← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions
Fill in the blank with a suitable conjunction: '__________ he ran fast, he missed the bus.'
A)
since
B)
as
C)
because
D)
though
1. **Why the correct option is correct:** 'Though' is a subordinating conjunction of concession used to express a contrast between two clauses (meaning 'despite the fact that'). In this sentence, running fast and missing the bus are contrasting ideas, making 'though' the logically and grammatically correct choice.
2. **Why other options are incorrect:** 'Because' (c), 'as' (b), and 'since' (a) are causal conjunctions used to introduce a reason or cause. Using any of these would incorrectly imply that running fast was the cause of him missing the bus, which is logically contradictory.
Convert the following sentences to a simple sentence: 'Ram is my friend. He is the son of a landlord.'
A)
Ram is my friend as well as the son of a landlord.
B)
Ram is my friend who is the son of a landlord.
C)
Ram, my friend, is the son of a landlord.
D)
Ram is both my friend as well as the son of a landlord.
A simple sentence contains only one subject and one finite verb (one independent clause).
1. **Why Option C is correct:** It uses a noun phrase in apposition ('my friend') to describe 'Ram'. This allows the two sentences to be combined into a single clause with only one finite verb ('is'), making it a perfect simple sentence.
2. **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Option B** is a complex sentence because it contains a subordinate relative clause ('who is the son of a landlord') and has two finite verbs ('is' and 'is').
- **Option A** uses the conjunction 'as well as' to connect two complements, which is less concise than using apposition.
- **Option D** is grammatically incorrect because 'both' should be paired with 'and' (not 'as well as'), making it redundant and incorrect.
Convert the following sentences to a compound sentence: 'He was punished. He was fined also.'
A)
Alongwith being punished, he was also fined.
B)
He was not only punished but fined also.
C)
Being punished, he was fined.
D)
He was also punished and fined.
To convert two simple sentences into a compound sentence, we must use a coordinating conjunction (such as and, but, or) or a correlative conjunction (such as 'not only... but also') to join them.
1. **Why Option 'b' is correct**: 'He was not only punished but fined also' uses the cumulative correlative conjunction 'not only... but also' (here structured as 'not only... but... also') to connect the two independent ideas, successfully forming a compound sentence.
2. **Why other options are incorrect**:
- **Option 'a'** ('Alongwith being punished...') is a simple sentence because 'Alongwith being punished' is a prepositional phrase, leaving only one main clause.
- **Option 'c'** ('Being punished...') is a simple sentence containing a participial phrase ('Being punished') and one main clause.
- **Option 'd'** ('He was also punished and fined') is a simple sentence with a compound predicate (one subject 'He' with two verbs 'punished' and 'fined').
Identify the notion expressed by the sentence: 'She visits her grandmother during the holidays.'
A)
Interrogative
B)
Optative
C)
Assertive
D)
Imperative
The sentence 'She visits her grandmother during the holidays.' is an Assertive (or Declarative) sentence because it states a fact or a habitual action. Here is why the other options are incorrect: 'Interrogative' (a) is used for asking questions; 'Optative' (b) is used to express a wish, prayer, or desire; and 'Imperative' (d) is used to give commands, requests, or advice.
Choose the appropriate preposition: 'I shall return _______ a week.'
A)
at
B)
on
C)
within
D)
by
The correct preposition is 'within'. 'Within' is used to indicate that an action will happen before a specified period of time has passed (i.e., before the end of one week). Other options are incorrect because: 'at' is used for specific points in time (e.g., at 5 PM); 'on' is used for specific days or dates (e.g., on Monday); and 'by' is used to indicate a deadline referring to a specific point in time (e.g., by Friday) rather than a duration like 'a week'.
Choose the word opposite in meaning to the word in bold: 'The castle ruins are almost inaccessible.'
A)
approachable
B)
unapproachable
C)
repairable
D)
irreparable
The word 'inaccessible' means difficult or impossible to reach, enter, or approach. The opposite of this is 'approachable', which means capable of being approached or reached. Therefore, option 'a' is the correct antonym. Option 'b' (unapproachable) is a synonym of inaccessible. Options 'c' (repairable) and 'd' (irreparable) relate to the ability to fix or mend something, which is irrelevant to the meaning of accessibility.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: 'Someone has broken the window-pane.'
