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Past Questions
Mary _____________ for Khaia and Sons before she came to work for us.
A)
had been working
B)
has been working
C)
have been working
D)
have has been working
The sentence describes two actions that happened in the past: Mary working for Khaia and Sons, and Mary coming to work for the current employer. The action of working for Khaia and Sons happened before the action of coming to work for the current employer ('before she came'). When one past action is completed before another past action, we use the Past Perfect tense. Specifically, because the sentence implies a continuous duration of employment leading up to that point, the Past Perfect Continuous tense ('had been working') is the most appropriate choice.
Breakdown of options:
- (a) 'had been working': Correct. Past Perfect Continuous indicates an action that started and continued up until another point in the past.
- (b) 'has been working': Incorrect. This is Present Perfect Continuous, which cannot be used with the past tense clause 'before she came'.
- (c) 'have been working': Incorrect. This is Present Perfect Continuous and is grammatically incorrect for the singular subject 'Mary'.
- (d) 'have has been working': Incorrect. This is grammatically nonsensical.
The rope ________ while they were hauling up the pillar.
A)
gave up
B)
gave way
C)
gave in
D)
gave out
The sentence describes a situation where a rope was under tension while hauling up a pillar. The correct phrasal verb to describe a structure or object breaking or collapsing under pressure is 'gave way'.
Breakdown of options:
- 'gave up' (a): means to stop trying or to surrender. A rope cannot 'surrender'.
- 'gave way' (b): means to collapse, break, or snap under pressure/weight. This fits the context of a rope snapping while lifting a heavy pillar.
- 'gave in' (c): means to yield to pressure or concede to a demand. This is typically used for people, not physical objects.
- 'gave out' (d): means to stop functioning (like an engine) or to be exhausted. While sometimes used for strength, 'gave way' is the precise term for structural failure/snapping.
Amir _______________ cricket in the afternoon when he got the call.
A)
play
B)
played
C)
was playing
D)
will play
This sentence describes two actions happening in the past. The second part of the sentence ('when he got the call') uses the Simple Past tense ('got'), indicating a completed action that interrupted another ongoing action. To describe an action that was in progress at a specific moment in the past, we use the Past Continuous tense (was/were + verb-ing). Therefore, 'was playing' is the correct form to show that Amir was in the middle of playing cricket when the phone call occurred.
Analysis of other options:
- (a) 'play' is present tense and grammatically incorrect with the subject 'Amir'.
- (b) 'played' is simple past; while grammatically possible, it would imply he finished playing and then got the call, rather than the call interrupting the activity.
- (d) 'will play' is future tense, which contradicts the past tense 'got'.
A ceremony at which a man becomes a priest
A)
ordination
B)
coronation
C)
intonation
D)
elocution
The question asks for the one-word substitution for a ceremony where a man becomes a priest.
1. **Ordination (Option a):** This is the correct term. Ordination is the religious rite or ceremony by which a person is officially invested with ministerial or priestly authority in a church.
2. **Coronation (Option b):** This refers to the ceremony of crowning a sovereign (king or queen).
3. **Intonation (Option c):** This refers to the rise and fall of the voice in speaking, or the act of chanting a liturgical text.
4. **Elocution (Option d):** This refers to the skill of clear and expressive speech, especially of distinct pronunciation and articulation.
Therefore, 'ordination' is the only term that fits the definition provided.
The Principal called a meeting to discuss urgent matters _______________ the school discipline.
A)
directing
B)
considering
C)
regarding
D)
reforming
The sentence requires a preposition or a prepositional participle to link 'urgent matters' with 'the school discipline'.
1. 'Regarding' (Option c) is a preposition meaning 'about' or 'concerning'. It perfectly fits the context: 'urgent matters regarding the school discipline' (urgent matters about the school discipline).
2. 'Directing' (Option a) is a verb/participle that would imply the matters themselves are giving orders, which is logically incorrect.
3. 'Considering' (Option b) is typically used as a conjunction or preposition meaning 'taking into account'. While it is close, 'regarding' is the standard professional term used to specify the subject of a meeting or discussion.
4. 'Reforming' (Option d) is a verb meaning to improve or change. While the meeting might be about reforming discipline, the phrase 'matters reforming the school discipline' is grammatically incorrect; it would need to be 'matters regarding the reforming of school discipline'.
