How to score high in English section of IBPS and bank

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Published on 8/04/2013 04:13:00 PM
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English language is one of the important section of IBPS, SBI, SSC or any other
recruitment exam. Although it is the most avoided and least prepared section. Most of the
candidates unable to crack IBPS and other bank exams bacause they are unable to qualify
sectional cutoffs and most of the candidates fails because they are unable to clear cutoff
in this section. Today I made a study plan, please read it carefully, you will find intereting
tips and shortcuts to score high in English section. Please share on Facebook if you find it
useful.

During Exam Preparations

Read newspaper daily
Do you from where reading comprehension paragraphs come from in IBPS, SBI, RRB or
any other recruitment exam ?

Most of the times these paragraphs comes from National newspapers and "The Hindu" is
the most loved newspapers by question paper setters. I am not asking you to spend whole
day in reading newspaper but reading it's editorial section will make you comfortable to
their writing style. Mind it their writing style is really difficult to understand for a
newbie.

If you want to score good in English section, then read "The Hindu" everyday. You will
feel the difference while attempting questions in exam. There is no need to practice
endless reading comprehension questions because practice papers are just a tool to
measure performance but if you really want to improve your score then read newspaper
everyday.

You can buy the newspaper or read it online on their website or download an app on your
smart phone.

Improve your vocabulary

Without strong vocabulary it is almost impossible to score well in recruitment and bank
exams. Further without strong vocabulary it is impossible to improve your reading speed
and hence reading newspapers properly.

The best way to improve your vocabulary is reading Word Power made Easy book. This
book will cost you around hundred rupees and trust me after reading this book you will
feel a big change in your reading as well as writing skills.
Another way to improve vocabulary is learning a list of frequently used words. Download
list of words from my previous post.

Read preparation books

Although there is no complete book for English language section but I strongly
recommend you to follow at least one book for this section to become comfortable with
exam type questions. Answering reading comprehension questions is an art, it is not like
quantitative aptitude section where you can play with options. In English section of IBPS,
options are really close and it is very difficult to answer rightly without understanding
facts of paragraphs. Many time facts are wrong in answers, you need to answer on the
basis of paragraph and not based on facts and general knowledge. Never guess answers in
English section.
You can find IBPS books for English section in my list bank exams books.

Learn a list of words

Best way to improve your vocabulary quickly is by learning a list of words, download list
of words in pdf format. Go through these words for atleast 3 times and try to use them in
normal language.

Use a dictionary
Use a dictionary to improve your english everyday. I recommend you to stop using those
low quality mobile dictionaries. Buy an Oxford Advanced English Dictionary which is
expalins every word deeply you search in it. Further you can buy The Oxford Dictionary
of Synonyms and Antonyms to take your writing and reading skills to next level. Try to
invest more in books and less on coaching institutes. This is the most important tip.

Practice sample papers

Solve at least 20 previous papers of different levels. I have already shared 40+ question
paper with answer key. Download previous bank exam papers in pdf format.

During Exam
Manage time
Time management is very important is IBPS and other recruitment exams. Attempting
200 questions in mere two hours is not an easy task. You to make a strategy to attempt
exam. In my previous post I wrote about Time management in IBPS exams so don't want
to repeat that here again.

Attempt last question sets first

Most of the times question at the end of English language is the easiest. Never leave
those marks rich question. In case you run out of time, you can quit one reading
comprehension set which you find really difficult but never leave sentence completion
and grammar questions are those question are high scoring.
How to attempt Reading comprehension
Major part of English language section is consists of Reading comprehension sets. In
many exam 20 out of 40 questions comes from reading comprehension. Many candidates
leave these marks rich questions which is the biggest mistake. Tips to attempt reading
comprehension sets :-

Write main points while reading as in long paragraphs it is very difficult to recall
every point.
Read questions first so that you know what are you finding
Identify the tone of paragraph, it helps in answering very quickly.
Read first and last para twice and thoroughly

Attempt English language section in the beginning

It takes a lot of efforts to read full length paragraphs after 90 minutes of hard on
quantitative and reasoning section. I strongly recommend you to attempt English
language section at first even if you are not good at this section.

Hope you will find the above tips very useful, in case of any query feel free to comment
below, I will try to answer every query asap.

Bank PO: Reading Comprehension

The format is quite simple. It contains a passage usually having a length of 500 to 2000
words. Five question are being asked on the passage. The passage is taken from
published material. The word comprehension'actually means grasping with intellect
understanding The question follow the passage are 6 fvarying quality and range. Some
of the questions test your ability to recognize implications and draw inferences. The
questions test your ability to read a passage comprehend its meaning, criticize its strength
and weaknesses: Showing that ability by selecting the correct answer from among choice
supplied. A comprehension passage contains a number of paragraphs. Every paragraph
has a central idea which is expounded with ideas and illustrations and other references.
The key sentence that gives the central idea of the paragraph may be at the beginning,
middle or end of paragraph. This sentence enunciating the central idea, is otherwise
called topic sentence The student should approach the passage with an open
mind'There is no place for the reader own. Opinion, assumptions and prejudices. The
crux of the problem is just to understand the writer's point of view. According to the
difficulty of the passage reading speed should also fast.' Step by step method is useful in
solving the questions.

