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
841
They will not announce the results before next week.
Answer:
The results will not be announced by them before next week.
**Rule**: To convert a Future Simple Tense sentence to passive voice, the structure is **Object + will/shall + not + be + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'the results' becomes the subject. 'will not be' is the correct passive verb form, followed by the past participle 'announced'. The agent 'by them' is correctly placed at the end.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This option incorrectly uses 'would' instead of 'will', changing the modal verb and the meaning.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This option incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This option incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect Tense.
842
A great man acknowledged me as a flatterer.
Answer:
I was acknowledged as a flatterer by a great man.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Simple Past Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + V3 + by + Subject**. The complement 'as a flatterer' remains after the verb.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'me' becomes the subject 'I'. The verb form 'was acknowledged' is correct for the Simple Past. The complement 'as a flatterer' follows the verb.
- **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.
843
Why are you making such a noise?
Answer:
Why is such a noise being made by you?
**Rule**: For interrogative sentences in the Present Continuous Tense starting with a 'Wh-' word, the passive structure is **Wh- word + is/am/are + object + being + V3 + by + subject?**
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The 'Wh-' word 'Why' remains at the beginning. The object 'such a noise' is singular, so 'is' is used. This is followed by the object, 'being', and the past participle 'made'.
- **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.
844
They are considering your proposal.
Answer:
Your proposal is being considered by them.
**Rule**: For a Present Continuous Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'Your proposal' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'is' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'considered'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This changes the tense to Present Perfect.
845
The cat drank all the milk.
Answer:
All the milk was drunk by the cat.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Simple Past Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'all the milk' becomes the subject. 'Milk' is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb, so 'was' is used. The past participle of 'drink' is 'drunk'.
- **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.
846
The police caught the thief.
Answer:
The thief was caught by the police.
**Rule**: A sentence in the Simple Past Tense is converted to passive voice using the structure: **Object + was/were + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the thief' becomes the subject. Since 'thief' is singular, 'was' is used, followed by the past participle of 'catch', which is 'caught'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Perfect.
847
The teacher had given the students a difficult assignment.
Answer:
The students had been given a difficult assignment by the teacher.
**Rule**: For Past Perfect Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + had + been + V3 + by + Subject**. When a sentence has two objects (an indirect object and a direct object), either can become the subject of the passive sentence.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The indirect object 'the students' is made the subject. The verb form 'had been given' correctly reflects the Past Perfect Tense in passive voice.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This option correctly uses the direct object 'A difficult assignment' as the subject but incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past ('was given').
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This option incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past Tense ('were given').
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This option incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect Tense ('has been given').
848
The pilot landed the plane safely.
Answer:
The plane was landed safely by the pilot.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Simple Past Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + V3 + by + Subject**. Adverbs of manner (like 'safely') are usually placed after the main verb.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'the plane' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'was' is used, followed by the past participle 'landed'. The adverb 'safely' is correctly placed.
- **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 Past Perfect.
849
We must respect our elders.
Answer:
Our elders must be respected by us.
**Rule**: When using modal verbs (like must, can, should, etc.) in the passive voice, the structure is **Object + modal verb + be + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'Our elders' becomes the subject. The modal 'must' is followed by 'be' and the past participle 'respected'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'Should' is a different modal verb and implies advice rather than the strong obligation conveyed by 'must'.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'are to be' changes the nuance of the sentence and is not the direct passive equivalent of 'must'.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'have to be' also conveys obligation but is a different construction. The direct passive of 'must' is 'must be'.
850
I don't know the answer.
Answer:
The answer is not known to me.
**Rule**: The verb 'know' in the passive voice is followed by the preposition **'to'**, not 'by'. The active sentence is in the Simple Present Tense.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'the answer' becomes the subject. The passive verb form 'is not known' is correct for the negative Simple Present. The preposition 'to' is used correctly before the new object 'me'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: The preposition 'by' is incorrect with the verb 'know' in this context.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.