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SBI PO practice questions

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Question 1English Language

Choose the correct option to fill in the blank: One of the members of the committee ___ resigned.

  1. has Correct answer.
  2. are
  3. were
  4. have

Explanation

The subject of the verb is 'one', not 'members'; the phrase 'of the members of the committee' is only a modifier. A singular subject takes a singular verb, so 'has' is required.

Question 2English Language

Fill in the blank with the correct preposition: She has been suffering ___ malaria for a week.

  1. from Correct answer.
  2. by
  3. with
  4. of

Explanation

The verb 'suffer' is followed by the fixed preposition 'from' when a disease or ailment is mentioned. This is a set collocation and does not change with tense or subject.

Question 3English Language

Choose the word most similar in meaning to 'abundant'.

  1. fragile
  2. scarce
  3. ample Correct answer.
  4. meagre

Explanation

'Abundant' means existing in large quantities, and 'ample' carries the same sense of being more than enough. The other words either suggest shortage or are unrelated in meaning.

Question 4English Language

Choose the word most opposite in meaning to 'accept'.

  1. receive
  2. admit
  3. approve
  4. reject Correct answer.

Explanation

An antonym must express the reverse idea: 'accept' means to agree to or take something, so 'reject' is its direct opposite. The remaining words are near-synonyms of 'accept' rather than opposites.

Question 5English Language

Fill in the blank: He is ___ honest officer.

  1. no article
  2. an Correct answer.
  3. the
  4. a

Explanation

The choice between 'a' and 'an' depends on the sound that begins the next word, not on the spelling. The 'h' in 'honest' is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound and takes 'an'.

Question 6English Language

What does the idiom 'to let the cat out of the bag' mean?

  1. To disclose a secret Correct answer.
  2. To escape danger
  3. To create confusion
  4. To waste an opportunity

Explanation

The idiom is used when someone reveals information that was meant to be kept hidden. It always carries the idea of unintentional or premature disclosure.

Question 7English Language

Choose the correctly spelt word.

  1. accommoddation
  2. accommodation Correct answer.
  3. acommodation
  4. accomodation

Explanation

The word doubles both the 'c' and the 'm': a-c-c-o-m-m-o-d-a-t-i-o-n. This follows the pattern of the verb 'accommodate', from which the noun is formed.

Question 8English Language

Fill in the blank: She ___ in this bank since 2015.

  1. had worked
  2. has worked Correct answer.
  3. works
  4. is working

Explanation

The preposition 'since' with a point of past time signals an action continuing up to the present, which requires the present perfect. The simple past perfect 'had worked' would need a second past event as its reference point.

Question 9English Language

Fill in the blank: Hardly had the bell rung ___ the students rushed out.

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

Explanation

'Hardly' in the sense of 'scarcely' is paired with 'when' to link two immediately consecutive events. The paired conjunction is fixed, and the clause after it stays in the simple past.

Question 10English Language

Choose the correct passive form of: The committee approved the proposal.

  1. The proposal has approved by the committee.
  2. The proposal was approved by the committee. Correct answer.
  3. The proposal was approving by the committee.
  4. The proposal is approved by the committee.

Explanation

The active verb is in the simple past, so the passive needs 'was/were' plus the past participle: 'was approved'. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive one.

Question 11English Language

Choose the correct indirect speech form of: He said, "I am busy now."

  1. He said that he was busy then. Correct answer.
  2. He said that he is busy now.
  3. He said that I was busy then.
  4. He says that he was busy yesterday.

Explanation

When the reporting verb is in the past, the present tense of the quoted clause shifts to the past and 'now' becomes 'then'. The first-person pronoun also shifts to match the speaker.

Question 12English Language

Fill in the blank: The critic's remarks were so ___ that the author left the hall in tears.

  1. caustic Correct answer.
  2. laudatory
  3. ambiguous
  4. verbose

Explanation

The result clause shows the remarks hurt the author, so the blank needs a word meaning bitterly critical. 'Caustic' means severely sarcastic or corrosive in tone and fits the consequence described.

Question 13English Language

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: She enjoys reading novels, writing poetry and ___.

  1. she paints
  2. painting Correct answer.
  3. painted
  4. to paint

Explanation

Items in a series joined by 'and' must share the same grammatical form. The earlier items are gerunds ('reading', 'writing'), so the third item must also be a gerund.

Question 14English Language

Fill in the blank: If I ___ you, I would accept the offer.

  1. were Correct answer.
  2. was
  3. am
  4. had been

Explanation

This is a second conditional describing an unreal present situation, and it uses 'were' for all persons in formal writing. The main clause correctly carries 'would' plus the base verb.