Step 1: The very first step is to read the questions quickly. This give you some idea of
what you should be looking for as you read the passage.
Step 2: The second step is to read the passage at your fastest rate. The questions that have
located in your subconscious after reading the questions will force you more conscious as
you come across anything that is relevant or important if.

Step 3: Again reread the question one at a time. You will get some idea of the location in
the passage of material that Answers the questions. If you have no ideas as to location in
the passage of material that Answers the questions, go on the next question; Matter this
step you may solve all the question. Only one or two question may be left after this step.

Step 4: Reread the question carefully that is still unanswered and try to find the reason.
They may be analytical in nature which requires the analysis of a certain part of the
passage. One of the most important aspect of this is the vocabulary.

Reading Comprehension Paragraph I

Directions

Study the paragraph and answer the questions that follows:

The most important reason for this state of affairs, perhaps, is that India was the only
country in the world to truly recognise the achievements of the Soviet Union-rather than
merely focus on the debilitating faults that Communism brought to its people. The people
of India realised that the achievement of one hundred per cent literacy in a country much,
much larger than its own and with similarly complicated ethnic and religious groupings,
the rapid industrialization of a nation that was a primarily agrarian society when the
Bolshevik revolution took place in 1917, the attendant revolutionary steps in science and
technology, the accessibility of health care (primeval according to Western standards,
perhaps, but not according to Indian ones) to the general population, and despite
prohibition of the government of the time the vast outpourings in literature, music, art,
etc. are momentous and remarkable feats in any country. In contrast, all that the West
focused on were the massive human rights violations by the Soviet State on its people,
the deliberate uprooting and mass migrations of ethnic peoples from one part of the
country to another in the name of industrialization, the end of religion. In short, all the
tools of information were employed to condemn the ideology of Communism, so much at
variance with capitalist thinking. The difference with the Indian perception, I think here
is, that while the Indians reacted as negatively to what the Soviet governments did to its
people in the name of good governance (witness the imprisonment of Boris Pasternak and
the formation of an international committee to put pressure for his release with
Jawaharlal Nehru at its head), they took the pain not to condemn the people of that broad
country in black and white terms; they understood that mingled in the shades of grey
were grains of uniqueness (The Russians have never failed that characteristic in
themselves; they have twice experimented with completely different ideologies,
Communism and Capitalism both in the space of a century).

1. Which of the following statements according to the passage is correct?

1. India took heed on the weak faults of Russian policies and system
 2. India seriously commended the achievement of Russia, i.e.. cent per cent
literacy and rapid industrialization

3. The process of industrialization had already started when Russian

revolution took place in 1917

4. The literature, art and music received a setback during the communist
regime in Russia

Answer: b Show answer

2. The West did not focus on:

1. rapid growth of nuclear weapons in Russia

2. Massive human rights violation by the Soviet state on its people

3. deliberate uprooting and mass migration of ethnic people in the name of

industrialization.

4. Both B & C

Answer: a Show answer

3. The India perception of the USSR was always

1. negative

2. neutral

3. counter-reactionary

4. applauding

Answer: d Show answer

4. The passage is
1. descriptive

2. paradoxical

3. analytical

4. thought provoking

Answer: c
Bank PO: Reading Comprehension II

Reading Comprehension Paragraph II

Directions

Read the following passage and answer questions that follow: Paragraph II It was during
one of the most dreadful smallpox epidemic~ in England that Edward Jenner, a country
doctor, made a: Discovery which was to alter the course of history. Jenner noticed that the
disease seldom struck those who lived in rural areas and worked around cattle. Most
farmers and dairy workers had contracted cowpox and had recovered with nothing more
serious than a pustule which left a scar. This observation led Dr: Jenner to think: Why not
vaccinate people with cowpox to protect them from smallpox? On May 14, 1876, Dr.
Jenner took a healthy boy, James Phillips, to a dairy maid, Sarah Nelmes, who had a
cowpox pustule on her hand resulting from an infection from her master's cow. Dr.
Jenner made two shallow cuts on James Phillips arm and inoculated them with matter
taken from the cowpox sore. A pustule developed on the boy's arm formed a scab and
healed. In July of the same year. Dr. Jenner inoculated James with matter from a smallpox
pustule. During the next two weeks, the doctor watched for signs of smallpox. They did
not develop. The vaccination was successful. Dr. Jenner wrote a paper explaining hi~
method of vaccination. At first the doctors were hostile and would not listen to a.
Ridiculous procedure. Many towns people organized anti vaccination campaigns.
Gradually, however, the doctors and their patients accepted vaccination.

