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Basic Learning Material
English Foundation
BMM10301
www.vistamind.in
Basic Learning Material
English Foundation
BMM10301
www.vistamind.in
Second Edition 2013
Copyright:
All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form or by any
means without the prior written permission of the publishers.
Published by VistaMind Education Pvt. Ltd.,
2nd Floor, G. K. Shivaswami Copmlex,
No. 861, 80 Feet Peripheral Road,
8th Block, Koramangala, Bangalore,
Karnataka, India - 560095
Contact No.: 080-41239125
Email Address: [email protected]
Web: www.vistamind.in
Content
Noun
1
Adjective
3
Adverb
6
Article
8
Tense
11
Verb
19
Preposition
22
Conjunction
25
Pronoun
28
Question Tag
33
Idioms and Phrases
36
Reading Comprehension
39
Vocabulary
50
Noun
Noun is a word used to name a person, place, animal, thing and abstract idea.
There are five kinds of noun in English:
(1) Proper noun
(2) Common noun
(3) Collective noun
(4) Material noun
(5) Abstract noun.
1.
Proper Noun: Proper noun refers to the name of a person, place or thing.
For example: Ram, Alwar, Tom, France, Madrid, Mrs. Smith, etc.
2.
Common Noun: A Common noun is a noun referring to a person, place or thing in a general way.
For example: King, boy, girl, city, dog, man, table, etc., are all common nouns.
3.
Collective noun: A collective noun is the name of a group of persons or things taken together and spoken of as a whole, as
a unit.
For example: team, committee, army, crowd, flock, group, swarm, etc.
4.
Material Noun: A material noun is the name of metal or substance, of which things are made.
For Example: Silver, iron, wood, etc.
5.
Abstract Noun: An Abstract noun is a noun which names anything which you cannot perceive through your five physical
senses.
For example: Honesty, bravery, beauty (quality), joy, hatred, laughter, etc.
Practice Exercise - 1
Correct the following sentences:
1.
Shelley’s poetries are great.
2.
I saw beautiful sceneries in Kashmir last year.
3.
He has purchased new machineries.
4.
He said, “ He has purchased very costly crockeries”.
5.
There were very heavy traffics on the road.
6.
She has bought very beautiful furnitures.
7.
He gave me many informations.
8.
I am going to purchase some stationeries.
9.
Ram said, “ The hair of Sita are black”.
10. This house is made of bricks and stones.
Vis taMind | Englis h Foundation | BMM10 301 | 1 of 59
11. Cities after cities were destroyed by the army.
12. Hours after hours were passed, but she didn’t turn up.
13. Ram said, “ I beg from doors to doors daily”.
14. Ships after ships were sailing by those days.
15. Rows upon rows of pink marble are soothing to the eyes.
16. I gave her three apples and a half.
17. The meeting was held for three hours and a quarter.
18. The length of this hall is three times and a half to that hall.
19. His salary is two times and a half to that of mine.
20. I have two rupee and a half only.
Answer & Explanation Practise Exercise - 1
1.
Shelley ’s poetry is great.
11 .
Citiy after city was destroy ed by the army.
2.
I saw beautiful scenery in Kashmir last y ear.
12 .
Hour after hour was passed, but she didn’t turn up.
3.
He has purchased new machinery.
13 .
Ram said, “I beg from door to door daily ”.
4.
He said, “He has purchased very costly crockery ”.
14 .
Ship after ship was sailing by those day s.
5.
There was very heavy traffic on the road.
15 .
Row upon row of pink marble is soothing to the ey es.
6.
She has bought very beautiful furniture.
16 .
I gave her three and a half apples.
7.
He gave me a lot of information.
17 .
The meeting was held for three and a quarter hours.
8.
I am going to purchase some stationery.
18 .
The length of this hall is three and a half times more than that of
th at hall.
9.
Ram said, “The hair of Sita is black”.
19.
His salary is two and a half times to that of mine.
10 .
This house is made of brick and stone.
20 .
I have two and a half rupees only.

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Adjective
An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying or quantifying words.
An adjective usually precedes the noun or the pronoun which it modifies.
Kind of Adjectives
1.
Proper Adjective: Adjectives that are from proper nouns are called proper adjectives.
(A) This Indian town has an interesting history.
(B) He is an American.
2.
Attributive Adjective: Adjectives which precede the noun they modify are known as attributive adjectives.
(A) Heavy rain is expected.
(B) We saw a white tiger in the zoo.
In above examples, ‘heavy’ is an attributive adjective modifying the noun ‘rain’; and ‘white’ is an attributive adjective
modifying the noun ‘tiger’.
3.
Possessive Adjective: Possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her, its, our, their, etc) are identical to possessive pronouns. A
Possessive adjective modifies a noun or a noun phrase.
(A) This is my book.
(B) That is your almirah.
(C) What is your phone number?
4.
Demonstrative Adjective: Demonstrative adjectives (this, these, that, those, what, such, etc) are identical to the demonstrative pronouns. These are used to modify nouns or noun phrase.
(A) This girl is more intelligent than Sarla.
(B) These apples are unripe.
5.
Interrogative Adjectives: Interrogative adjectives (which, what, whose, etc) are like interrogative pronouns.
(A) What book are you reading?
(B) Whose pen is this?
6.
Indefinite Adjectives: An indefinite adjective is similar to an indefinite pronoun. An indefinite adjective modifies a noun, a
pronoun or a noun phrase. Examples of such adjectives are: All, any, many, several, few, etc..
(A) There are many people who support him.
(B) He has a few books of english grammar.
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Practice Exercise - 1
Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:
1.
.................... people have car.
a few/a little
2.
Give me .................... time to decided the matter.
a few/ a little
3.
He drank .................... the water.
4.
Delhi is .................... fromAlwar than Jaipur.
5.
He is senior .................... me
6.
There are .................... chidren outside the room.
some/any
7.
Have you .................... question?
some/any
8.
Please give me .................... water.
some/any
9.
Has he bought .................... dress?
some/any
10. He can’t find .................... banana tree?
some/any
11. She has .................... flowers ofrose.
some/any
12. I could not get .................... note book there.
some/any
13. Nisha did not eat .................... mango.
some/any
14. Will you please lend me .................... money?
some/any
15. She must give me .................... time to finish this work.
some/any
16. Is there .................... money in your pocket?
some/any
17. .................... dreams are very romantic.
some/any
18. Sorry, I am stranger here, I have .................... knowledge about this place.
few/l ittle
19. She has .................... clothes.
some/any
20. He has not .................... car.
some/any
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all/whole
further/farther
than/to
Answer & Explanation Practice Exercise - 1
1.
a few
11. some
2.
a little
12. any
3.
all
13. any
4.
fart her
14. some
5.
to
15. some
6.
some
16. any
7.
any
17. some
8.
some
18. little
9.
any
19. some
10. any
20. any

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Adverb
An adverb is that word in a sentence, which modifies the meaning of a verb or an adjective or another adverb or phrase or clause.
RELATIVE ADVERBS
Relative adverb not only modifies verbs but also refers back to the antecedent.
E.g., What, when, where, why, How, Whatever, Whether, Wherever, etc.
INTERROGATIVE ADVERBS
When adverbs introduce a question, they are called interrogative adverbs.
E.g., When, Why, How, etc.
PRACTICE EXERCIS E - 1
Correct the sentences:
1.
Hari speaks clear.
2.
Sita writes neat.
3.
Sarla hit the thief hardly on the head.
4.
He is perfectly quite right.
5.
The speaker spoke enough loud to be heard easily.
6.
Ram is much old.
7.
The story is much old.
8.
Ram comes here seldom.
9.
I am very satisfied with her conduct.
10. The train will arrive just now.
11. The film was mostly over when you entered.
12. He fared bad in the second innings.
13. Repeat again what you have said.
14. Breathe deeply when you walk.
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Answer & Explanation Practice Exercise - 1
Solutio ns:
8.
Ram seldom comes here.
1.
Hari speaks clearly.
9.
I am much satisfied with her conduct.
2.
Sita writes neatly.
10.
The train will arrive shortly.
3.
Sarla hit the thief hard on the head.
11.
The film was almost over when y ou entered.
4.
He isperfectly right.
12.
He fared badly in the second innings.
5.
The speaker spoke loud en ough to be heard easily.
13.
Repeat what you have said.
6.
Ram is very old.
14.
Breathe deep when y ou walk.
7.
The story is very interesting.

Vis taMind | Englis h Foundation | BMM10 301 | 7 of 59
Article
Articles are members of determiner family. Articles are used before nouns.
‘A (or An) and The’
There are two Articles - ‘A’ (or An) and ‘The’. A (or An) is called - Indefinite Article.
‘The’ is called the Definete Article, because it refers some particular person or thing.
Article ‘A’ or ‘An’ is used before a singular noun. The choice between ‘A’ or ‘An’ is determined by first sound of
pronunciation (not by the letter of alphabet even; it may beA, E, I, O, U of the noun.) If the first sound is vowel, An, is used:
Ex.
(A) He is an honest man.
(B) He is an M.L.A.
The definite article ‘The’ is used in following cases:
A. The book you referred is out of print.
B. I dislike the fellow who came here yesterday.
Practice Exercise - 1
Fill in the blanks with articles, where necessary.
1.
He went to .................... college to meet .................... class teacher.
2.
I will take .................... tram from .................... church.
3.
He came and sat on .................... bed.
4.
He has already gone to .................... bed.
5.
Ram was appointed .................... clerk.
6.
Suresh was declared .................... captain of our team.
7.
Ramesh invited Sarla for .................... dinner yesterday.
8.
He organised .................... nice lunch in honour of .................... President.
9.
.................... dinner hosted by Ram was superb.
10. .................... measles is .................... contagious disease.
11. he died of .................... cholera.
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12. She has been suffering from .................... fever for three days.
13. He can speak .................... Hindi, but I can’t speak .................... English.
14. I like .................... blue colour.
15. When I went .................... home, Raja was watching .................... TV.
16. I heard .................... news on .................... radio.
17. He is .................... rich man, he always goes by .................... car.
18. Three percent posts are reserved for .................... disabled and two percent for .................... ex-servicemen.
19. He went first to .................... Mexico and then to .................... USA.
20. Ram took .................... action with .................... swiftness of .................... tiger.
Practice Exercise - 2
Insert suitable articles, where necessary.
1.
Will you like to have .................... cup oftea?
2.
.................... room is airy.
3.
.................... dog is a faithful animal.
4.
Will you go to .................... hospital to see your friend?
5.
There are sixty seconds in .................... minute.
6.
Take .................... umbrella with you.
7.
I have made .................... mistake.
8.
I saw .................... old man yesterday.
9.
This poem is written by .................... foreign writer.
10. I found .................... book last night. .................... book is very useful.
11. He is .................... able man.
12. He has applied for .................... post of an officer.
13. .................... camel is .................... ship of .................... desert.
14. .................... earth revolves round .................... sun.
15. Kalidas is .................... Shakespeare of .................... India.
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Answer & Explanation Practice Exercise - 1
Solutio ns:
11 .
x
1.
the, the
12.
x
2.
a, the
13.
x, x
3.
the
14.
x
4.
x
15.
x, x
5.
x
16.
the, the
6.
x
17.
a, x
7.
x
18.
the, the
8.
a, the
19.
x, the
9.
the
20 .
the , a
10 .
a

