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45 solved questions · 15 easy · 20 medium · 10 hard

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Shortcuts & formulas

  • Preposition pairs: good at, prefer X to Y, senior/junior to, accused of, married to, owing to, dispense with.
  • Neither...nor / either...or / not only...but also: the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
  • Hardly/scarcely ... when; No sooner ... than. Both need the past perfect in the first clause.
  • Each, every, either, neither and uncountable nouns (advice, news, furniture) take singular verbs.
  • Conditionals: If + present, will; If + past, would; If + past perfect, would have + past participle.
  • Read the whole sentence for clues: contrast words (although, despite) and tone decide the meaning of the blank.
  • Eliminate options that are grammatically wrong first, then pick the best by meaning.

Solved examples

Try each one first, then open the answer and the step-by-step solution.

Easy questions

Q1.

She is good ____ mathematics.

  1. Aat
  2. Bin
  3. Con
  4. Dwith
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. at

Solution

The adjective 'good' takes the preposition 'at' for a skill or subject. Answer: at

Q2.

Neither Ravi nor his brothers ____ present at the function.

  1. Awas
  2. Bwere
  3. Cis
  4. Dhas been
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. were

Solution

With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject, 'brothers' (plural). Answer: were

Q3.

The train had already left ____ we reached the station.

  1. Aafter
  2. Buntil
  3. Cbefore
  4. Dsince
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. before

Solution

The past perfect 'had left' shows the earlier action, so 'before we reached' fits. Answer: before

Q4.

He prefers tea ____ coffee.

  1. Athan
  2. Bfrom
  3. Cover than
  4. Dto
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. to

Solution

'Prefer' is followed by 'to', never 'than'. Answer: to

Q5.

I have been living in Pune ____ 2015.

  1. Asince
  2. Bfor
  3. Cfrom
  4. Din
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. since

Solution

'Since' is used with a point in time (2015) in the perfect continuous. Answer: since

Q6.

Each of the students ____ given a certificate.

  1. Awere
  2. Bwas
  3. Care
  4. Dhave been
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. was

Solution

'Each' is singular, so it takes the singular verb 'was'. Answer: was

Q7.

The teacher asked the children to sit ____.

  1. Aquietest
  2. Bquietness
  3. Cquietly
  4. Dquieter
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. quietly

Solution

An adverb is needed to modify the verb 'sit'. Answer: quietly

Q8.

Please give me ____ advice on this matter.

  1. Aan
  2. Bmany
  3. Ca few
  4. Dsome
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. some

Solution

'Advice' is uncountable, so 'some' is correct; 'an' and 'a few' need countable nouns. Answer: some

Q9.

My sister is senior ____ me by two years.

  1. Ato
  2. Bthan
  3. Cfrom
  4. Dover
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. to

Solution

'Senior', 'junior', 'superior' and 'inferior' are followed by 'to'. Answer: to

Q10.

He was accused ____ stealing the wallet.

  1. Afor
  2. Bof
  3. Cwith
  4. Dabout
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. of

Solution

'Accuse' takes 'of'. Answer: of

Q11.

The sun ____ in the east.

  1. Arise
  2. Brose
  3. Crises
  4. Dis rising
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. rises

Solution

A universal truth uses the simple present; 'sun' is singular. Answer: rises

Q12.

We have not met ____ last Diwali.

  1. Afor
  2. Bfrom
  3. Ctill
  4. Dsince
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. since

Solution

'Since' marks the starting point of time with the present perfect. Answer: since

Q13.

A ____ of sheep was grazing on the hill.

  1. Aflock
  2. Bherd
  3. Cpack
  4. Dswarm
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. flock

Solution

A group of sheep is a flock; herd is for cattle, pack for wolves, swarm for bees. Answer: flock

Q14.

He is the ____ boy in the class.

  1. Ataller
  2. Btallest
  3. Cmore tall
  4. Dmost tallest
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. tallest

Solution

The definite article and 'in the class' indicate the superlative 'tallest'. Answer: tallest

Q15.

