about the powerful (c)/ bomb explosion.(d)/ No error (e)
6. The manager of the bank (a)/ was busy; so he asked them (b)/ to come and see him between two to (c)/ three in the
afternoon.(d)/ No error (e)

7. Because he is physically (a)/ strong, therefore he was (b)/ selected for the school (c)/ boxing team.(d)/ No error (e)

8. Being a strict (a)/ vegetarian he depended (b)/ on milk and fruit and (c)/ had to cook for himself.(d)/ No error (e)

9. Even though the shirt (a)/ is rather expensive but (b)/ I wish to purchase (c)/ it with my own money.(d)/ No error (e)

10. Unless Ashish does not (a)/ return all the library books, (b)/ he will not be awarded (c)/ the pass certificate. (d)/ No
error (e)

Answers will be provided soon

1. a; Add ‘as’ before ‘well’

2. a; Replace ‘does not return’ with ‘returns’
3. e; No error
4. c; Replace ‘does not have’ with ‘has’
5. b; Replace ‘where’ with ‘when’
6. c; Replace ‘to’ with ‘and’
7. b; Remove ‘therefore’
8. c; Replace ‘and’ with ‘or’
9. b; Remove ‘but’

10. a; Replace ‘unless’ with ‘if’

Prepositions

A preposition is a word placed before a noun (or a pronoun) to show in what relation the person or thing
denoted by it stands to something else.

Kinds of Preposition
1) Simple Prepositions : They are the simple words used as prepositions.
For example, at, by, for, from, in, of, off,on, out, over, through, till, to, under, up, with.
2) Compound Prepositions : They are generally formed by prefixing a preposition (usually a = on or be
= by) to a
noun, an adjective or an adverb.
For example,about, above, across, along, amidst, among, around, before, behind, below, beneath, beside,
between, beyond, inside, outside, underneath, within, without.
3) Phrase Prepositions : When a group of words is used with the force of a single preposition, it is
known as a phrase preposition.
For example, He succeeded in spite of obstacles.
4) Participial Prepositions: When the present participle of a verb acts as a preposition, it is known as a
participle preposition.
For example, There have not been too many celebrations in recent times barring those happened after
Diwali.

Rules based on frequent asked questions

Rule : In is used with names of countries and large towns; at is more often used when speaking of small
towns and villages.
Incorrect: He lives at Germany.
Correct: He lives in Germany.

Rule : In and at are used in speaking of things at rest; to and into are used in speaking of things in
motion.
Incorrect : This week the song jumped at the top of the charts.
Correct: This week the song jumped to the top of the charts.

Rule : Till is used of time and to is used of place.

Incorrect: The office will remain open to six in the evening.
Correct: The office will remain open till six in the evening.

Rule : With often denotes the instrument used by the agent.

Incorrect: The ball was hit by the bat.
Correct: The ball was hit with the bat.

Rule : Both since and from are used before a noun denoting some point of time. However, while since is
preceded by a verb in the perfect tense, from is used with the
non-perfect tense.
Incorrect: India has been playing Test cricket from 1932.
Correct: India has been playing Test cricket since 1932.

Rule : While since or from is used with a point of time, for is used with a period of time.
Incorrect: The parcel has been lying here since 10 days.
Correct: The parcel has been lying here for 10 days.

Rule : Beside means by the side of while besides means in additions to.
Incorrect: He sat besides the chair.
Correct: He sat beside the chair.

Rule : Between is used for only two things or persons while among is used for more than two.
Incorrect: You have to choose among tea and coffee.
Correct: You have to choose between tea and coffee.

Rule : Above and below merely denote position while over and under also carry a sense of covering or
movement.
Incorrect: The bird flew above the lake.
Correct: The bird flew over the lake.

Rule : During is used when we are talking about the time within which something happens. For is used
when we are talking about how long something lasts.
Incorrect: There were few incidents of irregularity for the Emergency years.
Correct: There were few incidents of irregularity during the Emergency years.

Rule: The preposition “off” denotes “separation”, “at a distance from” or “far from” whereas the
preposition “of” denotes cause, origin, quality, possession.
Incorrect: He put of his coat.
Correct: He put off his coat. (Separation)
Incorrect: He died off cancer.
He died of cancer. (Cause)

Rule : The word compare is followed by to when it shows that two things are alike. It is followed by with
when we look at the ways in which two things are like and unlike each other.
Incorrect: Sanath Jayasuriya's batting may be compared with the sales of a useful book: they score fast
right from the beginning.
Correct: Sanath Jayasuriya's batting may be compared to the sales of a useful book: they score fast right
from the beginning.

Rule : When we simply speak of a thing having got better, we talk of an improvement in it. When we
compare two things, the second of which is better than the first, we talk of an improvement on the first
thing.
Incorrect: There has been an improvement on the weather.
Correct: There has been an improvement in the weather.

Rule : In means at the end of, while within means before the end of, the said time duration.
Incorrect: We left at 5 o'clock expecting to come back in an hour and watch the 6 o'clock movie.
Incorrect: We left at 5 o'clock expecting to come back within an hour and watch the 6 o'clock movie.

Some important points about prepositions

1. The words “superior”, “inferior”, “senior”, “junior” etc. take the preposition “to” with
them.
Incorrect: Ram is senior than Mohan.
Correct: Ram is senior to Mohan.

2. The words “prefer”, “preferrable”, “preferred” also take the preposition “to” with them.
Incorrect: I prefer tea than coffee.
Correct: I prefer tea to coffee.

3. The words “inspite of” and “despite” share the same meaning. The only difference is that
inspite takes the preposition “of” whereas despite does not take any preposition.
Incorrect: Despite of bad weather, he went to school.
Correct: Despite bad weather, he went to school.
In the same way, the word “consist” takes the preposition “of” whereas “comprise” does not take any
preposition.
Incorrect: The classroom comprises of twenty students.
Correct: The classroom comprises twenty students.

Following questions are based on the above concepts

Directions: Choose the most appropriate preposition in each of the following sentences.

1. The peasant refused to grovel _______ the feet of his master.

a) on
b) about
c) upon
d) at
e) None of these

2. He was killed _______ a highway man ______ a dagger.

a) by; for
b) by; with
c) in; for
d) with; for
e) None of these

3. Give an example pertinent ________ the case.

a) with
b) for
c) on
d) to
e) None of these

4. Are not these slums a disgrace ______ the civic authorities.

a) for
b) to
c) towards
d) on
e) None of these

5. Take this medicine and you will get rid _______ the bad cold.
a) from
b) over
c) at
d) of
e) None of these]

6. President Saddam Hussain has lived _______ the gun all his life.
a) with
b) for
c) by
d) on
e) None of these

7. He had to repent _______ what he had done.

a) at
b) of
c) over
d) for
e) None of these

8. The commentator seems to be enamoured _______ it.

a) with
b) over
c) for
d) on
e) None of these

9. The man died _______ fever last week.

a) with
b) from
c) of
d) by
e) None of these

10. He has not been cured _______ his disease.

a) of
b) from
c) by
d) through
e) None of these

Directions (Q.11-20). Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in
it. The error, if any, will he in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is 'No
error', the answer is 'e'.

11. I have been teaching a)/ in this school since b)/ several years but have c)/ never met such a hopless
class as this. d)/ No error e)
12. I have an a)/ appointment on the b)/ 9th of September on c)/ five O’clock.d)/ No error e)
13. Despite of a good a)/ monsoon this year, the b)/ production of food grains in the country c)/ did not
go up.d)/ No error e)
14. Ordinarily, when in a)/ difficulty Renu prefers b)/ keeping her counsel than c)/ running about taking
advice.d)/ No error e)
15. The invitation card a)/ says that Satish b)/ marries with c)/ Sunita next month.d)/ No error e)
16. She looked very a)/ different from the b)/ photograph I c)/ had of her. d)/ No error e)
17. The bride said a)/ that she would not b)/ marry the man c)/ over thirty five.d)/ No error e)
18. The reason a)/ of his failure b)/ is due to c)/ his negligence.d)/ No error e)
19. The captain and his a)/ wife were invited b)/ for the cultural c)/ function at my home.d)/ No error e)
20. Yesterday, while a)/ crossing the b)/ road he was run out c)/ by a truck. d) No error e)

Answers :
1. d
2. b
3. d
4. b
5. d
6. c
7. d
8. a
9. c
10. a
11. b; Replace “since” with “for”.
12. c; Replace “on” with “at”.
13. a; Omit “of”
14. c; Replace “than” with “to”
15. c; Replace “with” with “to”
16. e; No error.
17. d; Replace “over” with “above”
18. b; Replace “of” with “for”
19. c; Replace “for” with “at”
20. c; Replace “run out” with “run over”

The usage of some preposition with some words is fixed. Some of them are given below. Have a look.

