ENGLISH COMPREHENSION

Direction: In Question Nos.1 to 5 four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase
underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the
meaning of the idiom/phrase and mark it in the Answer Sheet.

1. Sachin Tendulkar’s batting skills make him a cut above the rest.
A) taller than B) superior to
C) senior to D) different from
2. I am very interest to know the outcome of the debate, kindly keep me in the
loop.
A) out of it
B) informed about the fees
C) informed about the last date of joining
D) informed regularly
3. There is no cut and dried method for doing this.
A) Simple B) Honest C) readymade D) understandable
4. Suddenly the man blacked out during the parade and had to be helped to a
quiet place.
A) lost temper B) lost control over himself
C) lost consciousness D) lost balance
5. Hold your horses for a moment while I make a phone call.
A) be patient B) Stay out C) be quiet D) Wait

Directions: In questions Nos. (6-15), a sentence/ a part of the sentence is

underlined. Below are given alternatives to the underlined part at A), (B), (C) which
may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case no improvement
is needed your answer is (D). Mark your answer in the Answer Sheet

6. The visitors arrived at a lucky moment.

A) an opportunistic B) an opportunity
C) an opportune D) no improvement
7. Any of these two books is good.
A) any of this B) either of these
C) any other of this D) no improvement
8. The report highlights a number of instance of injustice.
A) highlight a number of instances of injustice
B) highlights a numbers of instances of injustice
C) highlights a number of instances of injustice
D) No improvement
9. He was for a time our captain.
A) for sometime B) once
C) at any time D) No improvement
 10.He made the utmost effort to save us.
A) an all-out B) an altered
C) an intentional D) No improvement
11.He belongs to a rich family
A) a well-to-do family B) an upper class family
C) a well-known family D) no improvement
12. Suraj looked at Sunil with a question.
A) questioningly B) questionably
C) wistfully D) no improvement
13.The government can see scarcely any valid reason to launch an inquiry.
A) cannot scarcely see any valid reason
B) can see any valid reason scarcely
C) can scarcely see any valid reason
D) no improvement
14. Henry is taking John for tea.
A) taking John on tea B) taking John to tea
C) talking John at tea D) No improvement
15.The medicines made miracles and healed me in two days.
A) the medicines brought miracles
B) The medicines worked miracles
C) The medicine performed miracles
D) No improvement

Directions: In questions Nos.16 to 22, out of the four alternatives, choose the
one which can be substituted for the given words/sentences and indicate it by
blackening the appropriate oval [.] in the Answer Sheet

16.Person believing in free will

A) guardian B) Tyrant C) Humanitarian D) Libertarian
17.Small pieces of metal that fly out from an exploding bomb
A) Shrapnel B) Splinters C)Filings D) Bullets
18.All the arts, beliefs and social institutions etc. characteristic of a race
A)culture B) civilization C) Infrastructure D) Ritual
19.The act of speaking about one’s thoughts when one is alone.
A) silence B) monologue C) Dialogue D) Soliloquy
20.To remove an objectionable part from a book.
A) exterminate B) Expurgate C) Extirpate D) Destroy
21.Pertaining to sheep
A) Canine B) Bovine C) Ovine D) Feline
22.Hole excavated by an animal as dwelling
A) Borrow B) Burrow C) Bore D) Pierce
Directions: In questions Nos. 23 & 24 four words are given in each question, out
of which only one word is correctly spelt. Find the correctly spelt word and mark
your answer in the answer sheet.

