1. Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word.
Prompt
- Gradual
- Quick
- Slow
- Lengthy
The correct answer is ‘Quick’.
Key Points
- The word ‘Prompt’ refers to something done without delay; immediate. (बिना देर किए कुछ किया; तुरंत)
- Example: They’ve written back already – that was a very prompt reply.
- The synonyms of the word ‘Prompt’ are “quick, swift, rapid, speedy”.
- Therefore we can say that the word ‘Quick’ is similar in meaning to the word ‘Prompt’.
- Hence, option 2 is the correct answer.
Additional Information
- The word ‘Prompt’ is used as a verb, an adjective, an adverb, and also as a noun.
- Gradual:- taking place or progressing slowly or by degrees. (धीरे-धीरे या डिग्री के अनुसार हो रहा है या प्रगति कर रहा है)
- Slow:- moving or operating, or designed to do so, only at a low speed; not quick or fast. (चलती या संचालन, या ऐसा करने के लिए डिज़ाइन किया गया, केवल कम गति पर; जल्दी या तेज नहीं)
- Lengthy:- (especially in reference to time) of considerable or unusual length, especially so as to be tedious. ((विशेषकर समय के संदर्भ में) काफी या असामान्य लंबाई का, विशेष रूप से थकाऊ होने के लिए)
- Sincere
- Grievance
- Liesure
- Seize
The incorrectly spelt word is ‘Liesure’.
Key Points
- The correct spelling of the selected word is ‘Leisure’.
- The word ‘Leisure’ (noun) refers to the time when you are free from work or other duties and can relax. (उस समय को संदर्भित करता है जब आप काम या अन्य कर्तव्यों से मुक्त होते हैं और आराम कर सकते हैं)
- Example:
- She has a limited amount of leisure time.
- The town lacks leisure facilities such as a swimming pool or squash courts.
- Example:
- Hence, option 3 is the correct answer.
Additional Information
- Sincere:- free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings. (ढोंग या छल से मुक्त; वास्तविक भावनाओं से आगे बढ़ना)
- Grievance:- a real or imagined wrong or other cause for complaint or protest, especially unfair treatment. (शिकायत या विरोध का एक वास्तविक या काल्पनिक गलत या अन्य कारण, विशेष रूप से अनुचित व्यवहार।)
- Seize:- take hold of suddenly and forcibly. (अचानक और जबरन पकड़ना।)
- Borrow
- Alottment
- Terrorism
- Allowance
The incorrect spelling is ‘Alottment’.
Key Points
- The correct spelling of the selected word is ‘Allotment’.
- The word ‘Allotment’ (noun) means the process of sharing something, or the amount that you get.
- Example:
- The allotment of the company’s shares to its employees is still to be decided.
- We have used up this year’s allotment of funds.
- Example:
- Hence option 2 is the correct answer.
4. Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word.
Hope
- Chance
- Courage
- Doubt
- Optimism
The correct answer is ‘Doubt’.
Key Points
- The word ‘Hope’ means to want something to happen or to be true, and usually have a good reason to think that it might
- Example: I’m hoping for an interview next week.
- The antonyms for the word ‘Hope’ are “pessimism, despair, doubt”.
- The word ‘Doubt’ refers to a feeling of not knowing what to believe or what to do, or the condition of being uncertain.
- Example: The future of the entire project is in some doubt.
- Therefore we can say that the word ‘Doubt’ is opposite in meaning to the word ‘Hope’.
- Hence, option 3 is the correct answer.
5. Select the option that can be used as a one-word substitute for the given group of words.
A self-governing country or region
- Democracy
- Monarchy
- Autonomy
- Anarchy
The correct answer is ‘Autonomy’.
Key Points
- The word ‘Autonomy’ (noun) means the quality or state of being self-governing.
- Example: Demonstrators demanded immediate autonomy for their region.
- Synonyms for the word ‘Autonomy’ are “free will, self-determination, volition”.
- Hence options 3 is the correct answer.
Additional Information
- Let’s look into the meaning of the other given words:
- Democracy: A country in which power is held by elected representatives.
- Monarchy: A country that has a king or queen.
- Anarchy: A situation in which there is no organization and control, especially in society, because there is no effective government.
6. Select the option that expresses the given sentence in reported speech.
“Is he alright now?” I asked my neighbour’s wife about her husband, Mr. Gulyani.
- I asked Mrs. Gulyani, my neighbour’s wife, if her husband was alright then
- I asked Mrs. Gulyani, my neighbour’s wife, if your husband will be alright now.
