Mixed English Questions for Mains Exam — Set 327

Directions(1-6): In the given question, a part of the sentence is given in brackets. Below the sentence three alternatives to the bracketed part are given which may help improve the sentence. Choose the option that reflects the correct use of the phrase in the context of the sentence. In case the given sentence is correct, your answer is (E), i.e. ‘No correction required’.

  1. Following the return of Prada’s Linea Rossa line, (PUMA joins in on 90s revival by reminiscing) its CELL Endura silhouette that originally debuted in 1998.
    I. PUMA joined the 90’s revival by bringing back
    II. PUMA joins in on the ’90s revival by bringing back
    III. PUMA has introduced the “1990s revival melange” range to relaunch
    Only III
    Both I and III
    Both II and III
    Both II and I
    No correction required
    Option C
    Decades are always being written as the 1990s or the 90s or the ‘90s. This eliminates the given statement and option I. Both options II and III make the sentence grammatically correct and coherent. Therefore, option C is the apt answer.

     

  2. Interests supporting (government’s forest reserves coalesced to) the ideas of technocratic utilitarianism and preservationism, were victorious over those interests most intent on obtaining material gain from these lands.
    I. Government forest reserves coalesced around
    II. Government initiated forest reserves coalesced towards
    III. Government forest reserves coalesced into
    Both I and II
    Both II and III
    Both I and III
    Only I
    No correction required
    Option D
    We never say ‘government’s forest reserves,’ so the given statement is incorrect. ‘Coalesce’ is a verb which means coming together to form one mass or whole; unite. ‘Coalesced towards’ makes no sense and does not fit in the context of the sentence. ‘Coalesced into (something)’ means (for two or more separate things) to merge or form into one thing. Clearly, this will make the sentence ambiguous. ‘Coalesce around’ means to hang around. Thereby, ‘government forest reserves coalesced around’ fits perfectly.
    Therefore, option D is an apt answer.

     

  3. The truth is that unless you are one of the few adults who (have taken an extended sabbatical to work and child-rearing) during the middle portion of your life, you have no idea whether or not you’ll be able to easily fill your retirement days with interesting activities.
    i. Took an extended sabbatical leave or parenting
    ii. Has taken an extended sabbatical from work and child-rearing
    iii. Has taken an extended sabbatical leave from work and parenting
    Both i and ii
    Both ii and iii
    Only ii
    All i, ii and iii
    No correction required
    Option C
    A sabbatical is a rest from work or a paid leave, often lasting from one month to a year. So, ‘sabbatical leave from work’ is redundant. We always use ‘has’ after ‘who’. We take a sabbatical ‘from work’ not ‘to work’.
    Thereby, the given statement and Sentence iii are incorrect. The sentence i is out of context. Only ii makes the sentence grammatically correct and coherent.
    Therefore, option C is an apt answer.

     

  4. After the internship, she overloaded her coursework with medical (school perquisites and then, she spent the next two years finishing those prerequisites) and applying to schools.
    i. School prerequisites; and then, she spent the next two years finishing those prerequisites
    ii. School prerequisites and then, she spent the next two years finishing those perquisites
    iii. School perquisites and then she spent the next two years finishing those perquisites
    Only i
    Only ii
    Only iii
    Both ii and iii
    No correction is required
    Option B
    A perquisite usually means an extra allowance or privilege. The word is informally shortened to perk. But a prerequisite is a condition you must satisfy in order to qualify for something. In other words, a prerequisite means something that’s required. Clearly, ‘medical school prerequisites’ is correct. Both the words can be used after ‘those.’ But we can’t use option I because a semicolon is used between two closely related independent clauses, provided they are not already joined by a coordinating conjunction. So, either remove the semicolon or ‘and.’ Hence, option II will make the sentence grammatically correct and coherent.
    Therefore, option B is the apt answer

     

  5. It is commonly recognised that by 1946, leaders of the Muslim league (were excitement by the idea) of Pakistan without thinking through its negative consequences for the Muslims in the minority provinces.
    i. were enamoured of the idea
    ii. fascinated by the idea
    iii. embraced the idea
    Only i
    Only ii
    Both i and ii
    Both i and iii
    No correction required
    Option D
    The sentence talks about the reception of the idea of Pakistan by the Muslim League. The highlighted phrase is incorrect as the verb ‘were’ should be followed by the adjective ‘excited’ instead of the noun ‘excitement’. Statement ii is incorrect as the adjective ‘fascinated’ needs to be preceded by the verb ‘were’ in order to be grammatically correct. Statements i and iii can replace the phrases as they describe reaction of the Muslim League to the idea of Pakistan. Hence, option D is the required response.

