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Past Questions — 2025
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: 'Every seat was occupied.'
A)
Pronoun
B)
Preposition
C)
Adjective
D)
Noun
Step-by-step analysis: 1. Identify the underlined word: 'Every'. 2. Analyze its function in the sentence: The word 'Every' is modifying the noun 'seat'. 3. Determine the part of speech: Words that modify or describe nouns are classified as adjectives. Specifically, 'every' is a distributive adjective used to refer to all members of a group individually. 4. Evaluate other options: (a) It is not a pronoun because it does not replace a noun; it precedes one. (b) It is not a preposition because it does not show a relationship of time, place, or direction between a noun and another part of the sentence. (d) It is not a noun because it does not name a person, place, thing, or idea; rather, it describes the quantity/distribution of the noun 'seat'.
He is now ___ a new job.
A)
after
B)
for
C)
about
D)
from
The sentence requires a preposition that indicates the person is actively seeking or pursuing something.
1. 'After' in this context is used idiomatically to mean 'searching for' or 'pursuing' (e.g., 'to be after something'). Therefore, 'He is now after a new job' means he is currently looking for a new job.
2. 'For' is incorrect because 'He is now for a new job' is grammatically incomplete; one would say 'He is looking for a new job,' but 'is for' usually indicates support for an idea (e.g., 'I am for the proposal').
3. 'About' is incorrect as it indicates a subject or approximate location/time, which does not fit the context of seeking employment.
4. 'From' is incorrect as it indicates origin or source, which does not make sense in this sentence structure.
___ come to my rescue, I would have been killed.
A)
If he had not
B)
If he did not
C)
Having not
D)
If he would not
This sentence is a Third Conditional sentence, which is used to describe a hypothetical situation in the past and its imaginary result. The structure of a Third Conditional sentence is: 'If + Past Perfect (had + past participle), ... would have + past participle'.
1. Analysis of the result clause: 'I would have been killed' uses the 'would have + past participle' structure, indicating that the condition must be in the Past Perfect tense.
2. Evaluating Option (a): 'If he had not' is the Past Perfect form. When combined, it reads: 'If he had not come to my rescue, I would have been killed.' This is grammatically correct.
3. Evaluating Option (b): 'If he did not' is Simple Past, which is used for Second Conditionals (hypothetical present/future). It does not match 'would have been'.
4. Evaluating Option (c): 'Having not' is a participle phrase and does not fit the conditional structure required here.
5. Evaluating Option (d): 'If he would not' is grammatically incorrect because 'would' is generally not used in the 'if-clause' of a conditional sentence.
Identify the notion/concept expressed: 'He held my hand lest I should fall.'
A)
condition
B)
purpose
C)
supposition
D)
comparison
The sentence 'He held my hand lest I should fall' contains the conjunction 'lest'. In English grammar, 'lest' is used to express a negative purpose; it means 'for fear that' or 'to prevent the possibility that'. The action of holding the hand was performed for the specific purpose of preventing the person from falling. Therefore, the clause 'lest I should fall' is an adverbial clause of purpose.
Analysis of other options:
- (a) Condition: A conditional sentence usually uses 'if' or 'unless' to specify a requirement for an outcome.
- (c) Supposition: This involves imagining a scenario (often using 'as if' or 'suppose'), which is not the case here.
- (d) Comparison: This involves comparing two entities (using 'than', 'as...as'), which is not present in this sentence.
Contemporary economic development differs ___ from the Industrial Revolution of the 19th Century.
A)
naturally
B)
literally
C)
usually
D)
markedly
The sentence compares two different eras of economic development: the contemporary period and the 19th-century Industrial Revolution. To complete the sentence logically, we need an adverb that describes the degree or nature of the difference.
1. 'Markedly' means 'to a significant or noticeable extent.' When comparing two distinct historical periods of economic growth, it is appropriate to say they differ 'markedly' because the drivers (e.g., digital technology vs. steam power) and scales are significantly different.
2. 'Naturally' (option a) implies that the difference is a result of nature or is expected, which doesn't fit the comparative context of economic analysis as well as 'markedly'.
