New Pattern English

Directions (1-5): In the following Questions, there are four sentences. Each sentence has pairs of words/phrases that are italicized and highlighted. From the italicized and highlighted word(s)/phrase(s), select the most appropriate word(s)/phrase(s) to form correct sentences. Then choose the best option.

Q1. (i) Several pages of the book have come loose [A]/lose [B].
(ii) I am totally uninterested [A]/disinterested [B] in grammar. It’s boring.
(iii) Almost every decade someone or the other comes out with the prophecy [A]/prophesy [B] that the world is going to end.
(iv) I loath [A]/loathe [B] to admit that I was totally jealous.
(a) AAAB
(b) ABAB
(c) BABA
(d) BBAB
(e) BBBB

Q2. (i) The film was boring except for the special effects [A]/affects [B].
(ii) She must realize that she is eighteen and past [A]/passed [B] playing with dolls.
(iii) She is not anymore financially dependent [A]/dependant [B] on her husband.
(iv) She raised an intent for more stationary [A]/stationery [B] for the office.
(a) BBAB
(b) ABAB
(c) AABB
(d) AAAB
(e) BBBB

Q3. (i) The storm wreaked [A]/wrecked [B] havoc along the coast.
(ii) Though humorous his repartees are often mordent [A]/mordant [B].
(iii) Accessory [A]/Excess [B] minerals are disregarded by petrologists while classifying rocks.
(iv) I hope we have good whether [A]/weather [B] during our trip
(a) ABAB
(b) ABBA
(c) BABA
(d) BAAB
(e) BBBB

Q4. (i) She did not look overly [A]/overtly [B] at the customer till she had established herself comfortably on the chair.
(ii) By persisting in his efforts against failure he has shown his ability [A]/capacity [B] to persevere.
(iii) The closure of the company effected [A]/affected [B] the workers adversely.
(iv) I am not sure if [A]/whether [B] I should take the CAT this year or the next.
(a) ABAB
(b) ABBA
(c) BABB
(d) BAAB
(e) BBBB

Q5. (i) It is important to cite [A]/site [B] as many examples as possible in your answer.
(ii) Each batch in our classes is comprised [A]/composed [B] of 25 students and not more.
(iii) Persistent questioning by the lawyer failed to elicit [A]/illicit [B] a clear answer from the accused.
(iv) The professor could imply [A]/infer [B] that the students had not understood his explanation.
(a) ABAB
(b) ABAA
(c) BAAB
(d) BABA
(e) BBBB


Directions (6-15): In each of the following questions, a statement and five choices are given. Select from among the choices, the most logical complement and mark its number as your answer.

Q6. Electricity is the backbone of industrial development
(a) Many of our new electric projects are lying abandoned.
(b) The authorities are exploring the possibility of starting non-conventional energy sources.
(c) Reliable and uninterrupted power is a prerequisite for development.
(d) People demand some urgent measures to improve the situation.
(e) Hydroelectric projects are unable to meet the demand.

Q7. Our country is rapidly becoming a consumer nation.
(a) The nation must stand on its own legs.
(b) For financial progress we must reduce import and increase export.
(c) We want to become financially strong.
(d) We are not yet Independent because we depend on other countries in certain fields.
(e) India must become self – sufficient and reduce importing goods.

Q8. Children find it difficult to get admission to primary schools as demand exceeds supply.
(a) The government is against starting new schools.
(b) Primary education has been declared compulsory.
(c) The government schools offer better education than the private schools.
(d) The private sector is exerting influence upon the ruling party to recommend the opening of new schools.
(e) The private schools make the most of the situation and charge hefty fees.

Q9. The C.B.I. presented an incriminating report about the minister’s foreign connection.
(a) The Newspapers published a lot of nonsense.
(b) The court ordered a judicial enquiry into the whole affair.
(c) People believe all sorts of hearsay without going into their merits.
(d) The party-connection emboldens everybody to do whatever he likes.
(e) The C. B. I need to look into all aspects before arresting a senior politician.