Question 15English Language

Fill in the blank: The match was ___ because of heavy rain.

  1. called for
  2. called off Correct answer.
  3. called up
  4. called on

Explanation

'Call off' means to cancel something that was scheduled, which matches the reason given (heavy rain). Phrasal verbs change meaning entirely with the particle, so the particle must be chosen by meaning.

Question 16English Language

Choose the grammatically correct sentence.

  1. Neither of the two candidates were present at the venue.
  2. Neither of the two candidates was present at the venue. Correct answer.
  3. Neither of the two candidates are present at the venue.
  4. Neither of the two candidates have been present at the venue.

Explanation

'Neither' is singular, and the phrase 'of the two candidates' does not change that. The verb must therefore be singular, giving 'was'.

Question 17English Language

Fill in the blank: The central bank tightened its ___ policy to bring down inflation.

  1. monetary Correct answer.
  2. monitory
  3. monumental
  4. momentary

Explanation

'Monetary' relates to money and the control of the money supply, which is exactly what a central bank does. The other words sound similar but carry unrelated meanings.

Question 18English Language

Four sentences are given as P, Q, R and S. Choose the order that forms a coherent paragraph. P. It began as a small experiment in a garage. Q. Today the company employs over ten thousand people. R. Within a decade it had spread to three continents. S. Few people gave the founders any chance of success.

  1. P S R Q Correct answer.
  2. P Q R S
  3. P R S Q
  4. S P R Q

Explanation

The paragraph moves from origin to doubters to growth and finally to the present. P introduces the venture, S gives the early scepticism, R records expansion, and Q closes with the current position marked by 'Today'.

Question 19English Language

Fill in the blank: The manager is ___ favour of extending the deadline.

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

Explanation

The fixed expression is 'in favour of', meaning in support of something. Prepositions in such set phrases cannot be swapped for other prepositions without changing the idiom.

Question 20English Language

Fill in the blank: The evidence was so ___ that the jury reached a verdict within minutes.

  1. ambiguous
  2. redundant
  3. superficial
  4. conclusive Correct answer.

Explanation

The rapid verdict shows the evidence settled the matter, so a word meaning decisive is needed. 'Conclusive' means putting an end to doubt, which fits the result clause.

Question 21English Language

Fill in the blank: Not only ___ late for the meeting, but he also forgot the relevant files.

  1. did he be
  2. was he Correct answer.
  3. he was
  4. he had been

Explanation

When a negative or restrictive expression such as 'not only' opens a clause, the subject and auxiliary invert as in a question. The auxiliary 'was' therefore comes before 'he'.

Question 22English Language

Choose the word closest in meaning to 'obfuscate'.

  1. to hasten
  2. to obscure Correct answer.
  3. to disclose
  4. to amend

Explanation

'Obfuscate' means to make something unclear or difficult to understand. 'To obscure' carries the same sense of clouding or darkening meaning.

Question 23English Language

Read the passage and choose the inference best supported by it. In many developing economies the informal sector absorbs workers who cannot find formal jobs. Since these workers fall outside the tax net, governments often treat the sector simply as lost revenue. Yet the same workers supply cheap services that keep urban costs low, and any abrupt crackdown tends to push prices up for everyone.

  1. The informal sector should be abolished to widen the tax base.
  2. Informal workers pay more tax than formal workers.
  3. Governments have successfully formalised most informal workers.
  4. Curbing informal work may push up living costs. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage links a crackdown on informal work to higher prices for everyone, which supports the inference that suppressing the sector can raise the cost of living. A valid inference must follow from stated evidence rather than add new opinions.

Question 24English Language

Choose the word most opposite in meaning to 'frugal'.

  1. economical
  2. lavish Correct answer.
  3. prudent
  4. thrifty

Explanation

'Frugal' describes someone who is careful and sparing with money. Its antonym must describe excessive or wasteful spending, which 'lavish' does. The other options are either synonyms of frugal or unrelated to spending habits.

Question 25English Language

What does the idiom 'to bite the bullet' mean?

  1. to avoid a tough task
  2. to face pain bravely Correct answer.
  3. to act without a plan
  4. to speak without thought

Explanation

The idiom 'to bite the bullet' refers to enduring something painful or unpleasant with courage because it cannot be avoided. It does not mean avoiding difficulty or acting rashly.

Question 26English Language

Fill in the blank: She is adept ___ handling difficult clients.

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

Explanation

The adjective 'adept' is followed by the preposition 'at' when describing a skill. 'Adept at doing something' is the standard collocation in formal English.