Therefore, 'regarding' is the only grammatically and contextually accurate choice.
Identify whether the following sentence is Simple, Complex or Compound: He dropped the pen and the eraser, but he held on to the paper.
A)
Simple
B)
Complex
C)
Compound
To determine the sentence structure, we must analyze the clauses:
1. The first independent clause is 'He dropped the pen and the eraser'. It contains a subject ('He') and a verb ('dropped') and can stand alone as a complete thought.
2. The second independent clause is 'he held on to the paper'. It also contains a subject ('he') and a verb ('held on') and can stand alone as a complete thought.
3. These two independent clauses are joined by the coordinating conjunction 'but' (one of the FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So).
Definition check:
- A Simple sentence contains only one independent clause.
- A Complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause.
- A Compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.
Since this sentence consists of two independent clauses joined by 'but', it is a Compound sentence.
Identify whether the following sentence is Simple, Complex or Compound: The guitarist played a long time, but the violin players stopped early.
A)
Simple
B)
Complex
C)
Compound
To determine the sentence structure, we analyze the clauses present in the sentence: 'The guitarist played a long time, but the violin players stopped early.'
1. **Clause 1**: 'The guitarist played a long time' (Independent Clause - it can stand alone as a complete sentence).
2. **Clause 2**: 'the violin players stopped early' (Independent Clause - it can also stand alone as a complete sentence).
3. **Connecting Word**: The two independent clauses are joined by the coordinating conjunction 'but' (one of the FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So).
**Definitions:**
- A **Simple sentence** consists of only one independent clause.
- A **Complex sentence** consists of one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause.
- A **Compound sentence** consists of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.
Since this sentence contains two independent clauses joined by 'but', it is a Compound sentence.
Identify the part of speech of the word 'but' in: The pizza was cold but very delicious.
A)
Conjunction
B)
Adverb
C)
Noun
D)
Preposition
In the sentence 'The pizza was cold but very delicious,' the word 'but' is used to connect two contrasting adjectives ('cold' and 'delicious') that describe the pizza. Specifically, it is a coordinating conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with what has already been mentioned.
Breakdown of options:
- a. Conjunction: Correct. It links two ideas/descriptors of opposite nature.
- b. Adverb: Incorrect. An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb (e.g., 'very' in this sentence is an adverb modifying 'delicious').
- c. Noun: Incorrect. A noun represents a person, place, thing, or idea.
- d. Preposition: Incorrect. While 'but' can occasionally act as a preposition meaning 'except' (e.g., 'Everyone but him'), in this context, it is connecting two descriptors, not showing a relationship between a noun/pronoun and another part of the sentence.
Identify the part of speech of the word 'better' in: My mother treats my sister better than us.
A)
Verb
B)
Adverb
C)
Adjective
D)
Pronoun
To determine the part of speech of 'better' in the sentence 'My mother treats my sister better than us,' we must look at what word it is modifying.
1. **Analyze the sentence structure**: The subject is 'My mother', the verb is 'treats', and the object is 'my sister'.
2. **Identify the function of 'better'**: The word 'better' describes *how* the mother treats the sister. Since it modifies the verb 'treats', it functions as an adverb.
3. **Comparison**: 'Better' is the comparative form of the adverb 'well'. (e.g., She treats her well $
ightarrow$ She treats her better).
Why other options are incorrect:
- **a. Verb**: 'Better' is not an action or a state of being in this context; 'treats' is the verb.
- **c. Adjective**: An adjective modifies a noun. If the sentence were 'She is a better mother,' then 'better' would be an adjective modifying 'mother'. Here, it modifies the action of treating.
- **d. Pronoun**: A pronoun replaces a noun. 'Better' does not replace any person, place, or thing.
Identify whether the following sentence is Simple, Complex or Compound: We have to go to music school when the clock chimes two o’clock.
A)
Simple
B)
Complex
C)
Compound
To determine the sentence structure, we must analyze the clauses present in the sentence: 'We have to go to music school when the clock chimes two o’clock.'
1. **Identify the Independent Clause**: 'We have to go to music school' is an independent clause because it expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.
