← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions — 2015
To come home to
A)
To be kept waiting
B)
To give credit to
C)
To offer
D)
To understand
"To come home to" means "to become fully understood" or "to realize clearly." Among the options, "To understand" is the closest and correct meaning. The other options do not match this idiom.
They need (36) ___ people and are (37) ___ to pay high wages to (38) ___ them.
A)
local
B)
several
C)
more
D)
talented
The sentence reads naturally as: "They need talented people and are willing to pay high wages to attract them." Among the options, only "talented" fits grammatically and semantically with "people". "Local," "several," and "more" do not make sense in this context.
Ill at ease
A)
Restless
B)
Worthless
C)
Listless
D)
Sleepless
"Ill at ease" means uncomfortable, uneasy, or restless. Among the options, "Restless" is the closest meaning. "Worthless" means having no value, "Listless" means lacking energy or enthusiasm, and "Sleepless" means unable to sleep.
Why was the jester very popular?
A)
He made fun of the courtiers.
B)
He entertained everyone with his intelligent jokes.
C)
He was very intelligent and crafty.
D)
He was kind and sympathetic to all.
A jester is typically popular because he amuses people through wit and clever humor. Option (b) best matches this idea. Option (a) is too narrow, since making fun of courtiers alone would not explain his general popularity. Option (c) describes his qualities but not the direct reason for popularity. Option (d) is unrelated to the usual role of a jester.
I don’t have any plans ___ Christmas Day because my entire family lives overseas.
A)
for
B)
in
C)
about
D)
at
The correct preposition is "for": "I don’t have any plans for Christmas Day." We use "for" to show purpose or intended time/event. The other options are incorrect here: "in" is used for longer periods or inside something, "about" means concerning, and "at" is used for specific points in time or place, not with a holiday like this.
Over by the railroad tracks, there was a heap of ___
A)
houses
B)
flowers
C)
stairs
D)
stones
The sentence needs a noun that can naturally form a 'heap.' A heap of stones is a common and correct phrase. 'Heap of houses,' 'heap of flowers,' and 'heap of stairs' are not natural or logical collocations in this context.
The salt of the earth
A)
The best people
B)
The rich people
C)
The merry people
D)
The old people
"The salt of the earth" is an idiom used to describe very good, honest, and worthy people — in other words, the best people. The other options do not match the idiomatic meaning.
Well begun is half done. (Analyse the underlined word: 'Well')
A)
Noun
B)
Verb
C)
Adjective
D)
Adverb
'Well' modifies the adjective 'begun' and tells us how the action/state is done, so it functions as an adverb. In the proverb 'Well begun is half done,' 'well' describes the manner of beginning. Therefore, the correct answer is Adverb. The other options are incorrect because 'well' is not naming a person/place/thing (noun), not an action word (verb), and not describing a noun directly (adjective).
We eat so that we may live (Analyse the underlined words: 'so that we may live')
A)
Relative clause
B)
Adverb clause
C)
Noun clause
D)
Adjective clause
The phrase "so that we may live" shows purpose: it tells why we eat. A clause that expresses purpose, reason, time, condition, etc. is an adverb clause. Here it modifies the verb "eat". It is not a noun clause because it does not act as a subject or object, and it is not an adjective/relative clause because it does not describe a noun.
You are well now. (Analyse the underlined word: 'well')
A)
Noun
B)
Verb
C)
Adjective
D)
Adverb
'Well' modifies the adjective 'now' in the sentence 'You are well now.' It tells us the manner/state of being, so it functions as an adverb here. 'You' is the subject and 'are' is the linking verb; 'well' describes the condition of the subject. Therefore, the correct answer is Adverb. The other options are incorrect because 'well' is not acting as a noun, verb, or adjective in this sentence.
This watch is a gift ___ my uncle.
A)
by
B)
from
C)
of
D)
in
The correct sentence is: "This watch is a gift from my uncle." We use "from" to show the source or giver of a gift. "By" shows the doer of an action, "of" is used for possession or relation, and "in" is not correct here.
Why did the jester cut a joke at the expense of the king?
A)
He wanted to settle an old score with the king.
B)
He thought it would be a good opportunity to teach a lesson to the courtiers.
C)
He was offended.
D)
He thought the king would appreciate it.
The correct answer is **b**: the jester made the joke at the king’s expense to **teach a lesson to the courtiers**. In such contexts, a jester’s sharp remark is usually meant to expose folly or hypocrisy in the court while using humor as a safe vehicle.
- **a** is incorrect because there is no indication of a personal grudge or revenge against the king.
- **c** is incorrect because the motive is not simple offense; the joke is deliberate and purposeful.
- **d** is incorrect because joking at the king’s expense is not primarily to please the king, but to make a point to others.
I was invited ___ tea by his mother.
A)
for
B)
to
C)
with
D)
in
The correct phrase is "invited to tea". Here, "to" is the proper preposition used with invitations. So the sentence becomes: "I was invited to tea by his mother." The other options do not fit standard English usage in this context.