Accustomed of

 He was accustomed of working hard in his youth. (used to)

Accused of

 The man accused of stealing was sent to jail. (blamed of)

Acquainted with
Please introduce him to me if you are acquainted with him. (know) Article :
The words "A" or "An" and "The" are called Articles. They come before nouns. There are two Articles - " A (or An)" and
"The".
"A" or "An" is called the Indefinite Article, because it usually leaves indefinite the person or thing spoken of; as, A
Ground, A Cow
Indefinite (Not Sure) : If you are talking about some random thing or person, then you use Indefinite Article. In the above
example, 'A Cow' means a random cow. Similarly 'A Ground' means any random ground and no one can be sure which
we are talking about.

"The" is called the Definite Article, because it normally points out some particular person or thing.
For example, The Cow, The Ground.
Definite Article (a particular thing or person) : If we say 'The' before any noun, it means we are talking about a prticular
thing or person. In the above example 'The Cow' means a particular cow. Similarly 'The Ground' means a particular
ground.

Use of the indefinite article

Incorrect : There are 365 days in the year.

Every year has 365 days and it is not about the particular year.
Correct : There are 365 days in an year.

Indefinite articles can also be used in a sense of each, every or per.

The doctor said “Take the pill twice a day.”

Use of the definite article

Incorrect : He has been causing trouble since a day he came.

In the above example, the statement is about a particular day therefore 'the' will be used
Correct : He has been causing trouble since the day he came.

When a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class.

The Elephant is a huge animal.

So based on above concept, below is the quiz : In the below quiz, try to find the errors related to Articles.

1. As soon as the teacher (a)/ entered everyone (b)/ in the class fell (c)/ in a silence.(d)/ No error (e)

2. On my request (a)/ Lalit introduced me (b)/ to his friend who (c)/ is singer and a scientist.(d)/ No error(e)

3. To perform this (a)/ experiment drop (b)/ little sugar into a glass of water (c)/ and see the change.(d)/ No error (e)

4. Even now when I (a)/ see the spot (b)/ I am reminded of an unique accident (c)/ that took place several years ago.(d)/
No error (e)

5. With little (a)/ imagination and enterprise the tournament (b)/ could have been transformed (c)/ into a major attraction.
(d)/ No error(e)

6. Page after page (a)/ of Gita were read (b)/ and it gave great (c)/ consolation to his mind.(d) No error (e)

7. One should (a)/ be true to one’s promises (b)/ in order to earn (c)/ name & fame in the life.(d) No error (e)

8. The robbers were (a)/ caught just as they (b)/ were about to escape (c)/ from the jail.(d)/ No error(e)

9. The man is mortal (a)/ and ultimately he has to leave (b)/ everything here yet how irrationally (c)/ he remains attached
to his worldly possessions.(d)/ No error(e)

10. In a mountaineering (a)/ expedition higher you (b)/ go from the base (c)/ camp the colder you feel.(d)/ No error (e)

Answers

1. (d)
Omit 'a' before "silence" as it is uncountable noun.
2. (d)
It should be "A singer and scientist"
3. (c)
Put 'a" before "little".
4. (c)
Replace "an" with "a".
5. (a)
Put "a" before "little"
6. (b)
Put "the" before "Gita" as it is the name of a religious text.
7. (d)
Omit "the" before "Life"
8. (d)
Omit "the" before "jail" as it has been used for primary purpose.
9. (a)
Omit "the" before "man".
10. (b)
Put "the" before "higher" as it is a comparative

Afraid of

 Don’t get afraid of that dog. It won’t bite. (fear from)

Agree to (idea)

 The president agreed to the resolution and passed it. (accept)

Agree with (person)

 If you agree with me please support me. (have same opinion)

According to

 He was acquitted as he was innocent according to the jury. (in the opinion of)

Adapted to

 Man easily gets adapted to new environments. (change)

Along with

 The Prime Minister along with his retinue entered the hall. (together with)

Associated with

 He had long been associated with the organization before he retired. (worked with)

Averse to

 Initially people are averse to accepting their weakness, but with the passage of time they start
realizing and correcting themselves. (unwilling to)
Believe in (faith)

 I believe in God. (have faith in)

Belong to

 As this country belongs to us, we belong to this country. (have a right over)

Clever at

 She is clever at painting and playing mu sic, but I am at mu sic. (skilled at)

Congratulate on

 I congratulated her on her great success. (greeted)

Cure for

 As man conquers a disease and find a cure for it, another pops up. (remedy for)

Depend on

 High rate of employment depends on growth of economy. (is related with)

Derived from

 Many English words are derived from Greek and Latin. (came/originate from)

Details of

 This new book contains de tails of her extensive journey. (description of)

Different from

 Village life is quite different from city life. (not same)

Divide into

 The property was divided into two parts and given to the two sons. (break into)

Dream of

 The henpeck husband could never dream of op pos ing his wife. (think of) Frightened of
Those frightened of obstacles never proceed ahead for success. (having fear of)
Famous for

 The city of Benaras is famous for its teeming ghats. (known for)

Good at

 He is quite good at convincing people in his favour. (skilled at)

Ignorant of

 Being ignorant of the consequences, thenaives easily fall into bad habits. (not knowing)

Increase in

 There has been a tremendous increase in the multi-nationals in our country. (rise in)

Insist on

 The shopkeeper could not deny when she insisted on paying later. (said forcefully)

Interested in

 Work hard if you are interested in your progress. (want to)

Lack of

 Lack of money brings poverty and lack of knowledge ignorance. (devoid of, not having)

Fond of

 The mother was very fond of her youngest child. (loved/liked very much)

Aim at

 The shooter aimed at the tar get and shot accurately. (fix at the tar get)

Laugh at

 Don’t laugh at those who are deprived of God’s blessings. (ridicule, make fun of)

Listen to

 Hello! Please listen to me. (lend your ear, heed, pay attention to)
Look at

 What are you looking at? (see)

Look after

 The nurse looked after the child better than the mother. (to take care of, to rear)

Look for

 Have you lost anything? What are you looking for under the table. (to search for)

Look into

 I have requested the police commissioner to look into the matter of increasing crime in our
locality. (investigate, to probe, examine)

Error identification – Extra practice exercises. Decide which part of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Then look
at the answers below.

1. I enjoyed study geography at school and now I’ve enrolled at the Economics Faculty.
2. I used to be keen of all scientific subjects but now I would prefer to study art.
3. I want meet your sister when she comes to see you – she sounds very nice.
4. My friends tell the English exam is quite difficult but I’m not worried.
5. The tickets, which are extremely good value, can be buy from large supermarkets.
6. The number of people which asked for the discount was low but grew during the summer period.
7. He wanted always to be a doctor and after doing medicine he now works in a hospital.
8. The informations they gave us was not very helpful so I consulted the website instead.
9. There isn’t many time, do you think we should get a taxi to the exhibition centre?
10. He graduated in languages in June and is now thinking of do a second degree in psychology.
11. The policeman showed us an identikit picture of the man who steal the car.
12. How long does it take to get the station on foot from your house
13. I was so angry that I took the watch broken to the jewellers to get my money back.
14. He rang me this morning for tell me that he had passed his driving test.
15. I won’t be able to go on holiday this year unless I will get a part-time job.
16. It was so nice day that they decided to have a picnic in the field.
17. I haven’t never seen anybody who rides a horse so well before.
18. My boyfriend always takes me to see horror films, but I don’t like very much.
19. We went to Guatemala last year so we were tired of the usual beach holiday.
20. I’ve gone to Marbella. I remember it well. A busy town with a nice modern promenade and picturesque
‘piazze’.

ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATIONS

 1. I enjoyed studying (‘enjoy’ + ing)
2. keen on (keen + on = essere appassionato di)
3. want to (‘want’+ to + verb)
4. tell me (‘tell’ + person (me/you/him/her etc); nb. ‘say’non è seguito dalla persona)
5. can be bought (to be + past participle = passive)
6. who (relative pronoun ‘who’ = people)
7. always wanted (frequency adverb goes before the main verb)
8. the informations (information = uncountable noun)
9. much time (‘much’ with uncountable nouns, ‘many’ with countable nouns)
10. doing (‘ing’after a preposition)
11. stole (past tense of steal = steal stole stolen)
12. get to (preposition necessary; get to /go to /come to the station, BUT. arrive at/ reach the station)
13. broken watch (adjective before noun)
14. to tell me (to+base form = per/a scopo di)
15. unless I will get (1° conditional = if/unless/when + present)
16. such a (such a + noun; so + adjective)
17. I haven’t never (double negative)
18. l don’t like them (‘like’ + direct object)
19. as (as = siccome; so = quindi)
20. I’ve been to Madrid (use ‘been’ not ‘gone’ se sei stato e tornato)

1. The area was plunged into, (1) / darkness mid a wave of (2) / cheering and
shouting (3) / slogans like ‘Save and Earth’. (4) No error (5)

2. The poll contestants approached the commission (1) / complaining that

the hoardings (2) / violated the code of conduct (3)/ and influenced the
public perception. (4) No error (5)

3. The country has (1) / adequate laws but problems arise (2) / when these
are not (3) / implemented in letter and spirit. (4) No error (5)

4. The management feels that (1) / the employees of the organization are (2)
/ non – productive, and do not want (3) / to work hard (4)/ No error (5)

5. As far the issue of land encroachment (1) / in villages is concerned, people

will (2) / have to make a start from their villages by (3) / sensitizing and
educating the villagers about the issue. (4) No error (5)
 _______________________________________________

Answers :
1 (2) ; 2 (5) ; 3(5) ; 4 (3) ; 5(1)

EX.1. It was clear from the way (1)/ they were behaving (2)/ that they had been (3)/ lost their senses
(4)/ No er¬ror (5).

EX.2. That boy possess (1)/ three beautiful pens (2)/ but he would not (3)/ show them to anyone (4)/
No error (5) ..

EX.3. Though I had been (1)/ his friend for quite a long time, (2)/ I re¬fused to help him (3)/ because
his ill nature (4)/ No error (5).

EX.4. When he had been (1)/ walked along the road (2)/ a wild and ferocious dog (3)/ hit him hard
and knocked him down (4)/ No error (5).

EX.5. I am grateful to you (1)/ and all your friends (2)/ for showing sym-pathy (3)/ and kindness with
me (4)/ No error (5).

[Corporation Bank Clerk Exam, 18.06.2006]

EX.6. I have citicize (1)/ the re¬markable book (2)/ because I ben-efited (3)/ from reading it. (4)/ No
er¬ror (5)

EX.7. As Arundhati Roy (1)/ in her foreword write (2)/ John offers (3)/un-told stories of people. (4) No
error (5)

EX.8. Responsibilities includes (1)/ working with the editors (2)/ on all. aspects (3)/ of the editorial
process. (4)/ No error (5)

EX.9. While grouping the words (1)/ care have been taken (2)/ to in-clude th'e role (3)/ grammar
plays in a language. (4)/ No error (5)

EX.10. Distrust seems (1)/ to be a factor (2)/ borne out of (3)/ prevail¬ing circumstances. (4)/ No
error (5) [Syndicate Bank Clerk Exam, 17.04.2005]
Directions (11-20) : Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The
error, if any, will be in one part of the sen-tence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no
error, the answer is (5), Le. 'No Error'. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).

EX.11. I am grateful to you (1)/ and all your friends (2)/for the showed sympathy (3)/ and kindness
towards me. (4)/ No error (5)

EX.12. While he was (1)/ walking along the road (2)/a speeding car (3)/ knocked down to him (4)/ No
error (5)

EX.13. Though none of his (1)/ so-called well-wishers forwarded to help (2)/1 helped him by (3)/
complet¬[Link] work on time (4)/ No error (5)

[Corporation Bank Clerk Exam, 07.11.2004]

EX.14. No book is (1 lias absorb¬ing as (2)/the novel I am reading (3) written by Prem Chand. (4)/No
er¬ror (5).

[BSRB Mumbai Bank Clerical Exam., 07.06.1998]

EX.15. He not only believes (1)/ in hardwork but (2)/also is honesty (3)/ of the highest order. (4)/No
Error (5) [BSRB Patna Bank Clerical Exam., 23.03.1998]

EX.16. Why it is that (1 )/don't you understand (2)/even when it is ex¬plained (~)/to you again and
again. (4)/No error (5)

[BSRB Patna Bank Clerical Exam., 22.03.1998]

EX.17. Arun along with his (1)/ family goes for (2)/morning walk ev¬ery day (3)/in the nearby park.
(4)/No error (5)

[BSRB Patna Bank Clerical Exam., 22.03.1998]

EX.18. What was his response (1 )/when you tried (2)/to got some (3)/ information from him? (4)/No
error (5) EX.19. This time election (1 )/did not had (2)/heat and dust usually (3)/ associated with it.
(4)/No error (5). [BSRB Patna Bank Clerical Exam, 05.04.1998]
20. If you do not (1 )/submit the re¬port (2)/in the next two days (3)/all of us will be delay. (4)/No
error (5). [BSRB Lucknow Clerical Exam., 07.12.1997]

21. It is a mystery (1 )/how some people (2)/can foretell future events (3)/on the basis of horoscope
(4)/No error (5).

[BSRB Jaipur Bank Clerical Exam., 21.12.1997J

22. All said and done (1 )/it is the basic value that is (2)/most impor¬tance and (3)/help you in the
long run. (4)/No error (5)

[BSRB Delhi Bank Clerical Exam., 30.11.1997]

[ ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATION] 1.(3) Past Perfect Tense will be used. The structure is :

Subject + had + past participle 2.(1) 'That boy possesses' is the correct usage, as the verb must
agree with its subject in number and person. 3.(4) 'Because of' is the correct

idiomatic form.

4.(2) The structure of Past Perfect Continuous is

Subject + had been + verb +ing 5.(4) The preposition 'with' should be replaced by 'to'.

6.(1) The error lies in part (1) of the sentence. 'I have criticize' should be replaced with 'I did not
criticize'. It will make the sentence meaningful.

7.(2) The word 'write' is in Present Indefinite Tense. It should be replaced with 'has written' as
Present Perfect is used to express past action whose time is not given and not defi¬nite.

8.(1) The word Responsibilities is a Plural Subject. It will take plural verb.

9.(2) The word Care is Singular and it will take Singular ~erb. Hence, 'care have been taken' should
be re¬placed with 'care has been taken'.

10.(3) The phrase 'borne out of,' should be replaced with 'born of' which means coining from the
speci¬fied type of parents, background, ori¬gin etc. For example,
Her socialist beliefs were born of . a hatred of injustice.

11.(4) The word kindness is fol-lowed by Preposition 'to'. For example,

I can never repay her many kind-ness to me.

12.(4) The phrase knock some body down means hit somebody and make them fall to the ground.

For example,

He was knocked down.

Hence, the correct sentence will be:

While he was walking along the road, a speeding car knocked him down.

13.(2) The correct sentence will be:

. Though none of his so-called well-wishers came forward to help, I helped him by completing his
work on time ..

14. (1) Here the comparison is between things (novels) which be¬long to the same class or group.
Therefore, no other should be used in the place of no.

See the example given below : (i) No other city in India is as large as Mumbai.

(ii) No city in Bangladesh is as large as Mumbai.

In the first sentence comparison is among the cities in India. Here cit¬ies belong to the same group
i.e. In¬dian cities.

But in the second sentence com-parison is among the cities of Bangladesh on the one side and
Mumbai (Indian city) on the other. So, the comparison is between the cities which belong to different
groups. Therefore, only No is used.
15. (1) Not only should be used after believes and not before be¬lieves. Remember two
Subjects/Ob-jects/Verbs/Gerunds, etc. are con-nected by not only ... but also/Either .. or/Neither ...
nor.

For example,

(i) I have invited not only Ram but also Shyam.

