Here are 25 multiple-choice questions on Articles (a, an, the) tailored for JKSSB and similar competitive exams, with answers and explanations:
Topic: Articles (a, an, the)
Q1. He is _____ honest man.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (b)
Explanation: We use “an” before words that start with a vowel sound. Although “honest” starts with ‘h’, the ‘h’ is silent, and it sounds like it starts with ‘o’ (vowel sound).
Q2. She wants to be _____ engineer.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (b)
Explanation: “Engineer” starts with a vowel sound (/ɪn/). Therefore, “an” is used.
Q3. _____ sun rises in _____ east.
(a) A, a
(b) An, an
(c) The, the
(d) A, the
Answer: (c)
Explanation: “The” is used before unique objects like the sun, and before directions when used as a noun (e.g., “the east”).
Q4. I bought _____ new car yesterday.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “New car” is a singular countable noun for the first mention, and it starts with a consonant sound (/n/).
Q5. Please give me _____ glass of water.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Glass” is a singular countable noun, and it starts with a consonant sound (/g/).
Q6. _____ Ganga is _____ sacred river.
(a) A, a
(b) An, a
(c) The, a
(d) The, the
Answer: (c)
Explanation: “The” is used before names of specific rivers (Ganga). “Sacred river” is a general singular countable noun, so “a” is used for its first mention.
Q7. He is _____ best student in the class.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (c)
Explanation: “The” is used before superlative adjectives (best, tallest, etc.) to indicate a unique identity.
Q8. She ate _____ apple and _____ banana.
(a) a, a
(b) an, a
(c) the, the
(d) an, the
Answer: (b)
Explanation: “Apple” starts with a vowel sound, so “an” is used. “Banana” starts with a consonant sound, so “a” is used.
Q9. Do you know how to play _____ guitar?
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (c)
Explanation: “The” is used before the names of musical instruments.
Q10. _____ more you read, _____ more you learn.
(a) A, a
(b) An, an
(c) The, the
(d) No article, no article
Answer: (c)
Explanation: This is a classic comparative construction: “the + comparative, the + comparative” (e.g., the sooner, the better).
Q11. He is _____ European by birth.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Although “European” starts with ‘e’, it has a consonant sound (/jʒ/). Hence, “a” is used.
Q12. What _____ beautiful day!
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (a)
Explanation: In exclamatory sentences starting with “What” followed by a singular countable noun, “a” or “an” is used (What a beautiful day! What an amazing view!).
Q13. I saw _____ one-eyed man.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “One-eyed” starts with the consonant sound /w/ (as in “won”), not a vowel sound. Thus, “a” is used.
Q14. _____ Earth revolves around _____ Sun.
(a) A, a
(b) An, an
(c) The, the
(d) A, the
Answer: (c)
Explanation: “The” is used before unique celestial bodies like Earth and Sun.
Q15. He reached for _____ dictionary to look up _____ unfamiliar word.
(a) a, a
(b) the, an
(c) a, an
(d) the, a
Answer: (b)
Explanation: “The dictionary” implies a specific dictionary (one he owns or usually uses). “An unfamiliar word” is a general, singular countable noun starting with a vowel sound.
Q16. Hyderabad is situated on _____ Musi river.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (c)
Explanation: “The” is used before names of specific rivers.
Q17. He goes to school by _____ bus.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (d)
Explanation: When talking about general means of transport, no article is used before “bus,” “car,” “train,” etc. (e.g., by bus, by car, by train).
Q18. _____ rich should help _____ poor.
(a) A, a
(b) An, an
(c) The, the
(d) No article, no article
Answer: (c)
Explanation: “The” is used before an adjective (rich, poor, old, young) to refer to a whole group of people.
Q19. _____ Mount Everest is _____ highest peak in the world.
(a) A, a
(b) The, the
(c) No article, the
(d) The, no article
Answer: (c)
Explanation: No article is used before the names of individual mountains (Mount Everest). “The” is used before superlative adjectives (highest peak).
Q20. She has _____ PhD in English literature.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “PhD” is pronounced with a consonant sound at the beginning (/pɪ/). Therefore, “a” is used.
Q21. My uncle lives in _____ United States.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (c)
Explanation: “The” is used before names of countries that are plural or include words like “States,” “Kingdom,” “Republic” (e.g., The United States, The United Kingdom, The Republic of Ireland).
Q22. Don’t make _____ noise.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Make a noise” is a common idiom.
Q23. He is _____ universal problem.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Although “universal” starts with ‘u’, it has a consonant sound (/juː/). Hence, “a” is used.
Q24. Did you close _____ window?
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer: (c)
Explanation: “The” is used when referring to a specific window that both the speaker and listener are aware of.
Q25. _____ more, _____ merrier.
(a) A, a
(b) An, an
(c) The, the
(d) No article, no article
Answer: (c)
Explanation: This is a well-known idiomatic expression following the “the + comparative, the + comparative” structure.