Question 27English Language

Fill in the blank: Each of the students ___ submitted the assignment.

  1. have
  2. are
  3. were
  4. has Correct answer.

Explanation

The subject 'each' is singular, so it takes a singular verb. The phrase 'of the students' does not change the number of the subject. Hence 'has submitted' is correct.

Question 28English Language

Choose the one word that best substitutes 'a person who speaks many languages'.

  1. polyglot Correct answer.
  2. orator
  3. bilingual
  4. linguist

Explanation

A 'polyglot' is a person who knows or uses several languages. A linguist studies language scientifically, while a bilingual person knows only two languages.

Question 29English Language

Choose the correct passive form of: The workers are repairing the road.

  1. The road is repaired by the workers every day.
  2. The road has been repaired by the workers already.
  3. The road was being repaired by the workers yesterday.
  4. The road is being repaired by the workers. Correct answer.

Explanation

The original sentence is in the present continuous active voice, so the passive must use 'is being' plus the past participle. The agent 'by the workers' is retained.

Question 30English Language

Choose the correct indirect speech form of: He asked, "Where do you live?"

  1. He asked that where I lived.
  2. He asked where I lived. Correct answer.
  3. He asked where do I live.
  4. He asked where did I live.

Explanation

In reported questions, the word order becomes statement order and the tense shifts back, so 'do you live' becomes 'I lived'. No question mark or auxiliary inversion is used.

Question 31English Language

Fill in the blank: If she ___ harder, she would have passed the exam.

  1. was studying
  2. had studied Correct answer.
  3. studied
  4. study

Explanation

The main clause uses 'would have passed', which signals a third conditional about an unreal past situation. The if-clause therefore requires the past perfect form 'had studied'.

Question 32English Language

Identify the part of the sentence that contains an error: One of my friend / who lives in Delhi / has invited me / to his wedding.

  1. who lives in Delhi
  2. to his wedding
  3. has invited me
  4. One of my friend Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase 'one of' must be followed by a plural noun, so 'friend' should be 'friends'. The relative clause and the main verb then agree with the singular 'one'.

Question 33English Language

Choose the word closest in meaning to 'meticulous'.

  1. negligent
  2. hasty
  3. rigid
  4. thorough Correct answer.

Explanation

'Meticulous' means showing great attention to detail, so 'thorough' is the closest synonym. The word carries a positive sense of carefulness rather than haste or inflexibility.

Question 34English Language

Fill in the blank: No sooner ___ the train arrived than the passengers rushed to the platform.

  1. had Correct answer.
  2. than
  3. has
  4. when

Explanation

'No sooner' is followed by 'had' and the past participle, and the second clause begins with 'than'. The structure is 'No sooner had ... than ...'.

Question 35English Language

Fill in the blank: The meeting was ___ because the chairman fell ill.

  1. called upon
  2. called on
  3. called up
  4. called off Correct answer.

Explanation

'Called off' means cancelled, which fits a meeting that did not take place because of illness. The other phrasal verbs have unrelated meanings.

Question 36English Language

Choose the best correction of the sentence: Walking down the street, the tall building caught my eye.

  1. Walking down the street, I noticed the tall building. Correct answer.
  2. Walking down the street, the tall building was noticed by me.
  3. Walking down the street, my eye was caught by the tall building.
  4. Walking down the street, the tall building caught my eye.

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase modifies the subject of the main clause. Since the person is walking, the main clause must begin with 'I', not 'the tall building'. Only the first option supplies the correct subject.

Question 37English Language

Fill in the blank: The professor's lecture was so ___ that most students lost track of the argument.

  1. convoluted Correct answer.
  2. engaging
  3. concise
  4. straightforward

Explanation

The result clause says students lost track, so the lecture must have been excessively complicated. 'Convoluted' means extremely complex and difficult to follow.

Question 38English Language

Read the passage and choose the inference best supported by it. Although the company reported record profits this quarter, its long-term debt has risen sharply and its cash reserves have fallen to a five-year low.

  1. The company has stopped investing in new projects.
  2. Its recent profits may not be sustainable. Correct answer.
  3. Its profits were lower than in the previous quarter.
  4. The company is certain to declare bankruptcy soon.

Explanation

Record profits alongside rising debt and depleted reserves suggest that current earnings may not be durable. The passage supports a cautious inference, not a definite prediction or a claim about past quarters.

Question 39English Language

Fill in the blanks: The government's ___ to reform the tax system was welcomed, but its ___ implementation raised concerns.

