ENGLISH PRACTICE TEST

English (Error Spotting)

Directions (1-6): In each sentence below four word lettered (1), (2), (3) and (4) have been printed in bold type. One of which may be either inappropriate in the context of the sentence or wrongly spelt. The letter of that word is the answer. If all the four words are appropriate and also correctly spelt, mark (5), i.e. ‘All Correct’ as the answer.

1.      Noise (1)/seems to discourage (2)/sharks as I once chased(3)/ away a shark by slapping (4)/ my hand against the surface of the water. All Correct (5)

2.      A monstrous (1)/ snake (2)/ came up the hollow (3)/ trunk (4)/ of the tree. All correct (5)

3.      He was invited (1)/ to attend (2)/ the inaugural (3)/ of the all partymeat (4). All correct (5)

4.      One should be able for (1)/ differentiate (2)/ between what isdesirable (3)/ and what (4)/ is not. All correct (5)

5.      They were quiet (1)/ amazed (2)/ at the turn (3)/ of events (4). All correct (5)

6.      The faster (1)/ he adjusts to a novel situation (2)/ the soon (3)/ will he be rewarded (4)/. All correct (5)

Directions (7-15): Read each 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 of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (5). (Ignore errors of punctuations, if any)

7.       The accountant (1)/ and the cashier (2)/ is (3)/ absent today (4)/ No error (5)

8.       Both the civilians (1)/ and army man (2)/ joined (3)/ the First World War (4)./ No error (5)

9.       The Pendula of these clock (1)/ are not working (2)/ properly hence (3)/ she has decided to sell them (4)/ No error (5)

10.   It’s good to go out (1)/ to work because (2)/ you come into contact (3)/ with other people (4)/. No error (5)

11.   He, You and I (1)/ will go to (2)/ visit the Taj Mahal (3)/ together. (4)/ No error (5)

12.   Even your (1)/ next relation (2)/ did not come (3)/ to your co-operation (4)/ No error (5)

13.   Since most of the urban people (1)/ have been lived in polluted areas (2)/ they suffer from severe (3)/ diseases caused by pollution (4)/ No error (5)

14.   Kunal’s father advised (1)/ him not to (2)/ ride the motorcycle (3)/ lately at night (4)/ No error (5)

15.   We saw a man (1)/ from the mist (2)/ but we could not (3)/ see who he was (4)./ No error (5)

 

Answers:

Qns.	Ans.	Qns.	Ans.	Qns.	Ans.
1	4	6	3	11	1
2	5	7	3	12	2
3	3	8	2	13	2
4	2	9	1	14	4
5	2	10	1	15	2

Daily English Vocab.

Fecund – fertile, fruitful

Feign – to fake or pretend

Feral – savage, wild, untamed

Fetter – to restrain, chain, tie

Fey – magical, vague, unworldly

Fickle – characterized by changeableness, whimsical

Figurative – symbolic

Firmament – the sky, the heavens

Flabbergasted – astounded, stupefied

Flaccid – limp

Flattery – compliments, sycophancy

Flout – to scorn, ignore, show contempt for

Fluctuate – to vary irregularly

Flux – a state of constant change or a flow

Forage – to rummage, scavenge, graze for food

Forestall – to delay, impede

Forlorn – lonely, hopeless

Formidable – arousing fear or alarm

Forsake – to abandon, forget

Fortify – to strengthen

Existential – relating to existence

Exorbitant – excessive

Extol – to praise

Extravagant – excessive, over-the-top

Fabricate – to invent, make-up, concoct

Fabulist – a teller of fables; a liar

Facile – easy

Fallacious – incorrect, misleading

Familial – relating to family

Fatuous – silly, foolish

English -(RC)

 

Directions (1-10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the question s given below it. Certain words are printed in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.

