English II · End Term · Jan 2026 · FN
English II · End Term · Jan 2026 FN
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Questions and published explanations below are available without starting a test. Some questions may not have a published solution yet.
59 / 60 published solutions
**Read the following passage and answer the given subquestions.**
In December 1993, my sister and parents arrived as refugees in Hamilton, Ontario. In the first
couple of months, my parents attended English-language courses, while Kristina worked at Taco
Bell, a purveyor of fast “ethnic” food, which she preferred to refer to as Taco Hell. Things were very
complicated for them, what with the language my parents couldn’t speak, the generic shock of
displacement, and a cold climate that was extremely unfriendly to randomly warm human
interactions. For my parents, finding a job was a frightening operation of major proportions, but
Hamilton is a steel-mill town teeming with job-hungry immigrants, where many of the natives are
first-generation Canadians and therefore friendly, and supportive of their new compatriots. Soon
enough, my parents did find work—Father at a steel mill, Mother as a superintendent in a large
apartment building, in which many of the tenants were foreign-born.
Yet within months, my parents started cataloguing the differences between us and them—we
being Bosnians or ex-Yugoslavs, they being purely Canadian. That list of differences, theoretically
endless, included items such as sour cream (our sour cream—mileram—was creamier and tastier
than theirs); smiles (they smile, but don’t really mean it); babies (they do not bundle up their
babies in severe cold); wet hair (they go out with their hair wet, foolishly exposing themselves to
the possibility of lethal brain inflammation); clothes (their clothes fall apart after you wash them a
few times), et cetera. My parents, of course, were not the only ones obsessing over the
differences. Indeed, their social life at the beginning of their Canadian residence largely consisted
of meeting people from the old country and exchanging and discussing the perceived
dissimilarities. Once I listened to a family friend in what could fairly be called astonishment as he
outlined a substratum of differences proceeding from his observation that we like to simmer our
food for a long time (sarma, cabbage rolls, being a perfect example), while they just dip it in
extremely hot oil and cook it in a blink. Our simmering proclivities were reflective of our love of
eating and, by extension and obviously, of our love of life. On the other hand, they didn’t really
know how to live, which pointed at the ultimate, transcendental difference—we had soul, and they
were soulless. The fact that—even if the food-preparation analysis made any sense—they did not
love committing atrocities either and that we were at the center of a brutal, bloody war, which
under no circumstances could be construed as love of life, didn’t at all trouble the good analyst.
Excerpted from: Hemon, Aleksandar. The Book of My Lives. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013.
What does the word “purveyor” in the phrase “a purveyor of fast ‘ethnic’ food” mean?
A person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or immoral act
A seller/business that deals in particular goods or services
A legal official who accuses someone of committing a crime
A Christian priest
A purveyor supplies or sells a particular product. Taco Bell is described as a purveyor because it sells food. Read the word's function in the sentence: it identifies the business supplying the goods, not a criminal or religious role.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Describes a perpetrator, not a purveyor.
B: **Correct:** A seller or supplier is the intended meaning.
C: **Incorrect:** Describes a prosecutor.
D: **Incorrect:** A priest has a religious role unrelated to supplying food.
Question 3 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Read the following passage and answer the given subquestions.**
In December 1993, my sister and parents arrived as refugees in Hamilton, Ontario. In the first
couple of months, my parents attended English-language courses, while Kristina worked at Taco
Bell, a purveyor of fast “ethnic” food, which she preferred to refer to as Taco Hell. Things were very
complicated for them, what with the language my parents couldn’t speak, the generic shock of
displacement, and a cold climate that was extremely unfriendly to randomly warm human
interactions. For my parents, finding a job was a frightening operation of major proportions, but
Hamilton is a steel-mill town teeming with job-hungry immigrants, where many of the natives are
first-generation Canadians and therefore friendly, and supportive of their new compatriots. Soon
enough, my parents did find work—Father at a steel mill, Mother as a superintendent in a large
apartment building, in which many of the tenants were foreign-born.
Yet within months, my parents started cataloguing the differences between us and them—we
being Bosnians or ex-Yugoslavs, they being purely Canadian. That list of differences, theoretically
endless, included items such as sour cream (our sour cream—mileram—was creamier and tastier
than theirs); smiles (they smile, but don’t really mean it); babies (they do not bundle up their
babies in severe cold); wet hair (they go out with their hair wet, foolishly exposing themselves to
the possibility of lethal brain inflammation); clothes (their clothes fall apart after you wash them a
few times), et cetera. My parents, of course, were not the only ones obsessing over the
differences. Indeed, their social life at the beginning of their Canadian residence largely consisted
of meeting people from the old country and exchanging and discussing the perceived
dissimilarities. Once I listened to a family friend in what could fairly be called astonishment as he
outlined a substratum of differences proceeding from his observation that we like to simmer our
food for a long time (sarma, cabbage rolls, being a perfect example), while they just dip it in
extremely hot oil and cook it in a blink. Our simmering proclivities were reflective of our love of
eating and, by extension and obviously, of our love of life. On the other hand, they didn’t really
know how to live, which pointed at the ultimate, transcendental difference—we had soul, and they
were soulless. The fact that—even if the food-preparation analysis made any sense—they did not
love committing atrocities either and that we were at the center of a brutal, bloody war, which
under no circumstances could be construed as love of life, didn’t at all trouble the good analyst.
Excerpted from: Hemon, Aleksandar. The Book of My Lives. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013.
Select out the phrase that has a gerund in it.
Yet within months,/ my parents/ started cataloguing/ the differences between us and them.
The differences between us and them
Yet within months
Started cataloguing
My parents
Published solution
Cataloguing is the -ing verb form used as the complement of started: the parents began the activity of cataloguing differences. The course calls this a gerund. The other phrases contain no -ing verb form.
**Answer: C.**
A: **Incorrect:** This is a noun phrase headed by differences.
B: **Incorrect:** This is a time expression.
C: **Correct:** Cataloguing is the gerund form in started cataloguing.
D: **Incorrect:** This is the subject noun phrase.
Question 4 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Read the following passage and answer the given subquestions.**
In December 1993, my sister and parents arrived as refugees in Hamilton, Ontario. In the first
couple of months, my parents attended English-language courses, while Kristina worked at Taco
Bell, a purveyor of fast “ethnic” food, which she preferred to refer to as Taco Hell. Things were very
complicated for them, what with the language my parents couldn’t speak, the generic shock of
displacement, and a cold climate that was extremely unfriendly to randomly warm human
interactions. For my parents, finding a job was a frightening operation of major proportions, but
Hamilton is a steel-mill town teeming with job-hungry immigrants, where many of the natives are
first-generation Canadians and therefore friendly, and supportive of their new compatriots. Soon
enough, my parents did find work—Father at a steel mill, Mother as a superintendent in a large
apartment building, in which many of the tenants were foreign-born.
Yet within months, my parents started cataloguing the differences between us and them—we
being Bosnians or ex-Yugoslavs, they being purely Canadian. That list of differences, theoretically
endless, included items such as sour cream (our sour cream—mileram—was creamier and tastier
than theirs); smiles (they smile, but don’t really mean it); babies (they do not bundle up their
babies in severe cold); wet hair (they go out with their hair wet, foolishly exposing themselves to
the possibility of lethal brain inflammation); clothes (their clothes fall apart after you wash them a
few times), et cetera. My parents, of course, were not the only ones obsessing over the
differences. Indeed, their social life at the beginning of their Canadian residence largely consisted
of meeting people from the old country and exchanging and discussing the perceived
dissimilarities. Once I listened to a family friend in what could fairly be called astonishment as he
outlined a substratum of differences proceeding from his observation that we like to simmer our
food for a long time (sarma, cabbage rolls, being a perfect example), while they just dip it in
extremely hot oil and cook it in a blink. Our simmering proclivities were reflective of our love of
eating and, by extension and obviously, of our love of life. On the other hand, they didn’t really
know how to live, which pointed at the ultimate, transcendental difference—we had soul, and they
were soulless. The fact that—even if the food-preparation analysis made any sense—they did not
love committing atrocities either and that we were at the center of a brutal, bloody war, which
under no circumstances could be construed as love of life, didn’t at all trouble the good analyst.
Excerpted from: Hemon, Aleksandar. The Book of My Lives. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013.
To whom did the narrator’s parents refer to as “we” when they obsessed over the differences
between “us” and “them”?
Pure Canadians
First-generation Canadians
Purveyors of fast “ethnic” food
Bosnians or ex-Yugoslavs
Published solution
The narrator explicitly defines the groups: we means Bosnians or ex-Yugoslavs, and they means purely Canadian people. Pronoun reference must follow the passage's stated grouping rather than the family's new place of residence.
**Answer: D.**
A: **Incorrect:** This is the group labelled they.
B: **Incorrect:** First-generation Canadians are mentioned as supportive, but are not the definition given for we.
C: **Incorrect:** This describes food sellers, not the cultural group.
D: **Correct:** This repeats the passage's explicit definition of we.
Question 5 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Read the following passage and answer the given subquestions.**
In December 1993, my sister and parents arrived as refugees in Hamilton, Ontario. In the first
couple of months, my parents attended English-language courses, while Kristina worked at Taco
Bell, a purveyor of fast “ethnic” food, which she preferred to refer to as Taco Hell. Things were very
complicated for them, what with the language my parents couldn’t speak, the generic shock of
displacement, and a cold climate that was extremely unfriendly to randomly warm human
interactions. For my parents, finding a job was a frightening operation of major proportions, but
Hamilton is a steel-mill town teeming with job-hungry immigrants, where many of the natives are
first-generation Canadians and therefore friendly, and supportive of their new compatriots. Soon
enough, my parents did find work—Father at a steel mill, Mother as a superintendent in a large
apartment building, in which many of the tenants were foreign-born.
Yet within months, my parents started cataloguing the differences between us and them—we
being Bosnians or ex-Yugoslavs, they being purely Canadian. That list of differences, theoretically
endless, included items such as sour cream (our sour cream—mileram—was creamier and tastier
than theirs); smiles (they smile, but don’t really mean it); babies (they do not bundle up their
babies in severe cold); wet hair (they go out with their hair wet, foolishly exposing themselves to
the possibility of lethal brain inflammation); clothes (their clothes fall apart after you wash them a
few times), et cetera. My parents, of course, were not the only ones obsessing over the
differences. Indeed, their social life at the beginning of their Canadian residence largely consisted
of meeting people from the old country and exchanging and discussing the perceived
dissimilarities. Once I listened to a family friend in what could fairly be called astonishment as he
outlined a substratum of differences proceeding from his observation that we like to simmer our
food for a long time (sarma, cabbage rolls, being a perfect example), while they just dip it in
extremely hot oil and cook it in a blink. Our simmering proclivities were reflective of our love of
eating and, by extension and obviously, of our love of life. On the other hand, they didn’t really
know how to live, which pointed at the ultimate, transcendental difference—we had soul, and they
were soulless. The fact that—even if the food-preparation analysis made any sense—they did not
love committing atrocities either and that we were at the center of a brutal, bloody war, which
under no circumstances could be construed as love of life, didn’t at all trouble the good analyst.
Excerpted from: Hemon, Aleksandar. The Book of My Lives. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013.
Which of the following was not one among the items of difference that the narrator’s parents
observed between “us” and “them”?
Sour cream
Babies
Steel mills
Smiles
Published solution
The parents' catalogue compares sour cream, smiles, babies, wet hair and clothes. Steel mills appear in the description of Hamilton and the father's job, but not among these comparisons. The question asks for the exception.
