Test Papers 21

Test Paper 21

In the following passage, fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.

Andhra Pradesh …1… (become) the first State in India to hold a paperless Cabinet meeting …2… (set) a new trend in the power corridors of the country.

The paperless Cabinet …3… (meet) was the brainchild of Chief Minister Naidu, as ahead of the meeting the technology-savvy CM …4… (ask) all the Ministers not …5… (bring) any paper but just come with an iPad. At the first such E-Cabinet meeting, many important decisions …6… (take).

Henceforth the agenda of the Cabinet, as well as the decisions will be accessible to the Ministers on their desktops, laptops and iPads. E-Cabinet is a self-managed file …7… (share) system through a cloud tool, specially …8… (design) for the purpose.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:

He must make ………………………. some story to explain his absence.
The army stood ………………………. in case of trouble.
The river is flowing ………………………. the bridge.
I agreed with him ………………………. all points.
How shall I go ………………………. solving the problem?
She has just come ………………………. a fortune.
Where can we dispose ………………………. this rubbish?
The prisoner broke ………………………. under questioning.

Combine each set of the following sentences without using and, but or so:

The child would have drowned. I saved him.
It was very hot. I could not go out.
We reached the hall. The examination had begun.
He works hard. He has to support his old parents.

Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of the sentence:

As soon as the train arrived, all rushed into the compartments. (Use: hardly)
I said to my sister, “Let us go to the market tomorrow for shopping.” (Begin: I suggested ……)
Very few artists are as famous as Tagore. (Begin: Tagore was …..)
Besides keeping a watch on his movements, the police tapped his phones. (Use: not only, but also)
Walk carefully; otherwise you may slip and fall. (Use: lest)
In spite of the heavy rain, a large number of students were present. (Begin: Though …..)
This is the best remedy available. (Use: better)
We never imagined that he would win the election. (Begin: Little ……)

Test Paper 22

No matter how good technology …1… (become) you can’t beat instinct, especially if it is the case of Anny, a young detective dog fresh out of training. It was routine …2… (prance) around at Mumbai Airport for her when she suddenly …3… (sniff) something that made her sit up. In seconds, she …4… (run) towards a woman with such force that her handler fell. The woman on Anny’s radar was a tourist who …5… (alight) from an International Airlines flight at 4 a.m. The haul, Anny detected, amounted to Rs.3.2 crore. The drugs …6… (conceal) in cardboard boxes wrapped so well in …7… (embroider) lace that they would never have appeared suspicious but for Anny’s sense of smell. This was Anny’s first catch after a three-month’s …8… (train) at the BSF Institute near Gwalior.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:

I chased the thief for a while but had to give ………………………. .
Before Anju could reply Ramesh jumped ………………………. with an objection.
We will go to the station and see them ………………………. .
The police promised to look ………………………. the matter.
I hadn’t arranged to meet him; I just ran ………………………. him.
The cat jumped ………………………. the wall.
The two countries have broken ………………………. their relations.
Do you approve ………………………. his suggestion?

Combine each set of the following sentences without using and, but or so:

Meera is clever. Rita is equally clever.
The bell rang. The students rushed out.
It is a good book. I borrowed it from the library.
My brother feel asleep. He was reading a novel.

For each of the following sentences below, write a new sentence as similar as possible in meaning to the original sentence, using the instructions given in brackets.

As soon as I heard a knock at the door, I switched on the light. (Begin: No sooner ……)
Alexander conquered many countries, yet he was not happy. (Begin: In spite of ……)
“March on,” said the commander to the soldiers. “Do not give up.” (Begin: The Commander ordered…)
Being poor, he cannot afford such an expensive treatment. (Begin: As ……)
If you tell the truth, you will not be punished. (Use: unless)
John did not understand the reason for Anita’s annoyance. (Use: annoyed)
No sooner did the bell ring than the students rushed out of the hall. (Use: as soon as)
Only a prince can afford to live such a life of luxury. (Use: except)

Test Paper 23

Frederick the Great, king of Prussia, could not sleep one night and called the guard in the antechamber …1… (bring) him a book. The guard, who …2… (stay) up several nights, had fallen asleep on duty.

When no one …3… (answer), the king got up and saw that the guard had fallen asleep while …4… (write) something. It was a letter to his mother.

“Mother, I feel very sleepy because I …5… (stand) guard for the last few nights, although it was not my turn. I did this in order to earn more money and send it to you. I …6… (send) you some money now that I have earned this way.”