1. The fact that Edward Jenner was a country doctor, was important in the discovery
of smallpox vaccine, because
1. he had enough time to pursue his research in the rural areas

2. he noticed that the disease was prevalent where people worked around
cattle

3. he noticed that the disease seldom struck people who worked around the
cattle

4. he found that he could convince rural people more easily than city people

Answer: c Show answer

2. Dr. Jenner was successful as cowpox virus produces

1. severe infection in humans resulting in deaths

2. a mild infection in humans which is not enough to produce active

immunity.

3. a mild infection in humans which is enough to produce active immunity

 4. no infection in humans

Answer: c Show answer

3. Dr. Jenner made his experiment on a healthy boy who

1. died after experimentation

2. could not be relieved of his mark of pustule

3. developed the sings of pustule on his body when he was injected the
matter of cowpox

4. was paid for it

Answer: c Show answer

4. Passage here is having all an

1. narrative style 25

2. analytic style

3. provocative style

4. idiomatic style

Answer: a

Directions

Study the passage and answer the questions that follow:

India's role on the international stage was moulded by history rather than by the pomp
and circumstances of war. As a separate entity of the British empire, India became a
founder member of the League of Nations in the same Way as Australia and Canada, and
thus acquired a somewhat unique international status long before independence. During
the days of the League when India's interests were affected, such as in matters of trade or
the position of Indians overseas, the Indian delegation did not hesitate to make known its
independent position, for what it was worth. Some Indian delegates were. In demand for
chairing meetings riddled with contention and controversy, because of their reputation for
impartiality and talent for mediation. These were the small beginnings of India's later
entry into the United Nations in 1945, again as a founder member before independence.
The drafting of Chapter IX and X of the UN Charter, which deal with international social
and economic cooperation, was entrusted to a group that was presided over by an Indian.
It is important, however, to bear in mind that fact that the Government of independent
India had no part in the drafting of the UN Charter, although in accepted the obligations
contained therein. The UN was primarily the creation of three powers-The USA, UK and
Russia. The size, population, resources and potential of India lent it the weight of a
medium power in the functioning of the United Nations. The fact that India was among
the first nations to liberate itself from the imperialist domination through non-violent
means. Endowed it with a moral obligation to work in and outside the UN for the
independence of nations still under colonial rule. India has served on the Security Council
for 10 years or 5 terms, on the Trusteeship Council for 12 years or 4 terms and on the
Economic and Social Council for 21 years or 7 terms.

1. The title below that best expresses the ideas of the passage is:
1. India's role at the United Nations

2. India and Her Neighbours

3. India's International Prestige

4. British Colonial Expansion

Answer: a Show answer

2. Through a part of the British Empire, India enjoyed great prestige at the League in
as much as Indian delegates were in demand for chairing meeting to consider
controversial issues. It was because: (l) Indian delegates were well known. For
their impartiality (II). Indian delegates had talent for mediation (III). India was
considered a power to reckon with:
1. I and III are correct

2. I and II are correct

3. I and III are correct

4. only I is correct

Answer: b Show answer

3. Which articles of the UN Charter deal with International, Social and Economic
Co-operation?
1. Articles IX and X

2. Articles ~I and XII

3. Articles VIII and XIII

4. Articles VI and VII

Answer: a Show answer

 4. Which of the following countries does not find any coverage in the passage?
1. The USA

2. Britain

3. The Russia

4. Sri Lanka

Answer: d Show answer

A person who is out to destroy all government and order

Anarchist
Government by the people
Democracy
The whole mass of air surrounding the earth
Atmosphere
One who is not sure of the existence of God
Agnostic

A medicine which prevents infection by killing germs

Antiseptic
One who does something not professionally but for pleasure
Amateur
A statement open to more than one interpretation
Ambiguous
One who makes an official examination of accounts
Auditor
Marrying more than one wife or more than one husband at a time
Polygamy
The science that studies plants
Botany
The science which studies natural processes of living things
Biology
People working together in the same office or department
Colleagues
The state of remaining unmarried
Celibacy
The action of bringing into completion
Consummation
To give one's authority to another
Delegate
Study of the relation of living things to environment
Ecology
The action of looking within or into one's own mind
Introspection
One incapable of being tired
Indefatigable
A letter, poem, etc. whose author is unknown
Anonymous
Work for which no salary is paid
Honorary
One who looks at the bright side of things
Optimist
One who cannot read or write
Illiterate
A game or battle in which neither party wins
Draw
Holding established opinions
Orthodox
Hater of women
Misogynist
The study of the origin and physical and cultural development of mankind
Anthropology
The science which studies the crust of the earth
Geology
The science which studies animals
Zoology

Antonyms & Synonyms (MCQ )

Directions (Q. No. 1-10): In this section each item consists of a word or a phrase which is
bold in the sentence given. It is followed by four words or phares. Selecte the word or
phrase which is closest to the opposite in meaning of the bold word or phrase.