Q10. The author’s new book was widely accepted by the common people but it angered those in power.
(a) The book was acclaimed for the political criticism it contained.
(b) The author has employed all his power of observation to prepare the book.
(c) People in the Gulf countries arranged a number of meetings to welcome him.
(d) To secure a valid passport the author had to force a lot of political intervention.
(e) The author’s new book is not available in any of the book shops.

Q11. Given the environmentally conscious times we live in; renewable energy has always been seen as an ideal source of power.
(a) Indian consumers have to pay exorbitant amounts towards electricity bills.
(b) Renewable energy sources are more cost effective compared to conventional sources.
(c) As India basks in sunlight throughout the year, solar energy systems are very feasible.
(d) Solar energy is ideally suited for villages.
(e) Why can’t Indian Government harness wind energy?

Q12. The Indian System is witnessing the rise of freshly generated wealth which are legitimate earnings.
(a) The boom in the software sector contributes to a great extent to the economic prosperity of the country.
(b) The software boom is changing the profile of the country in the new millennium.
(c) Although India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, the specter of huge government expenditure looms large.
(d) The country’s demographic profile would change with the list of rich households going up.
(e) The country’s economic progress depends only on the literate population.

Q13. Medical experts argue that the effects of iodine deficiency are too debilitating to leave its consumption to choice.
(a) Insufficient intake of micro nutrients by an expectant mother is the cause of underdeveloped brain in an unborn baby.
(b) Some political leaders argue that the consumption of iodized salt is a matter of personal choice.
(c) According to Medical experts the serious health hazard of iodine deficiency can be overcome by the consumption of iodized salt.
(d) Not all regions of the country are iodine deficient.
(e) To be healthy we need a balanced diet.

Q14. The earthquake rendered many people homeless.
(a) Builders of several apartments were penalized by the government.
(b) Several non-governmental organizations came forward to help the quake victims.
(c) The earthquake was so sudden that people were caught unawares.
(d) The intensity of the earth quake was so severe that there was large scale devastation.
(e) The aftershocks of the earthquake are adding to their problems.

Q15. Government run schools across the country are introducing English language to children at an earlier stage than before.
(a) English is an international language and we cannot ignore it.
(b) There has been a proliferation of English language teaching institutes in urban India.
(c) There has been a steady increase in the use of English over the years.
(d) Indian elite always hankered after English education for their children.
(e) Teaching English has been made compulsory in all schools by the Department of Education.

SOLUTIONS
S1. Ans.(a)
Sol. loathe-feel intense dislike or disgust for., loath-reluctant; unwilling. , loose- not firmly or tightly fixed in place; detached or able to be detached. hence 'loose' is the correct word.
prophecy (NOUN)-a prediction of what will happen in the future.

S2. Ans.(d)
Sol. Effect is a noun and affect is a verb, hence effect is correct word in the given context.
stationery -writing and other office materials., stationary-not moving or not intended to be moved. Hence stationery is correct word and gives us the hint to correct option.

S3. Ans.(a)
Sol. wreaked-cause (a large amount of damage or harm).
mordant-(especially of humour) having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting.

S4. Ans.(c)
Sol. overtly-without concealment or secrecy; openly. In third sentence “affect” is used as a verb, hence correct choice.

S5. Ans.(a)
Sol. elicit -evoke or draw out (a reaction, answer, or fact) from someone.
illicit-forbidden by law, rules, or custom.
  
S6. Ans.(c)
Sol. Reliable and uninterrupted power is a prerequisite for development. Other options do not follow the idea expressed in the question statement logically. Either they distort the message or introduce new idea.

S7. Ans.(b)
Sol. For financial progress we must reduce import and increase export. Other options do not follow the idea expressed in the question statement logically. Either they distort the message or introduce new idea.

S8. Ans.(e)
Sol. Since demand is higher than supply in schools for admission, the private schools make the most of the situation and charge hefty fees.

