DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH SENTENCES -NEW PATTERN EXERCISES WITH Answers & Explanation

Change the  Narration of the following Sentences.-Choose the correct option out of given ones  as answer 

EXERCISES

I

1.

The mother told the neighbourer that they had gone to their village the previous day.

a) The mother said to the neighbourer,"  We had gone to our village yesterday."

b) The mother said to the neighbourer,"  We have gone to our village yesterday."

c) The mother said to the neighbourer,"  We went to our village yesterday."

d) The mother said to the neighbourer,"  We were gone to our village yesterday."

2.

She said that she had been waiting for me for two hours.

a) She said," I have been waiting for you for two hours." 

b) She said," I was waiting for you for two hours." 

c) She said," I had been waiting for you for two hours." 

d) She said," I am waiting for you for two hours." 

3.

He said that he had been living in this house since his childhood.

a) He said," I have been living in this house since my childhood."

b) He said," I am living in this house since my childhood."

c) He said," I was living in this house since my childhood."

d) He said," I have lived in this house since my childhood."

4.

Rajesh said to Reena,"I have now realised that the books lying on the table actually belong to one of my friends."

a) Rajesh told Reena that he had been realised that the books lying on the table actually belonged to one of my friends.

b) Rajesh told Reena that he has then realised that the books lying on the table actually belonged to one of my friends.

c) Rajesh told Reena that he had now realised that the books lying on the table actually belonged to one of his friends.

d) Rajesh told Reena that he has now realised that the books lying on the table actually belonged to one of his friends.

5.

The farmer told the moneylender that he had already paid his dues and nothing was due then.

a) The farmer said to the money lender," I have already paid my dues and nothing is due now."

b) The farmer said to the money lender," I had already paid my dues and nothing is due now."

c) The farmer said to the money lender," I  paid my dues and nothing is due now"

d) The farmer said to the money lender," I  pay my dues and nothing is due now."

ANSWERS

1.c 2.a 3.a 4.c 5.a

II

1.

The visitor exclaimed that the child was very beautiful.

a) The visitor said, " What a beautiful the child is!"

b) The visitor exclaimed, " How a beautiful the child is!"

c) The visitor surprised, " What a beautiful the child is!"

d) The visitor told, " The child is very beautiful!"

2

His mother said to him,"If you do not mend your ways your life will be spoilt."

a) His mother requested him if he did not mend his ways his life will be spoilt. 

b) His mother advised him that if he did not mend his ways his life would be spoilt. 

c) His mother told him if he did not mend his ways his life will be spoilt. 

d) His mother said to him if he did not mend his ways his life will be spoilt. 

3

 The old man prayed that God might reward the traveller for helping him when everyone else had abandoned him.

a) The old man said to the traveller,"May God reward you for helping me when everyone else had abandoned me.

b) The old man said  ,"May God reward the traveller  for helping me when everyone else has abandoned me."

c)The old man said to the traveller,"May God reward your helping me when everyone else had abandon me."

d) The old man said to the traveller,"May God reward  for helping me when everyone else  abandoned me."

4

His father asked him why he had not informed him that he had not been keeping well for the previous two days.

a) His father said to him," Why you had not informed me that you did not keep well for the last two days?" 

b) His father said to him," Why you did not inform me that you had not kept well for the last two days?" 

c) His father said to him," Why  had you not informed me that you had not been keeping well for the last two days?" 

d) His father said to him," Why did you not inform me that you had not been keeping well for the last two days?" 

5

He told her that if she had attended the training programme, she would have learnt a lot of new things about artificial intelligence.

a) He said to her ,  " if you have attended the training programme, you would  learn a lot of new things about Artificial intelligence. "

b) He said to her ,  " if you  attended the training programme, you would have learnt a lot of new things about Artificial intelligence. "

c) He said to her ,  " Had you  attended the training programme, you would have learnt a lot of new things about Artificial intelligence. "

d) He said to her ,  " Had she  attended the training programme, she would  learn a lot of new things about Artificial intelligence. "

ANSWERS

1.a  2.b  3.a  4.d 5.c

 III

  1.

