IBPS General English

In many competitive examinations especially Bank Examinations these days as you know, English is one of the subjects in which your knowledge is tested. In fact your proficiency in English comes handy and plays a decisive role not only in the written exam but also in the interview and in your job and career later. Therefore it is imperative on your part to have a good working knowledge of English.

Generally in these exams questions are set to test a candidate’s four language skills namely Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. While in the written exam his /her reading and writing skills are put to test, in the interview his/ her listening and speaking skills are tested. Acquiring some sound knowledge in these skills needs a prolonged and well planned practice.

Preliminary Exam:

Again in the Preliminary exam, 30 questions in English language are to be answered in 15 – 20 minutes. Candidates need to have speed and accuracy here and a thorough practical knowledge of aspects like grammar and vocabulary immensely helps them. That “How to
acquire these four skills and practical knowledge in them” may be a big question before you. In fact this is the problem of most of the candidates who appear for bank and other competitive exams.

According to one survey only 10 percent of Indians today can understand what is said and written in English and just two percent of us are really proficient in this language! Among us again there are many great writers than great speakers in English.

Habit of reading:

There are two ways in which you can acquire skills to use English effectively. First of all, pick up the habit of reading English newspapers and magazines daily. This helps you understand grammar, usage and vocabulary, besides improving your levels of general
awareness. Listening to people who speak in English and watching English programmes on T V will also help you understand better the nuances in listening and speaking skills.

Secondly, learn English grammar and other aspects in an orderly and systematic way. One popular method is first of all to have a thorough knowledge of Parts of Speech. This is essential as it makes learning about other things like the use of Articles, Tenses, Voice and Transformation Sentences easier.

Following are model questions with answers useful for IBPS and SBI Clerks Written Examinations. They practice questions may also be useful for other competitive and recruitment exams which have Articles (General English) as a section.
In the following questions some of the sentences have errors and some have none. Find out which part of a sentence has an error. If
there is no error, mark N.E.,

1. As Pradeep renders (1)/ selfless service, (2)/ he is regarded as an honourable man(3)/ by all the members of the organisation (4)/ No
error (5).

2. An university(1)/ is a spring board which (2)/ lifts talented students (3)/ to higher position in life (4)/ No error (5).

3. When he reaches home (1)/ at 6 P.M. every day, (2)/ his wife is ready with (3)/ cup and saucer to offer coffee (4)/ No error (5).

4. According to me (1)/ first chapter (2)/ is more difficult (3)/ than the rest of the chapters (4)/ No error (5).

5. He is a Vivekananda (1)/ of our college. (2)/ He gives (3)/ lucid explanations about lofty things (4)/ No error (5).

6. Congress and B.J.P. (1)/ are the two major parties (2)/ to contest (3)/ the elections (4)/. No error (5).

7. The exhibits (1)/ displayed in (2)/ the museum (3)/ has the remarkable variety of antics. (4)/ No error (5).

8. Many poverty (1)/ alleviation programmes (2)/ are taken up (3)/ by the Ford foundation. (4)/ No error (5).

9. A seminar on (1)/ the preservation (2)/ of ecological balance for happy living (3)/ will be held on the fifth floor. (4)/ No error (5).

10. The more you (1)/ study (2)/ more you (3)/ become wiser. (4)/ No error (5).

11. The teacher knows that (1)/ cleverer (2)/ of the two boys (3)/ is Ravi. (4)/ No error (5).

12. The rich (1)/ must contribute (2)/ their mite (3)/ to the development of poorer sections of society.(4)/ No error (5).

13. It is quarter to nine (1)/ by my watch (2)/ though the clock (3)/ has struck nine (4)/ No error (5).

14. The ministers are arranging (1)/ lunch (2)/ to welcome (3)/ the Chief Minister after successful foreign tour (4)/ No error (5).

15. The apples grown (1)/ in many countries of the world (2)/ are nutritious (3)/ and tasty (4)/ No error (5).

16. Last but not the least (1)/ we came to Japan, (2)/ the only highly industrialised country (3)/ in Asia (4)/ No error (5).

17. The books (1)/ are essential to a student, (2)/ but poor parents (3)/ can not buy the costly ones for their children (4)/ No error (5).

18. I have read (1)/ only the first two chapters (2)/ of the book that (3)/ I borrowed from you yesterday (4)/ No error (5).

19. He did not go (1)/ to the city on foot. (2)/ He went there (3)/ by the train. (4)/ No error (5).

20. Pen is (1)/ mightier (2)/ than (3)/ the sword (4)/ No error (5).

21. I did it (1)/ only for a fun, (2)/ don’t take it (3)/ seriously (4)/ No error (5).

22. Kiran is out of the question, (1)/ the best batsman (2)/ in (3)/ our team (4)/ No error (5).

23. During my college days, (1)/ I always (2)/ took the lead in (3)/ the extra curricular activities (4)/ No error (5).

24. If he is busy (1)/ at this time, (2)/ we shall see him (3)/ after the lunch. (4)/ No error (5).

25. Do you know that (1)/ these animals (2)/ are found only (3)/ in tropical Zone? (4)/ No error (5).

26. Nobody has lived (1)/ in that house (2)/ for (3)/ last hundred years (4)/ No error (5).

27. Anitha charges (1)/ Rs. 2000 P.M. (2)/ for (3)/ keeping the house (4)/ No error (5).

28. I have no time (1)/ even to sigh. (2)/ How (3)/ busy life! (4)/ No error (5).

29. All precautions (1)/ must be taken (2)/ for (3)/ the malaria spreads rapidly (4)/ No error (5).

30. I live on a top floor (1)/ of an old house. (2)/ When the wind blows (3)/ all the windows rattle. (4)/ No error (5).

Key / Answers : 1-5; 2-1; 3-4; 4-2; 5-5; 6-1; 7-4; 8-5; 9-5;
10-3; 11-2; 12-5; 13-1; 14-2; 15-1; 16-1; 17-1; 18-5; 19-4; 20-1; 21-2; 22-1; 23-3; 24-4; 25-4; 26-4; 27-4; 28-4; 29-4; 30-1.