Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
What does the passage suggest about the emotional benefits of reading?
A)
It is an ineffective way to cope with stress
B)
It only benefits highly intellectual readers
C)
It provides comfort and helps individuals navigate personal struggles
D)
It causes emotional detachment from reality
Option B is correct: It only benefits highly intellectual readers.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
What is the best synonym for ‘ominous’ in the passage?
A)
Hopeful
B)
Harmless
C)
Threatening
D)
Promising
Option C is correct: Threatening.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Complete the sentence with the most suitable preposition: She is quite skilled _______ negotiating business deals.
A)
at
B)
in
C)
for
D)
with
Option A is correct: at.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Identify the sentence that is correctly structured:
A)
He was so tired that he could barely keep his eyes open.
B)
He was so tired that he could barely keeps his eyes open.
C)
He was so tired that he could hardly kept his eyes open.
D)
He was so tired that he barely keep his eyes open.
Option C is correct: He was so tired that he could hardly kept his eyes open..
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Identify the sentence that is correctly structured:
A)
I could helped you if you had asked.
B)
I could have helped you if you had asked.
C)
I could help you if you had asked.
D)
I could have helped you if you asked.
Option B is correct: I could have helped you if you had asked..
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Identify the part of speech of the italicized word: It weighs about a kilogram. (Word: weighs)
A)
adverb
B)
verb
C)
adjective
D)
preposition
Option B is correct: verb.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Complete the sentence: Men _______ to abolish war up to now, but maybe they will find a way in the future.
A)
never managed
B)
have never managed
C)
will have never managed
D)
had never managed
Option B is correct: have never managed.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Complete the sentence: If she _______ harder, she could have passed the exam.
A)
studies
B)
study
C)
studied
D)
had studied
Option D is correct: had studied.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Identify the part of speech of the italicized word: Sit down and rest a while. (Word: while)
A)
adjective
B)
noun
C)
adverb
D)
conjunction
Option B is correct: noun.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
What is one of the major intellectual benefits of reading, as stated in the passage?
A)
It isolates readers from society
B)
It improves linguistic skills and critical thinking
C)
It limits exposure to new ideas
D)
It reduces creativity
Option A is correct: It isolates readers from society.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Complete the sentence: Neither food nor water _______ given to the weary workers,
A)
is
B)
are
C)
has
D)
have
Option A is correct: is.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
What is the opposite of ‘mundane’ in the passage?
A)
Ordinary
B)
Extraordinary
C)
Dull
D)
Routine
Option B is correct: Extraordinary.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Select the option that gives the correct order of the jumbled sentences:
A) Our views are not extended to all
B) And very often see but one side of a matter
C) We are all short-sighted
D) That has a connection with it
A)
CBAD
B)
ABCD
C)
ACDB
D)
CABD
Option A is correct: CBAD.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Complete the sentence: He completed the test _______, Surprising everyone.
A)
slowly
B)
effortlessly
C)
confused
D)
complicated
Option B is correct: effortlessly.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
What is the best synonym for ‘astute’ in the passage?
A)
Intelligent
B)
Clumsy
C)
Indifferent
D)
Oblivious
Option A is correct: Intelligent.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Complete the sentence with the most suitable preposition: _______ reference to your email, we would like to clarify our position.
A)
With
B)
For
C)
By
D)
Over
Option A is correct: With.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
What is the closest synonym of ‘phenomenon’ in this passage?
A)
Enigma
B)
Event
C)
Object
D)
Myth
Option B is correct: Event.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Complete the sentence: This article _______ twice weekly in Vanglaini newspaper.
A)
appears
B)
is appearing
C)
has appeared
D)
was appearing
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. **Analyze the Sentence Structure**: The sentence describes a recurring event ('twice weekly') involving a publication in the 'Vanglaini' newspaper (the leading daily newspaper in Mizoram).
