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
1321
The teacher said to the students, “Have you completed your homework?”
Answer:
The teacher asked the students if they had completed their homework.
Yes/No question → asked + if/whether + past perfect. Have you → they had**.
1322
Fatima said, “My brother is working in Dubai these days.”
Answer:
Fatima said that her brother was working in Dubai those days.
Present continuous → past continuous (is working → was working). These days → those days**. Pronoun adjusted.
1323
The doctor said, “Don’t eat junk food every day.”
Answer:
The doctor advised me not to eat junk food every day.
Negative imperative in reported speech → advised/told + object + not to + verb**. “Advised” fits best as this is health advice.
1324
My sister said to me, “Where are you going in such a hurry?”
Answer:
My sister asked me where I was going in such a hurry.
Wh-question reporting: said to → asked, keep where-clause with subject before verb (I was going**, not _was I going_).
1325
The boy said to the teacher, “I did not understand this chapter.”
Answer:
The boy said to the teacher that he had not understood that chapter.
Past simple in direct → past perfect in reported (did not understand → had not understood). This → that. Pronoun I → he**.
1326
She said, "Honesty is the best policy." **Options:**
Answer:
She said that honesty is the best policy.
Another universal truth → verb is remains unchanged. (a)/(c) wrongly backshift to was**; (d) changes reporting verb tense.
1327
He said, "Two and two make four." **Options:**
Answer:
He said that two and two make four.
Universal truth → no tense change. Subject two and two takes plural verb make**. (a)/(c)/(d) shift tense or agreement incorrectly.
1328
Maryam said, “I have to be there by 10 am tomorrow.”
Answer:
Maryam told me that she had to be there by 10 am the next day.
Backshift with past reporting: have to → had to (obligation), tomorrow → the next day (deictic shift). Using told + object + that-clause** is correct when an addressee is implied.
1329
He said to his son, "Never tell a lie." **Options:**
Answer:
All of the above. Correct
Negative imperative with never → can be reported as told … not to / forbade / advised … not to**. All three acceptable.
1330
She said, "Would you like to have some tea?" **Options:**
Answer:
She offered me some tea.
Polite offer with Would you like …? → reporting verb offered**. Others misrepresent offer as command or suggestion.