← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions — 2025
Choose the Correct Word or Phrase to Complete the Sentence: The new officer’s approach was admired for being ___ but firm, avoiding unnecessary confrontation.
A)
passive
B)
lenient
C)
tactful
D)
submissive
The correct answer is 'c' (tactful). 'Tactful' means showing sensitivity and skill in dealing with others or difficult situations. A 'tactful but firm' approach is highly admired in leadership and law enforcement because it maintains authority while diplomatically avoiding unnecessary confrontation. Other options are incorrect: 'passive' (a) and 'submissive' (d) imply weakness or a lack of control, which are undesirable traits for an officer. 'Lenient' (b) means permissive or merciful, which directly contradicts the concept of being 'firm'.
Mitigate is to damage as:
A)
aggravate is to pain
B)
exaggerate is to story
C)
ease is to burden
D)
inflict is to wound
The relationship in the analogy 'mitigate is to damage' is that the verb means to lessen or reduce the severity of the negative noun (to mitigate damage is to reduce it). Similarly, in option C, to 'ease' a 'burden' means to lessen or reduce the severity of that negative noun. Option A is incorrect because 'aggravate' means to increase or worsen pain (the opposite of lessening). Option B is incorrect because 'exaggerate' means to overstate a story, not lessen it. Option D is incorrect because 'inflict' means to cause or impose a wound rather than alleviate it.
Choose the Correct Word or Phrase to Complete the Sentence: She took the comment as a personal insult, even though none was ___ intended.
A)
directly
B)
deliberately
C)
truthfully
D)
explicitly
The correct option is 'deliberately'. 'Deliberately' means intentionally or on purpose. In this context, the sentence means that she felt insulted, even though the speaker did not mean to insult her on purpose (i.e., no insult was deliberately intended). 'Directly' (option a) refers to a straight line or manner, which is less appropriate here. 'Explicitly' (option d) means clearly or specifically stated, which does not fit the context of intent. 'Truthfully' (option c) means honestly, which is semantically incorrect in this context.
Which word best fits the sentence: ‘He was widely ___ for his honesty and dedication to duty.’
A)
alleged
B)
dissenting
C)
mitigated
D)
acclaimed
The correct option is 'd' (acclaimed). 'Acclaimed' means publicly praised or celebrated, which perfectly fits the context of someone being recognized for their 'honesty and dedication to duty'.
Why other options are incorrect:
- 'alleged' (option a) means asserted or claimed without proof, which does not fit the positive context of recognized virtues.
- 'dissenting' (option b) means expressing disagreement, which is grammatically and contextually incorrect here.
- 'mitigated' (option c) means made less severe, serious, or painful, which does not make sense in this context.
Choose an appropriate Preposition for the following sentence: I shall stay here _______ Friday.
A)
in
B)
for
C)
by
D)
till
The correct preposition is 'till' (or 'until') because it is used to denote the continuation of an action up to a specific point in time. Here, the action of 'staying' continues up to Friday. 'By' is incorrect because it refers to a deadline or a single action completed before a certain time (e.g., 'I will return by Friday'). 'In' is incorrect because it is used for months, years, or seasons, not specific days. 'For' is incorrect because it is used to indicate a duration of time (e.g., 'for three days') rather than a specific day.
Choose an appropriate Preposition for the following sentence: She was overcome _____ fatigue and went to bed.
A)
by
B)
to
C)
on
D)
for
The correct preposition to use after the passive verb 'overcome' in this context is 'by'. The phrase 'overcome by' is a standard English idiom meaning to be overwhelmed, defeated, or strongly affected by a feeling, emotion, or physical state (such as fatigue). The other prepositions ('to', 'on', 'for') do not collocate with 'overcome' to express this meaning and are grammatically incorrect in this context.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: What are the latest tidings?
