English Language : Efficiency Test for PM Cadre

Directions—(Q. 1–5) In these questions, sentences are given with blanks to be filled in with an appropriate words four alternatives are suggested for each question. Choose the correct alternative out of the four and indicate the correct sequence.

1. Tourists always enjoyed .................... the setting sun in the Darjeeling hills.
(A) to watch
(B) watching
(C) in seeing
(D) seeing
Ans : (B)

2. The speaker did not properly space out his speech, but went on .......... one point only.
(A) stressing
(B) avoiding
(C) devoting
(D) decrying
Ans : (A)

3. A ............... of Japanese artists stepped off the coach amidst a warm welcome.
(A) troop
(B) troupe
(C) band
(D) gang
Ans : (B)


4. Today students should be reconciled .............. the way things are changing.
(A) with
(B) to
(C) for
(D) at
Ans : (A)

5. Ramappa ........... as the Mayor of the town and he will assume charge this Friday.
(A) elects
(B) elected
(C) is elected
(D) is electing
Ans : (C)

Directions—(Q. 6—10) In these questions, some of the sentences have errors and some have none. Find out which part of a sentence has an error and indicate corresponding to the appropriate letter (A, B, C). If there is no error, indicate corresponding to (D).

6. He ate (A) / nothing (B) / since yesterday. (C) No error (D)
Ans : (A)

7. An experimental vaccine (A) / has brought (B) / glimmer of hope for malarial researcher. (C) No error (D)
Ans : (C)

8. After making me wait for two agonising hours (A) / the great man called me in (B) / and asked me what do I want. (C) No error (D)
Ans : (A)

9. The ebb and flow of the tides (A) / are (B) / now understood. (C) No error (D)
Ans : (B)

10. The green paint on the wall (A) / provides a suitable contrast (B) / with the yellow doors. (C) No error (D)
Ans : (C)

Directions—(Q. 11–15) Group of four words are given. In each group one word is wrongly spelt. Find the wrongly spelt word.

11. (A) Submitted
(B) Admitted
(C) Comitted
(D) Omitted
Ans : (C)

12. (A) Brillient
(B) Valiant
(C) Salient
(D) Radiant
Ans : (A)

13. (A) Recuperate
(B) Regulate
(C) Reinstate
(D) Seperate
Ans : (D)

14. (A) Cease
(B) Seize
(C) Beseige
(D) Beseech
Ans : (C)

15. (A) Carrier
(B) Carreer
(C) Courier
(D) Barrier
Ans : (B)

Directions—(Q. 16–20) Out of the four alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the given word and indicate the answer.

16. Censure
(A) Criticise
(B) Appreciate
(C) Blame
(D) Abuse
Ans : (A)

17. Diligent
(A) Industrious
(B) Indifferent
(C) Intelligent
(D) Energetic
Ans : (A)

18. Contemplation
(A) Consideration
(B) Meditation
(C) Deliberation
(D) Speculation
Ans : (B)

19. Adulation
(A) Duration
(B) Argument
(C) Flattery
(D) Institution
Ans : (C)

20. Quiver
(A) Quarrel
(B) Quicken
(C) Waver
(D) Tremble
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 21–25) Choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word and choose the correct alternative.

21. ANIMOSITY
(A) Love
(B) Lust
(C) Luck
(D) Loss
Ans : (A)

22. ALTERCATION
(A) Explanation
(B) Challenge
(C) Compromise
(D) Opposition
Ans : (C)

23. COAX
(A) Dull
(B) Dissuade
(C) Active
(D) Speed
Ans : (B)

24. ERUDITE
(A) Educated
(B) Unscholarly
(C) Scholarly
(D) Possessive
Ans : (B)

25. AFFLUENT
(A) High
(B) Poor
(C) Rare
(D) Fluent
Ans : (B)

Directions—(Q. 26–30) In these questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase and indicate the correct answer.

26. A few days before his death, he made a clean breast of everything.
(A) Confessed
(B) Took off his shirt
(C) Suffered
(D) Spoke ill
Ans : (A)

27. I am done for.
(A) Ruined
(B) Rewarded
(C) Answered
(D) Questioned
Ans : (A)

28. For a healthy and lasting friendship one must be on the level.
(A) Equally rich
(B) Mentally compatible
(C) Honest and sincere
(D) Ready for sacrifices
Ans : (A)

29. The foolish young man soon made ducks and drakes of the vast property his father left him.
(A) Squandered
(B) Distributed
(C) Spent
(D) Gave in charity
Ans : (A)

30. All his ventures went to the winds.
(A) Dissipated
(B) Spread all over
(C) Got speed of the winds
(D) Became well-known
Ans : (A)