Selecting Words Questions in English

(C) The correct preposition to use with the verb 'smiles' in this context is 'on'. The phrase 'to smile on' means to show favor or to be auspicious towards someone. Therefore,the complete sentence is: 'Fate smiles on those who untiringly grapple with stark realities of life.'

(A) The word 'miser' refers to a person who is extremely greedy and hoards wealth.
'Avidly' means with great interest or enthusiasm,often associated with greed or desire for possession.
Therefore,a miser would look at a pile of gold coins with intense greed or desire,making 'avidly' the most appropriate choice.
'Admiringly' implies respect,'thoughtfully' implies deep consideration,and 'earnestly' implies sincerity,none of which fit the context of a miser's obsession with gold as well as 'avidly' does.

(A) The sentence requires a word that implies an opportunity or a window of time to perform an action.
'Chance' refers to an opportunity to do something.
'Luck' refers to good fortune.
'Possibility' refers to the state of being possible.
'Occasion' refers to a particular time or event.
Therefore,'chance' is the most appropriate word in this context as it signifies having the opportunity to shop.

(B) The collective noun used for a group of cows is a $herd$.
Therefore,the correct sentence is: '$I$ saw a $herd$ of cows in the field.'
- $Group$ is a general term.
- $Swarm$ is used for insects like bees.
- $Flock$ is used for birds or sheep.

(C) The most appropriate word to describe fruit that has reached the stage of development where it can be harvested is 'ripe'.
'Ready' is too general,'mature' refers to the biological stage of development,and 'advanced' is not used in this context.
Therefore,the correct option is $C$.

(D) The correct preposition to use with the verb 'depend' is 'on'. Therefore,the phrase 'depends on' is the standard idiomatic expression used to indicate reliance or contingency. The complete sentence is: 'Success in this examination depends on hard work alone.'

(C) The sentence requires an object pronoun because it follows the verb 'take'.
In English grammar,the object form of the first-person singular pronoun is 'me'.
Therefore,the sentence should read: 'My uncle decided to take me and my sister to the market.'
Option $C$ is the correct choice.

(C) The correct word is 'confiscated'.
'Confiscated' means to take or seize someone's property by authority,especially as a penalty for breaking a law or rule.
In the context of smuggling goods,the customs authority has the legal power to seize (confiscate) the illegal items.
'Possessed' refers to owning something.
'Punished' refers to the act of inflicting a penalty on a person,not the goods themselves.
'Fined' refers to a monetary penalty imposed on a person,not the seizure of goods.

(B) The sentence 'Man does not live by bread alone' is a famous biblical proverb (Matthew $4:4$).
It implies that while physical sustenance is necessary for survival,human beings also require spiritual,intellectual,and emotional nourishment to live a meaningful life.
Therefore,the most appropriate word to complete this idiomatic expression is 'bread'.

(C) The phrasal verb '$get along with$' means to have a friendly or harmonious relationship with someone. In the context of the sentence,since Piyush behaves strangely,it is difficult for others to maintain a good or friendly relationship with him. Therefore,'$along$' is the most appropriate word to complete the sentence.

(D) The sentence requires an adjective that describes physical appearance in the context of comparison. The phrase 'look alike' is a standard English idiom used to indicate that two people have similar physical features. Since the sentence states they are twins but uses the negative 'do not',the correct completion is 'alike'.

(B) The sentence is a famous proverb by Alexander Pope: "To err is human; to forgive,divine." This means that making mistakes is a natural part of being human,while the act of forgiving is a noble or divine quality. Therefore,the correct word to complete the sentence is "human".

(A) The correct idiomatic expression is 'to put one's house in order'.
This idiom means to organize one's affairs or to resolve internal problems before dealing with external matters.
Therefore,the correct preposition to complete the sentence is 'in'.

(C) The correct word is 'Restoration'.
'Restoration' refers to the process of returning something to its former condition,which is the standard term used for repairing or preserving old paintings.
'Resurrection' means bringing something back to life.
'Retrieval' means the act of getting something back.
'Resumption' means the act of beginning something again after a pause.
Therefore,'Restoration' is the most appropriate term in the context of art conservation.

(B) The sentence requires a word that describes the state of shops being occupied by many people.
$1$. The phrase 'full of' is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate that a place contains a large number of people or things.
$2$. 'Crowded' is an adjective that describes a place,but it is typically followed by 'with' (e.g.,'crowded with people'),not 'of'.
$3$. 'Busy' and 'bubbling' do not fit the preposition 'of' in this context.
Therefore,'full' is the most appropriate choice.

(B) The sentence is a famous line from Thomas Gray's poem 'Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard'.
The complete line is: 'The paths of glory lead but to the grave.'
Therefore,the most appropriate word to complete the sentence is 'but'.

(C) The sentence describes two actions in the past: the telephone ringing and the act of answering it.
When one action happens before another in the past,we use the Past Perfect tense $(had + \text{past participle})$ for the earlier action and the Simple Past tense for the later action.
Here,the telephone ringing happened before the act of answering.
Therefore,the correct form is 'had rung'.

