The English Qualifying Paper: Essay, Précis, Comprehension & Usage — Practice

Question 1

Correct the sentence: 'Each of the villages have a school.'

Accepted Answer

Each of the villages has a school. 'Each' takes a singular verb.

Question 2

Correct the sentence: 'He is senior than me.'

Accepted Answer

He is senior to me. Senior, junior, superior and prior take 'to'.

Question 3

What does 'a white elephant' mean? Use it in a sentence.

Accepted Answer

A costly possession of little use. The unused stadium became a white elephant for the municipal corporation.

Question 4

Correct the sentence: 'Hardly had the officer arrived than the villagers gathered.'

Accepted Answer

Hardly had the officer arrived when the villagers gathered. 'Hardly' pairs with 'when'.

Question 5

Distinguish 'principal' and 'principle' with one sentence each.

Accepted Answer

Principal: the head of a school, or main. The principal reason for the delay was rain. Principle: a rule or belief. She refused on principle to accept the gift.

Question 6

State four rules for answering comprehension questions.

Accepted Answer

Answer only from the passage; use your own words; answer exactly what is asked, such as a reason for 'why' or two points when two are asked; and write short, complete sentences.

Question 7

Describe the steps of writing a précis and what to leave out.

Accepted Answer

Count the passage and set a target of about one-third; identify the main idea of the whole and of each part; write in your own words, in the third person and reported speech, keeping the author's order; add nothing; give a title of four to six words and the word count if asked. Leave out examples, lists, repetition, figures of speech and direct quotations.

Question 8

Write an outline for an essay on 'Cities must plan for the people who build them'.

Accepted Answer

Introduction: migrants who build Mumbai and Pune often live in insecure settlements; theme: planning for all workers is planning for the city's future. Body: (1) migrants' contribution through construction, services and trade; (2) the housing gap and informal settlements, with the 2011 census slum figures; (3) eviction without alternatives only moves the problem; (4) solutions: rental housing near work, services for existing settlements, advance land planning. Counterview: the cost of housing and the claims of existing residents. Conclusion: inclusive planning is cheaper than recurring crises and fairer to all.

Question 9

What are the five parts of a reliable essay structure?

Accepted Answer

An introduction with a concrete opening and a one-sentence theme; three or four body paragraphs of one point each; a counterview; and a balanced conclusion.

Practice — The English Qualifying Paper: Essay, Précis, Comprehension & Usage

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