Mixed English Questions for Mains Exam — Set 328

Directions(1-4): Which of the following phrases (i), (ii), and (iii) given below each sentence should replace the phrase given n brackets to make the sentence grammatically correct? Choose the best option among the five given alternatives that reflect the correct use of phrase in the context of the grammatically correct sentence. If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (E) i.e., “No correction required” as the answer.

1. The 1960s, renowned as a decade of social experimentation, (was an era when corporations experimenting with) new structures and styles of work.
   i. was an era when corporations experiment with
   ii. was an era when corporations used to experiment with
   iii. was an era when corporations were experimenting with
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only iii
   Both ii and iii
   No correction required
   Option D
   The sentence is talking about an incident from the past. ‘Used to’ refers to actions and situations in the past which no longer happen or are no longer true. It always refers to the past. Past continuous tense can also be used for the same. The give sentence lacks the auxiliary verb ‘were’ for the main verb ‘experiment’. Part i uses the base form of the verb ‘experiment’ which is grammatically wrong. So, both parts ii & iii are correct.
   Hence, the answer is D.

    

2. Today’s freelancers (includes a grown army of people who decide to leave highly paid and) secure jobs in large organisations to strike out on their own and become independent consultants.
   i. include a grown army of people who decide to leave highly paid and
   ii. includes a growing army of people who decide to leave highly paid and
   iii. include a growing army of people who decide to leave highly paid and
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only iii
   Both ii and iii
   No correction required
   Option C
   ‘Freelancers’ is a plural noun so the verb (includes) should also be in plural (include). The word ‘today’ sets the time frame of the sentence as present tense. The verbs ‘decide’ and ‘become’ support this fact. So, the correct verb form is present participle (growing). Hence, the correct answer is C.

    

3. Independent consultancy is a handy way for those approaching retirement to gently parachute (into it, reducing their hours but still using the accumulated) skills and knowledge to offer senior and highly effective consultancy.
   i. into, reducing their hours but still is using the accumulated
   ii. into it, reducing their hours but still used the accumulated
   iii. into, reducing their hours but still has used the accumulated
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only iii
   Both ii and iii
   No correction required
   Option E
   The preposition ‘into’ needs to be followed by an object. The verb ‘using’ should be in continuous tense without the auxiliary verb because the two acts “reducing their hours” and “still using the accumulated skills” both are being offered as choices. So, they must have the same tense. Hence, the correct answer is E.

    

4. The chaos in China’s sporting programme caused by the deadly coronavirus outbreak, (that has forced China to cancel or reschedule a host of events), is spreading into Asia’s sporting calendar.
   i. which has forced China to cancel or reschedule a host of events
   ii. that is forcing China to cancel or reschedule a host of events
   iii. which is forcing China to cancel or reschedule a host of events
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only iii
   Both ii and iii
   No correction required
   Option A
   The highlighted text is a non-descriptive clause so it should be ‘which’ not ‘that’. The main verb of the sentence is ‘is spreading’ which is continuous tense. This means the ‘spreading’ is happening right now and the ‘force’ has already happened. So, the correct tense for ‘force’ is ‘has forced’. Hence, the correct answer is A.

    

Directions(5-10): In the given questions, one statement with a blank is given along with four words. Two of the given words can fit into the given blank. Five options with various combinations of these words are given. Pick up the combination of the words that fit into the blank.

5. The Chief Minister had during last year’s election campaign promised to rid the State of the drugs, transport, _______ and mining mafia.
   a) reparation
   b) extortion
   c) ignoration
   d) exaction
   a-c
   b-d
   b-c
   a-d
   c-d
   Option B
   The sentence talks about the promise of the Chief Minister that he made during last year’s election campaign to rid the State of the various things as given here drugs, transport, mining mafia. We need a word here from which state wants to get rid of. And the option which completely fits here and gives proper sense to the sentence is ‘extortion’ and ‘exaction’ which means ‘crime of obtaining something from someone, especially money by using force or threats’ and ‘the act of demanding and obtaining something from someone especially payment’. The word ‘reparation’ means ‘money that are paid after a war by the defeated country. Hence, option B is the correct answer.
   

    

6. A 17-year-old girl ______ herself after a man allegedly tried to outrage her modesty in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur Dehat district.
   a) enacted
   b) taking
   c) immolated
   d) consecrated
   a-c
   a-b
   b-c
   c-d
   b-d
   Option D
   By reading the sentence, it can easily be understood that the 17-year-old girl tried hard to save herself or sacrifice her life when the man tried to outrage her modesty. The words given in option which are nearest to the meaning are ‘immolated’ and ‘consecrate’ means ‘to kill yourself or destroy something’ and ‘to sacrifice’ respectively. The word ‘enacted’ means ‘validate or perform’ which is not suitable here. Hence, option D is the correct answer.
   

    

7. On the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016, Mr. Ananta Debbarma said it would _______ tradition and customs besides demographic positions of the indigenous people in the entire north-eastern region.
   a) jeopardise
   b) preserve
   c) threaten
   d) shield
   a-c
   a-b
   b-d
   c-d
   b-c
   Option A
   The sentence talks about Citizenship Amendment Bill and about the words spoken by Mr. Ananta Debbarma on it. As he said besides demographic position of the indigenous people in the entire north-eastern region, it gives some sense of negativity and also the word jeopardise means place in danger gives the proper sense to the sentence (as the bill place the tradition and customs in danger). Both the words ‘jeopardise’ and ‘threaten’ have very similar meaning to each other. Hence, option A is the correct answer.

    

8. Murals are a way of expressing one’s thoughts, emotions and opinions through art that is out in the open for everyone to _________.
   a) eschew
   b) apprehend
   c) behold
   d) regard
   a-b
   b-c
   b-d
   c-d
   a-d
   Option D
   Eschew means to deliberately avoid using something; abstain from.
   Doze means to sleep lightly.
   Behold means to see or look at someone or something
   Regard means to look carefully at something or someone
   Mural is a type of art that is to be viewed by everyone. Hence, the correct answer is D.

    

9. There was a time when art was a/an _____________ available only to the rich, with aristocrats spending hours on the hidden meaning of a painting over fine wine.
   a) delight
   b) luxury
   c) indulgence
   d) splendor
   
   a-b
   b-c
   b-d
   c-d
   a-d
   Option B
   Delight refers to a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment; joy; rapture.
   Luxury refers to a material object, service, etc., conductive to sumptuous living, usually a delicacy, elegance, orrefinement of living rather than a necessity.
   Indulgence means indulgent allowance or tolerance.
   Splendor means brilliant or gorgeous appearance, colouring, etc.; magnificence.
   The sentence tells that art is a commodity that was only available to the rich. Delight and splendor are not commodities. Hence, the correct answer is B.

    

10. According to me, “there are no rules” when it comes to interior design, but everyone can use a few tips and tricks. But Renuka’s _________ and exquisite sensibilities are quite different than mine, still I think she is a remarkable Interior decorator and I recommend her for our next project in Basant Vihar.
    a) Reclusive
    b) Graceful
    c) Aesthetic
    d) Dialectical
    a-b
    b-c
    b-d
    c-d
    a-d
    Option B
    The blank is succeeded by the conjunction ‘and’ and the word is ‘exquisite’. This means that a word which has similar meaning to the word ‘exquisite’ must be used. ‘Exquisite’ means extremely beautiful. Both the words ‘Aesthetic’ and ‘Graceful’ are synonyms of the word ‘Exquisite’. ‘Reclusive’ means solitary, ‘Dialectical’ means relating to the logical discussion of ideas and opinions.