(C) The sentence describes an action that was completed before another action in the past. The act of 'working hard' occurred before the act of 'passing the examination'. Therefore,the past perfect tense $(had + \text{past participle})$ is the most appropriate choice to indicate this sequence of events. Option $C$ correctly uses 'had worked hard' to show the cause of the success.

(A) The correct preposition to use for a specific place or building like $Anand$ $Bhawan$ when referring to someone living or spending time there is '$at$'. Therefore,the sentence should read: 'Jawaharlal spent his childhood at Anand Bhawan.'

(A) The sentence discusses the requirements for successful negotiations. It states that both sides must be sincere and must also have trust or confidence in the sincerity of the other side. Among the given options,'faith' is the most appropriate word to describe the trust or confidence one party has in the sincerity of the other. Therefore,the correct option is $A$.

(D) The correct preposition to use here is 'beside'.
'Beside' means 'next to' or 'at the side of'.
'Besides' means 'in addition to' or 'apart from'.
Since the sentence refers to the physical position of sitting next to someone,'beside' is the correct choice.

(A) The sentence implies that certain areas are difficult or impossible for an average person to reach or visit.
'Inaccessible' means unable to be reached or entered,which fits perfectly in the context of geographical regions.
'Impossible' is too broad and does not specifically refer to reaching a place.
'Impermeable' refers to materials that do not allow fluids to pass through.
'Impenetrable' usually refers to something that cannot be pierced or entered,often used for physical barriers or abstract concepts like mysteries,but 'inaccessible' is the standard term for remote geographical locations.

(D) The correct phrase to complete the sentence is 'seems'.
In English grammar,the construction 'It seems that...' is used to express an impression or an observation about a situation.
'It feels' usually relates to physical sensation or emotional state.
'It looks' is typically followed by 'like' (e.g.,'It looks like...').
'It believes' is grammatically incorrect in this context as 'it' cannot perform the action of believing.
Therefore,'It seems that Prashant will not be selected for the post' is the most appropriate and grammatically correct sentence.

(C) The phrase "up against" is a phrasal verb meaning to be in competition or conflict with someone or something. In this context,the sentence implies that Saddam Hussein was facing an opponent (Bush) who was more than his equal. Therefore,the correct preposition to complete the phrase is "against".

(C) The sentence requires a preposition to indicate a duration of time.
'For' is used to express a period of time (e.g.,'a week','two hours','three years').
'Since' is used to indicate a specific point in time in the past (e.g.,'since Monday','since $2010$').
Since 'a week' represents a duration,the correct preposition is 'for'.
Therefore,the complete sentence is: '$I$ haven't seen you for a week.'

(B) The correct phrasal structure is 'talking about'.
'Saying' is a transitive verb that usually takes an object directly (e.g.,'saying something').
'Telling' requires an indirect object (e.g.,'telling me').
'Discussing' is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'about' after it.
Therefore,'talking' is the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: '$I$ listened,but $I$ had no idea what he was talking about.'

(D) The correct phrase to use with 'an accident' in this context is 'met with an accident'.
'Met with' is a standard idiomatic expression used to describe experiencing an unfortunate event like an accident.
Therefore,the complete sentence is: 'The car in which the minister was traveling met with an accident.'

(A) The sentence describes a negative situation where the 'non-cooperative attitude' of members is being discussed.
In the context of an 'image' of a society,the word 'spoil' is the most appropriate and commonly used verb to indicate damage to a reputation or appearance.
'Improve' is antonymous to the context.
'Degrade' usually refers to lowering the quality or status of something,while 'defame' refers to damaging the reputation of a person or entity through speech or writing.
Therefore,'spoil' is the most suitable choice to complete the sentence.

(C) The conjunction $but$ indicates a contrast between the two parts of the sentence. Since the first part describes Sonika as $intelligent$ (a positive trait),the second part should describe a negative or contrasting trait. Among the given options,$lazy$ is the only word that represents a negative trait,making it the most appropriate choice to complete the contrast.

(D) The most appropriate word to describe a company gaining control over a market is 'captured'. In business terminology,'market capture' refers to securing a dominant position or acquiring the majority share of a market. Therefore,'captured' is the correct choice.

(B) The correct word is 'persists'.
'Persists in' means to continue to do something despite opposition or difficulty.
'Insists' is followed by 'on' (e.g.,'insists on wearing').
'Desists' means to stop doing something.
'Resists' means to withstand or fight against something.
Therefore,'persists' is the most appropriate choice to complete the sentence.

(B) The correct phrasal verb is $put in$.
To $put in$ an appearance means to attend an event for a short time, even if one does not want to or is busy.
Therefore, the sentence becomes: 'She $put in$ a brief appearance at the end of the party.'

(D) The relationship between 'Life' and 'Death' is one of antonyms or opposites.
Similarly,the opposite of 'Pleasure' is 'Pain'.
Therefore,the most appropriate word to complete the analogy is 'Pain'.

