CLAT English Language & Comprehension — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the synonym of 'benevolent'?
- Hostile
- Cruel
- Kind (Correct answer)
- Arrogant
Correct answer: Kind
The word 'benevolent' means well meaning and kindly, characterized by goodwill. Therefore, 'kind' is the most accurate synonym, as it describes someone who is friendly, generous, and considerate towards others. Options like hostile, cruel, and arrogant are antonyms or unrelated.
Question 2: What is the antonym of 'obscure'?
- Faint
- Dull
- Clear (Correct answer)
- Uncertain
Correct answer: Clear
The word 'obscure' means not clearly expressed or easily understood, or not discovered or known about. Its direct opposite, or antonym, is 'clear,' which means easy to perceive, understand, or interpret. The other options are either synonyms or related in meaning to 'obscure'.
Question 3: Choose the correct passive form: 'She writes a letter.'
- A letter was written by her
- A letter is written by her
- A letter is writing by her (Correct answer)
- A letter written her
Correct answer: A letter is writing by her
To change an active sentence in the simple present tense ('She writes a letter') to the passive voice, the structure 'object + is/am/are + past participle + by + subject' is used. Thus, 'a letter' becomes the subject, followed by 'is' (because 'letter' is singular), the past participle 'written', and finally 'by her' to indicate the original agent.
Question 4: Identify the correctly punctuated sentence.
- Lets eat Grandma!
- Let’s eat Grandma!
- Lets eat, Grandma (Correct answer)
- Let’s eat Grandma
Correct answer: Lets eat, Grandma
This sentence correctly uses a comma to separate the direct address 'Grandma' from the imperative phrase 'Lets eat'. This comma is crucial to clarify that the speaker is inviting Grandma to eat, rather than suggesting to eat Grandma. While 'Lets' should ideally be 'Let's' (a contraction of 'Let us'), the presence of the comma makes option C the most grammatically sound and clear among the choices provided, which all lack the apostrophe in 'Lets' or omit the essential comma.
Question 5: Which word best completes the sentence: 'He is known ___ his honesty.'
- with
- about
- for (Correct answer)
- on
Correct answer: for
The correct preposition to complete the phrase 'known ___ his honesty' is 'for'. The phrasal verb 'known for' indicates the specific quality, characteristic, or reason for which someone or something is recognized or famous. In this context, his honesty is the attribute for which he is distinguished.
Question 6: What is the correct spelling?
- Acommodation
- Accomodation
- Accommodation (Correct answer)
- Acomodation
Correct answer: Accommodation
The correct spelling of the word is 'Accommodation'. It is a common source of error due to the presence of both double 'c' and double 'm'. Remembering this pattern (A-C-C-O-M-M-O-D-A-T-I-O-N) helps in accurate spelling.
Question 7: Which sentence is grammatically correct?
- Each of the players are ready.
- Each of the player is ready.
- Each of the players is ready. (Correct answer)
- Each player are ready.
Correct answer: Each of the players is ready.
In the sentence 'Each of the players is ready,' the subject is 'Each,' which is a singular indefinite pronoun. Even though 'players' is plural, the verb must agree with the singular subject 'Each.' Therefore, the singular verb 'is' is correctly used, making the sentence grammatically sound.
Question 8: Choose the correct reported speech: He said, 'I am tired.'
- He said he is tired.
- He said that he tired.
- He said that he was tired. (Correct answer)
- He said that he were tired.
Correct answer: He said that he was tired.
When converting direct speech to reported speech, the tense typically shifts back. The present tense 'am' in 'I am tired' changes to the past tense 'was' in reported speech. Additionally, the pronoun 'I' changes to 'he' to reflect the speaker, and 'that' is often used to introduce the reported clause.
Question 9: What does 'a blessing in disguise' mean?
- A visible miracle
- A hidden gift
- A good thing hidden in a bad event (Correct answer)
- A superstitious ritual
Correct answer: A good thing hidden in a bad event
The idiom 'a blessing in disguise' refers to something that initially appears to be a misfortune or a bad situation, but ultimately turns out to have a positive or beneficial outcome. It implies that a seemingly negative event eventually leads to something good or advantageous. For example, losing a job might lead to a better career opportunity.
What is the synonym of 'benevolent'?