1. The world media has tended to focus far more upon occasional discord than on our
spectacular achievements.

(1) Tranquillity
(2) Harmony
(3) Failure
(4) Confusion
(5) None of these

2. The evidence Indira gave in support of her theory was quite copious.

(1) Unsatisfactory
(2) Unconvincing
(3) Poor
(4) Scanty
(5) None of these

3. Self-reproach is not always very good thing.

(1) Self-esteem
(2) Self-assurance
(3) Self-justification
(4) Self-satisfaction
(5) None of these

4. The dictator quelled the uprising.

(1) Fostered
(2) Defended
(3) Supported
(4) Fomented
(5) None of these

5. The drug gave him instant relief from pain.

(1) Final
(2) Complete
(3) Genuine
(4) Delayed
(5) None of these

6. His radical views made him unpopular.

(1) Conservative
(2) Narrow
(3) Outmoded
(4) Childish
(5) None of these

7. The Indian cricketers put up a dismal performance in Australia.

(1) Cheerful
(2) Spirited
(3) Bright
(4) Memorable
(5) None of these

8. He was poor and arrogant.

(1) Modest
(2) Obedient
(3) Timid
(4) Earnest
(5) None of these

9. The injection was given to the patient to alleviate the pain.

(1) Elevate
(2) Sharpen
(3) Aggravate
(4) Promote
(5) None of these
10. There is quite tenuous evidence for it.

(1) Substantial
(2) Enough
(3) Reasonable
(4) Ample
(5) None of these

Idioms and Phrases

Back out to withdraw from a promise, contract : I felt grieved when he backed out of
his promise to help me.

Back up to support; to sustain : He backed up his report with relevant statistics.

Bear upon to be relevant to : This argument does not bear upon the subject under
discussion.

Blow up to explode : The mine blew up and all the labourers working inside were
killed.
to reprimand or scold : If you continue to be negligent, the teacher will blow you up.

Break down of a car; a piece of machinery; to go wrong so that it will not function :
The car broke down on our way to Mumbai.
to collapse; to succumb to uncontrollable weeping : She broke down completely on
hearing the news of her husband's death.
to succumb to a nervous collapse through overwork or worry : He worked so hard that
his health broke down near the examination.

Break off to end; to discontinue; to desist : We had to break off our conversation when
he arrived. She broke off in the middle of the story. She did not like his nature and broke
off the engagement.

Break up to disperse; to dissolve : The college will break up for the Puja holidays on
25th October. The meeting will break up after the President has addressed the audience.

Bring up to rear : Those brought up in adversity are able to cope with life better.

Call forth to provoke : The minister's views on the disinvestment policy of the
government called forth a good deal of bitter criticism.

Call out to shout : I called out to him but he disappeared in the dark.
to announce by calling or shouting : The Manager called out to the peon that he was
being immediately fired.
Call upon to order; to require : I was unfortunately called upon to give evidence
against him.

Carry on to continue : If you carry on working hard, your business will soon flourish.
to manage : He carried on his business so well that he soon amassed a huge fortune.

Cast away to throw aside : You must cast away all your apprehensions and accept the
offer.

Catch up with to overtake; to draw level : Last week I had to stay late at the office to
catch up with some pending files.

Come off to take place : The prize distribution came off on Tuesday last.
to turn out successful : His speeches at the conference always came off beautifully.

Cry down to deprecate; to make little of : You must not unneccessarily cry down the
conduct of others.

Cry out against to complain loudly against : The opposition parties cried out against
the fast pace of the globalisation of the Indian economy.

Cut out designed for : Your were cut out to be a lecturer in a college.

Drop in to visit casually : On my way to the college, I dropped in at Mira's place.

Drop out As the race progressed, many children dropped out.

Fall back to recede; to retreat : On seeing the armed guards, the civilians fell back.

Fall down from a higher position to a lower one : The branch gave way and he fell
down into the canal.

Fall off to withdraw; to drop off : Some of our subscribers have fallen off. Friends fall
off in adversity.

Fall under to come under : This colony does not fall under my jurisdiction.

Get along to prosper; to progress; to proceed : Well, doctor, how is your patient
getting along? It is simply impossible to get along with him.

Get on with to live pleasantly together; to progress : How are you getting on with
your studies?

Get into to be involved in : It is easy to get into scandals but hard to come out
unscathed.
Give in to surrender; to yield : I gave into her repeated requests and accepted the offer.

Give over not to do any longer : It is time you gave over pretending that you have
access to the Prime Minister.

Go after to follow; to pursue : The policeman went after the thief but the latter
managed to escape in the dark of the night.

Go down to be accepted : The terrorist attack on WTC will go down in history as one
of the worst acts of terrorism.

Go without to remain without : he is so poor that sometimes he has to go without

food.

Go by to follow : I am sorry to disappoint you but we have to go by the rules.

to elapse (used of time) : Months have gone by but I have not called upon him.

