15th BCS English Questions & Answers with Explanation / English for BCS Examination / BCS Examination Previous Questions and Answers

English Language Questions (15th BCS)

The speaker failed to make the audience ____ to him patiently. Which of the following is the best form of pronoun in the above sentence?

a) listened

b) listen

c) listening

d) to listen

Answer: b) listen

Explanation: The correct structure is "make + object + bare infinitive (listen)." "Make the audience listen" is the proper construction.

My uncle has three sons, ____ work in the same office. Which of the following is the best form of pronoun in the above sentence?

a) who all

b) they all

c) all of whom

d) all of them

Answer: c) all of whom

Explanation: "All of whom" is the correct relative pronoun phrase to refer back to "three sons" in a non-defining relative clause.

Are you doing anything special ____ the week-end?

a) at

b) in

c) for

d) on

Answer: a) at

Explanation: "At the weekend" is the British English convention, though American English would typically use "on the weekend."

People always remember patriots. Which of the following is the best passive form of the above sentence?

a) People are always remembered by the patriots

b) The patriots are always remembered by the people

c) The patriots will always be remembered by people

d) The patriots are always being remembered

Answer: b) The patriots are always remembered by the people

Explanation: This is the correct passive transformation, maintaining the simple present tense and proper subject-object reversal.

Which of the following school of literary writings is connected with a medical theory?

a) Heroic Tragedy

b) Comedy of Humours

c) Theater of the Absurd

d) Comedy of manners

Answer: b) Comedy of Humours

Explanation: The Comedy of Humours derives from the ancient medical theory of four bodily humors (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile).

Who of the following was both a poet and painter?

a) Donne

b) Keats

c) Spenser

d) Blake

Answer: d) Blake

Explanation: William Blake (1757-1827) was renowned as both a poet and visual artist, creating illuminated books of his poetry.

Who wrote "Beauty is truth, truth beauty"?

a) Wordsworth

b) Eliot

c) Keats

d) Shakespeare

Answer: c) Keats

Explanation: This famous line concludes John Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn" (1819).

What is the meaning of the word 'intrepid'?

a) belligerent

b) arrogant

c) fearless

d) questioning

Answer: c) fearless

Explanation: From Latin 'intrepidus' (unshaken), meaning bold, brave, or fearless.

What is the meaning of the expression 'bottom line'?

a) The end of a road

b) The final step

c) The essential point

d) The last line of a book

Answer: c) The essential point

Explanation: Originally accounting terminology for net profit, now means the most important factor.

The word 'plurality' means:

a) The holding of more than one office at a time

b) The letter 'S'

c) Men and women

d) Chaos and confusion

Answer: a) The holding of more than one office at a time

Explanation: In ecclesiastical terms, it refers to one person holding multiple benefices simultaneously.

'Bootleg' means to:

a) export

b) distribute

c) smuggle

d) import

Answer: c) smuggle

Explanation: Originating from hiding flasks in boot legs during Prohibition, meaning illegal transport/sale.

The 'poet laureate' is:

a) the Court poet of England

b) a classical poet

c) a winner of the Nobel prize in poetry

d) the best poet of the country

Answer: a) the Court poet of England

Explanation: An official position in the British royal household, dating to 1668.

What is the synonym of 'incredible'?

a) Unthinking

b) Unbelievable

c) Unlikely

d) Unthinkable

Answer: b) Unbelievable

Explanation: From Latin 'credere' (to believe), literally "not believable."

Plebiscite is a term related to:

a) Technology

b) Law

c) Politics

d) Medicine

Answer: c) Politics

Explanation: A direct vote by citizens on an important public question.

Many islands make up:

a) a peninsula

b) continent

c) an isles

d) an archipelago

Answer: d) an archipelago

Explanation: From Greek "arkhi-" (chief) + "pelagos" (sea), meaning a chain or cluster of islands.

What is the antonym of 'famous'?

a) Obscure

b) Immature

c) Obscure

d) Illiterate

Answer: a) Obscure

Explanation: Meaning unknown, inconspicuous, or not distinguished.

Which of the following is a correct sentence?

a) He was so clever to miss the point

b) He was too clever to miss the point

c) He was too clever to grasp the point

d) He was too clever not to miss the point

Answer: b) He was too clever to miss the point

Explanation: The correct "too + adjective + to" construction indicating excessive cleverness prevented missing the point.