English Questions

Read the following passage carefully and choose the most appropriate answer to the question out of the four alternatives.

The man who is perpetually hesitating which of the two things he will do first, will do neither. The man who resolves, but suffers his resolution to be changed by the first counter-suggestion of a friend, - who fluctuates from opinion to opinion, from plan to plan, and veers like a weather-cock to every point of the compass, with every breath of caprice that blows-can never accomplish anything great or useful. Instead of being progressive in any thing, he will be at best stationary, and more probably retrograde in all. It is only the man who first consults wisely, then resolves firmly, and then executes his purpose with flexible perseverance, undismayed by those petty difficulties which daunt a weaker spirit that can advance to eminence in any line. Take your course wisely, but firmly; and having taken it, hold upon it with heroic resolution, and the Alps and Pyrenees will sink before you.

What is the meaning of "retrograde" in the passage?

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Level playing field

In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.

The written word is necessarily confined _________ the things of the understanding because only the understanding has written language; whereas art deals ___________ ideas of a different mental texture, which words can only vaguely ____________. However, there are a large number of people who, _____________ they cannot be said to have experienced in a full sense any works of art, have undoubtedly the impelling desire which a little direction may lead on to a fuller ____________. And it is to such that books on art are useful.

whereas art deals ___________ ideas of a different

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the bracketed part of the sentence. In case noimprovement is needed, select "no improvement".

Opening the door to her each morning is like (lets) a breath of fresh air into my world.

In the given question, an idiom/phrase highlighted in bold is given in a sentence. Choose the most suitable meaning of the idiom/phrase.

I heard it on the grapevine that the vacancies are going to be increased this year for many posts.

In the following question the 1st and the last part of the sentence/passage are numbered 1 and 6. The rest of the sentence/ passage is split into four parts and named P, Q, R and S. These four parts are not given in their proper order. Read the sentence/passage and find out which of the four combinations is correct.

1. In the early 1920's, settlers came to Alaska looking for gold.

P. Today, people use it to get from place to place.

Q. The trail they used to travel inland is known today as the Iditarod trail.

R. They travelled by boat, to Seward and Krik and from there by land into the gold fields.

S. The Iditarod trail quickly became a major thoroughfare in Alaska.

6. In the winters, the only means of travel down this trail is by dog sledge.

In the following passage some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.

The quest for a _____ life engrosses every human being on this earth. Everyman tends to define a happy life in a _____ individualistic fashion. _____have attempted to define a happy life in various terms. Hedonists have a _____ notion that happiness lies in the _____ of physical appetites.

The quest for a _____ life engrosses every human being

In the following question, the sentence given with blank to be filled in with an appropriate word. Select the correct alternative out of the four and indicate it by selecting the appropriate option.

The lawyer tried to ______________ his client to accept the generous settlement offer.