NDA / CDS / AFCAT - MCQ Practice Questions
Practice <strong>NDA, CDS, AFCAT, CAPF</strong> MCQ questions covering Mathematics, English, General Knowledge, General Science, and Current Affairs. Perfect for Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force officer aspirants.
205 questions | 100% Free
Select the correct option to fill in the blank: 'Neither the captain nor the players ______ ready for the final briefing.'
Understanding:
We need to choose the correct verb form based on subject-verb agreement when 'neither...nor' is used.
Step 1: Apply the rule for 'neither...nor'
When two subjects are joined by 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject that is CLOSER to it (the subject nearest the verb). This is called the 'proximity rule'.
Step 2: Identify the closer subject
In 'neither the captain nor the players', the subject closer to the verb is 'the players', which is plural.
Step 3: Select the verb
Since 'the players' is plural, the verb must be plural. The sentence is in the past tense, so the correct verb is 'were'.
Step 4: Check other options
Answer:
The correct verb is 'were', as it agrees with the plural subject 'players' which is closer to the verb in the 'neither...nor' construction.
Quick Tip:
For 'either...or' and 'neither...nor', always match the verb with the NEARER subject — this is the proximity rule and it frequently appears in NDA/CDS grammar questions.
Choose the option that correctly identifies the figure of speech used in the sentence: 'The pen is mightier than the sword.'
Understanding:
We need to identify the figure of speech in the sentence 'The pen is mightier than the sword.'
Step 1: Analyse the sentence
In this sentence, 'pen' stands for the power of writing and intellectual influence, while 'sword' stands for military force or physical power. Neither 'pen' nor 'sword' is being used in its literal sense.
Step 2: Define the relevant figures of speech
Step 3: Identify correctly
This is a classic example of Metonymy — 'pen' is a substitute for writing/knowledge and 'sword' for military power.
Answer:
The figure of speech used is Metonymy, where 'pen' and 'sword' represent writing and military force respectively.
Quick Tip:
Metonymy differs from synecdoche: in synecdoche, a part represents the whole (e.g. 'boots on the ground' for soldiers). In metonymy, an associated object replaces the concept (e.g. 'pen' for writing).
Choose the most appropriate word from the options to replace the underlined word in the sentence: 'The soldier showed remarkable FORTITUDE during the gruelling training.'
Understanding:
We need to find the best replacement (synonym) for the word 'FORTITUDE' in the given sentence.
Step 1: Define 'Fortitude'
'Fortitude' means courage and strength in bearing pain or adversity; mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty.
Step 2: Analyse each option
Step 3: Verify in context
'The soldier showed remarkable endurance during the gruelling training' — makes perfect sense and preserves the meaning of the original sentence.
Answer:
The best replacement for 'FORTITUDE' is 'Endurance', as both convey the ability to bear difficulty and hardship with courage.
Quick Tip:
Other near-synonyms of 'fortitude' include 'resilience', 'grit', 'tenacity', and 'perseverance' — all useful vocabulary for NDA/CDS English.
Choose the option that best describes the meaning of the one-word substitute: 'A person who is present everywhere at the same time.'
Understanding:
We need to identify the correct one-word substitute for 'a person who is present everywhere at the same time.'
Step 1: Break down the options using Latin/Greek roots
Step 2: Match with the definition
The definition 'present everywhere at the same time' directly corresponds to 'Omnipresent'.
Answer:
The correct one-word substitute is 'Omnipresent', meaning present in all places at all times.
Quick Tip:
The 'Omni-' prefix family is frequently tested: Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omniscient (all-knowing), Omnipresent (everywhere), Omnivorous (eats everything). Learn all four together.
Choose the sentence that is grammatically CORRECT.
Understanding:
We need to identify the grammatically correct sentence involving the structure 'one of those ... who'.
Step 1: Apply the grammar rule
In the construction 'one of those + plural noun + who/that + verb', the relative pronoun 'who' refers to the plural noun (not to 'one'). Therefore, the verb after 'who' must be plural.
Step 2: Identify the antecedent of 'who'
'who' refers to 'those officers' (plural), not to 'He' (singular). So the verb must be 'take' (plural) and the pronoun must be 'their' (plural).
Step 3: Check each option
Answer:
The grammatically correct sentence is Option B: 'He is one of those officers who take their duty seriously.'
Quick Tip:
Always identify what the relative pronoun 'who' refers to. In 'one of those X who', 'who' refers to 'X' (always plural), not to 'one'.
Choose the correct active voice for the sentence: 'The bridge was constructed by the engineers in three months.'
Understanding:
We need to convert a passive voice sentence into its active voice equivalent.
Step 1: Identify the tense of the passive sentence
'Was constructed' — this is Simple Past Passive tense.
