← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions — 2026
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: You might feel despair however there is always hope as long as one is alive.
A)
Conjunction
B)
Adverb
C)
Preposition
D)
Adjective
The underlined word in the sentence is 'however'.
1. **Why the correct option is correct (b):** 'However' is a conjunctive adverb. Although it is used to connect two independent clauses and show contrast, grammatically it is classified as an **adverb** (specifically, a conjunctive adverb or transitional adverb) rather than a pure conjunction. Unlike coordinating conjunctions, it requires a semicolon or a period before it when connecting two independent clauses.
2. **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Conjunction (a):** While 'however' performs a connective function, it is not a true coordinating conjunction (like 'but' or 'yet').
- **Preposition (c):** Prepositions (like 'in', 'on', 'at') show spatial, temporal, or logical relationships between a noun/pronoun and other words, which does not apply here.
- **Adjective (d):** Adjectives modify or describe nouns or pronouns, whereas 'however' modifies the entire clause.
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 'as'. Here is the breakdown of why 'Conjunction' is the correct part of speech:
1. **Why 'Conjunction' is correct:** The word 'as' is used here to connect two clauses: 'I rarely eat rice these days' and 'I have to lose some weight'. It functions as a subordinating conjunction meaning 'because' or 'since', introducing the reason for the action in the main clause.
2. **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Adverb:** An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb (e.g., 'rarely' is an adverb modifying 'eat'). 'As' does not perform this function in this context.
- **Preposition:** A preposition is followed by a noun or pronoun object (e.g., 'as a friend'). Here, 'as' is followed by a complete clause (subject + verb).
- **Adjective:** An adjective describes or modifies a noun (e.g., 'some' modifying 'weight'). 'As' does not modify any noun in this sentence.
Choose the correct alternative to fill in the blank: The head of the department informed her team that she would return _______ a week.
A)
For
B)
On
C)
within
D)
with
The correct preposition to fill in the blank is 'within'. 'Within a week' means before a week has passed, which perfectly fits the context of indicating the timeframe of her return. 'On' (option b) is incorrect because it is used for specific days or dates (e.g., 'on Monday'). 'With' (option d) is semantically incorrect as it denotes accompaniment. 'For' (option a) is incorrect because 'return for a week' would imply the duration of her stay after returning, whereas 'within' correctly specifies the deadline by which she will be back.
Transform the following sentence as directed without changing the meaning: This is not the best use of your time. (Change to an Interrogative Sentence)
A)
Is this how you use your time?
B)
Is this the best use of your time?
C)
Will you use your time best?
D)
Is this the best time to use this?
To transform a negative assertive sentence into an interrogative sentence without changing its meaning, we remove the negative word ('not') and place the auxiliary verb ('Is') at the beginning of the sentence to form a rhetorical question. Thus, 'This is not the best use of your time' becomes 'Is this the best use of your time?', which implies the same meaning. Option 'a' changes the core meaning of the sentence. Option 'c' changes the tense to the future ('Will you...'). Option 'd' alters the meaning by focusing on 'the best time' rather than 'the best use of time'.
Choose the correct alternative to fill in the blank: The property was divided______ the four sisters.
A)
among
B)
for
C)
between
D)
in
The correct preposition to fill in the blank is 'among' (option a). 'Among' is used when referring to distributing or dividing something among more than two people or things (in this case, 'the four sisters'). In contrast, 'between' (option c) is typically used when referring to only two people or distinct entities. 'For' (option b) and 'in' (option d) do not fit the grammatical context of dividing property among a group.
Complete the following sentence with the most appropriate word: When you enter the office, please mention the _______ of your visit.
A)
process
B)
precipitation
C)
purpose
D)
whereabouts
The correct option is 'c' (purpose). 'Purpose' refers to the reason for which something is done or created. In an office or administrative setting, visitors are standardly asked to state the 'purpose of their visit' (i.e., why they are there). The other options are incorrect because: 'process' (a) refers to a series of actions or steps; 'precipitation' (b) refers to rain or snow; and 'whereabouts' (d) refers to the location of someone or something, none of which fit the context of the sentence.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb given in brackets: The inmates ______ (fight) when the Chief of Police entered the prison yard.
