TEST 1- TNPSC GENERAL ENGLISH TEST BATCH (2026)

In the poem I Dream of Spices, when Raj’s mother calls out to him, what exact combination of spices does she command him to purchase?
A) Cinnamon, ginger, garlic, and pepper
B) Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and garlic
C) Cardamom, mustard, onions, and cloves
D) Nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and garlic

“And so I go to the shop / singing all the way”
What psychological facet of childhood does the poet Raj Arumugam emphasize by mentioning that Raj was “singing all the way”?
A) Utter focus on his mother’s instructional list
B) The carefree, easily distracted nature of a child’s mind
C) Anxiety about facing Muthu the shopkeeper
D) Joy at the prospect of earning a monetary commission

“He rattles off a list / and twists my ears…”
What does the contextual phrase ‘rattles off’ indicate about Muthu’s manner of speaking?
A) He recited the alternative items rapidly and automatically from memory
B) He spoke slowly and hesitantly due to old age
C) He whispered secretly to prevent other customers from hearing
D) He read the names aloud from a printed ledger book

What physical reaction from Raj’s mother serves as the comedic climax of his forgetfulness in I Dream of Spices?
A) She laughs heartily and cooks a different meal
B) She locks him out of the kitchen
C) She twists his ears until they feel like they burn
D) She sends him back to the shop immediately without money

Identify the precise rhyme scheme deployed in the opening stanza of I Dream of Spices:
“My mother would say: / Little Boy Raj, / Go to Muthu’s / and get some…”
A) abab
B) aabb
C) abcb
D) abcd

The poem I Dream of Spices heavily relies on which specific literary device to show the gap between expectation and reality?
A) Hyperbole
B) Oxymoron
C) Situational Irony
D) Onomatopoeia

What structural role do “onions and pepper” play in the thematic resolution of the poem?
A) They symbolize the poverty of Raj’s household
B) They show Raj’s successful attempt to bargain with Muthu
C) They stand as concrete evidence of Raj’s imaginative distraction
D) They indicate a change in the family’s traditional diet

The name “Little Boy Raj” used by the mother highlights:
A) A cold, formal household hierarchy
B) An affectionate yet firm maternal relationship
C) Her low opinion of his intellectual abilities
D) His high status as an elite scholar

In Liam O’Flaherty’s His First Flight, how long had the young seagull been left in isolation on his ledge without a single scrap of sustenance?
A) Twenty -four hours
B) Twelve hours
C) Forty-eight hours
D) Three full days

What psychological barrier prevented the young seagull from diving off the high cliff brink alongside his siblings?
A) A physical deformity in his left wing bone
B) The extreme cold of the arctic ocean winds
C) A deep fear of his father’s aggressive punishment
D) An absolute conviction that his wings would fail to support his body weight

What specific marine prey did the young seagull’s older brother capture for his first successful hunt, devouring it on a rock?
A) A young herring
B) A silver mackerel
C) A small dogfish
D) A sea anemone

What harsh ultimatum did the young seagull’s parents deliver to him to compel him to fly?
A) They threatened to abandon the island completely
B) They threatened that he would starve to death on his ledge unless he flew
C) They promised to give all his feathers away to his siblings
D) They threatened to push him off into the abyss during the night

What desperate action did the mother seagull perform that ultimately triggered the young seagull’s involuntary dive into the open air?
A) She flew directly at him and struck him with her beak
B) She pretended to be captured by a predatory hawk
C) She dropped a fish down the abyss and commanded him to catch it
D) She tore a piece of fish and flew close to his ledge, then hovered just out of his reach

“He uttered a low cackle. His mother cackled too…”
What does the word ‘cackle’ contextually denote in this avian setting?
A) A cry of intense sorrow and mourning
B) An evolutionary signal indicating an approaching storm
C) A sharp, distinct bird call expressing communication or emotion
D) A sound made exclusively to mark territorial boundaries

Liam O’Flaherty’s His First Flight serves as a profound universal metaphor for:
A) The essential, often painful transition from dependency to independence
B) The destructive impact of human fishing on marine ecosystems
C) The migration patterns of northern hemisphere coastal birds
D) The breakdown of communication within modern extended families

“Preening the feathers on his white back.” What is the exact meaning of ‘preening’?
A) Shedding old feathers before winter
B) Stretching wings to measure wind resistance
C) Sharpening claws against rough granite rocks
D) Cleaning and smoothing feathers with the beak as a form of grooming

