Mixed English Questions for Mains Exam — Set 288

Directions(1-4): 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.

1. The Wuhan coronavirus has exploded in China (A)/ and their are three likely scenarios (B)/ for what will happen next – and the bad news are that (C)/ a epidemic looks difficult to avoid.(D)
   A
   B
   C
   D
   All are correct
   Option A
   In part B instead of ‘their’ which is a possessive pronoun, the adverb ‘there’ meaning in, at, or to that place or position should be used.
   In part C, ‘news’ is always taken in the singular sense making ‘are’ incorrect. ‘Is’ should be used to maintain subject -verb agreement.
   In part D, if ‘epidemic’ is correct then it should be preceded by the article ‘an’. If we want to maintain the article ‘a’, then instead of ‘epidemic’ we need to use ‘pandemic’ which refers to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people.
   
    



2. Most owners were forced to sell out, (A)/ and Orban arranged for his friends and supporters (B)/ to buy them at bargain prices and then (C)/ he restored the lucrative advertising contracts. (D)
   A
   B
   C
   D
   All are correct
   Option E
   
   
    



3. The recent strike of record-breaking hot years (A)/ is set to continue throughout the last decade (B)/ and it is likely that every year from 2019 to 2028 (C)/ will be one of the ten warmer on record. (D)
   A
   B
   C
   D
   All are correct
   Option C
   In part A, ‘strike’ which means hit forcibly and deliberately with one's hand or a weapon or other implement is incorrect. The word ‘streak’ meaning a continuous period of specified observation is a better fit.
   In part B, using ‘last’ before decade implies the decade before the mentioned period 2019-2028 in part C. instead as the sentence indicates future time ‘next’ is correct.
   In part D instead of the comparative ‘warmer’, the superlative degree ‘warmest’ should be used.
   
    



4. AAP has been consolidated its base (A)/ between the marginalised sections of voters, (B)/ and it is nearly impossible for other parties (C)/ to make inroads at the moment. (D)
   A
   B
   C
   D
   All are correct
   Option D
   In part A, using ‘has been’ implies that the tense is in present progressive form. Then we need to change ‘consolidated’ which is present perfect to present progressive form ‘consolidating’.
   In part B, using ‘between’ implies that there are only two groups, but voters are divided in many sections and hence ‘among’ should be used.
   In part C, ‘nearly’ is often followed by the number as it means very close to. The correct word here is ‘almost’ which means not quiet.
   
    


Directions(5-10): In the given question, a statement with a blank has been given, followed by three word out of which more than one can complete the sentence grammatically and contextually. Find the word (s) which can fill the blank and choose the option accordingly.


5. Rainforests are the worlds’ most ancient terrestrial ______, or communities of distinctive
   plants and animals.
   I. Biomes
   II. Forests
   III. Ecosphere
   Only I
   Only II
   Only III
   Both I and II
   Both I and III
   Option E
   Biomes means a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g. forest or tundra.
   Forests means a large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth.
   Ecosphere means the biosphere of the earth or another planet, especially when the interaction between the living and non-living components is emphasized.
   
    



6. Indiscriminate mass elimination of mosquitoes would ______ everything from pollination to biomass transfer
   to food webs.
   I. Collide
   II. Impact
   III. Reverberate
   Only I
   Only II
   Only III
   Both I and II
   Both I and III
   Option B
   Collide means to come into conflict or opposition.
   Impact means a marked effect or influence.
   Reverberate means (of a loud noise) be repeated several times as an echo.
   
    



7. The ancestors of penguins rapidly radiated into empty oceans ______ the mass-extinction that wiped out
   the dinosaurs.
   I. Following
   II. Preceding
   III. Guiding
   Only I
   Only II
   Only III
   Both I and II
   Both I and III
   Option D
   
   
    



8. Traditional Japanese rectilinear designs had gable roofs and rooms ______ the dimensions of tatami mats.
   I. Matching
   II. Matched
   III. Match
   Only I
   Only II
   Only III
   Both I and II
   Both I and III
   Option A
   
   
    



9. Exoplanets are those that exist outside the Solar System in the galaxies ______ ours.
   I. Behind
   II. Beside
   III. Beyond
   Only I
   Only II
   Only III
   Both I and II
   Both I and III
   Option C
   
   
    



10. Bengal’s ______ relationship with its colonial past has become as much fact as fiction.
    
    I. Ambivalence
    II. Ambivalent
    III. Ambivalently
    Only I
    Only II
    Only III
    Both I and II
    Both I and III
    Option B
    Ambivalence is a noun which means the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.
    Ambivalent is an adjective which means having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.
    Ambivalently is an adverb which means having mixed feelings about someone or something.