A)
fight
B)
are fighting
C)
were fighting
D)
has been fighting
The sentence describes an ongoing background action in the past that was interrupted by another action ('entered', which is in the simple past). To express an action that was in progress at a specific point in the past, we use the past continuous tense (was/were + verb-ing). Since 'The inmates' is a plural subject, the correct form is 'were fighting'. Option 'a' (fight) is simple present, Option 'b' (are fighting) is present continuous, and Option 'd' (has been fighting) is present perfect continuous and also has incorrect subject-verb agreement with the plural subject 'inmates'.
Choose the correct alternative to change the speech: The assistant said, “It has been snowing since this morning”.
A)
The assistant says that it has been snowing since that morning.
B)
The assistant said that it had been snowing since that morning.
C)
The assistant said that it has been snowing since this morning.
D)
The assistant said that it was snowing since that morning.
To convert the direct speech into indirect speech, we follow these standard rules: 1. **Reporting Verb**: Since the reporting verb 'said' is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech must change. 2. **Tense Change**: The present perfect continuous tense 'has been snowing' changes to the past perfect continuous tense 'had been snowing'. 3. **Time Adverb Change**: The demonstrative 'this' changes to 'that', so 'this morning' becomes 'that morning'. Option 'b' correctly applies all these rules. Option 'a' incorrectly uses 'says'. Option 'c' fails to change the tense and the time adverb. Option 'd' incorrectly changes the tense to past continuous ('was snowing') instead of past perfect continuous.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: This building will never be given to that man, it is yours.
A)
Adverb
B)
Noun
C)
Adjective
D)
Pronoun
In the given sentence, the word 'yours' (or 'it') is a pronoun. Specifically, 'yours' is a possessive pronoun used to show ownership and replace the noun phrase 'your building' to avoid repetition.
- **Option d (Pronoun) is correct** because 'yours' stands in place of a noun phrase.
- **Option a (Adverb) is incorrect** because adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (e.g., 'never').
- **Option b (Noun) is incorrect** because nouns name a person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., 'building', 'man').
- **Option c (Adjective) is incorrect** because adjectives modify nouns (e.g., 'this' and 'that' are demonstrative adjectives modifying 'building' and 'man' respectively), whereas 'yours' stands alone without a noun.
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 option is 'b' (succeeded). 'Succeeded' means to take over a throne, office, or title from someone, which perfectly fits the context of a Czar's son taking over after his father. Additionally, the sentence refers to a past event ('last year'), requiring a past tense verb. 'Surpasses' (option d) is incorrect because it is in the present tense. 'Sequestered' (option c) and 'secluded' (option a) both mean to isolate or hide away, which do not make sense in this context.
Transform the following sentence as directed without changing the meaning: None can escape death. (Change to an Affirmative sentence)
A)
Some must die.
B)
All must die.
C)
None must die.
D)
Few must die.
To transform a negative sentence into an affirmative one without changing its meaning, we must use words with opposite grammatical polarity that convey the same semantic truth. The original sentence 'None can escape death' is a universal negative statement meaning that death is inevitable for everyone. Option 'b' ('All must die') is the correct affirmative equivalent because it uses the universal affirmative quantifier 'All' and the verb 'must die' to retain the exact same meaning. Options 'a' ('Some must die') and 'd' ('Few must die') alter the meaning by limiting mortality to only a portion of the population. Option 'c' ('None must die') remains a negative sentence and contradicts the original meaning.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: She expressed her sadness on receiving news of the accident.
A)
Noun
B)
Adjective
C)
Verb
D)
Preposition
In the given sentence, the word 'sadness' is a Noun (specifically, an abstract noun). It represents a state of being and functions as the direct object of the transitive verb 'expressed', preceded by the possessive determiner 'her'.
- 'Adjective' is incorrect because the adjective form is 'sad'.
