Question 1

Preposition choice with "sit" and physical proximity: fill in the correct preposition to express adjacency to a person. Complete: I hate sitting ____ him as he always smells of garlic. Select the preposition of place that precisely means "next to".

Accepted Answer

Given data Sentence: I hate sitting ____ him as he always smells of garlic. Options: beside, besides, along, at. Concept/Approach Beside (no -s) is the preposition of place meaning next to. Besides (with -s) means in addition to and changes the meaning. Along/at do not express immediate adjacency to a person in this construction. Option analysis beside — correct for physical adjacency (sit beside someone). ✅besides — additive meaning; incorrect here. ❌along — would require alongside to approach the meaning; still unnatural with sit. ❌at — general location, not adjacency. ❌ Final Answer beside

Question 2

Vocabulary precision – adjective of accessibility: choose the word that completes the sentence naturally. Sentence: Some regions of our country still remain ____ to the average man. Pick the adjective that idiomatically collocates with "remain … to".

Accepted Answer

Given data Sentence: Some regions of our country still remain ____ to the average man. Concept/Approach The common collocation is remain inaccessible to, meaning hard to reach or enter. This best conveys limited reachability for ordinary people. Option analysis inaccessible — precise meaning and correct preposition pattern (to). ✅accessible — opposite sense; contradicts the implied difficulty. ❌available — generally used of items/services; not idiomatic with geographic regions in this frame. ❌hospitable — means welcoming; not about reachability. ❌ Final Answer inaccessible

Question 3

Impersonal declarative pattern "It … that": supply the correct verb form to complete the formal English construction. Sentence: It ____ that Prashant will not be selected for the post. Choose the grammatically correct and idiomatic option.

Accepted Answer

Given data Sentence: It ____ that Prashant will not be selected for the post. Target: correct impersonal verb form. Concept/Approach Standard impersonal clauses use a finite verb: It appears that …, It seems that …. Alternatives like It is apparent that … require an adjective plus is, not offered here in a complete form. Option analysis appears — correct finite verb in present simple: It appears that … ✅is appear — ungrammatical (mixing copula + bare verb). ❌apparent — adjective; would need is (It is apparent …). ❌appearing — participle; unnatural here without an auxiliary and not idiomatic. ❌ Final Answer appears

Question 4

Fixed idiom with "up ____": supply the correct preposition in the expression meaning "opposed to". Sentence: In Bush, Saddam was up ____ more than his match. Select the preposition that completes the set phrase.

Accepted Answer

Given data Sentence: In Bush, Saddam was up ____ more than his match. Task: choose the correct preposition in the fixed idiom. Concept/Approach The set phrase is to be up against someone, meaning to face or be opposed to them. The rest of the sentence (more than his match) reinforces a contest/opposition sense. Option analysis against — completes the idiom: up against. ✅with — would suggest accompaniment, not opposition. ❌to — incorrect with this idiom. ❌for — indicates purpose/support; not idiomatic here. ❌ Final Answer against

Question 5

Time expression with perfect aspect: choose the correct preposition for a finished duration up to now. Sentence: I haven't seen you ____ a week. Select the option that fits a period of time (duration).

Accepted Answer

Given data Sentence: I haven't seen you ____ a week. Present perfect negative expresses non-occurrence up to now. Concept/Approach For is used with durations (a week, two years). Since marks a starting point (since Monday). During applies within a named period (during the week), and from needs a complement (from … to …). Option analysis for — correct with durations: for a week. ✅since — would require a point in time (e.g., since last week). ❌during — mismatched with perfect aspect and unspecified period. ❌from — incomplete without to/till. ❌ Final Answer for

Question 6

Verb choice before "about": supply the most natural verb to describe speaking on a topic. Sentence: I listened, but I had no idea what he was ____ about. Choose the gerund/participle that collocates with "about" to indicate topic.

Accepted Answer

Given data Sentence: I listened, but I had no idea what he was ____ about. We need a verb that naturally pairs with about to indicate topic. Concept/Approach The common collocation is talk about (be talking about something). Say usually takes a that-clause or direct speech; tell takes an object (tell me/about), and speak is more formal and typically used as speak about/on but the continuous here most idiomatically reads was talking about. Option analysis talking — best fit: was talking about. ✅saying — was saying about is ungrammatical; needs what he was saying or what he was saying about X. ❌telling — would require an indirect object (telling me/us about …). ❌speaking — possible with about, but was speaking about is more formal; in conversational tone, talking about is preferred. ❌ Final Answer talking

Question 7

Fixed expression with accident: choose the verb that completes the idiom. Sentence: The car in which the minister was traveling ____ with an accident. Select the verb that correctly forms the phrase used in standard Indian English.

