← Combined Technical (NG)
Past Questions — 2025
Eschar is developed in the skin of human which is the hallmark lesion of:
A)
Scrub typhus
B)
Q-fever
C)
Black death
D)
Black leg
Step-by-step reasoning: 1. Definition of Eschar: An eschar is a dry, dark, necrotic scab that forms at the site of a bite or inoculation of certain pathogens. 2. Scrub Typhus: Caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted by larval mites (chiggers). The hallmark clinical sign of scrub typhus is the formation of a painless eschar at the site of the mite bite, which is highly diagnostic. 3. Q-fever: Caused by Coxiella burnetii. It typically presents as a flu-like illness or pneumonia and does not produce a characteristic eschar. 4. Black Death (Bubonic Plague): Caused by Yersinia pestis. Its hallmark is the 'bubo' (swollen lymph node), not a primary eschar at the bite site. 5. Black Leg: This is a bacterial disease (Clostridium chauvoei) affecting livestock (cattle/sheep), not a human skin lesion disease. Therefore, the eschar is the hallmark lesion of Scrub typhus.
The nature of ASF virus is:
A)
Double stranded which multiply in the cytoplasm of the infected cell
B)
Single stranded which multiply in the cytoplasm of the infected cell
C)
Retro virus which multiply in the cytoplasm of the infected cell
D)
It can transform in any form which makes the virus extremely lethal for pigs
African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) is a large, complex virus belonging to the family Asfarviridae. Its genome consists of a linear, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Unlike most DNA viruses that replicate in the nucleus of the host cell, ASFV is unique because it replicates and assembles exclusively within the cytoplasm of the infected cell (specifically in specialized 'viral factories').
Analysis of options:
- Option (a) is correct: It is double-stranded DNA and multiplies in the cytoplasm.
- Option (b) is incorrect: ASFV is not single-stranded.
- Option (c) is incorrect: ASFV is not a retrovirus (retroviruses are RNA viruses that use reverse transcriptase to integrate into the host genome).
- Option (d) is incorrect: While ASFV is extremely lethal, it does not 'transform in any form' as a biological mechanism for its lethality; its virulence is due to its ability to target macrophages and cause systemic hemorrhagic fever.
The component of vaccine against Newcastle in poultry is:
A)
Live virus attenuated vaccine- La Sota strain
B)
Killed virus vaccine- La Sota strain
C)
Live virus attenuated vaccine- S19 strain
D)
Killed virus vaccine- S19 strain
Newcastle Disease (ND) is caused by avian orthoavuloviruses. To prevent this highly contagious disease in poultry, vaccines are used. The most common vaccines used globally are live attenuated vaccines. Two of the most widely used strains for live attenuated vaccines are the La Sota strain and the B1 strain. The La Sota strain is highly effective for providing immunity and is typically administered via spray, drinking water, or injection. While killed vaccines exist, they are less common for primary immunization compared to the live attenuated La Sota strain. The S19 strain is not a standard recognized strain for Newcastle Disease vaccines (it is more commonly associated with other veterinary vaccines or specific research contexts, but not the primary ND vaccine component). Therefore, the combination of 'Live virus attenuated' and 'La Sota strain' is the correct component.
Choose the correct type of clause for the underlined words in the sentence: 'How the budget got in is a mystery.' (Underlined: How the budget got in)
A)
Adverb clause of manner
B)
Noun clause
C)
Adverb clause of time
D)
Adjective clause
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. **Analyze the sentence structure**: The sentence is 'How the budget got in is a mystery.'
2. **Identify the subject**: In this sentence, the verb is 'is'. The part of the sentence that acts as the subject of the verb 'is' is the entire phrase 'How the budget got in'.
3. **Determine the function**: A clause that functions as a noun (acting as a subject, object, or complement) is called a Noun Clause. Since 'How the budget got in' is the subject of the sentence, it is a noun clause.
4. **Test for Noun Clause**: You can replace the entire clause with a pronoun like 'It' or 'This' ('It is a mystery'), and the sentence remains grammatically sound. This confirms it is a noun clause.
5. **Evaluate other options**:
- **Adverb clause of manner (a)**: These modify verbs and usually answer 'how' an action was performed (e.g., 'He spoke as if he were king'). Here, the clause is not modifying a verb; it is the subject.
- **Adverb clause of time (c)**: These answer 'when' (e.g., 'When the budget arrived, we were happy'). This does not apply here.