A)
Conjunction
B)
Verb
C)
Noun
D)
Pronoun
In the sentence 'What are the latest tidings?', the word 'tidings' (meaning news or information) functions as a Noun. It is preceded by the definite article 'the' and the adjective 'latest', which modify it, confirming its role as a noun. Option 'b' (Verb) is incorrect because the verb in the sentence is 'are'. Option 'd' (Pronoun) is incorrect because 'tidings' does not substitute for a noun. Option 'a' (Conjunction) is incorrect because it does not connect clauses or words.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: This is an absolute truth.
A)
Adverb
B)
Noun
C)
Interjection
D)
Adjective
In the sentence 'This is an absolute truth', the underlined word is 'absolute'.
1. **Why the correct option is correct:** 'absolute' describes or modifies the noun 'truth' (answering the question 'what kind of truth?'). Therefore, it functions as an **Adjective**.
2. **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Noun (b):** 'truth' is the noun in this phrase, not 'absolute'.
- **Adverb (a):** An adverb would modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb (e.g., 'absolutely').
- **Interjection (c):** Interjections are words used to express sudden emotions or reactions (e.g., 'Alas!', 'Oh!'), which does not apply here.
Choose the Correct Word or Phrase to Complete the Sentence: Although he had the facts on his side, his ___ tone alienated even those who agreed with him.
A)
assertive
B)
persuasive
C)
formal
D)
condescending
The conjunction 'Although' signals a contrast between having the facts on his side (a positive aspect) and the negative outcome of alienating his supporters. 'Condescending' means showing a patronizing or superior attitude, which explains why even those who agreed with his facts were pushed away. Other options like 'assertive' (confident) and 'persuasive' (convincing) are positive traits that would not alienate supporters, while 'formal' (stiff or official) is too neutral to cause such a strong negative reaction.
Choose an appropriate Preposition for the following sentence: The court has absolved him _______ all the charges leveled against him.
A)
of
B)
from
C)
to
D)
upon
The verb 'absolve' (meaning to formally declare someone free from guilt, obligation, or punishment) is standardly followed by the preposition 'of' when referring to charges, blame, or guilt. Therefore, 'absolved him of all the charges' is the grammatically correct construction. While 'from' (option b) is occasionally used in general contexts, 'of' is the highly preferred and standard preposition in formal and exam-related English. 'To' (option c) and 'upon' (option d) do not pair with 'absolve' and are grammatically incorrect here.
Choose an appropriate Preposition for the following sentence: His head is teeming ___________ brilliant ideas.
A)
by
B)
to
C)
with
D)
of
The verb 'teem' is idiomatically paired with the preposition 'with'. The phrase 'teeming with' means to be full of, overflowing with, or swarming with something (e.g., 'teeming with brilliant ideas'). Other prepositions like 'by', 'to', and 'of' do not collocate with 'teem' in this context and are grammatically incorrect.
Choose the Correct Word or Phrase to Complete the Sentence: Her statement was so ___ that it could be interpreted in several ways, depending on the context.
A)
direct
B)
rigid
C)
vague
D)
ambiguous
The correct option is 'd' (ambiguous). 'Ambiguous' is defined as having more than one possible meaning or being open to several interpretations, which perfectly matches the clue 'interpreted in several ways' in the sentence. 'Vague' (c) means unclear or lacking detail, but does not specifically denote having multiple distinct interpretations. 'Direct' (a) means straightforward, which is the opposite of the context, and 'rigid' (b) means stiff or inflexible, which is irrelevant to the meaning of a statement.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: This is what I want.
A)
Preposition
B)
Adverb
C)
Pronoun
D)
Noun
In the sentence 'This is what I want', the word 'This' functions as a Demonstrative Pronoun because it points to a specific thing and acts as the subject of the verb 'is'. Similarly, 'what' acts as a Relative Pronoun. Therefore, the underlined word is a Pronoun.
- Preposition (a) is incorrect because prepositions show spatial, temporal, or logical relationships (e.g., in, on, at).
- Adverb (b) is incorrect because adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (e.g., quickly, very).
