Skip to content

Free · past papers · answers included

English Language MCQ practice free online · page 294

Questions from RRB, NTPC, Group D and JE past papers. Tap an option to check it instantly — every question shows the correct answer, and most carry the explanation the paper gave.

No sign-up10 per pageAnswers & explanations
  1. 2931SSC2025English LanguageEnglish

    In the following passages, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

    PassageTap to read

    Personal discipline is often misunderstood as a rigid set of rules, but in practice, it is a flexible system that helps individuals (46)____ their behaviour toward meaningful objectives. Unlike external enforcement, discipline grows strongest when driven by intrinsic motivation. People who manage their time intentionally often find that even small routines can produce significant change over extended periods. However, many struggle because they view discipline as punishment rather than a strategic tool. This misunderstanding prevents them from recognising its deeper value. True discipline is closely linked to the habit of deliberate reflection, a practice that allows one to assess choices without harsh judgment. Such reflection helps cultivate a sense of (47)____poise, especially in moments of uncertainty. When individuals learn to pause and observe their impulses, they gain clarity rather than reacting impulsively. Yet reflection alone is insufficient; it must be paired with purposeful action. Without consistent effort, even the most insightful intentions can (48)____ into inactivity. Moreover, the long-term process of self-regulation requires emotional steadiness. This is where sustained (49)_____fortitude becomes indispensable, enabling individuals to remain committed despite obstacles. Ultimately, discipline is less about restriction and more about intentional alignment with one’s values, achieved through repeated choices that (50) ____ personal growth.

    Select the most appropriate meaning of the word ‘poised’.

    Show answer

    Correct option: B — balance and composure

    balance and composure ‘Poised’ means being balanced and composed. Hence, option (b) is the most appropriate answer.

  2. 2932SSC2025English LanguageEnglish

    In the following passages, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

    PassageTap to read

    Personal discipline is often misunderstood as a rigid set of rules, but in practice, it is a flexible system that helps individuals (46)____ their behaviour toward meaningful objectives. Unlike external enforcement, discipline grows strongest when driven by intrinsic motivation. People who manage their time intentionally often find that even small routines can produce significant change over extended periods. However, many struggle because they view discipline as punishment rather than a strategic tool. This misunderstanding prevents them from recognising its deeper value. True discipline is closely linked to the habit of deliberate reflection, a practice that allows one to assess choices without harsh judgment. Such reflection helps cultivate a sense of (47)____poise, especially in moments of uncertainty. When individuals learn to pause and observe their impulses, they gain clarity rather than reacting impulsively. Yet reflection alone is insufficient; it must be paired with purposeful action. Without consistent effort, even the most insightful intentions can (48)____ into inactivity. Moreover, the long-term process of self-regulation requires emotional steadiness. This is where sustained (49)_____fortitude becomes indispensable, enabling individuals to remain committed despite obstacles. Ultimately, discipline is less about restriction and more about intentional alignment with one’s values, achieved through repeated choices that (50) ____ personal growth.

    Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 48.

    Show answer

    Correct option: A — dissolve

    dissolve We generally use the first form of the verb with modals (can, could, may, might, will, shall, etc.). Hence, ‘dissolve(V1)’ is the most appropriate answer.

  3. 2933SSC2025English LanguageEnglish

    In the following passages, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

    PassageTap to read

    Personal discipline is often misunderstood as a rigid set of rules, but in practice, it is a flexible system that helps individuals (46)____ their behaviour toward meaningful objectives. Unlike external enforcement, discipline grows strongest when driven by intrinsic motivation. People who manage their time intentionally often find that even small routines can produce significant change over extended periods. However, many struggle because they view discipline as punishment rather than a strategic tool. This misunderstanding prevents them from recognising its deeper value. True discipline is closely linked to the habit of deliberate reflection, a practice that allows one to assess choices without harsh judgment. Such reflection helps cultivate a sense of (47)____poise, especially in moments of uncertainty. When individuals learn to pause and observe their impulses, they gain clarity rather than reacting impulsively. Yet reflection alone is insufficient; it must be paired with purposeful action. Without consistent effort, even the most insightful intentions can (48)____ into inactivity. Moreover, the long-term process of self-regulation requires emotional steadiness. This is where sustained (49)_____fortitude becomes indispensable, enabling individuals to remain committed despite obstacles. Ultimately, discipline is less about restriction and more about intentional alignment with one’s values, achieved through repeated choices that (50) ____ personal growth.

    Select the most appropriate meaning of the word ‘fortitude’.

