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
1091
Who could have sent this anonymous letter?
Answer:
By whom could this anonymous letter have been sent?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence with a past modal starting with 'Who', the passive structure is **By whom + modal + have been + V3?**
- **Correct Answer (b)**: 'Who' becomes 'By whom'. The past modal passive form 'could have been sent' is used. The word order is correct for a question.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'could be sent' is the passive for a present modal ('could send').
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'can' is a different modal.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: The word order is incorrect, and 'who' should be 'whom'.
1092
The chef is preparing the dessert now.
Answer:
The dessert is being prepared now by the chef.
**Rule**: For a Present Continuous Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the dessert' becomes the subject. Since it is singular, 'is' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'prepared'.
- **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.
1093
Who was making that noise?
Answer:
By whom was that noise being made?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence in the Past Continuous Tense starting with 'Who', the passive structure is **By whom + was/were + object + being + V3?**
- **Correct Answer (c)**: 'Who' becomes 'By whom'. The object 'that noise' is singular, so 'was' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'made'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Perfect.
1094
The bad news did not affect her.
Answer:
She was not affected by the bad news.
**Rule**: For a negative sentence in the Simple Past Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + not + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'her' becomes the subject 'She'. The passive verb form 'was not affected' correctly reflects the negative Simple Past tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
1095
Let them do their work.
Answer:
Let their work be done by them.
**Rule**: An active sentence beginning with 'Let' followed by an object and a bare infinitive has the passive structure: **Let + new subject (direct object) + be + V3 + by + new object (original object)**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The direct object 'their work' becomes the new subject after 'Let'. This is followed by 'be' and the past participle 'done'. The original object 'them' becomes the agent 'by them'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This omits the agent 'by them', making the sentence less specific.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'Should' changes the imperative mood to one of suggestion.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This changes the structure and meaning entirely, introducing the concept of permission.
1096
Who is going to answer the question?
Answer:
By whom is the question going to be answered?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence with the 'be going to' future form starting with 'Who', the passive structure is **By whom + is/am/are + object + going to be + V3?**
- **Correct Answer (d)**: 'Who' changes to 'By whom'. The object 'the question' is singular, so 'is' is used, followed by the object and the correct passive structure 'going to be answered'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This changes the structure to the 'will' future.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'who' is the incorrect case; 'whom' is required after the preposition 'By'.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This word order is not standard for formal interrogative sentences.
1097
The chef was preparing a gourmet meal.
Answer:
A gourmet meal was being prepared by the chef.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Past Continuous Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'a gourmet meal' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'was' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'prepared'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1098
Let me finish this task.
Answer:
Let this task be finished by me.
**Rule**: An active sentence beginning with 'Let' followed by an object and a bare infinitive has the passive structure: **Let + new subject (direct object) + be + V3 + by + new object (original object)**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The direct object 'this task' becomes the new subject after 'Let'. This is followed by 'be' and the past participle 'finished'. The original object 'me' becomes the agent 'by me'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'Should' changes the imperative mood to one of suggestion or obligation.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This omits the agent 'by me', making the sentence less precise than the original.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This changes the structure and meaning entirely, introducing the idea of permission.
1099
The children are making a mess in the room.
Answer:
A mess is being made in the room by the children.
**Rule**: For a Present Continuous Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'a mess' becomes the subject. Since it is singular, 'is' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'made'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1100
They were laughing at the clown.
Answer:
The clown was being laughed at by them.
**Rule**: When a phrasal verb (verb + preposition) is used in the Past Continuous Tense, the passive structure is **Object + was/were + being + V3 + preposition + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'the clown' becomes the subject. The passive verb form 'was being laughed at' correctly keeps the preposition 'at' with the verb.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly omits the preposition 'at'.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This uses the wrong preposition 'at' instead of 'by' to introduce the agent.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.