FIA Recruitment Test English Syllabus

When is the definite article 'the' omitted (zero article)?

Before proper nouns, abstract nouns used generally, names of meals, languages, and plural/uncountable nouns used in a general sense.

What is the difference between 'few', 'a few', and 'the few'?

'Few' = almost none (negative); 'a few' = some (positive); 'the few' = the small number that exists.

State the basic rule of subject-verb agreement.

A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb (He writes / They write).

In subject-verb agreement, what verb do two subjects joined by 'and' take?

Usually a plural verb (Ali and Sara are here), unless they refer to a single idea/person (Bread and butter is my breakfast).

When subjects are joined by 'or'/'nor', which subject does the verb agree with?

The verb agrees with the subject nearer to it (Neither the teacher nor the students were present).

What verb do indefinite pronouns like 'each', 'everyone', 'somebody', 'neither' take?

They are singular and take a singular verb (Everyone has a duty; Each of the boys is ready).

Do collective nouns (team, jury, committee) take singular or plural verbs?

Usually singular when acting as one unit (The committee has decided), but plural when members act individually.

What verb agreement do 'either/or' and 'each of' constructions require with the phrase 'one of the'?

'One of the' takes a singular verb (One of the boys is absent), as the subject is 'one', not the plural noun.

What is a synonym? Give a synonym for 'abundant'.

A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning as another. Synonym for 'abundant': plentiful.

Give a synonym for each: 'candid', 'frugal', 'lucid'.

Candid = frank; Frugal = economical/thrifty; Lucid = clear.

Give a synonym for each: 'meticulous', 'obstinate', 'transient'.

Meticulous = careful/precise; Obstinate = stubborn; Transient = temporary/fleeting.

What is an antonym? Give the antonym of 'benevolent'.

An antonym is a word opposite in meaning to another. Antonym of 'benevolent': malevolent (or cruel).

Give the antonym for each: 'amateur', 'scarce', 'condemn'.

Amateur = professional; Scarce = abundant; Condemn = praise/approve.

Give the antonym for each: 'humble', 'optimist', 'transparent'.

Humble = arrogant/proud; Optimist = pessimist; Transparent = opaque.

What is 'one word substitution'? Give the word for 'a person who eats too much'.

Replacing a phrase or group of words with a single precise word. A person who eats too much: glutton.

One word for 'a person who knows many languages'?

Polyglot (or linguist).

One word for 'a government run by the people' and 'a government by a few'?

Government by the people = democracy; government by a few = oligarchy.

One word for 'a medicine that prevents disease' and 'a person who cannot read or write'?

Medicine preventing disease = prophylactic/vaccine; person who cannot read or write = illiterate.

One word for 'a place where birds are kept' and 'a place where fish are kept'?

Place for birds = aviary; place for fish = aquarium.

What is an idiom? Explain the idiom 'to bite the bullet'.

An idiom is a phrase whose meaning differs from the literal words. 'To bite the bullet' means to face a difficult situation bravely.

What does the idiom 'a blessing in disguise' mean?

Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good.

What does the idiom 'to let the cat out of the bag' mean?

To reveal a secret accidentally or carelessly.

What does the idiom 'once in a blue moon' mean?

Something that happens very rarely.

What does the idiom 'to turn a blind eye' mean?

To deliberately ignore something or pretend not to notice it.

What is an analogy in verbal reasoning, and what is the key step to solve one?

An analogy shows a relationship between two pairs of words. The key step is to identify the relationship in the first pair and apply the same logic to the second.

Complete the analogy: Author : Book :: Composer : ?

Music (relationship = creator to creation).

Complete the analogy: Hand : Glove :: Foot : ?

Sock (relationship = body part to its covering).

What is 'sentence correction', and what common errors does it test?

Identifying and fixing grammatical mistakes in a sentence. It tests errors in tense, subject-verb agreement, pronouns, prepositions, articles, and word order.

Correct this sentence: 'He is senior than me.'

'He is senior to me.' ('Senior', 'junior', 'superior', 'inferior', 'prior' take 'to', not 'than'.)

What is 'spotting errors', and which part of speech is most commonly tested in it?

Identifying the part of a sentence that contains a grammatical mistake. Prepositions, verb-tense agreement, and articles are the most commonly tested errors.