**Answer: C.**
A: **Incorrect:** Sour cream is explicitly compared.
B: **Incorrect:** How babies are bundled is explicitly compared.
C: **Correct:** Steel mills concern employment and the town, not the list of perceived differences.
D: **Incorrect:** The sincerity of smiles is explicitly compared.
Question 6 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Read the following passage and answer the given subquestions.**
In December 1993, my sister and parents arrived as refugees in Hamilton, Ontario. In the first
couple of months, my parents attended English-language courses, while Kristina worked at Taco
Bell, a purveyor of fast “ethnic” food, which she preferred to refer to as Taco Hell. Things were very
complicated for them, what with the language my parents couldn’t speak, the generic shock of
displacement, and a cold climate that was extremely unfriendly to randomly warm human
interactions. For my parents, finding a job was a frightening operation of major proportions, but
Hamilton is a steel-mill town teeming with job-hungry immigrants, where many of the natives are
first-generation Canadians and therefore friendly, and supportive of their new compatriots. Soon
enough, my parents did find work—Father at a steel mill, Mother as a superintendent in a large
apartment building, in which many of the tenants were foreign-born.
Yet within months, my parents started cataloguing the differences between us and them—we
being Bosnians or ex-Yugoslavs, they being purely Canadian. That list of differences, theoretically
endless, included items such as sour cream (our sour cream—mileram—was creamier and tastier
than theirs); smiles (they smile, but don’t really mean it); babies (they do not bundle up their
babies in severe cold); wet hair (they go out with their hair wet, foolishly exposing themselves to
the possibility of lethal brain inflammation); clothes (their clothes fall apart after you wash them a
few times), et cetera. My parents, of course, were not the only ones obsessing over the
differences. Indeed, their social life at the beginning of their Canadian residence largely consisted
of meeting people from the old country and exchanging and discussing the perceived
dissimilarities. Once I listened to a family friend in what could fairly be called astonishment as he
outlined a substratum of differences proceeding from his observation that we like to simmer our
food for a long time (sarma, cabbage rolls, being a perfect example), while they just dip it in
extremely hot oil and cook it in a blink. Our simmering proclivities were reflective of our love of
eating and, by extension and obviously, of our love of life. On the other hand, they didn’t really
know how to live, which pointed at the ultimate, transcendental difference—we had soul, and they
were soulless. The fact that—even if the food-preparation analysis made any sense—they did not
love committing atrocities either and that we were at the center of a brutal, bloody war, which
under no circumstances could be construed as love of life, didn’t at all trouble the good analyst.
Excerpted from: Hemon, Aleksandar. The Book of My Lives. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013.
Our simmering proclivities were reflective of our love of eating and, by extension and obviously, of our
love of life.
This is a _____ sentence
Simple
Compound
Complex
Interrogative
Published solution
There is one independent finite clause: 'Our simmering proclivities were reflective ...'. The phrases 'of our love of eating' and 'of our love of life' share the same predicate. Coordinating these phrases does not create another clause, so the sentence is simple.
**Answer: A.**
A: **Correct:** One independent clause makes it simple.
B: **Incorrect:** And joins phrases here, not two independent clauses.
C: **Incorrect:** There is no finite subordinate clause.
D: **Incorrect:** It is a statement, not a question.
Question 7 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Read the following passage and answer the given subquestions.**
In December 1993, my sister and parents arrived as refugees in Hamilton, Ontario. In the first
couple of months, my parents attended English-language courses, while Kristina worked at Taco
Bell, a purveyor of fast “ethnic” food, which she preferred to refer to as Taco Hell. Things were very
complicated for them, what with the language my parents couldn’t speak, the generic shock of
displacement, and a cold climate that was extremely unfriendly to randomly warm human
interactions. For my parents, finding a job was a frightening operation of major proportions, but
Hamilton is a steel-mill town teeming with job-hungry immigrants, where many of the natives are
first-generation Canadians and therefore friendly, and supportive of their new compatriots. Soon
enough, my parents did find work—Father at a steel mill, Mother as a superintendent in a large
apartment building, in which many of the tenants were foreign-born.
Yet within months, my parents started cataloguing the differences between us and them—we
being Bosnians or ex-Yugoslavs, they being purely Canadian. That list of differences, theoretically
endless, included items such as sour cream (our sour cream—mileram—was creamier and tastier
than theirs); smiles (they smile, but don’t really mean it); babies (they do not bundle up their
babies in severe cold); wet hair (they go out with their hair wet, foolishly exposing themselves to
the possibility of lethal brain inflammation); clothes (their clothes fall apart after you wash them a
few times), et cetera. My parents, of course, were not the only ones obsessing over the
differences. Indeed, their social life at the beginning of their Canadian residence largely consisted
of meeting people from the old country and exchanging and discussing the perceived
dissimilarities. Once I listened to a family friend in what could fairly be called astonishment as he
outlined a substratum of differences proceeding from his observation that we like to simmer our
food for a long time (sarma, cabbage rolls, being a perfect example), while they just dip it in
extremely hot oil and cook it in a blink. Our simmering proclivities were reflective of our love of
eating and, by extension and obviously, of our love of life. On the other hand, they didn’t really
know how to live, which pointed at the ultimate, transcendental difference—we had soul, and they
were soulless. The fact that—even if the food-preparation analysis made any sense—they did not
love committing atrocities either and that we were at the center of a brutal, bloody war, which
under no circumstances could be construed as love of life, didn’t at all trouble the good analyst.
Excerpted from: Hemon, Aleksandar. The Book of My Lives. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013.
In the phrase “a cold climate that was extremely unfriendly to randomly warm human interactions,”
which of the following is NOT an adjective?
Cold
Warm
Randomly
Unfriendly
Published solution
Randomly modifies warm and is an adverb. Cold describes climate, warm describes interactions, and unfriendly describes the climate after was. Classify by grammatical function; an -ly ending alone is not decisive, since unfriendly is an adjective.
**Answer: C.**
A: **Incorrect:** Cold describes climate and is an adjective.
B: **Incorrect:** Warm describes interactions and is an adjective.
C: **Correct:** Randomly modifies an adjective and is an adverb.
D: **Incorrect:** Unfriendly describes a quality of the climate and is an adjective.
Question 8 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Read the following passage and answer the given subquestions.**
In December 1993, my sister and parents arrived as refugees in Hamilton, Ontario. In the first
couple of months, my parents attended English-language courses, while Kristina worked at Taco
Bell, a purveyor of fast “ethnic” food, which she preferred to refer to as Taco Hell. Things were very
complicated for them, what with the language my parents couldn’t speak, the generic shock of
displacement, and a cold climate that was extremely unfriendly to randomly warm human
interactions. For my parents, finding a job was a frightening operation of major proportions, but
Hamilton is a steel-mill town teeming with job-hungry immigrants, where many of the natives are
first-generation Canadians and therefore friendly, and supportive of their new compatriots. Soon
enough, my parents did find work—Father at a steel mill, Mother as a superintendent in a large
apartment building, in which many of the tenants were foreign-born.
Yet within months, my parents started cataloguing the differences between us and them—we
being Bosnians or ex-Yugoslavs, they being purely Canadian. That list of differences, theoretically
endless, included items such as sour cream (our sour cream—mileram—was creamier and tastier
than theirs); smiles (they smile, but don’t really mean it); babies (they do not bundle up their
babies in severe cold); wet hair (they go out with their hair wet, foolishly exposing themselves to
the possibility of lethal brain inflammation); clothes (their clothes fall apart after you wash them a
few times), et cetera. My parents, of course, were not the only ones obsessing over the
differences. Indeed, their social life at the beginning of their Canadian residence largely consisted
of meeting people from the old country and exchanging and discussing the perceived
dissimilarities. Once I listened to a family friend in what could fairly be called astonishment as he
outlined a substratum of differences proceeding from his observation that we like to simmer our
food for a long time (sarma, cabbage rolls, being a perfect example), while they just dip it in
extremely hot oil and cook it in a blink. Our simmering proclivities were reflective of our love of
eating and, by extension and obviously, of our love of life. On the other hand, they didn’t really
know how to live, which pointed at the ultimate, transcendental difference—we had soul, and they
were soulless. The fact that—even if the food-preparation analysis made any sense—they did not
love committing atrocities either and that we were at the center of a brutal, bloody war, which
under no circumstances could be construed as love of life, didn’t at all trouble the good analyst.
Excerpted from: Hemon, Aleksandar. The Book of My Lives. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013.
Fill in the blank using the correct option.
The narrator’s father found employment _____.
at Taco Bell
at a steel mill
as a superintendent in a large apartment building
as an analyst
Published solution
Match each person to the stated job: Kristina worked at Taco Bell, Father at a steel mill, and Mother as an apartment-building superintendent. Thus the father's workplace is the steel mill.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Taco Bell was Kristina's workplace.
B: **Correct:** The passage directly assigns this job to Father.
C: **Incorrect:** This was Mother's job.
D: **Incorrect:** Analyst is the narrator's ironic description of the family friend.
Question 9 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Read the following passage and answer the given subquestions.**
In December 1993, my sister and parents arrived as refugees in Hamilton, Ontario. In the first
couple of months, my parents attended English-language courses, while Kristina worked at Taco
Bell, a purveyor of fast “ethnic” food, which she preferred to refer to as Taco Hell. Things were very
complicated for them, what with the language my parents couldn’t speak, the generic shock of
displacement, and a cold climate that was extremely unfriendly to randomly warm human
interactions. For my parents, finding a job was a frightening operation of major proportions, but
Hamilton is a steel-mill town teeming with job-hungry immigrants, where many of the natives are
first-generation Canadians and therefore friendly, and supportive of their new compatriots. Soon
enough, my parents did find work—Father at a steel mill, Mother as a superintendent in a large
apartment building, in which many of the tenants were foreign-born.
Yet within months, my parents started cataloguing the differences between us and them—we
being Bosnians or ex-Yugoslavs, they being purely Canadian. That list of differences, theoretically
endless, included items such as sour cream (our sour cream—mileram—was creamier and tastier
than theirs); smiles (they smile, but don’t really mean it); babies (they do not bundle up their
babies in severe cold); wet hair (they go out with their hair wet, foolishly exposing themselves to
the possibility of lethal brain inflammation); clothes (their clothes fall apart after you wash them a
few times), et cetera. My parents, of course, were not the only ones obsessing over the
differences. Indeed, their social life at the beginning of their Canadian residence largely consisted
of meeting people from the old country and exchanging and discussing the perceived
dissimilarities. Once I listened to a family friend in what could fairly be called astonishment as he
outlined a substratum of differences proceeding from his observation that we like to simmer our
food for a long time (sarma, cabbage rolls, being a perfect example), while they just dip it in
extremely hot oil and cook it in a blink. Our simmering proclivities were reflective of our love of
eating and, by extension and obviously, of our love of life. On the other hand, they didn’t really
know how to live, which pointed at the ultimate, transcendental difference—we had soul, and they
were soulless. The fact that—even if the food-preparation analysis made any sense—they did not
love committing atrocities either and that we were at the center of a brutal, bloody war, which
under no circumstances could be construed as love of life, didn’t at all trouble the good analyst.
Excerpted from: Hemon, Aleksandar. The Book of My Lives. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013.
Why, according to the narrator’s parents, is it foolish to go out with wet hair?
