IBPS PO Prelims 2025 English Language Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The passage highlights cost efficiency as the primary driver enabling entrepreneurs to enter the food sector. By removing the need for prime physical real estate, elaborate dining room interior design, and dedicated front-of-house service personnel, cloud kitchens drastically decrease both upfront capital expenditure and ongoing operational overhead.

Explanation

Statement (I) is correct because the passage explicitly attributes the growth of cloud kitchens to technological integration and food delivery applications. Statement (III) is correct as the text notes that the urgency to fulfill high demand leads cloud kitchens to cut corners on safety rules. Statement (II) is incorrect because the passage states the market underwent a threefold expansion in 2023, without stating that it was stagnant prior to that year.

Explanation

The passage highlights concerns regarding cloud kitchens cutting corners, neglecting safety and hygiene standards, and prioritizing rapid order fulfillment over food quality and safety. A situation where speed and high demand are rewarded with top ratings despite complaints about poor food quality directly exemplifies this concern of compromising standards for speed and commercial gain.

Explanation

According to the third paragraph, the cloud kitchen market in Britain experienced a major transformation in 2023 by expanding nearly threefold compared to previous years, which means it grew to almost three times its former scale.

Explanation

Statement (I) is incorrect because the passage explicitly states that cloud kitchens boost allied sectors like packaging manufacturing and supply chains. Statement (II) is incorrect because the passage projects 27 billion in revenue generated across a multi-year period between 2027 and 2032, rather than in the single year 2027 alone. Statement (III) is factually accurate according to the text.

Explanation

The idiom behind the scenes describes activities that take place quietly away from public observation or behind the operational front. In the context of cloud kitchens, functions such as cooking, packaging, technology, and logistics occur in back-end facilities rather than in customer-facing dining spaces, making this phrase the most suitable fit for the sentence.

Explanation

The word elusive describes something that is difficult to achieve, catch, or realize. In the given context, an elusive dream refers to a goal that previously seemed out of reach or unattainable for many entrepreneurs before cloud kitchens lowered financial and operational barriers.

Explanation

In the phrase work is quietly done, the word done functions as a participle meaning executed, carried out, or completed. It refers to the accomplishment of various back-end economic activities like packaging, logistics, and food preparation.

Explanation

In modern digital interfaces, tapping a smartphone touchscreen serves the exact same user action function as clicking on a computer screen to select an option or order a service through an application.

Explanation

When a tooth suffers from severe decay that threatens surrounding tissues, dental procedures require extracting or removing it to prevent the spread of infection throughout the mouth.

Explanation

The verb augment means to increase, enhance, or make greater in size, value, or capability. In the context of technological advancements, modern tools serve to augment human efficiency and improve the way daily activities are carried out.

Explanation

The phrasal verb contributed to means played a key role in bringing about a specific outcome. Intensive training and strong determination act as key factors that lead directly to an athlete achieving outstanding success.

Explanation

Regulatory bodies establish policies and standards specifically to enforce fair practice and maintain a level playing field among competing businesses in a market economy.

Explanation

The adverb strictly modifies followed to emphasize absolute adherence to established rules without exceptions, ensuring standardized conditions and fairness across all candidates during an examination.

Explanation

A coherent paragraph begins by setting the context. Sentence C establishes the broad background regarding the fast-paced modern world and its exhausting impact on individuals. Sentence B builds on this by presenting travel as a remedy to escape these pressures. Sentence A expands on the travel trend toward extended vacations, sentence D describes the specific restorative activities involved, and sentence E concludes by highlighting the broader shift in awareness toward mental well-being. Therefore, sentence C serves as the opening sentence.

Explanation

The correct logical sequence for the paragraph is C-B-A-D-E. Statement C introduces the background context regarding modern fast-paced lifestyle stress. Statement B follows logically by introducing travel as a means to escape daily pressures. Statement A specifies the growing preference for extended vacations, statement D details how travel activities rejuvenate the mind, and statement E concludes by commenting on this overall shift in travel behavior. Thus, statement B is the second sentence in the logical order.

Explanation

The correct sequence of the paragraph is C-B-A-D-E. After statement C establishes the context of daily digital stress and statement B introduces travel as an escape, statement A narrows down this trend to people taking extended vacations to unwind. Statement D then explains the specific aspects of travel that refresh the mind, and statement E summarizes the mental well-being awareness driving this shift. Thus, statement A is the third sentence.

