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RBSE Secondary English study materials
RBSE Secondary English study resources

RBSE Secondary English practice questions

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Question 1Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this passage: 'The old library smelled of dust and rain. Meera ran her fingers along the spines, searching for the blue cover her teacher had described. Outside, the storm rattled the shutters, but inside she felt only quiet.' Which word best describes Meera's mood in the passage?

  1. Frightened
  2. Bored
  3. Angry
  4. Focused Correct answer.

Explanation

Meera is absorbed in searching for a specific book, and the passage contrasts the noisy storm outside with her feeling of 'only quiet' inside. This shows concentration rather than fear, anger, or boredom. Her attention is fixed on the task of finding the blue cover.

Question 2Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

In an unseen passage, a writer says: 'The river did not simply flow; it argued with the stones, shoved them aside, and finally won.' Which figure of speech is used in this sentence?

  1. Personification Correct answer.
  2. Simile
  3. Hyperbole
  4. Onomatopoeia

Explanation

The river is given human qualities: it 'argues' and 'wins', which are actions of people, not water. Giving non-human things human traits is personification. A simile would need 'like' or 'as', and hyperbole would need deliberate exaggeration.

Question 3Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this passage: 'When the results were announced, Arun's name was not on the list. He folded the paper neatly, placed it in his pocket, and walked home without speaking.' What does Arun's behaviour most strongly suggest?

  1. He was hiding his disappointment. Correct answer.
  2. He was pleased with the outcome.
  3. He had forgotten the announcement.
  4. He had not checked the list carefully.

Explanation

Folding the paper neatly and walking home in silence are controlled actions that often signal suppressed emotion. Since his name was missing, the natural feeling is disappointment, which he conceals rather than displays. The passage shows his reaction, not confusion about the list.

Question 4Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Which of these is the best statement of the main idea of a passage about how street lights affect urban wildlife?

  1. Street lights are common in most modern cities.
  2. Wildlife includes birds, insects, and small mammals.
  3. Some people prefer darker streets in their neighbourhoods.
  4. Artificial light at night disturbs the feeding and breeding habits of many city animals. Correct answer.

Explanation

The main idea must capture the central claim the passage develops, not just a background detail. A passage on street lights and urban wildlife would build toward the effect of light on animal behaviour. The other options are supporting facts or side points rather than the controlling idea.

Question 5Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage begins: 'Although the experiment had failed twice, the team returned to the laboratory the next morning.' The word 'Although' signals that the second part of the sentence will:

  1. list the members of the team
  2. repeat the first idea in different words
  3. contrast with the setback in the first part Correct answer.
  4. give the cause of the failure

Explanation

'Although' is a concessive conjunction, so it introduces an idea that works against an expectation set up earlier. The expected response to repeated failure is giving up, but the team returns, creating a contrast. Recognising such connectors helps a reader follow the logic of an unseen passage.

Question 6Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this sentence from a passage: 'The market was a riot of colour, sound, and smell.' The phrase 'a riot of' is used here to mean:

  1. a confused argument
  2. an overwhelming abundance Correct answer.
  3. a violent disturbance
  4. a legal offence

Explanation

In descriptive writing, 'a riot of colour' is an idiom meaning a rich, plentiful display. The context of a market with colour, sound, and smell supports abundance rather than disorder. Readers must use context to choose the intended sense of a familiar word.

Question 7Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage states: 'Every student who joined the reading club improved her vocabulary.' Which conclusion follows logically from this statement alone?

  1. Some students who joined the club improved their vocabulary. Correct answer.
  2. The club was the only cause of vocabulary improvement.
  3. Every student with a good vocabulary joined the club.
  4. Students who did not join the club did not improve.

Explanation

If every club member improved, then at least some members improved, which makes the second option a valid weaker restatement. The original statement does not work in reverse or exclude outside causes. Careful reasoning about unseen passages means drawing only conclusions the text supports.

Question 8Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

In a passage, a narrator writes: 'I have told this story many times, but never quite like this.' What does this line most likely signal about the passage that follows?

  1. The narrator has forgotten the details of the story.
  2. The narrator refuses to tell the story at all.
  3. The narrator will repeat a well-known version exactly.
  4. The narrator will offer a new or personal version of events. Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase 'never quite like this' suggests the present telling is different from earlier ones, likely more personal or revealing. It sets up a fresh perspective rather than a straight repetition. Noticing such framing statements helps readers anticipate a passage's direction.