- **Adjective clause (d)**: These modify nouns (e.g., 'The budget, which was leaked, is a mystery'). This clause does not modify a preceding noun; it stands alone as the subject.
Identify the Part of speech of the underlined word in the sentence: 'Although Mary and Jerry love to dance, they hardly have time for it.' (Underlined word: Although)
A)
Preposition
B)
Conjunction
C)
Noun
D)
Adverb
Step-by-step reasoning: 1. Analyze the function of the word 'Although' in the sentence. It is used to connect two clauses: 'Mary and Jerry love to dance' (dependent clause) and 'they hardly have time for it' (independent clause). 2. Specifically, 'Although' is a subordinating conjunction used to introduce a concession or contrast. 3. Evaluate the options: (a) Prepositions show relationship between a noun/pronoun and another part of the sentence; 'Although' does not do this. (c) Nouns name people, places, or things; 'Although' is not a naming word. (d) Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs; while 'hardly' in the sentence is an adverb, 'Although' serves as a connector for the entire clause. Therefore, 'Conjunction' is the correct part of speech.
You are XYZ, a resident of ABC Veng, Aizawl. You are disturbed by the poor maintenance as well as the dilapidated condition of the recently constructed and inhabited AMC Multi Complex located at Tuikual. Write a complaint letter to the Municipal Commissioner, Aizawl Municipal Corporation to take necessary actions regarding the same.
I have much __________ with you, my friend.
A)
compassion
B)
pity
C)
sympathy
D)
mercy
The question tests the nuanced difference between four synonyms related to feeling for others.
1. **Sympathy (Correct):** This refers to the feeling of sorrow or understanding for someone else's misfortune. It is the most natural and common word to use when expressing emotional support to a friend ('I have sympathy with you').
2. **Compassion:** This is a deeper feeling that involves a strong desire to help alleviate the suffering of another. While similar, it is usually described as 'having compassion *for*' someone rather than 'with' someone.
3. **Pity:** This often carries a negative connotation of condescension, implying that the speaker feels superior to the person they are pitying. It is rarely used in a supportive context between friends.
4. **Mercy:** This refers to leniency or forgiveness shown by someone in a position of power toward someone they have the power to punish. It is not applicable in a general friendship context.
Therefore, 'sympathy' is the most appropriate word both grammatically (collocating with 'with') and contextually (expressing support to a friend).
Choose the correct sentence structure from the given options:
A)
EM Forster wrote in a passage to India.
B)
EM Forster wrote a passage to India.
C)
EM Forster wrote ‘A Passage to India’.
D)
EM Forster wrote in ‘A Passage to India’.
This question tests knowledge of sentence structure, specifically regarding the use of proper nouns (titles of literary works) and transitive verbs.
1. **Analysis of the Verb**: The verb 'wrote' is used here as a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (the thing that was written).
2. **Identification of the Object**: 'A Passage to India' is the title of a famous novel by E.M. Forster. Titles of books are proper nouns and should be capitalized and typically enclosed in quotation marks or italicized to distinguish them from common nouns.
3. **Evaluating Options**:
- **Option (a)**: 'wrote in a passage to India' suggests he was physically located in a passage while writing, or writing inside a specific text, which is logically incorrect in this context.
- **Option (b)**: 'wrote a passage to India' lacks capitalization and punctuation for the title. Without these, it sounds as if he wrote a physical path or a short excerpt leading to the country of India, rather than the novel.
- **Option (c)**: 'wrote ‘A Passage to India’' correctly identifies the novel as the direct object, uses proper capitalization for the title, and uses quotation marks to denote it is a specific work. This is the grammatically and contextually correct structure.
- **Option (d)**: 'wrote in ‘A Passage to India’' implies that Forster wrote something inside his own book (perhaps as an editor or later addition), which is not the standard way to state authorship of a work.
Identify the Part of speech of the underlined word in the sentence: 'That is the least expensive option available.' (Underlined word: least)
A)
Adjective
B)
Preposition
C)
Verb
D)
Adverb
To determine the part of speech of the word 'least' in the sentence 'That is the least expensive option available,' we must look at what word it is modifying.
1. **Analyze the target word**: The word 'least' is modifying the word 'expensive'.
2. **Identify the modified word**: 'Expensive' is an adjective describing the noun 'option'.
3. **Apply grammatical rules**: A word that modifies an adjective, a verb, or another adverb is classified as an **adverb**. In this case, 'least' is the superlative form of the adverb 'little', used here as an adverb of degree to indicate the extent to which the option is expensive.
