AKU BScN Admission Test English Language Syllabus

What is a run-on sentence, and how can it be corrected?

A run-on joins two independent clauses with no proper punctuation or conjunction (e.g., 'I was tired I slept'). Fix it with a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus coordinating conjunction ('I was tired, so I slept').

What is a comma splice?

A comma splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses with only a comma (e.g., 'It was late, we left'). It should be corrected with a semicolon, a period, or a comma plus a conjunction.

How do you choose the correct word form among 'success' (noun), 'succeed' (verb), 'successful' (adjective), and 'successfully' (adverb)?

Use the noun for a thing (a success), the verb for an action (to succeed), the adjective to describe a noun (a successful plan), and the adverb to describe a verb (worked successfully).

Which word forms of 'analyse' correspond to the verb, noun, and adjective?

Verb: analyse/analyze; noun: analysis (process) or analyst (person); adjective: analytical.

How do you decide whether to use 'economic' or 'economical'?

'Economic' relates to the economy or finance (economic growth). 'Economical' means money-saving or efficient (an economical car). Both come from 'economy' but differ in meaning.

What is the difference between 'affect' and 'effect'?

'Affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence ('Stress affects health'). 'Effect' is usually a noun meaning a result ('The effect was clear'). 'Effect' can rarely be a verb meaning to bring about.

What is the difference between 'principal' and 'principle'?

'Principal' means main or chief, or the head of a school (the principal reason). 'Principle' is a noun meaning a rule or fundamental truth (a moral principle).

How do you choose between 'fewer' and 'less'?

Use 'fewer' with countable nouns (fewer mistakes) and 'less' with uncountable nouns (less time).

What are linking words used to show contrast between ideas across sentences?

However, nevertheless, on the other hand, in contrast, whereas, although. They signal that the second idea opposes or qualifies the first.

What transition words are used to add information or show addition?

Moreover, furthermore, in addition, also, besides, additionally. They introduce a further supporting point.

Which linking words show cause and effect?

Therefore, thus, consequently, as a result, hence (effect); because, since, due to, owing to (cause).

What linking words are used to show sequence or order of events?

First, next, then, after that, subsequently, finally. They organize steps or events in chronological order.

What is a synonym for 'enormous', and how does it compare to similar words?

'Huge' or 'immense' are close synonyms of 'enormous', meaning extremely large. They are stronger than 'big' or 'large'.

Give a close synonym for the verb 'increase' and one for 'decrease'.

'Increase' ~ rise, grow, expand, augment. 'Decrease' ~ decline, reduce, diminish, fall.

What is the closest meaning of the word 'reluctant'?

Unwilling or hesitant to do something (e.g., 'reluctant to leave' = unwilling to leave).

What is the closest meaning of 'abundant'?

Plentiful or existing in large quantities; the opposite of scarce.

Give the more formal/academic alternatives to the everyday words 'get', 'a lot of', and 'show'.

'Get' becomes obtain/acquire/receive; 'a lot of' becomes numerous/considerable/a substantial amount of; 'show' becomes demonstrate/illustrate/reveal.

What is a formal academic synonym for 'find out' and for 'look into'?

'Find out' becomes determine/ascertain/discover; 'look into' becomes investigate/examine.

Why does the word 'bank' illustrate the importance of context in vocabulary?

'Bank' can mean a financial institution or the side of a river. Its meaning is only clear from context, showing that surrounding words determine which sense applies.

In the sentence 'The medicine had an adverse reaction,' what does 'adverse' mean in context?

'Adverse' means harmful, unfavourable, or negative; here it describes a bad or undesirable reaction.

What is a collocation, and why are collocations important?

A collocation is a pair or group of words that naturally and frequently occur together (e.g., 'make a decision', not 'do a decision'). Using correct collocations makes English sound natural and idiomatic.

Do we say 'make' or 'do' with the words 'a mistake', 'homework', and 'a decision'?

Make a mistake, make a decision; do homework. 'Make' often pairs with creating/producing; 'do' often pairs with tasks and activities.

What verb collocates with 'a photo', 'a shower', and 'a break'?

'Take' - take a photo, take a shower, take a break.

Which adjectives commonly collocate with 'rain' to mean very strong, and with 'tea' to mean very strong?

'Heavy rain' (not strong rain) and 'strong tea' (not heavy tea). These are fixed collocations.

What is a phrasal verb, and how is its meaning usually understood?

A phrasal verb is a verb plus a particle (preposition/adverb), e.g., 'give up'. Its meaning is often idiomatic and not deducible from the individual words ('give up' = quit).

What do the phrasal verbs 'put off', 'look after', and 'run out of' mean?

'Put off' = postpone/delay; 'look after' = take care of; 'run out of' = have no more of something.

Is the phrase 'discuss about the problem' correct? Explain.

No. 'Discuss' is transitive and takes a direct object with no preposition: 'discuss the problem'. Adding 'about' is a common error.

Which is grammatically correct: 'He don't know' or 'He doesn't know'? Why?

'He doesn't know' is correct. Third-person singular subjects (he, she, it) require 'doesn't', not 'don't', for subject-verb agreement.

What is the rule of subject-verb agreement for singular and plural subjects?

A singular subject takes a singular verb ('The dog runs'); a plural subject takes a plural verb ('The dogs run'). The verb must agree in number with its subject.

What does the idiom 'a piece of cake' mean, and what does 'once in a blue moon' mean?

'A piece of cake' means something very easy. 'Once in a blue moon' means very rarely. Idioms have fixed figurative meanings that cannot be taken literally.