(B) The sentence requires words that fit the context of maintaining a lifestyle despite financial or legal constraints.
$1$. The phrase 'afford its lavish lifestyle' is grammatically and contextually correct.
$2$. The term 'attached' in a legal context refers to the seizure of assets by a court or authority,which explains why the family's financial situation is under scrutiny.
Therefore,the correct pair is 'afford' and 'attached'.

(A) The sentence expresses a contrast between two qualities of the machine: it is 'difficult to build' and 'easy to maintain'.
The conjunction 'but' is used to connect two contrasting ideas or clauses.
Therefore,the complete sentence is: 'The machine is difficult to build but easy to maintain.'
Thus,the correct option is $A$.

(B) Working beyond one's capacity leads to physical and mental exhaustion. The most appropriate word to describe this state of exhaustion is 'tired'. Therefore,the correct option is $B$.

(C) The correct preposition to use with the verb 'sue' in the context of a legal charge or reason is 'for'.
Therefore,the sentence becomes: 'If you persist in telling lies to me,$I$ shall sue you for slander.'
'Sue for' is a standard phrasal construction used when someone initiates a lawsuit because of a specific grievance or offense.

(C) The correct phrasal verb to use in this context is $set$ $up$.
To '$set$ someone $up$ in business' means to provide them with the necessary money or resources to start a business.
Therefore,the complete sentence is: 'His father-in-law set him up in business.'

(C) The correct answer is $C$. The phrase '$The \text{ few}$' is used here to mean 'all of the few that exist'. The sentence implies that the specific small number of reference works that exist are as valuable as the Encyclopedia Britannica. '$Few$' would imply almost none,'$A \text{ few}$' would imply some,and '$Fewer$' is a comparative adjective which does not fit the grammatical structure of this sentence.

(C) The adjective "similar" is always followed by the preposition "to".
Therefore,the correct phrase to complete the sentence is "to the one $I$ read last week".
The complete sentence is: "This book is quite similar to the one $I$ read last week."

(A) The correct word is 'alternative'.
'Alternative' refers to a choice between two or more possibilities or a substitute plan.
'Alternate' refers to something occurring in turns or every other one.
Since we need a substitute plan to reach the airport,'alternative' is the most appropriate choice.

(C) The term 'hammering' is the most appropriate word to describe the action performed by an iron-smith on pieces of metal. Iron-smiths use hammers to shape metal,which produces a characteristic metallic thudding sound. Therefore,'hammering' fits the context of the sentence perfectly.

(C) The sentence requires a preposition to indicate a duration of time.
'For' is used to express a period of time (e.g.,'a long while','two hours','three years').
'Since' is used to indicate a specific point in time (e.g.,'since Monday','since $2010$').
Therefore,'for' is the correct choice to complete the sentence: '$I$ haven't eaten an apple for a long while.'

(B) The correct preposition to use with the verb 'invest' in this context is 'with'.
To 'invest someone or something with authority' means to grant or confer power or authority upon them.
Therefore,the sentence should read: 'The parliament invested the new organisation with judicial authority.'

(D) The correct phrasal verb to use in this context is 'lay off'.
'Lay off' means to discharge a worker or workers from a job,often temporarily or due to a lack of work or resources,such as a power cut.
'Throw away' means to discard something.
'Send off' means to dismiss someone or to dispatch something.
'Put off' means to postpone an event or task.
Therefore,the most appropriate choice is 'lay off'.

(A) The sentence requires a verb that implies taking action or doing something to address a problem.
'Act' means to take action or do something to achieve a particular result.
'Perform' usually refers to carrying out a task or function.
'Operate' refers to controlling the functioning of a machine or process.
'Behave' refers to the way one conducts oneself.
Therefore,'act' is the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 'Man must act to stop pollution.'

(C) The most appropriate word to complete the sentence is 'crime'.
In legal and formal contexts,a person is sent to prison as a consequence of committing a 'crime'.
'Sin' refers to a moral or religious transgression.
'Vice' refers to immoral or wicked behavior.
'Guilt' is a state of having committed an offense,but it is not the act itself for which one is imprisoned; one is imprisoned for the 'crime' that resulted in the 'guilt'.

(C) The correct preposition to use when referring to the medium or material used for writing is 'in'.
Therefore,the sentence should be: 'The answer was written in blue ink.'
'With' is typically used for instruments (e.g.,'with a pen'),whereas 'in' is used for the substance or color of the ink.

(B) The correct word is $historic$.
$Historic$ means important or likely to be important in history.
$Historical$ refers to something concerning history or past events.
$Hectic$ means full of incessant or frantic activity.
$Histrionic$ refers to overly theatrical or melodramatic behavior.
In the context of taking decisions at a meeting,$historic$ is the most appropriate adjective to describe decisions of great significance.

(A) The correct preposition to use with the verb 'triumph' in this context is 'over'. The phrase 'triumph over' means to succeed after a difficult struggle or to overcome obstacles. Therefore,the complete sentence is: 'Those who persist in the endeavor at long last triumph over the odds of life.'