If it rains tomorrow, we ____ the picnic.

  1. Awould cancel
  2. Bcancelled
  3. Cwill cancel
  4. Dhave cancelled
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. will cancel

Solution

First conditional: if + simple present, will + base verb. Answer: will cancel

Medium questions

Q16.

The furniture in our new flat ____ very expensive.

  1. Aare
  2. Bwere
  3. Chave been
  4. Dis
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. is

Solution

'Furniture' is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb. Answer: is

Q17.

Hardly had he entered the room ____ the lights went out.

  1. Awhen
  2. Bthan
  3. Cthen
  4. Dwhile
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. when

Solution

'Hardly' is followed by 'when'; 'no sooner' is followed by 'than'. Answer: when

Q18.

No sooner did the bell ring ____ the students rushed out.

  1. Awhen
  2. Bthan
  3. Cthen
  4. Dthat
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. than

Solution

'No sooner' is paired with 'than'. Answer: than

Q19.

The manager insisted that every employee ____ the report by Friday.

  1. Asubmits
  2. Bsubmitted
  3. Csubmit
  4. Dwill submit
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. submit

Solution

After 'insist' (demand sense), the subjunctive uses the base form of the verb. Answer: submit

Q20.

She is not only intelligent ____ hardworking.

  1. Aand also
  2. Bthan
  3. Cas well
  4. Dbut also
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. but also

Solution

The correlative pair is 'not only ... but also'. Answer: but also

Q21.

The news of his success ____ everyone happy.

  1. Amade
  2. Bmake
  3. Cwere making
  4. Dhave made
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. made

Solution

'News' is singular and the event is past, so 'made'. Answer: made

Q22.

I would rather ____ at home than go to the party.

  1. Ato stay
  2. Bstay
  3. Cstayed
  4. Dstaying
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. stay

Solution

'Would rather' is followed by the bare infinitive. Answer: stay

Q23.

The company has decided to dispense ____ the services of the consultant.

  1. Aof
  2. Bfrom
  3. Cwith
  4. Doff
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. with

Solution

'Dispense with' means to do without. Answer: with

Q24.

Had I known about the traffic, I ____ earlier.

  1. Awill leave
  2. Bwould leave
  3. Chad left
  4. Dwould have left
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. would have left

Solution

Third conditional (inverted): Had + past participle, would have + past participle. Answer: would have left

Q25.

Mathematics ____ my favourite subject since childhood.

  1. Ahas been
  2. Bhave been
  3. Cwere
  4. Dis being
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. has been

Solution

'Mathematics' is singular; 'since childhood' needs the present perfect. Answer: has been

Q26.

The accused was ____ of all charges by the court.

  1. Aconvicted
  2. Bacquitted
  3. Caccused
  4. Dexempted
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. acquitted

Solution

To be cleared of charges is 'acquitted'; 'convicted' means found guilty. Answer: acquitted

Q27.

The politician's speech was full of ____ promises that nobody believed.

  1. Asolid
  2. Bmodest
  3. Chollow
  4. Dfragile
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. hollow

Solution

'Hollow promises' means empty promises, which fits 'nobody believed'. Answer: hollow

Q28.

Despite the heavy rain, the match ____ as scheduled.

  1. Awent away
  2. Bwent off with
  3. Cwent up
  4. Dwent ahead
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. went ahead

Solution

'Went ahead' means took place as planned. Answer: went ahead

Q29.

She has a great ____ for classical music.

  1. Afondness
  2. Bfond
  3. Cfondly
  4. Dfonder
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. fondness

Solution

A noun is needed after 'a great'; 'fondness for' is the correct collocation. Answer: fondness

Q30.

Unless you ____ hard, you will not pass the exam.

  1. Awill work
  2. Bwork
  3. Cworked
  4. Ddo not work
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. work

Solution

'Unless' already carries a negative, so the verb stays positive in simple present. Answer: work

Q31.

The students were asked to ____ their answer sheets before leaving.