Hang about to loiter near a place : Last evening I say your friend hanging about your
house.

Hang upon to depend upon : The success of any venture hangs upon the seriousness
with which it is undertaken.

Hold out to endure; to refuse to yield : How long can you hold out against starvation?
to continue : Sugar stocks are not likely to hold out very long.
to offer : She held out her hand to the Prince.

Hold to abide by : Whatever resistance there might be, I will hold to my decision.

Keep off to ward off : His stern looks keep off the flatterers.
to maintain : They have been trying to keep up their standard of living though there
has been a considerable decline in their income.

Keep up with to keep pace with : You read too fast; I cannot keep up with you.

Knock out to win by hitting the opponent insensible in a boxing bout : The challenger
was knocked out in two minutes.

Common Error (Articles, Prepositions)

1. Articles: There are three articles in Englisha, an and the. A and an are called
indefinite article.The is the definite article. An article is placed before a noun. If
there is an adjective before a noun, the article is placed before the adjective:

a train,
a fast train,
an incident,
an unusual incident
Note: We can never use a singular count noun alone, that is, without
a/an/the/my/some/any etc.

2. A/an: Singular count nouns take the indefinite article a/an with them:

a ball
an egg
a dog
an elephant

Uncount nouns do not generally take an article with them. we do not generally say

a milk
a beauty
a wisdom
for milk, beauty, wisdom cannot be counted.

3. We use a with singular count nouns beginning with a consonant sound:

a girl
a map
a university
a union
a one-sided affair
a one-rupee note

Note: That the words university, union, and one begin with a vowel but no a vowel
sound. University and union begin with the yoo sound while one begins with the w
sound.
Well-known words which begin with a vowel but take a with them are:

European
uniform
union
unit
universal
usual
useful
eau-de-cologne

4. An: An is used before words beginning with a vowel sound:

an umbrella
an opportunity
an honest boy
an honourable person

The letter h in honest and honourable is not sounded. Common words in English
which begin with an unsounded h are:

heir
heiress
honest
honorary
honourable
hour
hourly

5. In abbreviations, if consonants begin with a vowel sound, they take an before

them:

an M.P.
an S.P.

But if consonants begin with a consonant sound, they take a before them:

a Ph.D.
a B.Ed.

6. Note the use of a in the following phrases:

a pity a shame
a pleasure a noise
a rage a nuisance
a headache a toothache
a bad cold in a whisper
in a low voice in a loud voice
to be at a loss

7. The definite Article the: The, the definite article, is a weakended form of that. It is
pronounced as (di:) when it preceded a vowel sound and as do before a consonant sound.
In meaning also, it is weaker than that. Instead of pointing out, it defines, particularises or
singles out:
I have read the book you are talking of. (not any book but a particular book that is being
referred to)
The artists who came to seem me today are quite accomplished. (not any artists but the
ones who came to see me today)

8. In the examples given in 7, the book and the artists are particularised by two
adjective clauses. In certain cases, a noun's being particular may be clear from the context
and it may not have any defining expression with it. The is also prefixed to such a noun:
Shut the door. (the door of the room in which we are sitting)
He was brought before the Principal. (The Principal of the institution in which he was
studying)
The king pardoned him. (the king we are talking about at the moment)

9. If I am looking at the picture of a room, I can talk about the ceiling, the floor, because
there is only one ceiling and one floor, but I cannot talk about the wall if there are more
than one walls in the picture because I would not be talking about the only one. I can,
however, talk about the left wall and the right wall because there is only one left wall and
one right wall in the picture.

10. More about the: We use the definite article the

1. with superlatives and the words used in the superlative sense:

the best student in the class
the Chief Justice
the Prime Minister
2. when special emphasis almost equivalent to the use of the superlative is intended:
He is the leader today. (the greatest leader)
This is just the thing. (the right thing)
This is the way to solve this problem. (the proper way).
3. even in comparative degrees when one of the two items is singled out in
preference to the other:
He is the moon, the world, (But not: He is the finer batsman than others. The
correct form would be : He is a finer bats man than others.)
4. with things of which there is only one in our world, or things which are otherwise
well known but do not begin with a capital letter:
the sun, the moon, the world, the equator, the north, the east.
5. in place of possessive adjectives:
I hit him on the head. (= his head) Disappointment stared him in the face.( = his
face)
6. with common nouns when one noun is used to represent the whole class or
species:
The horse is a faithful animal.
The lion is the king of animals.
7. with an adjective with a plural notion to indicate a class of persons:
The rich should help the poor. (We can say: Rich men should help poor men But
not: The rich men should help the poor men.)
8. as an adverb in case of certain comparatives:
The more we get, the more we want.
The harder you work, the better it will be.
9. to suggest distribution: (= each)
We can buy oranges by the dozen.
Cloth is sold by the metre.
 Exercise
Fill in the blanks with a, an or the where necessary:

1. more you read, more you know.