**Why other options are incorrect:**
- **a. Adjective**: While 'least' can be an adjective (e.g., 'the least amount'), here it does not modify a noun directly; it modifies the adjective 'expensive'.
- **b. Preposition**: A preposition shows a relationship between a noun/pronoun and another part of the sentence (e.g., 'in', 'on', 'at'). 'Least' does not perform this function.
- **c. Verb**: A verb expresses an action or state of being. 'Least' does not express an action.
Choose the appropriate preposition: 'She walked __________ the room.'
A)
in
B)
onto
C)
into
D)
at
The sentence describes a movement from the outside to the inside of a space. In English grammar, 'into' is the preposition used to indicate movement or entry into a three-dimensional space (like a room).
Breakdown of options:
- 'in' (Option a) typically describes a position or state of being already inside a location (e.g., 'She is in the room'). While used colloquially, 'into' is the grammatically precise choice for the action of walking from outside to inside.
- 'onto' (Option b) indicates movement to a surface (e.g., 'She stepped onto the platform'), which is not applicable to a room.
- 'at' (Option d) indicates a specific point or location (e.g., 'She is at the door'), not the act of entering a space.
Mary __________ into the room, trying hard not to wake her roommates.
A)
scampered
B)
crept
C)
accelerated
D)
rushed
The key to solving this vocabulary question lies in the contextual clue: 'trying hard not to wake her roommates.' This indicates that Mary's movement must be quiet, slow, and cautious.
1. **'crept' (Option b)**: This is the past tense of 'creep,' which means to move slowly and carefully in order to avoid being heard or noticed. This perfectly matches the context of trying not to wake others.
2. **'scampered' (Option a)**: This means to run with quick, light steps, often in a playful or hurried manner. This movement is typically too noisy and energetic for someone trying to be stealthy.
3. **'accelerated' (Option c)**: This means to increase in speed. Increasing speed is contrary to the caution required to avoid waking someone.
4. **'rushed' (Option d)**: This means to move with urgent haste. Rushing usually involves loud footsteps and sudden movements, which would likely wake the roommates.
Choose the sentence that accurately convey the meaning of the word – ‘horde’
A)
The picnic was interrupted by a horde of ants attracted to the sweet treats.
B)
She tends to horde food items in the pantry, fearing they will run out.
C)
He had a horde of comic books in his library.
D)
Ants are known to horde sweets like sugar and honey.
To solve this question, it is essential to distinguish between two homophones: 'horde' and 'hoard'.
1. **Horde (Noun):** Refers to a large group of people or animals, often perceived as disorganized or overwhelming (e.g., a horde of tourists, a horde of insects).
2. **Hoard (Verb/Noun):** Refers to the act of accumulating and hiding a store of money or valued objects, or the secret store itself.
Evaluating the options:
- **Option a:** 'a horde of ants' correctly uses the word as a noun meaning a large group of insects. This is the correct usage.
- **Option b:** 'She tends to horde food items' is incorrect. The intended word here is the verb 'hoard' (to accumulate).
- **Option c:** 'He had a horde of comic books' is incorrect. A collection of objects is a 'hoard', not a 'horde' (which refers to living beings).
- **Option d:** 'Ants are known to horde sweets' is incorrect. The intended word is 'hoard' (the act of storing food for later).
Therefore, only option (a) uses the word 'horde' accurately according to its definition.
Choose the correct determiner: 'A child usually has perfect trust in __________ parents.'
A)
their
B)
him
C)
its
D)
her
1. Analysis of the Subject: The subject of the sentence is 'A child'. In English grammar, when a singular noun is used to represent a general class of people (generic singular), it is common to use a gender-neutral pronoun to refer back to it.
2. Evaluating the Options:
- (a) 'their': This is the 'singular they'. In modern standard English, 'their' is the preferred determiner for a singular subject of unspecified or general gender to avoid gender bias and clunky phrasing (like 'his or her').
- (b) 'him': This is an object pronoun, not a possessive determiner. It cannot modify the noun 'parents'.
- (c) 'its': This is used for animals or inanimate objects. Referring to a human child as 'its' is grammatically incorrect and dehumanizing.
- (d) 'her': While grammatically possible, it limits the subject to only female children, which contradicts the general nature of the statement ('A child usually...').
3. Conclusion: 'Their' is the most appropriate determiner to maintain the general, inclusive, and gender-neutral meaning of the sentence.
