SBI PO Prelims English Questions: 12th May |

English Quiz For SBI PO Exam 2019

The State Bank of India conducts a three-level examination to recruit Probationary Officers every year. Thus, the English Language can be an impetus for your success as it helps you save crucial time and score good points in lesser time and effort. So, instead of boiling the ocean, try building up a strong vocabulary, an effective knowledge of grammar, and efficient comprehension skills so as to be on the ball to face this particular section. Here is a quiz on English Language being provided by Adda247 to let you practice the best of latest pattern English Questions for SBI PO Examination 2019-20.

Directions (1-7): Read the following passage and answer the following questions. Some words are highlighted to help students to answer some of the questions.

Christopher Marlowe is the most intellectual of the playwrights during the Elizabethan age in English Literature. The period known for unprecedented literary activity in England, finds its genius, chiefly, in drama whose most eloquent spokesman was William Shakespeare. Marlowe is, undoubtedly, the greatest of Shakespeare’s predecessors in drama. To him, goes the credit of heralding the powerful English tragic drama that remains, even today, as one of the chief achievements of English literature. Marlowe died very young, before he was thirty, in suspicious circumstances but left about half a dozen tragedies all written in a period of five years—Tamburlaine (written in 1587), Doctor Faustus (written in 1586), The Jew of Malta (written in 1589), Edward II (written in 1591), and the Massacre of Paris (1592). Endowed with vast biblical and classical scholarship, a rebellious spirit and poetic imagination, Marlowe marks the end of an adolescent phase in English drama and begins its mature tragedy. In effecting this transition, Marlowe had to attempt to reconcile the traditions of medieval Christianity with the rise of the Reformation, on the one hand, and reconcile these two with the continental Renaissance humanism and the revival of the fascinating classical learning and literature, on the other. Additionally, there was the linguistic and lyrical upsurge of the blank verse and its liberating tone of freedom from the rigors of metrical verse. Whatever Marlowe wrote was poignant, for he could never separate his personal yearnings from his dramatic reflections. A very striking personality and a powerful dramatist, he is a significant part of a still greater tradition of the Elizabethan drama—tragedy in particular, which was taking shape in his time. Marlowe is judged with a sense of regret that he died young and that his talents left many, a masterpiece unwritten, especially in view of the fact that Shakespeare, similarly, gifted could achieve greatness with longer years of life. On Marlowe’s four hundredth anniversary, Harry Levin reassessed Marlowe’s importance thus:

Marlowe must abide the question of history, which Shakespeare has all but overflown. Yes, he is for all time, we must agree with Ben Johnson. And Marlowe then, was he primarily for his age? Certainly, he caught its intensities, placed its rhythms, and dramatized its dilemmas as no Elizabethan writer had previously done, and as all would be doing thereafter to some extent…

Marlowe’s output was meteoric in its development, and in its expression as well. In that sense, his end was not untimely, and it is futile to sentimentalize now over his fragments and unwritten master works. Shakespeare needed maturity to express ripeness, although he could never have matured without assuming first the youthful stance that Marlowe had made permanently his own. Insofar as he must seem for ever young, we are inclined to feel old as we belatedly reread him.

An understanding of this emerging tradition is necessary for clearer perspectives on Marlowe’s dramatic endeavours and achievement.

Q1. Which of the following statements is/are False?

(I) Shakespeare is considered the most intellectual of the playwrights across all the ages in English Literature.

(II) Marlowe is credited with starting the tradition of writing English tragic drama.

(III) Christopher Marlowe is considered to be the greatest of Shakespeare’s predecessors in drama.

Only (III)

Both (II) and (III)

Only (I)

Each of (I), (II) and (III)

None of (I), (II) and (III)

Solution:

The statement marked as (I) is false. This can be derived from the first sentence of the first paragraph: ‘Christopher Marlowe is the most intellectual of the playwrights during the Elizabethan age in English Literature.’ If Marlowe is the most intellectual of the playwrights during the Elizabethan age in English Literature, then Shakespeare can’t be the most intellectual of the playwrights across all the ages in English Literature. So, the statement marked as (I) is False.

Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q2. Which of the following statements correctly portrays the ways through which Christopher Marlowe is decorated in the passage?