The structure is: Object + was/were + past participle + by + Subject.
Step 2: Identify the components
Step 3: Form the active voice
For Simple Past Passive → Simple Past Active:
Subject + past tense verb + object + time phrase.
= 'The engineers constructed the bridge in three months.'
Step 4: Check other options
Answer:
The correct active voice sentence is: 'The engineers constructed the bridge in three months.'
Choose the option that CORRECTLY uses the word 'DISCREET'.
Understanding:
We need to identify the sentence that correctly uses the word 'DISCREET'.
Step 1: Define the two confusable words
Step 2: Analyse each option
Answer:
Option B correctly uses 'discreet' to mean careful and secretive, which is its proper meaning.
Quick Tip:
A useful memory trick: 'discrEEt' — the two Es are 'together' (careful, keeping things together/secret). 'discrEtE' — the Es are 'apart' (separate, distinct).
Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence using the right preposition: 'The regiment was commended ______ its exceptional performance during the exercise.'
Understanding:
We need to select the correct preposition to use with the verb 'commended'.
Step 1: Identify the correct preposition for 'commended'
The verb 'commend' follows the pattern 'commend someone/something FOR something'. This is a fixed prepositional usage in standard English.
Step 2: Test each option
Step 3: Confirm with similar verbs
Verbs like 'praised for', 'rewarded for', 'recognised for', and 'commended for' all take the preposition 'for' to introduce the reason or cause of the commendation.
Answer:
The correct preposition is 'for' — 'The regiment was commended for its exceptional performance during the exercise.'
Quick Tip:
Fixed preposition pairs tested frequently in NDA/CDS: commended for, guilty of, differ from, interfere with, conform to, abide by — build a list and revise regularly.
In the sentence given below, find the part that contains an error: 'If I would have known (A) / about the briefing earlier, (B) / I would have prepared (C) / a detailed report. (D)'
Understanding:
We need to identify the grammatically incorrect part of the sentence, which involves a conditional structure.
Step 1: Identify the type of conditional
The sentence is a Third Conditional (past unreal conditional), used to describe a hypothetical situation in the past and its imagined result.
Step 2: Apply the rule for Third Conditional
Structure: If + Past Perfect ... , would + have + past participle.
Step 3: Identify the error
Part A says 'If I would have known' — using 'would have' in the 'if clause' is a grammatical error. The correct form is 'If I had known'.
Answer:
The error is in Part A. 'If I would have known' should be 'If I had known', as the Third Conditional requires Past Perfect in the 'if clause'.
Quick Tip:
'Would' is NEVER used in the 'if clause' of a conditional sentence. This is one of the most frequently tested grammar errors in NDA/CDS English papers.
Choose the most appropriate option that fills the blank: 'The soldier's ______ behaviour under enemy fire earned him the highest commendation.'
Understanding:
We need to choose the word that best describes behaviour that earns the highest commendation under enemy fire.
Step 1: Understand the context
Earning the highest commendation requires exceptional positive qualities — bravery, courage, and heroism under fire.
Step 2: Analyse each option
Answer:
The correct word is 'Valorous', as it describes great bravery in battle, which would rightly earn a soldier the highest commendation.
Quick Tip:
'Valorous', 'valiant', 'gallant', and 'intrepid' all describe battlefield bravery — useful vocabulary for defence exam English sections.
Choose the option that gives the correct meaning of the underlined phrase: 'The senior officer decided to take the new cadet under his wing.'
Understanding:
We need to find the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase 'take someone under one's wing'.
Step 1: Trace the origin of the idiom
The phrase originates from the image of a mother bird sheltering her young under her wings for protection and care. Figuratively, it means to take someone under one's protection and provide guidance.
Step 2: Identify the meaning
'To take someone under one's wing' means to guide, support, and protect a less experienced person, helping them develop.
Step 3: Match with the context
A senior officer guiding a new cadet perfectly fits the meaning — mentorship, protection, and training.
Step 4: Eliminate wrong options
Answer:
The phrase 'take under his wing' means to protect and guide the cadet, offering mentorship and support.
Quick Tip:
Several idioms involve birds in English: 'take under one's wing' (protect/guide), 'a bird's eye view' (overview), 'kill two birds with one stone' (achieve two things at once) — all commonly tested in NDA/CDS.
Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
Understanding:
We need to identify the sentence with correct punctuation for a direct speech construction.
Step 1: Rules for punctuating direct speech
Step 2: Evaluate each option
Answer:
The correctly punctuated sentence is Option C: 'The General said, "We will fight until the last man."'
Quick Tip:
In direct speech: reporting verb + comma + open quote + spoken words + full stop + close quote. The full stop always goes inside the closing quotation mark.