← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions
Choose the correct alternative to fill in the blank: Mr. Walsh saw the gardener sitting ________ his sister.
A)
along
B)
besides
C)
beside
D)
in
The correct preposition to fill in the blank is 'beside'. 'Beside' means 'at the side of' or 'next to', which correctly describes the physical position of the gardener relative to Mr. Walsh's sister.
- 'besides' (option b) means 'in addition to' or 'apart from', which is incorrect in this context.
- 'along' (option a) means 'next to the length of' or 'moving in a constant direction', which does not fit here.
- 'in' (option d) is used to indicate being inside a container, place, or area, which is grammatically and logically incorrect in this sentence.
Complete the following sentence with the most appropriate word: The younger son of the Czar _______ his father last year.
A)
secluded
B)
succeeded
C)
sequestered
D)
surpasses
The correct word to complete the sentence is 'succeeded'. Here is why:
1. **Why 'succeeded' is correct**: 'Succeeded' means to take over a throne, office, title, or inheritance from someone. Since the sentence refers to the 'son of the Czar' and 'his father', 'succeeded' fits perfectly. Additionally, the past tense form 'succeeded' matches the past time marker 'last year'.
2. **Why other options are incorrect**:
- **'surpasses'** is in the present tense, which grammatically conflicts with the past time marker 'last year'.
- **'secluded'** means to isolate or keep apart from others, which does not make sense in this context.
- **'sequestered'** means to isolate, hide away, or confiscate, which is contextually inappropriate.
Choose the correct alternative to fill in the blank: The band will not play for the ceremony _____ you pay the advance they have charged.
A)
for
B)
whether
C)
under
D)
unless
The correct option is 'unless'. 'Unless' is a conditional conjunction meaning 'except if' or 'if... not'. In this sentence, it correctly establishes the condition required for the band to play: they will not play if you do not pay the advance. 'For' is used to show reason or purpose; 'whether' is used to express a choice between alternatives (usually with 'or'); and 'under' is a preposition of place or state. None of these other options grammatically or logically fit the conditional requirement of the sentence.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb given in brackets: We _____ (study) last night, but we went to the concert instead.
A)
must have studied
B)
might study
C)
should have studied
D)
would study
The correct option is 'c' ('should have studied'). The structure 'should have + past participle' is used to express a past obligation, recommendation, or desirable action that did not actually happen. Here, the speakers were supposed to study last night but chose to go to the concert instead. Option 'a' ('must have studied') is incorrect because it expresses a strong logical deduction about a past event (which contradicts the fact that they did not study). Option 'b' ('might study') is incorrect because it refers to present or future possibility, whereas the sentence is in the past. Option 'd' ('would study') is incorrect as it does not express the unfulfilled past obligation required by the context.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: I rarely eat rice these days as I have to lose some weight.
A)
Adverb
B)
Preposition
C)
Adjective
D)
Conjunction
In the given sentence, the underlined word is 'rarely'.
1. **Why the correct option is correct:** 'Rarely' is an **Adverb** (specifically, an adverb of frequency). It modifies the verb 'eat' by describing how often the action of eating rice takes place.
2. **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Adjective (Option c):** Adjectives modify nouns (e.g., 'some' modifying 'weight'), whereas 'rarely' modifies a verb.
- **Preposition (Option b):** Prepositions express spatial, temporal, or logical relationships between a noun/pronoun and other words (e.g., 'to' in 'to lose').
- **Conjunction (Option d):** Conjunctions connect clauses or words (e.g., 'as' is used as a conjunction here to connect the two clauses), whereas 'rarely' functions as a modifier.
Select the most appropriate meaning of the following idiom: Carrot and stick policy
A)
fair and foul
B)
continuous vigilance
C)
democratic
D)
reward and punishment
The idiom 'Carrot and stick policy' refers to a strategy of negotiation or persuasion that involves a combination of reward (represented by the carrot) and punishment (represented by the stick) to induce desired behavior. Therefore, 'reward and punishment' is the correct meaning. The other options are incorrect because 'fair and foul' refers to using both just and unjust methods, 'continuous vigilance' means constant watchfulness, and 'democratic' refers to a system based on social equality and collective decision-making.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: The boy who stole the watch was caught.
