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
891
The news surprised me.
Answer:
I was surprised at the news.
**Rule**: Certain verbs, especially those expressing feelings or emotions, take prepositions other than 'by' in the passive voice. The verb 'surprised' is typically followed by **'at'** (or sometimes 'by'). The active sentence is in the Simple Past.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'me' becomes 'I'. The verb form 'was surprised' is correct for the Simple Past. The preposition 'at' is idiomatically correct with 'surprised' in this context.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: While 'by' is sometimes used, 'at' is generally preferred for the source of surprise.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
892
Do not make a noise.
Answer:
You are ordered not to make a noise.
**Rule**: Negative imperative sentences expressing a command can be converted to passive voice using structures like **'You are ordered/forbidden/advised not to...'** or **'Let + object + not + be + V3'**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: 'Do not make a noise' is a direct command. Therefore, 'You are ordered not to make a noise' is a very appropriate passive construction.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'Requested' is incorrect as the original sentence is a command, not a request.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This is also a possible passive form, but option (b) is equally valid and often more direct in conveying the command.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'Should' introduces a sense of advice, which is weaker than the command in the original sentence.
893
The boy laughed at the beggar.
Answer:
The beggar was laughed at by the boy.
**Rule**: When a verb in the active voice is followed by a preposition (a phrasal verb), the preposition must be retained in the passive voice. The structure for Simple Past is **Object + was/were + V3 + preposition + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the beggar' becomes the subject. The verb form 'was laughed at' correctly keeps the preposition 'at' with the verb.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: The preposition 'at' is incorrectly omitted.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: The second preposition 'at' is incorrect; 'by' is needed to introduce the agent.
894
Circumstances will oblige me to go.
Answer:
I shall be obliged to go by the circumstances.
**Rule**: For a Future Simple Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + will/shall + be + V3**. Conventionally, 'shall' is used with the first person pronouns 'I' and 'we' in formal future tense, while 'will' is used for second and third person. However, 'will' is now commonly used for all persons.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'me' becomes the subject 'I'. Following traditional grammar rules, 'shall' is the most appropriate auxiliary verb with 'I' in the future tense, followed by 'be' and the past participle 'obliged'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: While 'will' is widely accepted with 'I' in modern English, 'shall' is considered more formally correct.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
895
You should not mock the disabled.
Answer:
The disabled should not be mocked.
**Rule**: For sentences with modal verbs (like should, must, can), the passive structure is **Object + modal verb + not + be + V3**. The agent 'by you' can be omitted if the meaning is clear without it.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'the disabled' becomes the subject. The modal 'should not' is followed by 'be' and the past participle 'mocked'. Omitting 'by you' is common in such general statements.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'are not to be' is not the standard passive form for the modal 'should'.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'must not' implies a stronger prohibition than the advice given by 'should not'.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'need not' suggests a lack of necessity, which changes the meaning from giving advice.
896
The doctor advised the patient not to eat rice.
Answer:
The patient was advised by the doctor not to eat rice.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Simple Past Tense, the passive structure is **Object + was/were + V3 + by + Subject**. The infinitive phrase ('not to eat rice') remains unchanged.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'the patient' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'was' is used, followed by the past participle 'advised'. The infinitive phrase 'not to eat rice' correctly follows the main verb.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: Adding 'that he should' unnecessarily changes the sentence structure from a simple infinitive to a subordinate clause.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
897
They are building a new hospital near the airport.
Answer:
A new hospital is being built by them near the airport.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Present Continuous Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'a new hospital' becomes the subject. Since it is singular, 'is' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'built'. The agent 'by them' is correctly included.
- **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.
898
Did he remember the date and time?
Answer:
Were the date and time remembered by him?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence in the Simple Past Tense starting with 'Did', the passive structure is **Was/Were + object + V3 + by + subject?** The verb must agree with the new subject.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'the date and time' is a compound subject and thus plural, so it takes the plural verb 'Were'. The past participle 'remembered' is correct.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'Was' is incorrect because the subject 'the date and time' is plural.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Perfect.
899
The mechanic had repaired the car.
Answer:
The car had been repaired by the mechanic.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Past Perfect Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + had + been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'the car' becomes the subject. The verb form 'had been repaired' is the correct passive construction for 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 (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
900
The government has banned the use of plastic bags.
Answer:
The use of plastic bags has been banned by the government.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Present Perfect Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + has/have + been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'the use of plastic bags' becomes the subject. Since 'use' is singular, 'has' is used, followed by 'been' and the past participle 'banned'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Perfect.