Question 9Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this passage: 'The village well had dried up by March. Women who once met there each morning now walked two kilometres to the canal. The children no longer played near the empty stone circle.' Which sentence best summarises the passage's focus?

  1. The drying well changed daily life and community routine. Correct answer.
  2. Children prefer playing near canals.
  3. March is the hottest month in the village.
  4. The canal is deeper than the village well.

Explanation

All three details describe consequences of the well drying up: longer walks for water and the loss of a meeting place. The passage is about the social and practical effects of that change. The other options pick up single details without capturing the shared focus.

Question 10Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

In an unseen passage, the writer describes a character as follows: 'Mr Rao spoke softly, yet the whole room leaned in to listen.' What does this detail reveal about Mr Rao?

  1. He was physically weak.
  2. He was nervous about speaking.
  3. He commanded attention without raising his voice. Correct answer.
  4. He was unpopular with his audience.

Explanation

The contrast between soft speech and the room's close attention shows that his authority came from presence, not volume. The phrase 'leaned in' indicates engaged listening. This is an inference drawn from behaviour rather than a direct statement.

Question 11Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage contains the sentence: 'The scientist's claim was not merely bold; it was revolutionary.' The semicolon in this sentence is used to:

  1. mark a direct quotation
  2. join two closely related clauses Correct answer.
  3. introduce a list of items
  4. separate a subject from its verb

Explanation

A semicolon can join two independent clauses that are closely linked in meaning, as here, where the second clause intensifies the first. It is not used before a list introduced by a colon, nor to mark quotations. Recognising punctuation functions supports accurate reading of unseen prose.

Question 12Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this passage: 'The letter lay unopened on the table for three days. On the fourth morning, Sana finally slid her thumb under the flap, then put it down again.' What does Sana's behaviour suggest about the letter?

  1. It carries news she is anxious about facing. Correct answer.
  2. It belongs to someone else in the house.
  3. It contains routine information she already knows.
  4. It is too damaged to be read.

Explanation

Delaying for three days and then stopping after barely opening the envelope shows reluctance and unease. People avoid opening letters they fear will contain bad news. The passage conveys this through actions, requiring the reader to infer the emotion.

Question 13Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

In a passage about desert plants, the writer says: 'The cactus does not waste water; it hoards it.' Which technique is the writer using to emphasise the plant's survival strategy?

  1. Rhetorical question
  2. Contrasting verbs for emphasis Correct answer.
  3. Direct quotation
  4. Understatement

Explanation

The writer pairs 'waste' with 'hoard' to sharpen the contrast between careless loss and careful storage. This verb choice stresses the plant's efficiency in a harsh environment. The sentence contains no question, quotation, or deliberate understatement.

Question 14Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage reads: 'The train was late, the platform was cold, and the announcement system had broken down. Ravi, however, sat reading calmly.' The word 'however' in this sentence mainly serves to:

  1. add another problem to the list
  2. introduce the passage's main idea
  3. explain why the train was delayed
  4. show that Ravi's reaction differs from the situation Correct answer.

Explanation

'However' marks a contrast between the unpleasant circumstances and Ravi's calm response. It highlights that his reaction does not match what the setting would lead us to expect. Recognising contrast connectors is essential for tracking meaning in unseen passages.

Question 15Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this passage: 'The museum's new wing was built entirely of recycled brick. Visitors often mistake it for the original nineteenth-century building.' What does this detail imply about the new wing?

  1. It was designed to blend with the older architecture. Correct answer.
  2. It was cheaper than any other option.
  3. It is older than the main museum.
  4. It is unpopular with visitors.

Explanation

If visitors mistake a new building for a nineteenth-century one, the design must imitate or harmonise with the older style. The recycled brick supports that visual match. The passage implies aesthetic intention, not cost or unpopularity.

Question 16Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

In a passage, the phrase 'a sea of umbrellas' appears during a description of a crowded street in the rain. This phrase is an example of:

  1. a simile
  2. a metaphor Correct answer.
  3. alliteration
  4. irony

Explanation

The umbrellas are described directly as 'a sea', without using 'like' or 'as', which makes it a metaphor. The image suggests a vast, moving expanse. A simile would require an explicit comparison word, and irony would involve a contrast between expectation and reality.

Question 17Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage describes a town where 'the clock tower has stood silent for forty years, its hands frozen at noon.' Which interpretation of the detail is best supported by the passage?

  1. The clock is being repaired next week.
  2. Noon is the busiest hour in the town.
  3. The tower represents a past that the town has not restored. Correct answer.
  4. The town has stopped caring about time.