It exposes one to the souring of cream
It makes your clothes fall apart after a few washes
It makes you obsess over differences
It exposes one to the possibility of lethal brain inflammation
Published solution
The parents believe that going outside with wet hair exposes a person to lethal brain inflammation. The question asks what they believe, not whether that belief is medically established. Identify the specific claim in the parents' comparison list.
**Answer: D.**
A: **Incorrect:** Cream is a different item in their list.
B: **Incorrect:** Clothes falling apart is a separate comparison.
C: **Incorrect:** Obsessing over differences describes their behaviour, not the feared consequence.
D: **Correct:** This is the consequence they explicitly fear.
Question 10 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Read the following passage and answer the given subquestions.**
In December 1993, my sister and parents arrived as refugees in Hamilton, Ontario. In the first
couple of months, my parents attended English-language courses, while Kristina worked at Taco
Bell, a purveyor of fast “ethnic” food, which she preferred to refer to as Taco Hell. Things were very
complicated for them, what with the language my parents couldn’t speak, the generic shock of
displacement, and a cold climate that was extremely unfriendly to randomly warm human
interactions. For my parents, finding a job was a frightening operation of major proportions, but
Hamilton is a steel-mill town teeming with job-hungry immigrants, where many of the natives are
first-generation Canadians and therefore friendly, and supportive of their new compatriots. Soon
enough, my parents did find work—Father at a steel mill, Mother as a superintendent in a large
apartment building, in which many of the tenants were foreign-born.
Yet within months, my parents started cataloguing the differences between us and them—we
being Bosnians or ex-Yugoslavs, they being purely Canadian. That list of differences, theoretically
endless, included items such as sour cream (our sour cream—mileram—was creamier and tastier
than theirs); smiles (they smile, but don’t really mean it); babies (they do not bundle up their
babies in severe cold); wet hair (they go out with their hair wet, foolishly exposing themselves to
the possibility of lethal brain inflammation); clothes (their clothes fall apart after you wash them a
few times), et cetera. My parents, of course, were not the only ones obsessing over the
differences. Indeed, their social life at the beginning of their Canadian residence largely consisted
of meeting people from the old country and exchanging and discussing the perceived
dissimilarities. Once I listened to a family friend in what could fairly be called astonishment as he
outlined a substratum of differences proceeding from his observation that we like to simmer our
food for a long time (sarma, cabbage rolls, being a perfect example), while they just dip it in
extremely hot oil and cook it in a blink. Our simmering proclivities were reflective of our love of
eating and, by extension and obviously, of our love of life. On the other hand, they didn’t really
know how to live, which pointed at the ultimate, transcendental difference—we had soul, and they
were soulless. The fact that—even if the food-preparation analysis made any sense—they did not
love committing atrocities either and that we were at the center of a brutal, bloody war, which
under no circumstances could be construed as love of life, didn’t at all trouble the good analyst.
Excerpted from: Hemon, Aleksandar. The Book of My Lives. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013.
According to the narrator’s family friend, what is the ultimate, transcendental difference between
“us” and “them”?
“We” have soul; “they” are soulless
“We” do not go out with wet hair; “they” do
“We” wear good-quality clothes; “they” do not
“We” can find a job easily; “they” cannot
Published solution
The friend moves from cooking methods to a sweeping claim about national character: slow simmering supposedly proves 'we' love life and have soul, whereas 'they' are soulless. The narrator reports this critically; identifying the argument does not endorse it.
**Answer: A.**
A: **Correct:** This is the friend's claimed ultimate difference.
B: **Incorrect:** Wet hair is an everyday comparison, not his final transcendental claim.
C: **Incorrect:** Clothing quality is another everyday comparison.
D: **Incorrect:** He does not base his ultimate conclusion on job-finding ability.
Question 11 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Read the following passage and answer the given subquestions.**
In December 1993, my sister and parents arrived as refugees in Hamilton, Ontario. In the first
couple of months, my parents attended English-language courses, while Kristina worked at Taco
Bell, a purveyor of fast “ethnic” food, which she preferred to refer to as Taco Hell. Things were very
complicated for them, what with the language my parents couldn’t speak, the generic shock of
displacement, and a cold climate that was extremely unfriendly to randomly warm human
interactions. For my parents, finding a job was a frightening operation of major proportions, but
Hamilton is a steel-mill town teeming with job-hungry immigrants, where many of the natives are
first-generation Canadians and therefore friendly, and supportive of their new compatriots. Soon
enough, my parents did find work—Father at a steel mill, Mother as a superintendent in a large
apartment building, in which many of the tenants were foreign-born.
Yet within months, my parents started cataloguing the differences between us and them—we
being Bosnians or ex-Yugoslavs, they being purely Canadian. That list of differences, theoretically
endless, included items such as sour cream (our sour cream—mileram—was creamier and tastier
than theirs); smiles (they smile, but don’t really mean it); babies (they do not bundle up their
babies in severe cold); wet hair (they go out with their hair wet, foolishly exposing themselves to
the possibility of lethal brain inflammation); clothes (their clothes fall apart after you wash them a
few times), et cetera. My parents, of course, were not the only ones obsessing over the
differences. Indeed, their social life at the beginning of their Canadian residence largely consisted
of meeting people from the old country and exchanging and discussing the perceived
dissimilarities. Once I listened to a family friend in what could fairly be called astonishment as he
outlined a substratum of differences proceeding from his observation that we like to simmer our
food for a long time (sarma, cabbage rolls, being a perfect example), while they just dip it in
extremely hot oil and cook it in a blink. Our simmering proclivities were reflective of our love of
eating and, by extension and obviously, of our love of life. On the other hand, they didn’t really
know how to live, which pointed at the ultimate, transcendental difference—we had soul, and they
were soulless. The fact that—even if the food-preparation analysis made any sense—they did not
love committing atrocities either and that we were at the center of a brutal, bloody war, which
under no circumstances could be construed as love of life, didn’t at all trouble the good analyst.
Excerpted from: Hemon, Aleksandar. The Book of My Lives. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013.
State true or false on the basis of your reading of the passage.
Our simmering proclivities were reflective of our love of eating and, by extension and obviously, of our
love of life.
The narrator finds this food-preparation analysis sensible and agrees with it.
True
False
Published solution
The narrator calls attention to a contradiction: a group involved in a brutal war cannot use its cooking habits as proof of superior love of life. His ironic description of the 'good analyst' shows criticism, not agreement.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** The narrator exposes a contradiction rather than endorsing the analysis.
B: **Correct:** False: he challenges the analysis through the example of war.
Question 12 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Read the following email and answer the given subquestions.**
From: X@mailbox.com
To: director@chennaicorporation.com
Subject: _____________: Stray Dog Issue in Saligramam
_____________,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to bring attention to a pressing concern in our
community – the increasing number of stray dogs in Saligramam. This issue poses risks to public
safety and the well-being of both residents and the animals.
I kindly request your intervention to address this matter promptly. Implementing measures such
as increased animal control efforts, sterilization programs, and public awareness campaigns
would greatly contribute to resolving the situation.
Your swift action on this issue is crucial, and I appreciate your attention to creating a safer
environment for our community.
_______________________________________.
Best regards,
X
Choose the appropriate option to prefix the Subject line.
Terrible
Urgent
EMERGENCY
Shocking
Published solution
Urgent communicates that the public-safety concern needs prompt attention while maintaining a measured professional tone. A subject should state priority and topic clearly without sensational wording or unnecessary capitalisation.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Terrible expresses emotion rather than a precise priority.
B: **Correct:** Urgent is concise and professionally signals priority.
C: **Incorrect:** All-capital EMERGENCY is more alarmist than the circumstances established in this email.
D: **Incorrect:** Shocking sounds sensational rather than professionally informative.
Question 13 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Read the following email and answer the given subquestions.**
From: X@mailbox.com
To: director@chennaicorporation.com
Subject: _____________: Stray Dog Issue in Saligramam
_____________,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to bring attention to a pressing concern in our
community – the increasing number of stray dogs in Saligramam. This issue poses risks to public
safety and the well-being of both residents and the animals.
I kindly request your intervention to address this matter promptly. Implementing measures such
as increased animal control efforts, sterilization programs, and public awareness campaigns
would greatly contribute to resolving the situation.
Your swift action on this issue is crucial, and I appreciate your attention to creating a safer
environment for our community.
_______________________________________.
Best regards,
X
Choose the appropriate salutation.
Respected Ma'am
Hello Sir
Dear Director
Published solution
The recipient is addressed by the known office of Director. 'Dear Director' is a conventional professional salutation and avoids assuming a gender that the email does not establish.
**Answer: C.**
A: **Incorrect:** Assumes the director is a woman without evidence.
B: **Incorrect:** Assumes the director is a man and uses a less formal greeting.
C: **Correct:** Uses the known role in a standard professional greeting.
Question 14 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Read the following email and answer the given subquestions.**
From: X@mailbox.com
To: director@chennaicorporation.com
Subject: _____________: Stray Dog Issue in Saligramam
_____________,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to bring attention to a pressing concern in our
community – the increasing number of stray dogs in Saligramam. This issue poses risks to public
safety and the well-being of both residents and the animals.
I kindly request your intervention to address this matter promptly. Implementing measures such
as increased animal control efforts, sterilization programs, and public awareness campaigns
would greatly contribute to resolving the situation.
Your swift action on this issue is crucial, and I appreciate your attention to creating a safer
environment for our community.
_______________________________________.
Best regards,
X
What word in the second paragraph of the email conveys an urgent tone?
Increased
Resolving
Intervention
Promptly
Published solution
Promptly means without unnecessary delay. In the request for intervention, it is the word that directly specifies urgency. The other words name an action, an increase, or the intended outcome without themselves requiring speed.
**Answer: D.**
A: **Incorrect:** Increased specifies a greater amount.
B: **Incorrect:** Resolving identifies the desired outcome.
C: **Incorrect:** Intervention identifies the requested action.
D: **Correct:** Promptly explicitly asks for timely action.
Question 15 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Read the following email and answer the given subquestions.**
From: X@mailbox.com
To: director@chennaicorporation.com
Subject: _____________: Stray Dog Issue in Saligramam
_____________,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to bring attention to a pressing concern in our
community – the increasing number of stray dogs in Saligramam. This issue poses risks to public
safety and the well-being of both residents and the animals.
I kindly request your intervention to address this matter promptly. Implementing measures such
as increased animal control efforts, sterilization programs, and public awareness campaigns
would greatly contribute to resolving the situation.
Your swift action on this issue is crucial, and I appreciate your attention to creating a safer
environment for our community.
_______________________________________.
Best regards,
X
Suppose the corporation didn't respond even after a week. Which of the following statements
would be appropriate to include in a reminder mail? Keep in mind that the stray dog problems are
getting worse by the day but remember to keep the language clean and 'decent'.
Your swift attention to this public safety concern will be appreciated.
You have to take immediate action now.
Respond to this message immediately.
This is the final notice regarding the escalating stray dog concern in
Saligramam. Urgent action is needed.
Published solution
A reminder should restate the public-safety concern and request timely attention while remaining courteous. 'Your swift attention ... will be appreciated' balances urgency with professional respect and avoids issuing commands or threats.
**Answer: A.**
A: **Correct:** Communicates urgency politely and clearly.
B: **Incorrect:** Sounds commanding rather than courteous.
C: **Incorrect:** An imperative demands a response rather than respectfully requesting action.
D: **Incorrect:** Final notice sounds threatening and assumes authority the sender has not established.
