Mixed English Questions for Mains Exam — Set 245

Directions(1-5): A sentence divided into four parts (A), (B), (C) and (D). There are errors in two parts of the sentence. Determine the parts which require correction and mark it as your answer. If the sentence is correct as it is, mark the answer as "No error".

1. He still seems to be by my side, (A)/ but another year have gone (B)/ by since he left me, and (C)/ I never hear any news of him. (D)
   A-B
   B-C
   C-D
   B-D
   No error
   Option D
   In part B, “year” is a singular noun, the determiner of which is “another” and the verb that needs to be used for the singular subject is “has”.
   In part D, since the context of the subordinating clause starting with “but” is in past, thus past tense of “hear” that is “heard” should be used.
   
    



2. Their will be strong winds (A)/ from the west and the northwest (B)/ with gusts getting close (C)/ to or over 40 mph at time. (D)
   A-B
   B-C
   A-D
   B-D
   No error
   Option C
   In Part A, “Their” which is a possessive adjective is used as a subject which is incorrect as the introductory subject that needs to be used is “There” in the first part.
   In part “D”, “at time” should be replaced with “at times” which means occasionally.
   
    



3. New CA chief executive (A)/ blamed on lesser interstate (B)/ visitors who would have come (C)/ for the night-time spectacles. (D)
   
   A-B
   B-C
   B-D
   C-D
   No error
   Option C
   In part B, “lesser” which is used to describe the extent of something is used to describe the number of “visitors” which is incorrect as “visitors” is a plural noun and thus a determiner for a countable noun should be used, i.e., “fewer” or “few” which is used to indicate small number of plural nouns.
   In part “D”, "spectacles" which means a pair of glasses does not fit in the context, thus “spectacle” should be used in place of “spectacles” which means a sight or a scene.
   
    



4. NASA spacecraft (A)/ “Insight” is scheduled (B)/ to land near planet’s (C)/ equator on Monday afternoon. (D)
   
   A-C
   B-C
   C-D
   B-D
   No error
   Option A
   In part “A”, an apostrophe should be added after NASA to indicate whose spacecraft is being talked about. Or it can be written in other way around i.e. the spacecraft of NASA. In part C, “the” should be added before “planet’s” as specific location is being talked about.
   
    



5. Don’t depend (A)/ on someone who (B)/ is a crafty for he/she will (C)/always lets you down. (D)
   
   A-B
   B-C
   C-D
   B-D
   No error
   Option C
   In part “C”, the article “a” should be taken off as “crafty” is an adjective and thus, cannot take “a” before it.
   In part D, “will” is a modal which takes the first form of verb after it thus, “lets” should be changed to “let”.
   
    


Directions(6-10): In the given questions, 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'.


6. Many developed countries (have been attempting) to buy agricultural land in other countries to meet their own demand.
   has been attempting
   have being attempting
   are being attempting
   have been attempted
   No correction required
   Option E
   
   
    



7. A nuclear testing fills the air with radioactive dust (and left the) area uninhabitable.
   
   and leaves the
   also leaves the
   and leaving the
   and making the
   No correction required
   Option A
   
   
    



8. Modern ideas of governance (started back to) the time when people began to question kings.
   started when
   set back
   start back to
   date back to
   No correction required
   Option D
   From the given options, "date back to" makes the sentence grammatically correct as it means to be made or begun at a particular time in the past.
   
    



9. People discovered the alternate sources of energy when fossil fuel reserves (starts to deplete).
   start to depelte
   starting to deplete
   started to deplete
   start with deplete
   No correction required
   Option C
   
   
    



10. Despite its attractiveness, investing abroad (is been risky) owing to the shortage of regulations to protect investors.
    
    might be risk
    have been risky
    can be as risky as
    can be risky
    No correction required
    Option D