(ii) He not only reads but also writes.

In the given sentence not only is used before a Verb (believes) and but also is used before a Noun
(honesty). So, it needs change and adjustment.

16. (2) We generally construct an interrogative sentence by keeping Au~iliary Verb before the
Subject. This is what is done in part (1) of the given sentence. But one should remember that when
connected by that, the clause after that should not be in in¬terrogative form. So, you don't
under¬stand will be used in place of don't you understand.

For example,

How can you conclude that his answer was wrong.

17. (5) Here the Subject is Arun which is in Third person, Singular Number. So, the Verb goes is also
in Third Person Singular Number.

"Words joined to a Singular Sub-ject by with, together with, in addition to or as well as etc. are
parentheti¬cal, and therefore do not affect the Number of the Verb.

For example,

(i) Rama as well as Hari and Govind likes hot curry.

The use of goes is appropriate here. Therefore, the given sentence is above suspicion, so far the
grammati-cal norms are concerned.
18. (3) Use of got (V 2) after to is wrong. To-infinitive is- constructed fol-lowing the norm (To + V,).
Therefore, if a Verb is used after to, it 'should be in the first form (i.e. V1). Here also, in¬stead of got
(V2)/(Va) get (V,) must be used.

For example,

He requested me tq come.

19. (2) Remember, after do, did, does, can, could, shall, should (Aux-iliaries) Verb is always in the
first form (VJ

For example,

Do you know him?

-L -L

Do V1

I don't know'him?

-L Do

I don't know him. -L

VI

In the given sentence had is used after did not. Had is the second/ third form of have. So according
to the above mentioned norm, have (VI) should be used in place of had (Vi Va)'

20. (4) Delayed should be used in place of delay. The sentence is in Passive Voice. So be should be
fol-lowed by the third form of the Verb.

21. (3) Foretell means "to tell what will happen in future". Therefore use of future in the sentence is
su¬perfluous.
22. (3) Use important in place of importance.

In some of the Bank Clerical Ex-

ams, another type of questions on . Common Errors are also as~ed in ad-dition to the above
mentioned type. This type of questions appear to be somewhat easier as you have to find out only
the inappropriate word in a sentence. Consider the following ex-amples:

Directions (1-5) : In each sen¬tence below are given four words which are numbered (1), (2), (3) and
(4) and printed in bold type, one of which may be either inappropriate in the context of the sentence
or wrongly spelt. The number of that word is the answer. If all the four words are ap¬propriate and
also correctly spelt mark (5) i.e., "All correct, as the answer.

Ex.1. The importanse (1)/ given to content-oriented approach has af-fected (2)/ the methodology (3)/
of this project. (4)/ All correct (5)' .

EX.2. Almost all risk-taking (1)/ work involve (2)/ decision (3)/ making under uncertainty. (4)/ All
correct(5)

EX.3. In developing (1)/ countries there is increesing (2)/ concern for fos¬tering (3)/ human potential.
(4)/ All cor¬rect (5)

[United Bank of India Clerk Exam, 24.07.2005]

.Ex.4. There is a significant (1)1 rice (2)/in the prices of essential (3)1 commodities. (4)/AII correct (5)

EX.5. He was fortunately (1 )/to acquire (2)/plenty (3)/of money in the business. (4)/AII correct (5)

[BSRB Baroda (SC/ST) Clerical Exam., 27.04.1997]

ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATION:

1.(1) The correct spelling is impor¬tance.

2.(1) The appropriate word should be risky.

3.(2) The correct spelling is in-creasing.

4.(2) Use rise and not rice.

Sentence Improvement Excercises

In questions given below, a part of the sentence is italicised and underlined. Below are given
alternatives to the italicised part which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct
alternative. In case no improvement is needed, option 'D' is the answer.
1. The workers are hell bent at getting what is due to them.

A. hell bent on getting B. hell bent for getting

C. hell bent upon getting D. No improvement

2. When it was feared that the serfs might go too far and gain their freedom from serfdom,
the protestant leaders joined the princes at crushing them.

A. into crushing B. in crushing

C. without crushing D. No improvement

3. If the room had been brighter, I would have been able to read for a while before bed
time.

A. If the room was brighter B. If the room are brighter

C. Had the room been brighter D. No improvement

4. The record for the biggest tiger hunt has not been met since 1911 when Lord Hardinge.
then Viceroy of India, shot a tiger than measured 11 feet and 6 inches.

A. improved B. Broken

C. bettered D. No improvement

5. his powerful desire brought about his downfall.

A. His intense desire B. His desire for power

C. His fatal desire D. No improvement

6. Will you kindly open the knot?

A. untie B. break
 C. loose D. No improvement

7. He sent a word to me that he would be coming late.

A. sent word B. had sent a word

C. sent words D. No improvement

8. John had told me that he hasn’t done it yet.

A. told B. tells

C. was telling D. No improvement

9. If he had time he will call you.

A. would have B. would have had

C. has D. No improvement

10. Will you lend me few rupees in this hour of need?

A. lend me any rupees B. borrow me a few rupees

C. lend me a few rupees D. No improvement

11. During his long discourse, he did not touch that point.

A. touch upon B. touch on

C. touch of D. No improvement

12. He found a wooden broken chair in the room.

A. wooden and broken chair B. broken wooden chair

C. broken and wooden chair D. No improvement

13. He could not look anything in the dark room.

A. look at B. see
 C. see through D. No improvement

14. The greatest thing in style is to have a use of metaphor.

A. knowledge B. command

C. need D. No improvement

15. While crossing the highway a five year old child was knocked out by a passing car.

A. away B. up

C. down D. No improvement

16. hoping not to be disturbed, I sat down in my easy chair to read the book. I won as a prize.

A. I had won as a prize B. I have won as prize

C. I had to win as a prize D. No improvement

17. More than one person was killed in accident.

A. were killed B. are killed

C. have been killed D. No improvement

18. No one could explain how a calm and balanced person like him could penetrate such a mindless
act on his friends.

A. perpetuate B. Perpetrate

C. precipitate D. No improvement

19. Five years ago today, I am sitting in a small Japanese car, driving across Poland towards Berlin.

A. was sitting B. sat

C. have been sitting D. No improvement

20. I took the cycle which he bought yesterday.

A. that he bought yesterday

 B. that which he had bought yesterday

C. that he had bought yesterday

D. No improvement

21. Please make it a point to send you letter at my address.

A. on my address B. to my address

C. in my address D. No improvement

22. If you are living near a market place you should be ready to bear the disturbances caused by
traffic.

A. to bear upon B. to bear with

C. to bear away D. No improvement

23. I hope you won't object to me watching while you work.

A. against me watching B. me to watch

C. to my watching D. No improvement

24. You cannot forbid him leaving.

A. he leaving B. his leaving

C. him to leave D. No improvement

25. You have come here with a view to insult me.

A. to insulting me B. of insulting me

C. for insulting me D. No improvement

26. 20 kms are not a great distance in these days of fast moving vehicles.

A. is not a great distance B. is no distance

C. aren't a great distance D. No improvement

27. The more they earn, more they spend.

A. More they earn, more they spend

B. More they earn, the more they spend

C. The more they earn, the more they spend

D. No improvement

28. It became clear that the strangers were heading into a serious disaster.

A. along B. Towards

C. for D. No improvement

29. The dissidents hold a great problem in every political party.

A. cause B. give

C. pose D. No improvement

30. I would have waited for you at the station if I knew that you would come.

A. had known B. was knowing

C. have known D. No improvement

31. They are social insects, living in communities, regulated by definite laws, each member of society
bearing well-defined and separate part in the work of a colony.

A. who are living in communities B. living among a community

C. who lives with a community D. No improvement

32. Practically every part of the banana tree is used by man.

A. each part B. any part

C. most part D. No improvement

33. My opinion for the film is that it will bag the national ward.

A. opinion to B. opinion about

C. opinion on D. No improvement

34. The end of the examinations is (an) oppurtunity for celebrating.

A. chance B. Moment

C. occasion D. No improvement

35. We were not the wiser for all this effort to explain the case to us.

A. none B. Neither

C. nevertheless D. No improvement

Rearrange the following six sentences (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) in
the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the
questions given below.