The priest said ,"What a splendid creation of God, Man is!"

a) The priest suggested that man was a splendid creation of God. 

b) The priest exclaimed that man was a splendid creation of God. 

c) The priest wondered that man was a splendid creation of God. 

d) The priest told with surprise that man was a splendid creation of God. 

2.

She exclaimed with regret that it was a great pity that I had missed a golden opportunity to win a scholarship.

a) She said,"What a  pity! You have missed a golden opportunity to win a scholarship."

b) She said,"What a sorry! You  missed a golden opportunity to win a scholarship."

c) She said," Pity! You had missed a golden opportunity to win a scholarship."

d) She said,"Great pity! You  missed a golden opportunity to win a scholarship."

3.

The old man said, “Let good sense prevail and both the parties make a compromise and be at peace.”

a) The old man told that good sense should prevail and both the parties made a compromise and were at peace.

b) The old man suggested that good sense should prevail and both the parties should make a compromise and be at peace.

c)  The old man prayed that good sense should prevail and both the parties make a compromise and be at peace.

d) The old man proposed to good sense  prevail and both the parties  make a compromise and be at peace.

4.

The pleader said to the client," How long have you been living in this house?"

a) The pleader told the client how long had he been living in that house.

b) The pleader asked the client how long  he had been living in that house.

c) The pleader enquired the client how long has he been living in that house.

d) The pleader proposed to the client how long he had  been living in that house.

5.

The host said to the servant,"Show the guests in and tell them that they are welcome in our house."

a) The host told the servant to show the guests in and tell them that they were welcome in our house.

b) The host ordered the servant to show the guests in and tell them that they were welcome in their house.

c) The host requested the servant to show the guests in and tell them that they were welcome in our house.

d) The host advised the servant to show the guests in and tell them that they were welcome in our house.

ANSWERS

1.b  2.a  3.b  4.b  5.b  

IV

1.

The judge said loudly," Stop,stop, Do not make any nuisance in the court, I shall not tolerate any disturbance here."

1. The judge shouted at them to stop and warned them not to make any nuisance in the court, and added that he would not tolerate any disturbance there.

2. The judge told them loudly to stop and asked them not to make any nuisance in the court, and said that he will not tolerate any disturbance there.

3) The judge cried loudly and asked them to stop and  not to make any nuisance in the court, and said that he would not tolerate any disturbance there.

4. The judge asked them to stop and not to make any nuisance in the court, and told that he would not tolerate any disturbance there.

2.

The notice board read," Any person coming to this park will have to seek permission from the Manager by filling in a form and only then he can  enter."

a) The notice board read that any person coming to this park will have to seek permission from the Manager by filling in a form and only then he could enter.

b) The notice board read that any person coming to that park would have to seek permission from the Manager by filling in a form and only then  could he enter.

c) The notice board read that any person going to this park would have to seek permission from the Manager by filling in a form and only then he can enter.

d) The notice board read that any person coming to this park will seek permission from the Manager by filling in a form and only then he could enter.

3.

She said " Fie on you! What a terrible crime have you done! It has brought a slur on the family name."

a) She exclaimed with indignation that he had committed a very terrible crime and that it had brought a slur on the family name.

b) She called fie on him and told that he had committed a very terrible crime and that it had brought a slur on the family name.

c) She cast a fie on him and told him that he had committed a very terrible crime and it had brought a slur on the family name.

d) She exclaimed with contempt that he has committed a very terrible crime and that it has brought a slur on the family name.

4. 

The captain said," Cheer up! Boys,  Believe in yourself. Rest assured, you will certainly win the next match."

a) The captain encouraged the boys and told them to believe in themselves  and he assured them that they will certainly win the next match.

b) The captain cheered up the boys by saying to remain assured  and he further assured them that they will certainly win the next match.

c) The captain encouraged the boys by saying to remain assured and  he also assured them that they will certainly win the next match.

d) The captain cheered the boys up and told them to be assured and that they will certainly win the match.

