← Junior Engineer
Past Questions — 2016
The thieves pulled ............. the heist perfectly.
A)
of
B)
down
C)
off
D)
up
The correct phrasal verb is "pull off", which means to succeed in doing something difficult or impressive. So, "The thieves pulled off the heist perfectly" means they carried out the robbery successfully.
- "pull of" is incorrect.
- "pull down" means to demolish or lower something.
- "pull up" means to stop, raise, or improve, depending on context.
Therefore, the correct answer is "off".
Commence
A)
To end
B)
Tobegin
C)
Nearing finish
D)
Torun
"Commence" means "to begin" or "to start." Among the given options, (b) "To begin" is the correct synonym. (a) "To end" is the opposite, (c) "Nearing finish" means almost ending, and (d) "To run" does not match the meaning.
What does smoking lead to?
A)
Cancer of the throat
B)
Cancer of the liver
C)
Cancer of the throat and lungs
D)
Brain cancer
Smoking is a major risk factor for cancers of the respiratory tract, especially the throat and lungs. Among the given options, this is the most correct and complete answer. Cancer of the liver and brain cancer are not the usual primary consequences highlighted in such questions.
The beautiful model is surprisingly on the......... of forty.
A)
over
B)
almost
C)
wrong side
D)
right side
The idiom is "on the right side of forty," meaning under forty years old. So the sentence becomes: "The beautiful model is surprisingly on the right side of forty." The other options do not form the correct idiomatic expression.
If you pay your bills, you will have a good credit score. (Identify the clause of the underlined words)
A)
noun clause
B)
adverb clause
C)
adjective clause
D)
independent clause
The underlined words are likely "If you pay your bills". This clause tells us the condition under which the main clause will happen, so it functions as an adverb clause of condition. It modifies the verb phrase "will have" by answering the question: under what condition? The main clause is "you will have a good credit score." It is not a noun clause because it does not act as a subject or object, not an adjective clause because it does not describe a noun, and not an independent clause because it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
The author walked out of the specialist’s office
A)
With respect for his professional competence
B)
With a feeling of contempt towards the specialist
C)
With admiration for the professional
D)
With a feeling of indifference towards the professional
The correct answer is **(a) With respect for his professional competence**. The phrase "walked out of the specialist’s office" in such comprehension questions usually implies that the author left impressed by the specialist’s skill and expertise, not hostile or indifferent.
Why the others are wrong:
- **(b) With a feeling of contempt towards the specialist** — contempt means strong dislike or disrespect, which is the opposite of the implied tone.
- **(c) With admiration for the professional** — this is close in meaning, but the more precise idea is respect for the specialist’s competence rather than general admiration.
- **(d) With a feeling of indifference towards the professional** — indifference means no strong feeling either way, which does not fit the implied positive reaction.
So, **(a)** is the best and most accurate option.
Admonish
A)
To warn
B)
To cajole
C)
Encourage
D)
Abdicate
"Admonish" means to warn or reprimand someone earnestly. Among the options, "To warn" is the closest synonym. "To cajole" means to persuade by flattery, "Encourage" means to give support or confidence, and "Abdicate" means to give up a position or authority.
This show is excellent but the tickets cost..........
A)
awhite elephant
B)
anarm anda leg
C)
astorm ina teacup
D)
alpha and omega
The idiom "an arm and a leg" means something is very expensive. Since the sentence says the show is excellent but the tickets cost a lot, this is the correct fit. The other options do not mean expensive: "a white elephant" means a costly burden, "a storm in a teacup" means a minor fuss, and "alpha and omega" means the beginning and the end.
To take with a grain of salt
A)
to take seriously
B)
to take with some reservation
C)
being doubtful
D)
being cautious
"To take with a grain of salt" means to accept something with skepticism or not believe it completely. In other words, you should treat it with some reservation. Option (b) matches this meaning best. Option (a) is the opposite, while (c) and (d) are related ideas but are less exact than (b).
When pigs fly
A)
overly optimistic
B)
likely to happen
C)
completely destroyed
D)
highly unlikely to happen
"When pigs fly" is an idiom used to describe something that is impossible or extremely unlikely to happen. So the correct meaning is "highly unlikely to happen." Option (a) is close in tone but does not capture the idiom's exact meaning. Options (b) and (c) are incorrect.
Mark kept his schedule open in case of emergencies. (Identify the clause of the underlined words)
A)
noun clause
B)
adverb clause
C)
adjective clause
D)
independent clause
The underlined phrase 'in case of emergencies' tells us the condition under which Mark kept his schedule open. A clause/phrase showing condition, reason, time, purpose, etc. works as an adverbial element. Here, it modifies the verb phrase 'kept his schedule open' by expressing condition. So it is an adverb clause. It is not a noun clause because it does not act as a subject or object, not an adjective clause because it does not describe a noun, and not an independent clause because it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Ican’t believe you fell........... his lies.
A)
for
B)
down
C)
off
D)
of
The correct phrasal verb is **'fall for'**, which means to be deceived by someone or to believe a lie. So, 'I can’t believe you fell for his lies' is correct. The other options do not fit this meaning: 'fell down' means collapsed or moved downward, 'fell off' means dropped from something or decreased, and 'fell of' is not correct English here.