1. (P) However desirable (Q) they are not desirable at any price (R) one must be
cautious that (S) be the results on investment :
(A) Q P S R (B) R S Q P (C) R Q S P
(D) R P S Q (E) None of these
Ans : (D)

2. The Government has assured the people that (P) in the Kargil operation (Q) who have
sacrificed their lives (R) will be properly looked after (S) the families of all those
soldiers :
(A) P S R Q (B) S Q P R (C) S R Q P
(D) S P R Q (E) None of these
Ans : (B)
3. All precautionary measures were taken (P) to prevent the capture of booths (Q)
during the election (R) by the Government (S), by the terrorists :
(A) S P R Q (B) Q S P R (C) R P S Q
(D) R Q S P (E) None of these
Ans : (C)
4. People (P) at his dispensary (Q) went to him (R) of all professions (S) for medicine
and treatment :
(A) Q P R S (B) R P Q S (C) R Q S P
(D) Q R S P (E) None of these
Ans : (C)
5. If you need help (P) promptly and politely (Q) ask for attendants (R) to help our
customers (S) who have instructions :
(A) Q S R P (B) P Q R S (C) P R Q S
(D) Q P R S (E) None of these
Ans : (A)

5. (P) one is sure the samaroh will provide (Q) going by the festival’s earlier editions
(R) to the listener and performer (S) a moment of salvation :
(A) R Q S P (B) Q R S P (C) Q S P R
(D) Q P S R (E) None of these
Ans : (D)
7. (P) Standing carelessly with his sword, (Q) the fat major (R) held horizontally
behind him and with his legs far apart (S) looked after the receding horseman and
laughed :
(A) P Q S R (B) Q P R S (C) P Q R S
(D) P R S Q (E) None of these
Ans : (B)

6. The only time (P) when this dynamic cricketer (Q) was on the 1979 tour of England
(R) failed with the bat (S) the tag of an all-rounder did not fit him :
(A) S P R Q (B) P R S Q (C) S R P Q
(D) S Q P R (E) None of these
Ans : (D)
7. One day when I was busy working in my office (P) dressed as a monkey (Q) I was
started (R) to find a man (S) sitting opposite my table :
(A) Q R P S (B) Q S R P (C) S Q R P
 (D) P S Q R (E) None of these
Ans : (A)
8. When (P) it becomes an honour of a lifetime (Q) in recognition of their great
performance (R) illustrious personalities (S) win an award:
(A) R P Q S (B) P Q R S (C) Q R S P
(D) R S Q P (E) None of these
Ans : (D)
9. Long years ago, (P) we betrayed our pledge (Q) and when the time came (R) we
made a tryst with destiny (S) not wholly or in full measure but very substantially :
(A) P S R Q (B) Q P R S (C) R S Q P
(D) R S P Q (E) None of these
Ans : (D)
10. Kapil (P) left in an aeroplane (Q) after reading a sailing magazine (R) had decided
(S) to build his own boat nine years earlier :
(A) P R Q S (B) R S Q P (C) R Q P S
(D) P S R Q (E) None of these
Ans : (B)
13. A diet (P) shows a study of more than 3,000 people (Q) to breathe properly (R)
rich in fruit and vegetables (S) can improve the lungs and the ability :
(A) R Q P S (B) R S Q P (C) S P Q R
(D) S R Q P (E) None of these
Ans : (B)

14. Most people in India enjoy (P) paid holidays, sick leave (Q) a guaranteed wage
every month (R) and a pension on retirement (S) a high level of job security:
(A) S R Q P (B) R P S Q (C) Q P R S
(D) S Q P R (E) None of these
Ans : (D)

11. The newspaper reported that (P) according to one estimate (Q) and many of them
assume epidemic proportions (R) most illnesses in India (S) are related to water-
borne diseases :
(A) P R Q S (B) P R S Q (C) R Q S P
(D) R Q P S (E) None of these
Ans : (B)
 16. The zoologist says that (P) having been bitten by them once (Q) trembled to
make a second attempt at catching (R) the snakes (S) the snake charmers :
(A) P R Q S (B) S Q P R (C) R P Q S
(D) P S Q R (E) None of these
Ans : (D)

17. If you had told me (P) I would not have given it to you (Q) that you had already
(R) bought this book (S) as a birthday present :
(A) Q R P S (B) P Q R S (C) S P Q R
(D) S R Q P (E) None of these
Ans : (A)

18. (P) the Indian software industry (Q) both in volume and international
acceptance (R) has grown (S) over the years :
(A) S Q P R (B) S P R Q (C) S R P Q
(D) S P Q R (E) None of these
Ans : (B)

19. Employees (P) were expected to continuously excel in that (Q) in an organisation (R)
on the basis of whatever little they knew (S) were put together :
(A) S Q R P (B) S P R Q (C) R P Q S
(D) S R P Q (E) None of these
Ans : (A)

19. In fact (P) only recently I discovered (Q) my school fantasy (R) which is truly the
living embodiment of (S) a site :
(A) P Q S R (B) P R Q S (C) P S R Q
(D) S P Q R (E) None of these
Ans : (C)

20. (P) due to disuse (Q) the linguistic space is shrinking (R) in India and language
resources might dry up (S) he feels that:
(A) S Q R P (B) S R Q P (C) S P Q R
(D) S R P Q (E) None of these
Ans : (A)
21. Every afternoon (P) the children used to go (Q) from school (R) and play in the
Giant’s garden (S) as they were coming:
(A) P Q R S (B) S P R Q (C) P S R Q
(D) S Q P R (E) None of these
Ans : (D)

22. Fool-proof security arrangements were made (P) to prevent the sabotage (Q) by the
terrorists (R) of the railway track (S) by the police :
(A) P S R Q (B) S P R Q (C) R S P Q
(D) S R P Q (E) None of these
Ans : (B)

23. (P) A policy holder (Q) anyone as the beneficialy (R) of his policy (S) can just about
nominate :
(A) Q R S P (B) P Q S R (C) P S Q R
(D) P Q R S (E) None of these
Ans : (C)

24. All though (P) collecting and storing up food (Q) the long warm summer days (R) an
ant was very busy (S) for the winter:
(A) S R Q P (B) Q P S R (C) Q R P S
(D) R S Q P (E) None of these
Ans : (C)

25.A) In Fact, today, social entrepreneurship is no different from starting a

profit-motivated company.
B) The Major challenge they face is employee selection and retention.
C) For decades social development in India meant charity.
D) However, the challenges social organizations experience are tougher.
E) This is because while volunteering for social work is not new, attracting
talented people and tapping their potential at lower costs is difficult.
F) In recent years, however, economic changes have brought business sense
and professionalism to the sector.
The Proper sequence should be:
1- CFDAEB 2- CAFDBE 3- CFADBE 4- CFDABE

Answer

[Link] factors are important in determining whether a stock market decline

causes an economic setback.
B) We tend to associate a stock market crash with an economic slump.
C) The two most important factors are the impact on the banking sector and
policy response to the crash.
D) That is because we have seen such a link several times in the past.
E) But there is no automatic link between the stock market crash and the
economic downturn, say experts.
F) For example, The Great Depression followed the Great Crash of 1929 in the
US.

The Proper sequence should be:

1- BDEFCA 2- BDFEAC 3- BFDECA 4- BDEFAV

Answer

27.A) In this early period a good memory was a prerequisite for success and
poets like Homer memorized their work before it was ever written down.
B) If we have to remember everything will it not increase the feeling of stress?
C) Today memory is widely regarded as a useful aid to survival.
D) However, it is not what we grasp but what we fail to forgetting a file, key
points at an interview which causes stress.
E) Some people, however, are of the view that having an exceptional memory in
a world of high pressure working is a disadvantage.
F) To our ancestors, though, in the absence of the printing press it was much
more it was the slate on which history was recorded.

The Proper sequence should be:

1- CFAEDB 2- CFAEBD 3- CAFEBD 4- CFEABD
Answer

28.A) One of them said, “I never buy imported goods.”

B) Patriotism was the topic of discussion.
C) “well,” said the third, “I haven’t Passed the foreign language ie English, since
I started my schooling.”
D) Some students were discussing among themselves.
E) “I never see foreign films.” Said another.
F) In the discussion, everyone was trying to prove how he was more patriotic
than the rest of them.

