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REPORTED SPEECH
There are two main ways of relating what people have said.

We can use our own words (for instance, if we don't remember exactly what was said,
or if we don't want to quote or repeat the exact words)

E.g (a) Mrs Palit greeted everybody cheerily.

(b) I replied that I had no idea when I was going.

We can report what someone thinks in a similar way.

(c) He thought that Mahua was worried.

OR

We can use the actual words, as if recorded on a tape recorder, to report what
has been said.

E.g (a) "Good morning, everybody!" said Mrs Palit.

(b) I told my friends, “I've no idea when I'm going.”

(c) He thought : “Mahua's worried."

It is important to remember that we come across both ways of reporting in

newspapers, novels, magazines etc.

Points to note:

• The exact words of the speaker quoted in Direct Speech are placed between
inverted commas, and a comma or colon is placed immediately before the
words quoted. The end mark could be a full stop, a question mark or an
exclamatory mark depending on the meaning, context and mood expressed.
The first letter within the inverted commas is capitalized.

• There is no comma after Reporting Verbs like said, asked, claimed in reported
speech. The end mark in Reported Speech is always a full stop.

• Use of Direct Speech and Reported Speech.

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a) Direct speech is generally used

i) to create a dramatic effect

ii) to create a sense of urgency and immediacy

iii) because the exact words of the speaker or writer are in some way
important

iv) because a quote is required from authors, scientists, experts and

politicians to lend authenticity

v) to make a piece of writing or speech interesting by adding variety in the

mode of narration.

b) Indirect speech is used when we are interested not in the exact words that
someone has chosen, but in the essential information they convey. Far fewer
words are used to report what has originally been said.

c) We should remember that usually a judicious combination of the use of direct

and reported speech enhances the effectiveness of speaking or writing .

A.1 Read and enjoy the following article.

The Road to English

(Adapted from an article by Arishban Bagchi (Hindu college) [The Hindustan

Times, 4 October 1996]

1. The great question, after you have failed to put yourself in an engineering or
medical college in contemporary Indian society, is whether you'll ever find a
job.

2. "Oh! He showed such promise during his early days," says the sister of the
neighbour of your aunt in Timbuctoo. "Now look at my Bittoo," she goes on.
"In spite of being so brilliant and all, he could only barely manage a grade A+ at
MIT, and then he only just managed a well- paid job. How difficult getting jobs
must be."

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3. The next line reads, "I wonder how your son will find a job, being a non-
engineer, and that too in India."

4. Your father's friend, a prosperous doctor, decides to come visiting. Quite

predictably, his first question on seeing you is the inevitable, "Why in heaven's
name did you not qualify in the pre-medical test?' Followed by the equally
inevitable, "Now what are you going to do?"

5. He raves on about his nephew who has just gone to the UK for his FRCS, and
his daughter who has just completed her MBBS from AIIMS with top results,
and what exciting prospects they have.

6. Your father into whose eyes you haven't dared to look for quite some time,
speaks up. "I have lost all hope for him. However, educating him is my duty
and I won't shirk from it."

7. Someone speaks up. "Let him go to college to study Physics or Chemistry."

Everyone sits in silence. You cannot help feeling a little proud. At length,
someone plucks up the courage: "It's quite impossible to educate him any
further. Youngsters these days never seem to listen to what we have to say."

8. "I will study English Literature," you say, dropping a bombshell, fearless of the
consequences. Amazingly, it works. The crowd hurries to disperse. You are
so relieved to see their backs that you don't care. Thankfully, your parents
voice no objection, remembering, perhaps, that you did manage to score highly
in English in your Board exams.

9. So you finally take English literature as your subject of study.

A.2 Work in pairs and list the speakers in the passage you have just read.

i. ____________________________________________________
ii. ____________________________________________________
iii. ____________________________________________________
iv. ____________________________________________________
v. ____________________________________________________

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Still working in pairs, answer the following.

