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Northern University, Nowshera50 Questions
Languages & Literature MCQs
Practice Languages & Literature multiple-choice questions for Northern University, Nowshera competitive exams. Each question includes the correct answer and a short explanation, and past-paper questions are marked so you can revise both repeated and fresh material in one place.
Water boiled at 100 degrees Celsius.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
Water is boiling at 100 degrees Celsius.
Water has boiled at 100 degrees Celsius.
ExplanationGeneral truths and scientific facts are expressed using the simple present tense.
in
at
on
to
ExplanationWe use the preposition 'at' to indicate a specific point or location.
Walking down the street, the trees looked beautiful.
Walking down the street, I admired the beautiful trees.
The trees looked beautiful while I was walking down the street.
While I walked down the street, the trees looked beautiful.
ExplanationThe modifier 'Walking down the street' incorrectly modifies 'the trees' instead of the person walking.
If he was here, he would help us.
I suggest that she arrive on time for the interview.
The teacher insists that every student completes their homework.
If I was you, I would take the offer.
ExplanationThe subjunctive mood uses the base form of the verb ('arrive') after verbs of suggestion or demand.
Malicious
Generous
Kindhearted
Altruistic
ExplanationBenevolent means well-meaning or kindly; malicious means intending to do harm.
The team, which won the game, were ecstatic.
The team which won the game was ecstatic.
The team who won the game, was ecstatic.
The team that won the game were ecstatic.
ExplanationA collective noun like 'team' typically takes a singular verb ('was') when acting as a unit.
Gerund
Present participle functioning as an adjective
Main verb
Noun
ExplanationDancing describes the noun 'flames', making it a participle acting as an adjective.
There were less people at the concert than expected.
I have less coins in my pocket than you.
There were fewer errors in your final draft.
We have fewer water left in the tank.
Explanation'Fewer' is used for countable nouns, while 'less' is used for uncountable quantities.
If he would have arrived earlier, he would see the show.
If he had arrived earlier, he would have seen the show.
If he arrived earlier, he would have seen the show.
If he had arrived earlier, he would see the show.
ExplanationThe third conditional requires 'had' + past participle in the if-clause and 'would have' + past participle in the main clause.
I saw myself in the mirror.
She baked the bread herself.
They hurt themselves during the game.
He bought himself a gift.
ExplanationAn intensive pronoun emphasizes the noun it refers to and can be removed without changing the sentence's basic meaning.
To successfully complete the project is my goal.
To complete successfully the project is my goal.
To complete the project successfully is my goal.
Successfully to complete the project is my goal.
ExplanationWhile traditionally debated, a split infinitive occurs when an adverb is placed between 'to' and the verb; this sentence is the clearest example of that structure.
Criterions
Criteria
Criterias
Criterionae
ExplanationThe word 'criterion' has a Greek origin, and its standard plural form is 'criteria'.
Thunderous silence
Running water
Cold winter
Beautiful painting
ExplanationAn oxymoron combines two contradictory terms, such as 'thunderous' (loud) and 'silence' (quiet).
Metaphor
Archetype
Hyperbole
Paradox
ExplanationAn archetype is a universal symbol, character, or situation that recurs across various cultures and time periods.
Personification
Oxymoron
Irony
Allusion
ExplanationPersonification attributes human qualities (whispering) to non-human objects (wind).
To provide comic relief during a tragedy.
To reveal a character's inner thoughts to the audience while they are alone on stage.
To establish the historical context of the setting.
To engage in a dialogue between two main characters.
ExplanationA soliloquy is a dramatic convention where a character speaks their private thoughts aloud, unheard by other characters.
Starting the story at the very beginning of the protagonist's life.
Beginning the narrative in the middle of the action.
Ending the story with a moral lesson.
The use of flashbacks to explain character motives.
ExplanationThe Latin term 'in media res' literally translates to 'into the middle of things'.
Haiku
Ballad
Sonnet
Villanelle
ExplanationA sonnet is a specific poetic form consisting of fourteen lines and strict rhyme schemes.
The narrator is incapable of speaking clearly.
The narrator's credibility is compromised, causing the reader to question their account.