The Proper sequence should be:

1- DBFACE 2- DBAFEC 3- DFBAEC 4- DBFAEC

Answer

29.A) It was a cycling race launched in 1903, by Henri Desgrange, a magazine

editor in paris.
B) The Tour de France is a test of human endurance.
C) His idea worked and the magazine boomed.
D) His aim was to boost the circulation of his magazine.
E) He wanted to achieve this by covering every stage of the three week long
3,500 Kilometer long cycling race.
F) Till today the race remains more popular than he could ever have dreamed.

The Proper sequence should be:

1- BADECF 2- BADCEF 3- BADEFC 4- BAEDCF

Answer

30.A) Moreover, salaries in public sector enterprises are not as competitive as

those offered by private or foreign corporate.
B) This trend should be a wake-up call for stakeholders to examine why
employee are seeking better opportunities with private companies in India and
abroad.
C) Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) have been experiencing severe challenges in
attracting, motivating and retaining their key staff.
D) Having identified these as the reasons why employees leave PSEs, it is
important to empower stakeholders to find ways to remedy the situation.
E) One reason is that young employees lured away by private firms are more
willing to undertake professional risks.
F) Employees in specialist roles especially have become increasingly difficult to
retain.

The Proper sequence should be:

1- CFEBAD 2- CFBDAE 3- CFBEAD 4- CFBEDA

Answer

31.A) Assuming that all these reasons are true, the fact remains that there is an
urgent need to check the accelerated costs and initiate suitable measures.
B) Some people attribute it to the increasing greediness among the medicos.
C) The Impact of these measures will be visible only after a considerable
passage of time.
D) Healthcare costs have been Skyrocketing in our country.
E) The measures include yoga classes with emphasis on physical and mental
exercises and also change in food habits.
F) Certain others feel that it is because of drastic changes in people’s lifestyle
and eating habits.

The Proper sequence should be:

1- DBFAEC 2- DBAFEC 3- DBFEAC 4- DBFACE

Answer

32.A) Settlement in real time means the transaction is not subjected to any
waiting period.
B) It is a funds transfer mechanism.
C) Moreover, as the money transfer takes place in the books of RBI it is final and
irrevocable.
D) The acronym RTGS stands for Real Time Gross Settlement.
E) While gross Settlement means the transaction is settled without bunching it
with any other transaction.
F) The transfer of funds takes place on a real time and gross basis.

The Proper sequence should be:

1- DBAFEC 2- DBFAEC 3- DBEAFC 4- DBFEAC

Answer

32.A) As a result the non-stop tensions and anxieties at work often result in
health-related problems.
B) The truth is we cannot change the world of work.
C) We spend at least half our waking hours at work.
D) We have therefore to take charge and transform the way in which we
respond to our work environment.
E) So how can we control these problems and perform at work?
F) However, we can change the way we feel and deal with various situations.

The Proper sequence should be:

1- CEABFD 2- CABEFD 3- CAEBFD 4- CAEBDF

Answer

33.A) In all varieties of humour, especially the subtle ones, it is therefore what
the reader thinks which gives extra meaning to these verses.
B) But such a verse may also be enjoyed at the surface level.
C) Nonsense verse is one of the most sophisticated forms of literature.
D) This fulfils the author’s main intention in such a verse which is to give
pleasure.
E) However, the reader who understands the broad implications of the content
and allusion finds greater pleasure.
F) The reason being it requires the reader to supply a meaning beyond the
surface meaning.

The Proper sequence should be:

1- CFBDEA 2- CBFDEA 3- CFDBEA 4- CFBEDA Directions (Q. 1-10): In the following
passage there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are also printed
below the passage and against each five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank
appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.

Passage 1

A good percentage of the population of India is tribal. The tribals live in the hills and forests of the country;
and have been little…….(1)……. by the …….(2)……. currents of the plains. Practically all the states of
India have their tribal population. The tribes are numerous, computed to be about 200, some living in…….
(3)…….regions in dense forests, and others on the borders of villages. Some tribes are …….(4)…….to a
few souls, while others like the Santhals run into millions and are steadily…….(5)…….in numbers. During
the British period some of them were known as criminal tribes for they showed…….(6)…….respect for the
Indian Penal Code. After independence they have been named Scheduled Tribes. Under modern
conditions isolation, however, has become…….(7)…….and the hill tribes are getting…….(8)…… .The
cultural traffic is two-way. Social reformers are taking civilization to the hills, and the tribes, …….(9)
……. their old occupations of hunting and…….(10)…….farming, are settling in villages, towns and cities
as labourers and workers.

1.

(a) affected

(b) domiciled

(c) motivated

(d) deprived

(e) favoured

2.

(a) financial

(b) proud

(c) cultural

(d) unruly
(e) swift

3.

(a) comfortable

(b) marshy

(c) wild

(d) unpopulated

(e) inhospitable

4.

(a) devoted

(b) confined

(c) susceptible

(d) related

(e) attached

5.

(a) constant

(b) deteriorated

(c) developing

(d) increasing

(e) decreasing

6.

(a) abundant

(b) genuine

(c) superficial

(d) exorbitant
(e) scant

7.

(a) crucial

(b) necessary

(c) difficult

(d) convenient

(e) indispensable

8.

(a) civilized

(b) demoralized

(c) wiped-out

(d) entertained

(e) reduced

9.

(a) escaping

(b) with

(c) enhancing

(d) leaving

(e) continuing

10.

(a) productive

(b) primitive

(c) profitable

(d) cultivable
(e) scientific

To view more Quizzes: CLICK HERE

Answers
1. (a)
2. (c)
3. (e)
4. (b)
5. (d)
6. (e)
7. (c)
8. (a)
9. (d)

10. (b)

Passage 2

Given the (1) of black money in the economy is large, even though declining, and that a
large part of these transactions take place in cash, it is natural the government would
want to find ways to deal with this. The finance secretary, for instance, has said that
one of the (2) being considered is that no one paying a bill of more than Rs 5,000 in a
restaurant should be allowed to do so in cash—once the amount is paid by credit or
debit card, it automatically leaves a trail for the taxman to (3) since bank accounts
have PAN card details. At some point, presumably, the same principle needs to be
extended to luxury boutiques/shops and showrooms for automobiles, among others. The
finance secretary, in fact, has said the government will set up a committee to suggest
ways to incentivise credit and debit card transactions. One of them, he said, could be to
share the costs of the Point of Sale device; greater spread of the RuPay cards could be
another, (4) their charges are lower. Another suggestion made has been to limit the
amount of cash that can be (5) while purchasing property. While discouraging the use
of cash is a good thing, it is unlikely incentivising the use of credit/debit cards is going
to be of much use. A person buying a house or a luxury car, or paying for an expensive
meal in a luxury hotel in cash is not doing so to avoid paying the service charge levied
by Visa or MasterCard—the idea is to avoid getting (6) in the tax net.

It is equally important to recognise that (7) mandating some things will not help. There
is, for instance, no way of ensuring a limit, of say Rs50,000, for the cash payment on
the purchase of a flat as long as the registration is being done at a lower value than the
actual one. The only way to check this is to do other reforms like lowering stamp
duties, (8) circle rates with market values and refuse to recognise power of attorneys as
proof of sale. The other, and more sensible, way is to make use of the troves of
information the government already (9) by way of annual information returns from
jewellers, real estate firms, automobile dealers, hotels, property registrars, travel
agents and airlines among others. Once a profile is available of large spenders, this
needs to be (10) with the income tax returns.