1. Did anyone actually say (or write) "Oh! He showed such promise during his
early days?" (Yes/No) How can you tell? ____________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2. Is "Now look at my Bittoo", said by the same person as the extract in 1 above?
(Yes/ No) How do you know? _______________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. In paragraph 4, who says "Now what are you going to do?"
What words help you to know? ______________________________________
________________________________________________________________
4. i) In paragraph 5, who is the speaker? _________________________________
Discuss and work out what must have been his exact words. Then write
them below.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
ii) Underline the verb which tells you how the person must have said this.
[Hint:
Try to work out the meaning of this verb. ]
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
5. How many of the nine paragraphs in the passage are reporting what someone
has said? ______________________________________________

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6. How many paragraphs include the exact words of the various speakers (direct
speech)? _________________________________
7. How many paragraphs have reported them 'indirectly' (indirect speech)?
__________________________________________________________________
8. What is your conclusion about how writers report what someone says or has
said in a newspaper article such as this?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
B. Reporting Verbs
B.1 A reporting verb is used in both direct and indirect (reported) speech. The
reporting verb usually adds to the meaning of each sentence for instance,
it may show the speaker's MOOD (e.g. agreed), PURPOSE (e.g. asked),
MANNER OF SPEAKER (e.g. shouted). An example is:
The tourist complained that the hotel was hot and noisy.
In this sentence, the reporting word 'complained' shows that the tourist was
clearly unhappy about the arrangements.
Now work in groups of four. Read the following sentences carefully, and circle
the reporting verbs. Then discuss and write the ways in which each reporting
verb adds to the meaning of its arrangement.
1. "When I was in school, I used to skip a few classes, especially Moral Science
because of the bookish manner in which it was treated," confessed the retired
IAS Officer.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

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2. Saurav's friends protested that he should have been included in the school
badminton team, on the basis of his fine performance in the inter-house
matches.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
3. "Make a circle, make a circle!" Mira shouted, firmly pulling and pushing the
children till a kind of vague circle was formed.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
4. The music teacher warned the children against getting carried away and
getting out of tune.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
5. "Father, you must tell me what you meant exactly when you said that I was the
same as every other teenager," Varun insisted.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. "Oh God! She is coming again," the children whispered to each other, when
they saw Mrs Sharma striding towards their classroom for the third time that
day.
_________________________________________________________________

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_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

B.2 Look at the following example.

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The exact words of the Prime Minister: "I shall lead this great country on the
path of peace and prosperity. Not only that, but I assure you that I will lower
taxes and do everything in my power to reduce inflation."

[Situation: A newsreader reports the words of the Prime Minister on the radio.]

"The new prime Minister said that he would lead the country on the path of
peace and prosperity. He also promised to lower taxes and reduce inflation."

Working in pairs, note the changes the newsreader made while reporting
the PM's speech.

Fill in the table below.

Reporting Verbs Used Changes in Other Words

1. _______________________________ I a)_______ b)_________

2. _______________________________ Shall _____________________

Now do the same with this situation. The following is a conversation that
took place between Neeta and Shobhna (in the presence of Shobhna's
mother) last week.

Neeta : Can I borrow Rs. 25? I have lost all my money on the bus this morning.

Shobhna : But you asked me for a loan last week as well, you haven't repaid
that yet. Sorry, But I can't lend you any more.

Imagine it is now next week. Shobhna's mother talks about it to her

husband in her own words.

"Neeta came in last week and asked Shobhna if she could borrow twenty five
rupees. She explained she had lost all her money on the bus that morning.
Shobhna reminded Neeta that she had asked her for a loan the previous week
as well, and still hadn't repaid it. So she decided she couldn't lend Neeta any
more."

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Reporting verbs used Changes in other words Any other changes

1. I ____________ In the indirect speech
2. Have ____________ above ‘If’ was added
because
3. Me ____________ ________________________
4. My ____________ ________________________
5. Last week _________ ________________________
Yet ____________ ________________________
Can’t ____________ ________________________

Read the exact words of Mrs Bhattacharya, a resident of Park Street, Kolkata.
"Where do the two of you live? You shouldn't make such a noise in the street. If
you do it again, I'll have to complain to the police. So, be careful."

