English Language Practice Questions for IBPS Clerk – Set 17
Directions
(1 – 6): Read the sentence given below to find whether there is an error in it
or not. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of
that part is the answer. If there is no error in the bold parts, mark (5)
i.e. ‘No error’ as your answer. Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.
1.
Several termites have an intricate social composition (1) in
which a few members reproduce (2) and the others serves
by tending juveniles (3), gathering food, building the nest,
or battling the intruders.(4) No error (5).
2. Overwhelmed
by the (1) reported profit of the first quarter of
the fiscal year, (2) the general manager is been
deciding to give her staff (3) a raise along with a
one-time bonus. (4) No error (5)
3. The most
delicate work of literary imagination (1) manifests (2) a
certain crudeness and harshness (3) and we turn to it for
peace and beauty. (4) No error (5)
4. Gautam
couldn't wait for me; (1) as I already know the place (2) to
his home (3) I could have found the way all right. (4) No
error (5)
5. The Union
Finance Ministry have (1) agreed to contribute
partially to a newly dedicated railway safety fund (2) named
as ‘Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh’ (3) in the upcoming Union
Budget 2017-18. (4) No error (5).
6. After an
hour-long discussion (1) on the GST system in India, (2) being
exhausted Shifa gave up the argument (3) and exclaimed 'I
concede! You win!' (4) No error (5).
Directions
(7 – 10): The following question consists of a single sentence with a
blank. You are given five words as answer choice and you have to pick one
correct answer, which will make the sentence meaningfully complete.
7. "I
hope you are able to account ______ your unavailability during the busiest time
of the month.", said the boss to one of her employees.
a) In
b) Upon
c) Into
d) For
e) Of
8. The
topper of our class applied _______ a fully-funded scholarship for the next
semester.
a) To
b) In
c) For
d) On
e) Through
9. The
random reading of literary works _____ quite beneficial for students oriented
towards academics.
a) Is
b) Have
been
c) Are
d) Was
e) Were
10. Giving
up the wrong pleasure is not self-sacrifice _____self-culture.
a) And
b) Yet
c) Besides
d) Or
e) But
Directions
(11 – 15): A passage is given below with five blanks labelled (1) - (5).
Below the passage, five alternatives are given for each blank. Out of those
five alternatives, choose the best one which fills up the blank appropriately
and makes the sentence grammatically complete.
Madhubani,
practised in the Mithila region of India, is a famous form of folk art. It is
done with the help of natural ___(11)___and dyes. The equipment for
painting is also usually handcrafted. Geometrical figures with lively and ___(12)___ use
of color are the most striking features of Madhubani paintings. The paintings
were initially made on the freshly-plastered mud walls but now have been using
different ___(13)___ like cloth, handmade paper, and canvas.
The most common subject of Madhubani paintings concerns itself with the
depiction of Ardhnarishwar (the creator); the practitioners of Hinduism believe
that the world was formed because of the ___(14)___of the female
and male powers of Parvati and Shiva. This is the reason that artists working
in Madhubani art do not draw a single line but always draw double lines
symbolizing the ___(15)___between the opposites. Other themes
include the depiction of birth, marriage, festivities, natural phenomenon
(sunrise, rain, sunset) and pujas. Some of the award-winning and well-known
practitioners of Madhubani art are Mahasundari Devi, Sita Devi, Godavari Dutt,
Bharti Dayal and Bua Devi.
11.
a) images b) arts c) patterns
d) motifs e) pigments
12. a)
vibrant b) dull c) moist
d) shabby e) enchanting
13. a)
agencies b) mechanisms c) tools
d) mediums e) factors
14. a)
seperation b) union c) diversity
d) distance e) digression
15. a)
dissonance b) symphony c) harmony
d) polyphony e) incongruity
Answers with Explanation:
1. C) The phrase '..and the others serves by
tending juveniles..' is grammatically incorrect. The verb after a plural
subject will always be plural. The sentence must follow the subject-verb
agreement.
Hence,
the correct construction would be 'the others serve by tending
juveniles'.
2. C) The phrase
'the general manager is been deciding' is grammatically incorrect.
It
is grammatically wrong to put 'been' after a 'be'-verb i.e 'is'.
Since the sentence suggests that the general manager wants to give a raise and
a bonus to all her staff, the correct sentence would be 'the general
manager has decided'.
3. D) The
sentence indicates that even after encountering the crudity of literary arts,
we get attracted towards it for its inherent beauty.
There are clearly two
simple sentences joined by the conjunction 'and' whereas the sentence
indicates a contrasting relationship between both the sentences.
4. A) The
sentence indicates that it was not necessary for Gautam to wait as the other
person already knew the route.
However, the use of
'couldn't wait' in part 1 of the sentence problematises the intended meaning.
The correct grammar would have been 'Gautam did not need to wait for me'.
5. A) The
sentence suggests that a new dedicated fund has been established by the Union
Finance Ministry.
The Union Finance
Ministry is a singular term acting as a unit. Hence, the verb in A should be
singular present perfect i.e 'has' should be in the place of 'have'.
6. E)
7. D) 'Account for' means to explain.
Out
of the other options, if we separately put 'into' and 'of' beside 'account',
both create two individual phrasal verbs, which respectively mean paying
attention and to consider.
However,
since in the sentence the boss expects an explanation from her employee, the
correct answer would be (D), i.e 'account for'.
8. C) The correct
answer is (C) because the phrasal verb 'apply for' means to make a formal
request for something official.
We
often confuse it with 'apply to' or 'apply in'. But the grammatically correct
phrase is 'apply for'.
9. A) The
sentence is a general statement. Hence, the tense should be present tense. And
the subject is the act of 'random reading' and not 'literary works. Therefore
the verb used should be a singular present tense verb which makes (A) the
correct option.
10. E) The
correct preposition to fill the blank with would be 'but'.
11. E) 12. A)
13. D) 14. B) 15. C)