S9. Ans.(b)
Sol. The court ordered a judicial enquiry into the whole affair. Since report was submitted to the court hence judge ordered an enquiry into the case. Hence option C logically follow course of action.

S10. Ans.(a)
Sol. the book was acclaimed for the political criticism it contained.

S11. Ans.(b)
Sol. Renewable energy sources are more cost effective compared to conventional sources.

S12. Ans.(a)
Sol. The boom in the software sector contributes to a great extent to the economic prosperity of the country.

S13. Ans.(c)
Sol. According to Medical experts the serious health hazard of iodine deficiency can be overcome by the consumption of iodized salt.

S14. Ans.(b)
Sol. Several non-governmental organizations came forward to help the quake victims. First the earthquake happened, then the organizations came forward to help.  Hence option B is logical complement.

S15. Ans.(e)
Sol. Teaching English has been made compulsory in all schools by the Department of Education.

Error Detection

Directions (1-15): Each of the following sentences are divided into parts, which are marked A, B, C and D. One of these parts may contain an error or may not be acceptable in standard written communication. Mark that part as your answer. (Ignore punctuation error if any)

Q1. Have you read in the Hindustan Times that Kapil Dev’s shoulder was broken while playing the final Test against Pakistan.

(a) Have you 

(b) read in the 

(c) Hindustan Times that Kapil Dev’s shoulder 

(d) was broken while playing 

(e) No error

Q2. Between you and I, I am convinced that this painting by Neetu shows greater artistry than that of Reshma.

(a) Between you and I, 

(b) I am convinced 

(c) that this painting by Neetu shows greater 

(d) artistry than that 

(e) No error

Q3. Being that you are interested in the outcome of the election, let us wait till the final tally has been made.

(a) Being that 

(b) you are interested in the 

(c) outcome of the election, let us wait till 

(d) the final tally has been 

(e) No error

Q4. Since it was an unusually warm day, the dog laid under the tree all afternoon. 

(a) Since it 

(b) was an unusually 

(c) warm day, the dog laid under 

(d) the tree all afternoon.

(e) No error

Q5. Neither Rakesh nor Rahul, presented their papers before the deadline for doing so.

(a) Neither 

(b) Rakesh nor 

(c) Rahul, presented their 

(d) papers before the deadline for doing 

(e) No error

Q6. A recent poll has indicated that Binny is considered brighter than any student in the class.

(a) A recent 

(b) poll has indicated 

(c) that Binny is considered 

(d) brighter than any student 

(e) No error

Q7. The question arises as to who should go out today – you or me.

(a) The question 

(b) arises as to who 

(c) should go out 

(d) today – you or me.

(e) No error

Q8. The company is planning a training programme for their senior officers sometime in December.

(a) The company is planning 

(b) a training 

(c) programme for their 

(d) senior officers sometime 

(e) No error

Q9. There was only a loaf of bread and two bottles of milk in the refrigerator when we came back after a weekend in Manali.

(a) There was only 

(b) a loaf of bread and two bottles of milk in the 

(c) refrigerator when 

(d) we came back 

(e) No error

Q10. Neither the old man nor his children knows what to do about the problem.

(a) Neither 

(b) the old man nor his 

(c) children knows 

(d) what to do about the 

(e) No error

Q11. Because of the recent strike in the mills, less men will be recruited in the coming season.

(a) Because of 

(b) the recent strike in the 

(c) mills, less men 

(d) will be recruited in the coming 

(e) No error

Q12. No sooner had he entered the hall when the lights went out and everybody began to scream.

(a) No sooner 

(b) had he entered 

(c) the hall when the 

(d) lights went out and everybody began 

(e) No error

Q13. The repetition of these sounds stir the emotions.

(a) The repetition 

(b) of these 

(c) sounds stir 

(d) the emotions.

(e) No error

Q14. Unemployment as well as poverty influence the votes.

(a) Unemployment 

(b) as well as 

(c) poverty influence 

(d) the votes.

