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Gauhati High Court JAA practice questions

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Question 1General English

In the sentence 'The Junior Administrative Assistant prepared the draft notification carefully', which word functions as an adverb?

  1. notification
  2. draft
  3. prepared
  4. carefully Correct answer.

Explanation

An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Here 'carefully' describes how the draft notification was prepared, so it modifies the verb 'prepared'. The other words are a verb, an adjective/noun modifier, and a noun respectively.

Question 2General English

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank: 'The petitioner has been directed to file the affidavit _____ two weeks.'

  1. upon
  2. within Correct answer.
  3. into
  4. with in

Explanation

'Within' is a preposition of time meaning 'before the end of' a stated period, which fits a deadline of two weeks. 'Into' and 'upon' express direction or position, not a time limit. 'With in' is not a recognised single word in standard English.

Question 3General English

Which sentence uses the article correctly in a court-office context?

  1. The clerk submitted application for leave.
  2. The clerk submitted the an application for leave.
  3. The clerk submitted an application for leave. Correct answer.
  4. The clerk submitted a application for leave.

Explanation

The indefinite article 'an' is used before a vowel sound, and 'application' begins with the vowel sound /æ/. 'A application' breaks this rule, while omitting the article entirely leaves a countable singular noun unsupported. 'The an' is a double determiner and is never grammatical.

Question 4General English

Identify the sentence that is written in the passive voice.

  1. The Section Officer forwarded the file to the Registrar.
  2. The Registrar will examine the file tomorrow.
  3. The Section Officer is forwarding the file now.
  4. The file was forwarded to the Registrar by the Section Officer. Correct answer.

Explanation

In passive voice the object of the action becomes the subject and the verb takes the form 'be + past participle', often with 'by' naming the doer. 'The file was forwarded... by the Section Officer' matches this pattern exactly. The remaining sentences are active, with the doer as subject.

Question 5General English

Choose the correctly spelt word as used in official correspondence.

  1. corespondence
  2. correspodence
  3. correspondance
  4. correspondence Correct answer.

Explanation

The noun is spelt 'correspondence', derived from 'correspond' with the suffix '-ence'. The '-ance' ending is a common confusion but is incorrect here. The other options also miss letters or substitute 'a' for 'e'.

Question 6General English

Fill in the blank with the correct form: 'If the application _____ incomplete, the registry returns it to the applicant.'

  1. was
  2. will be
  3. is Correct answer.
  4. were

Explanation

This is a zero conditional describing a general, habitual procedure, so both clauses take the present simple. 'Is' matches 'returns' in the main clause. Past or future forms would break the habitual pattern.

Question 7General English

Which word is the antonym of 'adjourn' as used in court proceedings?

  1. defer
  2. postpone
  3. suspend
  4. convene Correct answer.

Explanation

'Adjourn' means to suspend or postpone a sitting to a later time. Its opposite is 'convene', which means to assemble or begin a sitting. 'Postpone', 'suspend' and 'defer' are all near-synonyms of 'adjourn'.

Question 8General English

Select the option that correctly replaces the underlined part: 'The Assistant, along with the other staff, _____ attending the training programme.'

  1. were
  2. are
  3. have been
  4. is Correct answer.

Explanation

When a subject is followed by 'along with', the phrase in between does not change the number of the subject. The true subject is 'The Assistant', which is singular, so the singular verb 'is' is required. Plural verbs would agree with the intervening phrase rather than the subject.

Question 9General English

In the sentence 'Having verified the records, the clerk submitted the report', what does the opening phrase modify?

  1. the report
  2. the submission
  3. the records
  4. the clerk Correct answer.

Explanation

A participial phrase at the start of a sentence should modify the subject of the main clause. The subject here is 'the clerk', who is the one who verified the records and then submitted the report. Reading it as modifying 'the records' would produce a dangling modifier.

Question 10General English

Choose the sentence in which the relative pronoun is used correctly for a formal office note.