Explanation

A clock frozen for forty years and left silent suggests neglect and a link to an earlier period. The detail symbolises a preserved but unrestored past. The passage supports this symbolic reading rather than practical explanations such as repairs.

Question 18Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this passage: 'Some critics argue that school gardens distract from academic work. Yet the evidence from twelve schools shows that students who gardened attended more regularly and scored higher in science.' What is the writer's attitude toward school gardens?

  1. Cautiously supportive Correct answer.
  2. Completely neutral
  3. Confused
  4. Strongly opposed

Explanation

The writer acknowledges the critics but then presents evidence in favour of school gardens. This balanced structure signals cautious support rather than outright enthusiasm or opposition. Attitude questions require attention to both sides the writer presents.

Question 19Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage says: 'Plastic takes centuries to break down, yet a single-use bag is used for about twelve minutes.' Which technique gives this sentence its persuasive force?

  1. A list of statistics
  2. A rhetorical question
  3. A striking contrast of time scales Correct answer.
  4. A direct quotation from an expert

Explanation

The writer sets centuries of decomposition against twelve minutes of use, and the gap itself makes the argument. This contrast of time scales is more memorable than a plain statement. There is no question, quotation, or extended list in the sentence.

Question 20Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this passage: 'When the floodwaters rose, the neighbours did not wait for instructions. Boats appeared from sheds, ropes were strung across lanes, and by nightfall every family on the street was dry.' Which statement best captures the passage's theme?

  1. Official instructions are usually wrong.
  2. Floods are impossible to predict.
  3. Communities can organise themselves in a crisis. Correct answer.
  4. Boats are essential household items.

Explanation

The passage stresses that people acted before being told what to do and solved the problem together. This makes self-organisation in a crisis the theme. The other options either overgeneralise or focus on minor details.

Question 21Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

In a passage, the narrator remarks: 'My grandfather's watch keeps perfect time, though it has not been wound in years.' What is the most reasonable inference about the watch?

  1. It was recently repaired.
  2. It belonged to a stranger.
  3. It is broken and shows the wrong time.
  4. It is a quartz or battery-powered watch. Correct answer.

Explanation

A watch that keeps time without winding cannot depend on a mainspring, so it must run on another power source such as a battery. The detail invites the reader to reason from the clue. The passage says it keeps perfect time, ruling out a broken watch.

Question 22Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage includes the sentence: 'The committee's report was thorough, but its recommendations were so vague that no department could act on them.' Which word best describes the report as a whole?

  1. Hostile and aggressive
  2. Optimistic and cheerful
  3. Comprehensive yet impractical Correct answer.
  4. Brief and careless

Explanation

'Thorough' supports the idea that the report was comprehensive, while the unusable recommendations make it impractical. The sentence balances a strength against a weakness. Good readers combine both halves of a contrast to judge the whole.

Question 23Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this passage: 'The city planted a thousand trees along the highway. Three years later, the noise levels had fallen, the air was cleaner, and drivers reported feeling less tired. Yet the transport department has proposed cutting the trees to widen the road.' Which irony does the passage highlight?

  1. Drivers dislike the trees along the highway.
  2. A solution that produced clear benefits is now threatened by road expansion. Correct answer.
  3. The transport department planted the trees itself.
  4. The trees grew faster than expected.

Explanation

The passage first lists the benefits of the trees, then notes a proposal to remove them for widening. The irony lies in discarding something shown to be valuable. Identifying irony requires spotting the tension between evidence and the proposed action.

Question 24Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage states: 'The novelist refused to describe her characters' faces. Readers, she argued, should build a face from a voice, a habit, a hesitation.' What does this detail suggest about the writer's view of fiction?

  1. Novels are better when they are short.
  2. Physical description is the most important element of a story.
  3. Readers should participate actively in imagining characters. Correct answer.
  4. Characters should not have any personality.

Explanation

By leaving faces undescribed, the novelist invites readers to construct characters from behaviour and speech. This places the reader in an active, imaginative role. The passage values suggestion over explicit physical detail.

Question 25Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

In a passage, a speaker says: 'We built the bridge to last a hundred years; we forgot to ask who would cross it.' Which interpretation best captures the speaker's criticism?

  1. The bridge was poorly constructed.
  2. The bridge was too expensive to maintain.
  3. Engineers should not build bridges at all.
  4. The project planned for durability but neglected human needs. Correct answer.

