General English MCQs
Topic Notes: General English
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
1051
The noise from the construction site is bothering me.
Answer:
I am being bothered by the noise from the construction site.
**Rule**: For a Present Continuous Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'me' becomes the subject 'I'. The verb form 'am being bothered' is correct for the Present Continuous passive for the first person singular.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1052
Who is designing the new bridge?
Answer:
By whom is the new bridge being designed?
**Rule**: Interrogative sentences in the Present Continuous Tense starting with 'Who' are converted to passive voice using **By whom + is/am/are + object + being + V3?**
- **Correct Answer (b)**: 'Who' becomes 'By whom'. The object 'the new bridge' is singular, so 'is' is used, followed by the object, 'being', and the past participle 'designed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
1053
The principal accepted the students' proposal.
Answer:
The students' proposal was accepted by the principal.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Simple Past Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the students' proposal' becomes the subject. Since 'proposal' is singular, 'was' is used, followed by the past participle 'accepted'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1054
They were watching a movie when the power went out.
Answer:
A movie was being watched when the power went out.
**Rule**: In a complex sentence, only the clause with a transitive verb and object is changed to passive. The main clause 'They were watching a movie' (Past Continuous) is passivized, while the subordinate clause remains unchanged. The agent 'by them' can be omitted.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'a movie' becomes the subject. The verb form 'was being watched' is the correct passive for the Past Continuous. The subordinate clause 'when the power went out' is correctly placed at the end.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
1055
Why did they refuse him admission?
Answer:
Both a and c are correct.
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence in the Simple Past with two objects (indirect 'him' and direct 'admission'), either can become the subject in the passive form. The structure is **Wh- word + was/were + object + V3?**
- **Correct Answer (d)**: Both (a) and (c) are correct passive transformations.
- In (a), the indirect object 'him' becomes the subject 'he'. The verb is 'was refused'.
- In (c), the direct object 'admission' becomes the subject. The verb is 'was refused', and the indirect object 'him' is preceded by 'to'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This is correct, but (c) is also correct.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This is correct, but (a) is also correct.
1056
The company is launching a new marketing campaign.
Answer:
A new marketing campaign is being launched by the company.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Present Continuous Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'a new marketing campaign' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'is' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'launched'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1057
I will finish the project by tomorrow.
Answer:
The project will be finished by me by tomorrow.
**Rule**: A sentence in the Future Simple Tense is converted to passive voice using the structure: **Object + will/shall + be + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the project' becomes the subject. The verb form 'will be finished' is the correct passive construction for the future simple tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Future Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
1058
The critics panned the new movie.
Answer:
The new movie was panned by the critics.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Simple Past Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the new movie' becomes the subject. Since it is singular, 'was' is used, followed by the past participle 'panned'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
1059
The cat had drunk all the milk.
Answer:
All the milk had been drunk by the cat.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Past Perfect Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + had + been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'all the milk' becomes the subject. The verb form 'had been drunk' is the correct passive construction for the Past Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
1060
The company did not approve the budget.
Answer:
The budget was not approved by the company.
**Rule**: For a negative sentence in the Simple Past Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + not + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the budget' becomes the subject. The passive verb form 'was not approved' correctly reflects the negative Simple Past tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.