A)
Adjective
B)
Adverb
C)
Relative pronoun
D)
Noun
The word 'who' is a relative pronoun. It is used to refer to a noun mentioned previously (its antecedent, 'The boy') and to introduce a relative clause ('who stole the watch') that describes that noun. Option 'a' (Adjective) is incorrect because 'who' does not modify a noun to describe its qualities. Option 'b' (Adverb) is incorrect because 'who' does not modify a verb, adjective, or adverb. Option 'd' (Noun) is incorrect because 'who' is a pronoun that replaces a noun, rather than being a naming word itself.
Choose the correct alternative to change the speech: Aragon said that he did not enjoy the movie.
A)
Aragon said,” I have not enjoyed the movie”.
B)
Aragon said, “I am not enjoying the movie”.
C)
Aragon said, “I did not enjoy the movie”.
D)
Aragon said, “I am not enjoyed the movie”.
To change the sentence from indirect speech to direct speech, we reverse the standard tense and pronoun rules:
1. **Correct Option (c):** The indirect speech uses the simple past tense ('did not enjoy'). In direct speech, this is represented as 'I did not enjoy the movie'. The pronoun 'he' changes back to the first-person pronoun 'I' to match the speaker (Aragon).
2. **Incorrect Options:**
- **Option a:** 'I have not enjoyed' (Present Perfect) would change to the Past Perfect ('had not enjoyed') in indirect speech.
- **Option b:** 'I am not enjoying' (Present Continuous) would change to the Past Continuous ('was not enjoying') in indirect speech.
- **Option d:** 'I am not enjoyed' is grammatically incorrect.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: He is both scholarly and cultured.
A)
Verb
B)
Pronoun
C)
Conjunction
D)
Interjection
In the sentence 'He is both scholarly and cultured', the word 'both' (along with 'and') functions as a correlative conjunction. Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to join grammatically equal elements—in this case, connecting the two coordinate adjectives 'scholarly' and 'cultured'. Therefore, 'Conjunction' is the correct part of speech.
- Verb (Option a) is incorrect because 'is' is the verb in this sentence.
- Pronoun (Option b) is incorrect because 'He' is the pronoun.
- Interjection (Option d) is incorrect as there are no words expressing sudden emotion or exclamation in this sentence.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb given in brackets: The phone tower ______ (shake) when the worker climbed it this evening.
A)
has shaken
B)
shakes
C)
is shaking
D)
was shaking
The sentence describes an action that was in progress in the past when another action occurred, indicated by the simple past verb 'climbed' in the clause 'when the worker climbed it this evening'. To express a continuous background action in the past, we use the Past Continuous tense ('was/were + verb-ing'). Therefore, 'was shaking' is the correct form. Option 'b' (shakes) is in the simple present tense, Option 'c' (is shaking) is in the present continuous tense, and Option 'a' (has shaken) is in the present perfect tense; none of these are grammatically correct for a past-time context.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: The judge made a decision and ruled that the estate be divided among the seven sons.
A)
Conjunction
B)
Interjection
C)
Adjective
D)
Preposition
In the given sentence, the underlined word is 'among' (which is the standard underlined word for this exam question).
1. **Why the correct option is correct:** 'Among' is a **preposition** because it is used to show the relationship between the verb 'divided' and the noun phrase 'the seven sons', indicating distribution or sharing between more than two people.
2. **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Conjunction (a):** Conjunctions (like 'and' or 'that' in this sentence) connect clauses, phrases, or words, which is not the function of 'among'.
- **Adjective (c):** Adjectives (like 'seven') modify or describe nouns, whereas 'among' governs a noun phrase.
- **Interjection (b):** Interjections express sudden emotions or feelings (e.g., 'Alas!', 'Oh!'), which does not apply here.
Choose the correct alternative to change the speech: Sarah said, “The sun rises in the East”.
A)
Sarah said that the sun will rise in the East.
B)
Sarah said that the sun rose in the East.
C)
Sarah said that the sun has risen in the East.
D)
Sarah said that the sun rises in the East.
The statement inside the quotation marks, 'The sun rises in the East', is a universal truth/scientific fact. According to the rules of direct and indirect speech, when the reported speech expresses a universal truth, habitual action, or scientific fact, its tense remains unchanged even if the reporting verb is in the past tense ('said'). Therefore, 'rises' remains in the simple present tense. Option 'd' correctly retains the tense, while options 'a', 'b', and 'c' incorrectly change the tense to future ('will rise'), simple past ('rose'), and present perfect ('has risen') respectively.