Answer & Explanation Practice Exercise - 2
Solutio ns:
8.
an
1.
a
9.
a
2.
the
10 .
a, the
3.
th e
11 .
an
4.
th e
12 .
th e
5.
a
13 .
the , th e, the
6.
an
14 .
th e, the
7.
a
15 .
the , x

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Tense
TENSE
In English, there are three basic tenses: Present, Past, and Future. Each has a perfect form indicating completed action;
each has a progressive form, indicating ongoing action; and each has a perfect progressive form, indicating ongoing
action that will be completed at some definite time.
Read the following sentences:
I. I write a letter.
II. I wrote a letter.
III. I shall write a letter
All underlined words in above sentences are the verbs.
FORMS OF VERBS
Verb is also classified as Regular and Irregular Verbs:
Regular Verbs: Those verbs which form their past tense and past participle by adding ‘ed’ are called regular verbs.
Irregular Verbs: Those verbs which from their past tense and past participle in a different way are called irregular verbs.
We are giving below three lists of Irregular Verbs:
List I: Verbs which have all the three forms same.
List II: Verbs which have two forms same.
List III: Verbs which have all the three forms different.
List (I), All three forms are the same (Irregular verbs):
Base form
Past Tense
Past Participle
Bet
bet
bet
Burst
burst
burst
Cast
cast
cast
Cost
cost
cost
Cut
cut
cut
Hit
hit
hit
Hurt
hurt
hurt
Let
let
let
Put
put
put
Read
read
read
Rid
rid
rid
Set
set
set
Shut
shut
shut
Split
split
split
Spread
spread
spread
List (II), Two of the forms
Base Form
Abi de
Beat
Become
Bend
Bleed
Breed
are the same (Irregular verbs):
Past Tense
Past Participle
abode
abode
beat
beat en
became
become
bent
bent
bled
bled
bred
bred
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Bring
Build
Burn
Buy
Catch
Come
Creep
Deal
Dream
Feed
Feel
Fight
Find
Fling
Get
Hang
Have
Hear
Hold
Keep
Lay
Lead
lean
Learn
Leap
Leave
Lend
Light
Lose
Make
Mean
Meet
Pay
Run
Say
Sell
Send
Shine
Shoot
Sit
Sleep
smell
Spell
Spend
Spit
Spoil
Stand
Stick
Strike
Sting
Sweep
Swing
brought
built
burnt/ burned
bought
caught
came
crept
dug
dreamt/dreamed
fed
felt
fought
found
flung
got
hung
had
heard
held
kept
laid
led
leant/leaned
learnt/learned
leapt/ leaped
left
lent
lit
lost
made
meant
met
paid
ran
said
sold
sent
shone
shot
sat
slept
smelt/smelled
spelt
spent
spat
spoilt/spoiled
stood
stuck
struck
stung
swept
swung
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brought
built
burnt/burned
bought
caught
come
crept
dug
dreamt/dreamed
fed
felt
fought
found
flung
got
hung
had
heard
held
kept
laid
led
leant/leaned
learnt/learned
leapt/ leaped
left
lent
lit
lost
made
meant
met
paid
run
said
sold
sent
shone
shot
sat
slept
smelt/smelled
spelt
spent
spat
spoilt/spoiled
stood
stuck
struck
stung
swept
swung
Teach
Tell
Think
Understand
Win
Wind
taught
told
thought
understood
won
wound
taught
told
thought
understood
won
wound
List (III), All three forms are different (Irregular verbs):
Base Form
Past Tense
Past Participle
Ari se
arose
ari sen
Be
was/ were
been
Bear
bore
borne
Begin
began
begun
Bite
bit
bitten
Blow
blew
blown
Break
broke
broken
Choose
chose
chosen
Do
did
done
Deaw
drew
drawn
Drink
drank
drunk
Dri ve
drove
driven
Eat
at e
eat en
Fall
fell
fall en
Fly
fl ew
flown
Forbid
forbade
forbidden
Forget
forgot
forgotten
Forgive
forgave
forgiven
Freeze
froze
frozen
Given
gave
given
Go
went
gone
Grow
grew
grown
Hide
hid
hidden
Know
knew
known
Lie
lay
lain
Mistake
mistook
mistaken
Ride
rode
ridden
Ring
rang
rung
Rise
rose
risen
See
saw
seen
Shake
shook
shaken
Sew
sewed
sewn/ sewed
Show
showed
shown
Shrink
shrank
shrunk
Sing
sang
sung
Sink
sank
sunk
Speak
spoke
spoken
Spring
sprang
sprung
Steal
stole
stolen
Swear
swore
sworn
Swim
swam
swum
Take
took
taken
Tear
tore
torn
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Throw
Wake
Wear
Write
Weave
threw
woke
wore
wrote
wove
thrown
woken
worn
written
woven
Practice Exercise - 1
Correct the following sentences:
1.
Sarita go to office at 10 A.M. daily
2.
She has been cooking meal from 7 A.M.
3.
Nisha is playing tabla for two hours.
4.
Rani have just come from college.
5.
They have been residing here since four years.
6.
They goes to field at 5 A.M.
7.
Ram do his work in time.
8.
He drink coffee in the morning.
9.
Mr. Sharma teachs us English grammar.
10. Sakshi catchs the train at 8 O’clock.
11. He flys kite on Sunday.
12. We takes bath together in the river.
13. We have been playing for 12 O’clock.
14. Raheja has been singing since one hour.
15. He pass all the tests without fail.
Practice Exercise - 2
Fill in the blanks with correct form of the verbs (present & past) given in blackets in the space given.
1.
It is already four p.m. They ........... (not arrive) yet.
2.
Rashmi is not in the hostel. She ...........(go) out.
3.
Sita ........... (hurt) her leg. She can’t walk fast.
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4.
Suresh has no more books to sell. He ...........(sell) all the books.
5.
They ...........(play) the second match in the morning.
6.
Shilpa ........... (reach) home last evening.
7.
They ...........(complete) their project just now.
8.
Ramesh ...........(finish) his work before Rakhi came.
9.
The girl ........... (fall) from the roof while ........... (fly) a kite.
10. It ........... (rain) heavily since Monday.
11. Raksha ........... (fall) down while she ........... (walk) in the gallery.
12. Ranu ........... (slip) while she ........... (climb) up the roof.
13. The light ........... (go) out while we ........... (have) drinks in the hotel.
14. Swami ........... (ring) the bell at 4 p.m. daily.
15. We ........... (live) in this country since India attained freedom.
16. We ........... (wait) for the train for last three hours.
17. Ankita ........... (read) the ‘Ramayana’ daily in the morning.
18. A dog ........... (bite) him, while she ...........(pass) through the forest last week.
19. Smrita ........... (write) an story when Rahul ........... (enter) the room.
20. They ........... (climb) up the ladder when they ........... (hear) the noise.
21. When Seema arrived, they ........... (take) their lunch.
22. They ........... (play) football for half an hour when it started to rain.
23. We ........... (try) hard for ten weeks when we succeeded in solving the puzzle.
24. He ........... (put) in hard work to secure the first rank for three years, before he finally achieved success.
25. She ........... (suffer) from fever for more than five days, when she received the appointment.
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Practice Exercise - 3
Fill in the blanks with the future continuous/perfect/perfect continuous form of the verbs, given in the brackets:
1.
.......... she .......... (go) home after Holi?
2.
The students .......... (works) on their project next year.
3.
The gardener .......... (water) the plants at 7 p.m. in the evening tomorrow.
4.
Ramesh .......... (repair) his bicycle all the day tomorrow.
5.
Her brother .......... (study) in this college next year positively.
6.
You .......... (complete) your work by the end of this month.
7.
By the end of next year I .......... (finish) my project positively.
8.
The farmers .......... (plough) all their fields before the monsoon reaches.
9.
We .......... (manufacture) remote controlled planes by the end of the next year.
10. By next month, you .......... (visit) all the famous places of Udaipur.
11. Rahul .......... (practise) it for two years by January next.
12. Sangita .......... (teach) English for two years by March, 2006.
13. Mr. Prasanna .......... (work) in this hospital for three years by Dec. 2006.
14. We .......... (serve) in this firm for three years by Jan. 2007.
15. I .......... (live) here for twenty years by Nov. 2003.
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Answer & Explanation
Practice Exercise - 1
1.
Chan ge ‘go’ to ‘g oes;
9.
Chan ge ‘tea chs’ to ‘teac hes’
2.
Change ‘from’ to ‘since’
10.
Change ‘catchs’ to ‘catches’
3.
Change ‘is’ to ‘has been’
11.
Change ‘fly s’ to ‘flies’
4.
Cha nge ‘have’ to ‘h as’
12.
Chage ‘takes’ to ‘take’
5.
Cha nge ‘s ince’ to ‘f or’
13.
Change ‘for’ to ‘since’
6.
Change ‘goes’ to ‘go’
14.
Change ‘since’ to ‘for’
7.
Change ‘do’ to ‘ does’
15.
Change ‘pass’ to ‘passes
8.
Ch ange ‘d rink’ to ‘d rinks’

Practice Exercise - 2
1.
Have not arrived
13 .
Went, wer e having
2.
Has gone
14.
Rin gs
3.
Has hurt
15.
Have been living
4.
Has sold
16.
Have been waiting
5.
Have played
17.
Reads
6.
Reached
18.
Bit, was passing
7.
Have completed
19.
Was writing, entered
8.
Had finished
20 .
Were climbing, heard
9.
Fell, fly ing
21.
Had been taking
10.
Has been raining
22.
Had been play ing
11.
Fell, was walking
23.
Had been try ing
12.
Slipped, was climbing
24 .
Had put
25.
Had been suffering.

Vis taMind | Englis h Foundatio n | B MM103 01 | 17 of 59
Practice Exercise - 3
1.
will, be going
8.
will have ploughed
2.
will be working
9.
will have manufactured
3.
will be watering
10 .
shall hav e visited
4.
will be repairing
11 .
will have been practising
5.
will be study ing
12 .
will have been teaching
6.
will have completed
13 .
will have been working
7.
will have finished
14 .
shall have been serving
15 .
shall have been living