- Noun (d) is incorrect because nouns are naming words, whereas 'This' and 'what' substitute for nouns rather than naming them directly.
Choose the option in which ‘allege’ is used correctly.
A)
The witness alleged the facts with strong evidence.
B)
The accused was alleged guilty without trial.
C)
The newspaper alleged that corruption had occurred.
D)
He alleged a prize for his honesty.
The word 'allege' means to assert or claim that something is the case, typically without providing proof yet.
1. **Why 'c' is correct**: 'The newspaper alleged that corruption had occurred' is grammatically and semantically correct. It uses the standard construction 'allege that [clause]' to report an unproven claim.
2. **Why other options are incorrect**:
- **a**: 'Allege' implies making a claim *without* proof, so pairing it with 'strong evidence' is semantically contradictory.
- **b**: Grammatically, 'alleged' requires an infinitive when used in this passive structure (e.g., 'alleged to be guilty' instead of 'alleged guilty').
- **d**: 'Allege' cannot be used to mean 'claim' or 'receive' a physical object like a prize.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: Oh! That I had the wings of a bird.
A)
Adjective
B)
Interjection
C)
Verb
D)
Adverb
The word 'Oh!' is an Interjection. An interjection is a word or phrase used to express sudden, strong emotions or feelings (such as surprise, pain, pleasure, or a wish) and is grammatically independent of the rest of the sentence. It is typically followed by an exclamation mark.
- Option a (Adjective) is incorrect because adjectives modify or describe nouns or pronouns.
- Option c (Verb) is incorrect because verbs express actions, occurrences, or states of being (e.g., 'had').
- Option d (Adverb) is incorrect because adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Choose an appropriate Preposition for the following sentence: Consequent upon heavy loss he is worse ____ these days.
A)
upon
B)
off
C)
to
D)
on
The correct option is 'b' (off). The phrase 'worse off' is an idiomatic expression meaning to be in a worse, poorer, or less fortunate financial or physical condition. In this context, 'heavy loss' indicates a financial setback, making 'worse off' the appropriate choice. The other options ('worse to', 'worse on', and 'worse upon') do not form any meaningful or grammatically correct idioms in this context.
Choose an appropriate Preposition for the following sentence: She swam ______ the river to the other side.
A)
to
B)
over
C)
across
D)
in
The preposition 'across' is correct because it means from one side of something to the other, which perfectly aligns with the phrase 'to the other side'. 'Over' is incorrect as it implies being above the water surface. 'In' indicates being inside the water but does not convey the movement from one bank to the other. 'To' indicates direction towards a destination, which is redundant and grammatically incorrect when describing swimming from one side of a river to the other.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: Ours is the last house in the street.
A)
Preposition
B)
Adjective
C)
Interjection
D)
Conjunction
In the sentence 'Ours is the last house in the street', the underlined word is 'last'. It functions as an adjective because it modifies the noun 'house' by describing its position in a sequence.
- **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Preposition:** Prepositions (like 'in' in this sentence) show relationships between nouns/pronouns and other words, which is not the role of 'last'.
- **Interjection:** Interjections express sudden emotions or reactions (e.g., 'Alas!', 'Wow!') and are not grammatically related to the rest of the sentence.
- **Conjunction:** Conjunctions (like 'and', 'but') connect words, phrases, or clauses, whereas 'last' modifies a noun.
Choose an appropriate Preposition for the following sentence: The rain water seeps ______ the ground.
A)
over
B)
under
C)
to
D)
for
The correct preposition is 'under'. 'Seep' means to flow or leak slowly through porous material. Rainwater penetrates the surface of the earth and moves beneath it, making 'under the ground' the logically and grammatically correct choice.
- 'over' is incorrect because seeping implies penetration into a substance, whereas 'over' denotes movement on the surface.
- 'to' is incorrect because water falls 'to' the ground, but it seeps 'under' or 'into' it.