Choose the correct alternative to fill in the blank: My sister knows French and German _______ Latin.
A)
beside
B)
besides
C)
with
D)
for
The correct answer is 'besides' (option b). 'Besides' is a preposition meaning 'in addition to' or 'as well as', which perfectly fits the context of knowing French and German in addition to Latin. In contrast, 'beside' (option a) means 'next to' or 'at the side of' (e.g., 'she sat beside me'). 'With' (option c) and 'for' (option d) do not grammatically or semantically fit the sentence to express the addition of another language.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: Mean managers mean nothing to me.
A)
Preposition
B)
Verb
C)
Adverb
D)
Adjective
In the sentence "Mean managers mean nothing to me," the first word "Mean" is an Adjective because it describes the noun "managers" (implying they are unkind or unpleasant).
- **Why Option D is correct:** An adjective modifies or describes a noun. Here, "Mean" describes the type of "managers."
- **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Verb (Option b):** While the second "mean" in the sentence is indeed a verb (meaning to signify or have importance), the initial "Mean" functions as an adjective.
- **Adverb (Option c):** Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, which does not apply to the word describing "managers."
- **Preposition (Option a):** Prepositions show spatial, temporal, or logical relationships (like "to" in "to me"), which "mean" does not do.
Complete the following sentence with the most appropriate word: Mr. Phillips is an ________ man who will get the job done.
A)
unaware
B)
ineffective
C)
efficient
D)
inappropriate
The correct option is 'c' (efficient). The sentence describes someone who 'will get the job done,' which implies a positive and capable work ethic. 'Efficient' means working in a well-organized and competent way, making it the most appropriate fit. The other options are incorrect because: 'unaware' (option a) means lacking knowledge or realization; 'ineffective' (option b) means failing to produce the desired effect, which directly contradicts getting the job done; and 'inappropriate' (option d) means unsuitable or improper, which does not fit the positive context of the sentence.
Complete the following sentence with the most appropriate word: The repairman told me that my printer was _______ so he cannot find the spare parts.
A)
obsolete
B)
unanimous
C)
pascifist
D)
piscivore
The correct word to complete the sentence is 'obsolete'. 'Obsolete' means no longer produced or used, or out of date. If a printer is obsolete, manufacturers stop making its spare parts, making them difficult or impossible to find. The other options are incorrect because: 'unanimous' means fully in agreement; 'pascifist' (pacifist) refers to someone who opposes war or violence; and 'piscivore' refers to an animal that eats fish. None of these fit the context of a machine requiring spare parts.
Select the most appropriate meaning of the following idiom: To kick the bucket
A)
To die
B)
To be lazy
C)
To be angry
D)
To be argumentative
The idiom 'to kick the bucket' is an informal English phrase that means 'to die'. Therefore, option 'a' is the correct answer. Options 'b' (to be lazy), 'c' (to be angry), and 'd' (to be argumentative) are incorrect as they do not represent the meaning of this idiom.
Select the most appropriate meaning of the following idiom: A wide berth
A)
keep away from
B)
publicly condemn
C)
give publicity to
D)
not sympathise with
The idiom 'to give a wide berth' means to keep a safe distance from someone or something, or to avoid them entirely. This phrase originates from nautical terminology, where ships are given plenty of space (a wide berth) to navigate safely and avoid collisions. Therefore, 'keep away from' is the correct meaning. The other options—'publicly condemn' (b), 'give publicity to' (c), and 'not sympathise with' (d)—do not relate to the concept of maintaining distance or avoiding contact.
Choose the correct alternative to fill in the blank: She tried her best _____ could not win the settlement.
A)
within
B)
in
C)
but
D)
on
The correct option is 'but'. The sentence presents two contrasting ideas: 'She tried her best' (a positive effort) and 'could not win the settlement' (a negative outcome). The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used to connect clauses that express opposition or contrast. The other options ('within', 'in', and 'on') are prepositions and cannot be used to connect clauses in this manner, making them grammatically incorrect.
Choose the correct alternative to fill in the blank: I have met with a horrible accident _______ we last met in your house.