How is the sea below the cliff ledge described in the text to emphasize the danger?
A) A shallow marsh filled with jagged rocks
B) A vast expanse of sea stretching miles downwards
C) A turbulent vortex of dark, muddy currents
D) A narrow, fast-flowing coastal strait

Identify the nationality and background of Liam O’Flaherty, the author of His First Flight:
A) American novelist who wrote about industrialization
B) Irish novelist and short-story writer who wrote about nature and struggle
C) South African poet focused on political freedom
D) Indian writer specializing in subaltern folk literature

Identify the part of speech of the underlined word:
“The corporate board took a fast decision to liquidate its underperforming assets.”
A) Adjective
B) Noun
C) Adverb
D) Gerund

In the sentence, “They walked around the administrative campus while discussing the budget,” what is the part of speech of ‘around’?
A) Preposition
B) Adverb
C) Conjunction
D) Adjective

What is the part of speech of the underlined word?
“The project was immensely challenging, yet the team completed it before the deadline.”
A) Relative Pronoun
B) Coordinating Conjunction
C) Subordinating Conjunction
D) Preposition

Identify the part of speech for ‘conduct’ in this specific context:
“The committee will conduct a thorough inquiry into the financial discrepancy.”
A) Noun
B) Adjective
C) Verb
D) Adverb

Which of the following sentences uses the word ‘produce’ as a noun?
A) The farmers hope to produce record yields of paddy this season.
B) The organic produce was sold at a premium price in the market.
C) Industrial plants produce a large amount of carbon waste.
D) She can produce her certificate whenever required by the board.

In the sentence, “The water in the reservoir is crystal clear,” what is the part of speech of ‘crystal’?
A) Adverb
B) Pure Adjective
C) Abstract Noun subject
D) Transitive Verb

“That is the very reference book I need for my research.”
What part of speech is ‘very’ here?
A) Adverb of degree
B) Adjective
C) Relative Pronoun
D) Interjection

“His sudden departure caught the entire department off guard.”
What category of noun is ‘departure’?
A) Material Noun
B) Collective Noun
C) Proper Noun
D) Abstract Noun

Identify the part of speech of the underlined word:
“Since you have submitted the report, you may leave the conference hall.”
A) Principal Verb
B) Gerund Modifier
C) Modal Auxiliary Verb
D) Subordinating Conjunction

“The internal audit revealed several flaws in the accounting software.”
What part of speech is ‘several’?
A) Indefinite Pronoun
B) Pronoun
C) Adverb
D) Adjective

In the sentence “Swimming is considered an excellent low-impact exercise,” the word ‘Swimming’ is a/an:
A) Noun
B) Adjective
C) verb
D) Adverb

Identify the part of speech of ‘close’ in this sentence:
“The security forces kept a close watch on the border checkpoints.”
A) Adjective
B) Adverb
C) Verb
D) Noun

Choose the sentence that complies perfectly with the rules of Subject-Verb Agreement:
A) The Revenue Inspector along with his field staff have arrived at the village.
B) The Revenue Inspector along with his field staff has arrived at the village.
C) The Revenue Inspector along with his field staff are arriving at the village.
D) The Revenue Inspector along with his field staff were arriving at the village.

Fill in the blank with the correct verb form:
“Neither the Chief Minister nor his cabinet colleagues ________ present at the press meet yesterday.”
A) were
B) was
C) are
D) has been

Identify the grammatically correct sentence from the choices below:
A) Statistics are considered a difficult subject by many group 2 aspirants.
B) Statistics is considered a difficult subject by many group 2 aspirants.
C) Statistics have been considered a difficult subject by many group 2 aspirants.
D) Statistics were considered a difficult subject by many group 2 aspirants.

Fill in the blank:
“Two-thirds of the city’s drainage infrastructure project ________ completed on time.”
A) were
B) have been
C) was
D) are

“A large number of administrative candidates ________ applied for the preliminary examination.”
A) has
B) is
C) have
D) was

Select the correct option to complete the sentence:
“Every desk, chair, and computer in the administrative center ________ checked by the audit team.”
A) were
B) was
C) have been
D) are

“The famous poet and philosopher ________ passed away, according to the state morning bulletin.”
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have been

Fill in the blank with the appropriate option:
“Ten thousand rupees ________ too high an application fee for this training course.”
A) is
B) have been
C) are
D) were

“The angry crowd ________ dispersed in different directions across the city by the security forces.”
A) was
B) were
C) has
D) is