  1. The officer which signed the order has retired.
  2. The officer who signed the order has retired. Correct answer.
  3. The officer whom signed the order has retired.
  4. The officer whose signed the order has retired.

Explanation

'Who' is the subject-case relative pronoun for a person and is correct when it stands as the subject of 'signed'. 'Which' is reserved for things, 'whom' is object case, and 'whose' is possessive and needs a noun after it.

Question 11General English

Which option best completes the sentence in reported speech? Direct: The Registrar said, 'I will issue the notice today.' Reported: The Registrar said that he _____ the notice that day.

  1. will issue
  2. would have issued
  3. would issue Correct answer.
  4. issues

Explanation

In reported speech after a past reporting verb, 'will' shifts back to 'would'. 'Today' also changes to 'that day', which signals the backshift. 'Would have issued' would be used for a past unreal condition, and present 'issues' ignores the backshift.

Question 12General English

Identify the clause type of the underlined portion: 'The appeal was dismissed because the grounds were insufficient.'

  1. adverb clause of reason Correct answer.
  2. noun clause
  3. main clause
  4. adjective clause

Explanation

'Because the grounds were insufficient' gives the reason for the dismissal, so it is a subordinate adverb clause of reason introduced by 'because'. An adjective clause would modify a noun, and a noun clause would occupy a subject or object slot.

Question 13General English

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence: 'Neither the petitioner nor the respondents _____ present when the order was read.'

  1. is
  2. has been
  3. were Correct answer.
  4. was

Explanation

With 'neither... nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject, which here is the plural 'respondents'. The past plural 'were' is therefore correct. 'Was' and 'is' would agree with the singular 'petitioner', which is not the nearer subject.

Question 14General English

Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?

  1. The hearing was postponed; the witness was absent. Correct answer.
  2. The hearing; was postponed because the witness was absent.
  3. The hearing was postponed; because the witness was absent.
  4. The hearing was postponed; and the witness was absent.

Explanation

A semicolon joins two independent clauses that are closely related and not already linked by a conjunction. 'The hearing was postponed' and 'the witness was absent' are both independent, so the semicolon is appropriate. Placing a semicolon before a subordinator or a coordinating conjunction, or in the middle of a single clause, is wrong.

Question 15General English

Select the option that expresses the sentence most concisely without changing the meaning: 'In the event that the fee is not paid, the application will be rejected.'

  1. If the fee is not paid, the application will be rejected. Correct answer.
  2. The application will be rejected in the event that the fee is not paid by the applicant.
  3. Should it be that the fee is not paid, the application will be rejected.
  4. In the event that the fee is not paid, the application will be rejected.

Explanation

'In the event that' is a wordy substitute for the simple conditional 'if'. Option 1 keeps the same meaning in fewer words and is therefore the most concise. The other options either retain the wordy phrase or add unnecessary material.

Question 16General English

Which phrasal verb correctly completes the sentence: 'The committee decided to _____ the hearing until the missing records were traced.'

  1. put on
  2. put in
  3. put off Correct answer.
  4. put up

Explanation

'Put off' means to postpone, which fits a hearing delayed until records are found. 'Put on' means to stage or wear, 'put up' means to accommodate or erect, and 'put in' means to submit or install. None of these conveys postponement.

Question 17General English

Choose the correct passive transformation of: 'The Registrar will sign the order.'

  1. The order will be signing by the Registrar.
  2. The order will sign by the Registrar.
  3. The order is signed by the Registrar will.
  4. The order will be signed by the Registrar. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passive of a future 'will sign' is 'will be signed', formed with 'will' + 'be' + past participle. The object 'the order' becomes the subject and the doer is introduced by 'by'. The other options either omit 'be', use a progressive participle, or scramble the word order.

Question 18General English

Which option correctly completes the sentence: 'The clerk is senior _____ the other assistants in the section.'