Explanation

The first clause shows attention to physical endurance, while the second exposes a failure to consider the people the bridge serves. The criticism targets misplaced priorities, not construction quality. The contrast between engineering and human purpose carries the meaning.

Question 26Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

In an unseen passage, the writer says of a shopkeeper: 'He counted the coins twice, then a third time, before sliding them into the tin.' What does this detail most strongly suggest about the shopkeeper?

  1. He is careful and perhaps anxious about money. Correct answer.
  2. He is dishonest with his customers.
  3. He is generous with his earnings.
  4. He is forgetful and easily confused.

Explanation

Repeated actions in a description usually reveal a trait: counting the coins three times points to caution, thrift or worry about money. The detail shows how he behaves, not how he treats others, so it supports care rather than dishonesty or generosity.

Question 27Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage opens: 'The bus was due at six. By half past seven, the three of them had read every poster on the shelter wall.' Which inference is best supported by these two sentences?

  1. They had arrived at the shelter after seven.
  2. They had been waiting far longer than expected. Correct answer.
  3. They enjoyed reading the posters.
  4. The bus had broken down on the road.

Explanation

The gap between the expected time (six) and the present time (half past seven), plus the fact that they have read everything on the wall, shows a long wait. The passage implies delay through behaviour rather than stating it directly.

Question 28Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this extract: 'The old librarian stamped each book with great ceremony, as though she were sealing a treaty.' The comparison to sealing a treaty mainly emphasises which quality of her action?

  1. Its secrecy and quietness.
  2. Its sense of importance and seriousness. Correct answer.
  3. Its pointlessness and waste.
  4. Its speed and efficiency.

Explanation

A simile compares one thing to another to transfer qualities. Sealing a treaty is a formal, weighty act, so the comparison lends the stamping a sense of ceremony and importance.

Question 29Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage contains the sentence: 'The results were disappointing, and the team's mood matched the grey sky outside.' What is the effect of mentioning the grey sky here?

  1. It shows the season in which the work was done.
  2. It mirrors the team's gloomy feelings. Correct answer.
  3. It proves the experiment was badly designed.
  4. It warns that a storm is approaching.

Explanation

Weather description placed beside an emotional statement often works as pathetic fallacy, where the setting echoes the mood. The grey sky reflects the team's disappointment rather than adding factual information about the experiment.

Question 30Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this passage: 'The recipe says to stir for five minutes. My aunt stirs for five minutes and talks for twenty, and the cake is always perfect.' The writer's tone towards the recipe is best described as:

  1. reverently obedient to instructions.
  2. bitterly angry at the aunt's methods.
  3. gently amused and sceptical of strict rules. Correct answer.
  4. coldly scientific and precise.

Explanation

The contrast between the recipe's exact timing and the aunt's relaxed, talkative method, ending in a perfect cake, is affectionate and lightly mocking of rigid instructions. The word 'always' signals tolerant amusement rather than anger.

Question 31Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage states: 'The scheme was launched with banners, speeches and a brass band. Two years on, the banners have faded and the office is used for storing chairs.' The writer's attitude to the scheme is conveyed mainly through:

  1. direct statements of criticism about the organisers.
  2. the contrast between its grand launch and its decline. Correct answer.
  3. statistics about the scheme's cost.
  4. quotation of the speeches made at the launch.

Explanation

Irony here works by juxtaposition: the noisy celebration is set against the faded, forgotten aftermath. The writer never criticises openly, but the contrast carries the judgement.

Question 32Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this passage: 'The village had one road, one shop and one school. Nobody locked a door, and nobody left.' Which statement is the most reasonable inference?

  1. The village was close to a large city.
  2. The village was small and tightly settled. Correct answer.
  3. The villagers were afraid of outsiders.
  4. The village was wealthy and growing.

Explanation

The repeated 'one' stresses small size, and the unlocked doors suggest trust and familiarity. Combined with the fact that nobody left, the passage implies a settled, close-knit community.

Question 33Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

In a passage, a character says: 'I don't mind the rain. It's the umbrellas I can't stand.' What does this remark most likely reveal?

  1. A preference for living in a dry climate.
  2. A scientific interest in how rain falls.
  3. A fear of being outdoors in wet weather.
  4. A humorous dislike of the fuss people make about weather. Correct answer.

Explanation

The remark is deliberately illogical: rain is the real inconvenience, but the speaker blames umbrellas, the human response to it. This kind of reversal is a comic way of mocking how people react to bad weather.