  1. Ahand out
  2. Bhand down
  3. Chand in
  4. Dhand off
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. hand in

Solution

'Hand in' means to submit. Answer: hand in

Q32.

By the time the police arrived, the thief ____.

  1. Ahas escaped
  2. Bescaped
  3. Cwas escaping
  4. Dhad escaped
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. had escaped

Solution

Past perfect shows the action completed before another past action. Answer: had escaped

Q33.

The two sisters look so much alike that it is difficult to ____ one from the other.

  1. Adistinguish
  2. Bextinguish
  3. Cdismiss
  4. Ddescribe
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. distinguish

Solution

'Distinguish one from the other' means to tell apart. Answer: distinguish

Q34.

The scheme was withdrawn owing ____ lack of public response.

  1. Afor
  2. Bto
  3. Cwith
  4. Dby
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. to

Solution

'Owing to' is the correct prepositional phrase. Answer: to

Q35.

Either you or I ____ to attend the meeting.

  1. Ahas
  2. Bis
  3. Chave
  4. Dare
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. have

Solution

With 'either...or', the verb agrees with the nearer subject 'I', which takes 'have'. Answer: have

Hard questions

Q36.

The CEO's decision to cut the budget was met with ____ from the staff, who had expected a raise.

  1. Aresilience
  2. Breverence
  3. Crelevance
  4. Dresentment
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. resentment

Solution

Staff expecting a raise and getting cuts would feel resentment. The other words do not fit the context. Answer: resentment

Q37.

Although the evidence against him was ____, the judge refused to grant bail.

  1. Acircumstantial
  2. Bconclusive
  3. Credundant
  4. Dunanimous
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. circumstantial

Solution

'Although' signals contrast: weak (circumstantial) evidence, yet bail refused. Conclusive would not contrast. Answer: circumstantial

Q38.

His ____ remarks during the meeting offended several colleagues, though he claimed he meant no harm.

  1. Atactful
  2. Btactless
  3. Ctrivial
  4. Dtimely
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. tactless

Solution

Remarks that offend without intent are tactless. Answer: tactless

Q39.

The scientist's theory, once ridiculed, has now been ____ by years of experimental data.

  1. Arefuted
  2. Bvitiated
  3. Cvindicated
  4. Dalleviated
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. vindicated

Solution

'Once ridiculed' and 'now' suggest it was proven right: vindicated. Answer: vindicated

Q40.

Far from being ____ by the criticism, she worked even harder to prove her critics wrong.

  1. Aflaunted
  2. Btaunted
  3. Chaunted
  4. Ddaunted
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. daunted

Solution

'Daunted' means discouraged; 'far from being daunted' fits the contrast. Answer: daunted

Q41.

The minister gave a ____ reply, avoiding a direct answer to the reporter's question.

  1. Aevasive
  2. Bexplicit
  3. Ccandid
  4. Dabrupt
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. evasive

Solution

Avoiding a direct answer is evasive. Answer: evasive

Q42.

Not only ____ the exam, but he also secured the first rank.

  1. Ahe passed
  2. Bdid he pass
  3. Che did pass
  4. Dpassed he
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. did he pass

Solution

After 'Not only' at the start, subject-auxiliary inversion is required: 'did he pass'. Answer: did he pass

Q43.

The old scholar was known for his ____; he lived on very little and gave away most of his income.

  1. Aextravagance
  2. Beloquence
  3. Cfrugality
  4. Daudacity
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. frugality

Solution

Living on little and giving away income points to frugality. Answer: frugality

Q44.

The new law is likely to ____ the problem rather than solve it, as it ignores the root cause.

  1. Aexonerate
  2. Bextenuate
  3. Cexemplify
  4. Dexacerbate
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. exacerbate

Solution

'Rather than solve' suggests worsening: exacerbate. Answer: exacerbate

Q45.

He is married ____ a doctor from Jaipur.

  1. Ato
  2. Bwith
  3. Cby
  4. Dfrom
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. to

Solution

'Married' takes 'to'. Answer: to

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