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Verb


If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular.
If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
The subject of a sentence must agree with the verb of the sentence. They must agree in two ways:
(A) In Number: Singular vs. Plural
(B) In Person: First, Second, or Third Person
INVERSION
In normal english sentences, subject comes before the verb with following construction:
Subject + Verb +..........
In some situations, like in questions, the order is reversed with following construction:
Verb + Subject + ..........
Such types of constructions, wherein the verb comes before the subject, are known as inversion.
Inversion of the Verb: ‘Certain adverbs and adverb phrases, ,most with a restrictive or negative sense, can, for emphasis
be placed first in a sentence or clause and are then followed by the inverted (i.e. interrogative) form of the verb.’
(Thomson and Martinet).
1.
2.
Inversion can be of two types.
When ‘Auxiliary’ comes before the subject but main verb comes after the subject:
(A) Never does he go to temple.
(B) Hardly does he come here.
When main verb comes before the subject:
(A) Round the corner went Jacob. (Main Verb + Subject)
(B) Under a tree was sitting an old lady. (Auxiliary + Main Verb + Subject)
Practice Exercise - 1
Spotting the error (Inversion):
1.
“ Under no circumstances
A
2.
“ I don’t like
A
3.
Every member of his family is
A
4.
Never before
A
I can help you in
B
such a bright
B
I had been asked
B
this venture”,
C
said Sita.
D
colour, nor she does”,
C
addicted to
B
gambling
C
to go there
C
he said to Ram.
D
and so John is.
D
by bus.
D
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5.
On no account
A
this switch must
B
6.
“ Seldom I had
A
seen such a
B
7.
Under a tree
A
was sleeping an
B
old lady
C
8.
To such a
A
degree he created
B
the problems that
C
people thrashed him.
D
9.
Not only
A
she watched the news
B
but she also
C
cooked food.
D
10. No sooner the plane landed at the
A
be touched.
C
beautiful girl”,
C
airport than
B
said Mohanti.
D
with her young child.
D
a group of armed
C
Practice Exercise - 2
Fill in the blanks with suitable forms of verbs given in brackets:
1.
He (live) in Kolkata for five years.
2.
At the moment he (play) in the park.
3.
I (wish) I knew the girl’s name.
4.
She (take) a bath when the telephone rang.
5.
I (tell) already you that you should work hard.
6.
Ram always (remember) that honesty is the best policy.
7.
Ramesh (leave) his house before I called on him.
8.
They always (believe) that love is stronger than hatred.
9.
She told me that her mother (go) to the doctor half an hour before.
10. I (wash) my hands when he came.
11. I (tell) already you what to do under these circmstances.
12. It is high time you (start) working with full zeal.
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commandos surrounded it.
D
Answer & Explanation Practice Exercise - 1
1.
(B)
6.
(A)
2.
(C)
7.
(E) Correct sentence
3.
(D)
8.
(B)
4.
(B)
9.
(B)
5.
(B)
10.
(A)

Practice Exercise - 2
1.
He has been living in Kolkata for five y ears.
7.
Ramesh had left his house before I called on him.
2.
At the moment he is play ing in the park.
8.
They alway s believe that lo ve is stronger than hatre.
3.
I wish I knew the girl’s name.
9.
She told me that her mother had gone to the doctor half anhour before.
4.
She was taking a bath when the telephone rang.
10 .
I was washing my hands when he came
5.
I have already told y ou that y ou should work hard.
11 .
12 .
I have already told y ou what to do under these circumstances.
It is high time y ou starte d working with full zeal.
6.
Ram always remembers that honesty is the best policy.

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Preposition
Preposition is a word placed before a noun or pronoun or gerund, and it denotes the relation, the person or thing referred
to by it, has with something else.
A word such as a noun, pronoun or gerund following a preposition is said to be the object of the preposition.
A preposition is followd by a ‘noun’. It is never followed by a verb.
Practice Exercise - 1
Fill in the blank with appropriate prepositions:
1.
Ram killed the snake ............... a stick.
2.
He lives ............... Alwar.
3.
Rice is selling ............... five rupees a kilo.
4.
His car ran ............... a dog.
5.
He assured to stand ............... me in all circumstances.
6.
I will stand ............... for my rights.
7.
He put ............... a coat of red colour.
8.
He is proud ............... his riches.
9.
He lives ............... Mumbai.
10. In general, acids act ............... metals.
11. Ram was beaten ............... by Mohan for no reason.
12. He sat ............... the ground.
13. He fell the tree ............... an axe.
14. An epidemic broke ............... in the town last year.
15. I called ............... to her from a distant place.
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Practice Exercise - 2
Correct the sentence:
1.
You cannot prevent me to go to the market.
2.
She refrains to do this work.
3.
I insisted him to attend the class.
4.
He has a passion to learn English grammar.
5.
She is negligent to attend the meetings.
6.
She persisted to write again.
7.
He is bent to fight again.
8.
I am confident to win the match.
9.
He succeeded to pass the examination this time.
10. I am proud to have a friend like Ram.
11. I cannot hinder her to enter the temple.
12. She is desirous to leave the place.
13. Ram was disqualified to compete in this tournament.
14. I cannot think to oppose him.
15. He was prohibited entering the temple.
16. You should abstain to drink now.
17. He intends going to Jaipur.
18. It is very difficult to dissuade him to go there.
19. He is fortunate to get a ticket.
20. I am hopeful to achieve success.
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Answer & Explanation Practice Exercise - 1
1.
with
9.
in
2.
at
10.
on
3.
at
11.
up
4.
over
12.
on
5.
by
13.
with
6.
up
14.
out
7.
on
15.
out
8.
of

Practice Exercise - 2
1.
You cannot prevant me from going to the market.
2.
She refrains from doing this work.
3.
I insisted him on attending the class.
4.
He has a passion for learning English grammar.
5.
She is negligent in attending the meeting.
6.
She persisted in writing.
7.
He is bent on fighting again.
8.
I am confident of winning the match.
9.
He succeeded in passing the examination this time.
10 .
I am proud of having a friend like Ram.
11 .
I cannot hin der her from entering the temple.
12.
She is desirous of leaving the place.
13.
Ram was disqualified from competing in this tournament.
14.
I cannot think of opposing him.
15.
He was prohibited from entering the temple.
16.
You should abstain from drinking now.
17 .
He intends to go to Jaipur.
18.
It is very difficult to dissuade him from going there.
19.
He is fortunate in getting a ticket.
20.
I am hopeful of achieving success.

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Conjunction
Aconjunction is a word that joins words, phrases, clauses or sentences.
A conjunction is called a joiner, connector or sentence linker.
Kinds of Conjunction
There are three types of conjunction:
(A) Coordinating Conjunction,
(B) Subordinating Conjunction,
(C) Correlative Conjunction.
(A) Coordinating Conjunctions: Coordinating conjunctions may join single words, or they may join groups of words, but
they always join elements of same kind: either subject and subject,or verb phrase and verb phrase, or sentence and
sentence.
(B) Subordinating Conjunctions: Subordinating conjunctions, the largest class of conjunctions, connect subordinate
clauses to a main clause. After, although, as as if, as long as, as though, because, bofore, even if, even though, if, if
only, in order that, now that, once, rather than, since, so that, than, that, though, till, unless, until, when, whenever,
where, whereas, wherever, while.
(C) Correlative Conjunctions: Correlative conjunctions also connect sentence elements of the same kind: however,
unlike coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions are always used in pairs. Such Conjunctions are: Either
.......... or, Neither ........... nor, Both ............. and, Whether ......... or, Not only, .......... but also.
Practice Exercise - 1
Join the following pairs of sentences using the connectors given in brackets:
1.
My father is ill.My wife is ill. (both .......... and)
2.
The teacher was not in the class. The monitor was not in the class. (neither ........... nor)
3.
He is poor. He is honest. (though ..........yet)
4.
The book may be in the bag. It may be in the cupboard. (either .......... or)
5.
There was a violent strom. Many trees were uprooted. (such .......... that)
6.
The doctor reached. The patient died. (hardly .......... when)
7.
He is strong. He is brave. (not only .......... but also)
8.
Do not be a borrower. Do not be a lender. (neither .......... nor)
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9.
It was very dark. We could see nothing. (so .......... that)
10. The thief saw the policemen. He ran away at once. (no sooner ..........than)
Practice Exercise - 2
Fill in the blanks with suitable connectors chosen from the ones given in brackets:
1.
We want others to respect our feelings ............, we should respect the feeelings of others. ( nevertheless, similarly, on the
other hand)
2.
We lost the key. We had ............ to break open the lock. (still, for, therefore)
3.
His parents were transferred to Agra ............ he was five years old. (when, since, while)
4.
A mechanic was sent for ............ our car broke down. (since, as soon as, because)
5.
The rent being very high he will not take that house ............ it is very far away from his office. (because, moreover,still)
6.
The police asked the suspect question after question, ............ he did not open his mouth. (yet, still, howrver)
7.
I have been to the hanging garden four times,............ I won’t mind going there again. (but, nevertheless, however)
8.
............ much I tried, I could not help him. (though, however, as)
9.
My uncle left for Mexico ............ I was six years old. (when, since, while)
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Answer & Explanation Practice Exercise - 1
1.
Both my father and my wife are ill.
2.
Neither the teacher nor the monitor was in the class.
3.
Though he is poor, y et he is honest.
4.
The bookmay be either in the bag or in the cupboard.
5.
There was sucha violent strom that many trees were uprooted.
6.
The doctor had hardly reached when the patient died. or
Hardly had the doctor reached when the patient died
7.
He is not only strong but also brave.
8.
Neither be a borrower nor be a lender.
9.
It was so dark that we could see nothing.
10.
No sooner did the policeman see the thief than he ran away.

Practice Exercise - 2
1.
similarly
6.
still
2.
therefore
7.
bu t
3.
when
8.
however
4.
because
9.
when
5.
moreover

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Pronoun
Pronouns are words which are used in the place of nouns.
Kinds of Pronoun
Pronouns are classified as per following:
1. Personal Pronoun
3. Emphatic Pronoun
5. Demonstrative Pronoun
7. Interrogative Pronoun
9. Distributive Pronoun
2. Reflexive Pronoun
4. Reciprocal Pronoun
6. Indefinite Pronoun
8. Relative Pronoun
10. Exclamatory Pronoun
Personal Pronouns: Personal pronouns refer persons or things. Personal Pronouns change form,according to their
different uses in a sentence.
Personal pronouns in the subjective and objective cases:
Subjective Case
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
Objective Case
me
you
him
her
it
us
them
S inglularAnd Plural Pronouns
Person
First Person
Second Person
Third Person
Singlular
I
you
he, she, it
Plural
we
you
they
Possessive forms of personal pronouns
The forms of personal pronouns which indicate possession are called possessive forms of personal pronouns.
The subjective, objective and possessive forms of the personal pronouns are shown in the following table:
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Subjective
Objective
Possessive form
case
Possessive form case
I
Me
My
Mine
You
You
Your
Yours
He
Him
H is
His
She
Her
Her
Hers
It
It
Its
Its
We
Us
O ur
Ours
They
Them
T heir
Theirs
Reflexive Pronouns:
The reflexive pronouns, ending in -self, are used when the action denoted by the verb is directed toward the thing referred
to by the subject.
Examples.
(A) She washed herself thoroughly before putting on new dress.
(B) Did you hurt yourself?
(C) You ruined yourself.
Emphatic Pronouns
The Emphatic pronouns (such as myself, yourself, herself, ourselves, themselves) consist of a personal pronoun plus self
or selves. The Emphatic pronoun is used to emphasize a noun. It is possible (but rather unusual) for an emphatic ponoun
to precede the noun it refers to; e.g., - Myself, I don’t believe a word she says.) Usually Emphatic pronoun is
placed after the noun it refers:
(A) I myself solved this question.
(B) She herself found the solution
(C) He himself came to see the patient
(D) You yourself admitted your fault.
Reciprocal Pronouns
A pronoun that express a mutual action or relationship between the individuals indicated in the plural subject.
Examples : They cared for each other. We all try and help one another.
Demonstrative Pronouns
The family of demonstratives (this/that/these/those/such) functions either as pronouns or as determiners.
The words ‘this, that, these and those’ are Demonstrative pronouns. These are used to denote specific persons or
things. In the following examples, the words ‘this’ ‘that’ ‘these’ and those’ are used as demonstrative pronouns:
(A) This is an umbrella.
(B) That is a good idea.
(C) These are my friends.
(D) Those are our shops.
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Indefinite Pronouns
A pronoun that refers to a person or a things in a general way (not in a definite way) is called Indefinite Pronoun. The
indefinite pronouns (everybody/ anybody/somebody/all/each/every/some/none/ one) do not act for specific nouns but
function themselves as nouns.
Indefinite pronouns may be used without antecedents. Look at the following sentences:
(A) One cannot get every thing one desires.
(B) I will try to think of somebody who can help you.
(C) Nobody will believe it !
Interrogative Pronouns
The Interrogative pronouns are used for making queries or asking questions. The pronouns ‘who, what and which’ are
used as interrogative pronouns.
(A) Who telephoned?
(B) What did you say?
(C) Which is your pen?
Relative Pronouns
A relative pronoun is a word such as ’who’, whom’ that’, or ‘which’ that is used to introduce a relative clause. These
words are called relative pronouns. The compounds’ whoever, ‘ whomever,’ and ‘whichever’ are also relative pronouns.
Look at the following sentences:
(A) The woman who is wearing red saree is a doctor.
(B) The door, which is dark blue, is very tight.
(C) Have you found the magazine that was missing?
Distributive Pronouns
Each, either and neither are classified as distributive pronouns. They denote person or thing one at a time. These
pronouns are always treated as singlular and take singular verbs.
Look at the following sentences:
(A) Each of the students gets a prize
(B) Each got his turn.
(C) Either of the two will win the race.
Exclamatory Pronoun
A pronoun used as an exclamation is called an exclamatory pronoun:
(A) What ! You don’t know Sonia Gandhi?
(B) What ! You lost the chain ?
In above sentences ‘What’ is functioning as an exclamatory pronoun.
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Practice Exercise - 1
Correct the following sentences:
1.
It was me who telephoned you yesterday.
2.
The girl who you spoke to in the office is my friend.
3.
My brother and myself are glad to get your greetings.
4.
I am not one of those who cannot keep his promise.
5.
It is not us who are respoonsible for the delay.
6.
They admired his wife and he.
7.
What place are you going?
8.
Which house do you live ?
9.
She has absented from duty today again.
10. I could not avail of the opportunity I got last year.
11.
The treatment received by me was such, which I never expected.
12. His expectation is the same which is hers.
13. One cannot bear his insult like this.
14. My house is bigger than their.
15. This is a secret between you and I.
Practice Exercise - 2
Fill in the blanks with interrogative / relative pronouns:
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Answer & Explanation Practice Exercise - 1
1.
It was I who telephoned y ou y esterday.
9.
She hasabsented herself from duty today again.
2.
The girl whom y ou spoke to in the office, is my friend.
10.
I could not avail my self of the opportunity I got last y ear.
3.
My brother and I are glad to get y our greetings.
11.
The treatment received by me was such asis hers.
4.
I am not one of those who cannot keep their promise.
12 .
His expectation is the same as I had never expected.
5.
It is not we who are responsible for the delay.
13.
One cannot bear one’s insult like this.
6.
They admired his wife and him.
14.
My house is bigger than theirs.
7.
Where are y ou going ?
15.
This is a sescretbetween y ou and me.
8.
Which house do y ou live in?