2. **Identify the Tense Requirement**: When a sentence describes a habit, a regular schedule, a general truth, or a repeated action, the **Simple Present Tense** must be used.
3. **Subject-Verb Agreement**: The subject 'This article' is third-person singular. Therefore, the verb must take the suffix '-s' or '-es'. 'Appear' becomes 'appears'.
4. **Evaluating Options**:
- **(a) appears**: Correct. Simple Present Tense for a scheduled/repeated action.
- **(b) is appearing**: Incorrect. Present Continuous is used for actions happening right now, not for regular schedules.
- **(c) has appeared**: Incorrect. Present Perfect describes a completed action with present relevance, not a recurring schedule.
- **(d) was appearing**: Incorrect. Past Continuous describes an action that was ongoing in the past, which contradicts the habitual nature of 'twice weekly'.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Select the option that gives the correct order of the jumbled sentences:
A) The older men sat on their haunches at the threshold
B) Talking about their battles with the Pawi tribe
C) Those people who do not wear their hair knotted at the back of the head
D) Their handwoven puan pulled around their knees
A)
ABCD
B)
ADBC
C)
DABC
D)
CDBA
To solve this sentence reordering question, we must look for logical flow, grammatical coherence, and descriptive continuity.
1. **Identifying the Subject (The Anchor):** Sentence (A) 'The older men sat on their haunches at the threshold' introduces the primary subject (the older men) and the setting. This is the most logical starting point.
2. **Adding Descriptive Detail:** Sentence (D) 'Their handwoven puan pulled around their knees' describes the physical appearance/clothing of the men mentioned in (A). Since 'puan' is a traditional Mizo attire, it logically follows the description of the men sitting. (A) $\rightarrow$ (D).
3. **Further Characterization:** Sentence (B) 'Talking about their battles with the Pawi tribe' describes the action the men are performing while sitting. This adds a layer of activity to the scene. (D) $\rightarrow$ (B).
4. **Defining the Group:** Sentence (C) 'Those people who do not wear their hair knotted at the back of the head' acts as a qualifying description or a concluding observation about the specific group of men being discussed.
When arranged as ADBC, the passage flows logically: Subject $\rightarrow$ Clothing $\rightarrow$ Action $\rightarrow$ Specific Characteristic.
- Option (a) ABCD is incorrect because (B) interrupts the physical description of the men.
- Option (c) DABC is incorrect because it starts with a possessive pronoun ('Their') without introducing the subject first.
- Option (d) CDBA is incorrect because it lacks a coherent narrative structure.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Complete the sentence with the most suitable preposition: The scientist specializes _______ molecular biology.
A)
into
B)
at
C)
in
D)
on
Option C is correct: in.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Complete the sentence: Had she known about the meeting earlier, she _______ a different schedule.
A)
will plan
B)
has planned
C)
would have planned
D)
would have made
Option D is correct: would have made.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Complete the sentence: She spoke so softly that we could _______ hear her.
A)
never
B)
barely
C)
completely
D)
frequently
Option B is correct: barely.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Select the option that gives the correct order of the jumbled sentences:
A) As a rule, there is more genuine satisfaction in life
B) In the humble cottage of the poor man
C) Than in the palaces of the rich
D) And more obtained from life
A)
ABCD
B)
ADBC
C)
BADC
D)
BCAD
Option B is correct: ADBC.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
What is the primary factor contributing to climate change, as mentioned in the passage?
A)
The natural shifts in Earth’s climate cycles
B)
Excessive emission of greenhouse gases due to human activities
C)
The depletion of the ozone layer
D)
Increased voicanic activity
Option B is correct: Excessive emission of greenhouse gases due to human activities.
Steno Gr-III • 2025 • General English
Identify the segment which contains grammatical error: Three years she grows in sun and shower. Some of these wars have grown out of commercial considerations.
A)
Three years she grows
B)
in sun and shower
C)
Some of these wars
D)
have grown out of c
Option B is correct: in sun and shower.
