AFCAT English Comprehension 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the passage: 'The Indian Air Force operates in one of the most challenging environments on Earth. From sub-zero temperatures in the Himalayas to scorching desert heat, pilots must adapt to extreme conditions. This demands not just physical fitness but extraordinary mental resilience.' According to the passage, what does flying in India's diverse geography primarily demand?
- Only advanced aircraft technology
- Both physical fitness and mental resilience (Correct answer)
- Long years of theoretical study
- Specialized desert survival training alone
Correct answer: Both physical fitness and mental resilience
The passage explicitly states that extreme conditions demand 'not just physical fitness but extraordinary mental resilience.'
Question 2: Choose the correct indirect speech: Direct: The instructor said, 'You must revise the chapter tonight.' Indirect: The instructor told ______
- him that you must revise the chapter that night.
- him that he must revise the chapter tonight.
- him that he must revise the chapter that night. (Correct answer)
- him that he must has revised the chapter that night.
Correct answer: him that he must revise the chapter that night.
In indirect speech, 'you' becomes 'he,' 'tonight' shifts to 'that night,' and the modal 'must' remains unchanged.
Question 3: Select the synonym of 'PERSPICACIOUS':
- Confused
- Shrewd (Correct answer)
- Timid
- Verbose
Correct answer: Shrewd
'Perspicacious' means having a ready insight into things; 'shrewd' is the closest synonym.
Question 4: Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
- The committee have decided to postpone the exercise.
- The data shows a significant improvement in response time. (Correct answer)
- The jury were divided in their opinion.
- The staff are responsible for their individual duties.
Correct answer: The data shows a significant improvement in response time.
In American English, 'data' is increasingly treated as singular, and 'shows' is the appropriate singular verb here.
Question 5: Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word: His speech was so ______ that the entire audience was captivated from start to finish. (A) mundane (B) incoherent (C) eloquent (D) monotonous
- mundane
- incoherent
- eloquent (Correct answer)
- monotonous
Correct answer: eloquent
'Eloquent' means fluent and persuasive in speech, explaining why the audience was captivated throughout.
Question 6: Identify the literary device in: 'The brave soldier stood like a rock under enemy fire.'
- Metaphor
- Simile (Correct answer)
- Alliteration
- Oxymoron
Correct answer: Simile
The comparison uses 'like,' making it a simile that compares the soldier's steadfastness to a rock.
Question 7: Choose the option that best replaces the underlined word to improve the sentence: 'The officer gave a very long and boring speech about the new regulations.' (A) verbose (B) succinct (C) compelling (D) brief
- verbose (Correct answer)
- succinct
- compelling
- brief
Correct answer: verbose
'Verbose' means using more words than necessary, replacing 'very long and boring' with a precise vocabulary word.
AFCAT English Comprehension 5
Read the passage: 'The Indian Air Force operates in one of the most challenging environments on Earth.
From sub-zero temperatures in the Himalayas to scorching desert heat, pilots must adapt to extreme conditions.
This demands not just physical fitness but extraordinary mental resilience.'
According to the passage, what does flying in India's diverse geography primarily demand?