Practice Exercise - 2
1.
which
6.
whom
2.
who
7.
which
3.
where
8.
what
4.
which
9.
who
5.
when
10.
whose.

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Question Tag
The whole sentence is a ‘tag question’, and the mini-question at the end is called a ‘question tag’.
Practice Exercise - 1
Write the number 1, 2, 3 or 4 of correct answer in the brackets:
1. Do as i say, ........................?
(1) didn’t you
(2) won’t you
(3) needn’t you
(4) shan’t you
( )
Now you can make question tags, ........................?
(1) can you
(2) won’t you
(3) can’t you
(4) will you
( )
You fell on your back, ........................?
(1) didn’t you
(2) weren’t you
(4) haven’t they
( )
Few people know that you are an artist, ........................?
(1) do they
(2) will we
(3) aren’t they
(4) haven’t they
( )
Tomorrow we will attend our college, ........................?
(1) shall we
(2) will we
(3) won’t we
(4) should’t they
( )
The Bishnois of Rajasthan protect trees and animals, ........................?
(1) have they
(2) weren’t they
(3) do they
(4) don’t they
( )
Everyone wanted a ticket, ........................ ?
(1) didn’t they
(2) didn’t he
(4) haven’t we
( )
Let’s take a little rest before we start again, ........................?
(1) will we
(2) should we
(3) shall we
(4) needn’t we
( )
Anjali dances very well, ........................?
(1) does she
(2) doesn’t she
(4) isn’t she
( )
10. Both Ram and Shyam are engineers, ........................?
(1) isn’the
(2) isn’t she
(3) are they
(4) aren’t they
( )
11. He knows nobody in the colony, ........................?
(1) does he
(2) did he
(3) doesn’t the
(4) weren’t he
( )
12. Jahangir was a great judge, ........................?
(1) doesn’t he
(2) didn’t he
(3) wasn’t he
(4) weren’t he
( )
13. I am looking after the garden, ........................?
(1) amn’t I
(2) aren’t I
(3) isn’t I
(4) don’t I
( )
14. It is quite hot outside today,........................?
(1) is it
(2) isn’t it
(3) doesn’t it
(4) aren’t it
( )
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
(3) have you
(3) didn’t she
(3) are’t she
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Practice Exercise - 2
Complete the following by using the correct tages:
1.
He doesn’t want to go to college today, ........................?
2.
Let’s pray to God, ........................?
3.
You had met me before ........................?
4.
We couldn’t enjoy the picnic,........................?
5.
He is a rude man, ........................?
6.
Everybody was watching the TV, ........................?
7.
Mrs. Saxena is a good lady, ........................?
8.
Something must be done for us, ........................?
9.
Someone might come, ........................?
10. He needs money, ........................?
11. I needn’t write, ........................?
12. Nisha need not go there, ........................?
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Answer & Explanation Practice Exercise - 1
1.
(2 )
8.
(3 )
2.
(3 )
9.
(2 )
3.
(1 )
10 .
(4 )
4.
(1 )
11 .
(1 )
5.
(3 )
12 .
(3 )
6.
(4 )
13 .
(2 )
7.
(1 )
14 .
(2)

Practice Exercise - 2
1.
Does he
7.
isn ’t s he
2.
shall we
8.
must’t it
3.
hadn’t y ou
9.
mightn’t they
4.
could we
10.
doens’t he
5.
isn’t he
11.
need I
6.
weren’t they
12.
need she

