ENGLISH PRACTICE SET 21

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Q480

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

For decades, humans have tried to theorise the origin and evolution of the universe. Many theories have been proposed and rejected. However, the Big Bang theory has been the most (1) ______ accepted. According to this theory, the universe began as a single point, or singularity, around 13.8 billion years ago. This singularity contained all the matter and energy that would eventually (2)______ the stars, galaxies and other structures that make up our universe today. The Big Bang theory is supported by a (3)______ of observational evidence, including the cosmic microwave background radiation, the (4)_______ of light elements in the universe and the large-scale structure of the cosmos. Despite its success, the Big Bang theory is still an active area of research, with scientists seeking to better understand the earliest moments of the universe and the (5)______ of dark matter and energy.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 2.

  1. form
  2. design
  3. prepare
  4. destroy

Answer: 2
Explanation: “Design” fits best as it implies the creation or formation of the universe’s structures.

Q481

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

The Sun is about 1.4 million kilometres (1)_____ diameter, while the Earth is about 13,000 kilometers wide. This indicates that the Sun’s width would need to be filled by more than one hundred Earths. Sunspots are dreary (2)_____ on the Sun’s surface that are two thousand degrees Celsius cooler than the rest of the surface. The coolest piece of the sunspot is the dim focus called the umbra. The penumbra surrounds it. On the Sun’s surface, some sunspots are just specks. Additionally, they appear in groups up to ten times larger than Earth. They can sometimes reach 200,000 miles in length. As the Sun rotates, these groups (3)_____ to travel across the Sun over two weeks. Every 11 years, the number of sunspots reaches its maximum. The solar or sunspot cycle (4)______ to this. The Earth’s weather may become more extreme and warm during the peak of sunspot activity. According to the (5)______ made by satellites like Nimbus 7, when sunspots are at their largest, less heat reaches Earth.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3.

  1. act
  2. show
  3. shape
  4. appear

Answer: 4
Explanation: “Appear” is the correct verb to describe the movement of sunspot groups across the Sun.

Q482

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word.

Peace

  1. Harmony
  2. Strange
  3. Turmoil
  4. Refusal

Answer: 3
Explanation: “Turmoil” is the opposite of “peace,” meaning disorder or confusion.

Q483

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blanks.

Our country, India, is one of the 12 mega bio-diversity countries of the world. With about 47,000 plant species, India (1)_____ tenth place in the world and fourth in Asia in plant diversity. There are (2)______ 15,000 flowering plants in India, which account for 6 per cent of the world’s (3)_____ number of flowering plants. The country has many non-flowering plants, (4)_____ as ferns, algae and fungi. India also has approximately 90,000 (5)____ of animals, as well as a rich variety of fish in its fresh and marine waters.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 1.

  1. have
  2. occupies
  3. had
  4. occupy

Answer: 2
Explanation: “Occupies” is the correct verb form to indicate India’s position in plant diversity.

Q484

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the underlined word.

The encounter made the audience squirm.

  1. Speak
  2. Relax
  3. Chat
  4. Pray

Answer: 2
Explanation: “Relax” is the opposite of “squirm,” meaning to feel uneasy or uncomfortable.

Q485

Select the option that will most suitably substitute the underlined part of the given sentence.

I gave my best dress to her on condition that she return it the very next day in a clean condition.

  1. on the condition that she would return
  2. on the condition that she return
  3. on condition that she returned
  4. on the conditions that she had return

Answer: 2
Explanation: “On the condition that she return” is the correct form, using the subjunctive mood.

Q486

Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.

He lived on the bank of a mighty river, broad and deep, that have always silently rolling on to a vast undiscovered ocean.

  1. which were always silently rolling
  2. which was always silently rolling
  3. that were always silently rolling
  4. what has always silently rolling

Answer: 3
Explanation: “That were always silently rolling” is the correct form to maintain consistency in the past tense.