3. 'Literally' (option b) means 'exactly' or 'without exaggeration,' which is grammatically and logically incorrect in this context.
4. 'Usually' (option c) refers to frequency or habit, which does not make sense when comparing two specific, distinct time periods.
Therefore, 'markedly' is the most precise and authoritative choice for a formal academic or economic statement.
Identify the notion/concept expressed: 'He was annoyed that he was contradicted.'
A)
condition
B)
purpose
C)
reason
D)
possibility
The sentence 'He was annoyed that he was contradicted' consists of a main clause ('He was annoyed') and a subordinate clause ('that he was contradicted'). In this context, the 'that' clause functions as an adjective complement or a noun clause explaining the cause of the emotion. It answers the question 'Why was he annoyed?' The fact that he was contradicted is the cause or the reason for his annoyance.
Analysis of other options:
- a. Condition: A conditional sentence usually involves 'if' or 'unless' and describes a scenario that must happen for another to occur (e.g., 'If he is contradicted, he will be annoyed').
- b. Purpose: A purpose clause explains the goal of an action, often using 'so that' or 'in order to' (e.g., 'He spoke loudly so that he would not be contradicted').
- d. Possibility: A possibility clause expresses uncertainty or potential, often using modals like 'might', 'may', or 'could' (e.g., 'It is possible that he was contradicted').
Since the clause explains the cause of the state of being 'annoyed', the correct notion is 'reason'.
Identify the notion/concept expressed: 'She was less tired and hence more active.'
A)
purpose
B)
comparison
C)
result
D)
condition
The sentence 'She was less tired and hence more active' consists of two parts connected by the adverb 'hence'. The first part ('She was less tired') describes a cause or a state, and the second part ('more active') describes the consequence or outcome of that state. The word 'hence' is a conjunctive adverb used specifically to indicate a result or a logical conclusion (synonymous with 'therefore' or 'as a result').
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. Purpose: This would require words like 'so that' or 'in order to', indicating a goal.
- b. Comparison: While 'less' and 'more' are comparative adjectives, the overall notion/concept expressed by the structure of the sentence (the relationship between the two clauses) is the causal link, not the act of comparing two different entities.
- d. Condition: This would require words like 'if' or 'unless', indicating a requirement for an outcome to occur.
A plane is hovering ___ the field.
A)
on
B)
above
C)
after
D)
among
Step-by-step reasoning: 1. Analyze the verb 'hovering': To hover means to remain poised suspended in one place in the air. 2. Evaluate the spatial relationship: Since a plane is in the air and the field is on the ground, the plane is at a higher level than the field without touching it. 3. Test the options: (a) 'on' implies physical contact with the surface, which contradicts 'hovering'. (b) 'above' is used when an object is at a higher level than another, often without direct contact, which perfectly fits the context of a plane in the air. (c) 'after' is a preposition of time or sequence, not spatial position. (d) 'among' is used when something is surrounded by three or more distinct items, which does not apply to a single field. Therefore, 'above' is the only grammatically and logically correct preposition.
They will go to Bangalore ___ plane.
A)
on
B)
in
C)
by
D)
from
In English grammar, when referring to the mode of transport or the means of travel, the preposition 'by' is used before the noun representing the vehicle (e.g., by plane, by car, by train, by bus).
Analysis of options:
- 'by' (Correct): Used to indicate the method of travel. Note that when using 'by', there is typically no article (a, an, the) between the preposition and the noun.
- 'on' (Incorrect): Used for specific surfaces or larger public transport where one can stand/walk (e.g., on a bus, on a plane), but it requires an article or determiner (e.g., 'on the plane'). Without an article, 'on plane' is grammatically incorrect.
- 'in' (Incorrect): Used for smaller, enclosed vehicles (e.g., in a car, in a taxi), and like 'on', it requires an article (e.g., 'in a plane').
- 'from' (Incorrect): Indicates the point of origin, not the mode of transport.
During the voyage we were ___ sea for ten days.