Question 34Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage reads: 'She had rehearsed the speech forty times. When her name was called, she walked to the stage and found that her notes had turned into a blur of grey lines.' What does the blur of grey lines most likely represent?

  1. A fault in the lighting of the hall.
  2. That she had poor eyesight.
  3. The physical effect of her nervousness. Correct answer.
  4. That she had brought the wrong notes.

Explanation

The detail follows forty rehearsals and the moment her name is called, so the blurred notes signal stage fright affecting her body. Writers often show anxiety through physical symptoms rather than naming the emotion.

Question 35Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this sentence from a passage: 'The new road sliced through the valley, and the farms on either side grew quiet.' Which technique is used in the word 'sliced'?

  1. A simile comparing the road to a knife.
  2. A verb chosen to suggest cutting damage. Correct answer.
  3. Hyperbole exaggerating the road's length.
  4. Personification giving the valley human feelings.

Explanation

The verb 'sliced' is a forceful word choice that makes the road seem like a blade cutting into the land. The quiet farms that follow reinforce the sense of harm, so the effect comes from diction rather than a stated comparison.

Question 36Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage says of a teacher: 'She never raised her voice, yet the class fell silent the moment she entered.' The main effect of this sentence is to show that the teacher:

  1. did not enjoy teaching the class.
  2. was feared because of strict punishments.
  3. commanded respect without needing to shout. Correct answer.
  4. had a naturally quiet voice.

Explanation

The contrast between not raising her voice and the instant silence points to authority earned through respect. The passage emphasises the power of her presence rather than any punishment.

Question 37Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this passage: 'The town council promised a park. What arrived was a bench, a bin and a square of grass the size of a rug.' The writer's tone is best described as:

  1. dryly mocking. Correct answer.
  2. warmly grateful.
  3. openly furious.
  4. neutral and factual.

Explanation

The gap between 'a park' and three tiny items, capped by the comparison to a rug, is understated ridicule. The writer does not shout; the humour lies in the flat, deadpan delivery of a disappointing outcome.

Question 38Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage describes a character: 'He kept every ticket from every journey he had ever made, filed by date, though he never spoke of the journeys to anyone.' What does this detail most suggest about him?

  1. A desire to boast about his journeys.
  2. A habit of forgetting his travels.
  3. A wish to sell the tickets for profit.
  4. A private, carefully ordered inner life. Correct answer.

Explanation

Filing tickets by date shows orderliness, while never speaking of them shows secrecy. Together the details point to a rich but hidden inner life rather than any practical use for the collection.

Question 39Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

A passage contains the sentence: 'The bridge was praised in every report, though no one could say when it had last been crossed.' What is the writer suggesting about the bridge?

  1. It is crossed by too many people.
  2. It was built very recently.
  3. It is admired in words but unused in practice. Correct answer.
  4. It is dangerous and should be closed.

Explanation

The sentence sets official praise against the fact that nobody remembers anyone using the bridge. This ironic contrast suggests it exists mainly on paper, valued in reports rather than in daily life.

Question 40Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)

Read this extract: 'My father taught me to fish. He taught me patience, mostly, and how to sit still while the river did all the work.' The final clause suggests that the writer now sees the lessons as:

  1. more about character than about catching fish. Correct answer.
  2. a technical skill he never mastered.
  3. a waste of childhood afternoons.
  4. proof that his father was lazy.

Explanation

The phrase 'patience, mostly' and the idea of letting the river do the work shift the emphasis from the catch to the qualities learned. The reflective tone presents the teaching as a lesson in character.

Question 41Writing Skills (Letters, Reports, Paragraphs, Notices)

In a formal letter to the Principal requesting a leave of absence, which opening salutation is most appropriate for the RBSE writing section?

  1. Dear friend,
  2. Hi there!
  3. Respected Sir/Madam, Correct answer.
  4. Hey Principal,

Explanation

Formal letters in the RBSE syllabus require a respectful salutation followed by a comma, and 'Respected Sir/Madam,' is the standard accepted form when the recipient's name is unknown. Informal greetings belong to letters to relatives or friends, not to official correspondence.

Question 42Writing Skills (Letters, Reports, Paragraphs, Notices)

Which element must appear immediately after the salutation in the body structure of a formal letter of complaint?

  1. A closing remark about the weather
  2. A list of the writer's hobbies
  3. The writer's signature
  4. A clear statement of the purpose of writing Correct answer.

Explanation

A formal letter of complaint opens its body by stating the subject or purpose directly so the reader knows at once what is being complained about. Personal details such as hobbies or weather remarks have no place in official correspondence.

