English Practice Paper IBPS Clerk

English Practice paper for IBPS PO and Clerk:

A sample English question paper for Common Written Entrance CWE IBPS exam
English Language

Directions—(Q. 1-15) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

A sobbing little girl stood near a small school from which she had been turned away because it ‘was too crowded’. “I can’t go to School,” she sobbed to a priest as he walked by Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the priest guessed the reason and taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the school class. The child was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to study.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings and the parents called for the kindhearted priest, who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worm and crumpled purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside were founded 57 cents and a note scribbled in childish handwriting which read, “This is to help make the little school bigger so more children can go to school.”

For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the priest tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the stage, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his assistants to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building. A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the school could not pay so much, he offered it for a 57 cent payment.

Religious members too made large subscriptions. Cheques came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl’s gift had increased to $250,000 – a huge sum for that time. Her unselfish love had paid large dividends. The school building houses hundreds of scholars, so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside at school time. In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portait of her kind priest.

1. How did the little girl die ?
(A) She had died from suffocation in the tenement building
(B) She had starved to death, (C) She fell from a poor tenement building
(D) Not mentioned in the passage ,(E) None
Ans : (D)

2. What was found on the girl’s body after her death ?
(A) A purse containing the drawing of a school, (B) Notes that she had taken during school
(C) A note to the priest thanking him for his kindness
(D) A purse containing the address to her new school, (E) None
Ans : (E)

3. In what manner did the realtor help in making the little girl’s dream come true ?
(A) By buying a land for the building of the school for thousands of dollars
(B) By building the school himself
(C) By giving away land for building the school at a negligible price
(D) By publishing the girl’s story in the newspaper, (E) None
Ans : (C)


4. What was the real reason behind the girl not being allowed into the school ?
(A) The girl had a learning disability, (B) She was poor and inappropriately dressed
(C) The teachers were too busy to teach her
(D) The school was full of good students and did not need one more
(E) The other kids in the school did not like her
Ans : (B)

5. Which of the following can be the most appropriate title for the passage/story ?
(A) The Girl with the 57 cents, (B) The Making of Any School, (C) A Realtor’s Sacrifice
(D) How Newspapers spread Information, (E) A Priest and His Religion
Ans : (A)

6. Which of the following characteristics can be attributed to the little girl from the story ?
(1) She was brave, (2) She was selfish, (3) She was loving
(A) Only 1, (B) Only 1 and 3, (C) All 1, 2and 3, (D) Only 3, (E) Only 2 and 3
Ans : (D)

7. Which of the following cannot be said about the priest ?
(1) He was insensitive, (2) He put his thoughts into action, (3) He was compassionate
(A) Only 2, (B) Only 3, (C) Only 1, (D) Only 2 and 3, (E) Only 1 and 3
Ans : (C)

8. What was the little girl’s idea behind wanting to build a bigger school ?
(A) The current school was not providing quality education
(B) More students could study in the school, (C) To gain popularity
(D) Not mentioned in the passage, (E) None
Ans : (B)

9. How was the priest instrumental in fulfilling the little girl’s dream ?
(A) He shared her story and urged his helpers to raise money
(B) He constructed the school building with the help of his assistants
(C) He handed over the 57 cents to the realtor himself
(D) He helped in the cremation of the little girl’s body
(E) He informed the newspaper of the little girl’s plight
Ans : (A)

10. What was the final outcome of the 57 cents saved by the little girl ?
(A) The 57 cents were taken by the priest as a fee for his service to the little girl
(B) Nothing could be done with the 57 cents as the amount was too small
(C) A home for the poor was built with the 57 cents
(D) The 57 cents increased to a sum of $2,50,000 and was donated to charity
(E) The amount grew manifold due to various contributions and a school housing hundreds was finally built
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 11-13) Choose the word/group of words which is most similar in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.

11. WORTH: (A) Costing, (B) Importance, (C) Significance, (D) Appeal, (E) Merit
Ans : (A)

12. TOUCHED; (A) Patted, (B) Tapped, (C) Felt, (D) Moved, (E) Called
Ans : (D)

13. UNKEMPT: (A) Untidy, (B) Tiny, (C) Torn, (D) Proper, (E) Worried
Ans : (A)

Directions—(Q. 14-15) Choose the word/group of words which is most opposite in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.

14. BEFRIENDED: (A) Recoiled, (B) Killed, (C) Accepted, (D) Mistrusted, (E) Ignored
Ans : (E)

15. KIND: (A) Unique, (B) Heartless, (C) Careless, (D) Common, (E) Loving
Ans : (B)

Directions—(Q. 16-20) Which of the phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold in the sentence to make it grammatically correct ? If the sentence is correct as it is given and no correction is required, mark (E) as the answer.

16. As Anuj was familiar with the road to Neeraj’s house, he lead the way.
(A) Led the way, (B) Led away, (C) Leading ways, (D) Lead ways
Ans : (A)

17. Although he was new to the field of painting, Sharad give it a go.(A) Gave goes, (B) Gives his go, (C) Gave it a go, (D) Giving it goes
Ans : (C)

18. The performance of the band on New Year’s Eve was out of worlds.
(A) Out of the worldly, (B) Outing of worlds, (C) Out from the world, (D) Out of the world
Ans : (D)

19. Parents are changing with the times and are friendlier and more open to their children’s views.
(A) Changed timings, (B) Changed to the time, (C) Changing times, (D) Change with time
Ans : (E)

20. Many people do not like to switch at one brand to another.
(A) Switched in, (B) Switches at, (C) Switch from, (D) Switching on
Ans : (C)

Directions—(Q. 21-25) In each question below, a sentence with four words printed in bold type is given. These are lettered as (A), (B), (C) and (D). One of these four words printed in bold may be either wrongly spelt or inappropriate in the context of the sentence. Find out the word which is wrongly spelt or inappropriate, if any. The letter of that word is your answer. If all the words printed in bold are correctly spelt and also appropriate in the context of the sentence, mark (E) i.e., ‘All correct’ as your answer.