Choose the appropriate adjective to complete the sentence: 'The Joker is often considered __________villain.'
A)
a madder
B)
mad
C)
a madman
D)
the maddest
Step-by-step reasoning: 1. Analysis of the sentence structure: The sentence 'The Joker is often considered __________ villain' requires an adjective phrase to modify the noun 'villain'. 2. Evaluating Option (a) 'a madder': 'Madder' is a comparative adjective. Comparative adjectives are used to compare two specific entities (e.g., 'The Joker is madder than Penguin'). Without a comparison point ('than...'), this is grammatically incomplete. 3. Evaluating Option (b) 'mad': While 'mad' is an adjective, the sentence structure 'considered mad villain' is grammatically incorrect because 'villain' is a singular countable noun and requires an article (a/an/the). 4. Evaluating Option (c) 'a madman': 'Madman' is a noun, not an adjective. Placing it here would result in 'considered a madman villain', which is redundant and grammatically incorrect. 5. Evaluating Option (d) 'the maddest': 'Maddest' is the superlative form of the adjective 'mad'. Superlatives are used to describe an object that possesses a quality to the highest degree among a group. In the context of fictional characters or the DC universe, the Joker is frequently characterized as the most insane of all villains. The use of the definite article 'the' correctly precedes the superlative adjective to modify the noun 'villain'. Therefore, 'the maddest' is the only grammatically and contextually sound choice.
Identify the Part of speech of the underlined word in the sentence: 'The actor appeared in a costly array.' (Underlined word: costly)
A)
Noun
B)
Verb
C)
Adverb
D)
Adjective
Step-by-step analysis:
1. **Analyze the sentence structure**: 'The actor (Subject) appeared (Verb) in a costly (Modifier) array (Object of preposition).'
2. **Identify the word being modified**: The word 'costly' is placed immediately before the noun 'array'.
3. **Determine the function**: In English grammar, a word that describes or modifies a noun is an adjective. Here, 'costly' describes the nature of the 'array' (meaning expensive).
4. **Address common misconceptions**: Many students mistake words ending in '-ly' for adverbs. However, while most adverbs end in '-ly' (e.g., quickly, happily), some adjectives also end in '-ly' (e.g., friendly, lovely, costly, lonely). To distinguish them, check what they modify: if they modify a noun, they are adjectives; if they modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb, they are adverbs. Since 'costly' modifies the noun 'array', it is an adjective.
Why other options are incorrect:
- **Noun**: 'Costly' does not name a person, place, thing, or idea.
- **Verb**: 'Costly' does not express an action or state of being.
- **Adverb**: 'Costly' is not modifying the verb 'appeared' (it doesn't describe *how* he appeared, but *what* he wore).
Choose the appropriate preposition: 'She was acquitted __________ all charges.'
A)
of
B)
on
C)
in
D)
at
The word 'acquitted' is a verb that follows a specific prepositional pattern in English grammar. To 'acquit' someone means to formally state that they are not guilty of a crime. In English, the verb 'acquit' is always followed by the preposition 'of' when referring to the charge or crime from which the person is cleared.
- 'Acquitted of' is the standard idiomatic collocation (e.g., 'acquitted of murder', 'acquitted of all charges').
- Option 'b' (on) is incorrect because we do not say 'acquitted on charges' (though one might be 'charged on' certain grounds, the acquittal is 'of' the charge).
- Option 'c' (in) and 'd' (at) are grammatically incorrect in this context as they do not form a valid phrasal relationship with the verb 'acquit'.
Choose the correct sentence structure from the given options:
A)
Everyone must respect their superiors.
B)
Everyone should respect their superiors.
C)
Everyone should respect his superior.
D)
Each one should respect his superior.
This question tests the rule of pronoun-antecedent agreement in formal English grammar.
1. **The Antecedent**: Words like 'Everyone', 'Everybody', 'Each', and 'Each one' are singular indefinite pronouns.
2. **The Pronoun Agreement**: According to traditional formal grammar (which is the standard for competitive exams like MPSC), a singular antecedent must be followed by a singular possessive pronoun.
3. **Analysis of Options**:
- **Option (a) and (b)**: Use 'their' (plural) to refer back to 'Everyone' (singular). While 'their' is commonly used as a singular gender-neutral pronoun in modern spoken English, it is technically considered a grammatical error in formal, prescriptive exam contexts.
