English Quiz

Directions (1-5) : Which of the phrases at places (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below each sentence should replace the phrases printed in bold in the following sentences to make the sentence grammatically correct. If the sentence is correct as it is and ‘No correction is required’, mark (5) as the answer.

Q.1. People in underdeveloped countries are distressing because of the antagonistic attitude of developed countries.
1) have been distressing
2) are distressed because of
3) are distressing by
4) were distressing by
5) No correction required

Q.2. He had been behaved impolitely and suffered owing to that.
1) was behaved
2) had behaved
3) have been behaved
4) would have behaved
5) No correction required

Q.3. It has become a commonly practice to talk about women liberation.
1) commonly practised talk about
2) common practice to talk about
3) common practice of talking with
4) commonly practising to talk about
5) No correction required

Q.4. He is so brisk himself that he cannot tolerate any efficiency.
1) tolerate hardly any inefficiency
2) hardly tolerates lethargy
3) tolerate any haste
4) tolerate any delay
5) No correction required

Q.5. No person with a reasonably self-esteem would ever like to succumb to any pressure.
1) reasonable self-esteem
2) reasonable self-esteemed
3) reasonably self-esteemed
4) reasonably a self esteem
5) No correction required

Directions (Q. 6 to 10): In the following passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.

In July 2008, one of the most inspiring leaders of our times, will ___(6)___ his ninetieth birthday. Nelson Mandela retired from politics in 1999, but he has remained ___(7)___ continuing his work through the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The foundation has launched an Aids awareness campaign,46664, named ___(8)___Mandela’s prison number. He has also set up a scholarship programme me whose ___(9)___was to promote leadership among young Africans.

During the 1990s, ___(10)___ I worked with Mr. Mandela on his autobiography ‘Long walk to Freedom’, I ___(11)___ his leadership firsthand. During his election campaign, we were on board a plane discussing his book. Twenty minutes ___(12)___ to landing the engine failed. Many began to panic. The only thing that ___(13)___ them was looking at Mandela, who was reading his paper as if he was a passenger on a morning train to work. The plane landed safely and when we got into the car taking us to the hotel he ___(14)___ to me, “I was terrified on the plane!” As a leader he realized he was a model for others and that gave him the strength to ___(15)___ over fear.

Q.6. 
1) tribute
2) remember
3) honor
4) celebrate
5) rejoice

Q.7. 
1) resigned
2) active
3) influence
4) participate
5) reserved

Q.8. 
1) by
2) with
3) after
4) as
5) thereafter

Q.9.
1) wish
2) pursuit
3) result
4) plot
5) aim

Q.10.
1) whilst
2) that
3) period
4) later
5) alongside

Q.11. 
1) felt
2) acquainted
3) experienced
4) underwent
5) learned

Q.12. 
1) before
2) sooner
3) close
4) prior
5) advance

Q.13. 
1) calmed
2) soothing
3) compose
4) restraint
5) discipline

Q.14. 
1) speaks
2) confided
3) confident
4) entrusted
5) assured

Q.15. 
1) success
2) overcame
3) dominate
4) victory
5) triumph

Answers With  Solutions

Ans.1. 2; Other than option (2), the other options are grammatically incorrect. Firstly, the sentence should be in the present tense because it describes the present condition of the people. Thus, options (1) and (2) can be deleted. The gerundial form in “distressing” in option (3) is grammatically incorrect. Thus, option (2) is the answer.

Ans.2. 2; The correct option should be in the simple past perfect tense and hence, option (2) is the answer. The other options are grammatically incorrect.

Ans.3. 2; “practice” is a noun and so, “common” in the sentence acts as an adjective since it qualifies the noun. Hence, “commonly” which is an adverb is wrong. “To talk” is used as an infinitive form. Thus, option (2) is the correct response.

Ans.4. 4; Option (1) is incorrect because there are two negatives in the sentence – “cannot” and “hardly” and so, the sentence does not have any proper meaning. Same logic goes with option (2). “Cannot” and “hardly” both have a negative connotation. Option (3) is inappropriate because according to the statement he is brisk and so, it is impossible that he cannot tolerate any haste. Same logic goes with the statement. Since he is brisk, he should be able to Page 10 Bank SBI PO Mock – 13 Test Prep tolerate and rather, appreciate efficiency. But the statement says otherwise – “he cannot tolerate any efficiency” which does not make any sense. Option (4) seems to be the most appropriate.

Ans.5. 1; Since “self-esteem” is a noun, reasonable should be an adjective form because it qualifies “self-esteem.” However, “reasonably” is an adverb and hence, incorrect. Option (2) is incorrect because “selfesteemed” is not a noun. So, option (1) is correct.

Ans.6. 4; ‘Celebrate’ is the correct answer because birthday is considered as a special occasion. ‘Rejoice’ is inappropriate in the given context because it means to feel or show joy. Also, rejoice is followed by the preposition ‘at’, ‘in’, ‘over’ and ‘to’.

Ans.7. 2; ‘But’ in the given sentence draws a contrast between the two situations. The former part of the sentence talks about his resignation from politics whereas the latter part talks about his lively participation in Nelson Mandela Foundation. Therefore, ‘active’ is the correct answer.

Ans.8. 3; The only option that is grammatically and logically correct is ‘after’. ‘Thereafter’ means ‘according to that’.

Ans.9. 5; ‘Aim’ is the correct answer because the sentence implies that the objective of the scholarship programme was to promote leadership among young Africans.

Ans.10. 1; ‘Whilst’ is the correct answer because the sentence implies that while he worked with Mr. Mandela on his autobiography, he also got acquainted with his leadership.

Ans.11. 3; ‘Experienced’ is the correct answer because while working on Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, he acquired knowledge about his leadership.

Ans.12. 4; ‘Prior’ is the correct answer because the sentence implies that twenty minutes before landing the engine filed. ‘Prior’ means happening or existing before something else or before a particular time.

Ans.13. 1; The only option that is grammatically and logically correct is ‘calmed’ because the sentence talks of the past.

Ans.14. 2; ‘Confided’ which means to show confidence by imparting secrets, is the correct answer because he trusted his leader.

Ans.15. 5; ‘Triumph’ which means a successful outcome in a struggle, is the correct answer because the sentence implies victory over fear. ‘Success’ is inappropriate in the given context because it is applicable to persons and things, you don’t necessarily have to defeat somebody to be successful.