23.A) Corralative B) Correlative C) Corilative D) Correletive

24.A) Sychological B) Psychological C) Psykological D) Sykological

Directions: in questions No’s (25-29) you have two brief passages with 5
questions following each passage. Read the passages carefully and choose the best
answer to each question out of the four alternatives and mark it by blackening the
appropriate oval [.] in the Answer Sheet

Passage – I (Question Nos. 25 to 29)

Poverty can be defined as a social phenomenon in which a section of the society is

unable to fulfill even its basic necessities of life. When a substantial segment of the
society is deprived of the minimum level of living and continues at a bare
subsistence level, that society is said to be plagued with mass poverty. The
countries of the third would exhibit invariably the existence of mass poverty,
although pockets exist even in the developed countries of Europe and America.
Attempts have been made in all societies to define poverty, but all of them are
conditioned by the vision of minimum or good life obtaining in society. For instance,
the concept of poverty in the U.S.A. would be significantly different from that in
India because the average man is able to afford a much higher level of living in the
United States. There is an effort in all definitions of poverty to approach the
average level of living in a society and as such these definitions reflect the
coexistence of inequalities in a society and the extent to which different societies
are prepared to tolerate them. For instance, in India, the generally accepted
definition of poverty emphasizes minimum level of living rather than a reasonable
level of living. This attitude is borne out of a realization that it would not quantum
of basic needs for some decades and therefore, to talk about a reasonable level of
living or good life may appear to be wishful thinking at the present stage. Thus,
political considerations enter the definitions of poverty because programmers of
alleviating poverty may become prohibitive as the vision of a good life widens.

25.What is poverty according to the writer?

A) Ability to consider it as social phenomenon of a substantial segment of
society.
B) Inability of a society to provide the basic necessities of life.
C) A political compulsion that dictates economic policies.
D) A form of exhibition of subsistence living.
26. Societies in the third World can be characterized as plagued by mass
poverty, because
 A) Europe and America have pockets of poverty.
B) Poverty is a mass social phenomenon.
C) There is a wide variation in the definition of poverty.
D) Societies live at a bare subsistence level.
27.What conditions the various attempts to define poverty?
A) The definition of poverty in India.
B) The definition of poverty in the U.S.A.
C) The vision of minimum or good life.
D) Political Considerations.
28.What do all definitions of poverty do?
A) Reflect Co-existence of inequalities in society
B) Societies tolerance of inequalities
C) Approach the average level of living in a society.
D) Minimum level of living in India.
29. Definition of poverty in India emphasizes minimum level of living because
A) it is impossible at this stage to provide a reasonable quantum of living
B) political considerations enter the definitions of poverty.
C) There is a reasonable level of good living.
D) Programmers of alleviation of poverty have been initiated.

Passage – II (Question Nos. 30to34)

By the mid-nineteenth century, mass production of paper patterns, the emergence

of the home sewing machine, and the convenience of mail order catalogues brought
fashionable clothing into the American home. By the early twentieth century, home
economists working in extension and outreach programs taught women how to use
paper patterns to improve the fit and efficiency of new garments as well as how to
update existing ones.
Teachers of home economics traditionally made home sewing a critical part of their
curriculum, emphasizing self-sufficiency and resourcefulness for young women.
However, with the increasing availability of mass-produced clothing in catalogues
and department stores, more and more women preferred buying garments to
making them. As a result, home economists shifted their attention to consumer
education.
Through field study, analysis and research, they became experts on the purchase
and preservation of ready-to-wear clothing for the family, offering budgeting
instruction targeted at adolescent girls. Modern home sewing made it possible for
American women to transcend their economic differences and geographic locations
with clothing that was increasingly standardized. The democratization of fashion
continued through the twentieth century as the ready-to- wear market expanded
and home sewing became more of a pastime than a necessity.
 30.How did home sewing help American women?
A) They became field analysts and researchers.
B) They went beyond economic boundaries.
C) They found good jobs.
D) They became excellent teachers.
31.What improved the fit and efficiency of new garments?
A) Sewing machines B) Economists
C) Mass production D) Paper patterns
32.What were the skills that were emphasized for young women?
A) Self confidence and self-esteem
B) Self-sufficiency and resourcefulness
C) Resourcefulness and self confidence
D) Prudence and resourcefulness
33.Who became experts on the purchase and preservation of ready-to-wear
clothing for the family?
A) Owners of department stores
B) Field-study analysts
C) Young women
D) Teachers of home economics
34.Who was the target group?
A) Young women B) Young girls
C) Adolescent girls D) Working women

Directions: In questions Nos.35 to 39 some parts of the sentences have errors

and some are correct. Find out which part of a sentence has an error and blacken
the oval [.] corresponding to the appropriate level (A, B, C). If a sentence is free
from error, blacken the oval corresponding to (D) in the answer sheet.