In a village by the Ganges there once lived a Brahmin . He was a religious and God-fearing man. He earned his living by performing prayers in other people’s home. One day the Brahmin was called to the neighboring village to perform some ceremony. In return for his services he received a goat as present. The Brahmin was very pleased and he set off for home with a goat on his shoulders, he thought to himself “This was a generous family, to have given me a goat. My wife and children will be very pleased”. As he walked down the path to his village he did not notice that he was being followed by three thieves. “We have to get that plump goat” said the first thief. “It will make a great dinner for us” said the third. The three thieves than decided to fool the Brahmin. The first thief approached the Brahmin saying “Dear Brahmin, you are a holy man why are you carrying a dirty dog on your shoulders?”. “A dirty dog, Can’t you see that it is a poor little goat? Are you blind?” said the Brahmin angrily. The first thief laughed and walked away. The Brahmin looked at the goat indeed it was goat, and so he resumed his journey homeward. A little further down the path the Brahmin came across the second thief. The second thief said in astonishment “You are a holy man, why are you carrying a dead calf on your shoulders?”  The Brahmin was furious, this is a live goat and not a dead calf. The Brahmin looked at the goat indeed it was a goat and so heresumed his journey homeward.

The Brahmin had barely walked some distance when the third thief come running waving his arm toward the Brahmin “Drop that donkey at once. If people see you carrying a donkey on your shoulders, what will they think of you?” By now the Brahmin was very confused. Three different people had told him that he was carrying an animal other than a goat. Something must be wrong he thought. “This is not a goat, this must be some monster that keeps changing its form”. The terrified Brahmin threw the goat and ran home as fast as he could.

The three thieves had a great laugh. They had succeeded in their plan. They picked up the goat and left haw foolish the Brahmin had been to have believed them.

1.       Why did the Brahmin let go off the goat?

(1) He believed the first thief.

(2) He believed the second thief.

(3) He believed the third thief.

(4) He thought the goat was a monster.

(5) He did not want the goat.

2.       How did the Brahmin get the goat?

(1) He bought it from the market.

(2) He stole it from the three thieves.

(3) It was given to him as a present.

(4) He found the lost goat while on his way home.

(5) He took it on loan.

3.       The thieves were following the Brahmin because-

(1) he was carrying a nice plump goat.

(2) they wanted his blessings.

(3) they did not know he way to the village.

(4) he was a rich man.

(5) He was unknown to them.

4.       How did the Brahmin earn his livings?

(1) By selling goats.

(2) By performing ceremony.

(3) By making sacrifices.        (4) By donations.

(5) None of these

5.       The various forms taken by the goat were-

(1) Form of a dirty dog.          (2) Form of a dead calf.

(3) Form of a donkey.            (4) All (1), (2) and (3)

(5) Only (1) and (2)

6.       Why was the Brahmin confused?

(1) He noticed three different people following the plump goat.

(2) His wife was surprised that the goat could take so many different forms

(3) His wife was upset to see him with the plump goat.

(4) Three different people told him he was carrying an animal other than a goat.

(5) He lost his way to the village after performing ceremony.

Directions (7-8): Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

7.       Resumed

(1) Started                                  (2) Commenced

(3) Continued                            (4) Changed

(5) Directed

8.       Generous

(1) Kind                                        (2) Rich

(3) Selfish                                    (4) Liberal

(5) Fortunate

Directions (9-10): Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

9.       Plump

(1) Hungry                                   (2) Thin

(3) Stout                                      (4) Pampered

(5) Innocent

10.   Terrified

(1) Baffled                                   (2) Alarmed

(3) Confused                              (4) Scared

(5) Fearless

Answer

QUE	ANS	QUE	ANS
1	4	6	4
2	3	7	3
3	1	8	1
4	2	9	2
5	4	10	5

 

ENGLISH LANG.

Directions (1-5): In the following questions out of the five alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the given words.

1. ERRONEOUSLY:

(1) previously                      (2) effectively

(3) wrongly                          (4) evidently

(5) None of these

2. CAPITULATE:

(1) repeat                            (2) execute

(3) summarize                      (4) surrender

(5) None of these

3. PROPITIATE:

(1) conform                         (2) appease

(3) influence                        (4) approach

(5) None of these

4. RESTIVE:

(1)rested                             (2) restless

(3) limited                            (4) limitless

5. DEROGATORY:

(1) injurious                         (2) shattering

(3) destructive                     (4) disparaging

(5) None of these

Directions (6-10):In the following questions, four alternative are given for the idiom/phrase mentioned below. Choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

6. To blaze a trail:

(1) to lead the way as a pioneer’

(2) to light a track

(3) to set up a fire

(4) to wear a blazer while running.