Complete the sentence:
“Many a brilliant student ________ failed to clear the exam due to a lack of proper planning.”
A) has
B) have
C) were
D) are

“None of the high-quality industrial equipment ________ saved from the factory fire.”
A) was
B) are
C) were
D) have been

Find the error in concord within the following statement:
“The total number of dynamic applications received by the board show a significant increase this year.”
A) total number
B) received by
C) show
D) significant increase

In the sentence, “The young soldier showed great fortitude during his psychological captivity,” fortitude means:
A) Extreme cowardice
B) Emotional indifference
C) Resilience and moral courage
D) Physical agility

“The sudden cancellation of the industrial project caused acute financial distress to local vendors.”
Choose the synonym for ‘acute’.
A) Mild
B) Severe and intense
C) Chronic
D) Negligible

. Identify the closest synonym for ‘ubiquitous’ in this administrative report:
“Smart phones have become ubiquitous across the rural sectors of Tamil Nadu.”
A) Present everywhere simultaneously
B) Rare and expensive
C) Outdated and obsolete
D) Highly secure

“The documentation presented by the firm was filled with ambiguous terms, leading to legal delays.”
The word ambiguous means:
A) Explicit and precise
B) Mathematically proven
C) Artistically written
D) Vague, unclear

Select the exact antonym of the underlined word:
“The regional weather forecast predicts a copious amount of rainfall over the delta districts.”
A) Scanty and meager
B) Abundant
C) Plentiful
D) Torrential

“The union leaders rejected the state’s proposal with an adamant refusal.”
Choose the antonym for ‘adamant’.
A) Stubborn
B) Inflexible
C) Yielding and flexible
D) Rigid

Find the antonym of the underlined word:
“The ancient manuscript contains highly esoteric philosophical insights.”
A) Mysterious
B) Complicated
C) Hidden
D) commonly understood

“His professional reputation was tarnished after the audit report went public.”
What is the antonym of ‘tarnished’?
A) Blemished
B) Enhanced
C) Ruined
D) Exposed

Select the true antonym for ‘lethargic’:
“The team looked lethargic during the initial phases of the mock verification drills.”
A) Sluggish
B) Energetic
C) Indolent
D) Passive

“The enforcement directorate found the merchant’s business transactions to be completely clandestine.”
The antonym of clandestine is:
A) Secretive
B) Illegal
C) Transparent
D) Surreptitious

What is the antonym of the word transitory?
“The joy of winning a local seasonal tournament is often transitory.”
A) Fleeting
B) Momentary
C) Permanent
D) Insignificant

“The structural designs presented by the apprentice were deemed superfluous by the chief engineer.”
Choose the correct antonym for ‘superfluous’.
A) Redundant
B) Extravagant
C) Excessive
D) Essential

What is the true antonym of benevolent?
A) Kind-hearted
B) Malicious
C) Generous
D) Sympathetic

Which of the following is considered an essential element unique to a Formal Business or Official Letter?
A) Updates about family weekend events
B) Casual slang and intimate expressions
C) A clear, crisp, and objective ‘Subject Line’ summarizing the core issue
D) An unsigned artistic postscript

In a formal official letter addressed to a District Collector or Municipal Commissioner, what is the most appropriate complimentary close?
A) Yours faithfully
B) Yours lovingly
C) Thine affectionately
D) Cheers and best regards

What term is used to describe a concise internal corporate or departmental communication designed to convey policies or announcements within an office?
A) Demi official Letter
B) Memorandum
C) Social Invitation Card
D) Personal Diary Entry

While drafting an official grievance letter using the modern block format, where should the sender’s address and date be placed?
A) In the center of the page as a running footer
B) Vertically aligned on the right-hand top corner only
C) Aligned to the left margin at the top of the letter
D) Scattered diagonally across the introduction section

A letter written to an editor of a reputed national daily Newspaper highlighting public civic hazards should focus its tone on being:
A) Highly emotional and filled with personal threats
B) Objective, analytical, civic-minded, and constructive in proposing solutions
C) Sarcastic, mocking, and purely poetic
D) Written in informal shorthand text language

What does the acronym “D.O. Letter” stand for within the context of state governmental correspondence?
A) Demi-Official Letter
B) Departmental Orders Letter
C) Direct Operational Letter
D) Document Overdue Letter