2. **Identify the Dependent (Subordinate) Clause**: 'when the clock chimes two o’clock' is a dependent clause. It begins with the subordinating conjunction 'when' and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence; it functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main verb 'have to go'.
**Definitions of Sentence Types**:
- **Simple Sentence**: Contains only one independent clause (e.g., 'We have to go to music school').
- **Compound Sentence**: Contains two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) or a semicolon (e.g., 'The clock chimed two, and we went to music school').
- **Complex Sentence**: Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Since this sentence consists of one independent clause and one dependent clause, it is classified as a Complex sentence.
__________ the Police immediately.
A)
call at
B)
call in
C)
call on
D)
call for
The sentence requires a phrasal verb that means to summon someone for professional help or assistance.
1. 'Call in' means to summon someone to come and provide a professional service or help (e.g., 'call in the police', 'call in a doctor'). This fits the context perfectly.
2. 'Call at' means to visit a place briefly (e.g., 'I will call at the office on my way home').
3. 'Call on' means to visit a person or to ask someone to speak (e.g., 'I called on my old friend').
4. 'Call for' means to demand or require something (e.g., 'This situation calls for immediate action').
Therefore, 'call in' is the only logically and grammatically correct choice for summoning the police.
Identify the part of speech of the word 'successful' in: My brother is a very successful businessman.
A)
Adjective
B)
Noun
C)
Adverb
D)
Pronoun
Step-by-step analysis: 1. Identify the word in context: 'successful' appears in the phrase 'successful businessman'. 2. Determine the function: The word 'successful' is describing or modifying the noun 'businessman'. 3. Apply grammatical rules: A word that modifies or describes a noun or pronoun is classified as an adjective. 4. Evaluate other options: (b) Noun: 'successful' is not a person, place, thing, or idea; 'businessman' is the noun. (c) Adverb: While 'very' is an adverb modifying 'successful', 'successful' itself modifies a noun, not a verb or another adjective. (d) Pronoun: 'successful' does not replace a noun. Therefore, 'successful' is an adjective.
An embarrassing mistake
A)
faux paw
B)
foie gras
C)
faux lawn
D)
faux pas
The term 'faux pas' is a French phrase that literally translates to 'false step.' In English, it is used as a one-word substitution (or idiomatic phrase) to describe a socially awkward or embarrassing mistake, particularly one that violates accepted social norms.
Analysis of other options:
- 'faux paw' (Option a) is a common misspelling or a pun (playing on the word 'paw' for animals), but it is not the correct term.
- 'foie gras' (Option b) refers to a luxury food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened.
- 'faux lawn' (Option c) refers to a type of imitation linen fabric.
Identify the part of speech of the word 'apprehensive' in: John was slightly apprehensive over Michael’s sudden appearance.
A)
Verb
B)
Pronoun
C)
Adjective
D)
Noun
Step-by-step analysis: 1. Analyze the sentence structure: 'John (Subject) was (Linking Verb) slightly (Adverb) apprehensive (Complement)'. 2. Identify the function of 'apprehensive': It describes the state or feeling of the subject 'John'. 3. Define the part of speech: Words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns are adjectives. 'Apprehensive' means anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen. 4. Evaluate other options: (a) Verb: It does not express an action or state of being; 'was' is the verb. (b) Pronoun: It does not replace a noun. (d) Noun: It is not a person, place, thing, or idea, but rather a quality/state of the person. Therefore, 'apprehensive' is an adjective.
Identify whether the following sentence is Simple, Complex or Compound: Betty liked Jughead’s friend, and she also liked his cousin.
A)
Simple
B)
Complex
C)
Compound
To determine the sentence structure, we analyze the clauses present in the sentence: 'Betty liked Jughead’s friend, and she also liked his cousin.'
1. **Clause 1**: 'Betty liked Jughead’s friend' (Independent Clause: It has a subject 'Betty' and a verb 'liked' and expresses a complete thought).
2. **Conjunction**: 'and' (A coordinating conjunction used to join two equal grammatical elements).
3. **Clause 2**: 'she also liked his cousin' (Independent Clause: It has a subject 'she' and a verb 'liked' and expresses a complete thought).
Since the sentence consists of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (one of the FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So), it is classified as a **Compound Sentence**.
Why other options are incorrect:
- **Simple Sentence**: A simple sentence contains only one independent clause. This sentence has two.