Now think of a situation in which Mrs Bhattacharya has to report what she
said to somebody but not exactly as she has said above (eg. to a
neighbour.)
Situation ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Now report Mrs Bhattacharya's words. Remember: You can decide

whether to use direct or indirect speech forms.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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Work with your partner. Read the following. Decide on a likely situation in
which what was said has been repeated. Then use your imagination and
recreate the original ("direct") speech.

Everyone at the hospital looked after me very well. As soon as I arrived, a nurse
asked me how I felt. Then she asked me where I lived and whether she could
contact my parents. I explained that you were out today, so she couldn't
contact you. After that she asked me how that accident had happened and I
said I didn't know.

Situation ________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Direct speech (in dialogue form)

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

C. Practicing Reported Speech

C.1 Statements: Rewrite the following in reported speech:

a) Sheela to Rashmi: "You can come and stay at my place if you're ever in
Delhi".

b) Anand to Renu: "I don't know what Gayathri is doing these days. She
hasn't visited us for ages".

c) Teacher to Students: "We shall go on a field trip to study water

pollution".

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Changes

• Usually present tense is changed into past tense. However, when reporting a
conversation that is still going on or when reading a letter or instructions and
reporting them, the reporting verb is in present tense. Also, statements that
someone makes very often are reported in present tense.

Examples 1. He says that he is on his way.

("I'm on my way" over the telephone)

2. It says here that the hair drier needs a 15 AMP Socket. (reading from
instructions)

3. Rani says that she'll never get married.

(statement that is repeated)

• I / we shall/ should normally become he/ she/ they would.

• Modals change to their 'past tense' form: would, could, might.

• Usually would, could, might, should, ought to and must remain

unchanged. However other expressions such as advised/ urged/
warned/ asked/ explained are also used to convey the 'modal'
meanings.

Examples

1. "You might post these letters for me”

He asked me to post those letters for him.

2. "You ought to/ should/ must read the application carefully".

She advised / urged/ warned me to read the application carefully.

• Similarly 'could' also may be replaced with other expressions depending

on the 'modal' meaning.

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Examples

1. He said," I could come tomorrow".

He said that he could/ would be able to come the next day. (Future
ability)

2. He said, "When I was a boy, I could eat whatever I wanted".

He said that when he was a boy he could/ was allowed to eat whatever he
wanted.

• Past tenses sometimes remain unchanged though in theory the past

tense changes to the past perfect.

a) The past/ past continuous tenses in time clauses do not normally

change.

Example He said, "When we were studying in college……

He said that when they were studying in college……

b) A past tense used to describe a state of affairs which still exists when the
speech is reported remain unchanged:

Example She said, "I decided to rent the shop because it is on the main road."

She said that she had decided to rent the shop because it was on the
main road.

• Pronouns and possessive adjectives usually change from first or second person
to third person except when the speaker is reporting his own words.

Examples 1. He said, "I've decided to change my job".

He said that he had decided to change his job.

2. I said, "I cannot tolerate any delay".

I said that I can/ could not tolerate any delay.

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3. Rani said that she must have come by bus.

Here "she' may be ambiguous if Rani is referring to someone else. In

such sentences it is necessary to add a noun to avoid ambiguity.

Rani said that her friend must have come by bus.

• Expressions of time and place in indirect speech.

Direct Indirect

today that day

yesterday the day before

the day before yesterday two days before

tomorrow the next day/ the following day.

the day after tomorrow in two days' time.

next week / year etc the following week/year etc.

last week/ year etc the previous week/ year etc.

a year etc. ago a year before/ the previous year

here there

this that

these those

now then

bring take

come go

However these changes have to be adjusted according to logic.

Example: 1. At breakfast this morning he said, "I'll be coming back late today".

At breakfast this morning he said that he would be coming back late

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today.

(The reporting is being done on the same day. So today is not changed
into that day)

2. He said, "Come here, friends”

He called his friends.

(He asked his friends to go there: this would be rather unnatural or

awkward)

C.2 Questions in indirect speech.