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Idioms & Phrases
A gentleman at large (an unreliable person): He is a gentleman at large, you must not trust him.
A wolf in sheep’s clothing (a dangerous person pretending harmless): Charles Shobhraj is a wolf in sheep’s clothing for
general public.
ABC (very common knowledge): He doesn’t know ABC of Physics.
Above board (fair and honest): He is a straightforward man. His financial dealings are above board.
Again and again (repeatedly): One who tries again and again gets success positively.
All and sundry (without making any distinction): He invited all and sundry in the marriage party of his younger brother.
All in all (whole-sole, most important): The Forest Minister is all in all of our department.
Alpha and omega (First and last letter of Greek alphabet, means-beginning and end): The alpha and omega of British
policy was to keep the Indians divided.
An eye wash (a pretence): He does nothing without self interest, all his excuses are but an eye wash.
An iron hand (by force): Indira Gandhi put down the opposition with an iron hand.
At sixes and sevens (persons who are having different opinions): Economists are at sixes and seven on the policy of
rationing.
Beck and call (at the service): Don’t worry, I am at your beck and call.
Bag and baggage (with all goods) : He returned his village bag and baggage.
Between scylla and Charybdis: (choice between two unpleasant alternatives): Don’t make haste, take care so that in
avoiding scylla you don’t fall in Charybdis.
Between the cup and the lips: (On the point of achievement): Until I got the appointment letter in hand, I was not sure of
the posting, as there were many slips between the cup and the lips.
Black and white (in writing): It is always better to get everything in black and white, before entering a partnership.
Blow hot and cold (having no stand, showing favour at one time and unfavour at another): He can’t be relied upon, as
he blows hot and cold in this matter.
Body and soul (entirely): She devoted herself body and soul to win the medal.
By fits and starts (irregularly): Work done by fits and starts never completes in time.
By hook or by crook (by any means): I want to get this licence by hook or by crook.
By leaps and bounds (speedily): The population is increasing by leaps and bounds.
Call a spade a spade (straight talk): He believes in calling a spade a spade.
Cats and dogs (heavy rain): It has been raining cats and dogs for the last three hours.
Cock and bull story (untrue story): All his excuses seem a cock and bull story.
Confusion worse confounded (be in further worse position): Such demonstrations and communal speeches in present
situation make confusion worse confounded.
Cut and dried (readymade form): There is no cut and dried method of English speaking.
Ever and anon (now and then): She goes to temple ever and anon.
Fair and square (honest): He is fair and square in his dealings.
Fair field and no favour (equal opportunity to all): All the staff wants fair field and no favour in the matter of transfer.
Far and wide (every where): Many tourists come to see the Taj from far and wide.
Fire and brimstone (fearful penalties): The USA has threatened Iran with fire and brimstone if she refuses to follow the
resolutions of UNO.
Fire and fury (extreme enthusiasm): The speech of the leader was full of fire and fury.
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First and foremost (highest priority): To be sincere and devoted is the first and foremost requirement ofa good employee.
Fishy (doubtful) : There seems to be something fishy going on.
Free and easy (natural and simple): The principal found his arguments free and easy.
Gall and wormwood (source of irritation): Her remarks about his father were gall and wormwood to him.
Gird up the loins (to be ready): We should gird up the loins to fight the menace of poverty and dowery.
Goods and chattels (belongings of home): On transfer, he brought all goods and chattels by road.
Hand gloves (very intimate friends): Ram and Rahim are hand in gloves with each other.
Hard and fast (certain): There are no hard and fast rules to sanction the loan.
Heart and soul (with full devotion): He threw himself heart and soul to pass the examination.
Herculean task (a tedious job): Getting selected in IAS is a herculean task for everybody.
Hit below the belt (contrary to principles of fairness): By making his enemy’s private secrets public, he hit him below the
belt.
Hither and thither (here and there): He is in the habit of putting his belongings hither and thither.
Hole and corner policy (a secret policy for an evil purpose): The officer adopted a hole and corner policy to get his P.A .
trasferred.
Hue and cry (great noise): A lot of hue and cry was raised in Parliament against this bill.
Ins and outs (full detail): Before starting any new business you must know all ins and outs ofit.
Intents and purposes (practically): My wife is the incharge of the house for all intents and purposes.
Kith and kin (blood relatives): All kith and kin were invited in the marriage function of his son.
Latin and Greek (unable to understand): His speech in English was Latin and Greek to the rural folk.
Law and equity (legal and moral justice): Law and equity demands that the reservations should be based on economic
parameters.
Leave no stone unturned (make all possible efforts): I shall leave no stone unturned to get the promotion.
Length and breadth (all over): Anti-English agitation spread throughout the length and breadth of the country.
Life and soul (main support): Soniya Gandhi is the life and soul of Congress (I).
Like a fish out of water (in a very difficult and unsuitable situation): Ram was given an unremunerative post. He is feeling
like afish out of water.
Loaves and fish (material interests): Nowadays Government servants are concerned with the loaves and fish of the office
than to solve the problems of common public.
Lock and key (in safe place): He keeps the jewellery under lock and key.
Might and main (with all enthusiasm): If you study with might and main you will positively secure the success.
Milk and water (weak): The foreign policy of India is nothing more than a milk and water policy.
Neck and crop (completely): The Pak army ruined the border village neck and crop.
Need of the hour (necessity of time): Providing full security to the residents of border area is the need of hour.
Nook and corner (everywhere): I searched her in every nook and corner.
Not born yesterday (worldlywise): You can’t befool me as I was not born yesterday.
Now and then (Occasionally): I visit church now and then.
Null and void (of no use, without force of application) : The law passed by legislature was declared null and void by the
Supreme court.
Odds and ends (remaining goods): Except odds and ends, all the items have since been arranged in order.
Often and often (frequently): She visits her parents often and often.
Once and again (repeatedly): I have told you once and again that I have no money to purchase the car at the moment.
Open and above board (very clear, transparent): He believes in open and above board discussion on every point before
arriving at a conclusion.
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Out of gear (in disorder): The strike of employees always puts the government machinery out of gear.
Over and above (besides): I paid him rupees ten thousand over and above what he demanded.
Over head and ears (excessively): He is over head and ears in debt.
Part and Parcel (being an important part of): Each employee should feel himself part and parcel of the business enterprises.
Pell mell (putting one upon the other, in confusion): He was in such a hurry that he put all the articles pell mell and closed
the room .
Pick and choose (to choose selectively as per wish): The management adopted pick and choose policy in the matter of
promotions from clerical to assistant cadre.
Pins and needles (small items): It is unwise to use swords and scissors where pins and needles can do.
Pros and Cons (merits and demerits): Before signing this agreement you must understand all its pros and cons well.
Rain or shine (favourable or unfavourable circumstances.): Rain or shine, I will speak to oppose the proposal.
Rank and file (everyone without discrimination): For the actual prosperity of the nation, the economic conditions of rank
and fie should be improved.
Rank and ruin (complete destructions): The present drought has put the farmers on the verge of rank and ruin.
Rhyme or reason (rational cause): He resigned from the service without any rhyme or reason.
Right and left (in all ways): The robbers looted the village right and left and fled away.
Root and branch (complete): Poverty among the public is the root and branch of all the crimes.
Safe and sound (quite well): She reached there safe and sound.
Speck and span (neat and smart): Mr. J.L. Nehru was always spick and span in his dressing style.
Stuff and nonsense (worthless) : The judge found all his arguments stuff and nonsense.
Sum and substance (the actual theme): The sum and substance of the paragraph must be reflected in a good precis.
The die is cast (decided finally): The die is cast, there is not point of discussing over it now.
The last nail in the coffin (the last action which resulted in the complete end of something.): The reservation policy of
V.P. Singh was the last nail in the coffin of the Janta Party.
Thick and thin (in all circumstances): I shall support you through thick and thin.
Through fire and water (in all sort of difficulties): He can go through fire and water to achieve his goal.
Time and tide (course of time): Time and tide waits for none.
To and fro (going and coming, backward and forward): What are the to and fro taxi charges for Alwar to Delhi?
Cheek by jowl (very near with somebody / something): As the space was short, so he kept all the articles cheek by jowl.
To move heaven and earth (to make all possible efforts): I am ready to move heaven and earth to bring him to justice.
To play ducks and drakes (to waste money): He is playing ducks and drakes with parental money
Toil and moil (hard labour): It requires too much of toil and moil to secure the first position.
Tom Dick and Harry (everyone): Every Tom, Dick and Harry knows that Sachin is the greatest cricketer .
Tooth and nail (with all force): Students of general caste opposed the reservation policy tooth and nail but of no avail.
Ups and downs (prosperity and adversity): There are ups and downs in every business.
Warp and woof (essential parts of a thing): Blood and bones are warp and woof of human body.
Watch and ward (careful guard): At least three guards are required to have perfect watch and ward of the building.
Weal and woe (prosperity and adversity): I will abide by you in all weal and woe.
Whips and spur (with greatest hurry): He completed the project whips and spur.
Why and wherefore (the basic reason): Please tell me the why and wherefore of your decision to take voluntary retirement.
Willy nilly (wish or not wish): Willy nilly, you are to obey the orders of your father.
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Reading comprehension
COMPREHENSION
“ Comprehensions judge your capability and ability of understanding the passage, your power of analyzing the problem in
proper perspective and your ability of presenting your answers systematically”.
RIGHT APPROACH TO ANSWER THE Q UESTIONS:
1.
Questions are to be answered on the basis of the information provided in the passage, and you are not expected to rely on
outside knowledge of a particular topic. Your own views or opinions may sometimes conflict with the views expressed or
the information provided in the passage. Be sure that you work within the context of the passage. You should not expect to
agree to everything you encounter in reading passages.
2.
You should analyses each passage carefully before answering the accompanying questions. As with any kind of close and
thoughtful reading, look for clues that will help you understand less explicit aspects of the passage. Try to separate main
ideas from supporting ideas or evidence.
3.
Note transitions from one idea to the next, and examine the relationships among the different ideas or parts of the passage.
For example, are they contrasting? Are they complementary? Consider the points the author makes, the conclusions drawn,
and how and why those points are made or conclusions are drawn.
4.
Read each question carefully and be certain that you understand exactly what is being asked.
5.
Always read all the answer choices before selecting the best answer.
6.
The best answer is the one that most accurately, and most completely answers the questions being posed. Be careful
not to pick an answer choice simply because it is a true statement. Be careful also not to be misled by answer choices that are
only partially true or only partially satisfy the problem posed in the question.
Directions : Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below it.
Passage - 1
Many people believe that science and religion are contrary to each other. But this notion is wrong. As a matter of fact, both
are complementary to each other. The aim of both these institutions is to explain different aspects of life, universe and
human existence. There is no doubt that the methods of science and religion are different. The method of science is observation, experimentation and experience. Science takes its recourse to progressive march towards perfection; the rules of
religion are faith, intuition and spoken word of the enlightened; in general, while science is inclined towards reason and
rationality, spiritualism is the essence of religion.
In earlier times when man appeared on earth, he was overawed at the sight of violent and powerful aspects of nature. In
certain cases, the usefulness of different natural objects of nature overwhelmed man. Thus began the worship of forces of
nature - fire, the sun, the rivers, the rocks, the trees, the snakes, etc. The holy scriptures were written by those who had
developed harmony between external nature and their inner self. Their object was to ennoble, elevate and liberate the human
spirit and mind. But the priestly class took upon itself the monopoly of scriptural knowledge and interpretation to its own