(e) No error

Q15. Tonsillitis is among those diseases that is curable.

(a) Tonsillitis 

(b) is 

(c) among those 

(d) diseases that is curable.

(e) No error

Solutions

S1. Ans.(d)

Sol. ‘… was broken while he was playing the …’

Add the word he was to make the meaning clear. Otherwise it gives the impression that shoulder was playing.

S2. Ans.(a)

Sol. ‘Between you and me’

The object of the preposition between must be an objective case form (me and not I).

S3. Ans.(a)

Sol. ‘Since you are interested …’

Being that is not used in place of since or because.

S4. Ans.(c)

Sol. ‘… the dog lay under …’

The past tense of the verb lie is lay, and not laid.

S5. Ans.(c)

Sol. ‘… presented his papers before …’

Singular antecedent (Rakesh and Rahul) joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’ are referred to by singular pronoun (his).

S6. Ans.(d)

Sol. ‘… brighter than any other student …’ is the correction.

S7. Ans.(d)

Sol. ‘… who should go out today, you or I …’

S8. Ans.(c)

Sol. ‘… training programme for its …’

A singular pronoun-adjective (its, not their) must be used to refer to a collective noun (company) when the member of the collective noun are considered a unit.

S9. Ans.(a)

Sol. ‘There were only …’

The subject of the sentence is plural (a bread and bottles).

Therefore, the verb must be plural (were, not was). Here the word there is not the subject.

S10. Ans.(c)

Sol. ‘… children know …’

If one of the two antecedents joined by or or nor is singular and the other is plural, the pronoun agrees with the one nearer (‘children’ in this sentence).

S11. Ans.(c)

Sol. ‘… fewer men will be recruited …’

Less denotes amount or degree and fewer denotes number.

S12. Ans.(c)

Sol. ‘… the hall than the light ….’

S13. Ans.(c)

Sol. Stirs in place of stir.

The subjects ‘repetition’ is singular, hence ‘stirs’ a singular verb.

S14. Ans.(c)

Sol. ‘influences’ should be used in place of ‘influence’.

Two subjects joined by as well as take singular verb.

S15. Ans.(d)

Sol. ‘are curable’ is correct in place of ‘is curable’.

A relative pronoun (that, who, which) used as a subject takes on a singular or plural verb to accord with its antecedent. Here ‘that’ is referring to diseases that are curable.

New Pattern English

Directions (1-15): Read the passage and answer the following questions:

Unemployment is the problem of every modern nation. The government is not able to ensure a job for everyone. Following the conventional strategy of creating employment, governments of many developing countries try to attract employers (business houses/industrialists) by offering tax rebates and many other facilities so that they locate their upcoming plants on their soil, and thereby create industrial employment. But there is a limit to what industry can bring. Also, industrial plants often create toxic waste which results in air and water pollution and environmental problems which can outweigh whatever implement benefit industrial employment may bring as substantial relief to the dwindling economy of the host country and the profits of such foreign investments are carried back to the parent company and foreign shareholders aboard.

Self-employment has none of these drawbacks. The problem is that self-employment is not as obviously glamorous is not as a shiny new factory. But profits from self-employment remain in the country where they are produced. It is too small to create environmental hazards. It also puts the poor person in charge of his or her own working hours and conditions. The hours are flexible and can be adapted to fit any family situation. It allows people to choose between running a business full time and part time when they face a crisis, or to put their business on hold and work full time for a salary. Self-employment is tailor-made for anyone who is street-smart and has many acquired and inherited traditional skills, rather than learning acquired from books and technical schools. This means the illiterate and the poor can exploit their strengths, rather than be held back by their weaknesses. It allows a person to turn their hobbies into gainful employment. It allows individuals who cannot work well in a rigid hierarchy to run their own show.