A)
in
B)
at
C)
on
D)
to
The correct preposition to use when referring to traveling by ship or being aboard a vessel during a journey is 'on'. The phrase 'on sea' or more commonly 'at sea' is used, but in the context of a voyage (the act of traveling), 'on' is used to denote the position of being on the surface of the water aboard a ship. Specifically, 'on the sea' or 'at sea' are standard; however, among the given options, 'on' is the most appropriate for describing the state of being during a voyage.
Breakdown of options:
- 'in' (a): Used for being inside something (e.g., 'in the water'), but not for the general state of traveling by ship.
- 'at' (b): While 'at sea' is a common idiom meaning 'on a voyage', the structure 'at sea' usually functions as a fixed phrase. However, in many competitive exams, 'on' is preferred when emphasizing the duration of the voyage on the surface.
- 'on' (c): Correct. It indicates being aboard a vessel on the surface of the ocean.
- 'to' (d): Indicates direction or destination, which does not fit the context of duration ('for ten days').
Choose the best expression in Direct/Indirect Speech: 'Tim said, “I had worked late last night.”'
A)
Tim said that he had worked late last night.
B)
Tim said that he had worked late the previous night.
C)
Tim said he was working late last night.
D)
Tim said that he is working late last night.
To convert the sentence 'Tim said, “I had worked late last night.”' from direct to indirect speech, we must follow these grammatical rules:
1. **Pronoun Change**: The first-person pronoun 'I' refers to Tim, so it changes to the third-person pronoun 'he'.
2. **Tense Change**: The original sentence is in the Past Perfect tense ('had worked'). In indirect speech, the Past Perfect remains the Past Perfect because there is no 'further back' tense to shift to.
3. **Time Expression Change**: Words indicating nearness in time or place are changed to words indicating distance. 'Last night' must be changed to 'the previous night' or 'the night before'.
Evaluating the options:
- **Option (a)** is incorrect because it fails to change 'last night' to 'the previous night'.
- **Option (b)** is correct as it correctly changes the pronoun ('he'), maintains the tense ('had worked'), and updates the time expression ('the previous night').
- **Option (c)** is incorrect because it changes the tense to Past Continuous ('was working'), which alters the original meaning.
- **Option (d)** is incorrect because it uses the Present Continuous ('is working'), which is grammatically inconsistent with the reporting verb 'said' and the time marker 'last night'.
By next August, I ___ in this village for a decade.
A)
will live
B)
will have lived
C)
have lived
D)
will have been living
The sentence contains the time marker 'By next August', which indicates a deadline or a point of completion in the future. When we describe an action that will be completed or a state that will have lasted for a specific duration ('for a decade') by a certain point in the future, we must use the Future Perfect Tense.
1. **Option (b) 'will have lived'** is the Future Perfect Tense. It correctly expresses that the ten-year duration will be completed by the time next August arrives.
2. **Option (a) 'will live'** is Simple Future, which describes a future fact or intention but does not account for the duration leading up to that point.
3. **Option (c) 'have lived'** is Present Perfect, which is used for actions completed in the past or continuing to the present, not for a future deadline.
4. **Option (d) 'will have been living'** is the Future Perfect Continuous. While grammatically possible to show ongoing action, in standard competitive exams, when a specific duration ('for a decade') is used to mark a milestone of completion by a future date, the Future Perfect (Option b) is the primary and most precise choice. However, 'will have lived' is the standard answer for state-like verbs or completed durations in this context.
Identify the notion/concept expressed: 'I am better acquainted with the country than you are'
A)
result
B)
reason
C)
purpose
D)
comparison
The sentence 'I am better acquainted with the country than you are' uses a comparative structure to evaluate the degree of knowledge between two subjects ('I' and 'you').
1. **Analysis of the sentence**: The word 'better' is the comparative form of the adjective 'well' (or 'good'), and the word 'than' is a conjunction specifically used to introduce the second element in a comparison.
2. **Evaluating Options**:
- **a. result**: There is no cause-and-effect relationship or consequence expressed here (e.g., 'Because I studied, I am better acquainted...').
- **b. reason**: The sentence does not explain 'why' something happened; it describes a state of being relative to someone else.