advantage. Thus the entire human race was in chains. Truth was flouted and progressive, liberal and truthful ideas or ideas
expressing doubt and skepticism were suppressed and their holders punished. It was in these trying circumstances, the
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science emerged as a saviour of making but its path was not smooth and safe. The scientists and free thinkers were tortured.
This was the fate of Copernicus, Galileo, Bruno and others. But, by and by science gained ground.
1.
Why does man worship the force of nature?
(1) The holy scriptures advocate the worship of forces of nature
(2) The worship elevates and liberates the human spirit and mind
(3) The worship makes man believe in faith and intuition
(4) Forces of nature reach us spiritualism
(5) None of these.
2.
Which of the following statements is true in the context of the passage?
(1) Science and religion are antagonistic to each other
(2) Science encourages worshipping of nature
(3) Religion is essential for external peace and harmony
(4) Regimental religion was replaced by scientific principles
(5) Science is essential for inner peace of mind.
3.
According to the passage, science and religion both:
(1) Rely on the spoken word of the enlightened
(2) Emerged out of the fear of man
(3) Emerged from the desire of man to worship the forces of nature
(4) Employ different methods of enquiry
(5) Work at the cross - purpose of each other.
4.
Why is it said in the passage that, science emerged as a saviour of mankind?
(1) Many great thinkers contributed to the progress of science
(2) Science takes recourse to progressive march towards perfection
(3) Science is inclined towards reason and rationality
(4) Man was bound in chains by religious orthodoxy
(5) The free thinkers and enlightened men were tortured.
5.
Which of the following statements is not true in the context of the passage?
(1) Man worships the forces of nature
(2) Methods of science and religion are different
(3) Regimental religion got degenerated into orthodoxy
(4) Galileo and Bruno were disciples of copernicus
(5) The holy scriptures were written by people who had tremendous inner strength.
6.
Choose the word which is most nearly the same in meaning as the word ‘flouted’, as used in the passage.
(1) Mocked
(2) Nourished
(3) Expressed
(4) Deflated
(5) Concealed
7.
According to the passage, science and religion;
(1) Are contrary to each other
(2) Have the same origin
(3) Are supportive to each other
(4) Have the same aim of controlling universe
(5) Do not allow any deviation from their rules.
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8.
According to the passage, at the present juncture, there is a need to:
(1) encourage spiritualism as much as possible
(2) Teach people to worship the forces of nature
(3) Free man from all sorts bondages.
(4) Explain to the people different aspects of life and universe
(5) Judiciously mix the principles of science and true spirit of religion.
9.
What was the object of the authors of the holy scripture?
(1) To teach man the methods of worshipping nature
(2) To advocate the progressive
(3) To educate and raise the human spirit and mind
(4) To develop harmony between external nature and their inner self
(5) None of these.
10. Choose the word which is most opposite in meaning to the word enlightened’ as used in the passage:
(1) Uninformed
(2) Derogatory
(3) Downtrodden
(4) Educated
(5) Authority
Passage - 2
Directions; Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it;
Mountaineering is now looked upon as the king of sports. But men have lived amongst the mountains since prehistoric times
and in some part of the world, as in the Andes and the Himalayas, difficult mountain journeys have inevitably been part of
their everyday life. However, some of the peaks there, were easily accessible from most of the cities of Europe. It is quite
interesting that while modern mountaineers prefer difficult routes for the greater enjoyment of the sport, the early climbers
looked for the easiest ones, for the summit was the prize they all set their eyes on. Popular interest in mountaineering
increased considerably after the ascent of the Alpine peak of Matterhorn in 1865 and Edward Whymper’s dramatic account
of the climb and fatal accident which occurred during the descent.
In the risky sport of mountaineering, the element of competition between either individuals or teams is totally absent.
Rather, one can say that the competition is between the team and the peaks themselves. The individuals making up a parties
which are inexperienced or not properly equipped. Since many accidents are caused due to bad weather, the safe chamber is
the man who knows, when it is time to turn back, however, tempting it may be to press on and try to reach the summit.
1.
Mountaineering is different from other sports because:
(1) It is risky and dangerous.
(2) It can be fatal
(3) It is most thrilling and exciting, there is no competition between individuals.
2.
People living in the Andes and the Himalayas made mountain journeys because:
(1) It was a kind of sport.
(2) They had to undertake them in their day-to-day life
(3) They lived in pre-historic time
(4) Of the challenge offered by the difficult journey.
3.
Mountaineers climb as a team because:
(1) The height is too much for one individual.
(2) The competition is between the team and the peak
(3) They have to rely on each other for safety
(4) There is no competition among them.
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4.
“ The summit was the prize they all set their eyes on.” In the context of the passage, this means:
(1) Reaching the top was their exclusive concern,
(2) They kept their eyes steadily on reaching the summit.
(3) They cared for nothing but the prize of reaching the summit.
(4) They chose a route from which they could see the summit clearly.
5.
“ To press,” in the last sentence of the passage means:
(1) To struggle in a forceful manner,
(2) To force upon others,
(3) To work fearlessly,
(4) To continue in a determined manner.
Passage - 3
Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it;
On the morning of August 31, 1573, 300 horsemen of the imperial Mughal army paused at the banks of the Sabarmati. The
rebels, they were after, lay just beyond the swollen river, but the soldiers were exhausted; they had traversed 960 kilometers
of difficult terrain in nine days, riding almost continuously. Suddenly a warrior on a chestnut charger plunged into the raging
torrent. As man and horse struggled on the opposite bank, a thrill ran through the army. It was the emperor, Jalay-uddin
Akbar! With a roar, the soldiers followed him across and within two days, they had put down the rebellion so thoroughly that
Gujrat remained in Mughal hands for the next 185 years.
1.
The rebels were camped:
(1) Across the Sabarmati river
(2) On the banks of Sabarmati river
(3) In Gujrat
(4) In imperial Mughal courts.
2.
The expression “ swollen river” means:
(1) A river in flood
(2) A clam and serene river
(3) A deep river
(4) A shallow river.
3.
The Mughal soldiers didn’t cross the river because:
(1) They were cowards
(2) They had joined hands with the rebels
(3) They were waiting for the king to arrive
(4) They were tired after a difficult journey.
4.
The sudden arrival of King Akbar:
(1) Surprised the soldiers
(2) Angered the soldiers
(3) Dismayed the soldiers
(4) Enthused the soldiers.
5.
The attack on the rebels turned out to be;
(1) A dismal failure
(2) A grand success
(3) Of no particular significance
(4) An ordinary affair.
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Passage - 4
Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it:
He saw nothing, he had no knife or sharp instrument, the grating of the window was of iron and he had too often assured
himself of its solidity. His furniture consisted of a bed, a chair, a table, a pail and a jug. The bed had iron clamps, but they
were screwed to the wall and it would have required a screwdriver to take them off.
Dantes had but one recource, which was to break the jug and with one of the sharp fragments attack the wall. He left the jug
fall on the floor and it broke in pieces. He concealed two or three of the sharpest fragments in his bed, leaving the rest on the
floor. The breaking of the jug was too natural an accident to excite suspicion, and next morning the gaoler went grumblingly
to fetch another, without giving himself the trouble to remove the fragments. Dantes heard joyfully the key grate in the lock
as the guard departed.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Dantes was in :
(1) A hostel
(2) A dining room
(3) An army barracks
(4) A prison.
Dantes was planning to:
(1) Carve his name
(2) Make his escape
(3) Tease the guard
(4) Call for breakfast.
The guard left the fragments because he:
(1) Didn’t notice them
(3) Was too lazy to bother
(2) Wished to punish Dantes
(4) Wanted Dantes to clear up.
Dantes probably broke the jug:
(1) In the morning
(2) During the night
(3) After breakfast
(4)At exactly 3 p.m.
Dantes heard the key grate in the lock, when the:
(1) Cell door was shut
(2) Cell door was opened
(3) Storeroom was opened
(4) Storeroom was shut.
Passage - 5
Directions: Read the passage given below carefully and then answer these questions based on what is stated or
implied in the passage:
One simple concept lies behind the formation of the stars: gravitational in stablity. The concept is not new. Newton first
perceived it late in the 17th Century. Imagine a uniform, static cloud of gas in space. Imagine then that the gas is somehow disturbed, so that one small spherical region becomes a little denser than the gas around it so that the small region’s
gravitational field becomes slightly stronger. It and its gravity increases further, causing it to begin to contract. As it
contracts its density increases, which increases its gravity even more, so that it picks up even more matter and contracts
even further. The process until the small refine of gas finally forms a gravitationally bound object.
1.
The primary purpose of the passages is to:
(1) Describe a static condition
(2) Support a theory considered out mode
(3) Depict the successive stages of a phenomenon
(4) Demonstrate the evolution of the meaning of a term.
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2.
It can be inferred from this passage that the author views the information contained within it as:
(1) Lacking in elaboration
(2) Original but obscure
(3) Speculative and unprofitable
(4) Uncomplicated and traditional.
3.
With which of the following words can you replace the word uniform as given in this passage?
(1) Uniting
(2) Varying
(3) Gaseous
(4) Unvarying.
4.
What does the underlined word ‘it’ stands for in he passage?
(1) Gravitational instability
(2) Cloud of gas
(3) Small spherical denser region
(4) Matter.
5.
The author provides information that answers which of following questions?
(1) What causes the disturbances that changes the cloud from its original static condition?
(2) How does this small region’s increasing density affect its gravitational field?
(3) What is the end result of the gradually increasing concentration of the small region of gas?
Passage - 6
Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it:
A great deal of the world’s work is neither producing material things nor altering the things that Nature produces, but
doing services of one sort or another.
Throughless people are apt to think a brickmaker more of a producer than a clergyman. When a village carpenter makes a
gate to keep cattle out of a field of wheat, he has something solid in his hand which he can claim for his own until the
farmer pays him for it. But when a village boy makes a noise to keep the birds off, he has nothings to show, though the
noise is just a necessary as the gate. The postman does not make anything...... The policeman does not make anything
....... The doctor makes pills sometimes; but that is not his real business, which is to tell you when you ought to take pills,
and what pills to take, unless indeed he has the good sense to tell you not take them at all, and you have the good sense to
believe him, When he is giving you good advice instead of bad. The lawyer does not make anything substantial...... They
are all in service.
1.
Thoughtless people think a brickmaker more of a producer than a clergyman because:
(1) A clergyman is an idler,
(2) A brickmaker produces something solid which he can keep with him till he gets its price
(3) A brickmaker, being physically stronger than a clergyman, can naturally produce more
(4) He cannot understand the philosophical lectures of the clergyman.
2.
According to the author of the passage, a large number of persons:
(1) Are producing material things
(2) Are altering the things that Nature produces
(3) Are doing nothing in particular
(4) Offer services.
3.
The writer thinks that;
(1) Both the doctor and the patient are sensible when one makes pills and the other buys them
(2) The doctor is sensible and the patient is insensible
(3) The doctor is insensible and the patient is insensible
(4) Both the doctor and the patient make sense when the doctor tells not to take pills and the patient believes him.
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4.
The writer’s description of the doctor’s business:
(1) Strengthens the main argument of the passage because the doctor’s business is to make pills,
(2) Is irrelevant to the main argument of the passage,
(3) Weakens the main argument of the passage,
(4) Illustrates the difference between producing something and offering a service.
Passage - 7
Directions: Read the passage carefully, then answer the questions which are based on what is stated or implied in the
passage:
Since the world has become industrialized, there has been an increase in the number of animal species that have either
become extinct or have neared extinction. Bengal tigers for instance, which once roamed the jungle in vast numbers, now
number only 2300 and by the year 2025 their population is estimated to be down to zero. What is alarming about the case
of Bengal tiger is that this extinction will have been caused almost entirely by poachers who according to some sources,
