PPSC English Past Paper 2019 Solved MCQs with Answers

Euphonious means pleasant sounding, so its opposite is cacophonic, meaning harsh and discordant.

'Feel blue' means to feel sad or low-spirited.

To entice is to attract or tempt, so its antonym is to repulse.

'Delight in' is the fixed preposition for taking pleasure in something.

Guilty means having committed an offence, so its antonym is innocent.

Vindictive means bent on revenge, so its antonym is forgiving.

'Tie the knot' means to get married.

Homer is traditionally credited with the Iliad and the Odyssey.

Anguish and agony both mean severe mental or physical suffering.

'By fits and starts' means irregularly, in short bursts rather than steadily.

To abandon a place is to leave it empty, that is to vacate it.

'Envious of' is the fixed preposition.

To bristle is for hair to stand up or rise, especially in anger or fear.

To wheedle is to persuade by flattery, that is to coax.

'To cut a long story short' means to tell it briefly, omitting detail.

A cortege is a solemn procession, especially a funeral procession.

Pragmatic means dealing with matters in a practical way.

In the passive of a question with 'who', the agent becomes 'by whom': by whom are you taught English.

To proscribe is to forbid officially, that is to prohibit.

'Learn by heart' means to memorise.

'On the ceiling' describes contact with a surface, even an overhead one.

'To put one's hand to the plough' means to undertake a difficult task in earnest.

'Addicted to' is the fixed preposition.

'A piece of cake' means something very easy.

'Walk over' a bridge describes crossing from one side to the other.

'Hold by' names the part gripped: held him by the neck.

A compound noun is formed from two or more words, such as toothbrush or mother-in-law.

'Complain of' is used for a symptom or ailment. 'Complain about' is used for a grievance.

'To set free' means to release from captivity.

'Get your goat' means to irritate or annoy you.

'Sped' is the past tense of speed, meaning to move quickly.

The correct spelling is embarrass, with two r's and two s's.

Deterioration is a worsening, so its opposite is improvement.

Incongruous means out of place and ill-matched, so its antonym is harmonious.

A catastrophe is a disaster.

'A Gordian knot' is an extremely difficult or intricate problem, from the knot cut by Alexander.

'Get on my nerves' means to irritate me.

Dearth means scarcity, so its opposite is abundance.

Ephemeral means lasting a very short time, so its antonym is permanent.

'To get into hot water' means to get into trouble.

The simile is 'as clear as crystal', meaning perfectly clear.

An apiary is a place where bees are kept.

Enormous means very large, that is huge.

Impeccable means faultless, so its antonym is flawed.

Homogeneous means of the same kind throughout, hence uniform.

'Spick and span' means perfectly clean and fresh.

Pacific means peaceable, so its antonym is aggressive.

Inert means without power to move, so its antonym is active.

Disparate means essentially unlike, that is different.

In the passive of a prepositional verb the preposition stays with the verb: agreed to by them.

To exemplify is to show by example, that is to illustrate.

Viable means capable of working successfully, and among the options reasonable is closest.

'A pipe dream' is an unattainable or impracticable wish.

'Deal in' means to trade in a commodity.

The reported question becomes passive as 'I was asked if I could drive a car'.

'Interested in' is the fixed preposition.

'To hit the road' means to set out on a journey.

'Laugh at' means to mock or ridicule.

'On foot' is the fixed phrase for walking.

'Spill the beans' means to reveal a secret.

The proverb is 'Birds of a feather flock together': like-minded people associate with each other.

Anonymous means without a name attached, so its antonym is signed.

A benediction is a blessing.

Coarse means rough and crude, so its antonym is delicate.

Present continuous active 'is riding' becomes 'is being ridden' in the passive.

The straps used to control a horse are the reins.

'Abide by' means to keep to a promise or rule.

To trespass is to enter without right, that is to intrude.

The future active 'will invite' becomes 'shall be invited' in the passive.

To shove is to push roughly.

'To cry wolf' means to raise a false alarm.

'Notorious for' is the fixed preposition, used of a bad reputation.

'Run after' means to chase or pursue.

'A slap on the wrist' is a mild reprimand or light punishment.

To coagulate is to thicken into a solid mass, that is to solidify.

The proverb is 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder'.

The saying is 'In for a penny, in for a pound': having begun, commit fully.

A pseudonym is a false or assumed name, so its antonym is the real name.

In reported speech 'can' shifts to 'could'.

Enormous means very large, so its antonym is tiny.

Fresh means newly made, so its antonym is stale.

'Scared of' is the fixed preposition.

Apparel means clothing.

Present perfect active 'has shown' becomes 'has been shown' in the passive.

Lethargy is a state of sluggish tiredness and lack of energy.

Pensive means deeply thoughtful, often with a touch of sadness.

'Blame someone for something' is the fixed construction.

Stringent means strict and severe, so its antonym is lenient.

'Refrain from' means to hold back from doing something.

The saying is 'The best things come in small packages'.

Obsolete means out of date and no longer used, so its antonym is contemporary.

A suggestion in reported speech uses 'proposed' or 'suggested' with 'should'.

'A wet blanket' is a person whose presence dampens the enthusiasm of others.

To venerate is to regard with deep respect.