Mixed English Questions for Mains Exam — Set 293

Directions(1-4): A statement with one blank is given below. Choose the set of words from the given options which can be used to fill the given blank.

1. _______________ the temperature is consistently below freezing point, making treks to the landmass unthinkable for the faint of heart. But Antarctica wasn’t always like this.
   i. No matter what time of the year it is,
   ii. Regardless of the season,
   iii. Irrespective of the month,
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only i and ii
   Only ii and iii
   All of these
   Option E
   The latter part of the sentence makes it clear that the former is talking about the harsh environment of Antarctica on the planet. The structure of the sentence makes it clear that the words to be filled in complete the first half of the statement.
   Option I- It refers to the time i.e. irrespective of what the time of year it is, the temperature remains the same.
   Option II- It means that whether it is summer, winter, monsoon or spring, the temperature is constant.
   Option III- It means that no matter what month it is, the temperature of the place doesn’t change.

    

2. Genetic sequencing, which has allowed researchers to trace the path of human migration and now, allows individuals to trace their own ancestry, _______________ human diversity.
   i. have announced a somewhat divergent opinion regarding
   ii. is a remarkable new discovery
   iii. thus introducing new ways of thinking about
   Only i
   Only iii
   Both i and ii
   Both ii and iii
   All of the above
   Option B
   The given statement talks about genetic sequencing tracing path of human migration.
   Option i- It is incorrect as the subject of the sentence (genetic sequencing) has a singular form which does not agree with the usage of the plural verb ‘have’.
   Option ii- It is incorrect as it does not establish continuity with the remaining half of the statement owing to the lack of a relative pronoun or a preposition.
   Option iii- It is correct as it fits both grammatically and contextually. It clearly connects by stating how it has introduced a new way of thinking about human diversity as a consequence of being a means to trace the path of human migration.

    

3. The gate of the Victoria Memorial building was designed by Vincent Esch in 1921 and shipped in whole from England, _________________ cast iron lift cage of Government House, the country’s first lift installed in 1892.

   i. Likewise the intricately patterned
   ii. Just like the intricately patterned
   iii. As was the intricately patterned

   Only i
   Only iii
   Both i and ii
   Both ii and iii
   All of these
   Option D
   The given statement talks about two monuments.
   Option i- It is incorrect as the adverb ‘likewise’ cannot be used to link the two clauses; we either need a conjunction or a relative pronoun. “Likewise” would require the latter part of the sentence to be restructured.
   Option ii- It is correct as it fits both grammatically and contextually as it shows the comparison in a detailed manner.
   Option iii- It is also correct as it also conveys the same meaning without modifying the essence of the paragraph.

    

4. Not long ago the idea of repairing the brain’s wiring to fight addiction would have _______ . But advances in neuroscience have upended conventional notions about addiction– what it is, what can trigger it, and why quitting is so tough.

   I. Seeming far–fetched
   II. Seemed far–fetched
   III. Seemingly far-fetched

   Only II
   Only III
   Only I and II
   Only II and III
   All of these
   Option A
   The given statement talks about the repairing of brain’s wiring and its connection with fighting addiction. Only alternative II is correct as it makes the sentence grammatically correct. The other alternatives would render the sentence incorrect. “Have” before the blank suggests that the participle form of the verb should be used to make the sentence in the present perfect tense.

    

Directions(5-10): Read the sentence to find out whether there is an error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. If the given sentence is correct as it is, the answer is ‘No error’. Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any.

5. The ruling party stood (1)/ for implementation of the bill (2)/ and was ready to (3)/ stake their political existence. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option D
   The error lies in the 4th part of the sentence. The subject is ‘the ruling party’ which is singular; hence ‘their’ should be replaced by ‘its’ as their is a possessive pronoun for plural subjects and its is the possessive for singular subjects.

    

6. Delegation is the transfer of (1)/ authority through superior to subordinate (2)/ at different levels (3)/ in an organized sector. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option B
   The error lies in the second part of the sentence.
   The correct usage for transfer is ‘from……..to……..’ and not ‘through…..to……’.
   Hence, ‘through’ must be replaced with ‘from’.

    

7. It must be noted that (1)/ decentralization should be applied (2)/ along with caution as it can (3)/ lead to organizational disintegration. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option C
   The error lies in the third part of the sentence.
   The word ‘along’ is unnecessary and must be omitted.
   Along denotes accompaniment. The context of the sentence doesn’t talk about accompaniment.

    

8. Sometimes, when you are used to (1)/ see a player in the commentary (2)/ box over a long period, you tend to (3)/ forget what a great player he was. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option B
   The error lies in the second part of the sentence. The form V + -ing is called a gerund.
   if it serves as a noun. In the given sentence “to” has been used as a preposition (in a prepositional phrase)
   and not an infinitive, thus, the gerund form “seeing” is correct.
   Thus, option B is correct.
   Here, ‘used to’ is used in the present tense to indicate that one has a habit of doing something.

    

9. There is no one (1)/ I have met or heard of (2)/ whom I can consider knowledgeable (3)/ than my English teacher. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option C
   The error lies in the third part of the sentence.
   Use of ‘than’ suggests that the sentence makes a comparison. Since, the ones being compared are two in number (the teacher and ‘No one’- singular) we need to make use of comparative degree before the adjective. Therefore, ‘more’ should be written before knowledgeable. So, the correct answer is option C.

    

10. The teacher instructed the students (1)/ to have a thoroughly reading (2)/ of each chapter (3)/ mentioned in the syllabus. (4)
    1
    2
    3
    4
    No error
    Option B
    The error lies in the second part of the sentence.
    “Thoroughly” should be replaced by “thorough”.
    Here “reading” is a gerund, i.e., it acts as a noun. Thus, an adjective should modify it instead of an adverb.
    “Thoroughly” is an adverb. Thus, the word must be replaced by “thorough” to make the sentence correct.