7. To steer clear of:

(1) drive carefully

(2) avoid

(3) explain clearly

(4) escape

8. A dark horse:

(1) an unforeseen competitor

(2)a black horse

(3) a nightmare

(4) an unknown person

9. Red-letter day:

(1) a colourful day

(2) a fatal day

(3) happy and significant day

(4) hapless day

10. Have the last-laugh:

(1) be of a cheerful nature

(2) laugh only after understanding something

(3) to be victorious at the end of an argument

(4) to crack the final joke

 

 

Answers with Explanations: (1-5):

 

1. (3) Erroneously is a synonymous of wrongly.

Ex. They have arrived at some erroneous conclusions.

 

2. (4) The word Capitulate (verb) means stop fighting against somebody/something and agree to what they want. Hence Surrenderand Capitulate are synonymous.

Ex. The club eventually capitulated and now grants equal right to women.

 

3. (2) The word Propitiate means win the favour of somebody by pleasing act. Hence Propitiate and appease are synonymous.

Ex. I have never gone out of my way to propitiate people.

 

4. (2) The word Restive (adjective) means unable to be still or quiet, difficult to control.

Ex. The audience grew restive.

 

5. (4) The word Derogatory means showing a critical attitude to somebody’s reputation, insulting. The word disparaging bears the same meaning.

Ex. He refused to withdraw derogatory remarks made about his boss.

 

Answers (6-10):

6. (1)           7. (3)     8. (1)     9. (3)     10. (3)

 

ENGLISH LANG. QUIZ

Directions-(1 to 10) Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it-

Every afternoon, on their way back from school, the children used to go and play in the Giant’s garden. It was a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Over the grass stood beautiful flowers like stars, and there were twelve peach-trees that bore rich fruit. The birds would sit on the trees and sing sweetly to the children playing below. One day the Giant came back. He had been on a long tour and was now determined to

return to his own castle. When he arrived he saw the children playing in the garden and was outrageous. “What are you doing here ?” He shouted in a very gruff voice, and the children ran away. “I will not allow anybody to play in my garden but myself” said the Giant. And so, he built a high wall around it, and put up a notice-board that read TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED. He was a very selfish Giant. The poor children had now, nowhere to play. They tried to play on the road, but the road was very dusty and full of stones, and they did not like it. On their way back from school, they used to wander around the high wall and remember the good times.

Then came spring, and all over the country there were little blossoms and little birds. Only in the garden of the Selfish Giant it was still winter. The birds did not care to sing in it as there were no children and the trees forgot to blossom. The only people who were pleased were the snow and the frost. “Spring has forgotten this garden,” they cried, “so we will live here all the year round.” I cannot understand why the spring is so late in coming,” said the selfish Giant, as he sat at the window and looked out at his cold white garden, “I hope there will be a change in the weather.” But the spring never came, nor did the summer. The autumn gave golden fruit to every garden, but to the Giant’s garden she gave none. “He was too selfish,” she said. So it was always winter there.

One morning the Giant was lying awake in bed when he heard the birds singing. “I believe the spring has come at last,” said the Giant, and he jumped out of bed and looked out. He saw the most wonderful sight. Through the little hole in the wall the children had crept in, and they were sitting on the branches of the trees. On every tree there was a child. The birds were flying about and twittering with delight, and the flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing. It was a lovely scenehowever, in one corner it was still winter. It was the farthest corner of the garden, and in it was standing a little boy. He was so small that he could not reach the branches of the tree, and he was wandering all around it crying bitterly. The Giant’s heart melted as he looked out. “How selfish I have been ‘” he said, “now I know why spring would not come here. I will put that poor little boy on the top of the tree, and then I will knock down the wall, and my garden shall be the children’s play-ground forever and ever.” He was really sorry for what he had done.

