Mixed English Questions for Mains Exam — Set 298

Directions(1-5): In the given questions, a part of the sentence is printed in bold. Below the sentence, three alternatives to the bold 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. Despite all the trauma he had endured (he was very much live and kicking) and was expected to make a full recovery in the near future.
   i. he was very much alive and kicking
   ii. he was very much living and kicking
   iii. he was very much alive and kick
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only iii
   Both ii and iii
   No correction required
   Option A
   ‘live and kicking’ is not a valid expression, but ‘alive and kicking’ is a valid idiomatic expression which refers to a person to be active and in good health.
   
    



2. If the arrest of five prominent activists by the Pune police (on a coordinated operation) across four States has resulted in such indignation, it is because of the widespread suspicion that this is part of an orchestrated crackdown on political dissent.
   
   i. by a coordinated operation
   ii. in a coordinated operation
   iii. to a coordinated operation
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only iii
   Both i and ii
   No correction required
   Option B
   
   
    



3. Although he has grown a few inches over summer, the new cycle is still too big for him now, but he should (grow out of) it by next year.
   i. Grow up
   ii. Grow back
   iii. Grow into
   
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only iii
   Both i and ii
   No correction required
   Option C
   ‘Grow up’ means to become an adult.
   ‘Grow back’ means to regrow something.
   ‘Grow into’ means to grow big enough to fit something.
   
    



4. The morning light was too bright for his eyes, and he turned to face shelves of (big old brown antique) books.
   i. Antique big old brown
   ii. Old big brown antique
   iii. Old large brown antique
   
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only iii
   Both ii and iii
   No correction required
   Option D
   The highlighted phrase is a list of adjectives describing the books on shelves. Adjectives occur in a particular order which is : Quantity or number- Quality or opinion – Size- Age -Shape – Color - Proper adjective (often nationality, other place of origin, or material) - Purpose or qualifier.
   
    



5. Why, only a little while ago people thought it quite impossible to (teach the deaf-blind anything); but no sooner was it proved possible than hundreds of kind, sympathetic hearts were fired with the desire to help them, and now we see how many of those poor, unfortunate persons are being taught to see the beauty and reality of life.
   i. Taught the deaf – blind anything
   ii. Teaching the deaf – blind anything
   iii. Were teaching the deaf – blind anything
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only iii
   Both ii and iii
   No correction required
   Option E
   
   
    


Directions(6-10): In the following passage, there are blanks each of which has been numbered. These numbers correspond to the question numbers; against each question, five words have been suggested, one of which fills the blanks appropriately.

If governments paid serious attention to the economic geography of India’s cities, they would be doing a lot more to prepare for annual weather events like the monsoon. UN-Habitat estimates that by 2030 India will have 14 major (6) of cities accounting for 40 percent of its GDP. Other assessments indicate that nearly 80 percent of economic production will be in urban areas by that year. What this underscores is the extremely (7) condition of cities as economic assets. Proof of this is available from (8) events such as unprecedented flooding in Chennai in 2015 and in Mumbai some years ago. Even with weak insurance cover for the general population, the volume of claims in Chennai crossed Rs.5,000 crore, highlighting the avoidable losses arising out of infrastructure deficits. Much of the total loss was borne by individuals. On the other hand, cities devote vast amounts of their revenue merely to repair roads after the monsoon rather than create new assets. This is a (9) planning failure, and governments should at least now draw up integrated plans to make cities and growing towns (10) to weather events and disasters. This should begin with the creation of information systems that tell administrators about weather patterns, anomalies, flooding data and population impacts.
6. regards
   clusters
   reserves
   respective
   secluded
   Option B
   
   
    



7. vulnerable
   protected
   procurement
   bolster
   guarded
   Option A
   "Vulnerable" means exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
   "Procurement" means the action of obtaining or procuring something.
   "Bolster" means a part on a vehicle or tool providing structural support or reducing friction.
   
    



8. detest
   ambit
   happy
   joyous
   catastrophic
   Option E
   "Detest" means dislike intensely.
   "Ambit" means the scope, extent, or bounds of something.
   "Joyous" means full of happiness and joy.
   "Catastrophic" means involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.
   
    



9. teeny
   rough
   rigid
   colossal
   small
   Option D
   "Colossal" means extremely large or great.
   
    



10. tainted
    havoc
    resilient
    inflexible
    stiff
    Option C
    "Tainted" means contaminate or pollute (something).
    "Resilient" means (of a person or animal) able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
    "Havoc" means widespread destruction.
    "Stiff" means severe or strong.