← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: The sun was above our head at that time.
A)
Noun
B)
Conjunction
C)
Pronoun
D)
Preposition
In the given sentence, the word 'above' is a preposition because it expresses a spatial relationship, linking the noun phrase 'our head' (its object) to the rest of the sentence to indicate where the sun was located.
- **Noun (a):** Incorrect because 'above' does not function as a person, place, thing, or idea here.
- **Conjunction (b):** Incorrect because it is not being used to connect clauses or sentences.
- **Pronoun (c):** Incorrect because it does not substitute for a noun.
Fill in the blank with the appropriate preposition: Divide twelve mangoes _____ three boys.
A)
for
B)
between
C)
into
D)
among
The correct preposition to use here is 'among'. 'Among' is used when distributing or sharing something among more than two people (in this case, 'three boys'). In contrast, 'between' (option b) is typically used when sharing between only two people. 'Into' (option c) is used when dividing something into parts (e.g., 'divide into three parts'), and 'for' (option a) does not fit the grammatical context of distribution in this sentence.
Choose the appropriate word/phrase to fill in the blank: This is a _____ translation of the speech.
A)
literal
B)
verbal
C)
literary
D)
verbatim
The correct option is 'a' (literal). A 'literal translation' is a standard linguistic term that refers to a word-for-word translation that closely follows the form of the source text. 'Verbatim' (option d) means using the exact same words, which is technically impossible in translation since the language changes. 'Verbal' (option b) relates to spoken words rather than written ones, and 'literary' (option c) refers to literature, neither of which fits the context of translating a speech word-for-word.
Choose the correct form of verb: He _____ her a long time before he finally got married to her.
A)
knew
B)
had been knowing
C)
was knowing
D)
had known
The sentence describes an action (knowing her) that occurred and continued up to a specific point in the past (getting married). When one past action happens before another past action, we use the Past Perfect tense. Since 'know' is a stative verb (representing a state rather than an action), it cannot be used in continuous forms. Therefore, the Past Perfect Simple form 'had known' (option d) is correct. Option 'a' (knew) is incorrect because the past perfect is required to show the sequence of events. Options 'b' (had been knowing) and 'c' (was knowing) are incorrect because stative verbs cannot take continuous tenses.
Fill in the blank with the correct option: Beggars and borrowers could not be _____.
A)
friends
B)
companions
C)
subjects
D)
choosers
The correct option is 'd' (choosers). The sentence is a variation of the well-known English proverb 'Beggars can't be choosers' (often phrased as 'Beggars and borrowers cannot/could not be choosers'). This proverb means that people who rely on the charity or generosity of others must accept what they are given and do not have the luxury of making choices or being picky. Options 'a' (friends), 'b' (companions), and 'c' (subjects) do not complete the proverb and are contextually incorrect.
Analyze the sentence and choose the correct option: He is innocent and I know it.
A)
Simple sentence
B)
Complex sentence
C)
Compound sentence
The sentence 'He is innocent and I know it' is a compound sentence because it consists of two independent clauses ('He is innocent' and 'I know it') joined by the coordinating conjunction 'and'. A simple sentence (option a) contains only one independent clause, while a complex sentence (option b) contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Fill in the blank with the correct option: As blind as a _____.
A)
ghost
B)
mule
C)
crow
D)
bat
The correct idiom is 'as blind as a bat', which is used to describe someone with very poor eyesight or someone who is completely unaware of their surroundings. The other options are incorrect because they do not form standard English idioms: 'stubborn as a mule' is the common idiom for 'mule', while 'ghost' and 'crow' are not traditionally used in this simile.
Choose the correct classification of the adverb: The postman called again.
A)
Adverb of frequency
B)
Adverb of place
C)
Adverb of degree
D)
Adverb of negation
In the sentence 'The postman called again', the word 'again' is the adverb. It describes how often the action of calling occurred, answering the question 'how often?'. Therefore, it is classified as an Adverb of frequency.
- Option b (Adverb of place) is incorrect because it answers the question 'where?' (e.g., here, there).
- Option c (Adverb of degree) is incorrect because it answers 'how much?' or 'to what extent?' (e.g., very, extremely).
- Option d (Adverb of negation) is incorrect because it is used to deny or negate a statement (e.g., not, never).
Analyze the sentence and choose the correct answer: This knife is sharp.
A)
Negative
B)
Affirmative
C)
Superlative
D)
Comparative
The sentence 'This knife is sharp' is an affirmative sentence because it states a positive fact or assertion. Option 'a' (Negative) is incorrect because the sentence does not contain any negating words like 'not'. Options 'd' (Comparative) and 'c' (Superlative) are incorrect because the adjective 'sharp' is in its positive degree, rather than its comparative ('sharper') or superlative ('sharpest') forms.
Choose the correct form of verb: She _____ in the concert tomorrow evening.