are not interested in material gain but in personal gratification. This is an example of the callousness that is part of what
is causing the problem of extinction. Animals like the Bengal tiger, as well as, those belonging to other endangered
species, are a valuable part of the world’s ecosystem. International laws protecting these animals must be enacted to
ensure their survival, and the survival of our planet. Countries around the world have begun to deal with the problem in
various ways. Some countries, in order to circumvent the problem, have allocated large amount of land to animal
reserves. They then charge admission fees to help defray the costs of maintaining the parks, and they often must also
depend on world organizations for support. With the money get, they can invest in equipment and patrols to protect the
animals. Another solution that is an attempt to stem the tide of animal extinction is an international boycott of products
made from endangered species. This seems fairly effective, but it will not, by itself, prevant animals from being hunted
and killed.
1.
What is the author’s main concern in this passage?
(1) Problems of industrialization
(2) The Bengal tiger
(3) Endangered species
(4) Callousness of man.
2.
According to the passage, poachers kill for:
(1) Material gain
(3) Both
(2) Personal satisfaction
(4) None of above.
3.
Which of the following words is closest in meaning to the underlined word ‘alarming’?
(1) Serious
(2) Dangerous
(3) Disressing
(4) Frightening.
4.
Certain species are becoming extinct because of :
(1) Industrialisation
(2) Poaching
(3) Love of products made from them
(4) All the above.
5.
The Phrase ‘Stem the tide’ means:
(1) Save
(2) Stop
6.
(3) Touch
Which of the following, best describes the author’s attitude?
(1) Concerned
(2) Vindictive
(3) Surprised
(4) Spare.
(4) Generous.
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Passage - 8
Directions: Read the passage carefully and then choose the one best answer for each question given below:
The conservative is not an extreme individualist. He may be willing to concede numerous arguments of the unqualified
individualist, for his own respect, for the dignity of the individual is not surpassed by that of any man. Yet, he cannot
agree to the full implications of individualism, which is based so he thinks, on an incorrect appraisal of man, society,
history, and government. In his own way, the individualist is as much a perfectionist as the Socialist, and with perfectionism the conservative can have no truck.
In particular, the conservative refuses to go all the way with economic individualism. His distrust of unfettered man, his
recognition to groups, his sense of the complexity of the social process, his recognition of the real services that government can perform-all these sentiments make it impossible for him to subscribe to the dogmas and shibboleths of economic individualism: laisses-faire, the negative state, enlightened self-interest, the law of supply and demand, the profit
careful to qualify his support by stating other, more important social truths. For example, he does not for a moment deny
the prominence of the profit motive, but he insists that it be recognised for the selfish thing it is and be kept writhing
reasonable, socially imposed limits.
1.
The conservative is:
(1) A perfectionist
(2) An economist
(3) A socialist
(4) None of above.
2.
The conservative is against Econo+mic individualism for all the following reasons except:
(1) He does not trust free men
(2) He believes in the authority of the government
(3) He believes in groups
(4) He feels that social processes are important.
3.
The author mentions all the following catch words of economic individualism except:
(1) Free trade
(2) The profit motive
(3) Balance of trade
(4) The negative state.
4.
Which of the following words can replace the underlined word ‘truck’?
(1) Dealing
(2) Bargain
(3) Debate
(4) Transport.
5.
Which of the following statements is true?
(1) The socialist and the individualist tend to be broadly similar in their views
(2) The conservative belives that profit motive originates in selfishness
(3) The conservative is also an extreme individualist
(4) None of the above.
6.
Which of the following could be an appropriate title for the passage?
(1) Anarchy and freedom
(2) Progress and The conservative
(3) A conservative apology
(4) The conservative stand.
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Passage - 9
Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:
An old gentleman was walking slowly along a street. One day he saw a little boy who was trying to reach a door-bell
which was too high for him. He was a kind-hearted old man, so he stopped and said,”I will ring the bell for you,” and
then he pulled the bell so hard that it could be heard all over the house.
The little boy looked up at him and said, “ Now we will run away, come on,”and before the old gentleman knew what was
happening the naughty boy had run round the corner of the street leaving the man to explain to the angry owner of the
house why he had rung the bell.
1.
Write the letter 1, 2, 3, or 4 of the correct answer in the answer book:
The old man rang the bell because:
(1) He wanted to help the little boy
(2) He wanted to have some fun
(3) The boy asked him to do so
(4) He wished to see the owner of the house.
2.
Who did the owner of the house see at the door?
3.
Who did the little boy want to make fun of?
4.
“ ...... So he stopped and said ......” Who does the word ‘he’ here refer to ?
5.
“ ....... I will ring the bell for you.” Who does the word ‘you’ here refer to?
6.
Why did the boy ask the old man to run away with him?
Passage - 10
Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:
Once a smart looking young man visited the office of a business firm to look for a job. The manager though pleased with
his behavior said, “ There is no vacancy for a clerk.” The young man was very unhappy and turned to go. As he was
passing out of the door way, he found a pin lying near it. He at once picked it up. The manager saw this and was greatly
impressed. He thought that the applicant was good enough to be employed in the office. So he called him back and
appointed him a clerk in his office. The young man in due course became the head of the firm. It was his love of order
and economy, that brought him success in life.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Write the letter 1, 2, 3, or 4 of the correct answer book:
The young man was very:
(1) Happy
(2) Unhappy
(3) Sorry
(4) Pleased.
What was the young man in need of?
What made the yound man very sad?
What did the yound man see when he was leaving the room?
What did the manager see the yound man doing?
“ ........ and appointed him a clerk .....” Who does the word ’him’ here refer to?
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Answer Key And Solution
Passage - 1
1. (1)
6. (4)
2. (4)
7. (3)
3. (4)
8. (5)
4. (4)
9. (3)
5. (4)
10. (1)
4. (1)
5. (4)
4. (4)
5. (2)
4. (2)
5. (1)
4. (3)
5. (3)
Passage - 2
1. (3)
2. (2)
3. (3)
Passage - 3
1. (1)
2. (1)
3. (4)
Passage - 4
1. (4)
2. (2)
3. (3)
Passage - 5
1. (3)
2. (4)
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3. (4)
Passage - 6
1. (2)
2. (4)
3. (4)
4. (4)
Passage - 7
1. (3)
2. (2)
3. (4)
4. (4)
5. (2)
6.
(1)
5. (2)
6.
(4)
Passage - 8
1. (4)
2. (4)
3. (1)
4. (1)
Passage - 9
1.
(1)
2.
The owner of the house saw the old man at the door.
3.
The little boy wanted to make fun of the owner of the house
4.
The ‘old man’.
5.
The word ‘y ou’ here refe rs to the ‘little boy ’.
6.
The boy asked the old man to run away, because he knew that the owner of the house would be angry.
Passage - 10
1.
(2)
2.
The y oung man was in need of a job.
3.
On hearing the words of the manager that there was no vacancy for a clerk, the y oung man became
very sad.
4.
The y oung man, while passing out of the door way, saw a pin ly ing near it.
5.
The manager saw the y oung man picking up the pin.
6.
The word ‘him’ here refers to the y oung man.
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Vocabulary
Practice Exercise - 1
Choose the correct meaning of the italicized word from the options given.
1.
2.
3.
4.
The use of bullock carts is an outmoded way of transportation.
(1) cheaper
(2) obsolete
(3) quicker
(4) rural
It was a scurrilous attack on him.
(1) serious
(2) unjustified
(4) justified
(3) insulting
Both parties were amenable to a peaceful settlement of the land dispute.
(1) agreeable
(2) responsive
(3) unwilling
(4) doubtful
Unilateral action may not be acceptable to them.
(1) underpressure
(2) one-sided
(3) strong
(4) harmful
5.
The nexus between the Punjab militants and the J&K terrorists has been established.
(1) fight
(2) rivalry
(3) connection
(4) internal fighting
6.
His fidelity to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi was exemplary.
(1) criticism
(2) acceptance
(3) loyalty
(4) strong opposition
We have sanctioned his leave on compassionate grounds.
(1) as an exception
(2) real
(3) merciful
(4) deserving
Jogging is considered an antidote to mental stress.
(1) poisonous
(2) remedy
(3) equivalent
(4) dangerous
Bengalis are innate poets.
(1) excellent
(2) romantic
(4) instinctive
7.
8.
9.
(3) dull
10. They connived to loot the bank during the week-end.
(1) helped
(2) conspired
(3) forced
(4) tried
11. It is a truism that politics is the last refuge for criminals.
(1) universal belief
(2) quick judgement
(3) obvious truth
(4) immediate guess
12. Industrial Relations was his bailiwick.
(1) weakness
(2) area of authority
(4) failure
(3) foolishness
13. It was altruism of nations that sent relief supplies to Maharashtra.
(1) richness
(2) greatness
(3) hypocrisy
(4) unselfish concern
14. It was his magnanimity to overlook such remarks.
(1) weakness
(2) generosity
(3) judgement
(4) greatest fault
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15. Amity between neighboring countries is always beneficial to the citizens.
(1) goodwill
(2) competition
(3) defence cooperation (4) enmity
16.
The national leaders’ insatiable greed for power has weakened the government,
(1) cunning
(2) inexperience
(3) forceful
(4) impossible to satisfy
17. His professional qualification was of paramount value.
(1) advantageous
(2) foremost
(3) equal
(4) little
18. Her career is a paradigm of political opportunism.
(1) result
(2) signal
(3) model
(4) cause
19. Every engineer appreciates a proficient electrician.
(1) experienced
(2) mature
(3) honest
(4) skilled
20. He had a profusion of talents.
(1) abundance
(2) dearth
(4) enough
(3) limitation
21. His pacific personality helps maintain harmony in the family.
(1) stout
(2) tranquil
(3) strong
(4) attractive
22. Their diverse attitude seems to preclude an amicable settlement with the management
(1) to quickly negotiate (2) mediate
(3) prevent
(4) negotiate
23. The payment of bonus was witin the “ Purview” of the management..
(1) authority
(2) scope of vision
(3) duties
(4) power
24. He works for a paltry sum in a provisions store.
(1) huge
(2) heavy
(3) worthless
(4) sufficient
25. It was nothing but a ponderous lecture.
(1) exaggerated
(2) thoughtful
(3) thoughtful
(4) dull and laboured
26. You cannot question the Inspector’s veracity.
(1) effici ency
(2) truthfulness
(3) honesty
(4) character
27. The land was parched by the scorching summer heat.
(1) sterilised
(2) cleaned
(3) dried
(4) burnt
28. People who smoke stand greater chance of getting cancer than those who abstain.
(1) refuse
(2) refrain
(3) accept
(4) teetotaler
29. The annual meetings of trade unions are always boisterous.
(1) well-attended
(2) disturbing
(3) noisy
(4) poorly attended
30. The tension between the Chief Election Commissioner and the Finance Minister has subsided.
(1) become strong
(2) started
(3) decreased
(4) widened
31. The new manager could earn the confidence of his staff due to his urbane nature.
(1) indi fferent
(2) polite
(3) friendly
(4) unfriendly
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32. Nothing can be done when the whole system is paralysed by inertia
(1) corruption
(2) weakness
(3) politics
(4) sluggishness
33. If you want real solace, go to Manali.
(1) holiday
(2) consolation
(4) rest
(3) happiness
34. Discussion on sex has always been a taboo in our society.
(1) punishable
(2) prohibited by social norms
(3) a difficult subject
(4) permitted
35. A sumptuous dinner was served after the meeting.
(1) expensive
(2) nutritive
(3) indigestible
(4) very light
36. He was engrossed in his office routine.
(1) involved
(2) tired
(4) lost
(3) fully occupied
37. He is unpopular due to his overbearing behaviour.
(1) over smartness
(2) cunning
(3) disloyal
(4) arrogant
38. The I.G. of Police has made a dossier of all those who had links with terrorists in Punjab.
(1) list of criminals
(2) record or file
(3) secret album
(4) to put on a hit list
39. I have read an excerpt from his recent book.
(1) review
(2) assessment
(3) long paragraph
(4) extract
40. He has become a millionaire by his devious means.
(1) hard work
(2) dishonest
(3) skillful
(4) neverending
41. When the two friends met after a long break, they hugged each other.
(1) greeted warmly
(2) kissed
(3) embraced
(4) looked into each other’s eyes
42. There is an ambiguity in the office order.
(1) uncertainty of meaning
(2) error
(2) danger
(4) mistake
43. Though dilatory in undertaking assignment, she was quick in its execution.
(1) hesitant
(2) slow
(3) reluctant
(4) unwilling
44. The lessons of his past mistakes might teach him a lesson in circumspection to the full
(1) avoidance
(2) influence deeply
(3) caution
(4) fear
45. Leave him to reap the fruits of his own heinous crimes.
(1) unlawful
(2) extremely wicked (3) punishable
(4) uncountable
46. They were beguiled into forming an unwise alliance.
(1) force
(2) cheated
(3) compelled
(4) reluctant
47. The Supreme Court defused the tension between the government and the Chief Election Commissioner.
(1) exaggerated
(2) reduced
(3) ruled out
(4) increased
48. The reporter filed a verbatim report of the Prime Minister’s address.
(1) frank
(2) clear
(3) exact
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(4) correct
49. Industrialists have lobbied strongly against the government’s liberalisation policy.
(1) stormed
(2) criticised
(3) influenced
(4) cautioned
50. The Joint Parliamentary Committee was flabbergasted on reading the files.