In formal official correspondence, what structural function does the reference line (“Ref: …”) perform?
A) It details the educational background of the writer
B) It cites previous communications, notifications, or government orders relevant to the current matter
C) It serves as a creative space for proverbs
D) It provides the email addresses of all stakeholders

Match the following English terms with their precise Tamil administrative equivalents:
1. Gazetted Officer – a) அரசாணை
2. Government Order (G.O.) – b) பதிவு பெற்ற அதிகாரி
Protocol – c) நெறிமுறை / மரபுமுறை
A) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
B) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
C) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
D) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a

Choose the correct English translation for the Tamil administrative term: “ஆணையர்”
A) Superintendent
B) Director
C) Secretary
D) Commissioner

What is the accurate Tamil equivalent for the English term “Quorum” used in official meeting structures?
A) தள்ளுபடி
B) கூட்டம்பேணல் / குறைந்தபட்ச உறுப்பினர்களின் எண்ணிக்கை
C) நிகழ்ச்சி நிரல்
D) தீர்மானம்

Find the exact English match for the Tamil legal term “சட்டப்படியான சான்று”:
A) Statutory Certificate
B) Provisional Certificate
C) Confidential Statement
D) Discretionary Report

“Affidavit” is a vital legal document. What is its correct Tamil translation?
A) அரசாங்கக் கடிதம்
B) குற்றப்பத்திரிகை
C) ஆணையறிக்கை
D) தணிக்கை அறிக்கை

What is the English translation of the term “தன்னார்வலர்”?
A) Employee
B) Beneficiary
C) Volunteer
D) Contractor

Choose the correct Tamil meaning for the technical financial word: “Subsidy”
A) வரி
B) மானியம்
C) வட்டி
D) வைப்புத்தொகை

What does the term “Vetting” mean when applied to an official draft document or bill in administrative processes?
A) Critically examining and checking the legal or technical accuracy of a draft before approval
B) Throwing away a document because it is outdated
C) Translating a document into foreign languages
D) Printing multiple copies for public sale

“De facto recognition” refers to a recognition that:
A) Exists in actual fact and reality, whether legally ordained or not
B) Is granted by explicit written legislative law only
C) Is a temporary cancellation of civil rights
D) Is granted by an international sports agency

What is the meaning of the administrative phrase “Adjournment sine die”?
A) Adjourning a session or assembly for exactly one hour
B) Suspending proceedings without setting a specific date or time for reassembling
C) Dismissing a corrupt officer from service permanently
D) Passing a budget bill in a matter of minutes

According to the passage, how has e-governance primarily impacted rural citizens in Tamil Nadu?
A) It has forced them to migrate to urban capitals permanently to access web forms.
B) It has eliminated the role of village administrative officers completely.
C) It has democratized access to vital public services through localized e-Sevai hubs.
D) It has significantly increased the transactional costs of getting basic documentation.

What critical backend feature ensures transparency and tracks operational speed under this digital system?
A) High monetary fines automatically deducted from citizen bank accounts.
B) Manual ledger logging at the block development office.
C) Complete decentralization where citizens print their own unverified credentials.
D) Automated sequential movement of applications monitored by electronic timestamps at each hub.

Simplify: / சுருக்குக:
25 – [20 – { 10 – ( 7 -5-3) } ]
A) 12
B) 14
C) 16
D) 18

Find the value of: / மதிப்பு காண்க:
4/5÷ 2/3 of 5/6 + 3/4 × 8/9 – 1/2
A) 231/150
B) 141/180
C) 241/150
D) 141/130

If x = 1 + 1/(1+ 1/(1+1/2)) , then find the value of 2x +7/4.
x = 1 + 1/(1+ 1/(1+1/2)) எனில், 2x +7/4 -ன் மதிப்பைக் காண்க.
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 6

Evaluate: / மதிப்பு காண்க:
0.3333… × 0.6666… ÷ 0.4444…
A) 0.2222…
B) 0.5
C) 0.1111…
D) 0.6

Find the value of: / மதிப்பு காண்க
√(30+√(30+√(30+⋯…..∞)) )
A) 5
B) 6
C) 25
D) 30

Simplify: / சுருக்குக:
((0.73)^3+〖(0.27)〗^3)/((0.73)^2-0.73 ×0.27+ 〖(0.27)〗^2 )
A) 0.46
B) 1
C) 0.54
D) 0.1

