Question 1

Fill in the blank (polite offer to speak)  “It's very kind of you to ______ to speak at the meeting.”  Choose the best verb to complete the sentence.

Accepted Answer

Given data Polite acknowledgment for someone agreeing to speak at a meeting. Concept/Approach With infinitive “to speak,” the natural verb is offer — “offer to speak.” Option analysis offer — correct collocation.refuse / decline — opposite meaning.hesitate — expresses doubt, not kindness. Final Answer offer

Question 2

Fill in the blank (sports context — cricket)  “Pakistan lost a ______ wicket just when they seemed to be doing so well, and that led to their eventual defeat.”  Choose the most appropriate adjective.

Accepted Answer

Given data Cricket sentence where losing a key wicket changes the match outcome. Concept/Approach In sports reporting, “crucial/vital wicket” is the idiomatic phrase for a turning point. Option analysis crucial — correct; indicates importance.casual / random — imply chance or lack of importance.spare — does not collocate with “wicket.” Final Answer crucial

Question 3

Fill in the blank (idiomatic reaction)  “Sita's heart ______ at the sight of the beautiful diamond necklace.”  Choose the verb that best completes the idiom.

Accepted Answer

Given data The sight of something beautiful causes a happy thrill. Concept/Approach The idiom is “one’s heart leapt,” expressing excitement or joy. Option analysis leapt — correct idiom.stopped — suggests shock/fear; not supported by context.sank — expresses disappointment/sadness.ached — suggests pain. Final Answer leapt

Question 4

Fill in the blank (collocation with “countryside”)  “He lives near a lovely ______ of countryside.”  Select the noun that best fits.

Accepted Answer

Given data Noun needed to quantify/describe an area of countryside. Concept/Approach The standard collocation is “a stretch of countryside.” Option analysis stretch — correct collocation.street — a road in a town/city; wrong domain.streak — a line/mark; doesn’t fit area/landscape.strand — a beach or filament; unnatural here. Final Answer stretch

Question 5

Fill in the blank (abstract noun after “one of those … which”)  “Ambition is one of those ______ which are never satisfied.”  Choose the most suitable plural noun.

Accepted Answer

Given data Ambition is being grouped with things that are never satisfied. Concept/Approach In literary/idiomatic English, unsatisfied inner drives are called passions or desires. “Passions” fits best. Option analysis passions — correct semantic field.ideals — may be aspirational but not “never satisfied.”hobbies / occupations — unrelated to inner compulsion. Final Answer passions

Question 6

Fill in the blank (describing temperament)  “He is a person of sound character and ______ disposition.”  Pick the adjective that completes the phrase naturally.

Accepted Answer

Given data “Sound character” suggests a positive quality should follow. Concept/Approach Amiable disposition is a standard collocation meaning friendly and pleasant in temperament. Option analysis amiable — positive and idiomatic with “disposition.”heinous — used for crimes, not personality.fickle / sullen — negative traits, clash with “sound character.” Final Answer amiable

Question 7

Fill in the blank (question tag with “will”)  “If I take a state roadways bus, I'll get late, ______?”  Choose the correct question tag.

Accepted Answer

Given data Main clause uses future with “I will.” Concept/Approach Question tags invert the auxiliary and change polarity: “I will …, won’t I?” Option analysis won’t I? — correct inverse tag for “I will.”will I? — same polarity; incorrect as a tag here.isn’t it? / shall I? — auxiliaries don’t match the main clause. Final Answer won’t I?

Question 8

Fill in the blank (verb with “importance … would ___ in later life”)  “In high school many of us never realised the importance that grammar would ______ in later life.”  Select the verb that best completes the sentence.