Do not condemn the judgment of others because it differs from your own.
A)
Exclamatory
B)
Imperative
C)
Negative
D)
Assertive
The sentence gives a command/advice: "Do not condemn...". Such sentences are classified as imperative sentences. It is not exclamatory because it does not show sudden emotion, not negative simply because of the word "not" (the main function is a command), and not assertive because it is not making a statement of fact.
The chief concern of the specialist lay in:
A)
The nature of the author’s illness
B)
Inhow much he could help the author
C)
Inhow much he could get out of the author
D)
In how quickly he could cure the author’s malady
The specialist’s chief concern is typically the speed of recovery or cure of the patient’s illness. Option (d) matches this idea most directly. Option (a) is too general, while (b) and (c) do not fit the normal meaning of a doctor's concern in a medical context.
God is present everywhere. Heis.........
A)
Omniscient
B)
Omnipresent
C)
Omnipotent
D)
Convalescent
“God is present everywhere” means God exists in all places at the same time. The word for this is **omnipresent**.
- **Omniscient** = all-knowing
- **Omnipresent** = present everywhere
- **Omnipotent** = all-powerful
- **Convalescent** = recovering from illness
What does lack of exercise result in?
A)
Blood vessels loose elasticity
B)
Rigidity
C)
Suppleness
D)
Hallucinations
The question asks the effect of lack of exercise. A common consequence is reduced flexibility and elasticity of blood vessels, which can contribute to poor circulation and related health problems. Among the options, (a) best matches this meaning. (b) Rigidity is too general, (c) is the opposite, and (d) is unrelated.
When the cost goes up, customers buy less clothing.
A)
simple sentence
B)
complex sentence
C)
compound sentence
The sentence has one independent clause, "customers buy less clothing," and one dependent adverbial clause, "When the cost goes up." The word "when" introduces the subordinate clause, making the whole sentence a complex sentence. It is not a simple sentence because it has a subordinate clause, and it is not a compound sentence because there are no two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.
Don’t worry, the present disturbance will soon ........
A)
blow over
B)
blow down
C)
blow away
D)
blow up
The idiom 'blow over' means to pass away, end gradually, or be forgotten without serious consequences. So the sentence means the present disturbance will soon subside. The other options do not fit: 'blow down' means knock down by wind, 'blow away' means remove or astonish, and 'blow up' means explode or become angry.
Tinris sc aiccc.ee. known for his sense of humour.
A)
good
B)
better
C)
well
D)
bad
The sentence should read: "Tinris is a good..." The blank needs an adjective describing the noun phrase "sense of humour." Among the options, "good" is the correct adjective. "Well" is mainly an adverb, so it is not suitable here. "Better" is a comparative form, and "bad" gives the opposite meaning.
Owen D. Young said the man who is
A)
Honest always gets success
B)
Selfless reaches the top of his profession
C)
Greedy fails miserably in life
D)
Able to think from the point of view of others need not have any worry
The quote attributed to Owen D. Young means that a person who can understand others' viewpoints and act with sympathy and fairness has little to fear or worry about. Option (d) matches this idea. The other options talk about honesty, selflessness, or greed, which are not what the statement expresses.
Iwas completely worn............... after our hike.
A)
onto
B)
up
C)
down
D)
out
The correct phrasal verb is "worn out," which means exhausted or extremely tired. So the sentence becomes: "I was completely worn out after our hike."
Why others are incorrect:
- "worn up" is not the correct idiom here.
- "worn down" means gradually weakened or defeated, but not the usual expression for being physically exhausted after exercise.
- "worn onto" is not a valid phrasal verb in this context.
Barbara and Joana whispered and giggled all night.
A)
simple sentence
B)
complex sentence
C)
compound sentence
The sentence has only one main clause: "Barbara and Joana whispered and giggled all night." It contains a single subject and a compound verb, but no subordinating conjunction or multiple independent clauses. Therefore, it is a simple sentence. It is not complex because there is no dependent clause, and it is not compound because there is no second independent clause joined by a coordinating conjunction.
If you don’t make it as an actor, you can always fall ............ on your education.
A)
over
B)
back
C)
into
D)
down
The correct phrasal verb is **fall back on**, which means to rely on something when other plans fail. So the sentence becomes: "If you don’t make it as an actor, you can always fall back on your education."
- **fall back on** = depend on / use as a support
- **fall over** = topple physically
- **fall into** = enter by chance or become involved in something
- **fall down** = collapse or fail physically
He wasn’t strong enough to lift his heavy bag. (Identify part of speech of 'heavy')
A)
Noun
B)
Adverb
C)
Adjective
'Heavy' describes the noun 'bag', so it functions as an adjective. A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea; an adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb; but here 'heavy' is modifying 'bag'. Therefore, the correct answer is Adjective.
Deteriorate
A)
Appreciate
B)
Recover
C)
To make worse
D)
Strengthen
"Deteriorate" means to become worse or to make something worse in condition, quality, or state. Among the options, "To make worse" is the closest synonym. "Appreciate" means value or rise in worth, "Recover" means get better, and "Strengthen" means make stronger, so they are incorrect.