1. What did the Giant do to keep the children away from his garden?

(1) He built a high wall around the garden 
(2) He displayed a message on a notice board 
(3) He threatened to complain to their parents 
(4) Only (1) and (2) 
(5) He made it snow all year round

2. Why did the autumn trees refuse to bear fruit ? 
(1) The snow and the winter took over 
(2) The Giant was enjoying the winter in his garden 
(3) It was one way of keeping the children away 
(4) The Giant refused to change his behaviour 
(5) The Giant was selfish

3. When did the Giant realize that he was being selfish ? 
(1) When the long winters would not end 
(2) When he witnessed the spring after the children reentered the garden 
(3) When he heard the song of a bird 
(4) When he felt he was lonely 
(5) When he realized he had no friends to play within the garden

4. What incident brought about a change in the Giant’s heart ?

(1) The little boy in the corner of the garden 
(2) The long unending winter 
(3) The change of weather from winter to spring 
(4) The blossoming of the trees 
(5) The singing of the birds

5. What could be an appropriate title for the story ? 
(1) The Corner Boy 
(2) The Winter Season 
(3) The Selfish Giant 
(4) The Little Children 
(5) The Paradise Garden

Directions-(6 -7) Choose the word/phrase which is most nearly the samein meaning as the word/ phrase printed in bold as used in the passage.

6. Scene
(1) Wish     
(2) Drawing 
(3) Fantasy     
(4) Picture 
(5) Dream

7. Farthest
(1) Extreme     
(2) Nearest 
(3) Close     
(4) Shortest 
(5) Exposure

Directions-(8 – 10) Choose the word which is most opposite in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage

8. Gruff
(1) Unfriendly 
(2) Friendly 
(3) Bad-tempered     
(4) Indecent 
(5) Rough

9. Outrageous
(1) Commendable     
(2) Shameful 
(3) Offensive     
(4) Shocking 
(5) Extreme

10. Awake
(1) Alert     
(2) Conscious 
(3) Aware 
(4) Asleep 
(5) Wakeful

 

 

 

Answers:

1.(4)  2.(1) 3.(2) 4.(3)  5.(5)

6. (4) 7.(1) 8. (2) 9.(1) 10.(4)

 

 

ENGLISH LANG. QUIZ

Directions: (1-5): In each of the following questions, out of the given alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the given word/sentence.

1. One who has suddenly gained new wealth, power or prestige?

(1) Aristocrat                       (2) Affluent

(3) Maverick                        (4) Parvenu

(5) None of these

2. A style in which a writer makes a display of his knowledge?

(1) Pedantic                         (2) Ornate

(3) Verbose                         (4) Pompous

(5) None of these

3. A person who pretends to have more knowledge or skill than he really has:

(1) Renegade                      (2) Apostle

(3) Charlatan                        (4) Apotheosis

(5) None of these

4. Present opposing arguments or evidence?

(1) Rebut                             (2) Criticise

(3) Rebuff                           (4) Reprimand

(5) None of these

5. One who is neither intelligent nor dull?

(1) Tolerable                        (2) commoner

(3) Mediocre                        (4) Diligent

(5) None of these

 

Some important Idioms and Phrases:

 

6. To call up – (to recollect): It is difficult for me to call up the whole happenings as I fainted afterwards.

 

7. To call on – (to pay a brief visit): Please call on us this evening.

 

8. To call bad names – (to abuse): It is no good to call him bad names.

 

9. To call away – (to divert): His attention was called away by the appearance of young girl.

 

10. To call for – (to require): His way of working will call for his explanation.

 

11. To peg out – (die): The low temperature will peg out the patient soon.

 

12. To pick holes in – (to criticize): Do not pick holes in other’s affairs.

 

13. Put – off – (postpone): Let us put off the meeting till tomorrow.

 

14. To put up with – (to bear): I cannot put up with your silly arguments.

 

15. Back and belly – (clothing and food): It is very hard to earn back and belly now a days.

 

Answers:

1. (4)  2. (1)  3. (3) 4. (1) 5. (3)