Question 16 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Read the following email and answer the given subquestions.**
From: X@mailbox.com
To: director@chennaicorporation.com
Subject: _____________: Stray Dog Issue in Saligramam
_____________,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to bring attention to a pressing concern in our
community – the increasing number of stray dogs in Saligramam. This issue poses risks to public
safety and the well-being of both residents and the animals.
I kindly request your intervention to address this matter promptly. Implementing measures such
as increased animal control efforts, sterilization programs, and public awareness campaigns
would greatly contribute to resolving the situation.
Your swift action on this issue is crucial, and I appreciate your attention to creating a safer
environment for our community.
_______________________________________.
Best regards,
X
Choose an appropriate closing line for the mail.
We will be eternally grateful if the dogs are removed from our streets.
Thank you for your consideration and efforts in addressing this concern.
I hope this issue will be resolved asap.
Please instruct the workers to resolve this issue soon.
Published solution
The closing should thank the recipient and reinforce cooperation. 'Thank you for your consideration and efforts in addressing this concern' fits the measured, constructive request in the email.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Eternally grateful is exaggerated and narrows the requested measures to removal.
B: **Correct:** Provides a polite professional closing aligned with the request.
C: **Incorrect:** Asap is less suitable in this formal closing.
D: **Incorrect:** Repeats an instruction instead of closing with appreciation.
Question 17 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Match the following.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Aero-
thyroidism
sphere
personal
dynamic
political
Published solution
The prefix means air. Joining it to the matching element gives aerodynamic. In this matching exercise, identify the established word and check that its meaning follows from the prefix, rather than pairing terms only because they look pronounceable.
**Answer: D.**
A: **Incorrect:** Thyroidism combines with hypo- to describe reduced thyroid function.
B: **Incorrect:** Sphere combines with hemi- to mean half a sphere.
C: **Incorrect:** Personal combines with inter- to mean between people.
D: **Correct:** Dynamic combines with aero- in aerodynamic, concerning motion through air.
E: **Incorrect:** Political combines with geo- to describe geography's relation to politics.
Question 18 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Match the following.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Geo-
thyroidism
sphere
personal
dynamic
political
Published solution
The prefix means earth or geography. Joining it to the matching element gives geopolitical. In this matching exercise, identify the established word and check that its meaning follows from the prefix, rather than pairing terms only because they look pronounceable.
**Answer: E.**
A: **Incorrect:** Thyroidism combines with hypo- to describe reduced thyroid function.
B: **Incorrect:** Sphere combines with hemi- to mean half a sphere.
C: **Incorrect:** Personal combines with inter- to mean between people.
D: **Incorrect:** Dynamic combines with aero- in aerodynamic, concerning motion through air.
E: **Correct:** Political combines with geo- to describe geography's relation to politics.
Question 19 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Match the following.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Hypo-
thyroidism
sphere
personal
dynamic
political
Published solution
The prefix means below normal or deficient. Joining it to the matching element gives hypothyroidism. In this matching exercise, identify the established word and check that its meaning follows from the prefix, rather than pairing terms only because they look pronounceable.
**Answer: A.**
A: **Correct:** Thyroidism combines with hypo- to describe reduced thyroid function.
B: **Incorrect:** Sphere combines with hemi- to mean half a sphere.
C: **Incorrect:** Personal combines with inter- to mean between people.
D: **Incorrect:** Dynamic combines with aero- in aerodynamic, concerning motion through air.
E: **Incorrect:** Political combines with geo- to describe geography's relation to politics.
Question 20 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Match the following.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Hemi-
thyroidism
sphere
personal
dynamic
political
Published solution
The prefix means half. Joining it to the matching element gives hemisphere. In this matching exercise, identify the established word and check that its meaning follows from the prefix, rather than pairing terms only because they look pronounceable.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Thyroidism combines with hypo- to describe reduced thyroid function.
B: **Correct:** Sphere combines with hemi- to mean half a sphere.
C: **Incorrect:** Personal combines with inter- to mean between people.
D: **Incorrect:** Dynamic combines with aero- in aerodynamic, concerning motion through air.
E: **Incorrect:** Political combines with geo- to describe geography's relation to politics.
Question 21 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Match the following.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Inter-
thyroidism
sphere
personal
dynamic
political
Published solution
The prefix means between. Joining it to the matching element gives interpersonal. In this matching exercise, identify the established word and check that its meaning follows from the prefix, rather than pairing terms only because they look pronounceable.
**Answer: C.**
A: **Incorrect:** Thyroidism combines with hypo- to describe reduced thyroid function.
B: **Incorrect:** Sphere combines with hemi- to mean half a sphere.
C: **Correct:** Personal combines with inter- to mean between people.
D: **Incorrect:** Dynamic combines with aero- in aerodynamic, concerning motion through air.
E: **Incorrect:** Political combines with geo- to describe geography's relation to politics.
Question 22 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Fill in the blanks with correct expressions of numbers/values/quantity**
India has made (1) _____________ progress in ending open defecation across the country, which
significantly impacts improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). In 2015, nearly half of
India’s population of around 568 (2) ___________ people suffered the indignity of defecating in
fields, forests, bodies of water, or other public spaces due to a lack of access to toilets. India alone
accounted for 90 (3) ____________ of the people in South Asia and (4) _______________ half of the 1.2
billion people in the world that defecated in the open. UNICEF extended the objective of
eradicating open defecation to effective solid and liquid waste management in all cities and
villages. By 2019, according to the latest estimates, the number of people without access to toilets
has reduced (5) _______________ by an estimated 450 million people.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Choose the correct answer for blank (1).
Rapidest
Rapidly
Rapid
Rapider
Published solution
**1. Identify the word being modified:** Progress is a noun. The blank before it needs an adjective: 'made rapid progress'.
**2. Check the alternatives:** Rapidly is an adverb. Rapider and rapidest are not appropriate unmarked positive-degree choices here; there is no comparison in the sentence.
**Answer: C.**
A: **Incorrect:** A superlative comparison is not called for.
B: **Incorrect:** Rapidly is an adverb, whereas progress needs an adjectival modifier.
C: **Correct:** Rapid is the adjective describing the kind of progress.
D: **Incorrect:** No comparative construction is present.
Question 23 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Fill in the blanks with correct expressions of numbers/values/quantity**
India has made (1) _____________ progress in ending open defecation across the country, which
significantly impacts improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). In 2015, nearly half of
India’s population of around 568 (2) ___________ people suffered the indignity of defecating in
fields, forests, bodies of water, or other public spaces due to a lack of access to toilets. India alone
accounted for 90 (3) ____________ of the people in South Asia and (4) _______________ half of the 1.2
billion people in the world that defecated in the open. UNICEF extended the objective of
eradicating open defecation to effective solid and liquid waste management in all cities and
villages. By 2019, according to the latest estimates, the number of people without access to toilets
has reduced (5) _______________ by an estimated 450 million people.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Choose the correct answer for blank (2).
Percent
Million
Approximately
Most
Published solution
**1. Read the quantity:** The passage refers to an estimated count of people: 'around 568 ___ people'.
**2. Choose a numerical unit:** Million completes a population count. '568 million people' is a number of individuals, while percent would represent a proportion and would also make 568 percent inappropriate in this context.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Percent expresses a proportion, not the intended population count.
B: **Correct:** 568 million people is the intended count.
C: **Incorrect:** Approximately cannot serve as the numerical unit after 568.
D: **Incorrect:** Most is not a unit that can follow the number 568.
Question 24 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Fill in the blanks with correct expressions of numbers/values/quantity**
India has made (1) _____________ progress in ending open defecation across the country, which
significantly impacts improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). In 2015, nearly half of
India’s population of around 568 (2) ___________ people suffered the indignity of defecating in
fields, forests, bodies of water, or other public spaces due to a lack of access to toilets. India alone
accounted for 90 (3) ____________ of the people in South Asia and (4) _______________ half of the 1.2
billion people in the world that defecated in the open. UNICEF extended the objective of
eradicating open defecation to effective solid and liquid waste management in all cities and
villages. By 2019, according to the latest estimates, the number of people without access to toilets
has reduced (5) _______________ by an estimated 450 million people.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Choose the correct answer for blank (3).
Approximately
About
Most
Percent
Published solution
**1. Read what 90 describes:** The sentence says India accounted for a share of the people in South Asia who defecated in the open.
**2. Express a share:** '90 percent of the people' means 90 out of every 100 in that reference group. Percent is the unit needed after the number.
**Answer: D.**
A: **Incorrect:** Approximately would normally precede a number and supplies no percentage unit here.
B: **Incorrect:** About also belongs before a numerical estimate, not after 90 as its unit.
C: **Incorrect:** Most cannot follow 90 in this construction.
D: **Correct:** Percent turns 90 into the intended proportion.
Question 25 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Fill in the blanks with correct expressions of numbers/values/quantity**
India has made (1) _____________ progress in ending open defecation across the country, which
significantly impacts improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). In 2015, nearly half of
India’s population of around 568 (2) ___________ people suffered the indignity of defecating in
fields, forests, bodies of water, or other public spaces due to a lack of access to toilets. India alone
accounted for 90 (3) ____________ of the people in South Asia and (4) _______________ half of the 1.2
billion people in the world that defecated in the open. UNICEF extended the objective of
eradicating open defecation to effective solid and liquid waste management in all cities and
villages. By 2019, according to the latest estimates, the number of people without access to toilets
has reduced (5) _______________ by an estimated 450 million people.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Choose the correct answer for blank (4).
About
Most
Mostly
None of these
Published solution
**1. Interpret the estimate:** The relevant phrase is '___ half of the 1.2 billion people'. It describes an approximate fraction of a population.
**2. Use the suitable modifier:** About half means approximately one-half. Most half is not grammatical, while mostly means mainly and does not modify the fraction in this way.
**Answer: A.**
A: **Correct:** About half is the correct approximate-quantity expression.
B: **Incorrect:** Most half is not an acceptable noun-phrase construction.
C: **Incorrect:** Mostly means mainly, not approximately one-half in this phrase.
D: **Incorrect:** About already provides a correct option.
Question 26 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Fill in the blanks with correct expressions of numbers/values/quantity**
India has made (1) _____________ progress in ending open defecation across the country, which
significantly impacts improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). In 2015, nearly half of
India’s population of around 568 (2) ___________ people suffered the indignity of defecating in
fields, forests, bodies of water, or other public spaces due to a lack of access to toilets. India alone
accounted for 90 (3) ____________ of the people in South Asia and (4) _______________ half of the 1.2
billion people in the world that defecated in the open. UNICEF extended the objective of
eradicating open defecation to effective solid and liquid waste management in all cities and
villages. By 2019, according to the latest estimates, the number of people without access to toilets
has reduced (5) _______________ by an estimated 450 million people.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Choose the correct answer for blank (5).
Significantly
Almost
About
Significant
Published solution
**1. Identify the modified word:** The phrase says the number 'has reduced ___ by an estimated 450 million'. The blank describes the degree of the reduction.
**2. Use an adverb:** Significantly means to a substantial or important extent and modifies the reduction. Significant is an adjective and cannot occupy this slot. Almost or about would need a differently arranged quantitative expression.
**Answer: A.**
A: **Correct:** Significantly correctly describes the extent of the reduction.
B: **Incorrect:** Almost by an estimated 450 million does not form the intended degree expression.
C: **Incorrect:** About would normally modify the figure rather than appear before by here.