- **c. purpose**: There is no goal or intention expressed (e.g., 'I studied so that I could be better acquainted...').
- **d. comparison**: The sentence explicitly compares the level of acquaintance of the speaker against that of the listener. This is a classic example of a comparative degree of adjective.
I work hard that my kids ___ have all the luxuries in the world.
A)
might
B)
may
C)
shall
D)
can
The sentence structure 'I work hard that...' indicates a purpose clause. In English grammar, when 'that' is used to express a purpose or an objective, the modal verb 'may' is traditionally used in the present tense to express a wish, hope, or goal.
1. 'May' is the standard modal for purpose clauses (e.g., 'I study hard that I may pass').
2. 'Might' is generally used as the past tense of 'may' or to express a remote possibility. Since the main verb 'work' is in the present tense, 'may' is the appropriate choice.
3. 'Shall' is used for future intentions or obligations, which does not fit the context of a purpose clause.
4. 'Can' refers to ability. While colloquially used, 'may' is the grammatically precise choice for formal examinations when expressing a purpose or desired outcome following 'that'.
This book is different ___ mine.
A)
from
B)
to
C)
with
D)
after
The adjective 'different' is most commonly and traditionally followed by the preposition 'from' to indicate a contrast or distinction between two things.
1. 'Different from' is the standard usage in both British and American English and is universally accepted as correct in formal and competitive examinations.
2. 'Different to' is used primarily in British English in informal contexts, but it is generally considered less formal than 'from'.
3. 'Different with' is grammatically incorrect in this context.
4. 'Different after' is logically and grammatically incorrect as 'after' denotes time or sequence, not contrast.
Therefore, 'from' is the most appropriate and authoritative choice for this sentence.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: 'We eat that we may live.'
A)
Preposition
B)
Adjective
C)
Pronoun
D)
Conjunction
In the sentence 'We eat that we may live,' the word 'that' is used to connect two clauses: the main clause ('We eat') and the subordinate clause ('we may live'). Specifically, it functions as a subordinating conjunction of purpose, introducing a clause that explains the reason or purpose for the action in the main clause (equivalent to 'so that').
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. Preposition: A preposition shows the relationship between a noun/pronoun and another part of the sentence (e.g., 'in', 'on', 'at'). 'That' here is not followed by a simple noun phrase but by a full clause.
- b. Adjective: An adjective modifies a noun (e.g., 'That book is mine'). In this sentence, 'that' does not modify a noun.
- c. Pronoun: A pronoun replaces a noun (e.g., 'That is my house'). Here, 'that' is not acting as a subject or object but as a connector between two ideas.
Identify the correct notion expressed: 'She enjoys reading books.'
A)
Affirmative
B)
Imperative
C)
Negation
D)
Optative
Step-by-step analysis of the sentence 'She enjoys reading books':
1. **Analyze the sentence structure**: The sentence consists of a subject ('She'), a verb ('enjoys'), and an object ('reading books'). It makes a positive statement of fact.
2. **Evaluate the options**:
- **a. Affirmative**: An affirmative sentence is one that affirms a fact or expresses a positive statement. Since this sentence states that she does enjoy reading, it is affirmative.
- **b. Imperative**: Imperative sentences give commands, requests, or instructions (e.g., 'Read the book!'). This sentence is a statement, not a command.
- **c. Negation**: Negative sentences contain words like 'not', 'never', or 'no' to deny something (e.g., 'She does not enjoy reading books'). This sentence contains no such markers.
- **d. Optative**: Optative sentences express a wish, prayer, or desire (e.g., 'May she enjoy reading books!'). This sentence is a factual declaration, not a wish.
Conclusion: The sentence is a positive declaration, making it an affirmative sentence.
The case was put ___ the judge within a week.
A)
through
B)
from
C)
by
D)
before
In legal terminology, the phrase 'to put/bring a case before someone' is a standard idiomatic expression meaning to present a matter for formal consideration or judgment by a person in authority, such as a judge or a committee.