Accepted Answer

Given data Sentence: The car in which the minister was traveling ____ with an accident. Task: supply the idiomatic verb. Concept/Approach The established expression is to meet with an accident. Although alternatives like collided or crashed exist, the sentence already supplies with an accident, so the verb that fits is met. Option analysis met — completes the idiom: met with an accident. ✅collided — would need a noun phrase after it (collided with a truck), not with an accident. ❌dashed — not used transitively here; dashed against would still not fit with an accident. ❌faced — faced an accident is non-idiomatic. ❌ Final Answer met

Question 8

Word choice for negative impact: select the verb that accurately describes harming a reputation. Sentence: The non-cooperative attitude of the members can only ____ the image of the society. Choose the option that best conveys damage to reputation.

Accepted Answer

Given data Sentence: The non-cooperative attitude of the members can only ____ the image of the society. Target meaning: negative effect on reputation or public image. Concept/Approach Tarnish means to dull, stain, or damage reputation. The other options are positive or decorative in sense. Option analysis tarnish — directly means to harm or sully an image/reputation. ✅enhance — to improve/augment; opposite meaning. ❌embellish — to decorate/add details; not about reputational harm. ❌burnish — to polish/make shine; positive sense. ❌ Common pitfalls Choosing a word with positive connotation (enhance, burnish) when the clause clearly signals a negative consequence. Final Answer tarnish

Question 9

Antonymic contrast after "but rather": choose a personality adjective that contrasts with "quite intelligent". Sentence: Sonika is quite intelligent but rather ____. Select the adjective that naturally introduces a negative trait contrasting with in…

Accepted Answer

Given data Sentence: Sonika is quite intelligent but rather ____. The coordinator but rather signals contrast with the positive trait (intelligent). Concept/Approach A natural contrasting trait is laziness or lack of effort; indolent (habitually lazy) provides a meaningful antonymic balance. Words like brilliant, astute, and studious reinforce intelligence and do not form the intended contrast. Option analysis indolent — negative trait that contrasts with intelligence by highlighting lack of industry. ✅brilliant — intensifies the positive attribute; not a contrast. ❌astute — another positive synonym; not a contrast. ❌studious — positive diligence; again not a contrast. ❌ Final Answer indolent

Question 10

Sentence completion (collocation): Choose the word that best completes the sentence  “In a little-publicised deal, Pepsi-Cola has ______ the entire soft-drink market in Afghanistan.” Select the verb that fits the idiomatic business context of gainin…

Accepted Answer

Given data Context: Business/market share. Sentence: Pepsi-Cola has ______ the entire soft-drink market in Afghanistan. Concept/Approach In business English, when a company gains control or dominance of a market, the standard collocation is “capture a market.” Option analysis captured — idiomatic: “captured the market.”occupied — physical presence; not used for market share.conquered — militaristic/overblown; non-idiomatic for markets.swallowed — used for acquisitions/mergers (swallow a company), not a market. Common pitfalls Choosing dramatic verbs (“conquered”) instead of the accepted business collocation. Final Answer captured

Question 11

Sentence completion (word choice: similar forms): Choose the word that best completes the sentence  “He ______ in wearing the old-fashioned coat in spite of his wife's disapproval.” Pick the verb that means “continued steadfastly.”

Accepted Answer

Given data Clue: “in spite of … disapproval” implies continued action. Concept/Approach Persist = continue firmly despite opposition. “Insist” usually takes “on + gerund”; “desist” means stop; “resist” means oppose. Option analysis persists — correct sense and structure: “persists in wearing.”insists — would require “on wearing,” and means demand rather than continue.desists — opposite meaning (to cease).resists — means opposes; doesn’t fit with “in wearing.” Common pitfalls Confusing “insist on” with “persist in.” Final Answer persists

Question 12

Phrasal verb (idiom): Choose the option that best completes the sentence  “She ______ a brief appearance at the end of the party.” Select the correct phrasal verb meaning “made/registered.”

Accepted Answer

Given data Action: Making a brief appearance. Concept/Approach The idiom is “put in an appearance,” meaning to appear briefly. Option analysis put in — correct: “put in an appearance.”put on — to stage/wear.put across — to communicate successfully.put up — to raise/offer accommodation. Common pitfalls Choosing “put on” from performance contexts; the fixed idiom is “put in an appearance.” Final Answer put in

Question 13

Analogy (semantic relationship): Choose the word that best completes the analogy  “Life is to death as pleasure is to ______.” Identify the natural opposite in standard usage.