Reading this, the king returned to his room, …7… (take) a handful of gold coins and put them on the paper without …8… (awake) the guard.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:

We should go ………………………. the plan again.
Will you look ………………………. this list and tell me what you think?
She needs some rest; she looks run ………………………. .
He seems to be quite taken ………………………. the idea.
She takes ………………………. her mother in good looks.
He is too miserly to part ………………………. money.
Five kilometers are roughly equal ………………………. three miles.
An epidemic of malaria has broken ………………………. in the city.

Combine each set of the following sentences without using and, but or so:

The ladder is not long. It cannot reach the terrace.
He helped me. Otherwise I would not have completed the task.
Mohit is smart. His brother is smarter.
I am learning Spanish. I got a scholarship in Spain.

Complete each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the sentence printed before it by using the words, given in brackets.

The team consisted of ten singers and a music teacher. (comprised)
I don’t mind whether we go or not. (matter)
There was a lot of rain last night. (heavily)
In spite of having scarce resources, he fought against the Mughals. (though)
None but a fool would believe you. (only)
Nobody knows much about his plans. (little)
The firemen extinguished the fire. (put)
No other planet is as big as Jupiter. (bitter)

Test Paper 24

When President Xi Jinping …1… (travel) to India later this month, he might have to compete for attention. There …2… (be) sharp focus on the first lady, Peng Liyuan, who is likely …3… (accompany) him.

It …4… (believe) in China that for a long time that Peng was more famous than her husband. Her prodigious …5… (sing) talent propelled her from being a soldier in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to becoming a senior officer. She …6… (send) to the front during the war between China and Vietnam to sing and boost the morale of the forces.

Peng became a household name after she …7… (perform) on China Central Television during the Chinese New Year. The yearly programme which is still popular …8… (view) by millions every year.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:

I now call ………………………. the Chairman to speak.
It is one of the best collections I have come ………………………. .
I can’t make ………………………. what he means.
Can we agree ………………………. a course of action?
I want to impress ………………………. you the need for hard work.
A rebellion has broken ………………………. in our province.
He didn’t look up, but carried ………………………. working.
The traffic was held ………………………. for hours.

Combine each set of the following sentences without using and, but or so:

He is my neighbour. His father is a doctor.
He is very ill. He can’t walk.
Rakesh can get better grades. Tell him how.
You will be late for the function. You must hurry up.

Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of the sentence:

He never takes up the work which he does not complete. (Begin: He always …..)
But for your help, I would not have succeeded. (Begin: If you …..)
Would that I were appointed to the post! (Begin: I wish ……)
He is a rich man but he is not proud. (Begin: In spite of ……)
I cannot bear it any longer. (End: …. bear it?)
This is not the way to behave. (Begin: Is this …….)
If he had not helped me, I would have been ruined. (Use: But)
Oh! What a beautiful scenery she has drawn! (End: ….a beautiful scenery.)

Test Paper 25

The teacher in a progressive school was perturbed because he could not keep his pupils from …1… (look) out from the window. When the teacher looked out he …2… (see) a nine-year-old boy, shabbily …3… (dress) and shivering with cold. The teacher asked the boy not to disturb his class. The poor boy was in tears, “I …4… (do) nothing wrong,” he said, “I was just here …5… (listen) to your lessons and learn something before going to the store; but if you don’t want me here I won’t come back.”

“Why don’t you come to school?”

“Because my father can’t afford to pay the fees every month,” …6… (sob) the boy.

Then the teacher said, “Don’t worry about the fees. Come and study. I …7… (speak) to your father.” The boy made much progress at the end of the year. Later, other kind people helped him continue his studies. He became a great scholar, history professor as well as an …8… (outstand) Italian writer. His name is Ludovico Antonio Murotori.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:

This shirt doesn’t go ………………………. that suit..
Who will look ………………………. our dog while we are out?
He puts ………………………. some money every month.
Her age is beginning to tell ………………………. her.
We couldn’t help laughing ………………………. his singing.
The police broke ……………………….the demonstration.
I gave ………………………. all my old books.
I won’t be able to keep ………………………. that speed.

Combine each set of the following sentences without using and, but or so:

The room is large. It can accommodate all of us.
The child is carrying a bag. It is filled with books.
He may join me; he may to join me. I don’t care.
He is a good singer. He is also a good actor.

Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of the sentence:

Call the fire brigade, before the fire destroys everything. (Begin: We had …..)
No subject interests her more than Mathematics. (Begin: Of all …..)
He is inviting all his friends for the party. (Begin: Each ……)
You never know where your luck lies, do you? (Begin: One ……)
He conducted the show like a trained artist. (Use: as if)
He had not been invited otherwise he would have come. (Begin: Had ……)
In addition to an accountant, we need a superintendent. (Use: not only …. but also)
How devastating the earthquake proved to be! (Begin: The earthquake …..)