(I) Christopher Marlowe is the greatest antecedent to Shakespeare’s in drama in English Literature.

(II) The tragic dramas written by Christopher Marlowe is considered one of the chief achievements of English Literature.

(III) Marlowe brought a sense of maturity in English drama.

Both (I) and (II)

Both (II) and (III)

Both (I) and (III)

None of (I), (II) and (III)

Each of (I), (II) and (III)

Solution:

Each of (I), (II) and (III) is correct. (I) can be inferred from the third sentence of the first paragraph. (II) can be inferred from the fourth sentence of the first paragraph. (III) can be inferred from the seventh sentence of the first paragraph.

So, Christopher Marlowe is decorated through statements marked as (I), (II) and (III) in the passage.

Hence, option (e) is the correct answer.

Q3. What Marlowe did to bring an end to an adolescent phrase in English drama?

(I) He attempted harmonizing the traditions of medieval Christianity with the rise of Reformation.

(II) He made congruent medieval Christianity, Reformation with the continental Renaissance humanism and revival of the classical learning and literature.

(III) He separated his personal yearnings from his dramatic reflections.

Only (III)

Both (I) and (II)

Both (II) and (III)

None of (I), (II) and (III)

Each of (I), (II) and (III)

Solution:

The answer to the question can be derived from the 11th to 17th lines (please note that these don’t illustrate the numbering of the sentences) of the first paragraph. The 11th, 12th and 13th lines illustrate that Marlowe reconciled the traditions of medieval Christianity with the rise of the Reformation. The 13th and 14th lines illustrate that he reconciled the traditions of medieval Christianity, Reformation with the continental Renaissance humanism. The 16th and 17th lines illustrates that he didn’t separate his personal yearnings from his dramatic reflections.

So, (I) and (II) are correct while (III) is wrong.

Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Q4. Why Marlowe is remembered and adjudicated with a sense of melancholy?

Shakespeare was a better dramatist than him.

He didn’t live long enough to write masterpieces which would have enabled him to achieve greater greatness.

Shakespeare having similar talent to Marlowe achieved greatness with longer years of life.

Both (b) and (c)

None of the above

Solution:

The answer to the question can be derived from the second last sentence of the first paragraph. It is mentioned that Marlowe is remembered and judged with a sense of regret that he died young and that his talents left many, a masterpiece unwritten, especially in view of the fact that Shakespeare, similarly, gifted could achieve greatness with longer years of life.

It can be inferred that both options (b) and (c) are correct.

Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q5. How does Harry Levin decorate Marlowe’s importance?

Marlowe provided youthful stance to the English Drama which helped Shakespeare to mature and to express ripeness in his dramas.

Marlowe should be considered young for ever.

Marlowe’s output was meteoric in both its development and expression.

None of (a), (b) and (c)

Each of (a), (b) and (c)

Solution:

The answer to the question can be derived from the last paragraph. From the first sentence, option (c) can be inferred. From the last sentence, options (a) and (b) can be inferred.

So, each of options (a), (b) and (c) are correct.

Hence, option (e) is the correct answer.

Q6. Which of the following options is an ANTONYM for the word ‘meteoric’?

egregious

conspicuous

impudent

veracious

sedate

Solution:

Meteoric [adjective] means ‘very rapid’;

Egregious [adjective] means ‘standing out in a negative way; shockingly bad’;

Conspicuous [adjective] means ‘without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious’;

Impudent [adjective] means ‘improperly forward or bold’;

Veracious [adjective] means ’truthful’;

Sedate [adjective] means ‘calm, dignified, and unhurried’; ‘quiet and rather dull’;

From above, it can be understood that ‘sedate’ is an antonym of ‘meteoric’.

Hence, option (e) is the correct answer.

Q7. Which of the followings is a SYNONYM of ‘endowed’?

mawkish

vindicate

enervate

bestow

castigate

Solution:

Endow [verb] means ‘give or bequeath an income or property to (a person or institution)’; ‘provide with a quality, ability, or asset’;

Mawkish [verb] means ‘overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting’;

Vindicate [verb] means ‘to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proofs’;

Enervate [verb] means ‘to sap energy from’;

Bestow [verb] means ‘confer or present (an honour, right, or gift)’;

Castigate [verb] means ‘to reprimand harshly’;

From above, it can be understood that ‘Bestow’ is a SYNONYM of ‘endow’.

Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Directions (8-10): In the following questions a part of the sentence is given in bold, it is then followed by three sentences which try to explain the meaning of the phrase given in bold. Choose the best set of alternatives from the five options given below each question which explains the meaning of the phrase correctly without altering the meaning of the given sentence.

Q8. A quick-thinking team who helped prevent an air crash are in the running for a top honour.

(I) A quick-thinking team who helped prevent an air crash are in contention for a top honour.

(II) A quick-thinking team who helped prevent an air crash are being considered for a top honour.

(III) A quick-thinking team who helped prevent an air crash are prevailed for a top honour.

All of (I), (II) and (III)

Only (I)

Both (I) and (II)

None of (I), (II) and (III)

Only (II)

Solution:

Prevail means ‘be widespread or current in a particular area or at a particular time’;

In the running means ‘in contention for an award, victory, or a place in a team’; ‘are being considered for’; ‘likely to receive’;

Among the given three sentences, sentences (II) and (I) provide the correct meaning to the highlighted phrase.

Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q9. We are deeply upset that an unruly element went out of their way to cause trouble but they have been dealt with by police.

(I) We are deeply upset that an unruly element bothered to cause trouble but they have been dealt with by police.

(II) We are deeply upset that an unruly element sloughed to cause trouble but they have been dealt with by police.

(III) We are deeply upset that an unruly element exerted oneself to cause trouble but they have been dealt with by police.

Both (I) and (III)

All of (I), (II) and (III)

None of (I), (II) and (III)

Only (II)

Both (II) and (III)

Solution:

Slough means ‘get rid of (something undesirable or no longer required)’;

Go out of one’s way means ‘make a special effort to do something’; ‘bother’, ‘take the time’, ‘exert oneself’; ‘go out of one’s way’;

Among the given three sentences, sentences (I) and (III) provide the correct meaning to the highlighted phrase.

Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q10. He was released on appeal after less than a year and claimed to have mended his ways, taking a college art course.

(I) He was released on appeal after less than a year and claimed to have changed completely, taking a college art course.

(II) He was released on appeal after less than a year and claimed to have changed for the better, taking a college art course.

(III) He was released on appeal after less than a year and claimed to have improved himself, taking a college art course.

Both (I) and (II)

Only (III)

Both (II) and (III)

All of (I), (II) and (III)

None of (I), (II) and (III)

Solution:

Mend one’s (or yours) ways means ‘improve one’s habits or behaviour’; ‘change completely’; ‘changed for the better’; ‘improve’; ‘get back on the straight and narrow’;

All the three sentences correctly provide the meaning to the highlighted phrase.

Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Directions (11-15): Read each of the following sentences to find out if there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number (A, B, C or D) of this part is your answer. If there is no error in the statement, then mark option (e) as your answer choice.

Q11. Jaish militant rams (A)/ explosives-lade vehicle (B)/ into bus that was part (C)/ of a convoy of 70 vehicles.(D)/

No Error

Solution:

Replace “lade” by “laden”

Q12. The cases pertained(A)/ to a sexual harassment (B)/ complaint filed by woman (C)/ Superintendent of Police. (D)/

No Error

Solution:

Woman here is a countable noun so it will take article “a” here.

Q13. A Supreme Court Bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan (A)/ on Thursday gave a split opinion on whether the (B)/ Delhi government has control over the administration’s services (C)/ and decide to refer the question to a larger Bench. (D)/

No Error

Solution:

Replace “decide” by “decided” because whole sentence is in past tense.

Q14. Nearly half of India’s (A)/ waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, (B)/meant to convert (C)/ non-biodegradable waste, is defunct. (D)/

No Error

Solution:

Here subject is “half of India’s WTE plants” which is plural in nature so replace “is” by “are”.

Q15. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who was also (A)/ supposed to attend, had to pull in of (B)/ the programme owing to the Jaish-e-Mohammed attack (C)/ on CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. (D)/