  1. opposition, efficient
  2. commitment, tardy Correct answer.
  3. refusal, speedy
  4. indifference, prompt

Explanation

The first blank must name a positive stance that would be welcomed, and the second must name a flaw that raises concerns. 'Commitment' fits the first, and 'tardy' (delayed) fits the contrast created by 'but'.

Question 40English Language

Choose the correct question tag: She hardly ever misses class, ___?

  1. doesn't she
  2. isn't she
  3. is she
  4. does she Correct answer.

Explanation

The adverb 'hardly' gives the statement a negative meaning, so the question tag must be positive. The main verb is 'misses', so the tag uses the auxiliary 'does'.

Question 41Reasoning Ability

Statements: All pens are books. No book is a pencil. Conclusions: I. No pen is a pencil. II. Some books are pens. Which of the conclusions follow?

  1. Only I follows
  2. Neither I nor II follows
  3. Only II follows
  4. Both I and II follow Correct answer.

Explanation

The statement 'All pens are books' converts validly to 'Some books are pens', so conclusion II follows. Since every pen lies inside the set of books and no book is a pencil, no pen can be a pencil, so conclusion I also follows. Hence both conclusions are valid deductions.

Question 42Reasoning Ability

Pointing to a woman in a photograph, Ramesh said, 'She is the daughter of the only son of my mother.' How is the woman related to Ramesh?

  1. Niece
  2. Sister
  3. Granddaughter
  4. Daughter Correct answer.

Explanation

The only son of Ramesh's mother is Ramesh himself, as Ramesh is male. The woman is therefore the daughter of Ramesh, which makes her his daughter.

Question 43Reasoning Ability

A man walks 5 km north, turns right and walks 3 km, then turns right again and walks 5 km. Where is he now with respect to his starting point?

  1. 8 km south
  2. 3 km east Correct answer.
  3. 5 km north
  4. 3 km west

Explanation

A right turn from north leads east, and the second right turn leads south. The 5 km northward and 5 km southward stretches cancel each other, leaving only the 3 km eastward movement.

Question 44Reasoning Ability

In a certain code, 'CAT' is written as 'XZG'. How is 'DOG' written in that code?

  1. WLT Correct answer.
  2. VLT
  3. WMT
  4. XLT

Explanation

Each letter is replaced by the letter at the same position from the opposite end of the alphabet, so A goes to Z, B to Y, C to X and so on. Applying this reversal gives D to W, O to L and G to T, producing WLT.

Question 45Reasoning Ability

Find the next number in the series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?

  1. 44
  2. 42 Correct answer.
  3. 36
  4. 40

Explanation

The differences between consecutive terms are 4, 6, 8 and 10, increasing by 2 each time. The next difference must therefore be 12, so the missing term is 30 + 12 = 42.

Question 46Reasoning Ability

In a class of 40 students, Ravi's rank is 12th from the top. What is his rank from the bottom?

  1. 30
  2. 28
  3. 29 Correct answer.
  4. 27

Explanation

Rank from the bottom equals total students minus rank from the top plus one. Here it is 40 − 12 + 1 = 29.

Question 47Reasoning Ability

Find the next term in the series: AZ, BY, CX, DW, ?

  1. EV Correct answer.
  2. DV
  3. EU
  4. FV

Explanation

The first letter of each term advances by one place in the alphabet (A, B, C, D) while the second letter moves one place backward (Z, Y, X, W). The next term must therefore start with E and end with V, giving EV.

Question 48Reasoning Ability

Choose the number that does not belong with the others: 121, 144, 169, 200.

  1. 200 Correct answer.
  2. 169
  3. 144
  4. 121

Explanation

The numbers 121, 144 and 169 are the squares of 11, 12 and 13 respectively, forming a run of consecutive perfect squares. The number 200 is not the square of any integer, so it is the odd one out.

Question 49Reasoning Ability

Statement: P > Q ≥ R = S < T. Which of the following is definitely true?

  1. Q < T
  2. P > S Correct answer.
  3. T < Q
  4. R > P

Explanation

Chaining the first part gives P > Q ≥ R = S, so P is strictly greater than S. The relation between Q and T is only that both exceed S, which fixes no order between them, and the remaining options reverse the given directions.

Question 50Reasoning Ability

In a certain code language, 'DELHI' is written as 'EFMIJ'. How is 'MUMBAI' written in the same code?

  1. NVNBCJ
  2. NVNCBJ Correct answer.
  3. MVNCBJ
  4. NVMBCJ

Explanation

Each letter is replaced by the letter immediately following it in the alphabet, so D becomes E, E becomes F, L becomes M, H becomes I and I becomes J. Applying the same forward shift to MUMBAI gives N, V, N, C, B, J, that is NVNCBJ.