    Show answer

    Correct option: C — mental strength and courage

    mental strength and courage ‘Fortitude’ in the above passage means mental strength and courage. Hence, option (c) is the most appropriate answer.

  4. 2934SSC2025English LanguageEnglish

    In the following passages, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

    PassageTap to read

    Personal discipline is often misunderstood as a rigid set of rules, but in practice, it is a flexible system that helps individuals (46)____ their behaviour toward meaningful objectives. Unlike external enforcement, discipline grows strongest when driven by intrinsic motivation. People who manage their time intentionally often find that even small routines can produce significant change over extended periods. However, many struggle because they view discipline as punishment rather than a strategic tool. This misunderstanding prevents them from recognising its deeper value. True discipline is closely linked to the habit of deliberate reflection, a practice that allows one to assess choices without harsh judgment. Such reflection helps cultivate a sense of (47)____poise, especially in moments of uncertainty. When individuals learn to pause and observe their impulses, they gain clarity rather than reacting impulsively. Yet reflection alone is insufficient; it must be paired with purposeful action. Without consistent effort, even the most insightful intentions can (48)____ into inactivity. Moreover, the long-term process of self-regulation requires emotional steadiness. This is where sustained (49)_____fortitude becomes indispensable, enabling individuals to remain committed despite obstacles. Ultimately, discipline is less about restriction and more about intentional alignment with one’s values, achieved through repeated choices that (50) ____ personal growth.

    Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 50.

    Show answer

    Correct option: B — nourish

    nourish The given passage is stating a general truth about discipline and repeated choices. However, we generally use simple present tense to indicate a general truth. ‘Choices’ is a plural noun that will take ‘nourish’ as a plural verb. Hence, ‘nourish’ is the most appropriate answer.

  5. 2935SSC2025English LanguageEnglish

    In the following passages, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

    PassageTap to read

    Modern attention has become a fragile currency, scattered across endless notifications and competing demands. To regain a sense of inward steadiness, one must first recognise that focus is not a sudden achievement but a gradual discipline. It is (51)____through deliberate pauses, through the willingness to step back from constant stimulation. True attention is less about tightening one’s grip and more about noticing what truly deserves to be held. In a culture that rewards speed, slowness is often dismissed as inefficiency, yet slowness is the very soil in which depth grows. Without intervals of quiet, the mind becomes a surface skim, unable to draw meaning from its own patterns. To cultivate sustained attention, individuals must learn to create spaces free from interruption, spaces in which thought can wander without being instantly (52)_____. The challenge is not merely to avoid distraction but to understand why distraction feels so seductive. It offers effortless escape from complexity. But genuine engagement requires a willingness to remain in the discomfort of uncertainty. Focus strengthens when we practise returning again and again to the task at hand, where each return becomes a silent act of (53)_____. Over time, attention reveals its own architecture. It teaches that clarity emerges not from force but from consistency. It teaches, too, that the mind cannot be endlessly stretched without consequence; it needs rest just as much as effort. To reclaim our capacity for deep noticing, we must replace the habit of constant reaction with the habit of (54)____. Only then does perception regain its depth, and thought its quiet authority. Ultimately, attention is not a resource to be squeezed dry but a relationship to be honoured. And like any meaningful relationship, it flourishes when we protect it from the noise that seeks to (55)_____ it.

    Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 51.

    Show answer

    Correct option: C — cultivated

    cultivated ‘Cultivated’ means to acquire or develop a quality or skill. The given passage states that it is cultivated through deliberate pauses, through the willingness to step back from constant stimulation. Hence, ‘cultivated’ is the most appropriate answer.

  6. 2936SSC2025English LanguageEnglish

    In the following passages, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

    PassageTap to read

    Modern attention has become a fragile currency, scattered across endless notifications and competing demands. To regain a sense of inward steadiness, one must first recognise that focus is not a sudden achievement but a gradual discipline. It is (51)____through deliberate pauses, through the willingness to step back from constant stimulation. True attention is less about tightening one’s grip and more about noticing what truly deserves to be held. In a culture that rewards speed, slowness is often dismissed as inefficiency, yet slowness is the very soil in which depth grows. Without intervals of quiet, the mind becomes a surface skim, unable to draw meaning from its own patterns. To cultivate sustained attention, individuals must learn to create spaces free from interruption, spaces in which thought can wander without being instantly (52)_____. The challenge is not merely to avoid distraction but to understand why distraction feels so seductive. It offers effortless escape from complexity. But genuine engagement requires a willingness to remain in the discomfort of uncertainty. Focus strengthens when we practise returning again and again to the task at hand, where each return becomes a silent act of (53)_____. Over time, attention reveals its own architecture. It teaches that clarity emerges not from force but from consistency. It teaches, too, that the mind cannot be endlessly stretched without consequence; it needs rest just as much as effort. To reclaim our capacity for deep noticing, we must replace the habit of constant reaction with the habit of (54)____. Only then does perception regain its depth, and thought its quiet authority. Ultimately, attention is not a resource to be squeezed dry but a relationship to be honoured. And like any meaningful relationship, it flourishes when we protect it from the noise that seeks to (55)_____ it.

    Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 52.

    Show answer

    Correct option: D — interrupted

    interrupted ‘Interrupted’ means to break the continuity of a thought or an action. The given passage states that individuals must learn to create spaces free from interruption, spaces in which thought can wander without being instantly interrupted. Hence, ‘interrupted’ is the most appropriate answer.

  7. 2937SSC2025English LanguageEnglish

    In the following passages, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

    PassageTap to read

    Modern attention has become a fragile currency, scattered across endless notifications and competing demands. To regain a sense of inward steadiness, one must first recognise that focus is not a sudden achievement but a gradual discipline. It is (51)____through deliberate pauses, through the willingness to step back from constant stimulation. True attention is less about tightening one’s grip and more about noticing what truly deserves to be held. In a culture that rewards speed, slowness is often dismissed as inefficiency, yet slowness is the very soil in which depth grows. Without intervals of quiet, the mind becomes a surface skim, unable to draw meaning from its own patterns. To cultivate sustained attention, individuals must learn to create spaces free from interruption, spaces in which thought can wander without being instantly (52)_____. The challenge is not merely to avoid distraction but to understand why distraction feels so seductive. It offers effortless escape from complexity. But genuine engagement requires a willingness to remain in the discomfort of uncertainty. Focus strengthens when we practise returning again and again to the task at hand, where each return becomes a silent act of (53)_____. Over time, attention reveals its own architecture. It teaches that clarity emerges not from force but from consistency. It teaches, too, that the mind cannot be endlessly stretched without consequence; it needs rest just as much as effort. To reclaim our capacity for deep noticing, we must replace the habit of constant reaction with the habit of (54)____. Only then does perception regain its depth, and thought its quiet authority. Ultimately, attention is not a resource to be squeezed dry but a relationship to be honoured. And like any meaningful relationship, it flourishes when we protect it from the noise that seeks to (55)_____ it.

    Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 53.

    Show answer

    Correct option: A — discipline

    discipline ‘Discipline’ means the ability to make yourself do something, even if it is difficult, so that you can achieve a goal. The given passage states that focus strengthens when we practise returning again and again to the task at hand, where each return becomes a silent act of discipline. Hence, ‘discipline’ is the most appropriate answer.

  8. 2938SSC2025English LanguageEnglish

    In the following passages, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

    PassageTap to read

    Modern attention has become a fragile currency, scattered across endless notifications and competing demands. To regain a sense of inward steadiness, one must first recognise that focus is not a sudden achievement but a gradual discipline. It is (51)____through deliberate pauses, through the willingness to step back from constant stimulation. True attention is less about tightening one’s grip and more about noticing what truly deserves to be held. In a culture that rewards speed, slowness is often dismissed as inefficiency, yet slowness is the very soil in which depth grows. Without intervals of quiet, the mind becomes a surface skim, unable to draw meaning from its own patterns. To cultivate sustained attention, individuals must learn to create spaces free from interruption, spaces in which thought can wander without being instantly (52)_____. The challenge is not merely to avoid distraction but to understand why distraction feels so seductive. It offers effortless escape from complexity. But genuine engagement requires a willingness to remain in the discomfort of uncertainty. Focus strengthens when we practise returning again and again to the task at hand, where each return becomes a silent act of (53)_____. Over time, attention reveals its own architecture. It teaches that clarity emerges not from force but from consistency. It teaches, too, that the mind cannot be endlessly stretched without consequence; it needs rest just as much as effort. To reclaim our capacity for deep noticing, we must replace the habit of constant reaction with the habit of (54)____. Only then does perception regain its depth, and thought its quiet authority. Ultimately, attention is not a resource to be squeezed dry but a relationship to be honoured. And like any meaningful relationship, it flourishes when we protect it from the noise that seeks to (55)_____ it.

    Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 54.