- I asked Mrs. Gulyani, my neighbour’s wife, if her husband had become alright then
- I asked Mrs. Gulyani, my neighbour’s wife, if her husband is alright now
The correct answer is ‘I asked Mrs. Gulyani, my neighbour’s wife, if her husband was alright then’.
Key Points
- The given sentence is in Direct Speech. As per the given question we have to change it into Indirect Speech.
- The rules of changing Direct Speech to Reported Speech:
- The given sentence is an example of an interrogative sentence.
- Hence, ‘Said to/said’ will be changed into ‘asked’, ‘inquired’, ‘interrogated’, etc.
- If the question is closed-ended (when the answer is ‘yes’ or ‘no’), conjunction if/whether is used.
- And, Commas and inverted commas will be removed.
- The given question is closed-ended. So, the conjunction ‘if’ will be used.
- ‘Helping verb’ will come after the subject.
- ‘Is’ will be changed to ‘was’.
- The word ‘now’ will be changed to ‘then’.
- Question mark (?) will be replaced with full-stop (.).
- Therefore, as per the points mentioned above, we find that the correct answer is Option 1.
Correct sentence: I asked Mrs. Gulyani, my neighbour’s wife, if her husband was alright then.
7. Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.
The sunrays burned my face
- My face is burned by the sunrays
- My face has been burned by the sunrays
- My face is being burned by the sunrays.
- My face was burned by the sunrays
The correct answer is ‘My face was burned by the sunrays’.
Key Points
- The given sentence is in Active Voice. As per the given question we have to change it into Passive Voice.
- The process of transformation is as follows:
- The structure of the given sentence is as follows:
- Subject + V2+ Object. (Active Voice)
- Subject (objective case)+ was/were + V3 + Object (subjective case). (Passive Voice)
- Example:
- Their cousin showed them some rare photographs. (Active Voice)
- They were shown some rare photographs by their cousin. (Passive Voice)
- The structure of the given sentence is as follows:
- Here in the given question ‘The sunrays’ is the subject.
- And ‘My face’ is the object.
- The subject will be put in place of the object and the object will be put in place of the subject.
- And ‘burned’ will be changed to ‘was burned’.
- The preposition ‘by’ will be added.
- Therefore, as per the points mentioned above, we find that the correct answer is Option 4.
Correct sentence will be: My face was burned by the sunrays.
8. Select the option that can be used as a one-word substitute for the given group of words.
A place where coins, medals or tokens are made
- Mint
- Casting
- Mill
- Workshop
The correct answer is ‘Mint’.
Key Points
- A mint is a place where the new coins of a country are made.
- The word ‘Mint’ is a noun.
- Hence, option 1 is the correct answer.
9. The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.
The woodcutter felled / some trees / with hardly / many effort at all.
- many effort at all
- some trees
- with hardly
- The woodcutter felled
The correct answer is ‘many effort at all’.
Key Points
- The error lies in the part ‘many effort at all’.
- The sentence talks about a woodcutter who felled some trees with almost no effort at all.
- The phrase ‘hardly any’ means ‘almost no’.
- Example: There’s hardly any stuffing left in the sofa.
- Therefore the word ‘many’ in the last part of the sentence must be replaced with ‘any’ to make the sentence grammatically correct.
- Hence option 1 is the correct answer.
The correct sentence will be: The woodcutter felled some trees with hardly any effort at all.
10. Select the most appropriate meaning of the following idiom.
To take a chill pill
- To gulp a tablet for a cold
- To drink cold water
- To calm down
- To ask a doctor for medication
The correct answer is ‘To calm down’.
Key Points
- An idiom is a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words.
- The phrase ‘chill pill‘ (noun) refers to something that has a calming or relaxing effect. (कुछ ऐसा जिसका शांत या आराम देने वाला प्रभाव हो)
- Therefore the idiom ‘To take a chill pill’ (often used imperatively) means to calm down; relax. (शांत होना; आराम करना)
- Example: Stop shouting! Take a chill pill!
- Hence option 3 is the correct answer.
11. Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word.
Putrefy
- Destroy
- Contaminate
- Combine
- Decompose
The correct answer is ‘Combine’.
Key Points
- The word ‘Putrefy’ means to go through decomposition.
- Example: The body had putrefied beyond recognition.
- The antonyms for the word ‘Putrefy’ are “restore, combine, integrate”.
- The word ‘Combine’ means to come together to form a single unit.
- Example: The two countries combined against their common enemy.
- Therefore we can say that the word ‘Combine’ is opposite in meaning to the word ‘Putrefy’.
- Hence option 3 is the correct answer.