5.

The lady said to the boy sitting in the room," Who had been playing on the piano for the last half an hour  when I entered the room?"

a) The lady asked the boy sitting in the room who had been playing on the piano for the last half an hour when she entered the room.

b) The lady asked the boy sitting in the room who was playing on the piano for the last half an hour when she had entered the room.

c) The lady asked the boy sitting in the room who had been playing on the piano for the last half an hour when she had entered the room.

d) The lady asked the boy sitting in the room who  played on the piano for the last half an hour when she had entered the room.

V

1.

 The old lady stood up and spoke in a loud voice,"You Liar! You have stolen my necklace.Haven't you?"

a) The old lady stood up and shouted at him that he was a liar and accused him of having stolen her necklace and further asked if he had not.

b)The old lady stood up and told him in a loud voice that he was a liar and he had stolen her necklace and further asked if he had not.

c) The old lady stood up and called him in a loud voice a liar and told that he had stolen her necklace and asked if he had not.

d)The old lady was standing and shouting at him that he was a liar and accused him of stealing her necklace and further asked if he had not.

2.

"How fast of you to have reached the destination so early before me!" said the hare to the tortoise.

a) The hare exclaimed to the tortoise with surprise that he had reached very fast at the destination so early before him.

b) The hare exclaimed with surprise that the tortoise reached very fast at the destination so early before him.

c) The hare exclaimed with surprise that the tortoise was reached very fast at the destination so early before him.

d) The hare exclaimed with surprise that the tortoise has reached very fast at the destination so early before him.

3.

He told her that her coming to the event was more important than her arriving late or early because everyone had been eager to see her.

a) He said to her," Your coming to the event was more important than you coming late or early because everyone was eager to see her. "

b)He said to her," You coming to the event was more important than you coming late or early because everyone was eager to see you. "

c) He said to her," You are coming to the event was more important than you are coming late or early because everyone was eager to see you. "

d) He said to her," Your coming to the event was more important than your coming late or early because everyone was eager to see you. "

IDIOMS - QUESTIONS BASED ON STYLE IN RECENT COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS -- EXERCISES WITH ANSWERS & EXPLANATION

 

From the given options select the correct meaning of the idiom. 

I

1. 

Loose canon

a) A person who is quiet and reserved

b) A very enthusiastic and energetic person

c) A person well respected in the society

d) A person who is unpredictable and can cause harm

2. 

Mincing walk

a) A short and quick visit

b) A big and large area to visit

c) A walk in the garden

d) Small and delicate steps 

3.

Keep one's chin up

a) To be very arrogant

b) To face the problem bravely

c) To take everything easily

d) To remain optimistic

4. 

To get cold feet

a) To feel cold

b) To fall sick

c) To be afraid to do something

d) To cover feet with water

5.

 To put something on ice

a) To freeze something

b) To postpone some work to do later

c) To start work very slowly

d) To put off something permanently

6. 

Hanging by a thread/a hair

a) To get nervous

b) Not able to manage things well

c) Indicisive

d) To be in a precarious position

7. 

To Hit a dead end

a) To reach a situation that leads to nothing further

b) Not on speaking terms with someone

c) Not able to take any decision 

d) To go stray on a wrong path

8. 

Take one's hat off to someone

a) To get angry with someone

b) To walk very quickly

c) To show respect to someone

d) To show humility to someone

9. 

To make a beeline for

a) To put things in order

b) To show respect for someone

c)  To go straight towards some place

d) To wait for someone

10. 

To take a cue from someone

a)  To take someone else's position

b)  To treat someone very important

c)  To be influenced by someone

d) To wait patiently for someone

ANSWERS

1.d 2.d 3.d 4.c 5.b  6.d 7.a 8.c 9.c 10. c

II

1.

 To fall into line

a) Search something

b) Fuming and shouting

c) Straight path to walk

d) Adhere to rules

2. 

All wet

a) To get drenched 

b) To take bath 

c) To enjoy rain

d) Completely mistaken 

3.

