SOF IEO 2021 previous year paper practice · PYQ-pattern set

SOF IEO 2021 PYQ-pattern questions

Showing 10 of the 20 PYQ-pattern questions in this set — freshly worded in that year's pattern, not the original questions. Answers and solutions open under each question.

1. Q1 · Active and Passive Voice

   Convert the following sentence into passive voice: The committee is reviewing all the applications carefully.

   • A. All the applications are being reviewed carefully by the committee.
   • B. All the applications have been reviewed carefully by the committee.
   • C. All the applications were being reviewed carefully by the committee.
   • D. All the applications are reviewed carefully by the committee.
   Answer and solution

   Answer: A

   The original sentence is in present continuous tense, so the passive form requires 'are being reviewed' to maintain the tense.

2. Q2 · Tenses

   Choose the sentence that correctly uses the past perfect continuous tense:

   • A. She has been practicing the piano for three hours when I arrived.
   • B. She had been practicing the piano for three hours when I arrived.
   • C. She was practicing the piano for three hours when I arrived.
   • D. She is practicing the piano for three hours when I arrived.
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   The past perfect continuous tense 'had been practicing' correctly shows an action that was ongoing before another past action occurred.

3. Q3 · Sentence Formation

   Which of the following words should be placed in the blank to form a grammatically correct sentence? The scientist conducted _____ experiments before reaching a conclusion.

   • A. much
   • B. many
   • C. a
   • D. any
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   Since 'experiments' is a countable plural noun, the determiner 'many' is grammatically correct.

4. Q4 · Homophones and Homonyms

   Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: The teacher asked the students to __________ quietly in their seats.

   • A. site
   • B. sight
   • C. sit
   • D. cite
   Answer and solution

   Answer: C

   'Sit' means to be seated, which is the correct word in this context, whereas the others are homophones with different meanings.

5. Q5 · Antonyms

   What is the opposite of 'abundant'?

   • A. Plentiful
   • B. Scarce
   • C. Numerous
   • D. Ample
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   'Abundant' means available in large quantities, while 'scarce' means in short supply, making them antonyms.

6. Q6 · Phrasal Verbs

   Fill in the blank with the appropriate phrasal verb: The police had to __________ the illegal gambling operation.

   • A. break up
   • B. break down
   • C. break into
   • D. break out
   Answer and solution

   Answer: A

   'Break up' means to stop or end something forcefully, which fits the context of stopping an illegal operation.

7. Q7 · Author's Purpose and Tone

   Read the passage: 'Did you know that brushing your teeth twice a day can prevent cavities? Regular dental care keeps your teeth strong and healthy. Make sure to visit your dentist every six months for a check-up.' What is the author's main purpose?

   • A. To entertain readers with a story
   • B. To inform and persuade readers about dental hygiene
   • C. To describe a dentist's office
   • D. To narrate a personal experience
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   The author provides information about dental care and encourages readers to adopt good practices, combining informative and persuasive purposes.

8. Q8 · Reading Comprehension

   Read the passage: 'Maria loves painting. Every weekend, she spends hours creating beautiful landscapes. Her favorite subject is the mountains near her town.' What does Maria enjoy doing?

   • A. Dancing
   • B. Painting
   • C. Singing
   • D. Swimming
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   The passage explicitly states 'Maria loves painting', making option B the correct answer.

9. Q9 · Conversation Skills

   Your friend apologizes for accidentally breaking your pencil. What is the best response?

   • A. That's okay, it was an accident. Don't worry about it.
   • B. You should be more careful!
   • C. I don't care.
   • D. Buy me a new one immediately!
   Answer and solution

   Answer: A

   Option A graciously accepts the apology and reassures the friend, demonstrating empathy and good conversational manners appropriate to the situation.

10. Q10 · Advanced Reading Comprehension

    Read the passage: 'Despite numerous challenges, the research team persevered through setbacks and eventually made a groundbreaking discovery that revolutionized medical science.' What does the word 'persevered' most closely mean in this context?

    • A. Surrendered
    • B. Continued steadfastly
    • C. Hesitated briefly
    • D. Changed direction
    Answer and solution

    Answer: B

    Persevered means to continue despite difficulties, which is best captured by 'continued steadfastly'.