A)
Noun
B)
Pronoun
C)
Verb
D)
Adjective
In the sentence 'Someone has broken the window-pane', the underlined word is 'Someone'. 'Someone' is an indefinite pronoun because it refers to an unspecified or unknown person. Therefore, the correct part of speech is a Pronoun (Option b).
- Noun (Option a) is incorrect because nouns name specific people, places, or things (e.g., 'window-pane').
- Verb (Option c) is incorrect because verbs express actions or states of being (e.g., 'has broken').
- Adjective (Option d) is incorrect because adjectives modify or describe nouns.
Fill in the blank with the appropriate form of the verb: 'It ___________ right now in Aizawl.'
A)
is raining
B)
rains
C)
has been raining
D)
has rained
The correct option is 'a' ('is raining'). The phrase 'right now' indicates that the action is happening at the exact moment of speaking, which requires the present continuous tense ('is/am/are + verb-ing'). Option 'b' ('rains') is in the simple present tense, which is used for habitual actions or general truths. Option 'c' ('has been raining') is in the present perfect continuous tense, which is used to emphasize the duration of an action that started in the past. Option 'd' ('has rained') is in the present perfect tense, which is used for completed actions with relevance to the present.
Choose the correct meaning of the idiom in bold: 'John is a close-fisted man who would rather starve than give away something for free.'
A)
a generous man
B)
a miser
C)
an introvert
D)
a violent man
The idiom 'close-fisted' means unwilling to spend money, stingy, or miserly. In the given sentence, the context of someone who 'would rather starve than give away something for free' clearly points to a person who is extremely cheap or greedy with money, which defines 'a miser' (Option b). Option a ('a generous man') is the exact opposite of the idiom's meaning. Option c ('an introvert') refers to a shy or reserved person, which is unrelated to financial habits. Option d ('a violent man') is incorrect as 'close-fisted' does not relate to physical violence or fighting.
Transform the following sentence to assertive: 'What a dreadful smell!'
A)
A dreadful smell indeed.
B)
It is a dreadful smell.
C)
May it be a dreadful smell!
D)
It smells.
To transform an exclamatory sentence like 'What a dreadful smell!' into an assertive sentence, we state the fact plainly by introducing a subject and a verb. 'It is a dreadful smell.' correctly converts the exclamation into a declarative/assertive statement while retaining the original meaning. Option 'a' is a fragment lacking a proper subject and verb. Option 'c' is an optative sentence expressing a wish. Option 'd' changes the meaning by omitting the descriptive adjective 'dreadful'.
Choose the word opposite in meaning to the word in bold: 'We were all very surprised by his genuine sympathy.'
A)
real
B)
truthful
C)
impolite
D)
fake
The word 'genuine' means authentic, real, or sincere. The opposite of 'genuine' is 'fake', which means counterfeit, insincere, or not real. Therefore, option 'd' is the correct antonym. Option 'a' (real) and option 'b' (truthful) are synonyms or closely related in meaning to 'genuine', while option 'c' (impolite) means rude, which is unrelated to authenticity.
Identify the type of sentence: 'Either John or Mary has done it.'
A)
Complex sentence
B)
Adjectival clause
C)
Adverbial sentence
D)
Compound sentence
The sentence 'Either John or Mary has done it' is classified as a compound sentence in many traditional grammar exams. It uses the correlative coordinating conjunction 'either... or' to join two coordinate elements. In this context, it is viewed as a contracted compound sentence representing two independent thoughts: 'Either John has done it, or Mary has done it.'
- Option A (Complex sentence) is incorrect because a complex sentence requires at least one independent clause and one dependent (subordinate) clause.
- Options B and C are incorrect because 'Adjectival clause' is a type of subordinate clause, not a sentence type, and 'Adverbial sentence' is not a standard grammatical classification for this structure.
Choose the appropriate preposition: 'You must abide _____ the rules of the school.'
A)
to
B)
with
C)
on
D)
by
The correct phrasal verb is 'abide by', which means to accept, obey, or conform to a rule, decision, or law. Therefore, 'by' is the appropriate preposition here. The other options ('to', 'with', 'on') do not form the correct idiomatic expression with 'abide' in the context of following rules. While 'abide with' is a literary term meaning to remain or dwell with someone, it is incorrect in the context of rules.