Accepted Answer

Given data “Importance … would ___” needs a verb meaning “come to have.” Concept/Approach Assume collocates with “importance” to mean “acquire” (e.g., “issue assumed importance”). Option analysis assume — correct collocation: “assume importance.”play — fits with “role,” not “importance.”hold — “hold importance” is non-idiomatic; “hold importance for” would require a different structure.take up — does not collocate with “importance.” Final Answer assume

Question 9

Fill in the blanks (adverb choice repeated for emphasis)  “In a changing and ______ unstructured business environment, creativity and innovation are being ______ demanded of executives.”  Fill both blanks with the most appropriate adverb (answer as …

Accepted Answer

Given data The environment is becoming more unstructured over time. Expectations from executives are rising. Concept/Approach Use the adverb increasingly to show a rising trend in both the description of the environment and the demand placed on executives. Option analysis increasingly, increasingly — correct and idiomatic in both positions.largely, sparsely — do not convey growth; “sparsely demanded” is unidiomatic.randomly, occasionally — incorrect meaning and register.deliberately, forcibly — wrong sense. Common pitfalls Avoid mixing “more and more” in one blank and “increasingly” in the other; keep parallel style. Final Answer increasingly, increasingly

Question 10

Vocabulary and context: choose the most accurate adjective describing cattle after a shortage of grass on arid plains  Context: Due to a dearth of grass on dry, arid plains, the cattle’s condition deteriorates. Complete the sentence with the most pr…

Accepted Answer

Given data Setting: arid plains; shortage (dearth) of grass. Subject: cattle's condition because of lack of food. Concept/Approach Emaciated means abnormally thin or weak, especially because of lack of food. This directly matches cattle suffering from fodder scarcity. Option analysis emaciated — correct; undernourished and gaunt due to starvation. ✅frolicsome — playful; contradicts the context of scarcity.corpulent — fat; opposite of what scarcity causes.belligerent — aggressive; not a physical condition from lack of grass. Common pitfalls Confusing emaciated (thin) with corpulent (fat). Final Answer emaciated

Question 11

Reported speech and tense sequence: complete the sentence about a baby and a safety pin  Frame: "A woman came in with a baby who, she said, ______ a safety pin." Use the correct tense for reported speech about a completed past action.  Choose the co…

Accepted Answer

Given data Main clause in past: "A woman came in …" Reported statement about a completed earlier action. Concept/Approach In reported speech with a past reporting verb (came, said), an action completed before that point takes the past perfect: "had swallowed." Option analysis had swallowed — correct past perfect for a prior completed action. ✅has swallowed — present perfect; mismatches the past reporting frame.swallowed — simple past; ambiguous timing relative to the reporting.was swallowing — past continuous; indicates ongoing action, not completed ingestion. Final Answer had swallowed

Question 12

Astronomy vocabulary: select the best noun phrase describing the goal of finding life beyond Earth  Context: Hubble Space Telescope tasks include searching for planets and studying interstellar matter. Complete the sentence: "The Hubble Space Telesc…

Accepted Answer

Given data Phrase pattern: "a key to the ______ extraterrestrial life". Intended meaning: whether life exists beyond Earth. Concept/Approach The idiomatic and logical collocation is "a key to the existence of extraterrestrial life" — i.e., understanding whether such life exists. Option analysis existence of — correct grammar and meaning. ✅detection for — wrong preposition; natural phrase is "detection of".evidence at — wrong preposition and sense.discovery from — incorrect preposition; "discovery of" would still be less precise than "existence of" here. Common pitfalls Mixing prepositions after abstract nouns (of/for/at). Final Answer existence of

Question 13

Habitual action in the simple present: banking withdrawal every Friday  Complete the sentence with the correct habitual tense: "She ______ Rs 80 out of the bank every Friday."  Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Given data Time expression: "every Friday" → habitual action. Concept/Approach English uses the simple present to describe regular, habitual actions: "She withdraws … every Friday." Option analysis withdraws — correct simple present for habit. ✅withdrew — simple past; a one-time past action.has withdrawn — present perfect; implies completion before now, not habitual.is withdrawing — present continuous; ongoing now, not weekly habit. Final Answer withdraws

Question 14

Diplomatic titles: choose the official who presents credentials to the President of India  Complete the sentence with the correct diplomatic designation: "The American ______ presented his credentials to the President of India."  Choose the correct …