12. Select the option that will improve the underlined part of the given sentence. In case no improvement is needed select ‘No improvement required’.
Fierce competition against restaurants has driven up the prices.
- along
- No improvement required
- among
- through
The correct answer is ‘among’.
Key Points
- The given sentence talks about an undefined number or a group of restaurants.
- The preposition ‘among’ is used when talking about people or things that are not distinct and are viewed as a group.
- Example: A decision that has caused a lot of anger among women.
- Therefore the word ‘against’ must be replaced with the preposition ‘among’ to make the sentence grammatically correct.
- Hence option 3 is the correct answer.
13. Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If no substitution is required, select ‘No substitution required’.
“Can you give me so many examples of subordinate clauses?”, the teacher asked the class.
- No substitution required
- some many examples of
- some few examples of
- some more examples of
The correct answer is ‘some more examples of’.
Key Points
- The use of ‘so many examples of’ is incorrect as per the context of the given sentence.
- ‘So many’ is used indicating a particular but unspecified quantity.
- Example: I told her, in so many words, to stop interfering.
- In the given sentence the teacher asked for a few more examples.
- ‘Some more’ is used to indicate an additional number or amount of something.
- Example: Would you like some more cake?
- Therefore ‘so many examples of’ must be replaced with ‘some more examples of’ to make the sentence contextually and grammatically correct.
- Hence option 4 is the correct answer.
14. The following sentence has been divided into parts. One of them may contain an error. Select the part that contains the error from the given options. If you don’t find any error, mark ‘No error’ in your answer.
The river appears to have / got its name / from the town nearby.
- got its name
- from the town nearby
- No error
- The river appears to have
The correct No error.
Key Points
- The use of the verb ‘appears’, meaning seem; give the impression of being, in the first part of the given sentence is grammatically correct as it follows a singular noun ‘river’.
- The use of the preposition ‘to’ in this context is also correct.
- The use of the verb ‘got’ (past form of ‘get’) is also correct as the sentence indicates a past event, the time when the river got its name.
- The use of the preposition ‘from’ in third part of the given sentence is also correct as it is indicating the point in space at which a journey, motion, or action starts, as in this case, the place where from the river got its name.
- Therefore the given sentence is grammatically and contextually correct and free from any error.
- Hence the correct answer is option 3.
Important Points
- The perfect infinitive has the following structure: (to) have + past participle.
- Examples are: to have missed, to have written, to have worked, to have left etc.
- Perfect infinitives can have the same kind of meaning as perfect or past tenses.
- I am glad to have found a new job. (= I am glad that I have found a new job.)
Confusion Points
- The past participle of the irregular verb “get” can be either “gotten” or “got,” depending on whether you’re using UK or US English.
15. Sentences of a paragraph are given below in jumbled order. Arrange the sentences in the right order to form a meaningful and coherent paragraph.
A. “Excellently well,” said she; “we have everything that we want; I have but one prayer, that we may have a heavy storm of rain to water our plants.”
B. A man who had two daughters married one to a gardener and the other to a potter.
C. Off he went to the potter’s home and asked his other daughter how matters were with her.
D. After a while he paid a visit to the gardener’s home and asked his daughter how she was, and how it fared with her.
- ACDB
- DCAB
- BDAC
- BCDA
The correct answer is ‘BDAC’.
Key Points
- The given question is a sentence jumble.
- From the jumbled sentences we can collect that the passage is talking about a man who had two daughters and where he married them off to.
- Sentence B is independent of the any other sentences as it introduces the main characters of the passage, i.e., the man and his two daughters. Thus, sentence B is the first part of the given sequence.
- Sentence D follows sentence B as it states the incident that follows sentence B, i.e., the man visiting his daughter’s place after her marriage.
- Sentence A follows sentence D as it is directly linked to it as sentence A serves the reply from the first daughter to the question asked by the man in sentence D.
- Sentence C is the concluding part as it shows us the man visiting his second daughter after he finished talking to his first daughter in the previous sentence.
The rearranged paragraph will be: A man who had two daughters married one to a gardener and the other to a potter. After a while he paid a visit to the gardener’s home and asked his daughter how she was, and how it fared with her. “Excellently well,” said she, “we have everything that we want; I have but one prayer, that we may have a heavy storm of rain to water our plants.” Off he went to the potter’s home and asked his other daughter how matters were with her.
16. Sentences of a paragraph are given below in jumbled order. Arrange the sentences in the right order to form a meaningful and coherent paragraph.
