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
1211
She says, “I go for a walk every morning.” **Options:**
Answer:
She says that she goes for a walk every morning.
** Reporting verb in present → no backshift. Options (a)/(c) shift tense wrongly; (d) wrong pronoun.
1212
Father said to his daughter, “I will attend your convocation tomorrow.” **Options:**
Answer:
Father told his daughter that he would attend her convocation the next day.
will → would, tomorrow → the next day**. Others fail backshift.
1213
My grandmother said, “I bore six children.” **Options:**
Answer:
… said that she had borne six children.
Past simple → Past Perfect; correct past participle = borne**. Others wrong verb form/tense.
1214
He said to the grocer, “What is the price of tomatoes?” **Options:**
Answer:
He asked the grocer what the price of tomatoes was.
Correct word order → what the price … was**. (a)/(c) redundant “that/was”; (d) no backshift.
1215
Amina said to her daughter, “Don’t go near the well.” **Options:**
Answer:
Amina warned her daughter not to go near the well. Correct
Negative imperative → warned … not to**. Other options ungrammatical or alter sense.
1216
The lawyer said to the accused, “Where were you at the time of the burglary?” **Options:**
Answer:
The lawyer asked the accused where he was at the time of burglary.
Wh-question → statement order, you → he**. (b)/(d) inversion wrong, (c) loses detail.
1217
She said, “Yusuf slipped when he was trying to skate.” **Options:**
Answer:
She said that Yusuf had slipped when he was trying to skate. Correct
Past Indefinite in direct → Past Perfect** in indirect. Other options distort tense.
1218
The stranger said to me, “Can you tell me the way to the River Bank Colony?” **Options:**
Answer:
… asked me if I could tell him …
Yes/No → if I could …; pronoun shifts you → I, me → him**. (a)/(b)/(d) wrong.
1219
Father said to me, “Are you going to keep me waiting all night?” **Options:**
Answer:
Father asked me if I was going to keep him waiting all night. Correct
Yes/No → asked if; are → was; pronoun shifts you → I, me → him**. Others fail.
1220
Bilal said to his friend, “How can I make this charcoal white?” **Options:**
Answer:
Bilal asked his friend how he could make that charcoal white.
can → could, this → that, pronoun shift I → he**. (b) wrong verb “told”; (c)/(d) incorrect structure.