35.I shall have to /withdraw from my savings/to buy a new car./ No error
A B C D
36.The whole block of flats /Including two shops were/destroyed in fire/No error
A B C D
37.He feels his troubles/as much or /even more than they./No error
A B C D
38.I like reading /more than / to play. / No error
A B C D
39.The old lady swooned / but was soon/ restored at senses. / No error
A B C D

Directions: In questions Nos. 40 to 44, sentence given with blanks to be filled in

with an appropriate word(s). Four alternatives are suggested for each question.
Chooses the correct alternative out of the four and indicate it by blackening the
appropriate oval [.] in the Answer Sheet.
 40. He was_____ about whether to do it or not.
A) ambiguous B) ambivalent C) ambidextrous D) uncertain
41.His conduct is bad, and his honesty is not ____Suspicion
A) above B) beyond C) under D) in
42.The minister ____On the petition before it was taken up for discussion
A) could sign B) signed C) had signed D) must sign
43.The foolish Crows _____to sing.
A) crow B) jump C) tried D) try
44.Truculent in defending their individual rights of sovereignty under the articles
of confederation, the newly formed states _____constantly
A) apologized B) digressed C) conferred D) squabbled

Directions: In questions Nos. 45 to 47, choose the word opposite in meaning to

the given word and mark it in the answer sheet.

45.Indict
A) Accuse B) Exonerate C) Incriminate D) Impeach
46.Suppress
A) Reveal B) Increase C) Open D) Explain
47.Vocal
A) Voluble B) Calm C) quite D) Silent

Directions: In question Nos. 48 to 50, out of the four alternatives, choose the one
which best expresses the meaning of the given word and mark it in the answer
sheet.

48.Convalesce
A) Diminish B) Admonish C) Recover D) Convey
49.Porous
A) Adventurous B) Permeable C) Pungent D) Concrete
50.Insipid
A) Spicy B) Bland C) Interesting D) Warm
 Answer Key

1. B
2. D
3. C
4. C
5. D
6. C
7. B
8. C
9. B
10. A
11. D
12. A
13. C
14. B
15. B
16. D
17. A
18. A
19. D
20. B
21. C
22. B
23. B
24. B
25. B
26. D
27. C
28. A
29. A
30. B
31. D
32. B
33. D
34. C
35. D ( from my savings means a portion of his savings, if you remove from it means all of his savings
but the statement as such is grammatically correct).
36. B & C (Block represents singular subject, including two shops is additional information- so
change were to was and because the place of destruction is specific you need the definite article
‘the’ before Fire.
37. B & C – as much as or…. positive degree of comparison. Change ‘they ‘ to ‘him making reference
to ‘his’ in part A.
38. C ( Parallel syllogism – change to play to playing)
39. C – ( Come to senses is an idiom that means ‘to begin thinking sensibly’, the preposition’ at’ will
change to ‘to’.
40. B ( Ambivalent means ‘uncertainty or indecisiveness as to which course to follow’ corresponding
to the meaning that the context conveys)
41. A – (Above suspicion is an idiom that means
‘so trustworthy as never to be suspected of wrongdoing’, hint word – ‘not’ and clue phrase ‘ his
conduct is bad’.)
42. C ( Need the past perfect tense as it refers to a time earlier than before now and is used when
one event happens before another in the past).
43. C ( Tried focuses on the action word sing and completes the meaning of the context whereas
‘try’ requires a continuation of the context which is not available. Also since it’s a plural subject
option ‘A’ & ‘B’ will not correspond as they are singular verbs.
44. D ( Clue word – ‘ Truculent which means eager to fight or expressing bitter opposition or
hostility and squabbled means a noisy quarrel or an argument.
45. B
46. A
47. D
48. C
49. B
50. B