    Show answer

    Correct option: D — noticing

    noticing ‘Noticing’ means to observe or to become aware of something. The given passage states that to reclaim our capacity for deep noticing, we must replace the habit of constant reaction with the habit of noticing. Hence, ‘noticing’ is the most appropriate answer.

  9. 2939SSC2025English LanguageEnglish

    In the following passages, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

    PassageTap to read

    Modern attention has become a fragile currency, scattered across endless notifications and competing demands. To regain a sense of inward steadiness, one must first recognise that focus is not a sudden achievement but a gradual discipline. It is (51)____through deliberate pauses, through the willingness to step back from constant stimulation. True attention is less about tightening one’s grip and more about noticing what truly deserves to be held. In a culture that rewards speed, slowness is often dismissed as inefficiency, yet slowness is the very soil in which depth grows. Without intervals of quiet, the mind becomes a surface skim, unable to draw meaning from its own patterns. To cultivate sustained attention, individuals must learn to create spaces free from interruption, spaces in which thought can wander without being instantly (52)_____. The challenge is not merely to avoid distraction but to understand why distraction feels so seductive. It offers effortless escape from complexity. But genuine engagement requires a willingness to remain in the discomfort of uncertainty. Focus strengthens when we practise returning again and again to the task at hand, where each return becomes a silent act of (53)_____. Over time, attention reveals its own architecture. It teaches that clarity emerges not from force but from consistency. It teaches, too, that the mind cannot be endlessly stretched without consequence; it needs rest just as much as effort. To reclaim our capacity for deep noticing, we must replace the habit of constant reaction with the habit of (54)____. Only then does perception regain its depth, and thought its quiet authority. Ultimately, attention is not a resource to be squeezed dry but a relationship to be honoured. And like any meaningful relationship, it flourishes when we protect it from the noise that seeks to (55)_____ it.

    Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 55.

    Show answer

    Correct option: C — overshadow

    overshadow ‘Overshadow’ means to appear more important. The given passage states that like any meaningful relationship, it flourishes when we protect it from the noise that seeks to overshadow it. Hence, ‘overshadow’ is the most appropriate answer.

  10. 2940SSC2025English LanguageEnglish

    In the following passages, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

    PassageTap to read

    Economic stability is often described through charts and targets, yet its foundations reach far deeper than numerical summaries. A nation’s economy depends not only on policies and production but also on the confidence held by households and firms. When people believe conditions are favourable, they are more likely to spend, invest, and innovate. Such confidence cannot be (56)_____through declarations alone; it grows through consistent governance and transparent communication. Periods of uncertainty reveal how quickly expectations shape behaviour. Even minor doubts can alter consumption and investment decisions. Economists refer to this as the “expectations effect,” noting that markets react as strongly to perception as they do to measurable data. When expectations turn pessimistic, caution may (57)____ growth long before official indicators reflect the shift. Public policy therefore carries a psychological dimension. Reforms must not only be effective but must also inspire trust. Policies that appear inconsistent or disconnected from daily realities breed scepticism. In contrast, clarity and steady execution help create a sense of direction that (58)___ economic resilience. Another challenge lies in balancing immediate needs with long-term goals. Measures aimed at short-term stability can sometimes compete with investments required for future development. Without careful balance, economies risk becoming reactive, thereby (59)_____ their capacity to adapt to changing global circumstances. Ultimately, stability does not mean the absence of volatility but the strength to withstand it. When institutions function reliably and trust is nurtured, societies can face uncertainty with greater confidence, transforming temporary disruptions into opportunities for renewed (60)_____.

    Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 56.

    Show answer

    Correct option: B — manufactured

    manufactured 'Manufactured' means produced or created deliberately. The given passage states that such confidence cannot be manufactured through declarations alone. Hence, ‘manufactured’ is the most appropriate answer.

English Language practice — common questions

Page 294 of this set has 10 questions on it.

Are these English Language questions free to practise?
Yes. Every question on this page is free and needs no account. Create a free account only if you want your progress saved.
Where do these English Language MCQs come from?
They are taken from official past papers of Indian government recruitment exams such as RRB NTPC, RRB Group D and RRB JE, and each question keeps a reference to the exam it appeared in.
Are the questions available in Hindi?
Yes. Many papers are set in both languages, so a large share of these questions are available in Hindi. Use the language filter at the top of the page.
Do the questions show answers and explanations?
Every question shows the correct option. Where the source paper included a worked solution, the explanation is shown under "Show answer".
English Language MCQ for Government Job Exams — Free Online Practice — Page 294 | GyanPrep