Fill in the blank with the appropriate form of the verb: 'I ____________ for you since this morning.'
A)
have been waiting
B)
was waiting
C)
will have been waiting
D)
waits
The correct option is 'a' (have been waiting). The time marker 'since this morning' indicates an action that started in the past and is still continuing up to the present moment. This requires the Present Perfect Continuous tense ('have/has been + verb-ing'). Option 'b' (was waiting) is in the Past Continuous tense, which describes a past action in progress but does not link it to the present. Option 'c' (will have been waiting) is in the Future Perfect Continuous tense, which is used for actions continuing up to a point in the future. Option 'd' (waits) is in the Simple Present tense and is also grammatically incorrect because the subject 'I' takes the plural verb form 'wait', not 'waits'.
Choose the correct meaning of the idiom in bold: 'After a thorough investigation, last night’s events have come to light'
A)
morning
B)
getting a makeover
C)
to become richer
D)
to become known
The idiom 'come to light' means to be revealed, disclosed, or to become known to the public, especially after being hidden or investigated. Therefore, option 'd' is the correct meaning. Option 'a' (morning) is incorrect as it refers to a time of day. Option 'b' (getting a makeover) refers to improving appearance, and option 'c' (to become richer) refers to financial gain, neither of which relates to the idiom.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: 'I always help the weak and needy.'
A)
Preposition
B)
Adjective
C)
Adverb
D)
Verb
In the sentence 'I always help the weak and needy', the underlined word is 'weak' (or 'needy'), which is an Adjective.
1. **Why the correct option is correct:** 'Weak' and 'needy' are adjectives because they describe a state or characteristic. In this context, they are preceded by the definite article 'the' to function as nominal adjectives (representing a class of people, i.e., 'weak people' and 'needy people'), but their core part of speech remains an adjective.
2. **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Preposition (a):** Prepositions show relationships between nouns/pronouns and other words (e.g., 'in', 'to', 'for').
- **Adverb (c):** Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (e.g., 'always' is the adverb in this sentence).
- **Verb (d):** Verbs express actions or states of being (e.g., 'help' is the verb in this sentence).
Fill in the blank with the appropriate form of the verb: 'I _________ the assignment given to me.'
A)
finished
B)
have finished
C)
had finish
D)
has finished
1. **Why Option B is correct**: 'have finished' is in the present perfect tense. This tense is appropriate here as it refers to an action completed in the recent past with relevance to the present. The first-person pronoun 'I' correctly takes the auxiliary verb 'have' followed by the past participle 'finished'.
2. **Why other options are incorrect**:
- **Option A ('finished')**: While grammatically possible in the simple past, the present perfect ('have finished') is more appropriate here as there is no specific past time marker (like 'yesterday' or 'last week') to anchor the simple past.
- **Option C ('had finish')**: This is grammatically incorrect because the past perfect auxiliary 'had' must be followed by the past participle form ('finished'), not the base form ('finish').
- **Option D ('has finished')**: This is incorrect because the pronoun 'I' requires the auxiliary verb 'have', whereas 'has' is used for third-person singular subjects (he, she, it).
Identify the notion expressed by the sentence: 'You are a lazy boy.'
A)
Affirmative
B)
Exclamatory
C)
Interrogative
D)
Imperative
The sentence 'You are a lazy boy.' is a simple declarative statement that asserts a positive fact or opinion without any negation (such as 'not'). Therefore, it expresses an 'Affirmative' notion. Option 'b' (Exclamatory) is incorrect because the sentence does not express sudden strong emotion or end with an exclamation mark. Option 'c' (Interrogative) is incorrect because it does not ask a question. Option 'd' (Imperative) is incorrect because it does not convey a command, request, or advice.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: 'The sound of laughter fills the air.'
A)
Noun
B)
Verb
C)
Adverb
D)
Adjective
In the sentence 'The sound of laughter fills the air', the underlined word is 'laughter' (or 'sound'/'air'), which functions as a Noun. A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. Here, 'laughter' is an abstract noun representing the state or sound of laughing, serving as the object of the preposition 'of'.
- **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Verb (b):** A verb expresses an action or state of being. In this sentence, 'fills' is the verb.
- **Adverb (c):** An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. 'Laughter' does not perform this function.
- **Adjective (d):** An adjective describes or modifies a noun. 'Laughter' is not acting as a modifier here.