(1) deeply engrossed
(2) to glance quickly
(3) to search
(4) astonished
51. The soldier received the Bravery Award for his exemplary display of courage during the war.
(1) new
(2) strange
(3) abnormal
(4) praiseworthy
52. This is a small room and cannot accommodate more than three people.
(1) hold
(2) allow
(3) hide
(4) associate
53. Sporadic rise in his temperature has caused the doctors much worry.
(1) frequent
(2) irksome
(3) irregular
(4) scattered
54. Sita never finishes her work on time as she is always dawdling,
(1) confused
(2) playing
(3) loitering
(4) chatting
55. Kerala is still a virgin state with an excellent potential for tourism.
(1) undone .
(2) unexplored
(3) uncouth
(4) unexploded
56. They could not help laughing at the puerility of his statement.
(1) inaccuracy
(2) childishness
(3) insincerity
(4) falsehood
57. During his stay in London, he had quite a few frustrating experiences.
(1) disappointing
(2) disenchanting
(3) humiliating
(4) repulsive
58. Many species of animals and birds have become extinct during the last two hundred years
(1) feeble
(2) aggressive
(3) scattered
(4) non-existent
59. The accountant was punished by the officials for shirking his job.
(1) slowing
(2) postponing
(3) avoiding
(4) delegating
60. It was presumptuous of Mr. Sharma to make such a remark in the assembly.
(1) ridiculous
(2) unthoughtful
(3) arrogant
(4) ambiguous
61. Artists and poets are sensuous by nature.
(1) sensible
(2) sentimental
(3) sensual
(4) sensitive
62. Many redundant words are included in this report.
(1) bombastic
(2) unimportant
(3) flowery
(4) unwanted
63. The irate customer was pacified by the shopkeeper.
(1) quietened
(2) silenced
(3) pleased
(4) flattered
64. The student was asked to rectify the problem.
(1) correct
(2) condone
(3) clarify
(4) repeat
65. “ Brevity is the soul of wit.”
(1) conciseness
(2) sharpness
(3) quickness
(4) confidence
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66. We were all in a state if euphoria after hearing the news.
(1) pleasant excitement (2) intense indignation (3) utter depression
(4) great disorder
67. Though innocent, he has been languishing in the jail for the last ten years.
(1) enjoying
(2) avoiding
(3) suffering
(4) convicted
68. The Miss World Pageant was held in India a few years ago.
(1) contest
(2) show
(3) function
(4) carnival
69. The spectators went berserk at the outcome of the match.
(1) began to cry
(2) sped away
(3) became wild
(4) started shouting
70. Vicky was fired for continually coming late to office.
(1) beaten
(2) scolded
(3) abused
(4) dismissed
71. A conscientious worker is always admired by his colleagues.
(1) obedient
(2) sincere
(3) skillful
(4) careful
72. That dilapidated building has become a rendezvous for anti-social elements.
(1) resort
(2) hiding place
(3) public place
(4) meeting place
73. The Republic Day Parade route was down the main boulevard.
(1) alley
(2) highway
(3) avenue
(4) driveway
74. After two hours of tortuous trek, he reached the summit of the mountain.
(1) winding
(2) painful
(3) fearsome
(4) slow
75. Most people these days are gripped by a pervading sense of ennui.
(1) anger
(2) anxiety
(3) weariness
(4) melancholy
76. No obstacle seemed insurmountable for the fearless Rani of Jhansi.
(1) too easy to achieve
(2) too difficult to overcome
(3) too tall and high
(4) too trivial to attract attention
77. She is a garrulous girl and every one is wary of her.
(1) repeats gossip
(2) talks a lot
(3) giggles all the time (4) laughs a lot
78. Sarika succumbed to her injuries following the day of the accident.
(1) surrendered
(2) yielded
(3) fell down
(4) died
79. The intrepid mountaineers who scaled Mt. Everest in winter should be specially congratulated.
(1) bold
(2) tired
(3) vigorous
(4) experienced
80. The meeting was adjourned after discussion on the matter for three hours.
(1) postponed
(2) stopped
(3) begun
(4) reviewed
81. Aziz has never been an outgoing type.
(1) courageous
(2) frank
(3) outspoken d sociable(4) sociable
82. Provoked by the unfair remark, the young man hit his companion.
(1) angered
(2) furious
(3) euphoric
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(4) excited
83. It was proved that dates grow well in arid climate.
(1) dull
(2) dry
(3) sandy
(4) temperate
84. Industrious people should be rewarded.
(1) hardworking
(2) intelligent
(4) energetic
(3) commercial
85. It is estimated that it would take three months to complete this project.
(1) decided
(2) calculated
(3) confirmed
(4) examined
86. Children of excessively indulgent parents often become very recalcitrant.
(1) disobedient
(2) indolent
(3) insipid
(4) dependent
87. All the passengers died in the bus accident, but providentially Verma escaped.
(1) narrowly
(2) unexpectedly
(3) effortlessly
(4) luckily
88. In spite of his remarkable qualities, he failed to win popular support because of his affectation.
(1) pretence
(2) deception
(3) arrogance
(4) formalism
89. Those who admit the ultimacy of values, implicitly recognise the spiritual reality that begets the universe.
(1) essentially
(2) imperceptibly
(3) intrinsically
(4) tacitly
90. The automobile industry depends on indigenous technology.
(1) sophisticated
(2) ancient
(3) alien
(4) native
91. Only those who are gullible take every advertisement seriously.
(1) fallible
(2) enthusiastic
(3) unsuspecting
(4) unrealistic
92. This young man appears to be quite headstrong.
(1) thick-headed
(2) obstinate
(3) robust
(4) witty
93. That great artist’s life was full of vicissitudes.
(1) sorrows
(2) misfortunes
(3) fluctuations
(4) surprises
94. The visitor had a bohemian look.
(1) hostile
(2) unconventional
(3) sinister
(4) unfriendly
95. As the driver was inebriated he could not control the car.
(1) inexperienced
(2) tired
(3) befuddled
(4) intoxicated
96. A scramble for power began in right earnest.
(1) struggle
(2) contest
(4) dispute
(3) quarrel
97. My students in the laboratory are rather inquisitive about the apparatus.
(1) sensitive
(2) careful
(3) curious
(4) anxious
98. It was a shocking act of repugnant irresponsibility.
(1) offensive
(2) shameless
(3) sheer
(4) criminal
99. The crowd was getting restive.
(1) restful
(2) restless
(4) excited
(3) tired
100. It is possible for a writer to be copious in his words, and, at the same time, to give the reality of a natural form.
(1) scanty
(2) plentiful
(3) repetitive
(4) arrogant
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Practice Exercise - 2
In each of the following, select the antonym for the italicised word or phrase in the sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
The tourist had to surrender under the most pressing circumstances.
(1) release
(2) claim
(3) plunder
(4) attack
There is a dearth of drinking water in Chennai nowadays.
(1) extravagance
(2) scarcity
(3) abundance
(4) sufficiency
The freedom fighters advocated the use of indigenous goods.
(1) cheap
(2) native
(3) silly
(4) foreign
Sam’s rustic behaviour astonished his teacher.
(1) impetuous
(2) genuine
(4) awkward
(3) sophisticated
To purge society of all vices is really a difficult job.
(1) promote
(2) increase
(3) rehabilitate
(4) encourage
Nisha felt tired with the monotony of her daily routine.
(1) peacefulness
(2) variety
(3) excitement
(4) range
The old woman had a loud shrill voice.
(1) feeble
(1) blunt
(4) inaudible
(3) piercing
It is a sin to adopt a callous attitude towards your duties.
(1) cooperative
(2) cautious
(3) considerate
(4) courteous
Only an inquisitive person can gain proper knowledge and achieve success in life.
(1) careless
(2) indolent
(3) dull
(4) uninterested
10. Rajesh is always jeered at by his companions .
(1) praised
(2) scorned
(3) mocked
(4) mourned
11. The proposal was denounced by one and all.
(1) announced
(2) pronounced
(3) appraised
(4) commended
12. Where ignorance is sometimes bliss, illiteracy is always considered a curse.
(1) erudition
(2) experience
(3) education
(4) information
13. The news brought by the maid servant is authentic.
(1) authoritative
(2) baseless
(3) ridiculous
(4) vacuous
14. The doctor said that there was no improvement in the condition of the patient.
(1) depression
(2) deterioration
(3) change
(4) degradation
15. He plunged into the turbid waters of the stream.
(1) deep
(2) muddy
(3) clear
(4) fresh
16. This new magazine is known for its comprehensive coverage of news.
(1) casual
(2) inadequate
(3) indifferent
(4) superficial
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17. Many people suffer setbacks in their career because of their inherent levity,
(1) promptness
(2) frivolity
(3) religiosity
(4) gravity
18.
There was something strange and morbid about the whole house.
(1) healthy
(2) cheerful
(3) insipid
(4) appealing
19. His critics found in his overt statements some hidden designs.
(1) converse
(2) pervert
(3) covert
(4) contrived
20. Given these constraints, we had no alternative but to suggest an improvised solution,
(1) complete
(2) preplanned
(3) permanent
(4) prescribed
21. They have tried their best to pacify the flood victims.
(1) attract
(2) gratify
(3) provoke
(4) convince
22. The judge implicated the investigating officer in the murder.
(1) absolved
(2) convicted
(3) explicated
(4) liberated
23. His comment was considered pointless by the chairman of the meeting.
(1) significant
(2) original
(3) objective
(4) impartial
24. The rainfall was plentiful in this part during the last season.
(1) handful
(2) rare
(3) small
(4) scanty
25. I have vague memories of my childhood.
(1) pleasant
(2) sufficient
(4) clear
(3) profound
26. There is a fair chance that we might win the game.
(1) distant
(2) unlikely
(3) remote
(4) bare
27. His father was generally gratified with his examination report.
(1) displeased
(2) worried
(3) surprised
(4) disheartened
28. The man was reprimanded by his family for sending his son to the army.
(1) encouraged
(2) rebuked
(3) rewarded
(4) praised
29. His transfer order was revoked yesterday.
(1) issued
(2) proposed
(3) approved
(4) prepared
30. There is always ambiguity in what he says.
(1) lucidity
(2) clarity
(3) transparency
(4) plainness
31.
He was erroneous in his assessment of her character.
(1) justified
(2) impartial
(3) sincere
(4)correct
32. His flippancy makes it difficult to have a prolonged conversation with him.
(1) silence
(2) seriousness
(3) reticence
(1) vanity
33.
The general did not divulge the secret.
(1) disguise
(2) veil
(3) suppress
(4) conceal
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34. I took a durable pair of shoes when I went on the trip.
(1) worn out
(2) fragile
(3) light
(4) delicate
35. There are many luxuriant forests in this region.
(1) dense
(2) small
(3) slender
(4) thin
36. He was immaculately dressed for the party.
(1) imperfectly
(3) irresponsibly
(3) incompletely
(4) moderately
37. The teachers have been observing his impertinent behaviour.
(1) indifferent
(2) polite
(3) rude
(4) unpleasant
38. The new disciplinary measures strengthened the economy of the country.
(1) destroyed
(2) changed
(3) crippled
(4) constrained
39.
There are people who always deprecate the achievements of others.
(1) exaggerate
(2) appreciate
(3) approve
(4) encourage
40. The refreshment we received at the end of a hard day’s work was frugal.
(1) lavish
(2) exorbitant
(3) wholesome
(4) ostentatious
41. The new manager is well-known for his rigid approach to all problems.
(1) sympathetic
(2) swift
(3) flexible
(4) logical
42. My neighbour is very wealthy, but rather parsimonious in his habits.
(1) extravagant
(2) arrogent
(3) careless
(4) strict
43. The inhabitants of the newly discovered continent were believed to be barbarians,
(1) bad
(2) uncivilised
(3) crude
(4) civilised
44. Adversity is the source of numerous vices.
(1) money
(2) luxury
(3) wealth
(4) prosperity
45. The casual remarks made by the candidate were taken note of by all members of the board.
(1) sincere
(2) careful
(3) flawless
(4) precise
46. Vijay is an amateur photographer.
(1) skilled
(2) professional
(3) average
(4) experienced
47. The artist led a very austere life.
(1) eventful
(2) exciting
(3) boisterous
(4) luxurious
48. If you pamper the naughty boy, you will regret it.
(1) neglect
(2) scold
(3) discourage
(4) scorn
49. The witness affirmed on oath that he was an eye witness to the crime under investigation.
(1) denied
(2) contradicted
(3) opposed
(4) disputed
50. These regulations are meant to prevent further appointments.
(1) aggravate
(1) expedite
(1) accelerate
Vis taMind | Englis h Foundatio n | B MM103 01 | 58 of 59
(4) facilitate
Answer key
Practice Exercise - 1
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(2)
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(2)
(2)
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(2)
(4)
(2)
(3)
(2)
(4)
(2)
(1)
(4)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(1)
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(2)
(3)
(2)
(3)
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(2)
(3)
(2)
(3)
(3)
(2)
(4)
(2)
(2)
(1)
(3)
(4)
(2)
(4)
(2)
41.
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(3)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(3)
(3)
(4)
(4)
(1)
(3)
(3)
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(2)
(1)
(4)
(3)
(3)
61.
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(4)
(4)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(3)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(2)
(4)
(3)
(1)
(3)
(2)
(2)
(4)
(1)
(1)
81. (4)
82. (1)
83. (2)
84. (1)
85. (2)
86. (1)
87. (4)
88. (1)
89. (4)
90. (4)
91. (3)
92. (2)
93. (3)
94. (2)
95. (4)
96. (1)
97. (3)
98. (1)
99. (2)
100. (2)
(4)
(2)
(4)
(2)
(4)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(2)
(3)
41.
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50.
Practice Exercise - 2
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(2)
(3)
(4)
(3)
(3)
(2)
(3)
(3)
(4)
(1)
11.
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(4)
(1)
(2)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(4)
(2)
(3)
(2)
21.
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(3)
(1)
(1)
(4)
(4)
(3)
(1)
(4)
(1)
(2)
31.
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(3)
(1)
(4)
(4)
(2)
(2)
(4)
(1)
(1)
(4)
Vis taMind | Englis h Foundatio n | B MM103 01 | 59 of 59
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