D: **Incorrect:** Significant is an adjective; the sentence needs an adverb.
Question 27 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Read the conversation given below and fill in the blanks with the appropriate discourse markers.
Observe the tone and the punctuation of the passage and choose only the most fitting answer for
every blank.
Policeman: Does Jake Brockman live here?
Mother: Uh…yes. Is there a problem?
Mother (inside, to her son): There is a policeman here to see you.
Son: Ugh bollocks!
Mother: Would you care to expand on that?
Son: [i] _____, there was this incident. Tommo turned up with an old bag of fireworks and he
thought it’d be a laugh if we let off this rocket. [ii] _____, he kind of crashed it into the doors of a
church.
Mother: What the…Did anyone see this?
Son: [iii] _____, the people walking out of the carol service soiree.
Mother: What?!
Son: [iv] _____! No one got hurt. I mean, the donkey panicked a bit.
Mother: Donkey?!
Son: It’s okay, he didn’t have Mary on his back. Although it did run off and knock over one of the
three wise men. [v] _____, he was fine as well!
Transcribed from: “It's Not a Christmas Party Until The Police Show Up | Outnumbered.” YouTube,
uploaded by Hat Trick, 23 Dec. 2020.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Fill in blank [i] with the most fitting discourse marker among the options given below.
In addition
Yeah, well, you see
Consequently
Nice
Published solution
The son hesitates before explaining an embarrassing incident. 'Yeah, well, you see' acknowledges his mother's request and introduces a reluctant explanation. The fillers suit spontaneous conversation.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** In addition would add to an explanation already underway.
B: **Correct:** Matches the hesitant start of an explanation.
C: **Incorrect:** Consequently introduces a result, not the opening background.
D: **Incorrect:** Nice expresses approval without explaining the incident.
Question 28 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Read the conversation given below and fill in the blanks with the appropriate discourse markers.
Observe the tone and the punctuation of the passage and choose only the most fitting answer for
every blank.
Policeman: Does Jake Brockman live here?
Mother: Uh…yes. Is there a problem?
Mother (inside, to her son): There is a policeman here to see you.
Son: Ugh bollocks!
Mother: Would you care to expand on that?
Son: [i] _____, there was this incident. Tommo turned up with an old bag of fireworks and he
thought it’d be a laugh if we let off this rocket. [ii] _____, he kind of crashed it into the doors of a
church.
Mother: What the…Did anyone see this?
Son: [iii] _____, the people walking out of the carol service soiree.
Mother: What?!
Son: [iv] _____! No one got hurt. I mean, the donkey panicked a bit.
Mother: Donkey?!
Son: It’s okay, he didn’t have Mary on his back. Although it did run off and knock over one of the
three wise men. [v] _____, he was fine as well!
Transcribed from: “It's Not a Christmas Party Until The Police Show Up | Outnumbered.” YouTube,
uploaded by Hat Trick, 23 Dec. 2020.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Fill in blank [ii] with the most fitting discourse marker among the options given below.
Nevertheless
Especially
Only
Lovely
Published solution
Here only is an informal discourse marker meaning 'except that' or 'but'. It introduces the unwelcome complication: the rocket crashed into church doors instead of providing harmless fun.
**Answer: C.**
A: **Incorrect:** Nevertheless indicates a different concessive relation and is too formal for this turn.
B: **Incorrect:** Especially singles out an example or degree, not the complication.
C: **Correct:** Only naturally introduces the unfortunate catch in the story.
D: **Incorrect:** Lovely expresses approval and does not connect the events.
Question 29 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Read the conversation given below and fill in the blanks with the appropriate discourse markers.
Observe the tone and the punctuation of the passage and choose only the most fitting answer for
every blank.
Policeman: Does Jake Brockman live here?
Mother: Uh…yes. Is there a problem?
Mother (inside, to her son): There is a policeman here to see you.
Son: Ugh bollocks!
Mother: Would you care to expand on that?
Son: [i] _____, there was this incident. Tommo turned up with an old bag of fireworks and he
thought it’d be a laugh if we let off this rocket. [ii] _____, he kind of crashed it into the doors of a
church.
Mother: What the…Did anyone see this?
Son: [iii] _____, the people walking out of the carol service soiree.
Mother: What?!
Son: [iv] _____! No one got hurt. I mean, the donkey panicked a bit.
Mother: Donkey?!
Son: It’s okay, he didn’t have Mary on his back. Although it did run off and knock over one of the
three wise men. [v] _____, he was fine as well!
Transcribed from: “It's Not a Christmas Party Until The Police Show Up | Outnumbered.” YouTube,
uploaded by Hat Trick, 23 Dec. 2020.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Fill in blank [iii] with the most fitting discourse marker among the options given below.
Uh, well, yeah
On top of that
Occasionally
Anyway
Published solution
The mother asks whether anyone saw the incident. 'Uh, well, yeah' is a hesitant admission before the son names the witnesses. It supplies the affirmative answer that the following noun phrase needs.
**Answer: A.**
A: **Correct:** Acknowledges the question and reluctantly admits there were witnesses.
B: **Incorrect:** Adds information but does not naturally answer the yes/no question.
C: **Incorrect:** Indicates frequency rather than admitting these witnesses saw it.
D: **Incorrect:** Suggests changing the topic instead of answering the question.
Question 30 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Read the conversation given below and fill in the blanks with the appropriate discourse markers.
Observe the tone and the punctuation of the passage and choose only the most fitting answer for
every blank.
Policeman: Does Jake Brockman live here?
Mother: Uh…yes. Is there a problem?
Mother (inside, to her son): There is a policeman here to see you.
Son: Ugh bollocks!
Mother: Would you care to expand on that?
Son: [i] _____, there was this incident. Tommo turned up with an old bag of fireworks and he
thought it’d be a laugh if we let off this rocket. [ii] _____, he kind of crashed it into the doors of a
church.
Mother: What the…Did anyone see this?
Son: [iii] _____, the people walking out of the carol service soiree.
Mother: What?!
Son: [iv] _____! No one got hurt. I mean, the donkey panicked a bit.
Mother: Donkey?!
Son: It’s okay, he didn’t have Mary on his back. Although it did run off and knock over one of the
three wise men. [v] _____, he was fine as well!
Transcribed from: “It's Not a Christmas Party Until The Police Show Up | Outnumbered.” YouTube,
uploaded by Hat Trick, 23 Dec. 2020.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Fill in blank [iv] with the most fitting discourse marker among the options given below.
Mind you, it’s not okay
Don’t look, it’s not okay
Look, it’s okay
Anyway, it’s not okay
Published solution
The son tries to calm his mother's reaction: 'Look, it's okay! No one got hurt.' Look attracts attention, and it's okay introduces the reassuring claim supported by the next sentence.
**Answer: C.**
A: **Incorrect:** It's not okay contradicts the intended reassurance.
B: **Incorrect:** Don't look is not an attention marker suited to the explanation and the negative wording conflicts with it.
C: **Correct:** Attracts attention and introduces reassurance.
D: **Incorrect:** Combines a topic shift with wording opposite to the intended reassurance.
Question 31 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Read the conversation given below and fill in the blanks with the appropriate discourse markers.
Observe the tone and the punctuation of the passage and choose only the most fitting answer for
every blank.
Policeman: Does Jake Brockman live here?
Mother: Uh…yes. Is there a problem?
Mother (inside, to her son): There is a policeman here to see you.
Son: Ugh bollocks!
Mother: Would you care to expand on that?
Son: [i] _____, there was this incident. Tommo turned up with an old bag of fireworks and he
thought it’d be a laugh if we let off this rocket. [ii] _____, he kind of crashed it into the doors of a
church.
Mother: What the…Did anyone see this?
Son: [iii] _____, the people walking out of the carol service soiree.
Mother: What?!
Son: [iv] _____! No one got hurt. I mean, the donkey panicked a bit.
Mother: Donkey?!
Son: It’s okay, he didn’t have Mary on his back. Although it did run off and knock over one of the
three wise men. [v] _____, he was fine as well!
Transcribed from: “It's Not a Christmas Party Until The Police Show Up | Outnumbered.” YouTube,
uploaded by Hat Trick, 23 Dec. 2020.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Fill in blank [v] with the most fitting discourse marker among the options given below.
As a result
Wonderful
I’m afraid
But I mean
Published solution
The son admits the donkey knocked someone over, then tries to minimise that consequence: 'But I mean, he was fine as well!' But introduces the reassuring contrast, and I mean frames it as an explanation.
**Answer: D.**
A: **Incorrect:** As a result would imply that being knocked over caused him to be fine.
B: **Incorrect:** Wonderful expresses approval rather than a defensive clarification.
C: **Incorrect:** I'm afraid normally introduces unwelcome news, not this reassurance.
D: **Correct:** Fits the contrast and the son's attempt to soften the bad news.
Question 32 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Below are parts of an essay, “The Free Dogs of India” from Aeon, which argues for rethinking**
**dominant attitudes towards free-living dogs. Read the paragraphs and answer the given**
**subquestions .**
Unbound by human owners and the constraints of petdom, they live the doggiest of dog lives:
they sleep when they want, mingle with friends they choose, pee when the urge hits, and eat
when hungry – as long as food can be found. Wandering the streets of Chennai in southern India,
we saw them dozing alone or in company on pavements, seeking shelter from the heat under a
van, watching children playing on the beach, or being cared for by local residents. Part of Indian
street life, these free-living dogs stand in stark contrast to the culture of pet ownership found in
the West. Not only do they defy the image of the out-of-control and marauding canine stalking the
sensationalist articles of 19th-century newspapers in Western Europe and North America, they ask
us to question our sanitised cities and stewardship of a world with nature at so much risk.
India’s robust street dogs also challenge the supposed superiority of pedigree that dominates dog
breeding today. One of us recently adopted a street dog from Romania. Bell Kanmani was brought
to the United Kingdom by one of the many charities picking up street dogs there and finding them
new homes abroad. While walking her in the UK, Bell Kanmani’s human is regularly confronted
with the question ‘What breed is your dog?’ The response that she is just a ‘dog’ only serves to
prompt further speculation about what mix of breeds she might be: everything from a collie to a
Jack Russell. Having grown up in India, Kanmani’s human finds strange, and rather disturbing, this
idea of dogs as necessarily belonging to a particular breed or mixture of breeds. She is familiar
with dogs who have lineages free of any human breeding, not necessarily belonging to humans or
doing what humans command them to. These unowned and breed-free dogs are now often
known as street or village dogs, or – our preferred term – free-living dogs.
Too often in the West, dogs are seen through the prism of pedigree, and connected to their owner
via collars and leashes. All too often, the realities of how dogs and humans live together in the
Global South are overlooked. As a country with a significant street-dog population, India is a good
place from which to explore how humans and canines share street life in cooperative ways that
move beyond images of free-living dogs as dangerous.
Exposing the reality is crucial, given the rising media calls for culling Indian street dogs, exposing
them to rhetorical and actual violence. The condemnation of street dogs as risky and unwelcome
is rooted in colonial attitudes, and overlooks complex and varied everyday interactions, often
positive, between dogs and humans. Discussing their lived experience will help the dogs
themselves, and also help us reflect on how humankind can share the planet with all the other
creatures who live on it.
