English for SSC Exam

IDIOMS

An idiom and four possible meanings are given. Identify the meaning from the choices and mark its number as the answer. 

1. Throw down the gauntlet
A.challenge
B.start working
C.show disaapointment
D.accept defeat

2. To eat humble pie
A.to give a feast
B.to workhard
C. to apologize
D.to stay in jail

3. To play fast and loose
A.to sing aloud dishonestly
B.to play
C.to show kindness
D.to act unreliably

4. Pay a score
A.pay back debts
B.avenge an injury
C.inflict wounds
D.show wekness

5. In the nick of the time
A.at the exact time
B.in advance
C.long time before
D.for wantof time

6. Hand in glove
A.complete and safe
B.in collusion
C.safe and sound
D.opposite in views

7. Get the better of
A.quarrel
B.defeat
C.select the best thing
D.marry suitably

8. Fall foul of
A.fall into a ditch
B.feel ashamed
C.quarrel
D.admit defeat

9. Bury the hatchet
A.work hard
B.hide
C.keep secret
D.make peace

10. Stick to one’s colours
A.paint nicely
B.refuse to submit
C.throw out
D.fold the flag

11. To cut the Gordian Knot
A.to cut a lot of papers
B.to cut a lot of threads
C.to perform a difficult task
D.to avoid difficulties

12. Back up the wrong tree
A.accuse the wrong person
B.cut the wrong tree
C.bring out the secret
D.reveal the inside

13. Blow the gaff
A.break the stick
B.reveal a plot
C.blow ones helper
D.blow the drum

14. Blow hot and cold
A.give trouble
B.beat up completely
C.to temper
D.to praise and then blame

15. To beat about about the bush
A.to beat around
B.to search among the bush
C.to speak in a round about manner
D.to approach directly

16. Apple pie order
A.a sweet manner
B.extreme neatness
C.great disorder
D.large crowds

17. To break the ice
A.to walk over ice
B.to get(people) on friendly terms
C.to cut ice into slabs
D.to avoid cold

18. Speak by the book
A.to read the book
B.to take oath upon a book
C.to speak quoting a book
D.show the book instead of speaking

19. To stand to one’s guns
A.to fight strongly
B.to keep faith
C.be obstinate
D.frequently change opinions

20. To come off with fyling colours
A.to come beautifully coloured
B.colourful fyling birds
C.to throw colours into the winds
D.to be very successful

Answer

1. a

2. c

3. d

4. b

5. a

6. b

7. b

8. c

9. d

10. b

11. c

12. a

13. b

14. d

15. c

16. b

17. b

18. c

19. c

20. d

 

PHRASE SUBSTITUTION QUESTIONS SET 2

In the following questions, a part of the sentence is printed in bold. Below, are given alternatives to the bold part at(1),(2),(3) which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative.In case of no improvement is needed your answer is (4)

1. His life is hanging with athread.
A.from
B.by
C.to
D.No improvement

2. After twenty years of exile, the prisoner was in the end of this tether.
A.on
B.though
C.at
D.No improvement

3. Grandfather is often so tired that he drops in his arm chair.
A.slides away
B.falls out
C.slips in
D.No improvement

4. The court was forced to respect the profundity of the learned judge’s knowledge.
A.probity
B.proximity
C.prodigality
D.No improvement

5. He has lost his nearly all many pets.
A.all his nearly many pets
B.his many pets nearly all of them
C.nearly all his many pets
D.No improvement

6. John is wearing his jacket as it is getting very cold.
A.taking on
B.getting on
C.putting on
D.No improvement

7. I worked in this office since 2005.
A.am working
B.have worked
C.have been working
D.No improvement

8. The host offered me tea but I denied it.
A.refused
B.said no
C.rejected
D.No improvement

9. Can any spiritually dead man be so as to have no love for his native country?
A.Can any dead man be so as to have no spiritual love for his native country?
B.Can any man be so spiritually dead as to have no love for his native country?
C.Can any native man be so dead as to have no love for his spiritual country?
D.No improvement

10. How can anyone symphathize with you when what you say is hardly gullible?
A.credulous
B.credible
C.incredible
D.No improvement

11. A taller sikh rushed forward than any of his comrades.
A.A Sikh, taller than any of his comrades, rushed forward
B.A Sikh rushed forward taller than any of his comrades
C.A Sikh rushed forward than any of his comrades taller
D.No improvement

12. An author in the reign of Queen Anne who was famous lived in a cottage.
A.An author in the reign, who was famous, of Queen Anne lived in a cottage
B.In the reign of Queen Anne, an author lived in a cottage, who was famous
C.An author who was famous in the reign of Queen Anne lived in a cottage
D.No improvement

13. My uncle is enough rich to buy a car.
A.My uncle is rich enough to buy a car
B.My uncle is richer enough to by a car.
C.My uncle is enough richer to buy a car
D.No improvement

14. Walking along the road, an old man ran over the lorry.
A.Walking along the road, an old man ran behind the lorry
B.Running along the road, the lorry ran over an old man
C.The lorry ran over an old man walking along the road
D.No improvement

15. In the absence of your support, he would have lost the election.
A.Lacking your support, he would have lost the election
B.But for your support, he would have lost the election
C.He would have lost the election, if you had not supported him
D.No improvement

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