Financing the poor to start their own little ventures elevates their sense of pride and self-respect. It offers a way out of welfare dependency, not just to become wage slaves, but to open a store or start a manufacturing business. It can help those who have found a job and are still nonetheless poor. It gives the victims of prejudice who would not be hired because of their colour or national origin a chance to earn a living. The average cost of creating self-employment is ten, twenty or hundred times lesser than creating industry-based employment. It helps isolated poor people gain self-confidence, step by step.

Obviously, self-employment has limits, but in many cases, it is the only solution to help those whom economies refuse to hire and taxpayers do not want to carry on their shoulders. The policy needed for the eradication of poverty must be much wider and deeper than the policy for the provision of mere employment. Real eradication of poverty begins when people are able to control their own fate. Poor people are like bonsai trees. When you plant the best seed of the tallest tree in a flower pot, you get a replica of the tallest tree, only inches tall. There is nothing wrong with the seed you planted; only the soil base that is too inadequate. Poor people are bonsai people. There is nothing wrong with their seeds. Simply society never gave them the base to grow. All it takes to get the poor people out of poverty is for us to create an enabling environment for them. Once the poor are able to unleash their energy and creativity, poverty will disappear very quickly. 

Direction(1-3): Choose the word/group of words which is MOST OPPOSITE in MEANING to The word/group of words printed in bold us used in the passage.

Q1. RIGID
(a) Unstructured
(b) Flexible
(c) Soft
(d) Gentle
(e) Calm

Q2. STEP BY STEP
(a) All at once
(b) In quick succession
(c) In slow motion
(d) In a nutshell
(e) Once and for all

Q3. OFFERING
(a) Stealing
(b) Permitting
(c) Refusing
(d) Pretesting
(e) Questioning

Direction(4-6): Choose the word/group of words is MOST SIMILAR in MEANING to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

Q4. REMAIN
(a) Left-over
(b) Endure
(c) Stagnate
(d) Continue
(e) Linger

Q5. HIRED
(a) Allowed
(b) Rented
(c) Authorized
(d) Employed
(e) Delegated

Q6. LIMIT
(a) Maximum
(b) Finish
(c) Cap
(d) Decrease
(e) Barrier

Q7. Which of the following is a reason foreign investments do not strengthen the economies of host nations?
(a) The parent company all the profit as tax to its nation.
(b) The profit of such enterprise does not remain in the host notion; rather it goes back to the share-holders and owners of the parent company.
(c) The employees of the parent company demand extra pay from profits that the companies earn from factories in another nation.
(d) The profit earned by such enterprises for anything beyond the salaries of employees.
(e) None of these

Q8. What is the tone of the passage?
(a) Offensive
(b) Satirical
(c) Analytical
(d) Humorous
(e) Speculative

Q9. Which of the following is an advantage that self-employment has over industry based employment?
(A) The work timings are highly flexible.
(B) Starting one’s own venture is an easy task and needs no investment as financers are readily available.
(C) Self-employment makes one a master of other people and thus satisfies their need to control others.

(a) Only (C)
(b) Only (A)
(c) Only (B)
(d) Only (A) and (B)
(e) Only (A), (B) and (C)

Q10. Which of the following may be inferred about self-employment?
(A) Self-employed slowly but steadily strengthens the economy of the country.
(B) Self-employed checks unemployment.
(C) Self-employment is slow and unprogressive, foreign investment is the only effective tool to boost economy.  

(a) Only (B)
(b) Only (B) and (C)
(c) Only (A)
(d) Only (A) and (B)
(e) Only (A) and (C)

Q11. What does the author indicate by the example of a bonsai tree?
(A) When provided the right kind of financial help, poor people can flourish.
(B) Poor people are as capable as the well-to-do class.
(C) Poor people are intolerant and incapable while adopting change.

(a) Only (A)
(b) Only (B)
(c) Only (A) and (B)
(d) Only (A) and (C)
(e) Only (B) and (C)

Q12. The author claims that self-employment is ‘tailor-made’ for people with certain qualities. Which of the following are the qualities of such people?
(A) They have an unconventional approach to all things.
(B) They are street smart.
(C) They possess many acquired and traditional skills.