A)
is playing
B)
has been playing
C)
has played
D)
had played
The correct option is 'a' ('is playing'). The sentence contains the time marker 'tomorrow evening', which refers to a planned future event. The Present Continuous tense ('is playing') is commonly used to denote fixed future arrangements or plans. Options 'b' ('has been playing') and 'c' ('has played') are present perfect tenses used for past actions with present relevance, and option 'd' ('had played') is the past perfect tense used for actions completed before another past action. None of these can be used with a future time reference like 'tomorrow evening'.
Analyze the sentence and choose the correct answer: This is the most beautiful building in our town.
A)
Comparative
B)
Positive
C)
Superlative
D)
Negative
The correct option is 'c' (Superlative). The sentence uses the phrase 'the most beautiful', which is the superlative degree of the adjective 'beautiful'. The superlative degree is used to compare one entity (the building) against all others in a group (in our town). Option 'b' (Positive) is incorrect because the positive degree is simply 'beautiful'. Option 'a' (Comparative) is incorrect because the comparative degree is 'more beautiful', used to compare only two things. Option 'd' (Negative) is incorrect as it refers to sentence polarity (containing 'not' or 'no') rather than the degree of comparison of the adjective.
Fill in the blank with the appropriate preposition: John is the best _____ all the other players.
A)
above
B)
among
C)
between
D)
over
The correct preposition is 'among'. 'Among' is used when referring to a relation, comparison, or distribution involving more than two people or things (in this case, 'all the other players'). 'Between' is incorrect because it is used for only two entities. 'Above' and 'over' are incorrect because they typically denote physical position, rank, or preference, rather than selection or comparison within a collective group.
Analyze the sentence and choose the correct option: He is so poor that he cannot pay his fees.
A)
Simple sentence
B)
Complex sentence
C)
Compound sentence
The given sentence, 'He is so poor that he cannot pay his fees,' is a complex sentence. A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause. Here, 'He is so poor' is the independent clause, and 'that he cannot pay his fees' is the dependent clause (an adverbial clause of result) introduced by the subordinating conjunction 'that'. Option 'a' (Simple sentence) is incorrect because a simple sentence contains only one independent clause with no subordinate clauses. Option 'c' (Compound sentence) is incorrect because a compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions (like and, but, or).
Analyze the sentence and choose the correct answer: I am as strong as he.
A)
Comparative
B)
Positive
C)
Superlative
D)
Negative
The sentence 'I am as strong as he' uses the 'as + adjective + as' construction to compare two entities of equal degree. In this structure, the base form of the adjective ('strong') is used, which represents the Positive degree of comparison. Therefore, option 'b' is correct. Option 'a' (Comparative) is incorrect because the comparative form of 'strong' is 'stronger' (e.g., 'stronger than'). Option 'c' (Superlative) is incorrect because the superlative form is 'strongest' (e.g., 'the strongest'). Option 'd' (Negative) is incorrect as it refers to sentence polarity (which is affirmative here) rather than a degree of comparison.
Choose the correct classification of the adverb: You need not roar.
A)
Adverb of manner
B)
Adverb of frequency
C)
Adverb of negation
D)
Adverb of place
In the sentence 'You need not roar', the word 'not' is the adverb. 'Not' is used to deny or negate the action of the verb, which classifies it as an 'Adverb of negation'.
- Option A (Adverb of manner) is incorrect because it describes how an action is performed (e.g., 'loudly').
- Option B (Adverb of frequency) is incorrect because it describes how often an action occurs (e.g., 'always', 'never').
- Option D (Adverb of place) is incorrect because it describes where an action occurs (e.g., 'here', 'there').
Analyze the sentence and choose the correct answer: Everyone loves his country.
A)
Assertive
B)
Negative
C)
Comparative
D)
Superlative
The sentence 'Everyone loves his country' is an Assertive (or declarative) sentence because it makes a simple statement or asserts a fact. Therefore, option 'a' is correct. Option 'b' (Negative) is incorrect because the sentence does not contain any negative words like 'not' or 'no'. Options 'c' (Comparative) and 'd' (Superlative) are incorrect because they refer to degrees of comparison used for adjectives/adverbs, which are not applicable to the classification of this sentence.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: You cannot make it both ways.
A)
Noun
B)
Conjunction
C)
Pronoun
D)
Adjective
In the sentence 'You cannot make it both ways', the word 'both' is used to modify the noun 'ways'. Since its function is to limit or describe the noun that follows it, it acts as an Adjective.
* **Noun (a)** is incorrect because 'both' does not represent a person, place, thing, or idea here.
* **Conjunction (b)** is incorrect because 'both' is not being used to connect clauses or words (as it would in 'both... and').
* **Pronoun (c)** is incorrect because 'both' does not replace a noun in this context; it directly qualifies the noun 'ways'.
Fill in the blank with the appropriate preposition: She has distrust _____ you.