Analysis of options:
- 'before' (Correct): Used here in the sense of 'in the presence of' or 'for the consideration of' a legal authority.
- 'through' (Incorrect): 'Put through' usually means to make someone experience something difficult or to connect someone via telephone.
- 'from' (Incorrect): This would imply the case originated from the judge, which contradicts the logic of a case being presented to a judge for a decision.
- 'by' (Incorrect): While a judge decides a case, the act of presenting the case for review is done 'before' the judge, not 'by' the judge.
Choose the kind of clause of the underlined word/phrase: 'The car that he bought is very expensive.'
A)
Noun clause
B)
Adverb clause
C)
Adjective phrase
D)
Adjective clause
Step-by-step analysis:
1. Identify the underlined part: The phrase 'that he bought' is the clause in question.
2. Analyze the structure: The clause contains a subject ('he') and a verb ('bought'), making it a clause, not a phrase.
3. Determine the function: The clause 'that he bought' follows the noun 'The car'. It describes or modifies the noun 'car', specifying which car is being referred to.
4. Classification: A clause that modifies a noun or pronoun is called an Adjective Clause (also known as a Relative Clause).
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. Noun clause: A noun clause acts as a subject or object (e.g., 'I know that he bought a car'). Here, the clause modifies a noun rather than replacing one.
- b. Adverb clause: An adverb clause modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb, usually indicating time, place, or condition (e.g., 'He bought the car because he had money').
- c. Adjective phrase: While the clause functions like an adjective, it is not a 'phrase' because it contains both a subject and a predicate ('he bought').
She has been writing ___ a week.
A)
for
B)
since
C)
from
D)
within
The sentence uses the Present Perfect Continuous tense ('has been writing'), which describes an action that started in the past and continues to the present. In English grammar, we use 'for' and 'since' to indicate duration or starting points:
1. 'For' is used with a 'period of time' (a duration), such as 'a week', 'three hours', or 'five years'. Since 'a week' is a duration, 'for' is the correct preposition.
2. 'Since' is used with a 'point in time' (a specific start date or time), such as 'Monday', '2010', or '8 AM'. If the sentence were 'She has been writing since Monday', 'since' would be correct.
3. 'From' is typically used to indicate a starting point but is not used with the Present Perfect Continuous to show duration up to the present.
4. 'Within' indicates that something happens inside a specific time limit (e.g., 'I will finish it within a week'), which does not fit the grammatical structure of 'has been writing'.
Choose the kind of clause of the underlined word/phrase: 'I will call you when I arrive.'
A)
Noun clause
B)
Finite subordinate clause
C)
Non-finite subordinate clause
D)
Adjective clause
Step-by-step analysis:
1. **Identify the clause**: The underlined phrase is 'when I arrive'.
2. **Subordinate vs. Main**: The main clause is 'I will call you'. The phrase 'when I arrive' cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and depends on the main clause to make sense; therefore, it is a subordinate (dependent) clause.
3. **Finite vs. Non-finite**: A finite clause contains a verb that shows tense and agrees with a subject. In 'when I arrive', the verb 'arrive' is in the present tense and agrees with the subject 'I'. Thus, it is a finite clause. (A non-finite clause would use an infinitive, gerund, or participle, e.g., 'Upon arriving').
4. **Evaluating Options**:
- **a. Noun clause**: Incorrect. A noun clause acts as a noun (subject or object). This clause acts as an adverb of time, answering 'when?'.
- **b. Finite subordinate clause**: Correct. It is subordinate and contains a finite verb ('arrive').
- **c. Non-finite subordinate clause**: Incorrect. The verb 'arrive' is finite.
- **d. Adjective clause**: Incorrect. An adjective clause modifies a noun. This clause modifies the verb 'call' by specifying the time, making it an adverbial clause (which is a type of finite subordinate clause).
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: 'The proceeds were deposited in the court.'
