General English • Topic Practice Hub
English Core Topics (ADRE Questions & PYQ Solutions)
Practice official ADRE solved questions and previous year paper sets for English Core Topics. Includes step-by-step solutions and explanations. Explore 47 questions collected from official SLRC ADRE Grade 3 & Grade 4 papers.
Total MCQs
47
Official PYQs
47
Subject
General English
Format
Bilingual MCQs
Solved MCQs & Official Answer Explanations
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 1
Which word would substitute the marked portion - "The Zebra stripes on roads are for crossing by people who are walking ." ?
A.Pedestrian ✓ (Correct)
B.Pediatrician
C.Pollination
D.Postulation
Explanation: People walking on foot are called pedestrians, and zebra crossings are designated pedestrian crossings.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 2
Fill in the blank. January was the __________ month last year.
A.Cold
B.Colder
C.Coldest ✓ (Correct)
D.Cool
Explanation: The superlative degree 'Coldest' is appropriate here as it compares January to all other months of the year.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 3
Identify the proper noun in the following list.
A.High mountain
B.Black car
C.Deep sea
D.Pacific Ocean ✓ (Correct)
Explanation: 'Pacific Ocean' is a specific name of a body of water, making it a proper noun. The others are common noun phrases.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 4
Which of the following is a collective noun for ships ?
A.pack
B.herd
C.swarm
D.fleet ✓ (Correct)
Explanation: A group of ships sailing together is called a 'fleet'.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 5
Identify the correct definition of verb.
A.Naming words
B.Things description words
C.Action words ✓ (Correct)
D.Joining words
Explanation: Verbs are words used to describe an action, state, or occurrence.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 6
Change into passive voice: Previous climbers had cut steps in the ice.
A.Steps had been cut in the ice ✓ (Correct)
B.Steps were cut in the ice
C.Climbers cut steps in the ice
D.Steps cut in the ice by climbers
Explanation: Past perfect active 'had cut' changes to past perfect passive 'had been cut'. Object 'steps' becomes subject: "Steps had been cut in the ice..."
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 7
Change into passive voice: No one can do anything unless someone gives us more information.
A.Nothing can be done without giving information.
B.Nothing can be done unless we are given more information. ✓ (Correct)
C.Nothing can be done unless someone gives more information.
D.Nothing can be done without information.
Explanation: 'No one can do anything' converts to 'Nothing can be done', and 'unless someone gives us...' converts to 'unless we are given...'.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 8
Put the verb in brackets into the present perfect tense: Where you (be)? — I (be) to the dentist.
A.have you had, I have been
B.have you gone, I have been
C.have you been, I’ve been ✓ (Correct)
D.went, I went
Explanation: Correct present perfect interrogative/declarative forms are 'have you been' and 'I've been'.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 9
Read the passage (Okapi) and answer: The function of the third paragraph is to :
A.pose a question about Okapi behaviour
B.rebut a theory about Okapi behaviour
C.counter the assertion that Okapis are rare
D.explain why Okapis appeared to be rare ✓ (Correct)
Explanation: The 3rd paragraph provides reasons (camouflage, solitary behavior, interior forest living) explaining why Okapis appeared to be rare to observers.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 10
Okapis stay within the forest interior. The passage relates this to the __________ of the Okapi.
A.scarcity ✓ (Correct)
B.mind
C.culture
D.size
Explanation: The text links their preference for the interior to their perceived scarcity and specialized leaf diet away from forest edges.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 11
The first person to use a gear system on bicycles was :
A.H.J. Lawson
B.Kirkpatrick Macmillan
C.Pierre Michaux
D.James Starley ✓ (Correct)
Explanation: Paragraph 4 explicitly states that James Starley "put a gear on the pedals to make the bicycle more efficient".
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 12
Which of the following statements from the passage represents the writer’s opinion ?
A.The safety bicycle would look familiar to today’s cyclists. ✓ (Correct)
B.Two hundred years ago, bicycles didn’t even exist.
C.The Michaux brothers called their bicycle a vélocipède.
D.Macmillan’s machine had tyres with iron rims.
Explanation: "The safety bicycle would look familiar to today's cyclists" expresses an interpretive judgment/opinion of the writer, whereas others are historical facts.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 13
Macmillan added iron rims to the tyres of his bicycle to :
A.add weight to the bicycle
B.make the tyres last longer ✓ (Correct)
C.make the ride less bumpy
D.make the ride less tiring
Explanation: Paragraph 2 states: "Macmillan's machine had tyres with iron rims to keep them from getting worn down" (i.e. to make them last longer).
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 14
Find the analogy: SHELF : BOOKCASE
A.arm : leg
B.stage : curtain
C.bench : chair
D.key : piano ✓ (Correct)
Explanation: A shelf is a constituent part/component of a bookcase, just as a key is a component of a piano.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 15
Choose the correct pair to fill up the blanks: He put some __________ on the hinge, so that it should not __________.