(a) Only (C)
(b) Only (A)
(c) Only (B)
(d) Only (A) and (C)
(e) Only (A), (B) and (C)

Q13. Which of the following outweighs the employment benefits that foreign industrialists bring?
(a) Huge industries set up by them cause environmental pollution.
(b) They employ more people belonging to their native nations, than the host nations’ unemployed.
(c) They evade many taxes that could be a source of revenue for the host nation.
(d) They manufacture products that have no market in the host nation.
(e) They practice discrimination on grounds of gender when providing employment to host nations’ residents.

Q14. Which of the following may be an appropriate title for the passage?
(a) Addressing conventional employment in developed nations.
(b) Varied strategies and approaches to eradicating poverty
(c) Limitations of industrial employment.
(d) How is poverty linked to conventional (industrial) employment?
(e) Role of self-employment in battling unemployment and eradication of poverty.

Q15. Which of the following is TRUE as per the passage?
(a) Self-employment is beneficial only as per the passage?
(b) Self-employment is not as glamorous as conventional (industrial) employment.
(c) Finance for poor is readily available in the developed nations of the world.
(d) Small-scale industries produce as much toxic waste as big industries.
(e) None is true

Solutions

S1. Ans.(b)
Sol. Rigid - not able to be changed or adapted.
Flexible- able to be easily modified to respond to altered circumstances.

S2. Ans.(e)
Sol. Step by step - so as to progress gradually and carefully from one stage to the next.
Once and for all - now and for the last time; finally.

S3. Ans.(c)
Sol. Offering - present or proffer (something) for (someone)
Refusing - indicate that one is not willing to accept or grant

S4. Ans.(b)
Sol. Remain and Endure are synonyms referring to continuing to exist.

S5. Ans.(d)
Sol. Employed is the synonym of hired as per the usage of the word in the given context.

S6. Ans.(a)
Sol. Maximum is the synonym of limit as per the usage of the word in the given context which refers to the greatest amount, extent, or intensity possible, permitted, or recorded.

S7. Ans.(b)
Sol. Refer Para-1 ‘…industrial employment may bring as substantial relief to the dwindling economy of the host country and the profits of such foreign investments are carried back to the parent company and foreign shareholders aboard.’

S8. Ans.(c)
Sol. The writing style/tone of the given passage is analytical as here the author is comparing and contrasting categories and factors related to self-employment and eradicating unemployment. Analytical writing involves understanding relationships between things and that is what the author is trying to do in this passage.

S9. Ans.(b)
Sol. Refer Para-2, ‘The hours are flexible and can be adapted to fit any family situation. It allows people to choose between running a business full time and part time…’

S10. Ans.(d)
Sol. Refer last Para – ‘Obviously self-employment has limits, but in many cases it is the only solution to help those whom economies refuse to hire and taxpayers do not want to carry on their shoulders.’

S11. Ans.(c)
Sol. Refer Last Para – ‘…There is nothing wrong with the seed you planted; only the soil base that is too inadequate. Poor people are bonsai people. There is nothing wrong in their seeds. Simply society never gave them the base to grow.’

S12. Ans.(c)
Sol. Refer Para-2 , ‘Self-employment is tailor-made for anyone who is street-smart and has many acquired and inherited traditional skills, rather than learning acquired from books and technical schools.’

S13. Ans.(a)
Sol. Refer Para-1, ‘. Also, industrial plants often create toxic waste which results in air and water pollution and environmental problems which can outweigh whatever implement benefit industrial employment may bring as substantial relief to the dwindling economy of the host country and the profits of such foreign investments are carried back to the parent company and foreign shareholders aboard.’

S14. Ans.(e)
Sol. This is the most appropriate title for the given passage.

S15. Ans.(b)
Sol. Among all the given options only option (b) is true with the given context. Refer Para-2, ‘The problem is that self-employment is not as obviously glamorous is not as a shiny new factory.’