- 'for' is grammatically incorrect and does not fit the context of direction or movement.
‘Dissent’ is most opposite in meaning to:
A)
Object
B)
Concur
C)
Challenge
D)
Protest
The word 'Dissent' means to differ in sentiment or opinion, or to disagree with a majority or official view. The opposite of 'dissent' is to agree. 'Concur' means to agree or be of the same opinion, making it the exact antonym. The other options—'Object' (a), 'Challenge' (c), and 'Protest' (d)—are synonyms of 'dissent' as they all involve expressing disagreement or opposition.
Choose an appropriate Preposition for the following sentence: The property was divided __________ the two brothers.
A)
among
B)
to
C)
at
D)
between
The correct preposition is 'between' (option d) because it is used when referring to relations or divisions involving exactly two distinct entities (in this case, 'the two brothers'). 'Among' (option a) is incorrect because it is used for three or more entities. 'To' (option b) and 'at' (option c) are grammatically incorrect in this context of division.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: Besides clothes, I gave him money.
A)
Conjunction
B)
Preposition
C)
Verb
D)
Noun
In the given sentence, 'Besides' is used as a preposition meaning 'in addition to' or 'apart from'. It introduces the noun 'clothes' and shows its relationship to the rest of the sentence.
- Conjunction (Option a) is incorrect because conjunctions connect clauses or sentences (e.g., 'and', 'but'), whereas 'Besides' here is governing a noun.
- Verb (Option c) is incorrect because 'Besides' does not denote any action or state of being.
- Noun (Option d) is incorrect because 'Besides' does not represent a person, place, thing, or concept.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: It is too hot to go out.
A)
Pronoun
B)
Adverb
C)
Interjection
D)
Adjective
In the sentence 'It is too hot to go out', the underlined word 'too' is an Adverb (specifically, an adverb of degree). It modifies the adjective 'hot' by indicating the intensity or degree of the heat.
- **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Pronoun (a):** A pronoun replaces a noun (e.g., 'It'), which 'too' does not do.
- **Interjection (c):** An interjection expresses sudden emotion or feeling (e.g., 'Alas!', 'Oh!'), which does not apply here.
- **Adjective (d):** An adjective modifies a noun (e.g., 'hot' modifies the state of the weather represented by 'It'). 'Too' modifies the adjective 'hot', making 'too' an adverb, not an adjective.
Choose the Correct Word or Phrase to Complete the Sentence: Despite his public apology, the minister’s explanation failed to ___ the growing public anger.
A)
escalate
B)
pacify
C)
obscure
D)
deflect
The correct word to complete the sentence is 'pacify'. 'Pacify' means to calm, soothe, or appease anger or excitement. In the context of the sentence, the minister's public apology and explanation were intended to calm the public's anger, but they failed to do so. Other options are incorrect because: 'escalate' means to increase or intensify, which is the opposite of the intended effect of an apology; 'obscure' means to hide or make unclear, which does not fit grammatically or contextually with 'anger'; and 'deflect' means to divert or turn aside, which is less appropriate than 'pacify' when referring to soothing an emotion like anger.
Which sentence best uses the word ‘impartial’?
A)
He was impartial to her feelings.
B)
The referee made an impartial call.
C)
She expressed her impartial love for sweets.
D)
The manager showed impartiality by promoting only her relatives.
The word 'impartial' means unbiased, fair, and treating all parties equally.
1. **Why Option B is correct**: A referee's role is to be neutral and fair. Therefore, making an 'impartial call' is the correct and standard usage of the word.
2. **Why other options are incorrect**:
- **Option A**: 'Impartial' is incorrect here; the sentence likely means he was 'indifferent' or 'insensitive' to her feelings.
- **Option C**: 'Impartial' means unbiased, whereas the sentence requires 'partial' (having a strong liking for) to make sense.
- **Option D**: Promoting only relatives is an act of favoritism (nepotism), which is the exact opposite of 'impartiality'.