A)
of
B)
about
C)
in
D)
for
The noun 'distrust' is standardly followed by the preposition 'of' when indicating the person or thing that is not trusted (e.g., 'distrust of someone/something'). Therefore, 'of' (option a) is the correct choice. While we say 'trust in', the opposite noun 'distrust' takes 'of'. Prepositions like 'for', 'in', and 'about' are grammatically incorrect or non-standard in this context.
Analyze the sentence and choose the correct option: Besides being beautiful she is intelligent.
A)
Simple sentence
B)
Complex sentence
C)
Compound sentence
The given sentence is a 'Simple sentence' because it contains only one independent clause: 'she is intelligent' (which has a subject 'she' and a finite verb 'is'). The phrase 'Besides being beautiful' is a prepositional phrase containing a non-finite verb ('being') and does not constitute a clause. A complex sentence (option b) requires at least one independent clause and one dependent clause, while a compound sentence (option c) requires two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction or semicolon. Since neither of these conditions is met, options b and c are incorrect.
Analyze the sentence and choose the correct answer: He is not a poor man.
A)
Superlative
B)
Comparative
C)
Affirmative
D)
Negative
The sentence 'He is not a poor man' contains the negative adverb 'not', which negates the proposition. Therefore, it is classified as a Negative sentence (Option d). Option c (Affirmative) is incorrect because affirmative sentences state something positively without negation. Options a (Superlative) and b (Comparative) are incorrect because they refer to degrees of comparison of adjectives (such as 'poorest' and 'poorer'), whereas 'poor' in this sentence is in the positive degree.
Substitute the underlined phrase to improve the sentence if necessary: You must accustom yourself with new ideas.
A)
accustomed with
B)
accustom yourself to
C)
accustom to
D)
No improvement
The verb 'accustom' is a reflexive verb in this context and must be followed by a reflexive pronoun (such as 'yourself') and the preposition 'to' (i.e., 'accustom oneself to something'). Therefore, 'accustom yourself to' is the grammatically correct phrase. Option 'a' is incorrect because it uses the wrong preposition 'with' and the past participle 'accustomed' after the modal verb 'must'. Option 'c' is incorrect because it lacks the reflexive pronoun 'yourself'. Option 'd' is incorrect because the original sentence uses the incorrect preposition 'with'.
Fill in the blank with the appropriate preposition: There are tall beautiful trees _____ the river.
A)
along
B)
into
C)
at
D)
over
The correct preposition is 'along'. Here is why:
1. **Why 'along' is correct:** 'Along' means 'in a line next to' or 'following the length of' something long and thin, like a river or a road. Since trees grow beside the course of a river, 'along' is the most appropriate preposition.
2. **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **'at' (Option c):** Used to denote a specific point or location (e.g., 'at the station'), which does not fit the linear nature of a riverbank.
- **'into' (Option b):** Expresses movement toward the inside of something, which is logically incorrect for trees.
- **'over' (Option d):** Means directly above or extending from one side to another, which does not describe how trees typically grow beside a river.
Choose the appropriate word/phrase to fill in the blank: _____ being hard-working, he is thoroughly honest.
A)
Along with
B)
Over and above
C)
Besides
D)
Although
The correct option is 'c' ('Besides'). 'Besides' is a preposition that means 'in addition to' or 'as well as'. In this sentence, it is used to add the positive quality of being 'thoroughly honest' to the already mentioned quality of 'being hard-working'. Option 'a' ('Along with') is typically used to denote accompaniment or togetherness with nouns rather than introducing a gerund clause of addition. Option 'b' ('Over and above') means 'in addition to' but is generally reserved for quantities, amounts, or expectations (e.g., 'over and above his salary'). Option 'd' ('Although') is a conjunction of contrast; since 'hard-working' and 'honest' are both positive, complementary traits, there is no contrast to justify its use.
Choose the appropriate word/phrase to fill in the blank: The proud king turned a deaf ear to the _____ of wise counselors.
A)
advices
B)
advise
C)
advises
D)
advice
1. 'Advice' (option d) is the correct choice because it is an uncountable noun meaning guidance or recommendations, which fits grammatically after the definite article 'the'.
2. 'Advices' (option a) is incorrect because 'advice' is an uncountable noun and does not have a plural form in standard English when referring to counsel.
3. 'Advise' (option b) is a verb, not a noun.
4. 'Advises' (option c) is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb 'advise', which is grammatically incorrect in this context.
Substitute the underlined phrase to improve the sentence if necessary: I, your brother and you will be partners in the business.
A)
I, you and your brother
B)
You, I and your brother
C)
You, your brother and I
D)
No improvement
In English grammar, when pronouns of different persons are used together in a positive or normal context, they must follow the '231' rule (Second Person -> Third Person -> First Person). Here, 'you' is the second person, 'your brother' is the third person, and 'I' is the first person. Therefore, the correct order is 'You, your brother and I'. Option 'a' (1, 2, 3) and Option 'b' (2, 1, 3) violate this standard grammatical rule, making Option 'c' the only correct choice.