- **Option (c)**: 'Everyone should respect his superior.' While grammatically singular, 'Everyone' is a general collective singular.
- **Option (d)**: 'Each one should respect his superior.' This is the most precise structure. 'Each one' explicitly emphasizes the individual nature of the subject, and 'his' correctly matches the singular antecedent. In traditional grammar, the masculine pronoun 'his' was used as the generic singular to cover both genders.
Therefore, Option (d) follows the strictest rules of formal sentence structure required for technical competitive examinations.
Choose the correct determiner: 'Mawia is ___________ head of his family.'
A)
the
B)
a
C)
every
D)
each
The sentence requires a determiner to specify the role of 'Mawia' within his family.
1. **Analysis of 'the' (Definite Article):** The phrase 'head of his family' refers to a unique, specific position. In any given family, there is typically only one primary 'head'. When a noun refers to a unique position or a specific title, the definite article 'the' is used. Therefore, 'the head of his family' is grammatically correct.
2. **Analysis of 'a' (Indefinite Article):** 'A' is used for non-specific members of a group. While a family could theoretically have multiple heads, the standard idiomatic expression for leadership in a family unit is 'the head'.
3. **Analysis of 'every' and 'each' (Distributives):** 'Every' and 'each' are used to refer to individual members of a group (e.g., 'every member of the family'). They cannot be used here because 'head' is a singular specific role, not a distributive quality applied to multiple people in this context.
Conclusion: 'The' is the only determiner that correctly identifies the specific, unique role Mawia holds.
Choose the appropriate adjective to complete the sentence: 'The farmer said that there has not been __________ rain this year.'
A)
significant
B)
much
C)
sufficient
D)
many
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. **Analyze the Noun**: The noun being modified is 'rain'. In this context, 'rain' is an uncountable noun (mass noun).
2. **Evaluate Option (d) 'many'**: 'Many' is used exclusively with countable nouns (e.g., many drops of rain, many days). Therefore, it is grammatically incorrect here.
3. **Evaluate Option (b) 'much'**: 'Much' is the standard quantifier used with uncountable nouns, particularly in negative sentences ('has not been much rain') and questions. This fits perfectly both grammatically and contextually.
4. **Evaluate Option (a) 'significant' and (c) 'sufficient'**: While these adjectives can describe rain, they typically require an article ('a significant amount of rain') or are used in affirmative contexts to describe quality/quantity. In a simple negative sentence regarding the volume of an uncountable substance, 'much' is the most natural and grammatically appropriate choice for a standard English proficiency exam.
Conclusion: 'Much' is the correct quantifier for the uncountable noun 'rain' in a negative sentence.
Choose the correct determiner: 'I didn’t take __________ vacations last year.'
A)
much
B)
many
C)
a
D)
the
To determine the correct determiner, we must analyze the noun it modifies: 'vacations'.
1. **Analyze the Noun**: 'Vacations' is a plural countable noun.
2. **Evaluate Option (a) 'much'**: 'Much' is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., 'much water', 'much time'). Since 'vacations' is countable, 'much' is grammatically incorrect.
3. **Evaluate Option (b) 'many'**: 'Many' is used specifically with plural countable nouns to indicate a large number. It fits perfectly in this negative sentence ('didn't take many vacations').
4. **Evaluate Option (c) 'a'**: 'A' is an indefinite article used with singular countable nouns. It cannot be used with the plural 'vacations'.
5. **Evaluate Option (d) 'the'**: While 'the' can be used with plural nouns, it is a definite article used to refer to specific vacations already mentioned or known to the listener. In this general context of quantity over a year, 'many' is the appropriate determiner to express the amount of vacations taken.
The kind of adjective used in the sentence ‘We have enough provisions to last a month’ is :
A)
Adjective of Quantity
B)
Adjective of Quality
C)
Adjective of Number
D)
Demonstrative Adjective
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. Identify the adjective in the sentence: In the sentence 'We have enough provisions to last a month', the word 'enough' modifies the noun 'provisions'.
2. Analyze the function of 'enough': It describes 'how much' of the provisions are available. It does not specify a precise count (like 'ten' or 'five'), but rather an approximate amount or sufficiency.
3. Evaluate the options:
- (a) Adjective of Quantity: These adjectives indicate the approximate amount of an uncountable noun or a collective mass. 'Enough' is a classic example of an adjective of quantity.
- (b) Adjective of Quality: These describe the nature or characteristic of a noun (e.g., 'brave', 'large'). 'Enough' does not describe a quality.