  1. from
  2. to Correct answer.
  3. of
  4. than

Explanation

The adjective 'senior' takes the preposition 'to' rather than 'than', unlike ordinary comparative adjectives. This is a fixed collocation in formal English, as in 'senior to', 'junior to', 'superior to' and 'inferior to'. 'Than' would be used with 'older' or 'more senior'.

Question 19General English

Identify the figure of speech in: 'The courtroom was a pressure cooker during the final arguments.'

  1. personification
  2. hyperbole
  3. metaphor Correct answer.
  4. simile

Explanation

A metaphor states that one thing is another without using 'like' or 'as'. Calling the courtroom 'a pressure cooker' directly equates the two to suggest tension. A simile would require 'like' or 'as', and personification would give the courtroom human qualities.

Question 20General English

Which sentence uses the modal verb that best expresses a formal obligation on the registry?

  1. The registry shall dispatch the notice today. Correct answer.
  2. The registry may dispatch the notice today.
  3. The registry could dispatch the notice today.
  4. The registry might dispatch the notice today.

Explanation

In formal and legal drafting, 'shall' imposes a mandatory obligation on the person or body named. 'Might', 'could' and 'may' express possibility or permission and do not create a duty. The sentence therefore needs 'shall' to convey obligation.

Question 21General English

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence: 'Hardly _____ the order been issued when the appeal was filed.'

  1. has
  2. had Correct answer.
  3. having
  4. have

Explanation

When a sentence opens with the negative adverb 'hardly', the subject and auxiliary invert, and the past perfect is needed because the issuing happened before the appeal. The past perfect auxiliary is 'had', which stays singular with 'the order'. 'Has' and 'have' are present tense, and 'having' is not a finite verb.

Question 22General English

Which option best replaces the underlined phrase to remove the dangling modifier? 'Walking into the chamber, the files were found on the table.'

  1. the officer found the files on the table Correct answer.
  2. the table had the files on it
  3. the files were found on the table
  4. the files had been found on the table

Explanation

The opening participle 'Walking into the chamber' must modify the subject of the main clause, and only a person can walk. Making 'the officer' the subject repairs the dangling modifier. The other options keep inanimate subjects that cannot perform the walking action.

Question 23General English

Select the sentence that correctly uses the subjunctive mood in a formal legal context.

  1. The committee recommends that the report will be submitted by Friday.
  2. The committee recommends that the report is submitted by Friday.
  3. The committee recommends that the report was submitted by Friday.
  4. The committee recommends that the report be submitted by Friday. Correct answer.

Explanation

After verbs of recommendation or demand such as 'recommends that', formal English uses the base form of the verb, known as the mandative subjunctive. 'Be submitted' is that base form. Indicative 'is', past 'was' and future 'will be' do not express the recommended action as a requirement.

Question 24General English

In the sentence 'The order, which the Registrar had signed before leaving, was challenged', which statement about the verb forms is accurate?

  1. 'Had signed' shows an action continuing into the present.
  2. 'Had signed' is a passive form of the past tense.
  3. 'Had signed' is a future perfect form.
  4. 'Had signed' shows an action completed before another past action. Correct answer.

Explanation

The past perfect 'had signed' marks the earlier of two past events: the signing happened before the challenge. This sequencing use of the past perfect is standard in narrative and legal reporting. It is active, not passive, and does not extend into the present.

Question 25General English

Which option correctly completes the sentence using a participle clause that agrees with the main subject? '_____ the notice, the applicant filed a written objection.'

  1. Having received Correct answer.
  2. Receiving
  3. To receive
  4. Received

Explanation

The perfect participle 'Having received' shows that the receipt of the notice happened before the filing of the objection, and it agrees with the subject 'the applicant'. 'Receiving' suggests simultaneity, 'Received' is passive and would mean the applicant was received, and 'To receive' expresses purpose.

Question 26General English

In a Gauhati High Court office order, choose the sentence that uses the article correctly.