Test Paper 26

YogeshwarDutt was tense when the 31-year-old wrestler from Haryana …1… (walk) into the middle for his final bout.

The time the slender Dutt took in …2… (down) his burly Tajik opponent to lift the title in the 65kg freestyle category, …3… (seem) to be the longest in his career. But, in the end, a …4… (pant) Yogeshwar kept his promise to himself and the nation.

He gave India its first Gold medal in …5… (wrestle) after a long gap of 28 years and joined honours with Kartar Singh who …6… (win) a gold in the Asian Games at Seoul way back in 1986.

With Yogeshwar’s gold, India rose to the number nine position in the overall medals tally and Dutt said later in the day that he …7… (be) proud about his country …8… (break) into the top 10 nations at Incheon.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:

The noise is too loud, but you’ll have to put ………………………. with it.
The conversation brings ………………………. the difference between the two sisters.
How did such a situation come ………………………. ?
The treasurer has made ………………………. with all the money.
I congratulate you ………………………. your performance.
My coat smells ………………………. mothballs.
The political party broke ………………………. into a number of small groups.
Don’t let your enthusiasm carry you ………………………. .

Combine each set of the following sentences without using and, but or so:

The student was foolish. He told lies before the principal
He is cunning. Everybody knows it.
The phone rang. I was having my tea, then.
The captain took out his gun. He wanted to disperse the mob.

Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of the sentence:

Nobody will deny that your friend did his best. (Use: everyone)
It is a pity that I did not take my doctor’s advice. (Use: wish)
Besides passing the examination well, he won the first prize. (Use: not only)
Bina was left with a big fortune by her father. (Use: inherit)
Give him some more time and he will complete this work by tomorrow.(Begin: If …..)
She said, “May God be with you!” (Begin: She prayed that …..)
On reaching his school, he called up his mother. (Begin: As soon as …..)
She said to me, “What a pity, you missed my birthday party!” (Begin: She exclaimed …..)

Test Paper 27

In the field of journalism, cartoonists …1… (consider) as an unusual breed of people. By …2… (draw) a few lines, they can highlight or …3… (reduce) to dust somebody’s character in the society. Their style of expression can …4… (deliver) a strong blow to the subject of caricature. R.K. Laxman …5… (be) a cartoonist …6… (endow) with the skill to draw attractive cartoons. With a deep understanding of political and social realities, he was able to see and express the reality through his protagonist – the Common Man with a …7… (close) umbrella. For the readers, the Common Man …8… (become) a signature of Laxman’s art.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:

Please fill ………………………. the details in the form.
Production has been held ………………………. by strikes.
The old man passed ………………………. in his sleep.
What does V.I.P. stand ………………………. ?
How do you convert gallons ………………………. litres?
I find it difficult to sympathise ……………………….him.
We shall have to bring this matter ………………………. at the next meeting.
They have carried ………………………. the first prize.

Combine each set of the following sentences without using and, but or so:

You are very ill. You have to see a doctor.
Mona spoke very softly. I could not hear her.
Uma reached the town hall. We were to meet there.
It rained heavily. We could not play football.

For each of the sentences below, write a new sentence as similar as possible in meaning to the original sentence, using the words given in brackets.

If you water these plants, they will not wither. (unless)
He became popular by virtue of his courtesy. (because)
Apparently, it is a good proposal. (appear)
You can come with us for the picnic provided your father permits you. (unless)
He pleaded that he was ignorant of law. (ignorance)
We organiseda function to raise funds for the school. (so that)
He has lived here since the day he was born. (life)
They demanded to know what had happened. (insist)

Test Paper 28

Nasruddin …1… (accompany) a renowned scholar for a meal in a local restaurant, where they ordered for two fish.

A few minutes later, the waiter brought out a platter with two …2… (bake) fish on it, one of which was quite a bit bigger than the other. Nasruddin took the bigger fish. …3… (Give) Nasruddin a look of intense disbelief, the scholar told him that what he …4… (do) was not only selfish, but also …5… (violate) the principles of good etiquette. Nasruddin listened to the philosopher patiently, and said, “Well, Sir, what would you …6… (do) ?”

“I, being a gentleman, …7… (take) the smaller fish for myself.”

