Part V — English Language & Comprehension

Chapter 5: Grammar, Vocabulary and Comprehension

5.1 Why English Carries the Most Weight

The English Language & Comprehension section carries 100 of the CBT's 200 total marks — the single largest section — making strong English preparation disproportionately valuable for overall CBT performance.

5.2 Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension passages test understanding of a given text through direct-fact, inference, vocabulary-in-context, and main-idea questions. Reading the questions first, then skimming the passage for structure before a careful second read, is a widely recommended strategy.

5.3 Error Detection and Sentence Improvement

Error Detection identifies a grammatical error within a sentence (subject-verb agreement, tense, article, preposition usage). Sentence Improvement asks for the best-phrased alternative to an underlined portion, testing grammar and idiom together.

5.4 Cloze Test and Fill in the Blanks

A Cloze Test presents a passage with blanks to be filled from given options, testing vocabulary, grammar, and contextual comprehension together. Fill in the Blanks questions (standalone sentences) test similar skills in isolation.

5.5 Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms and One-Word Substitution

Building strong vocabulary — synonyms, antonyms, idioms, and one-word substitutions (a single word capturing a descriptive phrase, e.g., "a person who loves books" = bibliophile) — supports performance across nearly all English sub-sections.

5.6 Practice Set — English Language (18 MCQs)

1. The English Language & Comprehension section carries how many of the CBT's 200 total marks?
   (a) 50 (b) 75 (c) 100 (d) 125
2. Identify the error in the sentence: "She don't like coffee." The error is in:
   (a) Subject-verb agreement (b) Tense (c) Preposition (d) Article usage
3. Choose the correct sentence:
   (a) He is going to school since morning. (b) He has been going to school since morning. (c) He go to school since morning. (d) He going to school since morning.
4. Fill in the blank: "She has been living here ___ 2015."
   (a) since (b) for (c) from (d) by
5. Choose the word closest in meaning to "Bibliophile":
   (a) A person who loves books (b) A person who fears books (c) A person who writes books only (d) A person who sells books
6. Choose the antonym of "Benevolent":
   (a) Kind (b) Malevolent (c) Generous (d) Charitable
7. In a Cloze Test, the primary skill being tested is:
   (a) Handwriting speed (b) Vocabulary, grammar, and contextual comprehension together (c) Only spelling (d) Only punctuation
8. Identify the error: "Neither of the boys have completed their homework." The error is in:
   (a) "Neither...have" should be "Neither...has" (b) "boys" should be "boy" (c) "completed" should be "complete" (d) No error
9. Choose the synonym of "Ephemeral":
   (a) Permanent (b) Transient (c) Eternal (d) Stable
10. Identify the error: "Each of the students have submitted their assignment." The error is in:
    (a) "have" should be "has" (b) "students" should be "student" (c) "submitted" should be "submit" (d) No error
11. Choose the correctly formed passive voice of "The chef cooked the meal.":
    (a) The meal was cooked by the chef (b) The meal is cooking by the chef (c) The meal cooks by the chef (d) The chef is cooked by the meal
12. Fill in the blank: "He is good ___ mathematics."
    (a) in (b) at (c) on (d) with
13. One-word substitution for "A place where birds are kept" is:
    (a) Aviary (b) Apiary (c) Aquarium (d) Menagerie
14. Choose the correct form: "If I ___ rich, I would travel the world."
    (a) am (b) was (c) were (d) will be
15. One-word substitution for "A person who can speak two languages" is:
    (a) Bilingual (b) Multilingual (c) Linguist (d) Translator
16. Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:
    (a) "I bought apples, oranges and bananas." (b) "I bought apples oranges, and bananas." (c) "I bought, apples oranges and bananas." (d) "I bought apples oranges and, bananas."
17. Reading Comprehension questions commonly test all of the following EXCEPT:
    (a) Direct facts stated in the passage (b) Inference from the passage (c) Vocabulary in context (d) The candidate's personal opinion, unrelated to the passage
18. Para jumbling questions are best solved by first identifying:
    (a) The shortest sentence (b) The topic/opening sentence and logical/pronoun references between sentences (c) The sentence with the most commas (d) The last sentence randomly

Answer Key

1.(c)

2.(a)

3.(b)

4.(a)

5.(a)

6.(b)

7.(b)

8.(a)

9.(b)

10.(a)

11.(a)

12.(b)

13.(a)

14.(c)

15.(a)

16.(a)

17.(d) 18.(b)