Synthesise the sentences using a participial phrase: 'The movie was over. The audience went out of the theater.'
A)
The movie was over and the audience went out of the theatre.
B)
The movie being over, the audience went out of the theatre.
C)
The audience went out of the theatre since the movie was over.
D)
After the movie was over, the audience went out of the theatre.
To synthesise the sentences using a participial phrase, we use a nominative absolute construction where the verb 'was' is changed to its participle form 'being'. Option 'b' ('The movie being over, the audience went out of the theatre.') correctly uses the present participle 'being' to form a participial phrase. The other options are incorrect because: Option 'a' uses the coordinating conjunction 'and' to form a compound sentence; Option 'c' uses the subordinating conjunction 'since' to form an adverbial clause of reason; and Option 'd' uses the subordinating conjunction 'after' to form an adverbial clause of time.
Convert the following sentences to a complex sentence: 'He worked very hard. His health broke down.'
A)
He worked very hard and his health broke down.
B)
He worked so hard that his health broke down.
C)
Having worked very hard, his health broke down.
D)
His health broke down by dint of hard work.
To convert the given sentences into a complex sentence, we need one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause.
1. **Option 'b' is correct** because 'He worked so hard that his health broke down' is a complex sentence. It contains an independent clause ('He worked so hard') and a dependent adverbial clause of result ('that his health broke down') joined by the subordinating conjunction 'so... that'.
2. **Option 'a' is incorrect** because it is a compound sentence, joining two independent clauses with the coordinating conjunction 'and'.
3. **Option 'c' is incorrect** because it is a simple sentence containing a participle phrase ('Having worked very hard') and also suffers from a dangling modifier (since 'his health' cannot work hard).
4. **Option 'd' is incorrect** because it is a simple sentence containing only one main clause and a prepositional phrase ('by dint of hard work').
Fill in the blank choosing the correct adjective or adverb: 'Can you tell me how ________ books are inside the cupboard?'
A)
much
B)
many
C)
number of
D)
any
The correct option is 'b' (many). 'Books' is a plural countable noun, and we use 'how many' to ask about the quantity of countable items. 'Much' (option a) is incorrect because it is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., 'how much water'). 'Number of' (option c) and 'any' (option d) are grammatically incorrect when placed directly after 'how' in this sentence structure.
Fill in the blank with the appropriate form of the verb: 'The service ____________ when we reached the church.'
A)
already started
B)
would already started
C)
had already started
D)
is already starting
The sentence describes two actions that occurred in the past: the service starting and reaching the church. Since the service started before they reached the church, we must use the Past Perfect tense ('had' + past participle) to indicate the earlier action. Therefore, 'had already started' is correct. Option A is incorrect because the simple past does not clearly establish the sequence of these two past events. Option B is grammatically incorrect because the modal verb 'would' cannot be followed directly by a past participle. Option D is incorrect because the present continuous tense ('is starting') is inconsistent with the past tense verb 'reached'.
Synthesise the sentences using 'since': 'I must be punished. I am at fault.'
A)
Since I must be punished, I am at fault.
B)
I must be punished since I am at fault.
C)
I must be punished because I am at fault since.
D)
I am at fault since I must be punished.
The conjunction 'since' is used here to introduce a clause of reason, meaning 'because'. In the given sentences, 'I am at fault' is the cause/reason, and 'I must be punished' is the effect/consequence. Therefore, the correct synthesis is 'I must be punished since I am at fault.' Option 'a' and 'd' incorrectly reverse the cause-and-effect relationship, implying that being punished is the reason for being at fault. Option 'c' is grammatically incorrect and redundant.
Fill in the blank choosing the correct adjective or adverb: 'I ___________ hit him this morning with my bike.'
A)
nearly
B)
dearly
C)
mostly
D)
completely
The correct adverb to fill in the blank is 'nearly' (option a). 'Nearly' means 'almost', indicating that the speaker came very close to hitting the person with their bike but did not actually do so. The other options do not fit the context: 'dearly' (option b) means 'very much' or 'at a high cost'; 'mostly' (option c) means 'mainly' or 'for the most part', which does not make sense for a single, sudden event; and 'completely' (option d) is unnatural in this context, as hitting someone is typically a binary event (either you hit them or you didn't, making 'nearly' the standard way to describe a near-miss).