- (c) Adjective of Number: These specify the exact number of countable items (e.g., 'one', 'several', 'many'). While 'provisions' can be countable, 'enough' refers to the sufficiency of the quantity rather than a specific numerical count.
- (d) Demonstrative Adjective: These point out specific nouns (e.g., 'this', 'that', 'these', 'those'). 'Enough' does not point out a specific object.
Therefore, 'enough' functions as an Adjective of Quantity.
The luxury yacht that we bought was nothing but a white elephant. The idiom ‘white elephant’ means-
A)
An expensive thing
B)
A costly and useful thing
C)
A cheap thing
D)
A costly and useless thing
The idiom 'white elephant' refers to a possession that is very expensive to maintain or purchase but provides little to no practical use or profit.
Step-by-step analysis:
1. Origin: The term originates from the ancient practice in Southeast Asia where kings would gift rare white elephants to courtiers they disliked. Because the animals were sacred, they couldn't be put to work, but their upkeep was incredibly expensive, effectively bankrupting the recipient.
2. Application: In the given sentence, the 'luxury yacht' is described as a white elephant, implying that while it was a high-status purchase, it has become a financial burden without providing equivalent value.
3. Evaluating Options:
- (a) 'An expensive thing' is partially correct but incomplete, as not all expensive things are white elephants.
- (b) 'A costly and useful thing' is the opposite of the idiom's meaning.
- (c) 'A cheap thing' is factually incorrect regarding the idiom.
- (d) 'A costly and useless thing' perfectly captures both the financial burden and the lack of utility associated with the idiom.
Identify the Part of speech of the underlined word in the sentence: 'The chef tasted the soup before adding salt.' (Underlined word: tasted)
A)
Noun
B)
Pronoun
C)
Conjunction
D)
Preposition
Step-by-step analysis:
1. Analyze the sentence structure: 'The chef (Subject) tasted (Action) the soup (Object)'.
2. Identify the function of the word 'tasted': In this context, 'tasted' describes the physical action performed by the subject (the chef). Any word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being is classified as a Verb.
3. Evaluate the provided options:
- a. Noun: A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea. 'Tasted' is not a name.
- b. Pronoun: A pronoun replaces a noun (e.g., he, she, it). 'Tasted' does not replace a noun.
- c. Conjunction: A conjunction connects words or phrases (e.g., and, but, or). 'Tasted' does not serve as a connector.
- d. Preposition: A preposition shows relationship in space or time (e.g., in, on, at). 'Tasted' does not show a relationship between a noun and another part of the sentence.
Note: There is a discrepancy in the provided options as 'Verb' is the correct part of speech, but it is not listed among options a, b, c, or d. However, based on linguistic rules, 'tasted' is definitively a verb.
Choose the most suitable connector to complete the sentence: 'I read all genres of books but I prefer thriller __________ romance.'
A)
and
B)
to
C)
with
D)
than
The sentence uses the verb 'prefer', which is used to indicate a liking for one thing over another. In English grammar, the standard construction for expressing preference between two nouns is 'prefer [something] to [something else]'.
1. 'Prefer... to' is the idiomatic prepositional pairing used for comparisons of preference.
2. Option (a) 'and' would imply the speaker likes both equally, which contradicts the intent of 'prefer'.
3. Option (c) 'with' is grammatically incorrect in this context of comparison.
4. Option (d) 'than' is a common error; while 'than' is used with comparative adjectives (e.g., 'better than'), it is not used with the verb 'prefer'. One would say 'I like thrillers more than romance,' but 'I prefer thrillers to romance.'
Choose the appropriate preposition: '__________ studying John is also working somewhere.'
A)
Beside
B)
Besides
C)
Instead of
D)
Over
The sentence requires a preposition that means 'in addition to' or 'as well as'.
1. **'Besides' (Option b)** is used to mean 'in addition to'. In this context, it indicates that John is doing two things simultaneously: studying AND working. This fits the logic of the sentence perfectly.
2. **'Beside' (Option a)** means 'next to' or 'at the side of' (physical proximity). It would be grammatically incorrect to say John is 'next to studying'.
3. **'Instead of' (Option c)** means 'in place of'. If John were working 'instead of' studying, he would not be doing both; he would be doing one and not the other. The sentence structure 'is also working' implies addition, not substitution.
4. **'Over' (Option d)** typically refers to physical position (above) or a period of time, neither of which fits the context of adding an activity to a routine.