What rationale does the passage argue for the description of free-living dogs in Chennai in its
opening paragraph?
i. While walking her in the UK, Bell Kanmani’s human is regularly confronted with the question
‘What breed is your dog?’
ii. As a country with a significant street-dog population, India is a good place from which to
explore how humans and canines share street life in cooperative ways that move beyond images
of free-living dogs as dangerous.
iii. Discussing their lived experience will help the dogs themselves, and also help us reflect on how
humankind can share the planet with all the other creatures who live on it.
i and ii only
i and iii only
ii and iii only
i, ii and iii
A published solution is not available for this question yet.
Question 33 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Below are parts of an essay, “The Free Dogs of India” from Aeon, which argues for rethinking**
**dominant attitudes towards free-living dogs. Read the paragraphs and answer the given**
**subquestions .**
Unbound by human owners and the constraints of petdom, they live the doggiest of dog lives:
they sleep when they want, mingle with friends they choose, pee when the urge hits, and eat
when hungry – as long as food can be found. Wandering the streets of Chennai in southern India,
we saw them dozing alone or in company on pavements, seeking shelter from the heat under a
van, watching children playing on the beach, or being cared for by local residents. Part of Indian
street life, these free-living dogs stand in stark contrast to the culture of pet ownership found in
the West. Not only do they defy the image of the out-of-control and marauding canine stalking the
sensationalist articles of 19th-century newspapers in Western Europe and North America, they ask
us to question our sanitised cities and stewardship of a world with nature at so much risk.
India’s robust street dogs also challenge the supposed superiority of pedigree that dominates dog
breeding today. One of us recently adopted a street dog from Romania. Bell Kanmani was brought
to the United Kingdom by one of the many charities picking up street dogs there and finding them
new homes abroad. While walking her in the UK, Bell Kanmani’s human is regularly confronted
with the question ‘What breed is your dog?’ The response that she is just a ‘dog’ only serves to
prompt further speculation about what mix of breeds she might be: everything from a collie to a
Jack Russell. Having grown up in India, Kanmani’s human finds strange, and rather disturbing, this
idea of dogs as necessarily belonging to a particular breed or mixture of breeds. She is familiar
with dogs who have lineages free of any human breeding, not necessarily belonging to humans or
doing what humans command them to. These unowned and breed-free dogs are now often
known as street or village dogs, or – our preferred term – free-living dogs.
Too often in the West, dogs are seen through the prism of pedigree, and connected to their owner
via collars and leashes. All too often, the realities of how dogs and humans live together in the
Global South are overlooked. As a country with a significant street-dog population, India is a good
place from which to explore how humans and canines share street life in cooperative ways that
move beyond images of free-living dogs as dangerous.
Exposing the reality is crucial, given the rising media calls for culling Indian street dogs, exposing
them to rhetorical and actual violence. The condemnation of street dogs as risky and unwelcome
is rooted in colonial attitudes, and overlooks complex and varied everyday interactions, often
positive, between dogs and humans. Discussing their lived experience will help the dogs
themselves, and also help us reflect on how humankind can share the planet with all the other
creatures who live on it.
Select the phrase that clearly transitions the text from describing to arguing a point.
“Wandering the streets of Chennai”
“Not only do they defy…”
“One of us recently adopted a street dog”
“As a country with a significant street-dog population”
Published solution
The opening begins by describing dogs' daily activities. 'Not only do they defy ...' starts an interpretive claim: those observations challenge stereotypes and invite ethical reflection. That is the transition from description to argument.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Sets the scene for observation.
B: **Correct:** Introduces what the dogs' lives demonstrate and why it matters.
C: **Incorrect:** Begins a personal anecdote.
D: **Incorrect:** Introduces a later rationale, rather than the first clear argumentative turn.
Question 34 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Below are parts of an essay, “The Free Dogs of India” from Aeon, which argues for rethinking**
**dominant attitudes towards free-living dogs. Read the paragraphs and answer the given**
**subquestions .**
Unbound by human owners and the constraints of petdom, they live the doggiest of dog lives:
they sleep when they want, mingle with friends they choose, pee when the urge hits, and eat
when hungry – as long as food can be found. Wandering the streets of Chennai in southern India,
we saw them dozing alone or in company on pavements, seeking shelter from the heat under a
van, watching children playing on the beach, or being cared for by local residents. Part of Indian
street life, these free-living dogs stand in stark contrast to the culture of pet ownership found in
the West. Not only do they defy the image of the out-of-control and marauding canine stalking the
sensationalist articles of 19th-century newspapers in Western Europe and North America, they ask
us to question our sanitised cities and stewardship of a world with nature at so much risk.
India’s robust street dogs also challenge the supposed superiority of pedigree that dominates dog
breeding today. One of us recently adopted a street dog from Romania. Bell Kanmani was brought
to the United Kingdom by one of the many charities picking up street dogs there and finding them
new homes abroad. While walking her in the UK, Bell Kanmani’s human is regularly confronted
with the question ‘What breed is your dog?’ The response that she is just a ‘dog’ only serves to
prompt further speculation about what mix of breeds she might be: everything from a collie to a
Jack Russell. Having grown up in India, Kanmani’s human finds strange, and rather disturbing, this
idea of dogs as necessarily belonging to a particular breed or mixture of breeds. She is familiar
with dogs who have lineages free of any human breeding, not necessarily belonging to humans or
doing what humans command them to. These unowned and breed-free dogs are now often
known as street or village dogs, or – our preferred term – free-living dogs.
Too often in the West, dogs are seen through the prism of pedigree, and connected to their owner
via collars and leashes. All too often, the realities of how dogs and humans live together in the
Global South are overlooked. As a country with a significant street-dog population, India is a good
place from which to explore how humans and canines share street life in cooperative ways that
move beyond images of free-living dogs as dangerous.
Exposing the reality is crucial, given the rising media calls for culling Indian street dogs, exposing
them to rhetorical and actual violence. The condemnation of street dogs as risky and unwelcome
is rooted in colonial attitudes, and overlooks complex and varied everyday interactions, often
positive, between dogs and humans. Discussing their lived experience will help the dogs
themselves, and also help us reflect on how humankind can share the planet with all the other
creatures who live on it.
Identify the abstract noun that carries argumentative weight in the sentence:
“The condemnation of street dogs as risky and unwelcome is rooted in colonial attitudes.”
dogs
condemnation
street
interactions
Published solution
Condemnation names the abstract act of judging something negatively. It carries the argumentative claim that negative judgements of street dogs have colonial roots. Dogs and street name concrete things; interactions is not in the quoted sentence.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Dogs names animals rather than the abstract judgement.
B: **Correct:** Condemnation names the abstract judgement being explained.
C: **Incorrect:** Street names a place and modifies dogs here.
D: **Incorrect:** Although interactions can be abstract, it is absent from this sentence.
Question 35 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Below are parts of an essay, “The Free Dogs of India” from Aeon, which argues for rethinking**
**dominant attitudes towards free-living dogs. Read the paragraphs and answer the given**
**subquestions .**
Unbound by human owners and the constraints of petdom, they live the doggiest of dog lives:
they sleep when they want, mingle with friends they choose, pee when the urge hits, and eat
when hungry – as long as food can be found. Wandering the streets of Chennai in southern India,
we saw them dozing alone or in company on pavements, seeking shelter from the heat under a
van, watching children playing on the beach, or being cared for by local residents. Part of Indian
street life, these free-living dogs stand in stark contrast to the culture of pet ownership found in
the West. Not only do they defy the image of the out-of-control and marauding canine stalking the
sensationalist articles of 19th-century newspapers in Western Europe and North America, they ask
us to question our sanitised cities and stewardship of a world with nature at so much risk.
India’s robust street dogs also challenge the supposed superiority of pedigree that dominates dog
breeding today. One of us recently adopted a street dog from Romania. Bell Kanmani was brought
to the United Kingdom by one of the many charities picking up street dogs there and finding them
new homes abroad. While walking her in the UK, Bell Kanmani’s human is regularly confronted
with the question ‘What breed is your dog?’ The response that she is just a ‘dog’ only serves to
prompt further speculation about what mix of breeds she might be: everything from a collie to a
Jack Russell. Having grown up in India, Kanmani’s human finds strange, and rather disturbing, this
idea of dogs as necessarily belonging to a particular breed or mixture of breeds. She is familiar
with dogs who have lineages free of any human breeding, not necessarily belonging to humans or
doing what humans command them to. These unowned and breed-free dogs are now often
known as street or village dogs, or – our preferred term – free-living dogs.
Too often in the West, dogs are seen through the prism of pedigree, and connected to their owner
via collars and leashes. All too often, the realities of how dogs and humans live together in the
Global South are overlooked. As a country with a significant street-dog population, India is a good
place from which to explore how humans and canines share street life in cooperative ways that
move beyond images of free-living dogs as dangerous.
Exposing the reality is crucial, given the rising media calls for culling Indian street dogs, exposing
them to rhetorical and actual violence. The condemnation of street dogs as risky and unwelcome
is rooted in colonial attitudes, and overlooks complex and varied everyday interactions, often
positive, between dogs and humans. Discussing their lived experience will help the dogs
themselves, and also help us reflect on how humankind can share the planet with all the other
creatures who live on it.
Which sentence most accurately conveys the author’s argument regarding colonial attitudes?
Dogs must be seen through the prism of pedigree, and connected to their
owner via collars and leashes.
Colonial attitudes thwart speculations about what mix of breeds a dog might
be.
From a historical perspective, colonial attitudes continue to shape how street
dogs are judged.
There are rising media calls for culling Indian street dogs
Published solution
The author connects present condemnation of street dogs with historical colonial attitudes. Thus the argument is that older cultural judgements continue to influence present views. The passage challenges, rather than endorses, the pedigree-and-ownership framework.
**Answer: C.**
A: **Incorrect:** Turns the criticised ownership framework into a prescription.
B: **Incorrect:** The passage does not say colonial attitudes prevent breed speculation.
C: **Correct:** Accurately expresses the continuing historical influence claimed.
D: **Incorrect:** Reports a current concern but omits the argument about its historical roots.
Question 36 MCQ · 2.0 marks
**Below are parts of an essay, “The Free Dogs of India” from Aeon, which argues for rethinking**
**dominant attitudes towards free-living dogs. Read the paragraphs and answer the given**
**subquestions .**
Unbound by human owners and the constraints of petdom, they live the doggiest of dog lives:
they sleep when they want, mingle with friends they choose, pee when the urge hits, and eat
when hungry – as long as food can be found. Wandering the streets of Chennai in southern India,
we saw them dozing alone or in company on pavements, seeking shelter from the heat under a
van, watching children playing on the beach, or being cared for by local residents. Part of Indian
street life, these free-living dogs stand in stark contrast to the culture of pet ownership found in
the West. Not only do they defy the image of the out-of-control and marauding canine stalking the
sensationalist articles of 19th-century newspapers in Western Europe and North America, they ask
us to question our sanitised cities and stewardship of a world with nature at so much risk.
India’s robust street dogs also challenge the supposed superiority of pedigree that dominates dog
breeding today. One of us recently adopted a street dog from Romania. Bell Kanmani was brought
to the United Kingdom by one of the many charities picking up street dogs there and finding them
new homes abroad. While walking her in the UK, Bell Kanmani’s human is regularly confronted
with the question ‘What breed is your dog?’ The response that she is just a ‘dog’ only serves to
prompt further speculation about what mix of breeds she might be: everything from a collie to a
Jack Russell. Having grown up in India, Kanmani’s human finds strange, and rather disturbing, this
idea of dogs as necessarily belonging to a particular breed or mixture of breeds. She is familiar
with dogs who have lineages free of any human breeding, not necessarily belonging to humans or
doing what humans command them to. These unowned and breed-free dogs are now often
known as street or village dogs, or – our preferred term – free-living dogs.
