Pharm-D Admission Test English Syllabus

In direct and indirect speech, how does the present simple tense usually change when reported?

It usually changes to the past simple (e.g., 'I work' becomes 'He said that he worked').

When reporting speech, how do 'now', 'today', and 'here' typically change?

'Now' becomes 'then', 'today' becomes 'that day', and 'here' becomes 'there'.

How is a direct question 'Where do you live?' reported in indirect speech?

He asked where I lived. (Use the reporting verb 'asked', no question mark, and statement word order.)

In reported speech, which reporting verb and word are used for commands?

Use 'ordered'/'told' plus 'to' + base verb (e.g., He told me to leave).

Define synonym and antonym.

A synonym is a word with a similar meaning to another; an antonym is a word with the opposite meaning.

Give a synonym and an antonym for the word 'abundant'.

Synonym: plentiful; Antonym: scarce.

What is the antonym of 'benevolent' and a synonym for it?

Antonym: malevolent (or cruel); Synonym: kind/generous.

What is a verbal analogy, and what must you identify to solve one?

A verbal analogy expresses a relationship between two word pairs; you must identify the logical relationship in the first pair and apply it to the second.

In the analogy 'Hot : Cold :: Up : ?', what is the relationship and the answer?

The relationship is antonyms; the answer is 'Down'.

Identify the relationship type in the analogy 'Author : Book :: Composer : Symphony'.

Creator to creation (worker to product).

What does the idiom 'to bite the bullet' mean?

To force oneself to endure or do something unpleasant or difficult.

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

Very rarely; almost never.

Explain the meaning of the idiom 'to let the cat out of the bag'.

To reveal a secret, often unintentionally.

What does the phrase 'a piece of cake' mean?

Something very easy to do.

What is an affix, and what are its two main types?

An affix is a word part added to a root; the two types are prefixes (added before) and suffixes (added after).

What do the prefixes 'un-', 'dis-', and 're-' commonly mean?

'Un-' and 'dis-' mean not/opposite (negation), and 're-' means again or back.

What part of speech do the suffixes '-tion', '-ment', and '-ness' typically form?

They typically form nouns (e.g., action, movement, kindness).

What does the suffix '-ous' do to a root word, and give an example?

It forms an adjective meaning 'full of' (e.g., danger → dangerous).

In sentence completion, what should you look for to choose the correct word for a blank?

Contextual clues such as transition words, tone, and logical relationships (cause/effect, contrast) that signal the meaning required.

What does a contrast signal word like 'although' or 'however' tell you about a sentence-completion blank?

It signals that the missing word should oppose or contrast the idea in the other clause.

In error identification, what is a common subject-verb error to watch for with phrases between subject and verb?

A modifying phrase can hide the true subject; the verb must agree with the actual subject, not the noun nearest it (e.g., 'The box of pens IS', not 'are').

Identify and correct the error: 'Each of the students have submitted their work.'

Error: subject-verb agreement; 'Each' is singular, so it should be 'Each of the students HAS submitted his/her work.'

What is the function of a semicolon (;)?

It joins two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction, or separates items in a list that already contain commas.

When is an apostrophe used in punctuation?

To show possession (e.g., John's book) or to mark a contraction where letters are omitted (e.g., don't).

What is the difference between a colon and a semicolon in usage?

A colon introduces a list, explanation, or quotation; a semicolon links two related independent clauses.

What is the 'main idea' of a passage, and where is it often found?

The main idea is the central point the author conveys; it is often stated in the topic sentence, frequently at the beginning or end of a paragraph.

What is an inference in reading comprehension?

A logical conclusion drawn from evidence in the text that is implied but not directly stated.

What does 'contextual vocabulary' mean in reading comprehension?

Determining the meaning of a word based on how it is used in the surrounding sentence or passage rather than its dictionary definition alone.

Define the 'tone' of a passage and give three example tones.

Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject; examples include critical, optimistic, and sarcastic.

What is meant by the 'purpose' of a passage, and name three common purposes an author may have.

The purpose is the author's reason for writing; common purposes are to inform, to persuade, and to entertain.