Q&A: practice questions with answers

Concept: With a past reporting verb (said), the tense moves one step back.

1. have completed (present perfect) → had completed (past perfect).
2. Pronoun: I → he, my → his.
3. Result: Rahul said that he had completed his homework.

Trick: Tense ladder: is → was, has/have → had, was → had been.

Answer: (C) Rahul said that he had completed his homework.

Concept: In indirect speech, modals and time words also change.

1. may → might.
2. tonight → that night; I → she.
3. She said that she might go to the party that night.

Trick: Modal pairs: can → could, may → might, will → would, shall → should.

Answer: (A) She said that she might go to the party that night.

Concept: 'Had + subject + V3' = 'If + subject + had + V3' → main clause takes would have + V3.

1. Had she worked harder = If she had worked harder (past, unreal).
2. Main clause: she would have passed the examination.

Trick: Had … V3 in one clause → would/could/might have … V3 in the other.

Answer: (B) would have passed

Concept: When two subjects are joined by 'as well as', the verb follows the first subject.

1. First subject: 'The main actor' — singular.
2. So 'were praised' → 'was praised'.
3. Error is in part (2).

Trick: Same rule for 'along with, together with, with, besides, in addition to' — ignore the added phrase.

Answer: (B) (2)

Concept: Present perfect passive = has/have been + V3.

1. Object 'the lesson' becomes the subject.
2. has taught → has been taught.
3. The lesson has been taught by the teacher.

Trick: Tense never changes in voice change — 'has' must stay, so only B fits.

Answer: (B) The lesson has been taught by the teacher.

Concept: 'Assure' needs a personal object: assure someone (that) …

1. 'The minister assured that …' has no person after assured.
2. Correct: 'The minister assured the public that …' (or use 'stated/ensured that').
3. Error is in part (1).

Trick: Assure → a person; ensure → a result; insure → against risk (money).

Answer: (A) (1)

Concept: A homonym has the same spelling but a different meaning.

1. In the given sentence, mitre = tall ceremonial cap of a bishop.
2. Options B, C, D use the same headgear meaning.
3. Option A: a mitre joint = corner joint of two angled wooden pieces — a different meaning.

Trick: Pick the option whose context (carpenter, wood) is totally different from the original (church).

Answer: (A) The carpenter cut a wooden mitre joint at an exact angle.

Concept: Only the inner perfect infinitive is turned active; 'was considered' stays.

1. Inner part: 'to have been overlooked by the previous administration' → active: 'the previous administration … to have overlooked'.
2. Doer becomes subject: The previous administration was considered to have entirely overlooked the problem.
3. Other options change the structure or the meaning.

Trick: Keep the frame 'was considered to have …' and just swap doer and object.

Answer: (C) The previous administration was considered to have entirely overlooked the problem.

Concept: Verbs of perception (hear, see, smell) describe a state, so they are normally used in simple tenses.

1. 'am hearing' is wrong for an involuntary sense.
2. Correct: 'I hear a strange noise from upstairs.'

Trick: Stative verbs: know, believe, like, love, hate, want, see, hear, own — avoid -ing with them.

Answer: (A) hear a strange noise

Concept: The main idea runs through the whole passage, not just one line.

1. The passage keeps returning to how algorithms, engagement and personal bias decide what people accept as true.
2. A is too extreme ('entirely'); C contradicts the passage; D is never discussed.

Trick: Opening + closing lines usually carry the central theme — here both are about truth being distorted online.

Answer: (B) Truth in the digital age is shaped by algorithms and personal biases

Concept: Find the line that links engagement with false information.

1. The author says platforms boost content by engagement, not credibility; emotion and virality beat evidence.
2. Outrage brings clicks and profit, so false news spreads faster.
3. Moderation, regulation or journalist shortage are never mentioned.

Trick: Reject options that bring in ideas absent from the passage.

Answer: (B) The emotional and viral nature of online engagement

Concept: The passage defines the term directly.

1. Confirmation bias = leaning toward information that fits what one already believes.
2. It produces separate 'realities' and comfort over truth — so A, B, D (openness, less polarisation) are opposite.

Trick: When a passage defines a term, the answer is a paraphrase of that definition.

Answer: (C) It causes individuals to seek information that supports their beliefs

Concept: Look for the sentence with 'true digital literacy'.

1. The author contrasts it with constant connectivity and defines it as critical awareness.
2. That means checking sources, judging intent and facing opposite views.
3. Trending topics, blind acceptance or automated tools are not mentioned as the essence.

Trick: 'Not X but Y' sentences — the answer is always Y.

Answer: (C) Critically analyzing information and opposing views

Concept: Tone = the author's attitude shown through word choice.

1. The author examines causes (algorithms, bias, profit) logically and points out flaws — critical and analytical.
2. The ending offers a remedy (self-reflection), so it is not despairing; it is serious, not humorous or detached.

Trick: A passage that ends with a solution is never 'pessimistic/despairing'.

Answer: (A) Critical and analytical

Concept: Past perfect / 'might have' forms do not change between direct and indirect speech.

1. 'they had studied … might have passed' remains the same in direct speech.
2. Only pronoun changes: they → you.
3. The teacher's words in direct form keep 'had studied' and 'might have passed' unchanged.

Trick: Had + V3 and modal + have + V3 are 'frozen' — they look the same in both forms.

Answer: (B) "If you had studied harder, you might have passed the exam," said the teacher.

Concept: Start with the definition, then link words, then the example.

1. 1 introduces IoT (opening).
2. 3 'This interconnectivity' refers to the connection described in 1.
3. 4 explains use of collected data; 2 'For instance' gives a real-life example to close. Order: 1-3-4-2.

Trick: 'This …' must come right after the sentence it points to; 'For instance' never opens a paragraph.

Answer: (B) 1, 3, 4, 2

Concept: Follow the order: topic → causes → effects → reaction.

1. 2 introduces obesity as a global issue.
2. 4 gives reasons (diet, inactivity); 3 'It increases the risk…' gives effects.
3. 1 'This has raised concerns' sums up. Order: 2-4-3-1.

Trick: A sentence starting with 'This has…' summarising the problem usually comes last.

Answer: (A) 2-4-3-1

Concept: Tirade = a long, angry, abusive speech.

1. Invective = harsh, insulting language — closest meaning.
2. Eulogy = speech of praise; compliment and admire are positive.

Trick: Three options are positive (praise); the one negative word is the answer.

Answer: (A) Invective

Concept: Enthusiastic = full of eager excitement.

1. Ebullient = bubbling over with cheer and energy — closest synonym.
2. Depressed, dull, quiet show low energy — opposite sense.

Trick: Ebullient comes from Latin 'to boil over' — energy bubbling out like boiling water.

Answer: (C) Ebullient

Concept: Foolish = lacking sense or judgement.

1. Sagacious = wise, with sound judgement — the opposite.
2. Silly, unwise, imprudent all mean foolish (synonyms).

Trick: When three options mean the same as the word, the odd one is the antonym.

Answer: (C) Sagacious