Q487

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

For decades, humans have tried to theorise the origin and evolution of the universe. Many theories have been proposed and rejected. However, the Big Bang theory has been the most (1) ______ accepted. According to this theory, the universe began as a single point, or singularity, around 13.8 billion years ago. This singularity contained all the matter and energy that would eventually (2)______ the stars, galaxies and other structures that make up our universe today. The Big Bang theory is supported by a (3)______ of observational evidence, including the cosmic microwave background radiation, the (4)_______ of light elements in the universe and the large-scale structure of the cosmos. Despite its success, the Big Bang theory is still an active area of research, with scientists seeking to better understand the earliest moments of the universe and the (5)______ of dark matter and energy.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 5.

  1. nature
  2. environment
  3. capture
  4. brand

Answer: 4
Explanation: “Brand” is the correct word to describe the nature or characteristics of dark matter and energy.

Q488

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the underlined word in the given sentence.

Essays must be concise.

  1. Excise
  2. Lengthy
  3. Precise
  4. Total

Answer: 2
Explanation: “Lengthy” is the opposite of “concise,” meaning long or extended.

Q489

Select the most appropriate synonym of the bracketed word in the following sentence to fill in the blank.

The setting sun turned the (calm) ocean into a sea of gold.

  1. volatile
  2. placid
  3. furtive
  4. scattered

Answer: 2
Explanation: “Placid” is a synonym for “calm,” meaning peaceful or serene.

Q490

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word.

Powerful

  1. Strong
  2. Impotent
  3. Manly
  4. Wild

Answer: 2
Explanation: “Impotent” is the opposite of “powerful,” meaning lacking strength or power.

Q491

Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No substitution required’.

I opened the box beneath the table and took of a book, the Materia Medica.

  1. took out
  2. take off
  3. took in
  4. No substitution required

Answer: 1
Explanation: “Took out” is the correct phrase to indicate removing something from a container.

Q492

The given sentence is divided into three segments. Select the option that has the segment with a grammatical error. If there is no error, select ‘No error’.

The judges eliminated the / classical singer, as she dropped of / in the middle of the competition.

  1. in the middle of the competition.
  2. The judges eliminated the
  3. classical singer, as she dropped of
  4. No error

Answer: 3
Explanation: The correct phrase should be “dropped off,” meaning to fall or decline.

Q493

Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.

Things that do not come from the ground not safe to compost.

  1. has not been safe
  2. are not safe
  3. is not safe
  4. be not safe

Answer: 2
Explanation: “Are not safe” is the correct form to indicate a general truth about multiple things.

Q494

Select the most appropriate homophones to fill in the blanks.

I ________ that he has been promoted to the post of _____ officer.

  1. herd; sealing
  2. heard; sealing
  3. herd; ceiling
  4. heard; ceiling

Answer: 2
Explanation: “Heard” and “sealing” are the correct homophones in this context.

Q495

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

My sister’s paintings were ________ at the national museum.

  1. in display
  2. on display
  3. upon display
  4. into display

Answer: 2
Explanation: “On display” is the correct phrase to indicate that something is being shown publicly.

Q496

Parts of the following sentence have been given as options. Select the option that contains an error.

A owl is a bird which has wide eyes, asymmetrical ears and is found mostly in forests.

  1. and is found mostly in forests.
  2. asymmetrical ears
  3. A owl is a bird
  4. which has wide eyes,

Answer: 3
Explanation: The correct form should be “An owl is a bird” because “owl” starts with a vowel sound.

Q497

Parts of the following sentence have been given as options. Select the option that contains an error.

According to the encyclopaedia, a oasis is an area which is made fertile by a source of freshwater.

  1. a source of freshwater.
  2. a oasis is an area
  3. According to the encyclopaedia,
  4. which is made fertile by

Answer: 2
Explanation: The correct form should be “an oasis” because “oasis” starts with a vowel sound.

Q498

Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.

I like played cricket after school.

  1. playing
  2. play
  3. played
  4. having to play

Answer: 1
Explanation: “Playing” is the correct form to indicate a continuous action.

Q499

Select the most appropriate synonym of the underlined word.

The girl tried to alleviate her brother’s problem.

  1. increase
  2. soar
  3. reduce
  4. worsen

Answer: 3
Explanation: “Reduce” is a synonym for “alleviate,” meaning to make something less severe.

Q500

Select the most appropriate synonym of the bracketed word in the following sentence to fill in the blank.

The meeting was brought to a (rapid) conclusion.

