Directions In the following questions, a part of the sentence is given in bold. Below are given alternatives to the bold part at 1,2,3 and 4 which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative.

Question No:1

Mr. Sharma has been living in this city since five years.

(A) for
(B) only
(C) from
(D) No improvement

Explanation:- for (Prep.) is used for saving how long something lasts/continues/has been the case (a period of time) since (Conj.) is used for saying that something has been the case from a particular time in the past until now (a point in time)
Look at the sentences: He has been living in Paris for three months. He has been living in Paris since 1980.

Question No:2

Kamal’s suggestion was greeted with hoots of laughter.

(A) in
(B) at
(C) on
(D) No improvement

Explanation:- No improvement

Question No:3

I could not help to laugh at the joke.

(A) laughing
(B) laugh
(C) to laughing
(D) No improvement

Explanation:- help (V.) is usually followed by a Gerund and not an Inf.
Hence, laughing will be used.

Question No:4

She does not tell lies, doesn’t she?

(A) isn’t she?
(B) does she ?
(C) didn’t she?
(D) No improvement

Explanation:- The sentence is Negative. Hence, question tag should be Affirmative i.e. does she ?

Question No:5

Have you ever been in New York ?

(A) at
(B) to
(C) with
(D) No improvement

Explanation:- Been is the Past Participle of be and gone is the Past Participle of go.
Been describes completed visits.
When we refer to a destination, to (Prep.) is used.

Question No:6

Wave after wave surrounded the tower.

(A) engulfed
(B) circled
(C) encircled
(D) No improvement

Explanation:- somebody/something completely
(2) circled (V.) : to move in a circle, especially in the air
(2) encircled (V.) : to surround somebody/something completely in a circle
engulfed is generally used of a natural force which sweeps over something so as to surround/cover it completely.
Hence, engulfed will be used.

Question No:7

It is quite tough to declare which candidate will win the presidential election.

(A) predict
(B) augur
(C) portend
(D) No improvement

Explanation:-
(2) declare (V.): to say something officially/publicly
(3) augur (V.) : to be a sign that something will be successful/not successful in the future
(4) portend (V.): to be a sign or warning of something that is going to happen in the future, especially something bad/unpleasant
Here, predict is the right usage.

Question No:8

Trans coding has one of the items in the new syllabus.

(A) is one of the items
(B) has one of the item
(C) is one of the item
(D) No improvement

Explanation:-
(1) Transcoding (V.): computing to transfer date from one format to another

Question No:9

The toddler has a habit of throwing tantrums.

(A) expressing emotions
(B) expressing frustrations
(C) expressing happiness
(D) No improvement

Explanation:-
(1) throwing tantrums (Id.) : putting on an active display of childish temper; to become very angry and unreasonable
(2) expressing emotions : expressing feelings (happiness, anger, frustration, etc.)

Question No:10

He absented from the meeting.

(A) was absent
(B) absented himself
(C) took absence
(D) No improvement

Explanation:- Reflexive Pro. is used when we want to refer back to the Sub. of the sentence/clause.
Hence, absented himself will be used here.