Rewrite the following in indirect speech:

a) He said, "Who has moved into the neighbouring house?"

_______________________________________________________________

b) He said, "What have you bought for Deepawali?"

_______________________________________________________________

c) He said to me, "Why didn't you wear your new dress for the party?"

_______________________________________________________________

d) "Is anyone there?" he asked.

_______________________________________________________________

e) "Shall I wait for the doctor or come again tomorrow?" she asked the
receptionist.

______________________________________________________________

Points to Remember

• If the direct question begins with a question word (when, where, who, how,
why, what etc), the question word is repeated.

• Tenses, pronouns, possessive adjectives and adverbs of time and place change
as in statements.
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• The interrogative form of the verb changes to the affirmative form. The
question mark (?) is therefore replaced by a full stop.

He said, "Where does she live?"

He asked where she lived.

• If the introductory verb is 'say', it must be changed to a verb of inquiry, e.g. ask,
inquire, wonder, want to know etc.

• If the direct question does not have a question word, 'if' or 'whether' must be
used.

C. 3 Commands, requests and advice in indirect speech:

Rewrite the following in indirect speech:

a) The General said," Move the tanks to the battlefield immediately."

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

b) "Don't drive too fast", the instructor said to me.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

c) "If I were you, I'd buy that property immediately", the agent said to Anwar.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

d) "Why don't you change into something more comfortable?" he said to his
guest.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

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e) "Go on, taste it", said the cook to the guest.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

• You will notice that direct commands, requests and advice are usually
expressed by a suitable reporting verb in indirect speech (Refer Section B)

C.4 Let's, let him etc.

Examples

1. He said," Let's have our lunch before starting the journey".

He suggested that they should have their lunch before starting the journey.

OR

He suggested having their lunch ………………………….

2. The union leader said to the workers, “Let's show the management what we can
do."

The union leader urged the workers to show the management what they could
do.

3. He said, "I can't issue the certificate. Let the secretary do it."

He said that he could not issue the certificate and that the secretary ought to/
should do it.

4. "The students will complain", the teacher said.

"Let them", said the Headmaster.

The Headmaster said that he did not mind if the students complained.

OR

The Headmaster expressed indifference.

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5. "Let the enemy enter the border and then we can launch our attack", said the
commander.

The commander wanted to allow the enemy to enter the border and then they
could launch their attack.

From the above you will notice that with sentences using 'let' the following
changes are usually effected in indirect speech.

a) Use 'suggest' as a reporting verb when 'let's' expresses a suggestion.

b) Use urge/advice if 'let's expresses a call to action.

c) Use ought to/ should when the speaker is shifting the responsibility to
someone or something else.

d) Whenever let him/them etc indicates the speaker's indifference, use 'didn't
mind' or merely state that the speaker expressed indifference.

e) When 'let' means allow/permit, then use allow/ permit + to……………….

C.5 Exclamations

Exclamations usually become statements in indirect speech.

Examples.

1. He said, "What a beautiful scene!"

He exclaimed that it was a beautiful scene.

2. "Good!" he exclaimed.

He gave an exclamation of pleasure/ satisfaction.

3. "Ah, I have finished the assignment at last!" She said.

With an exclamation of relief she said that she had finished the assignment at
last.

Thus you may use giving with--/ an exclamation of delight/ disgust/ horror/
relief/ surprise etc depending on the meaning of the direct exclamation.

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Also Note

a) He said, "Thank you."------------ He thanked me.

b) He said, " Curse the heat." --------He cursed the heat.

c) He said, "Good luck." ------------- He wished me luck.

d) He said, "Congratulations." -------- He congratulated me.

e) He said, "Welcome to our college" --------- He welcomed us to their college.

f) He said, "Can you drive?" and I said, "No". ------------- He asked me if I could
drive and I said I couldn't.

g) He said, " Will you help me?" and I said, "Yes". ---------------- He asked me if I
would help him and I said that I would.

C.6 Change the following into indirect speech. Change tense and time
expressions only when necessary. You may use a variety of reporting
verbs from the box below.

complain confide apologise explain

invite assure regret plead

scold insist remind warn

1. "Human nature changes," sighed the old man.