2. stone hit him on head.
3. fox is very clever animal.
4. Only rich can afford comforts of modern times.
5. I have elder brother and younger sister. sister is wiser of the two.
6. If you are looking for entertaining as well as educative magazine, this is
magazine for you.
7. sun rises in east and sets in west.
8. India is a little to north of equator.
9. oranges are sold by dozen.

11. Articles with Proper Nouns

1. Proper nouns, as a rule, do not take articles with them:

Shakespeare was a great playwright. (Shakespeare)
Samudragupta was a great warrior. (Samudragupta)

2. But if a proper noun is used as a common noun, it may take with it some article:
He is a good playwright but not a Shakespeare. (not as great a playwright as Shakespeare)
Kalidas is the Shakespeare of India. (as great a playwright for India as Shakespeare is for
England)

3. We need the definite article the with the names of:

Rivers the Ganga, the Yamuna

Seas and oceans the Red Sea, the Atlantic Ocean
Mountain ranges the Alps, the Himalayas
Holy books the Bible, the Ramcharit Manas
Trains, ships the Himgiri Express, the Ashoka
(the name of a ship).
Newspapers and the Pioneer, magazines the
Hindustan Times, the Filmfare, the portstar
Well-known the Gateway of India, buildings
the Red Fort, the Qutub Minar
Countries (if their name contains a common
noun) the U.S.A.,
the U.K. (In United States of
America, States is a common noun.)
Peoples, parties the English, the French, the
Whigs
The whole families the Khans, the Kapurs

Prepositions
Prepositions

Prepositions of Time
A number of prepositions may be used to denote time: from Monday; after my
return; during the night; till tomorrow; before the bell rings; a quarter to ten. In
most cases, it is easy to decide which preposition to use. The following prepositions,
however, need special attention.

1. At, on, in

1. At usually denotes a definite point of time but can also be used for indefinite
periods:
at 7 p.m.; at this moment; (Definite at midnight; point of time)
at the end of the class;
at night; at dawn; (indefinite at Durga Puja; at Diwali. periods)
2. On is used with days and dates:
on Monday; on 1st May;
on the annual day; on a May afternoon.
3. In is used with parts of the day, and with months, years, seasons:
in the morning; in September;
in 2004; in winter.
4. In is also used with the future tense to show the period in which an action will
happen:
in a week; in four hours.
5. In and within. In means at the end of; within means before the end of:
I shall be back in a week. (when a week is over)
I shall be back within a week. (before a week is over)

2. By

By refers to a point of future time and denotes the latest time at which an action will be
over:
The competition will be over by 6 p.m.
(It should be over before it is 6 p.m., but the latest time at which it can be over is 6 p.m.)
They will have declared the result by tomorrow evening.

3. For

For is used with periods of time to show the duration of an action. It is mostly used with
perfect continuous tenses though it may be found with other tenses as well:
This discussion has been going on for two hours.
I have worked in this office for two years.
For may sometimes be omitted also:
I have been busy the whole morning.(for the whole morning)

4. Since
Since marks the point of time at which an action began. It is used only if the action has
continued till the time of speaking; hence it is found with perfect continuous tenses.
Unlike for, it can never be ommitted:
She has been teaching in this college since 2001.
A cool breeze has been blowing since morning.

5. From

From denotes the starting point of an action and is used in all cases except when the
action has continued till the moment of speaking. It is almost invariably used with to or
till:
The examination will be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
He was the Chief Minister of the state from 1999 to 2002.

6. At, in

1. At has the idea of an exact point and is, therefore, used with houses, villages,
small towns. In has the idea of a larger area and is used while speaking of bigger
towns, states, countries, etc.:
at Karol Bagh in New Delhi;
at Ambala; in England;
at the end; in the middle.
2. At conveys the idea of a general neighbourhood; in conveys the idea of something
contained:
We say at the table to take our lunch.
Please wait for me at the Regal PVR.
Turn left at the next crossing.
There are two Pepsi bottles in the refrigerator.
You will find the stapler in the drawer.

7. On, upon

On is used while speaking of things at rest; upon is used with things in motion:
The file is on the table.
The dog sprang upon the table.

8. Above, over

Both above and over mean higher than. Sometimes we can use either of them:
The flags waved over our heads.
The flags waved above our heads.
But over can also mean coverning, or vertically above:
My father put a blanket over me.
There is a fan exactly over the table.

9. Below, under
Both below and under mean lower than and sometimes we can use either of them. But
under means vertically below. It also has the idea of contact:
There was a beautiful lake below us in the valley.
His shoes were lying under the table.
She put the keys of the wardrobe under her pillow.

10. Into

Into denotes movement towards the interior of something:

He jumped into the well.
One stream flows into another.
Figuratively: We have entered into an agreement to export handicrafts to some European
countries.

11. For

For is used to denote direction when the verb shows the beginning of a movement:
The children leaves for the school at 7 a.m.
We shall soon set off for Mumbai.

