CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "a fish out of water"?
A. caught between two difficult choices
B. accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions
C. a person who feels uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings
D. exaggerate a small problem
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "a fish out of water" means a person who feels uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "a far cry from"?
A. avoid coming directly to the point
B. very different from
C. set a limit beyond which one will not go
D. manage expenses within one's income
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "a far cry from" means very different from. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "a bone of contention"?
A. a subject or issue causing disagreement
B. back to the starting point after failure
C. do something cheaply or carelessly by avoiding proper procedures
D. make every possible effort
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "a bone of contention" means a subject or issue causing disagreement. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "a blessing in disguise"?
A. at the last possible moment
B. make a poor or embarrassing impression
C. earn enough to survive
D. something that seems bad at first but turns out beneficial
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "a blessing in disguise" means something that seems bad at first but turns out beneficial. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the absolute phrase "All things considered" mainly provide in "All things considered, the plan was successful."?
A. a direct object
B. the main finite verb
C. sentence-level qualification
D. a noun complement only
Correct Answer: C
An absolute phrase adds circumstantial information to the whole clause; here it provides sentence-level qualification.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What type of phrase is "All things considered" in "All things considered, the plan was successful."?
A. Appositive phrase
B. Absolute phrase
C. Prepositional phrase
D. Adverb clause
Correct Answer: B
"All things considered" is grammatically independent of the main clause and adds sentence-level qualification; it is an absolute phrase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the absolute phrase "The lights turned off" mainly provide in "The lights turned off, the hall became dark."?
A. background condition
B. a direct object
C. the main finite verb
D. a noun complement only
Correct Answer: A
An absolute phrase adds circumstantial information to the whole clause; here it provides background condition.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What type of phrase is "The lights turned off" in "The lights turned off, the hall became dark."?
A. Appositive phrase
B. Prepositional phrase
C. Adverb clause
D. Absolute phrase
Correct Answer: D
"The lights turned off" is grammatically independent of the main clause and adds background condition; it is an absolute phrase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the absolute phrase "His voice trembling" mainly provide in "His voice trembling, he answered the question."?
A. a direct object
B. the main finite verb
C. accompanying condition
D. a noun complement only
Correct Answer: C
An absolute phrase adds circumstantial information to the whole clause; here it provides accompanying condition.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What type of phrase is "His voice trembling" in "His voice trembling, he answered the question."?
A. Appositive phrase
B. Absolute phrase
C. Prepositional phrase
D. Adverb clause
Correct Answer: B
"His voice trembling" is grammatically independent of the main clause and adds accompanying condition; it is an absolute phrase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the absolute phrase "The road being clear" mainly provide in "The road being clear, we reached on time."?
A. reason/background
B. a direct object
C. the main finite verb
D. a noun complement only
Correct Answer: A
An absolute phrase adds circumstantial information to the whole clause; here it provides reason/background.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What type of phrase is "The road being clear" in "The road being clear, we reached on time."?
A. Appositive phrase
B. Prepositional phrase
C. Adverb clause
D. Absolute phrase
Correct Answer: D
"The road being clear" is grammatically independent of the main clause and adds reason/background; it is an absolute phrase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the absolute phrase "Their bags packed" mainly provide in "Their bags packed, the family left early."?
A. a direct object
B. the main finite verb
C. completed circumstance
D. a noun complement only
Correct Answer: C
An absolute phrase adds circumstantial information to the whole clause; here it provides completed circumstance.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What type of phrase is "Their bags packed" in "Their bags packed, the family left early."?
A. Appositive phrase
B. Absolute phrase
C. Prepositional phrase
D. Adverb clause
Correct Answer: B
"Their bags packed" is grammatically independent of the main clause and adds completed circumstance; it is an absolute phrase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the absolute phrase "The meeting over" mainly provide in "The meeting over, everyone went home."?
A. time/circumstance
B. a direct object
C. the main finite verb
D. a noun complement only
Correct Answer: A
An absolute phrase adds circumstantial information to the whole clause; here it provides time/circumstance.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What type of phrase is "The meeting over" in "The meeting over, everyone went home."?
A. Appositive phrase
B. Prepositional phrase
C. Adverb clause
D. Absolute phrase
Correct Answer: D
"The meeting over" is grammatically independent of the main clause and adds time/circumstance; it is an absolute phrase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the absolute phrase "Her arms folded" mainly provide in "Her arms folded, she listened quietly."?
A. a direct object
B. the main finite verb
C. accompanying condition
D. a noun complement only
Correct Answer: C
An absolute phrase adds circumstantial information to the whole clause; here it provides accompanying condition.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What type of phrase is "Her arms folded" in "Her arms folded, she listened quietly."?
A. Appositive phrase
B. Absolute phrase
C. Prepositional phrase
D. Adverb clause
Correct Answer: B
"Her arms folded" is grammatically independent of the main clause and adds accompanying condition; it is an absolute phrase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the absolute phrase "The sun having set" mainly provide in "The sun having set, the travelers stopped for the night."?
A. time/background
B. a direct object
C. the main finite verb
D. a noun complement only
Correct Answer: A
An absolute phrase adds circumstantial information to the whole clause; here it provides time/background.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What type of phrase is "The sun having set" in "The sun having set, the travelers stopped for the night."?
A. Appositive phrase
B. Prepositional phrase
C. Adverb clause
D. Absolute phrase
Correct Answer: D
"The sun having set" is grammatically independent of the main clause and adds time/background; it is an absolute phrase.