The narrator is a secondary character who sees very little of the plot.
The narrator refuses to tell the story in chronological order.
ExplanationAn unreliable narrator often has biases, mental instability, or motivations that obscure the truth.
Realism
Modernism
Romanticism
Naturalism
ExplanationRomanticism was an intellectual and artistic movement that prioritized intuition and nature over industrial logic.
A summary of what happens after the climax.
A hint or clue provided by the author about future events.
The resolution of the conflict between two characters.
A metaphor used to describe the protagonist's physical appearance.
ExplanationForeshadowing serves to build anticipation or prepare the reader for upcoming developments.
The use of excessive flowery language.
The appearance of being true or real.
The comparison of two unlike things.
The repetition of consonant sounds.
ExplanationVerisimilitude refers to the likeness to truth or reality in a fictional work.
A novel focused on the destruction of a society.
A coming-of-age story focusing on psychological and moral growth.
A collection of short stories centered on myths.
A play consisting only of dialogue.
ExplanationThe term 'bildungsroman' translates to 'novel of education' and details the protagonist's development from youth to adulthood.
Antagonist
Foil
Confidant
Archetype
ExplanationA literary foil is a character who serves as a contrast to another character, usually the protagonist, to emphasize their specific qualities.
A figure of speech where a part represents the whole.
An exaggeration used for effect.
A reference to a historical event.
The giving of human qualities to objects.
ExplanationSynecdoche is a figure of speech where a part of something refers to the whole (e.g., 'all hands on deck').
Modernism
Romanticism
Naturalism
Post-modernism
ExplanationRomanticism emphasized intense emotion, the sublime, and the beauty of nature as a response to the Industrial Revolution and rationalism.
To show the reader that the topic is unimportant.
To confuse the reader about the writer's stance.
To acknowledge and refute opposing viewpoints to strengthen the writer's position.
To add word count to the essay.
ExplanationAddressing counter-arguments demonstrates critical thinking and strengthens the validity of the author's primary argument.
Using repetitive sentence structures.
Using transition words or phrases to link ideas.
Making both paragraphs the exact same length.
Using exclamation marks at the end of every sentence.
ExplanationTransitional devices act as bridges between ideas, ensuring logical flow and coherence.
Active verbs
Redundant adjectives
Clear transitions
Subject-verb agreement
ExplanationConciseness aims to remove unnecessary words that do not add meaning, such as tautologies or redundant adjectives.
To provide background information about the topic.
To summarize the counter-arguments.
To clearly state the main argument or claim of the paper.
To offer a list of bibliographic sources.
ExplanationA thesis statement acts as the roadmap for the entire essay, stating the central point the writer intends to prove.
Ignore the email until the sender stops asking.
State clearly that you cannot do it and offer a brief explanation or alternative.
Agree to it but delay the work indefinitely.
Tell the person their request is unreasonable.
ExplanationMaintaining professional communication requires clarity, honesty, and helpfulness, even when declining a request.
Memorizing everything the speaker says.
Focusing, understanding, and responding to the speaker.
Waiting for your turn to talk during a debate.
Correcting the speaker's grammar mistakes.
ExplanationActive listening requires full engagement and an attempt to understand the speaker's perspective.
Because it makes the writing longer.
Because it helps convey the writer's attitude and relationship to the audience.
Because it allows the writer to use slang in academic papers.
Because it eliminates the need for proofreading.
ExplanationTone creates the atmosphere of the text and must be adjusted based on the expectations of the intended readership.
A chronological list of events.
A focus on convincing the reader to accept a specific viewpoint.
Objective, neutral observation of a phenomenon.
A summary of a book's chapters.
ExplanationThe goal of a persuasive essay is to sway the reader's opinion through evidence and logical argumentation.
It is grammatically incorrect.
It makes the sentence unnecessarily long and obscures the actor.
It is forbidden by APA style guidelines.
It changes the meaning of the verb.
ExplanationPassive voice often creates wordy sentences and hides who or what performed the action, making writing less clear.
Hiding the recipients from each other.
Sending a carbon copy to those who need to be informed but aren't the primary recipient.