12. Against

Against shows pressure or contact:

He threw the goods against the wall.
Prepositions of direction from. Most common among these are: from, off, out of:

13. From

From is used with the point of departure:

He brought these books from the market.
He had already gone from home.

14. Out of

It is the opposite of into. It means from the interior of:

He took a few books out of the Cupboard.

Sentence Correction (MCQ )

1. The adaptation of mammals to almost all possible
(1)
modes of life parallels the reptiles in the
(2)
Mesozoic time, and except for greater intelligence,

(3)
the mammals do not seem to have done much better than corresponding
reptilian
(4)
forms. No error
(5)
2. Sancho ran as fast as he could walk to help his
(1) (2)
master whom he found lying on the ground and
(3)
not able to stir, such a blow he and Rozinante
(4)
had received. No error
(5)
3. As Caesar loved me, I wept for him, as he was fortunate I rejoice at
it. No error
(1) (2) (3) (4)
(5)
4. The people of Orleans, when they first saw her in their city thought
she was an angel. No error
(1) (2) (3)
(4) (5)
5. Chemical compounds with barium, cobalt and strontium are responsible
to many of the vivid colour in fireworks. No error
(1)

Study Materials for IBPS, Bank Exams : English

Language - Sentence Arrangements [MCQ]

Sentence Arrangements (MCQ )

1. A. Humour gives you the opportunity to exaggerate a point which is presumably why it
is best remembered.
B. Using humour can be not just the most arduous route but the joke may fail to cause a
flutter.
C. But a warming here: humour has to be funny.
D. Everyone with a successful humour advertisement agress that they are very careful
about the script.

(1) DCBA
(2) ACDB
(3) ACBD
(4) ABDC
(5) None of these

2. A. Guruji had been undergoing a terrific strain for over five decades in devoting his
body, mind, heart, and soul to the causes of service to humanity and the spread of
spiritual enlightenment.
B. The excessive strain of long tour abroad came as a severe low to his health, but he still
refused to rest, continuing his studies, talks and writings with unabated vigour and
enthusiasm.
C. This had already undermined his health but he was never one to reserve any time or
attention to his own well being.
D. In fact it required great vigilance to prevent him from giving advice and blessings to
his devotees and disciples even when he could hardly speak on account of the strain.

(1) ABCD
(2) BADC
(3) BDAC
(4) ACBD
(5) None of these

3. A. A totally personal agenda will never bring about this level of fulfillment because
that has to result from integration and not be a substitute for it.
B. One's consciousness then becomes centred in the identity of the soul.
C. Realising ourselves and our potential entails becoming a pure reflection and
manifestation of the inner self.
D. Since the soul lives by different laws and values, there is a fundamental conflict in
human nature that must be resolved if integration and fulfilment is to be complete.

(1) DCAB
(2) ABCD
(3) CBDA
(4) CABD
(5) None of these

4. A. Time will be called out not just by bartenders but also by gambling machines in the
Australian state of Victoria.
B. TS Eliot would have got a poem out of this.
C. Natural lighting has also been made mandatory in some casmos so that fully addicted
punters do not mistake the fluorescent lighting for some kind Alladin's lamp that can
summon a Djinn to take care of home and hearth.
D. From July 4, clocks will be fitted to 27,500 gambling machines down under to remind
punters that it's time to return home and tend to their familiar obligations.

(1) DACB
(2) DABC
(3) CABD
(4) BADC
(5) None of these

5. A. Naturally, the committee assumes that anybody interested in national heritage is

fluent in Latin.
B. So avers the National Heritage committee's new report, recalling the inscription in
memory of Sir Christopher Wren.
C. But for those readers whose classics are a bit rusty, it translates as: "If you seek a
monument to him, look about you".
D. "Si momentum requires, circumstance".

(1) BCAD
(2) DBAC
(3) DCBA
(4) ADCB
(5) None of these

6. A. In India, home to 2,500-3, 750 tigers (half the world's total), they are being poached
at the rate of at least one a day.
B. The threat has, however, sparked off another, though smaller, crisis a spate of
recriminations between conservations organisations.
C. As anyone with a letter-box, a TV set and an environmental consceience will know, the
tiger may soon be extinct in the wild.
D. It does't take a mathematician to work out that, if those rates continue, there may be no
Bengal tigers left outside zoos, within a decade.

(1) DCBA
(2) CDBA
(3) CBAD
(4) CADB
(5) None of these

7. A. Malignancies were diagnosed in three family members on the basis of this

abnormality and then surgically removed.
B. It appears to be the first instance in which this specific abnormality in this case an
exchange of material between the chromosomes number three and eight in all cells of the
person's body has been traced from generation to generation and thus permitted
identification of cancer patients before they had any symptoms.
C. An inherited genetic abnormality has been linked to a specific type of kidney cancer in
a family in which ten members were affected over three generations.
D. The discovery by scientists at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, USA, provides a
potentially important clue to the origin of at least some cancers.