A. While India is home to 75 per cent of the tigers in the world, the Global Tiger Day, as it is also known – sees awareness events organised in the country, as well as in neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal.
B. Its primary objective is to preserve the natural habitat of the tiger.
C. International Tiger Day was initiated in 2010, at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit.
D. This annual event observed on 29 July, aims to create awareness on tiger conservation.
- CDBA
- CABD
- DCBA
- BACD
The correct answer is ‘CDBA’.
Key Points
- The given sentences are based on the International Tiger Day.
- Sentence C is independent of any other sentences as it introduces us to the theme of the passage, i.e. the International Tiger Day. Thus, sentence C can be used to introduce the passage – International Tiger Day was initiated in 2010, at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit.
- Sentence D follows sentence C as it further states the day on which the International Tiger Day is observed and what it aims for – This annual event observed on 29 July, aims to create awareness on tiger conservation.
- Sentence B follows sentence D further elaborating the objectives of this special day, as talked about in the previous sentence – Its primary objective is to preserve the natural habitat of the tiger.
- Finally sentence A is used as the conclusion of the passage as it states the places where this day is celebrated and also provides the numerical data of the number of tigers present – While India is home to 75 per cent of the tigers in the world, the Global Tiger Day, as it is also known – sees awareness events organised in the country, as well as in neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal.
The rearranged paragraph will be: International Tiger Day was initiated in 2010, at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit. This annual event observed on 29 July, aims to create awareness on tiger conservation. Its primary objective is to preserve the natural habitat of the tiger. While India is home to 75 per cent of the tigers in the world, the Global Tiger Day, as it is also known – sees awareness everts organised in the country, as well as in neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal.
17. Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.
Help from relatives ______ him in difficult times.
- approved
- supported
- allowed
- passed
The correct answer is ‘supported’.
Key Points
- The sentence talks about a person who got the help from his relatives, emotionally, during his difficult times.
- We can say the sentence is talking about emotional or practical help by the context of the sentence – “in difficult times”.
- The word ‘support’ means to help someone emotionally or in a practical way.
- Example: My family has always supported me in whatever I’ve wanted to do.
- Therefore the word ‘supported’ fits most appropriately in the blank.
- Hence option 2 is the correct answer.
18. Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word.
Dedicated
- Tedious
- Boring
- Dreary
- Committed
The correct answer is ‘Committed’.
Key Points
- The word ‘Dedicated’ refers to believing that something is very important and giving a lot of time and energy to it.
- Example: The Green Party is dedicated to protecting the environment.
- The synonyms of the ‘dedicated’ are “devoted, faithful, committed”.
- The word ‘committed’ means loyal and willing to give your time and energy to something that you believe in.
- Example: We are committed to withdrawing our troops by the end of the year.
- Therefore we can say that the word ‘Committed’ is the same in meaning as ‘Dedicated’.
- Hence option 4 is the correct answer.
Additional Information
- Tedious:- too long, slow, or dull; tiresome or monotonous.
- Boring:- make (a hole) in something, especially with a revolving tool.
- Dreary:- dull, bleak, and lifeless; depressing.
19. Select the most appropriate meaning of the following idiom.
To walk on air
- To be completely free
- To feel very depressed
- To be very rich
- To be very happy
The correct answer is ‘to be very happy’.
Key Points
- An idiom is a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g. over the moon, see the light ).
- The idiom ‘walk on air’ means to feel extremely excited or happy.
- Example: After the delivery of her baby, she was walking on air.
- Therefore the idiom ‘To walk on air’ means ‘to be very happy’.
- Hence option 4 is the correct answer.
20. Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.
The interviewer asked Gautam, “Can you tell me what your ______ in life are?”
- frivolities
- trivialities
- determinations
- aspirations
The correct answer is ‘aspirations’.
Key Points
- In the given question the interviewer asked Gautam a question.
- By the context of the question we can understand that in almost every interview the most commonly asked question is what our goals are or what are our aims in life.
- The word ‘aspiration’ means something that you hope to achieve.
- Example: As a musician, my aspiration is to create music full time.
- Therefore we can say that the word ‘aspirations’ fits most appropriately in the blank.
- Hence option 4 is the correct answer.
The sentence will be: The interviewer asked Gautam, “Can you tell me what your aspirations in life are?”
Additional Information
- Let’s look into the meaning of the other given words:
- Frivolities: Behaviour that is silly and not serious, or things that are silly and not important.
- Trivialities: Something that is not important.
- Determinations: The ability to continue trying to do something, although it is very difficult.
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Quiz available at OSSSC TEST SERIES_MINI MOCK- Level 2