  1. stubborn
  2. pervious
  3. grim
  4. hasty

Answer: 4
Explanation: “Hasty” is a synonym for “rapid,” meaning quick or speedy.

Q501

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Select the most appropriate option for each blank.

I was reading a book two days back. It was titled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. It was fantastic. It has now become my favourite (1)________. It is about a boy named Charlie who is (2) ________ poor. He wins a golden ticket that (3) ________ him to enter the most famous chocolate factory in the world. He (4)________ it with his grandfather. But the other kids who accompany him are nasty. They are all spoilt. But you have to read the book to (5) ________out more about them. The amazing part of the book is that it is like a dream come true.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 4.

  1. examines
  2. explores
  3. visits
  4. inspects

Answer: 3
Explanation: “Visits” is the correct verb to indicate going to a place, in this case, the chocolate factory.

Q502

The following sentence has been divided into four segments. Identify the segment in which the article has been used INCORRECTLY.

Ms. Rose is a / sweetest of / all the girls / in the class.

  1. sweetest of
  2. all the girls
  3. in the class.
  4. Ms. Rose is a

Answer: 1
Explanation: The correct form should be “the sweetest of” to indicate the superlative degree.

Q503

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

A sailor was ________ through the high tides.

  1. ceiling
  2. sailing
  3. swelling
  4. selling

Answer: 2
Explanation: “Sailing” is the correct verb to describe a sailor’s action on water.

Q504

Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word.

Tedious

  1. Exciting
  2. Boring
  3. Working
  4. Happening

Answer: 2
Explanation: “Boring” is a synonym for “tedious,” meaning tiring or monotonous.

Q505

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

Romantic poetry is a literary movement that emerged in the late 18th century and continued through the mid 19th century. It is (1)________ by an emphasis on emotion, imagination and individualism. Romantic poets sought to express their innermost thoughts and feelings through their poetry, often exploring (2)_______ such as love, beauty and mortality. One of the defining features of Romantic poetry is its use of language and imagery to evoke powerful emotions in the reader. Many Romantic poets, such as William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge (3)________ that poetry should be written in the language of common people, rather than in the lofty, formal language of the past. They also incorporated vivid descriptions of nature and the natural world into their poetry, using it as a source of inspiration and spiritual renewal. (4)______ important aspect of Romantic poetry is its focus on the individual and the subjective experience. Romantic poets believed that each person’s experience of the world was unique and valuable, and sought to capture this individuality in their writing. This led to a greater emphasis on personal expression and introspection in poetry, (5)_______ a rejection of the traditional poetic forms and structures of the past.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3.

  1. could believe
  2. will believe
  3. believes
  4. believed

Answer: 4
Explanation: “Believed” is the correct verb form to indicate a past action or opinion.

Q506

Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire

  1. Things getting intense by the hour
  2. Being a horrible cook
  3. Being with someone through good times as well as bad times
  4. Things going from bad to worse

Answer: 4
Explanation: “Out of the frying pan and into the fire” means moving from one bad situation to an even worse one.

Q507

The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.

The teacher will / certainly help you / if you will / ask her.

  1. certainly help you
  2. The teacher will
  3. if you will
  4. ask her

Answer: 3
Explanation: The correct form should be “if you” without “will” to maintain proper conditional sentence structure.

Q508

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word.

Terminate

  1. Mark
  2. Die
  3. Conclude
  4. Begin

Answer: 4
Explanation: “Begin” is the opposite of “terminate,” meaning to start or commence.

Q509

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the underlined word.

We should not run after transient pleasures of the world.

  1. Unnatural
  2. Sinful
  3. Permanent
  4. Joyful

Answer: 3
Explanation: “Permanent” is the opposite of “transient,” meaning lasting or enduring.

Q510

Identify the error in the tense of the sentence and select the option that correctly rectifies the error.

Between two evils, I always picks the one I have never tried before.

  1. Between two evils, I always pick the one I have never tried before.
  2. Between two evils, I always is picking the one I have never tried before.
  3. Between two evils, I always picked the one I have never tried before.
  4. Between two evils, I always picking the one I have never tried before.

Answer: 1
Explanation: “Pick” is the correct verb form to match the present simple tense.

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