To keep a good table 

a) To keep home organised

b) To entertain someone 

c) To give sumptuous food

d) To have a good company

4.

Bide one's time

a) To spend time leisurely

b) To do a work hurriedly

c) To waste one's time

d) Wait patiently for right opportunity

5. 

Down the line

a) on the passage 

b) in the right path

c) In the future

d) in an informal way

6.

Back against the wall

a) To do work very patiently

b) To seek support of someone

c) difficult situation with no escape   

d) To defy the rules   

7.

New York Minute

a) At the last moment

b) To do something easily

c) In a short amount of time

d) A very important time

8

To lick one's wounds

a) To repent for the past

b) To take lesson from past

c) To recover fron defeat or failure

d) To celebrate one's victory

9. 

To Walk on eggshells

a) To walk in a haphzard manner

b) To be careful not to offend someone

c) To do some work without thinking

d) To undertake some risky job

10.

To hone one's skills

a) To show off one's abilities

b) To be proud of one's skills

c) To improve abilities though practice

d) To make use of one's abilities

ANSWERS

1.d  2.d  3.c  4.d  5.c  6.c  7.c  8.c  9.b  10.c

III

1.

To hit the hay

a) To start a new job

b) To do a useless work

c) To go to sleep

d) To be angry with someone

2.

A dime a dozen

a) To be abundant and common

b) To do a job carelessly

c) To make wrong assessment

d) To be short of something

3.

Up and doing

a) To become active

b) To bring up

c) To go on trip

d) To go by air

4.

To sup with the devil

a) To enjoy a delicious food

b) To be fond of good food

c) To have a bad experience

d) To associate with a dangerous person

5.

To cut the Gordian knot

a) To undertake some risky job

b) To have enemity with a dangerous man

c) To resolve a problem decisively

d) To make relations with an important person

6

Pain in the neck

a) To fall sick

b) To have pain in the neck

c) A person or a thing very annoying

d) Unable to deal with a difficult situation 

7

Hit a brick wall

a) To solve a dufficult problem easily

b) To give ptotection to someone

c) To encounter an obstacle

d) To face a situation bravely 

8.

Wet behind the ears

a) An experienced person

b) A reputed person of the society

c) An inexperienced person

d) A political person 

9

Hole and corner

a) Something secret

b) A point of discussion

c) A secret meeting point

d) Something hidden

10

The feathers fly

a) To fight and argue a lot

b) To fly high in the sky

c) To have an open discussion

d) To build castles in air

ANSWERS

1.c 2.a 3.a 4. a 5.c  6. c  7.c 8. c 9 a10.a

IDIOMS - QUESTIONS BASED ON STYLE IN RECENT COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS -- EXERCISES WITH ANSWERS & EXPLANATION

 

Here follow excercises of questions of idioms based on recent examination patterns.

Choose the Correct meaning of the given idiom out of options.

EXERCISES

I

1.

To grasp at  straw

a) To win easily

b) To show courage

c) To try desperate measures

d) To make careful decision

2.

To make a last laugh

a) To succeed at last

b) To fail hopelessly

c) To Stay indifferent

d) To mock at

3. 

To go for a song

a) To be expensive

b) To be in trouble

c) To sing loudly

d) To be sold cheaply

4.

To oil the hinges of silence

a) To bribe someone to be quiet

b) To prevent secrets from spreading

c) To gradually break uncomfortable silence

d) To speak diplomatically in tense moments

5.

Cut no ice

a) To have no effect

b) To create trouble

c) To speak sharp

d) To stop something

6.

A Fair weather friend

a) A fast friend

b) A trusted person

c) A person with you in comforts only

d) A person in need

7

To throw in the towel

a) To boast

b) To give up

c) To work harder

d) To start afresh

8

To speak your mind

a) To express frankly

b) To lie

c) To gossip

d) To stay silent

9.