______________________________________________________________

2. "We'll win the match next week." said Vasu optimistically.

______________________________________________________________

(reporting just after he said it)

3. "I saw him with Akanksha yesterday," she whispered.

______________________________________________________________

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4. "Sanjay, I'm sorry we didn't visit you in Bombay last week," Arun said

______________________________________________________________

(reporting immediately after he said it)

5. "This rice tastes awful," he muttered.

______________________________________________________________

6. "Would you like to come to the party with us tomorrow, Gopa?" Sushila asked.

______________________________________________________________

(reporting later in the week.)

7. "Please, Ma, please," they begged. "We'll play on the veranda and porch. We
won't take a step off the veranda."

______________________________________________________________

(reporting immediately after)

8. "Don't be a fool," Raghu said roughly, pushing him aside. Even Mira said,
"Stop howling, Ravi. If you want to play, you can stand at the end of the line,"
and she put him there very firmly.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(reporting immediately after)

C.7 Correct the errors in the following sentences. Write out the correct
sentence in the space provided.

1. The nurse enquired how I am.

_____________________________________________________________

2. He said he live in Connaught Circus.

_____________________________________________________________

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3. They asked when I have arrived.

_____________________________________________________________

4. The taxi driver asked where I want to go.

_____________________________________________________________

5. I warn Sanjay to be careful while crossing the road.

________________________________________________________________

6. Rohit couldn't understand where all the children are gone.

_____________________________________________________________

C.8 You said that…………

Look at the horoscope page from a newspaper. Find your zodiac sign.
Imagine that you have come to the end of the week and nothing has
happened, according to the horoscope. Write a letter of complaint to
Madam Kiran. Report what Madam Kiran said would happen and then
describe what actually happened. You may wish to write something
similar to the letter in the example below.

Dear Madam Kiran,

I am writing to complain about your horoscope prediction for Virgo last

week.

Firstly, you said that my relationships would be successful. In fact I had

terrible squabbles with my mother and with no fewer than three different
friends. You assured me that there would be a new admirer in my life who
would make me feel confident about my future. Well, I have a new admirer
but he is making my life a misery for me…..

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by Madam Kiran

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D. Reported Speech - Summary

D.1 Read the following extract from Oliver Twist, a novel by Charles
Dickens.

"Where is my little brother?" cried Nancy, when she reached the police
station.

"There are no little boys here, madam," answered an officer.

"Where is he, then?" she persisted, and began describing what Oliver
looked like

The officer informed her that he had been driven to the home of a
gentleman in Pentonville. When Fagin heard the news, he exploded, "The
boy must be found, even if we have to kidnap him."

Working in pairs, a) note down the reporting verbs used in the above
passage. Then, b) describe in a few words the mood or purpose of the
speakers.

Reporting Verbs Mood/Purpose/Manner

i) cried i) worried, anxious, upset,

tearful

ii) _________________ ii) _______________________

iii) _________________ iii) _______________________

iv) _________________ iv) ______________________

v) _________________ v) ______________________

vi) _________________ vi) ______________________

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D.2 Below are some common remarks made by youngsters, their parents and
guardians. They show the differences of opinions on modern music and
film between the three groups. First read them carefully.

(Father) "Is this what you (Father's friend) "It's a maddening

call music?" noise and nothing else!'

(You) "But it's so lively. Can you (An Aunt) "They are so cheap.
imagine a party with the sort of music You can't see these films with
that you had about 20 years ago?" your family."

(Another Friend) "I can't stand

(Your Friend) "The actors the theatrical and 'sing-song'
and actresses today are so way in which actors deliver
natural." their lines in old films."

(An Uncle) "At least the films (Grandfather) "I don't know why you
in our time had meaningful are all arguing. Everyone thinks their
stories." time was the best."

