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
931
The committee had to select a new chairman.
Answer:
A new chairman had to be selected by the committee.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'had to' to show past necessity, the passive form is **Object + had to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'a new chairman' becomes the subject. The structure 'had to be selected' is the correct passive form for the past necessity.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'had been selected' is the passive of the Past Perfect Tense ('had selected'), not 'had to select'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'was to be' implies a past plan, which is a different meaning.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'has to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the present.
932
She has written a letter to her friend.
Answer:
A letter has been written to her friend by her.
**Rule**: For a Present Perfect Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + has/have + been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The direct object 'a letter' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'has' is used, followed by 'been' and the past participle 'written'. The prepositional phrase 'to her friend' follows.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This structure, making the indirect object the subject, is less common when the indirect object is part of a prepositional phrase ('to her friend').
933
The board had to reject the proposal.
Answer:
The proposal had to be rejected by the board.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'had to' to show past necessity, the passive form is **Object + had to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'the proposal' becomes the subject. The structure 'had to be rejected' is the correct passive form for the past necessity.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'had been rejected' is the passive of the Past Perfect Tense ('had rejected'), not 'had to reject'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'was to be' implies a past plan, which is a different meaning.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'must be' incorrectly changes the tense and meaning to present obligation.
934
The company has to recruit new staff.
Answer:
New staff have to be recruited by the company.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'has to'/'have to', the passive form is **Object + has/have to + be + V3**. The choice between 'has' and 'have' depends on the new subject.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'new staff' becomes the subject. 'Staff' is a collective noun that can be treated as plural, so it takes 'have to be', followed by the past participle 'recruited'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'has' is incorrect because 'staff' is treated as plural here.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'have been recruited' is the passive of the Present Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'are to be' implies a plan, which is a different meaning.
935
Who will have finished the work by then?
Answer:
By whom will the work have been finished by then?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence in the Future Perfect Tense starting with 'Who', the passive structure is **By whom + will/shall + have been + V3?**
- **Correct Answer (b)**: 'Who' changes to 'By whom'. The Future Perfect passive verb 'will have been finished' is used correctly with the object 'the work'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly uses the Future Simple passive form ('will be finished').
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This word order is not standard for formal interrogative sentences.
936
The company has to hire a new manager.
Answer:
A new manager has to be hired by the company.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'has to' to show necessity, the passive form is **Object + has/have to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'a new manager' becomes the subject. Since 'manager' is singular, it takes 'has to be', followed by the past participle 'hired'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'has been hired' is the passive of the Present Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'is to be' implies a plan, not the necessity of 'has to'.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'had to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the past.
937
They are going to build a new library.
Answer:
A new library is going to be built by them.
**Rule**: For active sentences using the 'be going to' future form, the passive structure is **Object + is/am/are + going to be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'a new library' becomes the subject. The structure 'is going to be built' is the correct passive conversion.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This changes the structure to the 'will' future, which is not a direct conversion.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This is the passive of the Present Continuous tense ('is building'), not the 'going to' future.
938
The chef has cooked a delicious meal.
Answer:
A delicious meal has been cooked by the chef.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Present Perfect Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + has/have + been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'a delicious meal' becomes the subject. Since it is singular, 'has' is used, followed by 'been' and the past participle 'cooked'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Perfect.
939
When are you going to finish the work?
Answer:
When is the work going to be finished by you?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence with the 'be going to' future form, the passive structure is **Wh- word + is/am/are + object + going to be + V3?**
- **Correct Answer (a)**: 'When' remains at the beginning. The object 'the work' is singular, so 'is' is used, followed by the object and the correct passive structure 'going to be finished'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This changes the structure to the 'will' future.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to the past.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: The verb 'are' is incorrect because the subject 'work' is singular (uncountable).
940
The company had to lay off several employees.
Answer:
Several employees had to be laid off by the company.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'had to' with a phrasal verb, the passive form is **Object + had to + be + V3 + particle**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'several employees' becomes the subject. The structure 'had to be laid off' is the correct passive form for the past necessity, keeping the particle 'off' with the verb.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'had been laid off' is the passive of the Past Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'have to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the present.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'were to be' implies a past plan, which is a different meaning.