Mixed English Questions for Mains Exam — Set 313

Directions(1-3): In the given sentences, some words are printed in bold one of which may be wrongly spelt or inappropriately used in the context. Choose that word as the answer. If all the words printed in bold are correct, mark E, i.e., ‘All are correct’ as the answer.

1. Combined with volatility(1) in revenue and imbalanced expenditure,(2) it resulted in the government crossing its fiscal(3) deficit(4) target back in November last year.
   1
   2
   3
   4
   All are correct
   Option
   Volatility = liability to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse.
   Expenditure = the use of energy, time, or other resources.
   Fiscal = relating to government revenue, especially taxes.
   Deficit = the amount by which something, especially a sum of money, is too small.
   
    



2. Climate change is at best an indicium(1) of a far more complex malaise(2), just as a fever is more often only a gauge(3) of something that’s gone awery(4) in our body.
   
   1
   2
   3
   4
   All are correct
   Option D
   Indicium = signs, indications, or distinguishing marks.
   Malaise = a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease whose exact cause is difficult to identify.
   Gauge = an indicator
   The correct spelling is 'awry' which means away from the usual or expected course; amiss.
   
    



3. The voguish(1) industrial robot may wear the aureaul(2) of high technology but it came into existence(3) to meet a rather mundane(4) need of the organizers.
   1
   2
   3
   4
   All are correct
   Option B
   Voguish = contemporary
   Mundane = lacking interest or excitement; dull.
   The correct spelling is "aureole" which means halo.
   
    


Directions(4-8): Read the sentence to find out whether there is any error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number corresponding to that part will be your answer. If the given sentence is correct as it is, mark the answer as "No error". Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any.


4. The bane of Indian hockey today is (1)/ the lack of interest by the part of the public (2)/ which in turn is fueled by the perception that (3)/ the sport doesn’t pay enough to take it up as a career. (4)/ No error (5)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   5
   Option B
   The error lies in the second part of the sentence. The preposition 'by' must be replaced by 'on'. Phrase "On the part of" is used to ascribe responsibility for something to someone.
   
    



5. The constable said that (1)/ the prisoner seize a (2)/ fully loaded gun from a policeman (3)/ and shot the prosecutor. (4)/ No error (5)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   5
   Option B
   The statement is in the past tense and thus, needs to use a past form of verb. Hence, replace 'seize' with 'seized'.
   
   
   
   
    



6. Although he has been (1)/ winning the elections (2)/ all years, this year his popularity (3)/ has substantially reduced. (4)/ No error (5)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   5
   Option C
   'All years' in the third part is incorrect and can be corrected in multiple ways. Either replace it with ' all these years' or by 'every year' to make it grammatically correct since we have to specify the noun "years" in such a context.
   
    



7. Government took strict action (1)/ against the doctors on strike (2)/ but they refused to (3)/ resume to work. (4)/ No error (5)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   5
   Option D
   Usage of 'to' in the last part of the statement is incorrect and thus, needs to be omitted as it will bring redundancy.
   
    



8. The scheme has been (1)/ implemented only in these (2)/ part of the country and the (3)/ Prime Minister will visit it shortly. (4)/ No error (5)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   5
   Option B
   The third and fourth parts make it obvious that the context is of a singular part because 'it' is used to address. So, 'these' is wrong usage in the second part and needs to be replaced with 'this'.
   
    


Directions(9-10): A sentence with two blanks is given, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Choose the pair of words that best fit the meaning of the sentence as a whole.


9. Our Constitution was based on the belief that the free___________ of ideas, people and cultures is essential to the___________ of a democratic society.
   
   selection, concurrence
   interchange, preservation
   reversal, upholding
   dissemination, congruence
   distinction, design
   Option B
   Congruence means agreement or harmony; compatibility.
   Preservation means the action of preserving something, conservation.
   Dissemination means the act of spreading something, especially information, widely; circulation
   
    



10. Britain for the present, is deeply ___________ in economic troubles, and the economic future, heavily ___________ looks uncertain.
    engrossed, responsive
    ingrained, skeptical
    saturate, enveloped
    mired, mortgaged
    restrained, participative
    Option B
    Engrossed means absorb all the attention or interest of.
    Ingrained means (of a habit, belief, or attitude) firmly fixed or established; difficult to change.
    Skeptical means not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations.
    Saturate means fill (something or someone) with something until no more can be held or absorbed.
    Enveloped means wrap up, cover, or surround completely.
    Mired means involve someone or something in (a difficult situation).
    Mortgaged means convey (a property) to a creditor as security on a loan.
    Restrained means kept under control.
    Participative means relating to or involving participation.