Target SBI PO : English Day 12

1. One of the problems (a) / in our business (b) / are that of disposing off the surplus (c) / no error (d)

(a) One of the problems

(b) in our business

(c) are that of disposing off the surplus

(d) no error

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  (c) As we are referring to ‘one of the problems’ (singular), the singular verb (‘is’) is to be used.

2. Mrs. Sharma has not been able to (a) / meet her parents (b) / since one year (c) / no error (d)

(a) Mrs. Sharma has not been able to

(b) meet her parents

(c) since one year

(d) no error

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  (c) With ‘since’, it would be correct to use ‘last’ year. With ‘one year’, ‘for’ is better.

3. No other quality is more important (a) / for a doctor (b) / as to be kind to his patients (c) / no error (d)

(a) No other quality is more important

(b) for a doctor

(c) as to be kind to his patients

(d) no error

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  (c) Put ‘than’ in place of ‘as’. When we are comparing two things for their importance, etc.., ‘than’ is used.

4. One of my colleagues (a) / is an expert in (b) / the homeopathic system of treating illness (c) / no error (d)

(a) One of my colleagues

(b) is an expert in

(c) the homeopathic system of treating illness

(d) no error

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  (d) No error. ‘Illnesses’ may also suit the context, especially if we are talking of specific illnesses considered together. But the sentence is correct as it is.

5. Nobody have carried out (a) / this kind of trick before (b) / in the history of this circus (c) / no error (d)

(a) Nobody have carried out

(b) this kind of trick before

(c) in the history of this circus

(d) no error

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  (a) ‘Nobody’ requires use of ‘has’ (sing.) and not ‘have’ (pl.)

6. We had a lot of difficulty (a) / to find (b) / the house (c) / no error (d)

(a) We had a lot of difficulty

(b) to find

(c) the house

(d) no error

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  (b) ‘In finding’ must replace ‘to find’.

7. Patience as well as perseverance (a) / are necessary (b) / for success (c) / no error (d)

(a) Patience as well as perseverance

(b) are necessary

(c) for success

(d) no error

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  (b) When ‘as well as’ is used, a singular verb should be used: ‘is’ not ‘are’.

8. The passer-by told us (a) / where was the marriage hall (b) / and even led us to it (c) / no error (d)

(a) The passer-by told us

(b) where was the marriage hall

(c) and even led us to it

(d) no error

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  (b) ‘Where the marriage hall was’ is the correct expression. In reporting a question in indirect speech, the interrogative word order is changed and the assertive word order (subject before verb) is introduced. Here, in (b), subject- the marriage hall-must appear before verb was.

9. The increase in consumption is directly (a) / proportional to the increase (b) / in income (c) / no error (d)

(a) The increase in consumption is directly

(b) proportional to the increase

(c) in income

(d) no error

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  (d) No error.

10. In Singapore, (a) / my brother-in-law with his wife (b) / were present at the function (c) / no error (d)

(a) In Singapore,

(b) my brother-in-law with his wife

(c) were present at the function

(d) no error

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  (b) The second part should be rewritten as ‘my brother-in-law and his wife’ to agree with the verb ‘were’. You may think of marking (c); ‘were’ changed to ‘was’ to go with the construction in (b). However, the construction is awkward. The choice of replacing ‘with’ with ‘and’ is better.