Explanation

The logical order of the sentences is C-B-A-D-E. Statement C introduces the problem of fast-paced life and burnout, statement B presents travel as a remedy, statement A highlights extended vacations as a preferred trend, statement D elaborates on how meeting new people, exploring cultures, and disconnecting rejuvenate the mind, and statement E offers a concluding observation about mental health awareness. Therefore, statement D is the fourth sentence.

Explanation

The coherent structure of the paragraph follows the order C-B-A-D-E. Statement C establishes the context of burnout, statement B introduces travel as an escape, statement A describes the preference for extended vacations, statement D outlines the rejuvenating aspects of travel, and statement E provides the concluding synthesis regarding awareness of mental well-being. Thus, statement E is the fifth sentence.

Explanation

In the original sentence, the positions of microwave and catch are inverted. Swapping word B with word D yields: "Be careful not to catch the hot plate when you take the food out of the microwave." This restoration makes the sentence grammatically sound and contextually meaningful.

Explanation

The adverb rapidly should modify the verb digitising, while the noun system should modify healthcare. Similarly, artificial intelligence provides an opportunity to super-charge a transformation. Exchanging words A and B, as well as C and D, produces the correct sentence: "India is rapidly digitising its healthcare system, and artificial intelligence (AI) offers a huge opportunity to super-charge this transformation."

Explanation

In astrophysics, astronomical temperatures refers to the thermal conditions of celestial bodies, which are standardly evaluated using spectroscopic measurements. Every highlighted word is in its proper position and fulfills its correct grammatical function, so no interchange is required.

Explanation

Exchanging words A and B corrects the clause structure, resulting in: "Involving growing children in nurturing a few plants at home can open up the magical world of nature and science to them." Here, involving functions as the primary action introducing the subject clause, while growing properly modifies children.

Explanation

Matching statement B from Column I with statement D from Column II yields: "Electric vehicle manufacturers are expanding their charging networks to support the growing number of EV users nationwide." Statements A and C do not form coherent or grammatically correct sentences with any of the options in Column II.

Explanation

The idiomatic expression dark horse refers to a candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds, or a person possessing hidden abilities. Statements I and II use the idiom correctly in figurative contexts. Statement III uses the phrase in a literal sense to describe an animal of dark color rather than as an idiom. Therefore, statements I and II use the phrase correctly.

Explanation

The verb promise requires a to-infinitive structure (to + base form of the verb) when expressing an intention or commitment. Therefore, to improve must be used instead of to improving.

Explanation

In a series listing multiple parallel actions following the verb enjoys, all items must share the same grammatical form. Since the first two activities use gerunds (hiking and swimming), the third activity must also be a gerund (exploring) to maintain parallelism.

Explanation

Collective nouns such as orchestra take a singular verb when referring to the group acting as a single entity. Therefore, the singular auxiliary verb has must be used instead of have.

Explanation

The word unexpected begins with a vowel sound, so the indefinite article an must be used before it instead of a.

Explanation

In a present perfect passive construction, the auxiliary verb have is followed by the past participle been and the main verb in past participle form. The present participle being is grammatically incorrect in this structure and must be replaced by been.

Explanation

Sentence B serves as the introductory statement introducing the division into REM and non-REM stages. Sentence D elaborates on the characteristics of REM sleep, while sentence C provides the comparative detail for non-REM sleep using "Whereas comparatively". Sentence E follows by pointing out that each stage plays a vital role in recovery. Finally, sentence A concludes the paragraph with "In all", describing how this cycle repeats throughout the night.

Explanation

Sentence C sets the context by highlighting internet privacy as a growing concern. Sentence D explains the background of how companies collect and store user data, followed by sentence A which describes how users willingly share personal information without foresight. Sentence B outlines the negative outcomes ("This can lead to identity theft..."), and sentence E logically concludes with a advisory ("Therefore, users must take steps...").

Explanation

Sentence A introduces the baseline fact that oceans absorb heat. Sentence B uses "This heat absorption" to explain the natural regulating function of this process. Sentence E introduces a contrast with "However", noting that excess heat causes ocean temperatures to rise. Sentence D expands on the negative impacts of warmer oceans on ecosystems and storms. Sentence C wraps up the paragraph by observing that these changes underscore the connection to climate change.