One the basis of the above comments, write an article for your school
magazine, entitled: "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow." Here are some
tips:

i. Make your article interesting and readable by reporting the feeling in the above
speech bubbles.

ii. Use both 'direct' and 'indirect' ways of reporting.

iii. Use a variety of reporting verbs to suit the mood, purpose, and manner of the
speakers above. You may wish to use some of the reporting verbs listed below.

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added contended implied

(= to express a firm belief)

admitted chorused informed

(= to say something together )

agreed considered objected

advised declared protested

announced forbade preferred

(= to stop somebody from

saying or doing something)

asserted thundered

(= to make a point strongly) (=to say something loudly

and angrily).

iv) You may like to read the article "The Road to English" (A1) again, for some
ideas.

D.3. Read the following excerpt from a newspaper report.

Tiger numbers up, but habitat a worry

New Delhi: India's tiger population has gone up. On Monday, environment
minister JAIRAM RAMESH will announce an increase of over 100 tigers across
the country at a three-day international conference of experts on tigers.

But can India keep this rising numbers intact? According to the government's
own study on tiger reserves, India cannot hold more than 1000 to 1200 tigers,
with its forests having witnessed a degradation in the last two decades.

"Where is the habitat to keep so many tigers safe?" asked Vivek Menon, chief
executive officer of the Wildlife Trust of India. "Constant habitat destruction

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and illegal mining is causing wildlife stress," said Dharmendra Kandhal, a

wildlife biologist.

Hindustan Times- March 28, 2011

• Where do you find sentences in direct speech in the above excerpt?

• Why has the reporter used the exact words of Mr. Menon and Mr. Kandhal?

• Change the sentences in direct speech to indirect speech and then read the
excerpt. Does if sound better or worse? Why?

D.4 Given below are notes on a news report covering an operation by Indian
Navy that nabbed 16 pirates. Using the notes write a newspaper report.
Remember to use a combination of direct and indirect speech. Make the
report interesting and dramatic.

NAVY SINKS SHIP, NABS 16 PIRATES.

1.1 Indian navy- intensifying search for pirates- following approval of government
for aggressive measures.
1.2 Saturday- sinking of 'private mother ship'- 400 nautical miles west of
Lakshadweep Islands.
1.3 16 pirates captured- 12 Iranian and 4 Pakistani sailors held as hostages
rescued- 120 pirates captured in last two months- In earlier three operations
104 pirates captured- facing trial in Mumbai courts.
2 Saturday operation- began 10 am- naval patrol aircraft spotted 'Morteza'-
Iranian traveler used as 'mother vessel' by brigands-offshore patrol vessel INS
Suvarna and coast Guard Ship Sangram sent to intercept Morteza- Pirates
given warning- ordered to stop- but they fired- Suvarna returned limited fire-
disabled Morteza - people seen abandoning ship- according to an official.
2.1 Later 16 pirates and 16 sailors picked up from the waters.
2.2 All being taken to Mumbai; will be handed over to police for investigation said
official.
You may write this report in 3-4 paragraphs.

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1. Given below are instructions for opening a bank account. Use these to
complete the paragraph that follows.
obtain form from the bank
l

fill in the form with all the relevant details

l

ask an account-holder to countersign your form

l

submit two passport-size photographs

l

deposit the minimum amount required

l

First a form must be (a) _______________________ . All relevant details (b) _________
______________. The form must then (c) __________________________. Two passport-
size photographs along with proof of residence (d) ____________________. Finally the
minimum amount required (e) __________________________.

2. Given below are a few news headlines. Using information from the same,
complete the sentences that follow.
1. India Allows Airspace to Pak
In the first public move to diffuse tension between the two countries, India
_____________ _____________________ through Indian airspace.
2. Research Work at AIIMS Stalled for Want of Animals
More than 50 research projects at the prestigious All India Institute of Medical
Sciences ____ _________________________________________ to conduct
experiments on.
3. After making Toilets, MCD Looks for Users
About 250 toilet complexes constructed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi
with Japanese aid have turned into liabilities as apparently
______________________________
4. Selling Kidneys to make a Living
Starving Tribals of Idduki district ______________________________________ to
make a living.

