Mixed English Questions for Mains Exam — Set 224

Directions(1-5): Select the phrase/connector from the given options which can be used to form a single sentence from the two sentences given below, implying the same meaning as expressed in the statement sentences. Pick out the option which when used to start the sentence, combines both the sentences into one.

1. The Tibetan traders are no longer interested in coming to Gunji in India for trade. They do come to Hilsa in Nepal near the border.
   a) But
   b) Though
   c) Despite
   Both a and b
   Both b and c
   Both a and c
   Only b
   Only c
   Option D
   New sentence:

   Though the Tibetan traders are no longer interested in coming to Gunji in India for trade, they do come to Hilsa in Nepal near the border.

    

2. Inflation is touching a ten-year high in the country. Appropriate measures should be taken by augmenting supplies through imports.
   a) With inflation touching
   b) Given that inflation
   c) With the appropriate measures taken
   Only a
   Only b
   Both a and b
   All a,b,c
   None of these
   Option C
   Both a and b can be used to combine the two sentences. The combined sentences will be:
   • With inflation touching a ten-year high in the country, appropriate measures should be taken by augmenting supplies through imports.
   • Given that inflation is touching a ten-year high in the country, appropriate measures should be taken by augmenting supplies through imports.

    

3. In terms of TV ratings, the ‘89 Oscars were a success. The show topped the previous five Academy Awards telecasts with 42.7 million viewers.
   a) With 42.7 million viewers
   b) In comparison to the previous five
   c) The ‘89 Oscars
   Only a
   Only b
   Only c
   Both b and c
   None of these
   Option B
   The new sentence can be constructed as: “In comparison to the previous five Academy Awards telecasts, the ‘89 Oscars were a success with 42.7 million viewers in terms of TV ratings.”

    

4. Plastic bags are produced using petroleum, natural gas, and other chemicals. Its production is toxic to the environment.
   a) After the production
   b) The production of
   c) Toxic to the environment
   
   Only c
   Only a
   Only b
   Both a and b
   None of these
   Option C
   The new sentence can be constructed as: “The production of plastic with the use of petroleum, natural gas, and other chemicals are toxic to the environment.”

    

5. In the 21st century, the word chivalry evokes a kind of old-fashioned male respect for women. But during the Middle Ages, the code was established for much grittier reasons.
   a) In contrast to
   b) The notion of
   c) Evoking an old-fashioned belief
   Only b
   Only c
   Only a
   Both a and c
   None of these
   Option C
   The new sentence can be constructed as: “In contrast to the kind of old-fashioned male respect for women in the 21st Century, the word chivalry as a code was established for much grittier reasons during the Middle Ages.”

    

Directions(6-10): A sentence divided into three parts (I, II and III) is given. There may be an error in one or more parts. Determine the part(s) which requires correction and mark it as your answer.

6. Hundreds of thousand of travellers faced chaos (I)/ as more than 1,300 flights were cancelled (II)/ across Europe because of a strike at Lufthansa. (III)
   Only I
   Only II
   Both I and II
   Both II and III
   None of these
   Option A
   Only part I has an error as the correct idiomatic expression is ‘hundreds of thousands’ which indicates an imprecise or unknown number between one hundred thousand and a million.

    

7. Fascism has many faces, but the most constant is that the supremacist delusion that the West is the carrier of “universal values” (I)/ and that, as exclusive interpreter and custodian of these values; (II)/ the West is obligated to act upon watchdog of democracy and human rights throughout the globe. (III)
   Both I and II
   Both II and III
   All I,II,III
   Only I
   Both I and III
   Option E
   Part I: “the supremacist delusion” is one of the many faces of Fascism. It is the faces which the pronoun ‘that’ is referring to. So, we need to add ‘of’ after ‘that’ to make ‘faces’, the referent and not ‘Fascism’.
   Part III: “Act as someone/something” means to do the job of a particular kind of person or thing. “Act upon” means “to act in accordance with or follow.” It also means to have an effect on something/someone, therefore, “Act as” must be used as per the context of the passage.

    

8. One has to be either stupid or complicit if one cannot see (I)/ that the US supports two states in making the most egregious records of violations of human rights, “Saudi Arabia and Israel”, (II)/ meanwhile demonizing the socially progressive government of Venezuela as a “dictatorship.” (III)
   Only II
   Both I and III
   Both II and III
   Both I and II
   All I,II,III
   Option C
   Part II: The names of “Saudi Arabia and Israel” has been used to state that in these two, the most egregious records of violations of human rights occurred. “In making” means “in the process of developing or growing or being made.” “With” is a preposition means “having or possessing (something)”. Therefore, “with” should be used.
   Part III: Meanwhile is followed by a subject (person or a thing being talked about) whereas while is followed by a verb. In the sentence, ‘demonizing’ is a verb. Therefore, “while” is the appropriate replacement.

    

9. Although many of the performances are dull and vibrant, (I)/ and there’s a tuneful orchestra, led by musical director (II)/ Walter McCoy, the production overall has a musty, potted vibe. (III)
   
   Only II
   Both I and II
   Both I and III
   Only I
   All I,II,III
   Option D
   In part I, the performances have been described to be ‘dull and vibrant’. The two words are antonymous and thus do not convey a similar context. We need to replace ‘dull’ with a word providing the same context as ‘vibrant’. ‘Droll’ meaning ‘curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement’ is an appropriate choice.

    

10. Ms Collard said that he found both the substantiate (I)/ decision to dismiss and the procedures adopted (II)/ to be objectively unreasonable and unfair. (III)
    Only I
    Both I and II
    Only II
    Both II and III
    Both I and III
    Option A
    In part I, the use of the verb ‘substantiate’ is incorrect as to modify the noun ‘decision’ we need an adjective. ‘Substantive’ will be the appropriate replacement.