- **Complex Sentence**: A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause. Both clauses here are independent.
Identify the part of speech of the word 'while' in: The prisoners managed to escape while the guards were having dinner.
A)
Preposition
B)
Adverb
C)
Noun
D)
Conjunction
Step-by-step reasoning: 1. Analyze the sentence structure: 'The prisoners managed to escape' is an independent clause (it can stand alone as a sentence). 'the guards were having dinner' is also a clause containing a subject (the guards) and a verb (were having). 2. Identify the function of 'while': In this sentence, 'while' connects these two clauses and establishes a temporal relationship between them, indicating that the two actions happened simultaneously. 3. Determine the part of speech: A word that connects two clauses or sentences is called a conjunction. Specifically, 'while' here acts as a subordinating conjunction, introducing a dependent adverbial clause of time. 4. Evaluate other options: (a) Prepositions are followed by nouns or pronouns, not full clauses. (b) Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, but 'while' here is linking two structural units. (c) A noun acts as a subject or object; 'while' is not functioning as a person, place, thing, or idea in this context.
The question ________ before the municipal corporation last week.
A)
came in
B)
came up
C)
came out
D)
came down
The sentence requires a phrasal verb that means 'to be raised for discussion' or 'to be mentioned.'
1. **'Came up' (Correct):** The phrasal verb 'come up' means to be mentioned, raised, or brought forward for consideration during a meeting or discussion. In this context, 'The question came up before the municipal corporation' means the issue was raised for discussion during their proceedings.
2. **'Came in' (Incorrect):** This usually means to enter a place, to arrive, or to finish a race in a certain position. It does not fit the context of a question being presented to a governing body.
3. **'Came out' (Incorrect):** This means to be published, to become known, or to emerge from a place. While a result can 'come out,' a question is 'raised' or 'comes up' for discussion.
4. **'Came down' (Incorrect):** This usually refers to a decrease in price/level or a decision being handed down (though 'come down' on someone means to punish them). It does not fit the context of introducing a topic for debate.
One who is completely satisfied
A)
confident
B)
complacent
C)
consistent
D)
conversant
The question asks for a one-word substitution for 'one who is completely satisfied'.
1. **Complacent (Option b):** This term describes a person who is smugly or uncritically satisfied with themselves or their achievements. In the context of one-word substitutions, it is the standard term for someone who is completely satisfied (often to a fault, meaning they lack the desire to improve).
2. **Confident (Option a):** This refers to a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities. It is about certainty, not necessarily satisfaction.
3. **Consistent (Option c):** This refers to acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate. It relates to stability and uniformity.
4. **Conversant (Option d):** This means being familiar with or knowledgeable about something (e.g., 'conversant with the laws of geography').
Therefore, 'complacent' is the only word that fits the definition of being completely satisfied.
Identify whether the following sentence is Simple, Complex or Compound: Before the king rode in the parade, he gave a speech.
A)
Simple
B)
Complex
C)
Compound
To determine the sentence structure, we analyze the clauses present in the sentence: 'Before the king rode in the parade, he gave a speech.'
1. **Identify the clauses**:
- Clause 1: 'Before the king rode in the parade' (This contains a subject 'the king' and a verb 'rode').
- Clause 2: 'he gave a speech' (This contains a subject 'he' and a verb 'gave').
2. **Analyze the type of clauses**:
- 'he gave a speech' is an **independent clause** because it expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.
- 'Before the king rode in the parade' is a **dependent (subordinate) clause**. Although it has a subject and verb, it begins with the subordinating conjunction 'Before', which means it cannot stand alone as a complete thought.
3. **Classify the sentence**:
- A **Simple sentence** consists of only one independent clause.
- A **Compound sentence** consists of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).
- A **Complex sentence** consists of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Since this sentence contains one independent clause and one dependent clause, it is a Complex sentence.
“What _________________ between 3 and 7 yesterday evening”, the Police said.
A)
did you do
B)
were you doing
C)
do you do
D)
did you doing
The sentence requires a verb form that describes an action in progress over a specific duration of time in the past.
1. **Context Analysis**: The phrase 'between 3 and 7 yesterday evening' specifies a time window (a duration). When we ask about an activity that was ongoing during a specific period in the past, we use the **Past Continuous Tense**.
