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
1141
The teacher was not helping the students enough.
Answer:
The students were not being helped enough by the teacher.
**Rule**: For a negative sentence in the Past Continuous Tense, the passive structure is **Object + was/were + not + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'the students' becomes the subject. The passive verb form 'were not being helped' correctly reflects the negative Past Continuous 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 (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
1142
Which book did you choose?
Answer:
Which book was chosen by you?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence in the Simple Past Tense starting with 'Which', the passive structure is **Which + noun + was/were + V3 + by + subject?**
- **Correct Answer (d)**: 'Which book' remains at the beginning. As 'book' is singular, it is followed by 'was' and the past participle 'chosen'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
1143
Who is going to fix the computer?
Answer:
By whom is the computer going to be fixed?
**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 (c)**: 'Who' changes to 'By whom'. The object 'the computer' is singular, so 'is' is used, followed by the object and the correct passive structure 'going to be fixed'.
- **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 (d)**: This word order is not standard for formal interrogative sentences.
1144
The committee has to approve the final design.
Answer:
The final design has to be approved by the committee.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'has to' to show necessity, the passive form is **Object + has/have to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the final design' becomes the subject. Since 'design' is singular, it takes 'has to be', followed by the past participle 'approved'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'has been approved' is the passive of the Present Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'had to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the past.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'is to be' implies a plan, not necessity.
1145
They had not finished the project on time.
Answer:
The project had not been finished on time by them.
**Rule**: For a negative sentence in the Past Perfect Tense, the passive structure is **Object + had + not + been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the project' becomes the subject. The verb form 'had not been finished' is the correct passive construction for a negative sentence in 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)**: 'being' is incorrect; the past participle 'been' is required.
1146
We expect that they will pass the exam.
Answer:
Both b and c are correct.
**Rule**: Sentences with a reporting verb (like expect, believe) and a 'that'-clause can be made passive in two main ways: using an **'It...'** structure or by making the subject of the clause the new main subject.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: Both (b) and (c) are correct passive transformations.
- (c) **'It is expected that they will pass the exam'** uses the introductory 'It' followed by the passive verb and the original clause.
- (b) **'They are expected to pass the exam'** makes the subject of the 'that'-clause ('they') the new main subject, followed by the passive verb and a 'to'-infinitive.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This version is unnecessarily clumsy by making the clause passive as well.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This is correct, but (c) is also a valid and common transformation.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This is correct, but (b) is also a valid transformation.
1147
The company will have to expand its operations.
Answer:
Its operations will have to be expanded by the company.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'will have to', the passive form is **Object + will have to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'its operations' becomes the subject. The structure 'will have to be expanded' is the correct passive form for the future necessity.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This omits 'have to', changing the meaning.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This is the passive of the Future Perfect Tense.
1148
The organization did not accept his application.
Answer:
His application was not accepted by the organization.
**Rule**: For a negative sentence in the Simple Past Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + not + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'his application' becomes the subject. The passive verb form 'was not accepted' correctly reflects the negative Simple Past tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
1149
I saw him opening the box.
Answer:
He was seen opening the box by me.
**Rule**: When verbs of perception (like see, hear) are followed by a present participle (-ing form) in the active voice, the passive form retains the present participle. The structure is **Object + was/were + V3 + present participle**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'him' becomes the subject 'He'. The verb 'was seen' is the correct passive form for the Simple Past. The present participle 'opening' remains unchanged.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: Using a 'to'-infinitive ('to open') would be correct if the active sentence used a bare infinitive ('saw him open').
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This makes 'The box' the subject and creates a more complex and less direct passive construction.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Perfect.
1150
They were not making any progress.
Answer:
No progress was being made by them.
**Rule**: For a negative sentence in the Past Continuous Tense, the passive structure is **Object + was/were + not + being + V3**. A common alternative is to make the object positive and use 'No' instead of 'not any'.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The phrase 'not any progress' is converted to 'No progress', which becomes the subject. The verb form 'was being made' is the correct passive for the Past Continuous. This structure is more natural than 'Any progress was not being made'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This is grammatically possible but less idiomatic than using 'No progress' as the subject.