     

  6. Large scale deforestation for the setting up of industrial units and use of fertile land meant for cultivation to construct buildings have only (added to the untold misery).
    i. aggravated the problematic
    ii. having augmented the issue
    iii. piled up the problems
    Only ii
    Only i
    Both ii and iii
    Only iii
    No correction required
    Option E
    The sentence talks about certain human activities which have increased the problem. The phrase must begin with the past participle form of a verb owing to the use of the present perfect tense construction ‘have + verb’. The highlighted phrase is grammatically and contextually correct and carries the required meaning in order for the sentence to make sense. Statement (i) is incorrect as ‘problematic’ is an adjective but article ‘the’ should be followed by a noun which is not the case with it. ‘Problem’ would have been more suitable here. Statement (ii) is incorrect as ‘having’ is incorrect and redundant. Statement (iii) is incorrect as the correct phrasal verb would have been ‘piled up on’. Hence, option E is the right response.

     

  7. Directions(7-10): In the given question, a sentence is divided into four parts. There are errors in three parts. Choose the part which doesn’t have an error. If all the four parts are correct, mark E, i.e. ‘All are correct’ as the answer.

  8. The economy consist of (A)/ individuals seeking prosperity, yet (B)/ most of it’s laws and many (C)/ of its customs is about social harmony. (D)
    A
    B
    C
    D
    All are correct
    Option B
    In part A, there is subject-verb agreement violation. ‘Economy’ is a singular term hence, the verb must also be singular. However, a plural verb is used. Therefore, ‘consist’ should be replaced with ‘consist’ to make it correct.
    In part C, it should be ‘its’ rather than ‘it’s’. It’s is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.” ‘Its’ is a possessive determiner we use to say that something belongs to or refers to something.
    In part D, there is again subject-verb agreement violation. ‘Is’ must be replaced with ‘are’ to form a grammatically correct sentence.

     

  9. The enormous national debt (A)/ amassed in a last eight years (B)/ makes all these apparent (C)/ prosperity nothing but an house of cards. (D)
    A
    B
    C
    D
    All are correct
    Option A
    In part B, ‘the’ should be used rather than ‘a’. The definite article ‘the’ is used when you are talking about something in particular. The indefinite article ‘a’ is used when you are talking about something in general.
    In part C, ‘these’ should be replaced with ‘this’ to agree with the subject ‘prosperity’.
    In part D, ‘an’ is erroneous. The choice between ‘a’ and ‘an’ is determined by the sound of the alphabet. If a word starts with a consonant but gives the sound of a vowel, ‘an’ should be used. Therefore, ‘an’ must be replaced with ‘a’ to form a grammatically correct sentence.

     

  10. Another important difference (A)/ among exogenous (B)/ or indigenous firms concerns (C) there linkages with the local economy. (D)
    A
    B
    C
    D
    All are correct
    Option A
    In part B, ‘among’ is erroneous. ‘Between’ is used when referring to two things while ‘among’ is used for a greater number. Hence, ‘among’ should be replaced with ‘between’ to make it correct.
    In part C, the conjunction should be ‘and’ instead of ‘or’.
    In part D, it should be ‘their’ instead of ‘there’. There is an adverb meaning that place, but it is also used as a pronoun introducing a clause or sentence. ‘Their’ is a possessive pronoun and it is used to show ownership of a thing or concept.

     

  11. The very nature for anonymous (A)/ reports naturally prevented (B)/ some possibility of retribution (C)/ against wrong-doers report the incident. (D)/
    A
    B
    C
    D
    All are correct
    Option B
    In part A, the preposition ‘for’ is incorrect. It should be ‘of’ instead of ‘for’ because ‘of’ indicates an association between two entities.
    In part C, ‘some’ is incorrect. The sentence has a negative connotation. ‘Any’ is used for questions and negatives while ‘some’ is used for positive sentences. Hence, ‘some’ should be replaced with ‘any’ to make it correct.
    In part D, the form of the verb is incorrect. ‘Report’ should be replaced with ‘reporting’ to form a grammatically correct sentence.

     

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