EPFO EO/AO General English Questions

80 solved questions on this page, each with the answer key and a worked solution.

Every question on this page is EPFO EO/AO (Enforcement Officer / Accounts Officer) — APFC sets a different subject mix, so its questions are never mixed in here.

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“i. General English”

UPSC lists this verbatim as one of the nine official heads in Appendix-I of the UPSC Special Advertisement No. 52/2026 — Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner, EPFO — not our own bucketing.

2025 · 20 questions

EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q1Directions (For the next five items) : Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow, keeping in mind the contents of the…
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q2Which of the following sentences with respect to the passage is/are correct ? 1. All rich western nations have been seeing an increase in emigration…
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q3With reference to the passage, which of the following are factors that can be seen to be determining the movement of Africans to other countries to…
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q4Which one of the following options most appropriately describes the phrase “exacerbating labour shortages” ?
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q5Which one of the following is the figure of speech in the expression “Africa is on the move” ?
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q6Directions (For the next five items) : Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with the most appropriate options given below : The evening…
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q7Summers _________ be really hot at times, so make sure you stay hydrated.
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q8I was wondering which festival _________ we celebrate together this year ?
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q9I was _________ exhausted by the end of the week spent in the library doing research work.
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q10They _________ be very far away. I saw them a little while ago.
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q11Directions (For the next five items) : In the following items a phrase has been given with a word that is underlined, followed by four words or group…
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q12His views on the matter have been impugned by those evaluating his role in the community as its erstwhile ruler.
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q13His ad hominem comments on his colleague were considered egregious by those present.
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q14Once he began to savour the taste of true wealth, he abandoned all his erstwhile ideas regarding social welfare and was subsequently labelled an…
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q15The debate around the corporeity of the soul presents a compelling paradox.
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q16Directions (For the next five items) : In the following sentences prepositions or phrasal verbs have been used, which have been underlined in each…
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q171. Amidst the scuffle and the resultant confusion, the thief managed to slip away. 2. There was not a single person amongst those assembled who was…
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q181. Raj's apartment was three floors underneath the Subramanian residence. 2. There was little space below the tin roof and the scaffolding for the…
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q191. The ship put in at the first available port to repair its damaged hull. 2. The advertisement was put out for wide circulation. 3. The matter had…
EPFO APFC and EO/AO 2025 · Q201. It is widely acknowledged that he takes after his aunt. 2. He was reluctant to take in any more responsibility. 3. He assured the client that he…

2023 · 20 questions

EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q1Directions : In the following five items, each item consists of six sentences of a passage. The first and sixth sentences are given at the beginning…
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q2S1 : Under the colonial regime, basic infrastructure such as railways, ports, water transport, posts and telegraphs did develop. S6 : Naturally,…
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q3S1 : Contemporary history is necessary, but it is at best a tentative record. S6 : Some portentous events can be seen to be so from the moment of…
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q4S1 : Income inequality in less-developed countries is worse than most estimates. S6 : The tax regime in these countries needs to be progressive and…
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q5S1 : The history of English literature is usually divided into different periods. S6 : This is the real danger of periodization, which tends to give…
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q6Directions : In the following five items, each item has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled as (a), (b), and (c). Read each sentence and…
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q7Given the complex of the problem (a) | the committee is not expected (b) | to arrive at a decision any time soon. (c) | No error (d)
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q8The group of students (a) | on a visit to Srinagar (b) | circumnavigated around the Dal Lake. (c) | No error (d)
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q9Jitender was the smartest (a) | of the two (b) | children in the room. (c) | No error (d)
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q10He asked me if I would be (a) | interested in signing up (b) | as a member of the group. (c) | No error (d)
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q11Directions : In the following five items, each sentence has a blank space and four options have been given after the sentence. Select the most…
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q12All effects can be connected with immediate causes, but it ________ whether they provide the whole explanation.
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q13A bird ________ is better than two in the bush.
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q14Human history is ample proof that human ambition ________ no limits.
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q15Good history presents several perspectives on a period but these divergent views must ________ into an integrated whole.
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q16Directions : Read the following passage carefully and answer the five questions that follow by selecting your answers based solely on the content of…
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q17What is the role of Education in sustainable development ?
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q18‘We live in a highly interconnected and interdependent world’. What does this phrase mean in the passage ?
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q19‘The world's life-supporting resources are being depleted at a faster rate than ever before!’ What does this phrase mean in the passage ?
EPFO EO/AO 2023 · Q20‘There is an increasing recognition of the importance of global citizenship’ because :

