General English Question & Answers

1.In the following question, out of the four alternatives, choose the word which
best expresses the meaning of the given word.

COPIOUS

a. VAST

b. IDENTICAL

c. PLENTIFUL

d. MESSY

Ans. PLENTIFUL

Explanation:-‘Copious’ is used for ‘abundance in supply & quantity’. Hence,

‘plentiful’ will be the most appropriate answer for this.

2.In the following question, out of the four alternatives, choose the word which is
opposite in meaning to the given word.

EXTRANEOUS
a. UNUSUAL

b. DISPIRITED

c. RELEVANT

d. INTRUSIVE

Ans. RELEVANT

Explanation:-‘Extraneous’ is used for ‘something irrelevant to the subject being

dealt with’. Hence, the opposite to this will be ‘Relevant’.

3. Four words are given, out of which only one word is spelt correctly. Choose the
correctly spelt word.

a. discripency

b. discripancy

c. discrepancy

d. descripancy
Ans. discrepancy

Explanation:-‘Discrepancy’ stands for ‘a lack of compatibility or similarity

between two or more facts’.

4. In the following questions, one part of the sentence may have an error. Find out
which part of the sentence has an error and click the button corresponding to it. If
the sentence is free from error, click the "No error" option.

The Statesman has(A)/the larger circulation of any (B)/English dailies.(C)/No

Error(D)

a. A

b. B

c. C

d. D

Ans. B
Explanation:- superlative degree of large should be used instead of comparative
degree. Hence, the correct sentence will be-“The Statesman has the largest
circulation of any English dailies.”

5. In the following questions, one part of the sentence may have an error. Find out
which part of the sentence has an error and click the button corresponding to it. If
the sentence is free from error, click the "No error" option.

A period of six years (A)/ have elapsed (B)/ since I last saw her. (C)/No Error(D)

a. A

b. B

c. C

d. D

Ans. B

Explanation:- The correct sentence will be- “ A period of six years had elapsed
since I last saw her.”
6. In the following questions, one part of the sentence may have an error. Find out
which part of the sentence has an error and click the button corresponding to it. If
the sentence is free from error, click the "No error" option.

For several years now(A)/my newspaper agent has been spelling(B)/my name in
correctly.(C)/No Error(D)

a. A

b. B

c. C

d. D

Ans. D

Explanation:- The sentence has no issue with grammar and syntax. Hence,
option(d.) is the correct one.

7. The sentences given with blanks are to be filled with an appropriate word(s).
Four alternatives are suggested for each question. For each question, choose the
correct alternative and click the button corresponding to it.
One of the reasons the impressionists caused such a scandal was __________ their
colors were too bright.

a. because of which

b. due to

c. because

d. of

Ans. because

Explanation:- The second one expresses the reason for the first one. Hence, the
appropriate connective here will be ‘because’.

8. The sentences given with blanks are to be filled with an appropriate word(s).
Four alternatives are suggested for each question. For each question, choose the
correct alternative and click the button corresponding to it.

She must sometimes __________ to run away.

a. has wanted
b. have wanted

c. having want

d. has want

Ans. have wanted

Explanation:- The sentence contains ‘must’ , which is always followed with ‘have’.
Hence, the correct sentence will-“She must sometimes have wanted to run away.”

9. The sentences given with blanks are to be filled with an appropriate word(s).
Four alternatives are suggested for each question. For each question, choose the
correct alternative and click the button corresponding to it.

The bank decided to ___________ them the money as they were reliable clients.

a. let

b. lend

c. borrow

d. lease
Ans. lend

Explanation:- The verb ‘lend’ is the most suitable for banks because banks usually
give loans to its clients instead of letting, borrowing, and leasing.

10. In each of the questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase.
Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase and
click the button corresponding to it.

Smooth ruffled feathers.

a. Comb untidy hair

b. Make people feel less offended

c. Tousle someone's hair

d. Stroke a pet animal

Ans. Make people feel less offended

Explanation:- The idiom ‘Smooth ruffled feathers’ is used to attempt to calm or

placate someone who is annoyed, irritated, or upset.
11. In each of the questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase.
Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase and
click the button corresponding to it.

Assume airs

a. Take tight

b. Remain calm

c. Act innocent

d. Pretend superiority

Ans. Pretend superiority

Explanation:-“ Assume airs” is used when someone is pretending to be superior.

12. In each of the questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase.
Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase and
click the button corresponding to it.

Play truant
a. Play a tyrant

b. Stay away from duty

c. Be responsible

d. Be alert

Ans. Stay away from duty

Explanation:- “play truant” is sometimes used in English literature when someone

stay away from his duty/routine work without explanation.

13. Out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the
given words/sentences and click the button corresponding to it.

One who studies the working of the human mind.

a. Anthropologist

b. Psychologist

c. Neurologist
d. Ethnologist

Ans. Psychologist

Explanation:- A psychologist is someone who studies the mind and behavior.

14. Out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the
given words/sentences and click the button corresponding to it.