Accepted Answer

Given data Analogy form: A is to (opposite of A) as B is to (opposite of B). Concept/Approach “Life : death” is a direct antonym pair. The closest antonym pair to “pleasure” is “pain.” Option analysis pain — standard antonym of pleasure.suffering/anguish — related but broader/more intense states, not the set antonym.poverty — unrelated to pleasure vs. pain. Common pitfalls Over-selecting stronger emotive words (“anguish”) instead of the conventional antonym. Final Answer pain

Question 14

Double-blank sentence completion (collocations/logic): Choose the pair that best completes the sentence  “This, partly, explains how the Mehta family has been able to ______ its lavish lifestyle in recent times, despite the fact that all its assets …

Accepted Answer

Given data Part 1 verb must collocate with “lavish lifestyle.” Part 2 past participle must make sense with “all its assets have been …”. Concept/Approach Idiomatic expression is “keep up (a lifestyle).” For assets, “destroyed” makes logical sense with “despite the fact …” (paradox noted by “This, partly, explains …”). Option analysis keep up, destroyed — correct collocation and logical contrast. keep, removed — “keep a lifestyle” is weaker; “assets removed” is vague. afford, attached — “assets attached” is legal jargon (seized), but “afford its lavish lifestyle” clashes with “despite … assets attached.” develop, liquidated — you don’t “develop” a lifestyle; “assets liquidated” can fit, but first verb fails. Common pitfalls Ignoring fixed phrases like “keep up a lifestyle.” Final Answer keep up, destroyed

Question 15

Coordinating conjunctions (contrast): Choose the word that best completes the sentence  “The machine is difficult to build ______ easy to maintain.” Select the conjunction that correctly expresses contrast.

Accepted Answer

Given data Two coordinated clauses: “difficult to build” vs. “easy to maintain.” Concept/Approach We need a contrasting coordinator: “but.” Option analysis but — expresses contrast.and — adds, no contrast.for — causal/explanatory, not contrast.if — conditional, not coordination. Final Answer but

Question 16

Sentence completion (meaning): Choose the word that best completes the sentence  “If you work beyond your capacity, you will naturally feel ______.” Pick the word that states the normal physical effect.

Accepted Answer

Given data Overwork → predictable physical result. Concept/Approach Working too much typically leads to fatigue = “tired.” Option analysis tired — direct, most common effect.drowsy — sleepy, not necessarily from overwork.confident — unrelated.giddy — dizzy/light-headed; not the usual outcome. Final Answer tired

Question 17

Prepositions (legal usage): Choose the preposition that best completes the sentence  “If you persist in telling lies to me, I shall sue you ______ slander.” Select the correct preposition used with legal charges.

Accepted Answer

Given data Verb phrase: “sue (someone) for (a tort/amount).” Concept/Approach In legal English, one sues someone for slander/libel/damages. Option analysis for — correct legal preposition.to/on/with — incorrect with “sue” in this meaning. Common pitfalls Using “on” by analogy with “charged on”; the idiom with “sue” is “for.” Final Answer for

Question 18

Phrasal verb (business idiom): Choose the option that best completes the sentence  “His father-in-law ______ him up in business.” Select the phrasal verb meaning “established/started.”

Accepted Answer

Given data Phrasal verb: “set (someone) up (in business)” = establish someone in business. Concept/Approach Look for the verb that naturally partners with “up … in business.” Option analysis set — correct: “set him up in business.”put/made/built — don’t form the idiom here. Final Answer set

Question 19

Quantifiers and comparison (article use): Choose the word that best completes the sentence  “______ works of reference are as valuable as the Encyclopaedia Britannica.” Select the correct quantifier to express “hardly any.”

Accepted Answer

Given data Structure: “______ works of reference are as valuable as …” (comparative with “as … as”). Concept/Approach Few (without article) means “hardly any,” which fits the sense that very few works match the value of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Option analysis Few — correct: general negative quantity (hardly any).A few — means “some” (positive sense); changes meaning.The few — refers to a specific small set; not intended here.Fewer — comparative; would require “than,” not “as … as.” Common pitfalls Confusing “few” (hardly any) with “a few” (some). Final Answer Few

Question 20

English grammar and usage – choose the correct completion for the collocation "similar to": identify the option that makes a natural, grammatically correct sentence.  Sentence frame: "This book is quite similar ____."  Pick the option that correctly…

Accepted Answer

Given data Stem: "This book is quite similar ____." Options: (A) with the "Treasure Island" (B) of that film we saw at school (C) to the one I read last week (D) than a story told by our teacher. Concept/Approach The adjective similar takes the preposition to (not with, of, or than). We then need a noun phrase that fits: "similar to the one I read last week". Option analysis A: "with the 'Treasure Island'" — incorrect preposition; standard collocation is similar to, not similar with. Also a proper title would normally be Treasure Island without the article or with the novel 'Treasure Island'.B: "of that film we saw at school" — similar of is ungrammatical.C: "to the one I read last week" — correct preposition and a clear noun phrase. ✅D: "than a story told by our teacher" — than is used with comparatives, not with similar. Usage tip Correct pattern: similar to + noun/pronoun/gerund. Common pitfalls Using with or than after similar. Following similar with a clause that lacks a clear head noun. Final Answer to the one I read last week

Selecting Words Questions