- 'Verb' is incorrect because the verb in this clause is 'expressed'.
- 'Preposition' is incorrect because words like 'on' and 'of' serve as prepositions in this sentence, not 'sadness'.
Select the most appropriate meaning of the following idiom: Ran in the same groove
A)
promote each other
B)
move in harmony
C)
clash with each other
D)
move in different directions
The idiom 'ran in the same groove' means to proceed, live, or work in perfect agreement, alignment, or a similar pattern without conflict. Therefore, 'move in harmony' is the correct meaning. Option 'a' (promote each other) refers to mutual advancement, which is incorrect. Options 'c' (clash with each other) and 'd' (move in different directions) represent the opposite of being in the same groove, which implies smooth coordination rather than conflict or divergence.
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 answer is 'c' (should have studied). The structure 'should have + past participle' is used to express a past obligation, recommendation, or sensible action that did not actually happen. In this sentence, studying was the recommended or planned action for last night, but it was not done because they went to the concert instead. Option 'a' (must have studied) is incorrect because it expresses a strong logical deduction that an action definitely happened in the past. Option 'b' (might study) is incorrect because it refers to present or future possibility. Option 'd' (would study) is incorrect as it refers to past habits or conditional situations, which does not fit this context of a missed past obligation.
Choose the correct alternative to fill in the blank: The culprit was beaten ______ a cane.
A)
by
B)
with
C)
in
D)
at
The correct preposition to use here is 'with'. In English grammar, 'with' is used to denote the instrument, tool, or object used to perform an action (e.g., 'beaten with a cane', 'cut with a knife'). In contrast, 'by' (option a) is used to denote the agent or person performing the action (e.g., 'beaten by the police'). 'In' (option c) and 'at' (option d) are prepositions of place or time and are grammatically incorrect in this context.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb given in brackets: No boy or girl_____ (be) lucky.
A)
is
B)
am
C)
are
D)
were
When two singular nouns (here, 'boy' and 'girl') are joined by 'or' and preceded by 'no', they take a singular verb. Therefore, the third-person singular present tense form of the verb 'be', which is 'is', is correct. 'are' and 'were' are plural verbs and thus incorrect. 'am' is only used with the first-person singular pronoun 'I'.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb given in brackets: He advised me, “You had better _____ (leave) now”.
A)
Leaving
B)
leave
C)
left
D)
had left
The phrase 'had better' is a modal-like expression used to give advice or strong recommendations. It is always followed by the bare infinitive (the base form of the verb without 'to'). Therefore, 'leave' is the correct form to use. Option 'a' (Leaving) is a participle/gerund, Option 'c' (left) is the past tense form, and Option 'd' (had left) is the past perfect form, none of which can grammatically follow 'had better'.
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.
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.
Transform the following sentence as directed without changing the meaning: I wish I were a millionaire (Change to an Exclamatory Sentence)
A)
If I was only a rich man!
B)
How to be a millionaire!
C)
If only I were a millionaire!
D)
If only I could have been a millionaire!
To transform an assertive sentence expressing a wish (starting with 'I wish I were...') into an exclamatory sentence, the standard structure 'If only I were...!' is used. Option 'c' perfectly maintains the subjunctive mood ('were') and preserves the exact meaning of the original sentence. Option 'a' incorrectly changes 'millionaire' to 'rich man' and uses 'was' instead of 'were'. Option 'b' alters the meaning entirely. Option 'd' changes the tense to the past ('could have been'), which shifts the meaning from a present wish to a past regret.
Choose the correct alternative to fill in the blank: We live ______ the fourth floor.
A)
on
B)
in
C)
at
D)
by
The correct preposition to use with floors of a building is 'on'. Therefore, 'on the fourth floor' is the grammatically correct phrase. 'In' is incorrect because it is used for enclosed spaces (e.g., 'in the room'). 'At' is incorrect because it is used for specific addresses or points (e.g., 'at 12 Main Street'). 'By' is incorrect as it means near or next to, which does not fit the context of residing on a specific level of a building.
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