Place given to soldiers to live in

a. Barracks

b. Trench

c. Garage

d. Quay

Ans. Barracks

Explanation:- A barrack or barracks is a building or group of buildings built to

house soldiers.
15. Out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the
given words/sentences and click the button corresponding to it.

A person of South African Dutch descent

a. Boar

b. Boer

c. Boor

d. Bore

Ans. Boer

Explanation:- Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans noun for "farmer". In South African
contexts, it also denotes the descendants of the then Dutch-speaking settlers of the
eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa.

16. A sentence/a part of the sentence is underlined. Four alternatives are given to
the underlined part which will improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative
and click the button corresponding to it. In case no improvement is needed, click
the button corresponding to "No improvement".
She took the cycle which he bought yesterday.

a. that he bought yesterday.

b. that he had bought yesterday

c. that he has bought yesterday

d. No Improvement

Ans. that he had bought yesterday

Explanation:- As a rule of thumb, if the first part of a sentence is in past tense, then
the second part should be in past perfect tense. Hence, the correct sentence will
be-“She took the cycle that he had bought yesterday.”

17. A sentence/a part of the sentence is underlined. Four alternatives are given to
the underlined part which will improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative
and click the button corresponding to it. In case no improvement is needed, click
the button corresponding to "No improvement".
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I must say to a feeling of uneasiness.

a. confess

b. connive

c. utter

d. No Improvement

Ans. confess

Explanation:- the correct sentence will be-“I must confess a feeling of uneasiness.”

18. A sentence/a part of the sentence is underlined. Four alternatives are given to
the underlined part which will improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative
and click the button corresponding to it. In case no improvement is needed, click
the button corresponding to "No improvement".

The police booked a case against the taxi driver for wrong parking.

a. restricted

b. wrote

c. filed
d. No Improvement

Ans. filed

Explanation:- ‘Booked’ is used, when someone is hired on advance payment.

Hence the correct sentence formation will be-“The police filed a case against the
taxi driver for wrong parking.”

19. A sentence/a part of the sentence is underlined. Four alternatives are given to
the underlined part which will improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative
and click the button corresponding to it. In case no improvement is needed, click
the button corresponding to "No improvement".

One of our students originates from Leh.

a. comes

b. origins

c. belongs

d. No Improvement

Ans. comes
Explanation:- ‘Origination’ or related words are used, when something is still
connected with the origin. Hence, the correct sentence will be as following-

“One of our students comes from Leh.”

20. A sentence/a part of the sentence is underlined. Four alternatives are given to
the underlined part which will improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative
and click the button corresponding to it. In case no improvement is needed, click
the button corresponding to "No improvement".

Scarcely had he left the place when his friend came.

a. He had scarcely leave

b. He had left scarcely

c. He scarcely had left

d. No Improvement

Ans. No Improvement

Explanation:- The sentence needs no improvement.

A passage is given with 5 questions following it. Read the passage carefully and
choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives and click the
button corresponding to it.

He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and
then, maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream he fell
outwards and downwards into space. His mother had soared upwards. As he passed
beneath her, he heard the swish of her wings. Then a monstrous terror seized him
and his heart stood still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted a moment. The
next moment, he felt his wings spread outwards. The wind rushed against his
breast feathers, then under his stomach and against his wings. He could feel the tips
of his wings cutting through the air. He was not falling headlong now. He was
soaring gradually downwards and outwards.

He was no longer afraid. He just felt a bit dizzy. Then, he flapped his wings once
and he soared upwards. he uttered a joyous scream and flapped them again. He
soared higher. He raised his breast and banked against the wind. His mother
swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered her with another
scream.

21. The young seagull dived at the fish

a. maddened by anger
b. maddened by want

c. out of spite

d. out of loneliness

Ans. maddened by want

Explanation:- The young seagull dived at the fish maddened by hunger or want.

22. His heart stood still because he was seized by ______

a. a monstrous fury

b. courage

c. a monstrous terror

d. joy

Ans. a monstrous terror

Explanation:- the supported sentences for this question are as follows-

“As he passed beneath her, he heard the swish of her wings. Then a monstrous
terror seized him and his heart stood still.”

23. He was not falling headlong but

a. he was afraid

b. he was soaring downwards and outwards

c. his stomach was full

d. he was joining his father

Ans. he was soaring downwards and outwards

Explanation:- the supported sentences for this question are as follows-

“He was not falling headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards and
outwards.”

24. The seagull just felt dizzy

a. and was filled with fear

b. and was no longer afraid

c. and did not flap his wings anymore

d. and dived lower

Ans. and was no longer afraid

Explanation:- Consider the following lines for the answer-

“He was no longer afraid. He just felt a bit dizzy.”

25. What did the young seagull do when his mother swooped past him?

a. Let out a joyous scream

b. Screamed at her in anger

c. Made a loud noise

d. Flapped anxiously

Ans. Let out a joyous scream

Explanation:- Find the supported answer from the following sentences-

“He uttered a joyous scream and flapped them again. He soared higher. He raised
his breast and banked against the wind. His mother swooped past him, her wings
making a loud noise.”