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5. Kidneys Donated without Medical Inspection

Most of the kidney donation procedures __________________________________
the required medical examination in Indian hospitals.

3. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each of
the lines. Write the incorrect word and the correction in the space
provided.
Error correction
Traditionally the festival of Holi is told to (a) ___________
mark a beginning of summer. While (b) ___________
there are some people who rise a cheer (c) ___________
at that prospect, the rest of us neither sigh (d) ___________
resignedly or contemplate suicide, and began to (e) ___________
hunt out our cottons, servicing all our cooling (f) ___________
devices, hang in the chiks, and prepare to (g) ___________
endure the season for heat, dust and sweat (h) ___________

Variety, HT March 20, 2011.

4. Complete the following paragraph on one of the earlier voyages of

Columbus by choosing the correct options.

Christopher Columbus , (a) ______________________________ born in 1451 AD.

Unlike the people of his time, (b) ______________________________. In order to
prove his belief he said (c) ______________________________, he could reach
Japan. Queen Isabella of Spain supported him. Columbus sailed west (d)
______________________________three ships. Unfortunately, one of the ships was
wrecked. Columbus returned to Spain (e) ______ ________________________ to
form a colony.

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(a)(i) a skilled sailor and an explorer, was (ii) was skilled sailor and an explorer
(iii) being a skilled sailor and an explorer was (iv) a skilled sailor and an explorer is
(b) (i) but Columbus believed that the Earth was round
(ii) Columbus had believed that the Earth was round
(iii) but Columbus believed that the Earth is round
(iv) Columbus believed that the Earth was round
(c) (i) if he sails west from Europe (ii) if he is sailing west of Europe
(iii) if he sailed west from Europe (iv) if he sailed west to Europe
(d) (i) with a crew of ninety men on (ii) having a crew of ninety men in
(iii) with a crew of ninety men having (iv) going with a crew of ninety men on
(e) (i) left behind forty men in the island of Hispaniola
(ii) leaving behind forty men on the island of Hispaniola
(iii) has left forty men on the island of Hispaniola
(iv) is leaving forty men on the island of Hispaniola

5. Complete the following passage by choosing the correct options from

those given below.

Electronic commerce, it seems, still has (a) __________ limits, even in the Silicon
Valley. For all the feverish excitement (b) __________ the tripling of electronic
shopping last holiday season, the total money (c) __________ by American
consumers online still (d) __________ to only about one percent of its total sales-
barely a tenth (e) __________ the revenues from (f) __________ method of distance
selling that has been (g) __________ for a century; the catalogue. This may be
because electronic shopping (h) __________ on quite a narrow range of goods,
mainly books, toys and music. Worse, there (i) _________ many stories of failed
and late deliveries. And, more recently, a string of hackers' attacks (j)
__________ temporarily disabled some of the best-known e-commerce websites.

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(a) (i) their (ii) a (iii) the (iv) its

(b) (i) about (ii) of (iii) in (iv) for
(c) (i) spend (ii) spending (iii) spent (iv) being spent
(d) (i) amount (ii) amounted (iii) amounts (iv) amounting
(e) (i) of (ii) for (iii) by (iv) for
(f) (i) another (ii) other (iii) some (iv) the other
(g) (i) user (ii) used (iii) uses (iv) in use
(h) (i) concentrated (ii) is concentrating (iii) was concentrated (iv) had concentrated
(i) (i) were (ii) have been (iii) has been (iv) was
(j) (i) has (ii) have (iii) having (iv) had

6. In the passage given below, one word has been omitted in each line. Write
the missing word along with the word that comes before and the word that
comes after it in your answer sheet against the correct blank number.
Ensure that the word that forms your answer is underlined.
It was my second year boarding- school (a) _________
and was sitting on platform No.8 at (b) _________
Ambala station waiting the north-bound train. (c) _________
I think I was about twelvle at time. My (d) _________
parents considered me old to travel alone, (e) _________
and I arrived by bus Ambala early in (f) _________
the evening; now there was a wait midnight (g) _________
before my train arrived. Most the time I had (h) _________
been pacing up and down the platform.

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