← Junior Engineer
Past Questions — 2016
Choose the word which has a similar meaning to: Conjecture
A)
Grave
B)
Outward
C)
To guess
D)
To claim
“Conjecture” means an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information; as a verb, it means “to guess” or “to suppose.” So option (c) matches the meaning. The other options do not fit: (a) grave means serious or a tomb, (b) outward means external, and (d) to claim means to assert something.
A good salesman must be able to………… to close the deal.
A)
think on his feet
B)
stand on his feet
C)
work on his feet
D)
none of these
The idiom "think on his feet" means to react quickly and intelligently in a difficult situation. A good salesman often needs to respond promptly to objections or changing customer needs in order to close a deal. The other options are not correct idiomatic expressions in this context: "stand on his feet" means be independent, and "work on his feet" is not a standard idiom.
Choose the correct word: The general act of forgiveness on a national occasion is called ………
A)
Benediction
B)
Emancipation
C)
Gratification
D)
Amnesty
‘Amnesty’ means a general pardon or forgiveness, especially by a government, often granted on a public or national occasion. This fits the sentence exactly.
- Benediction means a blessing.
- Emancipation means liberation from restraint or slavery.
- Gratification means pleasure or satisfaction.
Therefore, the correct word is Amnesty.
Choose the correct word for the gap: I went to a restaurant last week, but I …………. eat at home.
A)
usually
B)
seldom
C)
always
D)
never
The sentence contrasts a one-time action in the past with a general habit. "Seldom" means "not often," which fits the meaning: the speaker rarely eats at home, though they went to a restaurant last week.
- usually = generally/often, opposite of the intended meaning
- always = every time, not suitable here
- never = not at any time, too strong
So the correct choice is "seldom".
Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: Feel under the weather
A)
feel unwanted
B)
angry
C)
feel sleepy
D)
feel ill
The idiom "feel under the weather" means to feel unwell or ill. Option (d) matches this meaning. The other options do not fit: (a) feel unwanted, (b) angry, and (c) feel sleepy are unrelated to the idiom.
Fill the blank with the correct phrasal verb/preposition: 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. So, "The thieves pulled off the heist perfectly" means they executed the robbery successfully.
Why others are incorrect:
- "pull of" is not the correct idiom here.
- "pull down" means to destroy or demolish.
- "pull up" means to stop, arrest, or improve, depending on context.
Therefore, the correct answer is "off".
Choose the word which has a similar meaning to: Remuneration
A)
Understanding
B)
Protest
C)
Finality
D)
Compensation
“Remuneration” means payment or reward for work done, i.e., wages or compensation. Among the options, “Compensation” is the closest synonym. The other options do not match the meaning: “Understanding” means comprehension, “Protest” means objection, and “Finality” means the state of being final.
Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: To get into hot waters
A)
to be in the middle of the sea
B)
to loose patience
C)
to get into trouble
D)
to be of hot temperament
The idiom "to get into hot waters" means to get into trouble or a difficult situation. It does not refer to literal hot water, patience, or temperament. Hence, option (c) is correct.
Choose the correct word for the gap: This airline’s …………….. lack of organisation is astounding.
A)
complete
B)
completed
C)
completely
D)
incomplete
The blank comes before the noun phrase "lack of organisation," so an adjective is needed. "Complete" is the correct adjective: "This airline’s complete lack of organisation is astounding."
- (a) complete — correct adjective modifying "lack"
- (b) completed — past participle; does not fit here
- (c) completely — adverb; cannot directly modify the noun "lack"
- (d) incomplete — adjective, but it gives the wrong meaning in this sentence
Choose the word which has a similar meaning to: Admonish
A)
To warn
B)
To cajole
C)
Encourage
D)
Abdicate
"Admonish" means to warn or reprimand someone firmly, often with advice against doing something. Among the options, "To warn" is the closest synonym. "To cajole" means to persuade by flattery, "Encourage" means to support, and "Abdicate" means to give up a position or power.
Choose the correct word for the gap: Maria seemed more …………… than relaxed at the picnic.
A)
uncomfortably
B)
comfortably
C)
uncomfortable
D)
comforted
The sentence needs an adjective after the linking verb "seemed": "Maria seemed more ___ than relaxed."
- "uncomfortable" is an adjective and fits the structure correctly.
- "uncomfortably" is an adverb, so it cannot describe Maria directly here.
- "comfortably" is the opposite meaning.
- "comforted" means made to feel better, which does not fit the comparison.
So the correct sentence is: "Maria seemed more uncomfortable than relaxed at the picnic."
The beautiful model is surprisingly on the ……… of forty.
A)
over
B)
almost
C)
wrong side
D)
right side
The idiom is "on the wrong side of forty," which means older than forty, usually used humorously or delicately. So the sentence becomes: "The beautiful model is surprisingly on the wrong side of forty." The other options do not form the correct idiomatic expression.
Pick the correct clause of the words underlined in the sentence: 'If you pay your bills, you will have a good credit score.'
A)
noun clause
B)
adverb clause
C)
adjective clause
D)
independent clause
The underlined part is "If you pay your bills". It is a conditional clause that tells us under what condition the main action will happen, so it functions as an adverb clause. It modifies the verb phrase "will have" by showing condition. It is not a noun clause because it does not act as a noun, 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 thief disappeared ………….