Explanation

Sentence C functions as the main thesis by asserting that regular reading provides multiple cognitive benefits. Sentence A begins the breakdown with "On one hand", pointing to vocabulary improvement, and sentence B extends this point regarding language skills and concentration. Sentence D introduces a complementary aspect with "On the other hand", emphasizing reading as a focused exercise in a distracted world. Sentence E brings all arguments together under "These advantages".

Explanation

The central irony presented in the passage revolves around small businesses needing digital payment gateways to survive in a cash-declining market, yet being forced into bankruptcy by the excessive transaction fees and hidden charges imposed by those very payment platforms.

Explanation

According to the passage, the macroeconomic context of rising inflation, slowing exports, and unpredictable growth directly heightens the strain caused by hidden transaction fees and digital gateway charges. These unfavorable economic factors make it increasingly difficult for merchants to absorb extra costs, aggravating the overall burden imposed by payment platforms.

Explanation

The passage describes digital payment platforms as revolutionary innovations designed to provide convenience and speed, establishing that they were perceived as tools to improve access and transaction ease. It explicitly mentions that merchants face delays in settlement, mandatory promotional tie-ins, and penalties for using alternative platforms. Statement (III) is incorrect because the text highlights that consumers remain largely unaware of overcharging, as these costs are embedded directly into final retail prices.

Explanation

Statement (I) is false because consumers remain largely unaware of extra charges embedded in final prices. Statement (II) is false because digital payment practices contribute to a growing sense of dependency on dominant platforms rather than eliminating it. Statement (III) is false because the passage contrasts international credit card rates of 1% to 3% with Chinese gateways that impose hidden charges pushing rates even higher.

Explanation

The sentence in the second paragraph requires a transitive verb to complete the thought describing how high market dependence on a few dominant payment gateways distorts fair competition. Inserting the verb "highlights" creates a grammatically precise and contextually appropriate sentence indicating that the preceding evidence demonstrates or brings attention to market distortion.

Explanation

In the passage, "weather" is used metaphorically to describe the prevailing circumstances of the broader economy, which are explicitly detailed as rising inflation, slowing exports, and unpredictable growth. The word "situation" refers to a specific set of circumstances existing at a given time, making it the ideal substitute to convey the current economic state being described.

Explanation

In commercial and economic contexts, a firm refers to a business organization or commercial enterprise. Throughout the text, "firms" refers to payment providers and merchant businesses, making "companies" the proper synonym.

Explanation

In corporate and business language, "folded" means that a commercial entity has ceased operations, collapsed, or closed down due to insolvency or unmanageable costs. Therefore, "closed" is the exact contextual synonym.

Explanation

The sentence correctly uses the definite article with a geographical body of water, employs the subject-verb agreement "Ocean is", and uses appropriate prepositional phrasing for describing global trade and shipping. The other choices contain prepositional and grammatical errors, such as using "above" instead of "about", "since" instead of "for", and the active form "find" instead of the past participle "found".

Explanation

The subject "Patachitra painting" correctly takes the singular verb "is" and is appropriately modified by the participle phrase "known for storytelling". The other choices contain grammatical flaws, including subject-verb disagreement with plural "minerals is", misusing "advertising prices" instead of "advertised prices", and using improper prepositions like "challenges to both regions".

Explanation

"Areca nut" acts as a singular noun taking the singular verb "is", followed by the modifier "widely consumed across Asia" and the rationale "for its stimulant properties". The remaining options contain grammatical errors such as omitting an article before singular countable nouns, mixing singular articles with plural nouns like "a traditional breeds", and using the adjective "productive" instead of the noun "productivity".

Explanation

The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, enabling global trade follows all rules of English grammar. The singular subject matches its present-tense verb, geographical proper nouns are correctly capitalized, and the comma followed by a present participle clause properly expresses the resulting outcome.

Explanation

In an office context, providing help to junior colleagues is expressed through the standard collocation offer guidance and support. The verb fits naturally into the subjunctive clause following the structure demanding action from senior staff to foster a collaborative environment.

Explanation

The linking verb feel requires a predicate adjective to describe an emotional state. The adjective nervous appropriately conveys the uncertainty and self-consciousness typical of new employees while learning unfamiliar job responsibilities.

Explanation

In the context of workplace guidance, sharing practical experience and providing tips serves to expedite training. The verb speed fits grammatically after the modal auxiliary can to indicate accelerating the overall learning process.

Explanation

The correlative structure not only builds... but also requires a parallel third-person singular present-tense verb. The verb fosters means to promote the growth or development of, fitting seamlessly with the noun phrase stronger team relationships.