21. Beside (A) the duties of compassion, (B) harmlessness (C) and forgiveness (D) there are still duties that we owe to others. All correct (E)
Ans : (E)

22. There was once a Brahmana who had made a vow (A) that he would only eat food that he could (B) gather (C) in the feilds (D) All correct (E)
Ans : (D)

23. By far the most urgent (A) need of industry in journal (B) and of IT industry in particular (C) is the need for skilled (D) manpower. All correct (E)
Ans : (B)

24. The King gave away (A) all that he had, and he and his family (B) went without food so that they might (C) feed the hungry. (D) All correct (E)
Ans : (E)

25. We must feal (A) love for all, no matter (B) whether (C) they are of our own family or strangers (D) or whether they are rich or poor. All correct (E)
Ans : (A)

Directions—(Q. 26-30) Rearrange the following six sentences (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below them.
(1) When my schoolmates asked, “What happened to your lip ?” I’d tell them that I’d fallen as a baby and cut it on a piece of glass.
(2) At a very young age, I knew I was different and I hated it.
(3) They saw me as a little girl with a broken lip, crooked nose, lopsided teeth, and hollow and somewhat slurred speech.
(4) Somehow it seemed more acceptable to have suffered an accident than to have been born different.
(5) Besides this physical appearance, I couldn’t even blow up a balloon without holding my nose, and when I bent to drink from a fountain, the water spilled out of my nose.
(6) This was because I was born with a cleft palate, and when I started to go to school, my classmates, who were constantly teasing, made it clear to me how I must look to others.

26. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1, (B) 2, (C) 3, (D) 4, (E) 5,
Ans : (B)

27. Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1, (B) 2, (C) 3, (D) 4, (E) 6
Ans : (C)

28. Which of the following should be the LAST (SIXTH) sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 6, (B) 5, (C) 4, (D) 3, (E) 2
Ans : (C)

29. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1, (B) 2, (C) 3,,(D) 4, (E) 6
Ans : (E)

30. Which of the following should be the FOURTH sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1, (B) 2, (C) 3, (D) 5, (E) 6
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 31-40) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (E). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.)

31. As the minister was (A) / very intelligent and hard working, (B) / the King appointed him (C) / as his chief advisor. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

32. Humour is a better way (A) / to provide social commentary on (B) / controversy issues and some movies (C) / do that successfully. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

33. The comedian enthralled (A) / everybody with his quick witty as (B) / he had chosen just the right topic (C) / to warm up to the crow. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)

34. The superstar reveal that (A) / he had been turning (B) / the controversial security measures into (C) / a public relations opportunity. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)

35. An old tiger living in (A) / the forest was not strong enough (B) / to hunt animals and starved (C) / for much days. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

36. My singing style was unique, (A) / but it would have been nothing (B) / without the contribution of (C) / the brilliant music directors. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (E)

37. The body was almost (A) / asleep when a ball (B) / flies across the garden (C) / and hit him on the foot. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

38. At last Amar found (A) / Naresh under the shade (B) / of a tree and brought him (C) / back on the city. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

39. Mother sat through her chair (A) / by the fire to read her book, (B) / but her ten little boys were (C) / too noisy. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)

40. Since the lion was (A) / very illness, all the other animals (B) / in the forest gave the lion (C) / a lot of medicines. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)

Directions—(Q. 41-50) In the following passage there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.

A poor washerman had an old donkey. He did not give it …(41)… food. The donkey became thin and …(42)…. The washerman had a wife and seven children. He said, “I am working hard. But I am not …(43)… a lot of money. I can’t feed my wife and children …(44)… How can I feed this donkey ? “Suddenly he remembered a tiger-skin in the house. It was a gift to his father’s good work. He thought, “I shall …(45)… the donkey with the skin and drive it into the field and won’t go near it. My donkey can eat a lot and …(46)… fat too.” The next day he dressed the donkey in the tiger-skin and drove it into the field of crops. The villagers saw the donkey in the tiger-skin and thought, ‘The tiger will kill us all. We shall write to the Collector and he will …(47)… it with the help of the police. Many days …(48)… The donkey ate a lot of crops everyday and grew stout and strong. One day the villagers …(49)… a letter from the Collector saying, “There is no tiger in your village or in any place near your village.” That evening all the villagers went to the field with big …(50)…. The washerman’s donkey in the tiger-skin was in the field. Suddenly another donkey brayed from some place near the field. The washerman’s donkey lifted up his head and brayed too. The villagers saw this and beat the donkey.

41. (A) any, (B) too, (C) many, (D) with, (E) the
Ans : (A)

42. (A) sorry, (B) died, (C) fat, (D) healthy, (E) weak
Ans : (E)

43. (A) accumulate, (B) spend, (C) wasting, (D) earning, (E) watching
Ans : (D)

44. (A) good, (B) main, (C) well, (D) two, (E) small
Ans : (C)

45. (A) sew, (B) wrapped, (C) enclose, (D) stuck, (E) cover
Ans : (E)

46. (A) see, (B) grow, (C) became, (D) demand, (E) carry
Ans : (B)

47. (A) shoot, (B) stroke, (C) shooed, (D) ask, (E) feed
Ans : (A)

48. (A) elapse, (B) went, (C) late, (D) passed, (E) going
Ans : (D)

49. (A) granted, (B) tore, (C) received, (D) shred, (E) get
Ans : (C)

50. (A) scare, (B) sticks, (C) bowl, (D) relieved, (E) fruits
Ans : (B)