A)
Adjective
B)
Noun
C)
Verb
D)
Adverb
Step-by-step reasoning: 1. Analyze the sentence structure: 'The proceeds were deposited in the court.' 2. Identify the role of the word 'proceeds'. In this sentence, 'proceeds' is the subject of the verb 'were deposited'. 3. Look at the markers: The word is preceded by the definite article 'The'. In English grammar, articles (a, an, the) typically precede nouns. 4. Define the word: While 'proceed' can be a verb (meaning to move forward), 'proceeds' (plural) is a specific noun referring to the amount of money received from a particular event or sale. 5. Evaluate options: (a) Adjective: It does not describe another noun. (b) Noun: It acts as the subject and follows an article, making it a noun. (c) Verb: The verb in this sentence is 'were deposited'. (d) Adverb: It does not modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
Choose the best expression in Direct/Indirect Speech: 'She said, “We will analyse this tomorrow.”'
A)
She said that we will analyse it the next day.
B)
She said that we would analyse it the next day.
C)
She said that they will analyse it the next day.
D)
She said that they would analyse it the next day.
To convert the sentence 'She said, “We will analyse this tomorrow.”' from direct to indirect speech, several grammatical changes are required based on the rules of reported speech:
1. **Pronoun Change**: The first-person plural pronoun 'We' refers to the speaker (She) and others. In indirect speech, this must change to the third-person plural 'they' to maintain the correct perspective from the reporter's point of view.
2. **Tense Change (Backshifting)**: Since the reporting verb 'said' is in the past tense, the future tense 'will' inside the quotation marks must shift to its past form, 'would'.
3. **Demonstrative Change**: The word 'this' typically changes to 'it' or 'that' in indirect speech to indicate a shift in proximity.
4. **Time Expression Change**: The word 'tomorrow' must be changed to 'the next day' or 'the following day' because the time of reporting is different from the time of the original statement.
Evaluating the options:
- Option (a) fails because it keeps 'will' and 'we'.
- Option (b) fails because it keeps 'we'.
- Option (c) fails because it keeps 'will'.
- Option (d) correctly changes 'We' to 'they', 'will' to 'would', 'this' to 'it', and 'tomorrow' to 'the next day'.
Choose the kind of clause of the underlined word/phrase: 'The book on the table is amazing'
A)
Noun clause
B)
Adverb clause
C)
Adjective phrase
D)
Adjective clause
Step-by-step analysis:
1. Identify the underlined part: The phrase is 'on the table'.
2. Analyze the structure: 'On the table' consists of a preposition ('on'), an article ('the'), and a noun ('table'). It does NOT contain a subject and a finite verb. Therefore, it cannot be a 'clause' (which requires a subject and a verb); it is a 'phrase'.
3. Determine the function: The phrase 'on the table' modifies the noun 'The book'. It tells us which book is being referred to.
4. Classify the phrase: A phrase that modifies a noun is called an Adjective Phrase (or Adjectival Phrase).
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. Noun clause: A noun clause acts as a noun and contains a subject and verb (e.g., 'What he said is true').
- b. Adverb clause: An adverb clause modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb and contains a subject and verb (e.g., 'Because it was raining...').
- d. Adjective clause: While the phrase functions like an adjective, an adjective clause must contain a subject and a verb (e.g., 'The book that is on the table'). Since 'on the table' lacks a verb, it is a phrase, not a clause.
Identify the notion/concept expressed: 'If that is so, I am content.'
A)
supposition
B)
possibility
C)
reason
D)
request
The sentence 'If that is so, I am content' is a conditional statement. The word 'If' introduces a premise or a hypothetical scenario that is being assumed for the sake of the argument or conclusion. In grammar and logic, when we assume something to be true to see what the result would be, it is called a 'supposition'.
Breakdown of options:
- (a) Supposition: Correct. The speaker is supposing (assuming) that 'that' is true, and based on that assumption, they are content.
- (b) Possibility: While conditional sentences deal with possibilities, the specific structure 'If that is so' functions as a premise (supposition) rather than a mere statement of chance.
- (c) Reason: The 'if' clause provides the condition, not the reason. A reason would typically be introduced by 'because' or 'since' (e.g., 'Since that is so, I am content').
- (d) Request: There is no imperative or interrogative element asking someone to do something; therefore, it is not a request.