2020 · 20 questions

EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q1Directions : Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space and four words or group of words given after the sentence. Select the…
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q2The elephant fell into a __________ the hunters had set.
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q3The dress isn't really tight. It'll ________ when you've worn it.
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q4With his back to the old man, he stood at the window, fists clenched, and his shoulders _________ with his choked sobbing.
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q5The bereaved mother proudly received the gallantry award _________ her brave son who had laid down his life in the recent war.
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q6Directions : Each item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words. Select the option that is opposite in…
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q7The soldier was greatly praised for his valour.
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q8These regions are very fertile.
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q9Some sick immigrants were detained at the airport.
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q10The questions were so elementary that anyone could pass the test.
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q11Directions : Each item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words. Select the option that is nearest in…
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q12This religious gift, that makes men human, is still alive in Indian souls.
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q13It is difficult for us to imagine how much this safety means to everyone.
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q14Public service is not merely something that occupies the hours you are doing it, but invades all your life and experience and affects them in one way…
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q15He was, in the early part of the twentieth century, a staunch nationalist of the liberal fold.
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q16Directions : Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence to find out whether…
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q17The car which went past us (a) | when we were driving on the highway (b) | must have been doing at least a hundred miles an hour. (c) | No error (d)
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q18Raju will be back home (a) | in an year (b) | after his stay abroad. (c) | No error (d)
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q19I have (a) | much work (b) | to do. (c) | No error (d)
EPFO EO/AO 2020 · Q20Psychology did not develop into a science (a) | based of careful observation (b) | and experimentation until the late 1800s. (c) | No error (d)

2017 · 20 questions

EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q1Which one of the following is the synonym of the word written in capital letters in the sentence, “The FUNDAMENTAL character of an individual defines…
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q2Which one of the following is the synonym of the word written in capital letters in the sentence, “She has the habit of using HACKNEYED and redundant…
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q3Which one of the following is the synonym of the word written in capital letters in the sentence, “She is an IMMACULATE soul whose presence makes all…
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q4Which one of the following is the antonym of the word written in capital letters in the sentence, “There is a great deal of ENMITY”?
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q5Which one of the following is the antonym of the word written in capital letters in the sentence, “She was RELUCTANT to sell her car”?
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q6Which one of the following is the antonym of the word written in capital letters in the sentence, “I cannot comply with the QUEER regulations of your…
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q7Which one of the following parts of the sentence, “As you know that the ignorant are easily duped”, has an error?
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q8Which one of the following parts of the sentence, “After a lot of argument I brought him forward to my point of view”, has an error?
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q9Which one of the following parts of the sentence, “Don’t ask him how he is because if he starts talking about his health you’ll never get off from…
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q10Which one of the following words can be used as a substitute for the phrase, “A nursery where children of working parents are cared for while their…
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q11Which one of the following words can be used as a substitute for the phrase, “That which cannot be taken by force”?
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q12Which one of the following is the appropriate question tag in the sentence, “Take a seat, ____”?
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q13Which one of the following is the appropriate question tag in the sentence, “Anyone can make mistakes, ____”?
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q14Which one of the following phrasal verbs may be used in the blank space in the sentence, “He is fond of art and seems ____ (suited) to be an artist”?
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q15Which one of the following phrasal verbs may be used in the blank space in the sentence, “We were happy in the beginning, but now all the troubles…
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q16Which one of the following phrasal verbs may be used in the blank space in the sentence, “No one knows how it all ____ (happened)”?
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q17Which one of the following phrasal verbs may be used in the blank space in the sentence, “I have to ____ (finish) this work before I leave tomorrow…
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q18Which one of the following prepositions may be used in the blank space in the sentence, “He lived a hand ____ mouth existence, surviving on just a…
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q19Which one of the following can be used as a substitute for the words written in capital letters in the sentence, “There is no meaning to CRY OVER THE…
EPFO EO/AO 2017 · Q20Which one of the following can be used as a substitute for the words written in capital letters in the sentence, “Serving the sufferers is true…

Other EPFO EO/AO topics

Indian Culture, Heritage and Freedom Movements (50)
Developmental Issues and Present Trends in Indian Economy (45)
Governance and Constitution of India (29)
General Science and Basic Knowledge of Computer Applications (79)
Elementary Mathematics, Statistics and General Mental Ability (61)
Industrial Relations, Labour Codes and Social Security in India (70)
Principles of Accountancy, Auditing and Insurance (50)
Current Events of National and International Importance (16)

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