1. 1. venture [Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

2. 1. capacity [Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

3. 1. remedy [Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

4. 1. given [Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

5. 1. charged [Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

6. 1. consoled [Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

7. 1. hardly [Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

8. 1. fixed [Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

9. 1. dispense [Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

10. 1. intended 2. reigned [Link] [Link] [Link]

ANSWERS
1. (5) Share

2. (2) Measures

3. (3) Follow

4. (1) Given

5. (5) Paid

6. (2) Caught
7. (3) Merely

8. (5) Align

9. (4) Collects

10. (4) Matched

Passage 3

There was once a poet who fell upon such hard times that he was no longer able to ... (1) ... his family.
Hearing that the king greatly encouraged talent and was famed for his generosity, the poet set off for the
Royal Palace. When brough ... (2) ... the king, he ... (3) .... low and requested permission to recite a
poem. On hearing his recitation, the king was well pleased and asked him to name his reward. The
poet, ... (4) ... to a chessboard before the king, said, "your highness, if you place just one grain of rice on
the
first square of this chess-board, and double it for every square, I will consider myself well ... (5) ... " "Are
you sure ?" asked the king, greatly ... (6) .... "Just grains of rice, not gold" ? "Yes, your highness," affirmed
the poet. "So it shall be" ordered the king. His courtiers started ... (7) ... the grain on the chessboard. One
grain on the first square, two on the second, four on the third, ... (8) ... on the fourth and so no. by the time
they reached the tenth square they had to place five hundred and twelve grains of rice. The
number rose to lakhs on the twentieth square. When they ... (9) .... the half way mark, the grain count was
over hundred crores ! Soon the count ... (10) ... to lakhs of crores and eventually the helpless king had to
hand over his entire kingdom to the clever poet. And it all began with just one grain of rice.

1.
(1)surrender
(2)fight
(3)care
(4)feed
(5)defend

2.
(1)before
(2)following
(3)after
(4)by
(5)aside

3.
(1)hunched
(2)knelt
(3)fell
(4)stand
(5)bowed
4.
(1)talking
(2)across
(3)pointing
(4)eyeing
(5)looking

5.
(1)deserved
(2)rewarded
(3)blessed
(4)fortunate
(5)equipped

6.
(1)surprised
(2)vigilant
(3)understanding
(4)happy
(5)honoured

7.
(1)sampling
(2)hiding
(3)finding
(4)placing
(5)moving

8.
(1)seven
(2)eight
(3)three
(4)five
(5)six

9.
(1)entered
(2)reached
(3)revised
(4)arrived
(5)interrupted

10.
(1)justified
(2)enlarged
(3)risen
(4)improved
(5)increased
Answers
1-4
2-1
3-5
4-3
5-5
6-1
7-4
8-2
9-2
10-3

Passage 4
I said, “Wow, B! What a room.” He looked sort of embarrassed and told me
that he and his dad _1_ it just so. He said, “You’re in _2_! Today we are
going to work _3_ the details of the rocket _4_.” Of course, I have no idea
what he’s talking about. “I’m going to build _5_ rockets for the Fourth of July
fireworks,” he continued. “I’ve got some light weight metal sheets and I
need your help in _6_ a base for the rocket.” I was sort of relieved that I
wasn’t going to have to mix up combustible ingredients _7_a hot Bunsen
burner!
We got some supplies and looked up the rocket launcher on the internet. B
had lots of contacts and web sites to check out for reference. After reading
the _8_, I could think of nothing but _9_ the rocket launcher into position.
When I heard my mom’s horn honk outside I jumped up in amazement! How
could four hours have _10_ away that fast? Especially considering that I was
learning something new! I told B goodbye, and he promised not to continue
until I came back tomorrow.
1. Choose the correct option

1. Planned
2. Say
3. Made
4. Decide
5. Trust
2. Choose the correct option

1. Mess
2. Home
3. Sad
4. Luck
5. School
3. Choose the correct option

1. In
2. On
3. Out
4. Off
5. At
4. Choose the correct option

1. Base
2. Station
3. Science
4. Toy
5. Launcher
5. Choose the correct option

1. Some
2. Many
3. Much
4. More
5. Less
6. Choose the correct option

1. Building
2. Standing
3. Making
4. Creating
5. Made
7. Choose the correct option

1. On
2. At
3. Over
4. Below
5. Down
8. Choose the correct option

1. Notice
2. Hoarding
3. Pamphlet
4. Instructions
5. Dictionary
9. Choose the correct option

1. Moulding
2. Make
3. Placing
4. Made
5. Create
10. Choose the correct option

1. Moved
2. Slipped
3. Pass
4. Stopped
5. Swift
Answers:

1. (1)

2. (4)

3. (3)

4. (5)

5. (1)

6. (1)

7. (3)

8. (4)

9. (1)

10. (2)

Passage 5
Hardly had I boarded a bus for the railway station when, to my dismay, I
remembered that I had forgotten my purse at home. If ever you have had such
an experience, you will find know the feeling which such a discovery
___(1)_____ . In such a situation, one would be _____(2)____ because he would
look like a fool at the best and like a ____(3)__ at the worst. One would not be at
all ___(4)___ if the conductor gavee you a contemptuous stare as much as to
say, " Yes , I know that ___(5)___old trick, Now then, you be ____(6)__ the bus",
and even if the conductor were, a ___(7)___ fellow and allowed you to travel
without paying the fare, you would still be faced with the necessity of going
back home to collect your purse and thus ___(8)__ the train. Having searched my
pockets in ___(9)___ for stray coins and having found I was ___(10)__ penniless, I
told the conductor with as honest a face as I could assume that I couldn't pay
the fare, and must go back for money.

1) a. acquires b. arouses c. creates d. shows e.

imparts

2) a. annoyed b. happy c. pained d. pleased e.

miserable

3) a. gullible b. half-witted c. knave [Link] e.

idiot

4) a. angry b. annoyed c. satisfied d. surprised e.

happy

5) a. clever b. fresh c. stale d. ugly

e. cunning

6) a. board b. leave c. off d. stand

e. sit

7) a. bad b. good c. harsh d. strict

e. rash

8) a. boarding [Link] c. meeting d. missing e.

stopping

9) a. anxiety b. vain c. hurry d. desperation e.

hopelessness
10) a. utterly b. mostly c. partially d. truly e.
totally

Solution
1) b. arouses - emotions, feelings and responses

2) a. annoyed - impatient or angry

3) c. Knave - jack of face cards

4) d. surprised - amazed or stunned

5) c. stale - day-old or unoriginal

6) c. off - from a particular thing or place

7) b. good - positive quality

8) d. missing - fail to reach or get to on time

9) b. vain - immoderate or overstated sense

10) a. utterly - absolutely

DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH RULES

The matter within inverted commas “………… “is called the Reported speech and
the verb that introduces the reported speech and the verb that introduces the
reported Speech is called Reporting verb. There are certain rules to change the
narration.

[Link] the Tenses:

(i) when reporting verb is in present or future tense, there will be no change of
tense, for example:

(a) Direct: He says, “ Ram is hungry.”

Indirect: He says that Ram is hungry

(b) Direct: He has told me, “Ram cannot move.”

Indirect: He has told me that Ram cannot move.

(ii) If the reporting verb is in past tense, the tense of the reported speech must be
changed as under:

Direct Indirect

1. Present Indefinite (write) Past Indefinite (wrote)

2. Present Continuous (is writing) Past continuous (was writing)

3. Present Perfect ( has written ) Past Perfect ( had written)

[Link] Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous

(has been writing) (had been writing)

5. Past Indefinite (wrote) Past Perfect (had written)

6. Past Continuous (was writing) Past Perfect Continuous

(Had been writing)

7. Past Perfect ( had written ) No change

8. Past Perfect Continuous No change

( had been writing)

(i)Direct: He said,” I write English”.

Indirect: He said that he wrote English.

(ii)Direct: He said, “The teacher is writing English”.

Indirect: He said that the teacher was writing English.

Note: If the reported speech relates to universal truth, habitual facts, proverbs,
historical facts and improvable future conditions then the tense will not be changed,
example:

(i) Direct: The teacher said, “God is omnipresent.”

Indirect: The teacher said that God is omnipresent.

(ii) Direct: The teacher said, “Had you worked hard , you would have passed”.

Indirect: The teacher said that if he had worked hard he would have passed.

2. Change of reporting verbs:

In assertive sentences the reporting verb ‘said to’ is changed into told only and
’said’ alone is not changed. In interrogative sentences the reporting verb ‘said to’ is
changed into asked. In imperative sentences the reporting verb ‘said to’ is
changed into ordered, requested, suggested, begged, proposed forbade etc.
according to the sense of the sentence.

Examples:

(a) Rakshit said to his friend, “Where are you going?”

Rakshit asked his friend where he was going.

(b) The headmaster said to the peon, “Give me a glass of water.”

The headmaster ordered the peon to give him a glass of water.

3. Change of Pronoun:

The pronouns in the reported speech are changed as:

First person according to Subject

Second Person according to object

Third Person will not be changed.