A)
while
B)
whereas
C)
ever
D)
since
The correct option is 'since' (d). In English grammar, 'since' is used as a conjunction to connect a main clause in the present perfect tense ('I have met with...') with a subordinate clause in the simple past tense ('we last met...'), indicating that the event occurred in the period of time between the past event and the present. 'While' (a) is incorrect because it refers to simultaneous actions, usually requiring a continuous tense. 'Whereas' (b) is incorrect as it is used to show contrast. 'Ever' (c) is an adverb meaning 'at any time' and cannot grammatically connect these two clauses.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: The woman walked through the graveyard to get to her house.
A)
Verb
B)
Conjunction
C)
Preposition
D)
Adverb
The underlined word 'through' is a preposition. It is used to show the spatial relationship between the action of walking ('walked') and the noun phrase ('the graveyard'), introducing the prepositional phrase 'through the graveyard'.
- Option A (Verb) is incorrect because the main verb in the sentence is 'walked'.
- Option B (Conjunction) is incorrect because conjunctions connect clauses or words (e.g., 'and', 'but'), whereas 'through' connects a noun to the rest of the sentence.
- Option D (Adverb) is incorrect because 'through' is followed directly by its object ('the graveyard'), making it function as a preposition rather than an adverb.
Choose the correct alternative to change the speech: The planner said that the next meeting would be on Friday.
A)
The planner said, “The next meeting will be on Friday”.
B)
The planner said, “The next meeting would be on Friday”.
C)
The planner said, “The next meeting must be on Friday”.
D)
The planner says, “The next meeting will be on Friday”.
To convert the given indirect speech sentence ('The planner said that the next meeting would be on Friday') into direct speech, we reverse the standard rules of tense change:
1. The modal verb 'would' in indirect speech changes back to 'will' in direct speech.
2. The reporting verb 'said' (past tense) must remain unchanged.
- **Option a** is correct because it correctly uses 'said' and changes 'would' back to 'will'.
- **Option b** is incorrect because it fails to change 'would' back to 'will'.
- **Option c** is incorrect because it introduces 'must', which alters the original meaning.
- **Option d** is incorrect because it changes the reporting verb 'said' (past tense) to 'says' (present tense).
Choose the correct alternative to change the speech: Jim said, “I work here every day.”
A)
Jim said that he worked here yesterday.”
B)
Jim said that he worked there everyday.”
C)
Jim said that he worked here everyday.”
D)
Jim said that he worked everyday.”
To convert the direct speech "Jim said, 'I work here every day.'" into indirect speech, we apply the following rules:
1. **Tense Change**: Since the reporting verb ('said') is in the past tense, the simple present verb 'work' changes to the simple past 'worked'.
2. **Pronoun Change**: The first-person pronoun 'I' changes to the third-person pronoun 'he' to agree with the subject 'Jim'.
3. **Adverb Change**: The adverb of place 'here' changes to 'there'.
Applying these rules, we get: "Jim said that he worked there everyday."
* **Option c** is incorrect because 'here' is not changed to 'there'.
* **Option a** is incorrect because 'here' is not changed to 'there' and 'every day' is incorrectly changed to 'yesterday'.
* **Option d** is incorrect because it completely omits the adverb of place ('there').
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: We waited until she arrived.
A)
Adjective
B)
Adverb
C)
Noun
D)
Conjunction
In the sentence 'We waited until she arrived', the word 'until' connects the main clause ('We waited') with the subordinate clause ('she arrived'). Therefore, it functions as a subordinating conjunction. Option (a) is incorrect because adjectives modify nouns or pronouns. Option (b) is incorrect because, although 'until' can sometimes act as a preposition, here it introduces a full clause (subject + verb), making it a conjunction rather than an adverb. Option (c) is incorrect because 'until' does not represent a person, place, thing, or idea.
Select the most appropriate meaning of the following idiom: Like a shag on a rock
A)
completely alone
B)
completely idle
C)
completely silent
D)
completely happy
The idiom 'like a shag on a rock' is an Australian and New Zealand colloquialism meaning to be completely alone, isolated, or exposed. It refers to a shag (a type of cormorant bird) perched solitary on a rock in the water. Therefore, option 'a' is correct. Options 'b' (completely idle), 'c' (completely silent), and 'd' (completely happy) do not represent the meaning of isolation or being solitary associated with this idiom.