A.oil, squeak ✓ (Correct)
B.water, spill
C.colour, stand
D.paper, seat
Explanation: 'Oil' is applied to door hinges to prevent squeaking sounds.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 16
Light pollution passage: The passage implies that the most serious damage done by light pollution is to our :
A.art history
B.sense of paleness
C.cultural advancement
D.questing spirit ✓ (Correct)
Explanation: The passage concludes: "when we lose the ability to connect visually with the vastness of the universe... we lose our connection with... our sense of wonder" (questing/wondering spirit).
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 17
Culture Shock Passage: In the context of the passage, which of the following does not serve as a symbol ?
A.whistle
B.graffiti
C.flashing red light
D.culture shock ✓ (Correct)
Explanation: Whistle, graffiti, and red light are listed as symbols. Culture shock is the inability to read symbols, not a symbol itself.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 4Question 18
In the context of the topic of the passage, when do we feel lost, or frightened ?
A.When we lose in a competition
B.When we slip outside the symbolic web of culture ✓ (Correct)
C.When we cannot locate our action
D.None of the above
Explanation: The passage states: "We feel lost, unsure of how to act, and sometimes frightened — a consequence of slipping outside the symbolic web of culture."
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 5Question 19
Which word of the following list is not a pronoun ?
A.He
B.She
C.And ✓ (Correct)
D.They
Explanation: 'And' is a conjunction used to connect words or clauses, while He, She, and They are pronouns.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 5Question 20
What is the Collective noun for bananas ?
A.bunch ✓ (Correct)
B.pack
C.bouquet
D.bowl
Explanation: The collective noun for a grouping of bananas is a 'bunch'.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 5Question 21
Fill in the blank : Raju __________ his intention to contest in the next elections.
A.Wished
B.Conditioned
C.Declared ✓ (Correct)
D.Promised
Explanation: 'Declared' is the grammatically and contextually correct verb for public announcements of candidacy.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 5Question 22
Which word would appear at the last in a standard English dictionary ?
A.JANUARY
B.OCTOBER ✓ (Correct)
C.DECEMBER
D.MARCH
Explanation: Arranging alphabetically: DECEMBER, JANUARY, MARCH, OCTOBER. 'OCTOBER' appears last.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 5Question 23
Name the punctuation mark ‘:’.
A.Comma
B.Colon ✓ (Correct)
C.Hyphen
D.Exclamation
Explanation: The symbol ':' represents a colon.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 5Question 24
Which of the following words would come first in an English Dictionary ?
A.Hectometer
B.Decimeter
C.Kilometer
D.Centimeter ✓ (Correct)
Explanation: Alphabetical order: Centimeter, Decimeter, Hectometer, Kilometer. 'Centimeter' comes first.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 5Question 25
Which of the following is a proper noun ?
A.Big Ocean
B.Wide River
C.Deep Lake
D.Pacific Ocean ✓ (Correct)
Explanation: 'Pacific Ocean' is a specific, proper name for an ocean, thus it is a proper noun.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 5Question 26
“ Two weeks from now, the festivals would start”. Identify a single word substitution of the underlined phrase.
A.Weekend
B.Month
C.Fortnight ✓ (Correct)
D.Year
Explanation: A period of two weeks is called a 'fortnight'.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 5Question 27
What is a collective noun for dancers ?
A.Troupe ✓ (Correct)
B.Gang
C.Panel
D.Board
Explanation: A group of dancers performing together is called a 'troupe'.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 5Question 28
Which Pronoun can be used to refer to your friends running at a distance ?
A.We
B.It
C.That
D.They ✓ (Correct)
Explanation: 'They' is the third-person plural pronoun used to refer to a group of people at a distance.
ADRE 2024 • 2024 Paper 5Question 29
Which of the following is correct ?
A.Good : Better : Best ✓ (Correct)
B.Good : Gooder : Goodest
C.Best : Bester : Bestest
D.Better : Betterer : Betterest
Explanation: 'Good : Better : Best' represents the correct positive, comparative, and superlative degrees of the adjective.
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 2Question 30
Take precaution _____ cold.
A.against ✓ (Correct)
B.for
C.with
D.within
Explanation: The phrase 'precaution against' is standard English usage to indicate taking measures to prevent something harmful.[cite: 1]
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 2Question 31
A group of Dogs is called
A.Pack ✓ (Correct)
B.Swarm
C.Herd
D.Flock
Explanation: A collective noun for a group of dogs is a 'pack'.[cite: 1]
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 2Question 32
A group of Monkeys is called
A.Troop ✓ (Correct)
B.Cluster
C.Rabble
D.Herd
Explanation: The collective noun for a group of monkeys is a 'troop'.[cite: 1]
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 4Question 33
Zero Hill was located in
A.Desert region of Almogordo
B.Desert region of Los Alamos
C.Desert region north of Almogordo ✓ (Correct)
D.Desert region south of Almogordo
Explanation: The passage explicitly states: 'The site chosen for the test explosion was the desert region north of Almogordo...'
