← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions — 2026
Choose the correct alternative to fill in the blank: I have been learning driving_____ eight hours.
A)
since
B)
for
C)
from
D)
in
The correct preposition to fill in the blank is 'for'. In the present perfect continuous tense ('have been learning'), 'for' is used to denote a duration or period of time (e.g., 'eight hours'). In contrast, 'since' (option a) is used to indicate a specific starting point in time (e.g., 'since 8 o'clock'). 'From' (option c) is used to show the starting point of an action but not for duration in this tense, and 'in' (option d) is incorrect as it does not denote the duration of an ongoing action up to the present.
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. The pronoun 'I' changes to 'he' to agree with the subject 'Jim'. 2. The simple present verb 'work' changes to the simple past 'worked' because the reporting verb 'said' is in the past tense. 3. The adverb of place 'here' changes to 'there'. Therefore, option 'b' is correct: 'Jim said that he worked there everyday.' Option 'a' is incorrect because 'here' is not changed to 'there' and 'every day' is wrongly changed to 'yesterday'. Option 'c' is incorrect because 'here' is not changed to 'there'. Option 'd' is incorrect because the adverb of place is completely omitted.
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 correct option is 'd' (was shaking). The sentence describes a past action that was in progress ('was shaking') when another action occurred ('climbed'). This requires the past continuous tense. Option 'c' (is shaking) is present continuous, option 'b' (shakes) is simple present, and option 'a' (has shaken) is present perfect; none of these are grammatically correct because the second clause ('when the worker climbed...') establishes a past time frame.
Transform the following sentence into an Imperative sentence without changing the meaning: You are forbidden to drink.
A)
Don’t drink.
B)
Please drink.
C)
Do drink.
D)
Drink instantly.
The original sentence 'You are forbidden to drink' expresses a prohibition (not being allowed to drink). To transform this into an imperative sentence without changing the meaning, we must use a negative imperative. 'Don’t drink' (Option a) correctly conveys this prohibition. Options b, c, and d are incorrect because they encourage or command the action of drinking, which directly contradicts the original meaning of being forbidden to drink.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb given in brackets: Mr. Dasgupta _____ (monitor) this patch of land since 2000.
A)
will monitor
B)
will have been monitoring
C)
has been monitoring
D)
monitor
1. **Why 'c' is correct**: The phrase 'since 2000' indicates an action that started in the past and is still continuing in the present. This scenario requires the Present Perfect Continuous tense. Since the subject 'Mr. Dasgupta' is singular, the correct verb form is 'has been monitoring'.
2. **Why other options are incorrect**:
- **Option 'a' (will monitor)** is in the simple future tense, which cannot be used with 'since' to show an action continuing from the past.
- **Option 'b' (will have been monitoring)** is in the future perfect continuous tense, which is used to project an action into a future point in time, which is not the case here.
- **Option 'd' (monitor)** is in the simple present tense and also violates subject-verb agreement with the singular subject 'Mr. Dasgupta'.
Complete the following sentence with the most appropriate word: My father is a ___________ who does not like to be around people.
A)
philanthropist
B)
philosphist
C)
misanthropist
D)
pedestrian
The correct option is 'c' (misanthropist). A 'misanthropist' (or misanthrope) is a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society, which perfectly fits the description of someone who 'does not like to be around people'.
Here is why the other options are incorrect:
- 'philanthropist' (option a) is the opposite; it refers to a person who loves humanity and promotes the welfare of others, often through charitable donations.
- 'philosophist' (option b) refers to a person who practices philosophy in a shallow, deceptive, or pretentious manner.
- 'pedestrian' (option d) is a person walking along a road or in a developed area.
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.
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: 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).
Complete the following sentence with the most appropriate word: My sister is a ________ who reminds me about what is wrong and what is right.
A)
military
B)
moralist
C)
fatalist
D)
mercenary
The correct word to complete the sentence is 'moralist'.
1. **Why the correct option is correct:** A 'moralist' is a person who teaches, promotes, or follows systemized moral principles, specifically distinguishing between what is right and what is wrong. This directly matches the context of the sentence.
2. **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **fatalist (c):** A person who believes that all events are predetermined by fate and are therefore inevitable.
- **mercenary (d):** A person primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics, or a soldier hired to fight for a foreign country.
- **military (a):** Relates to the armed forces and does not fit the context of defining moral behavior.
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 conjunction that means 'except if' or 'if... not', which perfectly fits the conditional requirement of the sentence: the band will not play except on the condition that you pay the advance. The other options are incorrect because: 'for' is a preposition/conjunction that does not fit the conditional context; 'whether' is used to express a choice between alternatives (e.g., 'whether or not') and makes the sentence logically contradictory; and 'under' is a preposition that is grammatically incorrect before a clause.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: You saw the way she looked at the car.
A)
Adjective
B)
Verb
C)
Adverb
D)
Noun
In the standard version of this exam question, the underlined word is 'way'. In the phrase 'the way', 'way' is preceded by the definite article 'the', which functions as a noun marker. Here, 'way' refers to the manner or fashion in which she looked, making it a Noun.
- **Adjective (a)** is incorrect because 'way' does not describe or modify another noun in this context.
- **Verb (b)** is incorrect because 'way' does not express an action or state (the verbs in this sentence are 'saw' and 'looked').
- **Adverb (c)** is incorrect because 'way' does not modify a verb, adjective, or other adverb here.
Select the idiom that means: Willing to do something immediately
A)
At sixes and sevens
B)
A damp squib
C)
At the drop of a hat
D)
A mare’s nest
The idiom 'At the drop of a hat' means to do something instantly, immediately, or without any hesitation.
Here is why the other options are incorrect:
- 'At sixes and sevens' (Option a) means to be in a state of confusion, disorder, or disagreement.
- 'A mare’s nest' (Option d) refers to a discovery that turns out to be worthless or a hoax, or a highly cluttered/confusing situation.
- 'A damp squib' (Option b) refers to something that is disappointing or fails to live up to expectations.
Choose the correct alternative to fill in the blank: May I sit _______ you two?
A)
among
B)
between
C)
across
The preposition 'between' is used when referring to relations involving two distinct people or things. Since the phrase 'you two' specifies exactly two people, 'between' is the grammatically correct choice. 'Among' is incorrect because it is used for three or more people or a collective group. 'Across' is incorrect because it means on the opposite side of, which does not fit the context of sitting in the middle of two individuals.
Complete the following sentence with the most appropriate word: Mr. Johnson is a ________ as he has abandoned his country and joined the other side.
A)
oppressor
B)
panacea
C)
defector
D)
palmist
Option C is correct: defector.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: He is a strange person.
A)
Adverb
B)
Adjective
C)
Noun
D)
Pronoun
In the sentence 'He is a strange person', the word 'strange' describes or modifies the noun 'person'. Therefore, its part of speech is an Adjective.
- Adverb (Option a) is incorrect because adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, not nouns.
- Noun (Option c) is incorrect because 'person' is the noun, and 'strange' is the word describing it.
- Pronoun (Option d) is incorrect because pronouns are words used to replace nouns (such as 'He' in this sentence).
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.