English proficiency sample questions for Competitive/Bank Exams with explanation

In Competitive/Bank Examination a candidate is supposed to answer 40 questions in English proficiency test in 25 minutes. Questions will be given in reading comprehension, fill up the blanks, close test, sentence arrangement, spotting errors and substitutions.

Fill Up the Blanks

Fill up the blanks questions are given to test the extent of vocabulary of a candidate. Fill up the blanks questions test reading comprehension skills also. These questions check whether the reader has merely memorized the meaning of a word or he or she can use the word properly. From among the options, a candidate has to choose the word when inserted into blank completes the sentence in such a way that is clear, logical and literally as well as grammatically correct. There are seven questions pertaining to ‘fill up the blanks'. Hence the candidates are advised to study various shades of meanings of different test-worthy words by referring to a good dictionary.

Pick out the most effective word from the given choices to fill up the blank to make the sentence meaningfully complete.

1. The journey may be made by sea or – by road.

a) alternately b) alteringly c) conversely  d) alternatively e) entirely

2. After a holiday Rajini came back totally --.

a) rejuvenated  b) reborn  c) refurbished  d) revamped  e) restored

3. It was a large airy sitting room -- by two broad windows.

a) illuminated  b) furnished  c) hallowed  d) energized  e) dragged

4. --- readers are seldom remarkable for the exactness of their learning.

a) Reasonable  b) knowledgeable c) Meticulous  d) Desultory  e) skillful

5. Private capital has a --- to flow where profits are high.

a) fatigue b) province c) penchant d) preoccupation e) prejudice

6. She worked --- without thinking of what she was doing.

a) voluntarily b) mechanically  c) fortunately  d) rationally e) deliberately

7. He --- to her request immediately.

a) accessed  b) acceded  c) praised d) conceded  e) buttressed

8. Other exercises --- energy. Yoga is designed to preserve it.

a) spend b) consume c) dissipate d) exhaust e) render

9. It is important to know the --- difference between two similar ragas.

a) subtle b) musical c) harmonious d) minor e) adhesive

10.A feeling of delicious coolness --- her from head to foot.

a) submerged b) drowned c) pervaded d) seized e) jerked

11. There is a mad --- for each to get what they can.

a) venture b) squabble  c) scramble d) enterprise  e) alarm

12. My health forbade me from venturing out as the weather was exceptionally --.

a) generous b) congenial  c) congenital d) ingenious  e) ingenuous

13. The problems that India's economic development faces are ---.

a) myopic b) dubious c) enormous d) strong e) morbid

14. He makes his --- visit every week.

a) strict b) customary c) continuous d) casual e) alternate

15. The -- with which he is able to wield the paint-brush is really remarkable.

a) ease b) practise c) majesty d) sweep e) energy

16. We can't --- the real state of things from what he says.

a) defer b) infer  c) confer d) refer  e) pilfer

17. Mounting unemployment is the most serious and - -- problem faced by India today.

a) profound b) intractable  c) unpopular d) dubious  e) unattainable

18. He is always curt in his ---.

a) business b) writings c) game d) programme e) replies

19. Tibet is --- by mountains on three sides.

a) hidden b) flanked c) kept d) situated e) pursued

20. Everyone should be --- of his duties.

a) concious b) conspicuous  c) conscientous d) consensus  e) constitutions

21. Collective --- are needed to root out the dowry system.

a) funds b) laws c) methods d) decisions e) efforts

22.A servant is expected to carry --- order of his master.

a) on b) for c) in d) No word e) out

23. Too much eating is--- to health.

a) unsuitable b) detrimental c) bad d) inadvisable e) insensitive

24. Several members --- from corruption.

a) restrained b) refused c) abstained d) retained e) refrained

25. Narayan -- the situation quickly and decided on the best course of action.

a) measured b) assessed c) finalized d) managed e) accepted

26. Travel will --- you with new customs.

a) associate b) comply c) acquaint d) adorn e) expose

27. The miser --- gazed at the pile of gold coins in front of him.

a) avidly b) admiringly c) thoroughly d) thoughtfully e) earnestly

 Explanation:

1) alternatively: Alternatively implies that you have a choice either by sea or by road. In the given question 'or' gives us the clue. When we say 'alternatively', it means first by sea, then by road, the third time by sea again, the fourth time by road again, and so on. Since both the  routes are being used in this case, the conjunction should be 'and'.