  1. Assistant Registrar placed the file before Hon'ble Chief Justice.
  2. An Assistant Registrar placed the file before a Hon'ble Chief Justice.
  3. The Assistant Registrar placed the file before the Hon'ble Chief Justice. Correct answer.
  4. The Assistant Registrar placed a file before the Hon'ble Chief Justice.

Explanation

Definite article 'the' is used before a specific countable noun already known to the reader, and before titles such as 'the Hon'ble Chief Justice'. 'An' before 'Hon'ble' is wrong because the 'h' is pronounced. Omitting articles before singular countable nouns like 'Assistant Registrar' is ungrammatical in formal drafting.

Question 27General English

Which option gives the correct plural of 'memorandum' as used in High Court correspondence?

  1. Memorandum
  2. Memoranda Correct answer.
  3. Memorandum's
  4. Memorandums

Explanation

'Memorandum' is a Latin-derived noun whose accepted formal plural is 'memoranda'. Legal and administrative writing prefers this classical plural. 'Memorandum' is singular and "memorandum's" is possessive, not plural.

Question 28General English

Choose the option that correctly completes the office note: 'The petitioner has been directed to file the affidavit _____ two weeks.'

  1. within Correct answer.
  2. in
  3. on
  4. at

Explanation

'Within' expresses a period of time inside which an action must be completed, which is the standard usage in court directions. 'In two weeks' would mean after two weeks have passed, changing the meaning. 'At' and 'on' do not collocate with a duration.

Question 29General English

Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly in a registry note?

  1. The petitioner's counsel filed the vakalatnama. Correct answer.
  2. The petitioners counsel filed the vakalatnama.
  3. The petitioners' counsel's filed the vakalatnama.
  4. The petitioner's counsel filed the vakalatnama's.

Explanation

The apostrophe plus 's' marks the possessive of a singular noun: 'the petitioner's counsel'. The apostrophe must attach to the possessor, not to the object possessed. Adding 's' to a verb or to the object creates an error.

Question 30General English

Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: 'The order was passed yesterday by the Division Bench.'

  1. Adverb Correct answer.
  2. Preposition
  3. Adjective
  4. Conjunction

Explanation

'Yesterday' answers the question 'when' about the verb 'was passed', so it functions as an adverb of time. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. It is not describing a noun, nor does it link words like a preposition or conjunction.

Question 31General English

Which option correctly completes the sentence: 'The record _____ by the Bench before the next hearing.'

  1. will been perused
  2. will be perused Correct answer.
  3. will be peruse
  4. will perused

Explanation

After the modal 'will', the passive is formed with 'be' plus the past participle: 'will be perused'. The modal carries the tense, so the main verb stays in its participle form. The other combinations break the auxiliary sequence.

Question 32General English

Choose the word closest in meaning to 'peruse' as used in court language.

  1. Copy verbatim
  2. Ignore
  3. Destroy
  4. Read carefully Correct answer.

Explanation

'Peruse' in formal legal usage means to read or examine something carefully. It is a frequent word in orders directing a Bench to peruse the record. It does not mean to ignore, copy, or destroy the document.

Question 33General English

Which option gives the correct spelling for High Court usage?

  1. Judgement
  2. Judgemant
  3. Judjment
  4. Judgment Correct answer.

Explanation

Indian courts and the Supreme Court prefer the spelling 'judgment' in formal orders and cause titles. The extra 'e' form is common in general British writing but is generally avoided in court documents. The other two are simply misspellings.

Question 34General English

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence: 'The Registrar, as well as the Section Officers, _____ to submit the report by Friday.'

  1. have required
  2. were required
  3. is required Correct answer.
  4. are required

Explanation

When subjects are joined by 'as well as', the verb agrees with the first subject only. 'The Registrar' is singular, so the singular 'is required' is correct. Plural verbs here would wrongly agree with the phrase after 'as well as'.

Question 35General English

Which sentence correctly uses the colon in a formal office memorandum?