“And here you are,” said, Nasruddin “and …8… (place) the smaller fish on the scholar’s plate”.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:

The marriage party has been put ………………………. .
A committee has been set ………………………. to examine the question.
He did not come ………………………. to my expectation.
The wrestlers grappled ………………………. each other in the arena.
Can we count ………………………. you to help us?
The novel has been translated ………………………. many languages.
The new government has brought ………………………. many changes.
I’ll find you a good contractor to carry ………………………. the work.

Combine each set of the following sentences without using and, but or so:

The dog isn’t wild. He won’t harm you.
The thief saw the policeman. He immediately fled the scene.
I do not know the reason. He is not coming to school.
Rita is clever girl. The other girls are not so clever.

Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of the sentence:

There was a lot of furniture in the room. (Begin: The room was ……)
I have never seen so big a mango as this. (Use: bigger)
He is better than any other student in the class. (Use: good)
The news can’t be true for it is so good. (Use: too good)
No sooner did I enter the train than it started. (Use: as soon as)
If you send your application, you may be considered for the post. (Begin: Unless ……)
Very few towns in India are as old as Delhi. (Begin: Delhi ……)
The students will have completed the work before Sunday. (Begin: The work …..)

Test Paper 29

A minister in the government whose knowledge of English was very poor …1… (provide) with a secretary …2… (write) speeches for him. …3… ‘(Give) me a fifteen-minute speech on the non-aligned movement,’ ordered the minister.

The text was prepared to last fifteen minutes. But when the minister proceeded …4… (make) his speech, it took him half an hour to do so. The organisers of the conference …5… (upset) because their schedule …6… (disturb). The minister was upset because his secretary had let him down. He upbraided him: ‘I …7… (ask) for a fifteen minute speech; you gave me a half-hour speech. Why?’ he demanded.

‘Sir, I gave you a fifteen minute speech. But you …8… (read) out its carbon copy as well’.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:

I will pay you more ………………………. the condition that you work harder.
Today the sky is overcast ………………………. clouds.
We won victory ………………………. our rivals.
The scheme has fallen ………………………. for want of funds.
He is cured ………………………. rheumatism.
My car is always breaking ………………………. .
The function has been called ………………………. .
He wants to carry ………………………. his orders.

Combine each set of the following sentences without using and, but or so:

It is very cold. We can’t wear cotton clothes.
Sunil is a tall man. No other man in office is taller.
You must be regular in your studies. You will not do well otherwise.
Take an umbrella. It may rain.

Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of the sentence:

We are preparing for my sister’s wedding. (Use: preparations)
It is a pity that you did not listen to the suggestion. (Begin: I wish ……)
The last time we met each other was in 2009. (Use: never met)
They believe that he was involved in the crime. (Begin: It is ……)
Nobody in our team can run as fast as Tom. (Use: faster)
The principal promised to look into the case. (Begin: The Principal said, “……)
How did you manage to finish the job? (Use: succeed)
Although he was selected for the post, he did not join the office. (Begin: Despite ……)

Test Paper 30

Chandi Prasad Bhatt …1… (launch) a public campaign, …2… (know) as the ‘Chipko’ Movement, to protect the trees against the axe. In this movement, village women played an active role. They took up their positions with each …3… (hug) a tree by enveloping the trunk in their arms. This …4… (do) to warn the contractors that if they wanted …5… (cut) down a tree, they would have to attack the protestors first. Bhatt himself …6… (surprise) at the success of the movement and at the protectors’ positive participation to prevent the felling of trees. This unusual movement was successful as it …7… (base) on the principle of non-violence and …8… (focus) on the sentimental feelings of the local inhabitants who treated trees as their family members.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:

The Prime Minister is popular ………………………. his Ministers.
My uncle is very old. He goes for a walk every day.
Ruchi is very punctual. She cannot be late.
We will go for an excursion. The weather must be good.

Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so:

The child is extremely pretty. I have never seen a prettier child.
These shoes are big. They are much bigger than my feet.
The door of the temple is very narrow. An elephant cannot go through it.
The light was dim. We couldn’t read the book.

Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of the sentence:

This is the last time I speak to you. (Use: never)
Being your senior, I am expected to behave properly. (Begin: Since ……)
On realising his mistake, he apologised to her. (Begin: When …..)
“This is how you make a pizza,” the mother said to me. (Begin: The mother explained …..)
He could never have imagined that he would become famous. (Begin: Never …..)
Akbar was one of the most successful rulers. (Use: more successful)
“It is better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven.” (Begin: To serve in heaven …..)
They had to spend a night in a hotel because the train was late. (Begin: If ……)

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Test Papers 21 - 30