What made the jester arrogant and conceited?
A)
His divine power of making interesting jokes.
B)
His excellent manners and sophistication.
C)
His sky-rocketing popularity.
D)
His powerful imagination and forceful vocabulary.
The jester became arrogant and conceited because he grew extremely popular and admired. This rising fame made him proud.
Why others are incorrect:
(a) The passage does not suggest he had divine power.
(b) Excellent manners and sophistication would not normally explain arrogance here.
(d) Imagination and vocabulary are not stated as the cause of his conceit.
Therefore, the correct answer is (c) His sky-rocketing popularity.
Why did the king become angry with the jester?
A)
One day the jester refused to entertain the courtiers.
B)
The jester humiliated the courtiers.
C)
The king was in a wretched mood.
D)
The king felt insulted and offended.
The question asks why the king became angry with the jester. Among the options, the only one that directly explains the king’s anger is that he felt insulted and offended. The other options describe either the jester’s actions toward courtiers or the king’s mood, but they do not fit as the main cause of the king’s anger.
New industries supported by foreign interests (33) ___ offer (34) ___ salaries to their employees at all levels of responsibility than (35) ___ the locally-owned industries.
A)
hardly
B)
reluctantly
C)
seldom
D)
usually
The sentence needs an adverb showing the normal or general tendency of new industries supported by foreign interests. "Usually" fits naturally: they usually offer higher salaries than locally-owned industries. The other options do not fit the meaning: "hardly" means almost not, "reluctantly" means unwillingly, and "seldom" means rarely, none of which describe the intended comparison.
They have quarreled ___ a piece of land.
A)
at
B)
on
C)
for
D)
over
The correct preposition is "over" because we say people quarrel over something when they argue about it. So: "They have quarreled over a piece of land."
Why others are incorrect:
- at: not used with "quarreled" in this meaning.
- on: incorrect in this context.
- for: less natural here; "quarreled over" is the standard usage.
Hobson’s choice
A)
Multiple choice
B)
No choice at all
C)
Selective choice
D)
One choice
‘Hobson’s choice’ means an apparent choice where only one option is actually offered, so in effect there is no real choice. Hence, the correct answer is ‘No choice at all’. The other options do not convey this meaning.
A mentor
A)
A good person
B)
A talented man
C)
A strong person
D)
A trusted adviser
"Mentor" means an experienced and trusted adviser who guides and supports a less experienced person. So the correct option is (d). The other options do not capture the idea of guidance or advice.
A block head
A)
A poet
B)
A dull person
C)
A strange person
D)
A poor person
"Blockhead" is an idiom used to describe a stupid or dull-witted person. Among the options, "A dull person" matches the meaning best. The other options do not fit the idiom.
A gentleman at large
A)
A punctual person
B)
A reliable fellow
C)
An unreliable person
D)
An honest person
"A gentleman at large" is an idiom meaning a person who is free, unattached, or not bound by responsibilities; in exam usage it is commonly taken as someone who is not dependable or not settled. Among the given options, "An unreliable person" is the closest and correct choice. The other options do not match the idiomatic meaning.
They need (36) ___ people and are (37) ___ to pay high wages to (38) ___ them.
A)
willing
B)
bound
C)
forced
D)
authorised
The sentence reads naturally as: "They need people and are willing to pay high wages to attract them."
- "Willing" means ready or prepared to do something, which fits the context of offering high wages.
- "Bound" means obliged or certain, which does not fit here.
- "Forced" means compelled against one’s will, which is incorrect in this context.
- "Authorised" means officially permitted, which is also not suitable.
So, the correct word is "willing".
I would not want his shift, he has to wake up ___ 3 AM everyday.
A)
none
B)
on
C)
at
D)
in
The correct preposition used with a specific time is 'at'. So the sentence becomes: '...he has to wake up at 3 AM everyday.' 'On' is used for days/dates, 'in' for longer periods like months/years, and 'none' is incorrect here.
Please close the shop now. (Analyse the underlined word: 'close')
A)
Noun
B)
Verb
C)
Adjective
D)
Adverb
In the sentence "Please close the shop now," the word "close" tells us an action to perform, so it is a verb. It is used in the imperative form, giving a command/request. The other options are incorrect because it is not naming a person/place/thing (noun), not describing a noun (adjective), and not modifying a verb/adjective/adverb (adverb).
To bring one’s egg to a bad market
A)
To fail in one’s plan because one goes to the wrong person for help.
B)
To bring one’s commodities to a market where there is no demand for them.
C)
To show one’s talent before an audience incapable of appreciating them.
D)
To act when the opportunity is lost.
The idiom means to take something to a place or situation where it cannot be sold or used effectively, resulting in loss or failure. Option (b) matches this meaning exactly. Option (a) refers to seeking help from the wrong person, (c) means showing talent to people who cannot appreciate it, and (d) means acting too late after the chance is gone.