2) rejuvenated: 'Rejuvenate' means make fresh again. 'Revamp' means giving a new look to old form. 'Refurbish' means make something more attractive and better equipped. 'Restore' means get back something. Revamp, Refurbish and Restore apply to things, not persons.

3) illuminated: When the room gets light, it is 'illuminated'. The function of windows is to bring in light. 'Hallow' means to make pure.

4) desultory: That which is 'desultory' is done in an unplanned and disorganized way and without enthusiasm.  'Meticulous' means taking every care.

5) penchant: Penchant means special liking. 'Fatigue' means tiredness. Prejudice means opinions formed without adequate thought.

6) mechanically 'Mechanical action is one that is done without thought or feeling. It is done from habit rather than will. 'Voluntarily' means 'willingly'. Rationally means reasonably. 'Deliberately' means intentionally.

7) acceded To accede means 'to agree to'. 'To concede' means 'to give'. 'To buttress' means 'to

support'.

8) Consume 'Consume' is an antonym of 'preserve'. When food, drink, household goods, fuel, energy, or time are spent, we say they are 'consumed'.

9) subtle 'Subtle' means 'difficult to comprehend'. 'Harmonious' means 'sweet sounding'. 'Adhesive means 'having the quality to stick'.

10) pervade: 'Pervade' means 'spread'. 'submerge' means 'sink something in water'. 'Drown' means 'sink someone in water'. 'Seize' means - stop. 'Jerk' means 'move something suddenly. 11) Scramble: to move in a hurried and undignified manner. Squabble - quarrel. Venture or Enterprise - an adventurous action.

12) congenial: congenial means 'pleasant or suitable'. 'generous' means 'kind'. 'Congenital' means 'hereditary (disease). Ingenious means 'skillful'. 'Ingenuous' means 'frank'.

13) Enormous: 'Enormous' means very big. 'Dubious' means dishonest.   'Morbid' means 'sickly'.

14) Customary: Every week suggests a routine, a usual happening. That which is customary is what a person usually does or has.

15) Ease: A good artist uses his brush with remarkable ease. That is, he does it easily without difficulty or effort.

16) Infer if you infer X from Y, you decide, X is true on the basis of information given by Y.'Defer' means 'postpone'. 'Confer' means 'give something as a respect'. 'Pilfer' means 'steal in small quantities'.

17) Intractable problems or situations are very difficult to deal with. 'Profound' means 'deep'. 'Unattainable' means 'not reachable'.

18) Curt If someone is curt, he speaks or replies in a brief and rather rude way.

19) Flanked: 'Flank' means 'surround'. 'pursue' means 'follow'.

20) Conscientious 'Conscientious' means 'be careful to do one's work'. 'Conscious' means 'to know what is happening. 'Conspicuous' means 'clearly visible'.

22) 'Carry out' means 'to perform some duties'.

23) 'Detrimental' means 'harmful'.

24) 'Abstained' means 'kept away from something bad’. ‘Refrain' means 'not making any comment on something. 'Retain' means 'keep something with oneself. Restrain means 'control or limit'.

25) Assessed: When you assess a person, thing or situation, you consider them in order to make a judgment. (Decide a course of action) about them.

26) Acquaint 'Acquaint' means making familiar with someone or some situation. 'Associate' means get connected to someone or something'. 'Comply' means 'agree to'. 'Adorn' means 'decorate'. 'Expose' means 'show'.

27) Avidly: means very eagerly admiringly means in a praise-worthy manner. 'Thoughtfully' means 'with mind filled with thoughts'. 'Earnestly' means 'with determination'.