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
311
The teacher said to me, "You have not submitted the assignment."
Answer:
The teacher told me that I had not submitted the assignment.
** Present perfect → past perfect in indirect. Options (a)(b)(d) misuse tense or syntax.
312
The teacher commanded the students not to shout.
Answer:
The teacher said to the students, "Don't shout."
Imperatives reported with “commanded not to” → direct = negative imperative: “Don’t shout.”** Options (c)(d) introduce modal verbs, not exact.
313
She said to me, "What time is your flight tomorrow?"
Answer:
She asked me what time my flight was the following day.
WH-question with is → was**, “tomorrow → the following day.” Options (c)(d) keep wrong tense; (a) has awkward structure.
314
He said to me, "What are you doing?"
Answer:
He asked me what I was doing.
WH-question indirect → asked + object + wh-word + subject + verb.** “What are you doing?” → “what I was doing.” Options (a)(b)(d) break structure.
315
He said to the hotel receptionist, "Can you tell me the tariff of rooms?"
Answer:
He asked the hotel receptionist if he could tell him the tariff of rooms.
Interrogatives with can in direct speech → asked if + could** in indirect speech. “Can you tell” → “if he could tell.” Option (c) wrongly makes it an imperative.
316
The interviewer asked Yasir, "Why did you leave that job last month?" **Options:**
Answer:
… why he had left that job the previous month.
WH-word “why” retained. did leave → had left (backshift). last month → the previous month. Pronoun: you → he.
317
A new student said to me, "Where is the Principal's office?" **Options:**
Answer:
… asked me where … was.
WH-question “where” used. is → was (backshift). Assertive structure in indirect speech.
318
The interviewer asked Salman, "Do you have any idea about our products?" **Options:**
Answer:
… if he had any idea about their products.
Yes/No → if. do you have → he had. our → their (pronoun shift).
319
"Whom did you see at the shopping mall today?" I asked my daughter. **Options:**
Answer:
… whom she had seen … that day.
WH-word “whom” stays. did see → had seen (backshift). today → that day**. Interrogative → assertive in indirect.
320
The counter clerk asked the visitor, "What is your name?" **Options:**
Answer:
The counter clerk asked the visitor his name.
** WH-question “what” used as object clause. Indirect speech becomes assertive. Full stop instead of question mark.