2. **Grammatical Structure**: The Past Continuous is formed using 'was/were + subject + verb-ing'. Since the subject is 'you', the correct auxiliary verb is 'were'. Therefore, 'were you doing' is the correct structure.
3. **Evaluating Options**:
- **a. did you do**: This is Simple Past. It is used for completed actions at a specific point in time, not typically for a duration like 'between 3 and 7'.
- **b. were you doing**: Correct. It emphasizes the continuity of the action during the specified time frame (often used in police interrogations to establish an alibi).
- **c. do you do**: This is Simple Present, which contradicts the time marker 'yesterday evening'.
- **d. did you doing**: This is grammatically incorrect. The auxiliary 'did' must be followed by the base form of the verb (do), not the present participle (doing).
One who lacks courage or confidence
A)
timid
B)
coward
C)
deserter
D)
castaway
The question asks for a one-word substitution for 'one who lacks courage or confidence'.
1. **Coward (Option b):** A coward is defined as a person who lacks the courage to do something dangerous or difficult. This directly matches the definition provided in the question.
2. **Timid (Option a):** While 'timid' describes someone who lacks courage or confidence, it is an adjective (a describing word), not a noun (a person). The phrase 'One who...' requires a noun. Therefore, 'coward' is the grammatically correct substitution for the person.
3. **Deserter (Option c):** A deserter is someone who abandons their duty or post (especially in the military) without permission. While this may be motivated by fear, the term specifically refers to the act of abandonment, not the general lack of courage.
4. **Castaway (Option d):** A castaway is a person who has been shipwrecked and stranded in an isolated place. This has no relation to courage or confidence.
Our house is ____________that River.
A)
beyond
B)
around
C)
into
D)
after
The sentence requires a preposition of place to describe the location of the house relative to the river.
1. 'Beyond' (Option a) means 'on the further side of' or 'past'. In this context, it correctly indicates that the house is located on the other side of the river. This is a common and grammatically correct way to describe spatial positioning.
2. 'Around' (Option b) implies surrounding the river or being in the vicinity. While physically possible, it is less precise than 'beyond' for a single house's location relative to a linear landmark like a river.
3. 'Into' (Option c) is a preposition of movement (e.g., 'jumping into the river'). A house cannot be 'into' a river unless it has fallen inside it, which is logically incorrect for a standard descriptive sentence.
4. 'After' (Option d) is primarily a preposition of time or sequence (e.g., 'after the movie'). While it can occasionally be used for position in a line, it is not used to describe geographical location relative to a river.
Therefore, 'beyond' is the most appropriate and logically sound choice.
He seems to be ____________.
A)
well out
B)
well off
C)
well in
D)
well at
The sentence requires an adjective or a phrasal expression to describe the subject's state or condition. 'Well-off' is a common English idiomatic expression meaning wealthy or having plenty of money. In the sentence 'He seems to be well off,' it logically describes his financial status.
Analysis of other options:
- 'Well out' is not a standard idiomatic expression used to describe a person's state in this context.
- 'Well in' is not a standard adjective for a person's condition (though 'well-in' is occasionally used in very specific regional slang, it is not grammatically standard for competitive exams).
- 'Well at' is grammatically incomplete; one can be 'good at' something, but 'well at' is not a recognized phrasal adjective to describe a person's general state.
Choose the correct sentence type for: If only I had practised!
A)
Affirmative
B)
Assertive
C)
Exclamatory
D)
Negative
The sentence 'If only I had practised!' is an exclamatory sentence. Here is the step-by-step reasoning:
1. **Analysis of Structure**: The sentence begins with the phrase 'If only', which is used to express a strong wish, regret, or longing.
2. **Punctuation**: The sentence ends with an exclamation mark (!), which is the primary indicator of an exclamatory sentence.
3. **Emotional Intent**: Exclamatory sentences are designed to convey strong emotion (in this case, regret).
Why other options are incorrect:
- **Affirmative/Assertive**: Assertive (or declarative) sentences state a fact or an opinion and typically end with a period. While this sentence is technically positive in form, its primary function is emotional expression, not a factual statement.
- **Negative**: A negative sentence contains words like 'not', 'never', or 'no' to deny something. This sentence does not contain any negative markers.
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