To jack up the rates

a) To increase prices

b) To drop prices

c) To stay unchanged

d)To sell everything

10

To jump the gun

a) To Fire a gun

b) To act prematurely

c) To act foolishly

d) To succeed quickly

ANSWERS 1.c  2.a  3.d  4.a  5.a  6.c  7.b  8.a  9.a 10 .b

  

II

 Select he correct meaning of the idiom from given options.

1. 

A toffee-nosed person

a) A person who is fond of sweets

b) A rich person who has a lot of money

c)  A person who considers himself of high society and looks down on others.

d) A person who considers himself right and perfect.

2

Weal and woe

a) Ups and downs

b) Shortcomings

c) Sorrow and joys

d)  and late

3.

Diamond in the rough

a) A leading personality

b) An unsophisticated person with potential

c) An easy task

d) An untidy person

4. 

Head and Shoulders

a) Worse than others

b) Much better than others

c)  An educated person

d) A well informed person

5. 

To have sticky fingers

a) To be suspicious

b) To feel disturbed

c) To be charged with

d) To have a tendency to steal

6.

To make one's mark

a) To distinguish oneself

b) To give impression

c) To make a countenance

d) To take a stand

7.

On the ball

a) To be inattentive

b) Quick response to changes going around

c) Not to understand the situation

d) Unaware of changes going around

8.

Milk of human kindness

a) Compassion

b) Bravery

c) Kindness

d) To be lucky

9.

To get wind of 

a)  To boast of

b) To recover from illness

c) To come to know some secret information

d) To know the trend

10. 

To cut corners

a) To save money and economise

b) To avoid someone

c) To go unnoticed

d) To have an edge over others 

ANSWERS 1. c 2.c 3.b 4.b 5.d 6. a 7. b 8. a 9. c10.a

III

From the given options select the correct meaning of the idiom used in the sentence. 

1.

On the sly

He leaked important information to the enemy on the sly.

a) to tell openly

b) to give written statement.

c) to tell through an agent

d) to give information secretly.

2.

To bite the bullet 

He decided to bite the bullet and accept the difficult assignment.

a) to fight bravely

b) to show courage 

c) to face difficulty bravely

d) to counter an aggression

3. 

To go against the grain

It goes against the grain for her to accept the injustice silently. 

a) contrary to someone's belief and nature.

b) against the wishes

c) ready to fight with someone 

d) always find fault with others 

4. 

To steal someone's thunder

She stole my thunder by presenting the project before I could present it.

a) To act against someone's wishes

b) To make a show off

c) To steal someone's belongings

d) To take credit for other's achievement

5

To hold a candle to someone

The experienced captain always hold a candle to the new players.

a) to give guidance to others

b) To have an envy with others

c) To make a fight with others

d) To be as good as someone else

6.

To cross swords with someone

The Principal and vice Principal always cross sword with eachother.

a) To have disagreement with someone.

b) To go hand in hand with each other

c) To make a competition with each other

d) To have grudges against each other

7.

To cut no ice with someone

These days the captain cuts no ice with the vice captain and takes his own decisions. 

a) To make someone very angry

b) To impress someone greatly

c) To have no effect or influence on someone

d) To resolve issues with someone

8. 

To make bricks without straw

He will have to make bricks without straw as he is lacking infrastructure and man power these days.

a)To work with inadequate resourses

b) To complete work before time

c) To construct a house of straw

d) To make a wrong decision

9. 

To beard the lion in his den

He dared to beard the lion in his den when he exposed the deals of the corrupt officer.

a) to make a futile attempt

b) to go against the wishes of

c) to go against a powerful person in his territory

d) to make a compromise with someone. 

10.

To strain at a gnat and swallow a camel

The new officer is in the habit straining at a gnat 

and swallowing a camel by ignoring his big

 mistakes and punishing smaller ones.

a) to take a wrong devidion.

b) to take bribe frim someone

c) to ignore big fault and punish smaller ones

d) to punish a person  for the fault he has not done.

ANSWERS 1. d 2.c 3.a 4.d 5. d 6. a 7.c 8.a 9. c 10.c