Ensuring the email is encrypted.
Confirming the recipient has read the email.
Explanation'cc' stands for carbon copy, intended for keeping secondary parties in the loop.
Furthermore
Consequently
Conversely
Simultaneously
Explanation'Conversely' introduces a contrasting or opposite perspective.
To state the essay's counter-argument.
To capture the reader's attention immediately.
To define the key terms of the paper.
To summarize the bibliography.
ExplanationA hook is designed to pique the reader's interest so they continue reading the essay.
Author's name and title of the book.
Author's last name, year of publication, and page number.
The full bibliography entry.
The publisher's name and location.
ExplanationAPA style requires the author, date, and specific page number to allow the reader to locate the source.
Writing an essay that has an incorrect thesis.
Using another person’s work or ideas without providing proper acknowledgment.
Citing too many sources in a research paper.
Submitting an essay past the deadline.
ExplanationPlagiarism is the act of presenting someone else's intellectual property as one's own.
A large number of images.
Peer-review or academic editorial oversight.
The opinion of a popular blogger.
A vibrant color scheme.
ExplanationAcademic integrity relies on verified, peer-reviewed information to support scholarly claims.
To provide a detailed bibliography.
To serve as a brief summary of the entire research study.
To thank the contributors of the paper.
To list the formatting guidelines used.
ExplanationAn abstract summarizes the problem, methodology, findings, and conclusions of a research paper.
Copying the sentence and changing only one word.
Restating someone else's ideas in your own words while citing the source.
Using direct quotes for the entire paper.
Summarizing your own personal feelings about a topic.
ExplanationParaphrasing demonstrates understanding of the source material by expressing it through your own writing style.
Students review each other's work.
Experts in the field check the work for accuracy before publication.
The author checks the work with their friends.
The publisher checks the book for marketing potential.
ExplanationPeer review is a quality control mechanism where independent experts assess the rigor and validity of research.
Primary sources are longer than secondary sources.
Primary sources are original data/documents; secondary sources analyze those data/documents.
Secondary sources are always more accurate.
Primary sources do not need to be cited.
ExplanationPrimary sources offer direct evidence, while secondary sources provide interpretation or commentary on that evidence.
To ensure all papers are the same length.
To promote honesty and prevent the use of someone else's work as your own.
To enforce a specific font size for all assignments.
To increase the speed of grading.
ExplanationAcademic integrity is the commitment to honest and ethical scholarly practice, particularly avoiding plagiarism.
List the summaries of each source separately.
Combine ideas from multiple sources to support a central argument.
Copy and paste the most relevant quotes.
Ignore sources that contradict the thesis.
ExplanationSynthesis involves finding connections between sources and using those collective insights to build a cohesive argument.
Digital Object Identifier, a unique alphanumeric string for an electronic document.
Department of Information, the body that sets citation rules.
Document Original Index, used for library filing.
Data Origin Indicator, used for empirical research.
ExplanationA DOI provides a permanent link to an online scholarly article or resource.
They are usually shorter and easier to read.
They have been vetted by experts in the field to ensure accuracy and rigor.
They are always available for free online.
They are required by law for all college papers.
ExplanationPeer review acts as a quality control mechanism, ensuring the research meets disciplinary standards.
Introduce new evidence to strengthen the argument.
Restate the thesis in a new way and synthesize the main points.
Provide a list of all sources cited in the essay.
Apologize for any potential weaknesses in the argument.
ExplanationA conclusion should wrap up the essay by reinforcing the argument without introducing brand new information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these Languages & Literature MCQs free?
Yes. Every Languages & Literature MCQ on this page is free to practice, including the correct answer and explanation.
Do these include past-paper questions?
Yes — questions sourced from past papers are clearly marked with a "Past Paper" badge, alongside fresh practice questions.
Which exams do these Languages & Literature MCQs help with?
They are aimed at Northern University, Nowshera and related Pakistani competitive exams that test Languages & Literature.
How should I practice subject-wise MCQs?
Attempt each question first, then reveal the answer and read the explanation. Short, focused sessions on one subject work better than long unstructured reading.