CLAT 2016-ENG &CR

English

Questions 1 – 10 in the paper were Fill in the Blanks, and had options ranging from all topics in
Grammar

1. The answer here is 4- ‘more than’ as we are comparing two things and a comparative
adjective should be used. Most is a superlative case and does not take than, so is the best, a
superlative case hence cannot compare; less than could’ve been there but ‘the’ should not
come before it.
2. The choice of ‘who’ and ‘whom’ is dependent on its use as a subject or an object of a verb. In
this case a verb ‘comes’ follows the blank hence the blank should be filled with a subject.
Answer therefore is whoever, option 1
3. In question 3 the verb is promise and what follows is an expected action, which should be
expressed by using an infinitive verb that is ‘to + verb’; so the answer should be ‘to not get
angry’, the only option closest is 2.
4. In this question the verb used has to be present perfect tense as the end point – that is
whether the action over or not in not mentioned. So wherever the action is shown to have a
beginning but no end or continuing the verb has to be in present perfect (or present perfect
continuous). Hence option 2
5. This question is testing one on phrasal verbs. ‘break out’ used for fire and pimples alike. And
this phrasal verb is making its presence for a dozenth time in any law entrance test, having
appeared in NLS papers for at least half a dozen times. Hence option 3.
6. The 6th question is a test on vocabulary. Simple answer option 1- pedagogy.
7. This question is a straight preposition test. The answer is ‘of’ again an old question asked
many times.
8. This is a question on determiners. With a negative verb the determiner that goes is ‘any’
9. This question has two blanks- one on an idiom using ‘hand’ where the two obvious choices
are between ‘in hand’ and ‘on hand’; while ‘in hand’ means bagged it or procured, ‘on hand’
means pending. This blank goes well with ‘on’, however the second option has to be ‘the’
because it refers to a particular picnic. So going by the option the best fitting one is 3.
10. This was a little close as both phrasal verbs – knock on and knock at are ubiquitously used.
While with knock as verb ‘on’ is the best adverb, knock as noun goes best with ‘at’ as
preposition. I was knocking on the door and did you hear the knock at the door. However
the given answer here was 1.
11. Question 11 is again a phrasal verb question where the intended meaning is ‘appeared;’
while the best answer for this is come along, come across is also used. Hence the answer is 2
12. This is a simple preposition question with answer as in, option 1
13. This question is a test on tense usage; everyday activities should be written in simple
present tense hence option 1
14. In question 14, we have to use either a gerund or infinitive- ‘being’ or ‘to be’. Hence option 4
15. Question 15 is a simple preposition question; for smaller units of location like places,
colonies we should always use ‘at’. Hence option 1

Question 16-20 are spelling questions.

 16. 3
17. 1
18. 3
19. 2
20. 4

Questions 21 – are grammar questions where the most correct expression has to be chosen

21. Here the choice is between ‘got off’, ‘got out of’, ‘climb off’, ‘come out of’. We use ‘get off’
when we descend from a vehicle with no depth like a jeep, bike etc. ‘come out of’ is used for
rooms, ‘get out of’ is used when the vehicle has depth and room like cars and sedans, ‘ climb
off’ is used for choppers. Hence 3
22. This answer is based on correct word usage; correcting is the right word for it hence 1.
23. With interfere ‘in’ is always used. Hence 4
24. This question was a test on pronouns. It would’ve been tough had the pronoun its been
used. But please note the option 2 has it’s. hence the only other option is ‘her’

Questions 25- 28 are direct vocabulary questions on direct idiom usage, foreign words.

25. 2
26. 3
27. 4
28. 2

29 and 30 were also idioms in the form of Fill in the Blanks

29. 3
30. 3

31 -40 are questions based on the passage.

31. Easy answer on vocabulary from passage. Hence 1

32. The last line sums up the argument of the author exemplified by the examples of Alfred
Nobel and Einstein. The tone of the passage is analytical hence 3.
33. Simple fact based answer from paragraph 1. 2
34. 1. Simple fact based answer from paragraph 5
35. 1.
36. 4. Given answer 2. The passage does present facts in the middle but only to expound the
author’s assertion that nothing is certain.
37. 1. As mentioned by the authorin paragraph 2 and 3
38. 3. As mentioned in paragraphs 2 and 3
39. 1. Fact based question given in paragraph 3
40. 2. As given in paragraphs 4 and 5
Critical Reasoning

Questions 5 – 6 – Statement Assumption

5. 4. Since it’s mentioned as a reason itself assumption I is implicit; however if these qualities are
imbibed by another airline we may infer it could be liked and preferred too but that cannot be
an assumption in this scenario.

6. 4. Only assumption II follows. As plans were made to reach the convocation by Thursday, he
may reach a day early since he is travelling on Tuesday, while what is implicit is that he intends
to reach on Thursday we cannot predict the outcome. So May reach is the only inferred
assumption. Returning however is not mentioned.

Questions 9 and 10 are based on Cause and Effect

9. 2. Given answer 4. Statement II is just stating a fact while statement I is an outcome of

something. It’s like saying I bought I phone 7, before this I did not have I phone 7; not having I phone
7 cannot be a reason for buying it. It’s just the opposite of the statement stating the facts before it.

10. 3. Both statements though talking about flights and airports are unrelated.

14. 4. Car, others are parts and this is a whole

18. 2. The statement ideally means at least one animal is not aggressive as seldom means closest
to some not. The only statement conveying it is 2.

17. 4. Rest are lawyers

19. 1. Due to the lack of any good option the re statement of the given statement becomes the
best answer.

20. 1. The rest of the options have a reciprocity which is missing in option 1 as marriage involves
women and one more class.

22. 1. Analogy – this analogy is an example : category. Sanderling is a type of bird. Mastiff is a kind
of dog.

23. 1. This question is on contradictories. The contradictory of ‘always’ is once not, that is some not,
which is stated in seldom.

25. 1. Any verified fact cannot be false

26. 1. Oceans is to waves therefore desert is to sand dunes

27. 2. Any verified false fact cannot be true, here the statement is absurd as bachelors by the very
word means without a wife

28. 4.

32. 4. From a general principle a specific example can be deduced

33. 2. Under ALL some is always true, some is not there so a re – statement of all is given
34. 4. All the rest mean to grow

35. 2. A question on contradictories; if at least one / some is false then none is always true

37. 4. Old NLS question – an interpretation of this statement is true, fundamentalism means not
respecting or acknowledging other religions

38. 1. Analogy question; it appropriateness may be questionable, however the relation is blank
works in a blank. Waiter in a restaurant and teacher in a school; author does not work in a book
he/she works on a book. Rest are irrelevant.

40. 2. Another question from previous year papers. Law and order is not the same as laws. So
options 1,3 and 4 are out. 2 is a re statement of the given proposition.