Too often in the West, dogs are seen through the prism of pedigree, and connected to their owner
via collars and leashes. All too often, the realities of how dogs and humans live together in the
Global South are overlooked. As a country with a significant street-dog population, India is a good
place from which to explore how humans and canines share street life in cooperative ways that
move beyond images of free-living dogs as dangerous.
Exposing the reality is crucial, given the rising media calls for culling Indian street dogs, exposing
them to rhetorical and actual violence. The condemnation of street dogs as risky and unwelcome
is rooted in colonial attitudes, and overlooks complex and varied everyday interactions, often
positive, between dogs and humans. Discussing their lived experience will help the dogs
themselves, and also help us reflect on how humankind can share the planet with all the other
creatures who live on it.
“Not only do they defy the image of the out-of-control and marauding canine stalking the
sensationalist articles of 19th-century newspapers in Western Europe and North America, they ask
us to question our sanitised cities and stewardship of a world with nature at so much risk.
”Why is the “not only … but also” structure important here?
i. It introduces a historical reference to strengthen the argument
ii. It links the example of dogs to a broader ecological and ethical concern
iii. It weakens the argument by making it too general
i and ii only
ii and iii only
i and iii only
i only
Published solution
**1. Identify the first part:** The sentence challenges a historically sensationalized image of free-living dogs, referring to nineteenth-century reporting.
**2. Identify the added argument:** It then asks readers to reconsider sanitized cities and stewardship of a threatened natural world. The structure connects the specific example to a broader ecological and ethical issue.
**3. Evaluate the claims:** Both i and ii explain this development. iii is not supported: broadening the concern is central to the authors' argument, not automatically a weakness.
**Answer: A.**
A: **Correct:** Both the historical contrast and broader ethical connection are present.
B: **Incorrect:** This includes the unsupported claim iii and omits the historical function.
C: **Incorrect:** This includes iii and leaves out the clearly stated broader concern.
D: **Incorrect:** This misses the sentence's explicit expansion to ecological responsibility.
Question 37 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Study the unpunctuated sentences in List 1. Their correctly punctuated forms are available in
either List 2 or List 3. Match the sentences to their correctly punctuated forms.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Match sentence [1] to its correctly punctuated form. Refer to the table of sentences for the options
in full.
You were worried that the chief guest would not be here in time for the inauguration weren’t you
Yes thankfully he showed up on time.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Published solution
A question tag is separated by a comma: '... inauguration, weren't you?' The reply begins a new speech turn. Form (b) supplies the missing tag comma that (iv) lacks.
**Answer: G.**
A: **Incorrect:** Akhil's request: correctly separates the name with a comma, ends the request with a question mark, and separates list items.
B: **Incorrect:** Aditi's report: omits the comma and quotation marks separating the reporting clause from the speech.
C: **Incorrect:** Dinner: lacks the possessive apostrophe in yesterday's and fails to separate bread and soup properly.
D: **Incorrect:** Chief-guest exchange: lacks the comma before the question tag weren't you.
E: **Incorrect:** Football: correctly separates said with a comma and encloses the direct speech in quotation marks.
F: **Incorrect:** Football: omits the reporting comma and appropriate terminal punctuation.
G: **Correct:** Chief-guest exchange: includes the question-tag comma and correctly punctuates the separate reply.
H: **Incorrect:** Aditi: correctly marks direct speech and sets off the non-defining whom-clause with commas.
I: **Incorrect:** Dinner: correctly uses yesterday's and separates bread, soup and tater tots.
J: **Incorrect:** Akhil: omits the comma after the name and fails to separate milk and vegetables.
Question 38 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Study the unpunctuated sentences in List 1. Their correctly punctuated forms are available in
either List 2 or List 3. Match the sentences to their correctly punctuated forms.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Match sentence [2] to its correctly punctuated form. Refer to the table of sentences for the options
in full.
Her husband is a very good cook For yesterdays dinner he made bread soup and tater tots.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Published solution
Use the possessive yesterday's and separate the three dinner items: bread, soup, and tater tots. Form (d) does this; (iii) omits the apostrophe and treats bread soup as one item.
**Answer: I.**
A: **Incorrect:** Akhil's request: correctly separates the name with a comma, ends the request with a question mark, and separates list items.
B: **Incorrect:** Aditi's report: omits the comma and quotation marks separating the reporting clause from the speech.
C: **Incorrect:** Dinner: lacks the possessive apostrophe in yesterday's and fails to separate bread and soup properly.
D: **Incorrect:** Chief-guest exchange: lacks the comma before the question tag weren't you.
E: **Incorrect:** Football: correctly separates said with a comma and encloses the direct speech in quotation marks.
F: **Incorrect:** Football: omits the reporting comma and appropriate terminal punctuation.
G: **Incorrect:** Chief-guest exchange: includes the question-tag comma and correctly punctuates the separate reply.
H: **Incorrect:** Aditi: correctly marks direct speech and sets off the non-defining whom-clause with commas.
I: **Correct:** Dinner: correctly uses yesterday's and separates bread, soup and tater tots.
J: **Incorrect:** Akhil: omits the comma after the name and fails to separate milk and vegetables.
Question 39 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Study the unpunctuated sentences in List 1. Their correctly punctuated forms are available in
either List 2 or List 3. Match the sentences to their correctly punctuated forms.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Match sentence [3] to its correctly punctuated form. Refer to the table of sentences for the options
in full.
He said I am going to a football game today
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Published solution
Direct speech follows a reporting comma: He said, 'I am going to a football game today.' Form (v) correctly provides the quotation marks and sentence punctuation.
**Answer: E.**
A: **Incorrect:** Akhil's request: correctly separates the name with a comma, ends the request with a question mark, and separates list items.
B: **Incorrect:** Aditi's report: omits the comma and quotation marks separating the reporting clause from the speech.
C: **Incorrect:** Dinner: lacks the possessive apostrophe in yesterday's and fails to separate bread and soup properly.
D: **Incorrect:** Chief-guest exchange: lacks the comma before the question tag weren't you.
E: **Correct:** Football: correctly separates said with a comma and encloses the direct speech in quotation marks.
F: **Incorrect:** Football: omits the reporting comma and appropriate terminal punctuation.
G: **Incorrect:** Chief-guest exchange: includes the question-tag comma and correctly punctuates the separate reply.
H: **Incorrect:** Aditi: correctly marks direct speech and sets off the non-defining whom-clause with commas.
I: **Incorrect:** Dinner: correctly uses yesterday's and separates bread, soup and tater tots.
J: **Incorrect:** Akhil: omits the comma after the name and fails to separate milk and vegetables.
Question 40 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Study the unpunctuated sentences in List 1. Their correctly punctuated forms are available in
either List 2 or List 3. Match the sentences to their correctly punctuated forms.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Match sentence [4] to its correctly punctuated form. Refer to the table of sentences for the options
in full.
Akhil can you please buy some eggs on your way home I already got the milk the vegetables and
the bananas
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Published solution
Akhil is direct address, so put a comma after his name. The request ends with a question mark, and the following statement lists milk, vegetables and bananas with commas. Form (i) supplies those marks.
**Answer: A.**
A: **Correct:** Akhil's request: correctly separates the name with a comma, ends the request with a question mark, and separates list items.
B: **Incorrect:** Aditi's report: omits the comma and quotation marks separating the reporting clause from the speech.
C: **Incorrect:** Dinner: lacks the possessive apostrophe in yesterday's and fails to separate bread and soup properly.
D: **Incorrect:** Chief-guest exchange: lacks the comma before the question tag weren't you.
E: **Incorrect:** Football: correctly separates said with a comma and encloses the direct speech in quotation marks.
F: **Incorrect:** Football: omits the reporting comma and appropriate terminal punctuation.
G: **Incorrect:** Chief-guest exchange: includes the question-tag comma and correctly punctuates the separate reply.
H: **Incorrect:** Aditi: correctly marks direct speech and sets off the non-defining whom-clause with commas.
I: **Incorrect:** Dinner: correctly uses yesterday's and separates bread, soup and tater tots.
J: **Incorrect:** Akhil: omits the comma after the name and fails to separate milk and vegetables.
Question 41 MCQ · 2.0 marks
Study the unpunctuated sentences in List 1. Their correctly punctuated forms are available in
either List 2 or List 3. Match the sentences to their correctly punctuated forms.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Match sentence [5] to its correctly punctuated form. Refer to the table of sentences for the options
in full.
Aditi whispered Sharma Uncle whom we just saw downstairs has a daughter who is a lawyer in the
US.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Published solution
Separate whispered from the quotation with a comma. The inserted non-defining clause 'whom we just saw downstairs' needs commas on both sides. Form (c) correctly punctuates both direct speech and that clause.
**Answer: H.**
A: **Incorrect:** Akhil's request: correctly separates the name with a comma, ends the request with a question mark, and separates list items.
B: **Incorrect:** Aditi's report: omits the comma and quotation marks separating the reporting clause from the speech.
C: **Incorrect:** Dinner: lacks the possessive apostrophe in yesterday's and fails to separate bread and soup properly.
D: **Incorrect:** Chief-guest exchange: lacks the comma before the question tag weren't you.
E: **Incorrect:** Football: correctly separates said with a comma and encloses the direct speech in quotation marks.
F: **Incorrect:** Football: omits the reporting comma and appropriate terminal punctuation.
G: **Incorrect:** Chief-guest exchange: includes the question-tag comma and correctly punctuates the separate reply.
H: **Correct:** Aditi: correctly marks direct speech and sets off the non-defining whom-clause with commas.
I: **Incorrect:** Dinner: correctly uses yesterday's and separates bread, soup and tater tots.
J: **Incorrect:** Akhil: omits the comma after the name and fails to separate milk and vegetables.
Question 42 MCQ · 1.0 marks
‘The displayed ornaments glittered in the dazzling lights.’ The verb in this sentence is:
Displayed
Glittered
Dazzling
All of these
Published solution
Glittered is the finite main verb: it tells what the ornaments did. Displayed is a participial modifier of ornaments, and dazzling modifies lights. Verb-derived forms can function adjectivally rather than as the sentence's main verb.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Displayed modifies ornaments.
B: **Correct:** Glittered supplies the finite predicate.
C: **Incorrect:** Dazzling modifies lights.
D: **Incorrect:** Only glittered is the finite main verb here.
Question 43 MCQ · 1.0 marks
Choose the correct reported speech
‘Whom did you see?’ Prema asked
Prema asked me whom I saw
Prema asked me whom I had seen
Prema told me whom I have seen
Prema told me whom I had seen
Published solution
In conventional reported speech after past asked, the direct question 'Whom did you see?' becomes 'whom I had seen'. Use statement word order, remove do-support, and backshift simple past to past perfect. Asked also preserves the interrogative meaning. Backshift can be optional in some contexts, but B is the standard transformation tested.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Lacks the conventional backshift expected in this exercise, though non-backshift can occur contextually.
B: **Correct:** Preserves asked, statement order and the expected past-perfect backshift.
C: **Incorrect:** Told misrepresents the question and have seen lacks the expected backshift.
D: **Incorrect:** Told presents information rather than the reported request for information.
Question 44 MCQ · 1.0 marks
Reduction of a word to one of its parts is called _____.
