Hindi/English Language Comprehension
What is tested
The Hindi/English section checks reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and sentence usage. The paper is bilingual, so read the question in the language you are strongest in, but do not translate idioms literally.
Core rules
- Comprehension: read the questions first, then locate the relevant paragraph; answers must be supported by the passage, not by general knowledge.
- Subject–verb agreement: one of the boys is absent; the number of applicants has risen; a number of applicants have applied.
- Tenses: use present perfect for a past action with present relevance; use past perfect for the earlier of two past actions.
- Prepositions: married to, composed of, listen to, different from.
- Hindi: संधि, समास, मुहावरे, विलोम, पर्यायवाची, वाक्य शुद्धि and कारक.
Worked example
Choose the correct sentence: (a) One of the officers are on leave. (b) One of the officers is on leave. Reasoning: the subject is one, a singular pronoun; the phrase of the officers is a prepositional phrase and does not change the verb. Answer: (b).
Traps that cost marks
- Eliminating a comprehension option just because it uses a word from the passage; paraphrase is normal.
- Confusing affect (verb) with effect (noun).
- In Hindi, choosing a similar-sounding word without checking the sentence's meaning.
- Marking an idiom's literal meaning.
- Ignoring gender and number agreement in Hindi adjectives and verbs.