4. Change of words expressing nearness:

In the reported speech when the present tense is changed into the past then we
changed the following words as This à That, here à there, these à those,
now à then, today à that day, yesterday à the previous day, tomorrow à the next
day, ago à before, come à go.

5. (i) Assertive Sentence: - the conjunction ‘that’ is used.

(ii) In interrogative sentences: When the question starts with Auxiliary verbs
such as do / does/ did/ has / have/ had/ is /am/ are/ will/ shall/ can/could/
may/might/ would/ should etc. ‘If or ‘Whether is used. If the question starts with
interrogative pronouns or Adverb such as who, whose, whom, which/ what/ why/
when/ where, no other conjunction with interrogative pronoun is used.

(1)Direct: He said to me, “When did you finish ‘your lesson?’

Indirect: He asked me when I had finished my lesson.

(ii) In the imperative sentences: Infinite ( To + V) is used. ‘Ordered, requested,

begged, advised, commanded are used in place of ‘said to’

1. He said to Mohan,” Get away”.(Direct)

He ordered Mohan to get away. (Indirect)

6. In exclamatory sentences, ‘said to’ is changed according to the expression of

the sentences.

Words expression:

Beware/ careful changed into warned

Alas changed into Exclaimed with sorrow

Hurrah changed into Exclaimed with joy

Phew changed into Exclaimed with surprised or relief

May God / long live changed into Wished

For example:

1. He said to me, “Hurray! I have passed the examination.”

He exclaimed with Joy that he had passed the examination.

2. She said,” Ugh! You have spoilt the game”.

She exclaimed with disgust that she had spoilt the game  Narration Of
Assertive Sentences:

1. The boy said to me, “You have passed the exam.”

2. He says to me, “I am your teacher.”

3. Samia said to her mother, “I want to you the best now.”

4. Shakira said to me, “I went to you home when you are not here.”

5. He said, “Honesty is the best policy.”

6. They said, “We bought the books together yesterday.”

7. He said to Liza, “We may go to your house.”

8. I said, “He will pass the examination in the next time.”

9. We said, “Salma, you went to your house yesterday.”

10. The teacher said to Raju, “Misfortunes come not along.”

11. B. Gates said, “Born poor is not your mistake.”

12. I said to the girls, “You are right to command your followers.”

13. He said to me, “I like Messi as a best player and you.”

14. They said to me, “We shall help you for your lacking.”
15. She said to his teacher, “I didn’t attend your class yesterday because of my
illness.”

16. Harmion Granger said to Harry Potter, “I didn’t understand your cruelty when
you show your magic.”

17. We said, “Man is mortal, so we must die in a time and Allah create our
existents.”

18. We said, “Islam is the perfect code of life and Mohammed (Sm.) is his
messenger.”

19. She said, “Mohammed (Sm.) was born in Macca in 570 AD in a prominent mob.”

20. He said his mother, “I want a big ship in my 17 th birthday from you or my
father.”

 Narration Of Interrogative Sentences:

1. She said to me, “What’s your mother name and where have you come from?”

2. They said to Siam, “Can you tell me what’s your name?”

3. Liza said to me, “Will you visit my home tomorrow?”

4. They said to my mother, “Where did I go in 3.45 pm yesterday?”

5. We said the boy, “Have you eaten rice for lunch?”

6. Raima said, “Can you conquer my heart?”

7. I said to the pretty girl, “Which book have you lost that you are searching?”

8. Ruma said to his mother, “Why will you take my pen?”

9. They said, “How much wealth do you need?”

10. Sara Jefferson said to Dona, “Will you take me with your sympathy?”

11. The teacher said to us, “Will you summit this assignment four days later?”

12. Kamal said, “Can you lend me your books for three days?”
13. Rashid said to us, “Am I unable to solve your glitch?”

14. The teacher said to the students, “Do I bit you for your indulgence?”

15. Harmion Granger said to Ron Weaslley, “Can you bring to mind you magic
verse?”

16. Anika said to them, “Why did their garden destroy?”

17. She said to us, “Shall I not inform my feelings to you?”

18. Fayed said to me, “Must I need to pass the exam?”

19. The man said to me, “Are you passing the river by swimming?”

20. The astrologer said to the king, “How much long do you live?”

“Preferred Question Of
Narration” Part: 02

 Narration Of Imperative Sentences:

1. The boy said to me, “Let them play cricket.”

2. He says to me, “Let’s have a picnic.”

3. Samia said to her mother, “Let me drink a glass of water.”

4. Shakira said to me, “Dance with me.”

5. He said, “Do the sums now and show me immediately.”

6. They said, “Let her go to join the match.”

7. He said to Liza, “Don’t show your naughty face.”

8. I said, “Shot the bird silently.”

9. We said, “Dug the soil for searching this gold.”

10. The teacher said to Raju, “Don’t tell a lie for next time to me.”
 11. B. Gates said “Leave the flaw of any work.”

12. I said to the girls, “Let me tell some words with you and about your family.”

13. She said to his teacher, “Complete the lesson.”

14. Harmion Granger said to Harry Potter, “Let you go to search the Vool-demort.”

15. We said, “Keep your mind in relax mood.”

 Narration Of Exclamatory Sentences:

1. She said, “How sweetly the bird sings!”

2. They said, “What a exciting game you play!”

3. Liza said, “What a miserable life the poor of Bangladesh lead!”

4. I said, “What a clever girl you are!”

5. Raima said, “Alas! She has lost her mother.”

6. Ruma said, “Hurrah! We beat our against party”

7. They said, “How a nice song we sing!”

8. Sara Jefferson said to Dona, “How a sweet baby you have!”

9. Rashid said, “Yeah! We can hunt the birds.”

10. Harmion Granger said, “What a magic you show! Harry Potter.”

DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH Exercise

1. He said, “Be quiet and listen to my words.”

(a) He urged them to be quiet and listen to his words

(b) He urged them and said be quiet and listen to words

(c) He said they should be quiet and listen to his words

 (d) He said you should be quiet and listen to my words

2. He said to me, “I have often told you not to play with fire.”

(a) He said that he has often been telling me not to play with fire

(b) He told me that he had often told me not to play with fire

(c) He remained me that he had often told me not to play with fire

(d) He said to me that he often told me not to play with fire

3. The Captain said to his men, “Stand at ease.”

(a) The Captain urged his men to stand at ease

(b) The Captain wanted his men to stand at ease

(c) The Captain told his men that they should stand at ease

(d) The Captain commanded his men to stand at ease

4. The poor examine said, “O God, take pity on me.”

(a) The poor examinee prayed God to take pity on him

(b) The poor examinee, invoking God, improve him to take pity on him

(c) The poor examinee exclaimed that God take pity on him

(d) The poor examine asked God to take pity on him

5. Ram says to me “You are smart.”

(a)Ram tells me that I am smart.

(b)Ram tells me that he is smart.

(c)Ram tells me that he was smart.

(d)Ram tells me that I shall be smart.

6. He said, ”May God Grant her peace!”

(a)He prayed that God might grant her peace

(b) He ordered that God might grant her peace

 (c)He prayed that God may grant me peace.

(d)He told that God may grant me peace.

7. Mohan said to me,”Do not tell a lie.”

(a)Mohan forbade me not to tell a lie.

(b)Mohan advised me not to tell a lie.

(c)Mohan ordered me to tell a lie.

(d)Mohan advised me to tell a lie.

8. She said, ”Good bye Ramesh”.

(a)She bade Ramesh good bye.

(b)She bade to Ramesh good bye.

(c)She bids Ramesh good bye.

(d)She had bade Ramesh good bye.

9. The student said, “Alas! I wasted my time last year.”

(a)The student exclaimed with surprise that he had wasted his time the previous year.

(b)The student exclaimed with sorrow that he had wasted his time the previous year.

(c)The student exclaimed with joy that he had wasted his time the previous year.

(d)The student exclaims with sorrow that he had wasted his time the previous year.

10. I said to him,”who teaches you English?”

(a)I asked him who was taught him English

(b)I asked him who had taught him English

(c)I asked him who taught me English

(d)I asked him who taught him English

ANSWERS;

1 a

2 b

3 d

4 a

5 a

6 a

7 b

8 a

9 b

10 d