  1. The Registry must verify: three things the stamp report, the index and the pagination.
  2. The Registry must verify three things: the stamp report, the index, and the pagination. Correct answer.
  3. The Registry must verify three things, the stamp report: the index and the pagination.
  4. The Registry must verify three things; the stamp report: the index and the pagination.

Explanation

A colon introduces a list after a complete independent clause. In option 0 the clause 'The Registry must verify three things' is complete, and the colon properly announces the list. The colon must not separate a verb from its object or interrupt the list itself.

Question 36General English

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence: 'No sooner _____ the judgment been pronounced than the crowd dispersed.'

  1. has
  2. having
  3. have
  4. had Correct answer.

Explanation

'No sooner' triggers inversion and takes the past perfect in this past narrative: 'No sooner had the judgment been pronounced than...'. The auxiliary must agree with the singular subject 'judgment' and carry past perfect tense. 'Has' and 'have' are present tense and clash with 'dispersed'.

Question 37General English

Which option best completes the sentence in indirect speech? Direct: The Bench said to the counsel, 'Submit your written submissions by Monday.'

  1. The Bench told the counsel to submit his written submissions by Monday. Correct answer.
  2. The Bench told the counsel that submit his written submissions by Monday.
  3. The Bench said the counsel submit his written submissions by Monday.
  4. The Bench asked the counsel that he submits his written submissions by Monday.

Explanation

An imperative in direct speech becomes 'tell/order/ask someone to + base verb' in indirect speech. 'Said to' changes to 'told', and the pronoun 'your' shifts to 'his'. The reporting verb must not be followed by 'that' with an imperative.

Question 38General English

Identify the type of the underlined clause: 'The petition was listed today so that the urgent relief could be considered.'

  1. Noun clause
  2. Adjective clause
  3. Adverb clause of purpose Correct answer.
  4. Adverb clause of condition

Explanation

'So that the urgent relief could be considered' answers the question 'why' and expresses purpose. Purpose clauses are adverbial because they modify the main verb 'was listed'. It is not a noun clause (it does not act as subject or object) nor an adjective clause (it does not modify a noun).

Question 39General English

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence: 'The appellant, together with his two advocates, _____ present in court.'

  1. were
  2. have been
  3. are
  4. was Correct answer.

Explanation

Phrases introduced by 'together with' or 'along with' are parenthetical and do not change the number of the subject. The true subject is 'The appellant', which is singular, so the singular past 'was' is required. Plural verbs would wrongly agree with the intervening phrase.

Question 40General English

Choose the option that replaces the underlined phrase most idiomatically: 'The counsel made a request for an adjournment of the matter.'

  1. sought an adjournment of Correct answer.
  2. prayed for an adjournment for
  3. made an adjournment request of
  4. requested for an adjournment of

Explanation

'Sought an adjournment of the matter' is idiomatic, concise legal English. 'Requested for' is a common error because 'request' is transitive and takes a direct object without 'for'. 'Prayed for an adjournment of' is also used in Indian drafting, but the option given uses 'for' incorrectly as 'prayed for... for'.

Question 41General English

Which option correctly completes the sentence: 'The order was passed in _____ of the petitioner's objections.'

  1. spite Correct answer.
  2. inspite
  3. although
  4. despite

Explanation

The fixed expression is 'in spite of', written as three separate words. 'Despite' is a single word and cannot be preceded by 'in'. 'Inspite' is a misspelling, and 'although' introduces a clause, not a noun phrase.

Question 42General English

Choose the sentence in which the gerund is used correctly as the subject of a formal note.

  1. To filing the counter-affidavit within time is mandatory for the respondent.
  2. Filing the counter-affidavit within time are mandatory for the respondent.
  3. Filing the counter-affidavit within time is mandatory for the respondent. Correct answer.
  4. The filing the counter-affidavit within time is mandatory for the respondent.

Explanation

A gerund phrase acting as subject takes a singular verb: 'Filing ... is mandatory'. The gerund phrase itself is formed with the base verb plus '-ing' and no article. Adding 'to' before a gerund or inserting 'the' before it creates a faulty construction.