(1) DCAB
(2) CBDA
(3) ABCD
(4) DABC
(5) None of these

8. A. In what has since become the first, legendary tale of computer forensics, Dr. Stoll
spent a year of meticulous work tracking and recording the hacker's movements.
B. This was an intriguing problem for Clifford Stoll.
C. In August 1986, an astronomer at the University of California, noticed a 75 percent
discrepancy in the accounts for a computer in his library.
D. When he investigated, he found that somebody had broken into his computer and used
it for a short time without permission just enough to unbalance the accounts.

(1) CABD
(2) CBDA
(3) CBAD
(4) CDBA
(5) None of these

9. A. A curved titanium plate with five tiny screws would hold the bone in place and help
reform the damaged margin of the eye.
B. Deftly, he replaced the wedge of bone in Tenneh's face.
C. Intravenous antibiotics would take care of any lingering infection.
D. When he'd eliminated most of the diseased tissue, he stopped.

(1) ABCD
(2) DCAB
(3) DCBA
(4) ACBD
(5) None of these

Study Materials for IBPS, Bank Exams : English

Language
Foreign Words & Phrases
1. Ab initio (Latin) From the beginning.

2. Aborigine (Latin) Native, any of the earliest known inhabitants of a certain region.

3. Actionnaire (French) Shareholder.

4. Actualite (French) Real existence; appropriateness.

5. Ad hoc (Latin) For the special purpose.

6. Ad interim (Latin) In the meantime; temporary.

7. Ad libitum (Latin) As one pleases.

8. Ad referendum (Latin) For further consideration.

9. Ad valorem (Latin) According to value.

10. A Dio (Italian) To God; Addio! Adieu!

11. Bacchus (Latin, Greek) The god of wine.

12. Basta (Italian) Enough ! No more !

13. Bastide (French) A French country house.

14. Beau garcon (French) A handsome man.

15. Beau jour (French) Fine day, good times.

16. Beaux-arts (French) The fine arts.

17. Beneficiare (French) The person receiving benctits.

18. Bene qui latiut bene vixit (Latin) He has lived\ell who has lived obscure.

19. Billet-doux (French) A love letter.

20. Cadre (French) A frame, a scheme; a list of officers.

21. Cafe (French) Coffee.

22. Camaraderie (French) Comrade; Friendly fellowship.

23. Carpe diem (Latin) Enjoy the present day.

24. Cara sposa (Italian) Dear wife.

25. Chef (French) A cook in charge of a kitchen; head cook

26. Chesara Sara (Italian) What will be will be.

27. Danke, Schoon (German) Many thanks.

28. De bonne grace (French) With good grace.

29. De facto (Latin) In fact, actually.

30. De jure (Latin) In the law; by right.

31. Dei gratin (Latin) By the grace of God.

32. Deluxe (French) Luxurious.

33. Ecce! (Latin) Behold!

34. Edition deluxe (French) A splendid and expensive edition of a book.

35. Elegant (French) A person of fashion.

36. Elite (French) The best part.

37. En famille (French) With ones family; at home; in an informal way.

38. En masse (French) In a group, universally.

39. Extra (Latin) Beyond, outside the scope of.

40. Fade (French) To become less distinct.

(Study Materials) English Language : Analogy - MCQ

Analogy (MCQ)
Direction (Q. No. 1-9): Each of the questions consists of two capitalised words which
have a certain relationship to each other. Followed by four pairs of words. Choose the
pair that is related to each other in the same way as the capitalised pair.

1. PEST : IRKSOME
(1) salesclerk : courteous
(2) expert : proficient
(3) enigma : unexpected
(4) leader : non-descript
(5) None of these

2. PROLOGUE : NOVEL
(1) preamble : constitution
(2) sketch : drawing
(3) movement : symphony
(4) index : book
(5) None of these

3. EXPAND : VOLUME
(1) ascent : flight
(2) proliferate : number
(3) bend : flexibility
(4) cool : temperature
(5) None of these

4. RUST : CORROSION
(1) vapour : flammability
(2) dew : condensation
(3) crystal : purification
(4) solution : precipitation
(5) None of these

5. CLAIM : LEGITIMATED
(1) hypothesis : confirmed
(2) verdict : appealed
(3) counterargument : doubted
(4) proposition : repeated
(5) None of these

6. CRIME : PUNISHMENT
(1) lawyer : judge
(2) court : room
(3) accused : defendant
(4) homicide : penalty
(5) None of these

7. NUTS : BOLTS
(1) nitty : gritty
(2) bare : feet
(3) naked : clothed
(4) hard : soft
(5) None of these

8. BEE : HONEY
(1) wolf : cub
(2) spider : web
(3) goat : cheese
(4) ant : hill
(5) None of these

9. TRANSISTOR : RADIO
(1) sound : stereo
(2) sand : grains
(3) awl : wrench
(4) cement : driveway
(5) None of these

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