A)
in a minute
B)
immediately
C)
in the blink of an eye
D)
in front of me
The idiom that best fits the sentence is "in the blink of an eye," which means very quickly or almost instantly. So, "The thief disappeared in the blink of an eye" is the most natural and idiomatic sentence. Option (b) "immediately" is correct in meaning, but the question asks for an idiom/phrase. Option (a) "in a minute" means after a short time, not as abruptly. Option (d) "in front of me" does not fit the meaning.
You must know the………of a job before you take it up.
A)
long and short
B)
ins and outs
C)
all and sundry
D)
right and wrong
The sentence means you should know the details thoroughly before accepting a job. The idiom "ins and outs" means the full details or every aspect of something. So the correct sentence is: "You must know the ins and outs of a job before you take it up."
Why others are wrong:
- (a) "long and short" does not fit this meaning.
- (c) "all and sundry" means everyone, not details.
- (d) "right and wrong" refers to moral correctness, not knowledge of a job.
Identify the correct type of sentence: 'San Clemente is an Island off the coast of San Diego.'
A)
Exclamatory
B)
Affirmative
C)
Imperative
D)
Negative
The sentence "San Clemente is an Island off the coast of San Diego." states a fact positively, so it is an affirmative sentence. It is not exclamatory because it shows no strong emotion, not imperative because it gives no command or request, and not negative because it contains no negative word like 'not' or 'never'.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word 'Well' in the sentence: 'Well, I don’t think I will be here to answer the phone.'
A)
Interjection
B)
Preposition
C)
Pronoun
In the sentence, 'Well' is used at the beginning to express hesitation or to introduce a response. Such usage is an interjection. A preposition shows relation, and a pronoun replaces a noun, so neither fits here.
This show is excellent but the tickets cost……….
A)
a white elephant
B)
an arm and a leg
C)
a storm in a teacup
D)
alpha and omega
The sentence means the show is excellent, but the tickets are very expensive. The idiom "an arm and a leg" means very costly or expensive.
- (a) "a white elephant" = something costly to maintain and of little use
- (b) "an arm and a leg" = very expensive ✅
- (c) "a storm in a teacup" = a small matter made to seem big
- (d) "alpha and omega" = the beginning and the end
So the correct completion is "an arm and a leg."
Analyse the sentence and choose the correct type: 'When the cost goes up, customers buy less clothing.'
A)
simple sentence
B)
complex sentence
C)
compound sentence
The sentence has one main clause ('customers buy less clothing') and one dependent adverbial clause ('When the cost goes up'). Since one clause cannot stand alone and depends on the main clause, it is a complex sentence. It is not a simple sentence because it contains more than one clause, and it is not a compound sentence because there is no two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.
Fill the blank with the correct phrasal verb/preposition: The flowers give ……….. a wonderful smell that scents the entire garden.
A)
of
B)
off
C)
out
D)
up
The correct phrasal verb is "give off", which means to emit or send out something such as smell, heat, light, or gas. So the sentence becomes: "The flowers give off a wonderful smell that scents the entire garden."
Why others are wrong:
- "give of" is not the correct expression here.
- "give out" can mean distribute or become exhausted, but it is not the best fit for a smell.
- "give up" means stop trying or surrender, which is unrelated.
Choose the correct word: The amount of sugar in his blood ……… the previous reading.
A)
Acceded
B)
Exceeded
C)
Crossed
D)
Beyond
The sentence needs a verb meaning 'went above'. 'Exceeded' correctly means 'was greater than' the previous reading. 'Acceded' means agreed to or ascended to power, 'Crossed' is not the standard choice in this context, and 'Beyond' is a preposition/adverb, not the needed verb.
Analyse the sentence and choose the correct type: 'This summer our vacation should be both exciting and restful.'
A)
simple sentence
B)
complex sentence
C)
compound sentence
The sentence has only one subject ('our vacation') and one finite verb ('should be'). It contains a compound predicate adjective phrase ('both exciting and restful'), but no second independent clause and no subordinate clause. 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 joining of two independent clauses.
Analyse the sentence and choose the correct type: 'The moon is full; the stars are out.'
A)
simple sentence
B)
complex sentence
C)
compound sentence
The sentence has two independent clauses: (1) 'The moon is full' and (2) 'the stars are out.' They are joined by a semicolon, which is used to connect two closely related independent clauses. Since both clauses can stand alone as complete sentences, this is a compound sentence. It is not a simple sentence because it has more than one clause, and it is not a complex sentence because there is no dependent clause.
Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: When pigs fly
A)
overly optimistic
B)
likely to happen
C)
completely destroyed
D)
highly unlikely to happen
The idiom "when pigs fly" is used for something that will never happen or is extremely unlikely to happen. So option (d) is correct. Option (a) suggests optimism, which is not the meaning here; (b) means probable, which is the opposite; and (c) refers to destruction, which is unrelated.
They finally saw………….and closed the business deal.
A)
eye to eye
B)
eye for an eye
C)
I to I
D)
face to face
The idiom 'see eye to eye' means to agree with someone. In the sentence, 'They finally saw eye to eye and closed the business deal' means both parties reached agreement, so the deal could be finalized. 'Eye for an eye' means retaliation or revenge, which is unrelated. 'I to I' is not a correct idiom. 'Face to face' means meeting directly, but it does not specifically mean reaching agreement.