Question 43General English

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: 'The applicant was asked to produce the original documents, _____ he could not do.'

  1. what
  2. whom
  3. that
  4. which Correct answer.

Explanation

'Which' is the correct relative pronoun to refer back to the whole preceding action or to a thing. 'That' is not used after a comma in non-defining relative clauses. 'What' already contains its antecedent and 'whom' refers to persons only.

Question 44General English

Which option correctly completes the sentence: 'The judgment, _____ length exceeds two hundred pages, was delivered yesterday.'

  1. who
  2. that
  3. whose Correct answer.
  4. which

Explanation

'Whose' is the possessive relative pronoun and correctly links 'judgment' to 'length'. It can refer to things as well as persons in formal English. 'Which' and 'that' cannot express possession directly before a noun, and 'who' is restricted to persons.

Question 45General English

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence: 'Scarcely had the Court assembled _____ the advocate rose to argue.'

  1. than
  2. that
  3. then
  4. when Correct answer.

Explanation

'Scarcely ... when' is the fixed correlative pair, just as 'hardly ... when' and 'no sooner ... than'. 'Than' pairs with 'no sooner', not with 'scarcely'. 'Then' and 'that' do not form a recognised correlative with 'scarcely'.

Question 46General English

Which sentence uses the modal verb that best expresses a formal duty of the Registry under the rules?

  1. The Registry could maintain a register of all interim applications.
  2. The Registry might maintain a register of all interim applications.
  3. The Registry may perhaps maintain a register of all interim applications.
  4. The Registry shall maintain a register of all interim applications. Correct answer.

Explanation

In legal drafting 'shall' imposes a mandatory duty on the person or body named. 'Might', 'could', and 'may perhaps' express possibility or permission, which weakens the obligation. Formal rules use 'shall' to create a binding requirement.

Question 47General English

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence: 'The affidavit must be sworn before an officer _____ by the Court in this behalf.'

  1. authorise
  2. authorised Correct answer.
  3. authorisation
  4. authorising

Explanation

A past participle is needed to form a reduced passive relative clause meaning 'who is authorised by the Court'. 'Authorised' agrees with the singular noun 'officer'. The present participle 'authorising' would wrongly suggest the officer authorises someone, and the other forms are not participles.

Question 48General English

Identify the voice and effect of the underlined verb phrase: 'The appellant was granted time to cure the defects.'

  1. Active voice, with the appellant as the doer of the action.
  2. Passive voice, with the Registry as the receiver of the action.
  3. Passive voice, with the appellant as the receiver of the action. Correct answer.
  4. Active voice, with the Registry as the receiver of the action.

Explanation

The construction 'was granted' is passive: the subject 'appellant' receives the granting rather than performing it. The agent (the Court or Registry) is left unstated. Recognising this helps a reader see who actually acted.

Question 49General English

Which option correctly completes the sentence: 'Were the petition _____ on the day fixed, it would be listed for hearing.'

  1. to file
  2. filing
  3. filed Correct answer.
  4. file

Explanation

This is a subjunctive conditional with inversion: 'Were the petition filed...' replaces 'If the petition were filed...'. The past participle 'filed' is required to complete the passive subjunctive. The other forms do not fit the auxiliary 'were' in this construction.

Question 50General English

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined portion to remove the faulty parallelism: 'The duties of the Assistant include maintaining the diary, to file the records, and correspondence with the parties.'

  1. maintaining the diary, the filing of records, and correspond with the parties
  2. maintaining the diary, filing the records, and corresponding with the parties Correct answer.
  3. to maintain the diary, filing the records, and correspondence with the parties
  4. maintaining the diary, to file the records, and to correspond with the parties

Explanation

Items in a list must share the same grammatical form. Since the series begins with the gerund 'maintaining', each item should be a gerund: 'maintaining, filing, corresponding'. Mixing an infinitive, a gerund, and a noun breaks parallelism.