Accepted Answer

Given data Context: formal credential presentation to a Head of State. Concept/Approach In diplomatic protocol, an ambassador presents letters of credence to the Head of State. Consuls handle consular affairs and do not present such credentials; envoy and emissary are generic terms, not the standard title for this ceremony. Option analysis ambassador — correct formal title for credential presentation. ✅consul — incorrect role for presenting credentials to the President.envoy / emissary — generic or ad hoc emissaries; not the accredited chief of mission. Final Answer ambassador

Question 15

Phrasal verb meaning "withdraw from a commitment": complete the sentence  Complete the legal/contractual statement: "Once he has signed the agreement, he won't be able to ______."  Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Given data Context: binding agreement after signature. Concept/Approach Back out means to withdraw from a commitment or agreement. That matches inability to renege once signed. Option analysis back out — correct: withdraw from an agreement. ✅break down — to fail/collapse emotionally or mechanically.break out — to escape or begin suddenly.back off — to retreat; not specifically about contracts. Final Answer back out

Question 16

Idiom and adverb usage: supply the intensifier in "stuck ______ in the mud"  Complete the sentence with the most idiomatic adverb: "It was difficult to remove my feet as it had got stuck ______ in the mud."  Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Given data Construction: "stuck ______ in the mud". Concept/Approach The fixed idiom is "stuck fast" meaning firmly stuck and hard to move. Here it collocates naturally with being stuck in mud. Option analysis fast — correct idiomatic intensifier in "stuck fast". ✅badly — grammatical but far less idiomatic; does not convey the fixed expression.tightly — used with bindings, not typically with mud.deep — refers to depth rather than immovability. Final Answer fast

Question 17

Neutrality vs. bias: choose the adjective for someone who never takes sides  Complete the sentence with the best descriptor: "He is a very careful person; he never takes sides but remains ______."  Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Given data Behavior: never takes sides. Concept/Approach Neutral means impartial and not aligned with any side. That matches the description. Option analysis neutral — correct: impartial. ✅biased — partial; opposite of the requirement.subjective — based on personal feelings; not about taking sides.partisan — strongly supporting a party or cause; opposite of neutral. Final Answer neutral

Question 18

Verb choice for climate facts: supply the formal verb that fits with "plentiful rainfall"  Complete the sentence about a state's climate: "West Bengal ______ plentiful rainfall and is consequently a very green part of the country."  Choose the corre…

Accepted Answer

Given data Subject: West Bengal (singular proper noun). Predicate: plentiful rainfall; consequence: green region. Concept/Approach Standard climatological phrasing uses the verb receives with "rainfall": "The region receives plentiful rainfall." Option analysis receives — correct collocation with "rainfall". ✅experience — wrong subject–verb agreement (needs "experiences").experiences — grammatically acceptable, but receives is the most precise with "rainfall".has — possible, but less formal/precise than "receives". Final Answer receives

Question 19

Comparative with "inferior": choose the correct preposition in a product comparison  Complete the sentence with the proper connector: "This brand of TV is quite inferior ______ that one."  Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Given data Adjective: inferior used for comparison. Concept/Approach The adjectives inferior, superior, prior, and senior take the preposition to, not "than": "inferior to." Option analysis to — correct fixed preposition after "inferior". ✅than — used with comparative adjectives (e.g., "better than"), but inferior is irregular.from / with — incorrect in this comparison structure. Common pitfalls Writing "inferior than" by analogy with comparatives — this is nonstandard. Final Answer to

Question 20

Fill in the blank (proverb about actions vs. words)  “It is not what you say that ______ but what you do.”  Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence.

Accepted Answer

Given data A contrast is drawn between saying and doing. Concept/Approach The standard collocation is “what matters,” meaning “what is important.” The proverb emphasizes deeds over words. Option analysis matters — correct; idiomatic and precise.counts — close in meaning, but “what matters” is the commoner fixed phrase here.speaks / tells — do not fit semantically or idiomatically in this structure. Common pitfalls Avoid “speaks,” as in “actions speak,” which is a different idiom. Final Answer matters

Selecting Words Questions