Blending
Clipping
Borrowing
Published solution
Clipping shortens one word by retaining part of it, usually without changing its basic meaning: gym from gymnasium, for example. Blending combines parts of different words, while borrowing adopts a word from another language.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Blending combines material from two or more words.
B: **Correct:** Clipping reduces one word to a shorter form.
C: **Incorrect:** Borrowing takes a word from another language.
Question 45 MCQ · 1.0 marks
Which of the following is an example of middle clipping?
Gym
Flu
Phone
Gram
Published solution
Flu comes from influenza by retaining a middle portion and removing material from both ends. This is called middle clipping in the course terminology. Gym keeps the beginning; phone keeps an ending of telephone.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Gym keeps the initial part of gymnasium: back clipping.
B: **Correct:** Flu retains a middle segment of influenza.
C: **Incorrect:** Phone retains the final part of telephone: fore clipping.
D: **Incorrect:** Gram is not the standard middle-clipping example intended here; as a shortened form such as telegram it retains an ending.
Question 46 MCQ · 1.0 marks
Bungalow, loot, and pyjamas are English words from:
Latin
French
Indian languages
Spanish
Published solution
These are loanwords connected with South Asian languages: bungalow comes through Hindi/Bengali usage, loot through Hindi, and pyjamas through South Asian usage from a Persian-origin expression. Their borrowing histories illustrate language contact rather than native English word formation.
**Answer: C.**
A: **Incorrect:** Latin is not the shared source category of these examples.
B: **Incorrect:** French is not the shared source category.
C: **Correct:** Indian languages supplied these words to English, with some having earlier origins elsewhere.
D: **Incorrect:** Spanish is not their source category.
Question 47 MCQ · 1.0 marks
He can speak many languages, ______?
Can he
Can’t he?
Does he
Doesn’t he
Published solution
A standard confirmation tag reverses the polarity of the main clause and repeats its auxiliary. 'He can speak' is affirmative with can, so the tag is negative: 'can't he?'.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Repeats positive polarity rather than forming the standard opposite-polarity tag.
B: **Correct:** Uses negative can and the matching pronoun he.
C: **Incorrect:** Does replaces the existing modal can and keeps positive polarity.
D: **Incorrect:** Doesn't uses the wrong auxiliary; retain can.
Question 48 MCQ · 1.0 marks
They will get the slots if they pay for them upfront. This is a ___ sentence.
Zero conditional
First conditional
Second conditional
Mixed conditional
Published solution
The sentence presents a realistic future condition: if + present simple ('if they pay'), followed by will + base verb ('will get'). This is the standard first conditional pattern.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Zero conditional usually expresses general truths with present forms in both clauses.
B: **Correct:** If + present, will + verb is first conditional.
C: **Incorrect:** Second conditional normally uses if + past and would + verb.
D: **Incorrect:** There is no mixed past-condition/present-result pattern here.
Question 49 MCQ · 1.0 marks
Positive: They have visited that museum before.
Negative: They _____ visited that museum before.
doesn't
not
didn't
haven't
Published solution
The positive sentence is present perfect: have + visited. Negate its auxiliary with not: 'They have not visited', contracted to 'They haven't visited'. Preserve the tense and the past participle.
**Answer: D.**
A: **Incorrect:** Doesn't would require base visit and a singular subject.
B: **Incorrect:** Not alone cannot replace the finite auxiliary have.
C: **Incorrect:** Didn't would require base visit and change to simple past.
D: **Correct:** Haven't preserves present perfect and agrees with they.
Question 50 MCQ · 1.0 marks
Find the option that shows the correct passive voice form of the sentence below.
They are organizing the annual fundraiser.
The annual fundraiser has been organized by them.
Organizing the annual fundraiser is done by them.
They organized the annual fundraiser.
The annual fundraiser is being organized by them.
Published solution
The active is present continuous: are organising. Move its object to subject position and use present continuous passive, is + being + past participle. The singular fundraiser takes is: 'The annual fundraiser is being organized by them'.
**Answer: D.**
A: **Incorrect:** Has been organized is present perfect passive, changing the aspect.
B: **Incorrect:** Changes the construction and does not preserve the original ongoing passive meaning directly.
C: **Incorrect:** Is active simple past, not passive present continuous.
D: **Correct:** Preserves the tense and continuous aspect in passive voice.
Question 51 MCQ · 1.0 marks
____ books are available in the library.
many
much
so much
Both many and much
Published solution
Books is a plural countable noun. Use many with countable plurals and much with uncountable nouns: many books, much information.
**Answer: A.**
A: **Correct:** Many correctly modifies plural countable books.
B: **Incorrect:** Much normally modifies uncountable nouns.
C: **Incorrect:** So much also requires an uncountable noun here.
D: **Incorrect:** Much is unsuitable, so both is not correct.
Question 52 MCQ · 1.0 marks
Identify the tense and aspect from the following sentence.
I have been living here since 2010.
present continuous
present perfect
present perfect continuous
simple present
Published solution
Have been living has the structure have + been + verb-ing, which is present perfect continuous. Since 2010 gives the starting point of an activity continuing up to the present.
**Answer: C.**
A: **Incorrect:** Present continuous would be am living.
B: **Incorrect:** The full construction also includes continuous aspect through been living.
C: **Correct:** Matches have been + verb-ing.
D: **Incorrect:** Simple present would be live.
Question 53 MCQ · 1.0 marks
(i) Traditionally, farmers have used a variety of methods to protect their crops from pests and
diseases. With the use of chemicals, crop losses and prices have declined (ii) dramatically.”
Of the two words in italics
Both (i) and (ii) are viewpoint adverbs
(i) is a viewpoint adverb, but (ii) is not.
(i) is a comment adverb, but (ii) is a viewpoint adverb
None of these
Published solution
Traditionally frames the claim from the perspective of established practice, so the course classifies it as a viewpoint adverb. Dramatically modifies the extent of the decline; it does not supply a viewpoint for the whole statement.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Dramatically describes degree, not viewpoint.
B: **Correct:** Matches the course classification of traditionally and the degree function of dramatically.
C: **Incorrect:** Reverses the functions and misclassifies dramatically.
D: **Incorrect:** B provides the intended distinction.
Question 54 MCQ · 1.0 marks
“The cafe was like a battleship stripped for action.” The figure of speech used here is
simile
metaphor
synecdoche
paradox
Published solution
The sentence compares the cafe to a battleship using the explicit comparison word like. A comparison with like or as is a simile; a metaphor would identify one as the other more directly.
**Answer: A.**
A: **Correct:** Like explicitly marks a simile.
B: **Incorrect:** The explicit like makes simile the more precise label.
C: **Incorrect:** No part is substituted for the whole.
D: **Incorrect:** No apparent logical contradiction is asserted.
Question 55 MCQ · 1.0 marks
Identify the adjunct in the following sentence.
I’ll come after I have had my breakfast.
I’ll come
After I have had my breakfast
I have had
No adjunct
Published solution
'I'll come' is the main clause. 'After I have had my breakfast' adds the time of coming and can be removed while leaving a complete main clause. It is therefore an adjunct, specifically a temporal subordinate clause.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** This is the main clause, not its optional time modifier.
B: **Correct:** The entire after-clause supplies the temporal adjunct.
C: **Incorrect:** This fragment omits part of the subordinate predicate and its temporal marker.
D: **Incorrect:** The after-clause is an adjunct.
Question 56 MCQ · 1.0 marks
While the police were searching the neighborhood, he was inside the house, which was close to the
shopping center. Here the subordinate clause is
while the police were searching the neighborhood
he was inside the house
which was close to the shopping center
both while the police were searching the neighborhood and which was close to the
shopping center
Published solution
**1. Identify the main clause:** 'He was inside the house' can stand as the central independent statement.
**2. Identify the dependent clauses:** 'While the police were searching the neighborhood' is an adverbial subordinate clause of time. 'Which was close to the shopping center' is a relative clause describing the house.
**3. Count both:** Both dependent clauses are subordinate, although they perform different functions. A sentence may contain more than one subordinate clause.
**Answer: D.**
A: **Incorrect:** This is subordinate, but it is not the only subordinate clause.
B: **Incorrect:** This is the main independent clause.
C: **Incorrect:** This is subordinate, but the while-clause is subordinate too.
D: **Correct:** Both listed dependent clauses satisfy the question.
Question 57 MCQ · 1.0 marks
Choose the correct modal verb to fill in the blank. See the hint or context provided and choose
only the most appropriate option to fill the blank.
All books and personal belongings _____ be shown to the staff at the library exits whenever
required to do so.
Hint: Non-personal obligation in the form of a rule
May
Might
Can
Must
Published solution
The sentence states a library rule. Must expresses the obligation that books and belongings be shown to staff when required. May and can express permission or possibility, and might expresses weaker possibility rather than a binding requirement.
**Answer: D.**
A: **Incorrect:** May would allow the action rather than require it.
B: **Incorrect:** Might expresses possibility.
C: **Incorrect:** Can expresses ability or permission.
D: **Correct:** Must communicates the required rule.
Question 58 MCQ · 1.0 marks
The team members were tested positive. ___, the match was called off.
due
as a result
because
Published solution
The first sentence gives the cause and the second gives its consequence. 'As a result' can stand as a sentence-initial connective followed by a comma: 'As a result, the match was called off'.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Due normally needs a construction such as due to + noun phrase.
B: **Correct:** Clearly introduces the consequence in a separate sentence.
C: **Incorrect:** Because introduces a reason clause and cannot fit alone before this comma and complete main clause.
Question 59 MCQ · 1.0 marks
“They want to see what all the fuss is about.” In this sentence, the clause ‘what all the fuss is about’ is
the object of the verb ______________.
Is
See
Want
Not an object
Published solution
**1. Identify the nested structure:** 'Want' is followed by the infinitive phrase 'to see what all the fuss is about'. Inside that phrase, see takes a further complement.
**2. Ask what is to be seen:** The answer is the whole clause 'what all the fuss is about'. In the traditional terminology used in the question, that clause is the object of see, not of the embedded is.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Is belongs inside the embedded clause and does not take that whole clause as its object.
B: **Correct:** See is directly completed by the what-clause.
C: **Incorrect:** Want takes the larger to-see infinitival complement, not this clause directly.
D: **Incorrect:** The clause does function as the complement/object of see in this analysis.
Question 60 MCQ · 1.0 marks
I am worried about ______the presentation was well received.
Whether
If
Both whether and if
Published solution
Whether can introduce an embedded yes/no question after a preposition: 'worried about whether ...'. Standard usage does not normally place if directly after about. The question expresses uncertainty about how the presentation was received.
**Answer: A.**
A: **Correct:** Whether correctly follows the preposition about.
B: **Incorrect:** If is not normally accepted directly after a preposition in this construction.
C: **Incorrect:** Only whether fits this prepositional position.
Question 61 MCQ · 1.0 marks
Which of the following sentences are grammatically sound?
It was a rather a painful choice.
It was a rather pain choice.
It was a rather painful choice.
It was a painful rather choice.
Published solution
Rather can modify the adjective painful inside the noun phrase 'a rather painful choice'. Use just one article a. Painful is the adjective describing choice; pain is a noun and cannot replace it in this structure.
**Answer: C.**
A: **Incorrect:** Duplicates the article a.
B: **Incorrect:** Uses pain instead of the adjective painful.
C: **Correct:** Correctly places rather before painful with a single article.
D: **Incorrect:** Places rather after the adjective in an unsuitable position.