Mixed English Questions for Mains Exam — Set 315

Directions(1-4): In the following question, a word is given, which has been used in the three statements given below it. Identify the statement(s) in which the word fits contextually to convey a logical meaning.

1. Court
   1) We have asked the council to come and court away all this rubbish.
   2) The tobacco companies may be guilty of contempt of court for refusing to produce the documents.
   3) He moved diagonally on the tennis court like a ballet dancer might on stage.
   Only 1
   Only 3
   Both 1 and 2
   Both 2 and 3
   All 1,2,3
   Option D
   ‘Court’ refers to an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business, as in sentence 2. It is clear from the word ‘tennis’ in sentence 3 that court means a specially marked horizontal area within which a game is played. There is no verb phrase as ‘court away’.

    

2. Hang
   1) Women often lose confidence when they hang up to have a baby.
   2) If he wants to hang this estate in the family, he’ll have to leave it to his daughters.
   3) Gabriel followed them out obediently, content to hang around them while bored.
   Only 1
   Only 3
   Both 1 and 2
   Both 2 and 3
   All 1,2,3
   Option B
   ‘Hang up’ refers to end/ disconnect a call or when an electronic item stops to work. It is never used in relation to having a baby. ‘Estates’ cannot be hanged. ‘Hang around’ is a phrasal verb which means to be around somebody or a group of people, as in sentence 3.

    

3. Prayer
   1) The king was on a private visit to enable him to prayer at the tombs of his ancestors.
   2) He did not like to agree with him in everything and felt a prayer to contradict.
   3) It used to be customary among Presbyterians to stand during public prayer, and to remain seated during the acts of praise, but this peculiarity is no longer maintained..
   Only 1
   Only 3
   Both 1 and 2
   Both 2 and 3
   All 1,2,3
   Option B
   A prayer can be held in public. Thus, 3 uses the word correctly.
   Sentence 1 uses ‘prayer’ as a verb, which is wrong as prayer is a noun.
   Praying is usually giving thanks, asking for guidance with something, or just to spill out your heart. But in sentence 2, he is expressing a want. ‘Wish’ is more appropriate in this case.

    

4. Minute
   1) Involvement with terrorist groups brought the political party into minute.
   2) My keys were here a minute ago but now they have vanished.
   3) Any evidence recovered is then scrutinised in minute detail back at the laboratory.
   Only 1
   Only 3
   Both 1 and 2
   Both 2 and 3
   All 1,2,3
   Option D
   Minute can be used as both a noun and an adjective.
   When used a noun it refers to the period of time equal to sixty seconds or a sixtieth of an hour, as in sentence 2.
   When used as an adjective it means taking the smallest points into consideration; precise and meticulous, as sentence 3.

    

Directions(5): A part of the sentence is given in brackets. Below the sentence alternatives to the bold part are given at (A), (B), (C) and (D) which may help improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case the given sentence is correct, your answer is (E) i.e. ‘No correction required’.

5. If England (has better weather), it would be the perfect place to live.
   
   would have been better weather
   had better weather
   would had better weather
   have better weather
   Option B
   No correction required

    

Directions(6-9): In the given questions, four words are numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4. Of these, the positions of two words may be incorrect and need to be exchanged to make the sentence correct. Find the two words which need to be exchanged. In case the given sentence is correct, your answer is (E), i.e. ‘No correction required’.

6. Humans are accustomed(1) to a world in which exception(2) is the norm, and remembering(3) is an forgetting(4).
   1-2
   2-4
   1-3
   2-3
   No exchange required
   Option B
   

    

7. India is the world’s global(1)-growing major car market but high fastest(2) oil prices, rising interest rates and a weaker rupee has dented(3) sales growth. Rising car insurance(4) costs could also hit sales.
   
   1-2
   2-3
   2-4
   1-4
   No exchange required
   Option A
   

    

8. Yoghurt on an empty(1) stomach leads to an/a content(2) in the hydrochloric acid increase(3), which kills(4) lactic acid bacteria.
   
   1-2
   2-3
   1-3
   2-4
   No exchange required
   Option B
   

    

9. Studies have associated(1) rising obesity(2) rates with(3) the consumption of processed or ultra-processed foods(4).
   1-2
   2-3
   1-3
   3-4
   No exchange required
   Option E
   

    

Directions(10): The following question carries a sentence with an idiom/phrase in brackets. Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

10. The notion that every girl should be (full of beans) on her wedding day is too generalised.
    shy
    jealous
    lively and cheerful
    nervous
    careless
    Option C