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 4Question 34
The bomb exploded
A.emitting heat, sound and heavy pressure wave ✓ (Correct)
B.emitting cloud and cloudburst
C.without creating much physical disturbances
D.creating a lot of physical and mental disturbances
Explanation: The text details the blinding flash, scorching heat, tremendous roar, and heavy pressure wave that followed the explosion.
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 4Question 35
Electronic impulses
A.were not effective
B.relayed messages ✓ (Correct)
C.warned the spectators
D.greeted the spectators
Explanation: The passage explicitly notes that 'Electronic impulses were set in motion and relayed messages'.
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 4Question 36
Who was at the control tower ?
A.Oppenheimer ✓ (Correct)
B.McKibbon
C.both Oppenheimer and McKibbon
D.Government officials
Explanation: The text directly states: 'Oppenheimer himself was at the control centre about nine miles from Zero Hill.'
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 4Question 37
It is implied in the passage that the spectators were told to
A.lie down flat, face and eyes directed towards the ground and with the head away from zero. ✓ (Correct)
B.cover their eyes with coloured films and keep their head averted.
C.lie down flat, face and eyes directed towards the ground and with the head towards zero.
D.cover their heads with coloured films and eyes closed.
Explanation: The passage says: 'All not on duty were told to lie down flat, face and eyes directed towards the ground and with the head away from zero.'
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 4Question 38
B-29 superfortresses and Sherman tanks are used to
A.check the effect of the bomb on the ground and air respectively.
B.check effect of radiation on the ground and air respectively.
C.check effect of radiation in the air and ground respectively. ✓ (Correct)
D.check the effect of the bomb on the great steel tower.
Explanation: The fortresses hovered with recording instruments for the atmosphere (air), while Sherman tanks took scientists to the crater to see radiation effects on the surface (ground). Thus, air and ground respectively.
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 4Question 39
The beauty of the mushroom cloud is ironical because
A.It knocked down two men outside the control centre.
B.Of the devastating nature of the bomb. ✓ (Correct)
C.The bomb destroyed the steel tower.
D.Clouds are not devastating.
Explanation: The extreme beauty described (rainbow colors) is ironic because the cloud is the direct result of a highly destructive and deadly atomic explosion.
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 4Question 40
The tenants were asked to throw all recyclable trash into _____
A.the green big plastic bag
B.the big plastic green bag
C.the big green plastic bag ✓ (Correct)
D.the green plastic big bag
Explanation: In English, the standard order of adjectives is: size, physical quality, shape, age, color, origin, material, type, purpose. Hence, 'big' (size) 'green' (color) 'plastic' (material) is correct.
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 4Question 41
I quoted it from _____.
A.Mind ✓ (Correct)
B.Heart
C.Soul
D.Imagination
Explanation: While 'quoted from memory' is the most standard idiom, 'Mind' serves as the closest contextual substitute among the given options for recounting text.
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 4Question 42
The application letter and the resume perform :
A.the same task
B.two opposite tasks
C.overlapping tasks
D.two different tasks ✓ (Correct)
Explanation: An application letter serves to introduce the applicant and highlight fit, whereas a resume provides a factual, formatted summary of skills and work history—representing two different, complementary tasks.
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 5Question 43
A number of people listening to a concert or a lecture is called
A.Audience ✓ (Correct)
B.Spectators
C.Crowd
D.Rabble
Explanation: An audience refers to a group of listeners or spectators at a public event such as a play, concert, or lecture[cite: 1].
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 5Question 44
A person who walks in his sleep is known as
A.Misanthropist ✓ (Correct)
B.Somniloquist
C.Somnambulist
D.Ventriloquist
Explanation: A somnambulist is someone who performs motor acts (like walking) while sleeping. A somniloquist talks in their sleep[cite: 1].
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 5Question 45
The train starts ______ 5 O'clock ______ the morning ______ Wednesdays.
A.in, at, in ✓ (Correct)
B.at, in, on
C.in, on, at
D.on, at, in
Explanation: We use 'at' for specific times (at 5 O'clock), 'in' for periods of the day (in the morning), and 'on' for days of the week (on Wednesdays)[cite: 1].
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 5Question 46
'The Statesman' has the largest circulation of any English daily.
A.'The Statesman' has the largest circulation of any English dailies. ✓ (Correct)
B.'The Statesman' have the largest circulation of all English dailies.
C.'The Statesman' has largest circulations of all English dailies.
D.'The Statesman' has largest circulation of all English dailies.
Explanation: When comparing one item with the rest of its group using the superlative degree, 'of all' is followed by a plural noun. (Note: Option D misses 'the' but is grammatically the closest valid option)[cite: 1].
ADRE 2022 • 2022 Paper 5Question 47
I really have to go now. I have ______ the doctor.
A.an appointment to ✓ (Correct)
B.an appointment with
C.appointment with
D.an appointment from
Explanation: You 'have an appointment with' a professional like a doctor. Using 'an' is necessary because appointment is a singular countable noun[cite: 1].
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