Question 43Writing Skills (Letters, Reports, Paragraphs, Notices)

A notice for the school notice board announces an inter-house debate. Which heading best fits the conventions of a notice?

  1. A long paragraph describing the writer's feelings
  2. INTER-HOUSE DEBATE COMPETITION Correct answer.
  3. Dear students, how are you all
  4. Once upon a time in our school

Explanation

A notice is headed by a short, capitalised title that names the event clearly, so readers can grasp the subject at a glance. Narrative openings and personal addresses belong to letters or stories, not to notices.

Question 44Writing Skills (Letters, Reports, Paragraphs, Notices)

Which closing is correct for a formal letter written to an editor of a newspaper?

  1. Your friend,
  2. Yours sincerely, Correct answer.
  3. Yours lovingly,
  4. See you soon,

Explanation

Formal letters close with 'Yours sincerely,' or 'Yours faithfully,' followed by the writer's name. 'Yours lovingly,' and 'Your friend,' are reserved for personal letters to relatives or friends.

Question 45Writing Skills (Letters, Reports, Paragraphs, Notices)

In a report on the school's Annual Sports Day, which sentence belongs in the section describing the events?

  1. The writer's uncle lives in Jaipur.
  2. The 100-metre race began at 9 a.m., followed by the relay and the tug of war. Correct answer.
  3. I hope you are all well and happy.
  4. Please grant me two days' leave.

Explanation

A report presents factual, chronological information about what happened, so a sentence listing the events in order suits the body of the report. Personal remarks and leave requests belong to letters, not to reports.

Question 46Writing Skills (Letters, Reports, Paragraphs, Notices)

Which sentence is the most suitable topic sentence for a paragraph on the benefits of morning walks?

  1. Morning walks, though simple, offer remarkable benefits for body and mind. Correct answer.
  2. I bought new shoes yesterday.
  3. Many people walk in the evening too.
  4. Some parks are far from the market.

Explanation

A topic sentence announces the paragraph's central idea, and this option clearly states that morning walks have benefits for body and mind, which the rest of the paragraph can then develop. The other sentences are stray details that do not announce a controlling idea.

Question 47Writing Skills (Letters, Reports, Paragraphs, Notices)

A notice must include the date, time and venue of an event. Which option correctly supplies these details for a notice?

  1. On 12 August 2024 at 10 a.m. in the school auditorium Correct answer.
  2. Sometime next week, somewhere in school
  3. Soon, in a big place
  4. When everyone is free, wherever they like

Explanation

A well-written notice gives precise, verifiable details so readers know exactly when and where to attend. Vague phrases such as 'sometime' or 'somewhere' defeat the purpose of a notice.

Question 48Writing Skills (Letters, Reports, Paragraphs, Notices)

Which sentence uses the correct word order for a formal request in a letter of application?

  1. Writing I am the post for apply advertised librarian.
  2. The librarian post I writing am apply advertised.
  3. I am writing to apply for the post of school librarian advertised on the notice board. Correct answer.
  4. Apply I for post writing am the librarian.

Explanation

English formal writing follows subject-verb-object order with clear modifiers, and this sentence states the purpose in a natural, grammatical sequence. The other options scramble the words into an unreadable order.

Question 49Writing Skills (Letters, Reports, Paragraphs, Notices)

Read this paragraph: 'Trees give us shade, fruit and clean air. They also prevent soil erosion and support wildlife. Without trees, life on earth would be harsh.' Which sentence best concludes it?

  1. My grandfather planted a tree once.
  2. Trees are green in colour.
  3. Therefore, planting and protecting trees is our shared duty. Correct answer.
  4. Some trees are very tall indeed.

Explanation

A concluding sentence should draw an inference from the paragraph's ideas, and since the paragraph lists the benefits of trees, a call to plant and protect them follows logically. The other sentences add stray facts that do not round off the argument.

Question 50Writing Skills (Letters, Reports, Paragraphs, Notices)

In a report, which phrase best introduces a sequence of events in a formal, objective tone?

  1. Guess what happened next!
  2. Subsequently, the chief guest distributed the prizes. Correct answer.
  3. Anyway, moving on,
  4. You won't believe it, but...

Explanation

Reports use formal, objective connectives such as 'subsequently', 'thereafter' and 'following this' to link events. Conversational fillers like 'guess what' or 'anyway' lower the register and are unsuitable for a report.