If a + b + c = 0, then find the value of a^2/bc+ b^2/ca + c^2/ab
a + b + c = 0 எனில், a^2/bc+ b^2/ca + c^2/ab-ன் மதிப்பைக் காண்க.
A) 0
B) 1
C) 2
D) 3

Simplify: / சுருக்குக:
(1 – 1/3 ) (1 – 1/4 ) (1 – 1/5 ) ….. (1 – 1/n )
A) 1/n
B) 2/n
C) (n-1)/n
D) (2 (n-1))/n

Find the value of x if 2^(x-1) + 2^(x+1) = 320
2^(x-1) + 2^(x+1) = 320 எனில், x-ன் மதிப்பைக் காண்க.
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8

Find the value of x which satisfies the equation:
கீழ்க்கண்ட சமன்பாட்டை நிறைவு செய்யும் x-ன் மதிப்பைக் காண்க:
√(1+x/144) = 13/12
A) 1
B) 13
C) 25
D) 27

Simplify: / சுருக்குக:
1/(1×2)+ 1/(2×3)+ 1/(3×4)+⋯+1/(99×100)
A) 1/100
B) 99/100
C) 100/99
D) 49/50

Simplify: / சுருக்குக:
((a-b)^3+(b-c)^3+ (c-a)^3)/(12(a-b)(b-c)(c-a))
A) 4
B) 1/4
C) 3
D) 1/4

Find the value of: / மதிப்பு காண்க:
(0.1×0.1×0.1+0.02×0.02×0.02)/(0.2×0.2×0.2+0.04×0.04×0.04)
A) 0.5
B) 0.25
C) 0.125
D) 0.0125

If 3^(x+y) = 81 and 〖81〗^(x-y)= 3, find the value of y.
3^(x+y)= 81 மற்றும் 〖81〗^(x-y)எனில், y-ன் மதிப்பைக் காண்க.
A) 15/8
B) 17/8
C) 63/16
D) 65/16

Simplify the following radical expression: / கீழ்க்கண்ட கோவையைச் சுருக்குக:
∛2 ×√3 ×√(6&5)
A) √(6&30)
B) √(6&540)
C) √(6&180)
D) √(6&1080)

What is the value of (1 +1/x) (1+1/(x+1)) (1+1/(x+2)) (1+ 1/(x+3))
(1+ 1/x) (1+ 1/(x+1)) (1+ 1/(x+2)) (1+ 1/(x+3))- ன் மதிப்பு என்ன?
A) ((x+4)/x)
B) ((x+1)/x)
C) ((x+3)/x)
D) (1/x)

Simplify: / சுருக்குக:
(3.75×3.75×3.75-1)/(3.75×3.75×3.75+1)
A) 4.75
B) 3.75
C) 2.75
D) 1

Find the value of M if 4/5 of 3/( 7) of M = 48.
M-ன் 3/( 7) பங்கின் 4/5பாகம் 48 எனில், M-ன் மதிப்பைக் காண்க.
A) 120
B) 140
C) 160
D) 180

if x = (√(3 )+√2)/(√3-√2) find the value of x+1/x
x = (√(3 )+√2)/(√3-√2) எனில், x+1/x-ன் மதிப்பைக் காண்க.
A) 10
B) 2√3
C) 2√2
D) 5

Simplify: / சுருக்குக:
1/(3-1/(3-1/3))
A) 3/8
B) 8/21
C) 21/8
D) 1/3

Evaluate: / மதிப்பு காண்க:
√(2√(2√(2√2) ) )
A) 2 7/8
B) 2 15/16
C) 2
D) 2 31/32

Find the value of / மதிப்பு காண்க:
(0.5× 5 + 0.25 × 4) ÷ 0.5
A) 5
B) 7
C) 9
D) 11

If x² – 4x + 1 = 0, then find the value of x^3+ 1/x^3
x² – 4x + 1 = 0 எனில், x^3+ 1/x^3 -ன் மதிப்பைக் காண்க.
A) 48
B) 52
C) 64
D) 68

Simplify: / சுருக்குக:
(x^2-9)/(x^2 +5x+6) ÷(x-3)/(x+2)
A) 0
B) 1
C) x+2
D) x-3

If √(2^n ) = 64, then find the value of n.
√(2^n ) =64 எனில், n-ன் மதிப்பைக் காண்க.
A) 6
B) 8
C) 10
D) 12

If √(2^n ) = 64, then find the value of n.
√(2^n ) =64 எனில், n-ன் மதிப்பைக் காண்க.
A) 6
B) 8
C) 10
D) 12