Preparing for the NICL Administrative Officer (AO) exam demands proficiency in English comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar. The NICL AO question paper includes multiple-choice questions (MCQs) testing these skills through reading comprehension, sentence correction, and vocabulary exercises. This article provides all 30 questions from the exam, with correct answers and detailed explanations to help aspirants excel in similar competitive exams. Each question’s options are presented clearly, one per line, for easy understanding, following a “below by below” format.

Reading Comprehension Questions (1–10)

The first 10 questions are based on a passage about social media addiction, its psychological effects, and its impact on students and society. Below are the questions, answers, and explanations.

Ques. 1: Which word is most similar in meaning to ‘contagiously’ as given in the passage?

Options:

1. Assail

2. Ambivalent

3. Arboreal

4. Malignant

5. Cogent
   Correct Answer: 4. Malignant
   Explanation: In the passage, “contagiously” describes how expressions spread rapidly on social media, akin to a disease. “Malignant” (harmful and spreading) is the closest synonym. “Assail” (attack), “Ambivalent” (uncertain), “Arboreal” (tree-related), and “Cogent” (convincing) do not fit.

Ques. 2: What did Chicago University researchers conclude social media effects?

Options:

1. People presented higher levels of addiction to social media than the need to smoke or drink.

2. Levels of addiction to smoking and drinking were higher than media craving.

3. There was a higher rate of media cravings.

4. 1 and 2

5. 1 and 3
   Correct Answer: 5. 1 and 3
   Explanation: The passage states that social media addiction surpasses smoking and drinking, and media cravings rank higher, making options 1 and 3 correct. Option 2 contradicts this, so option 5 is correct.

Ques. 3: Why is Oxytocin regarded as the cuddle chemical?

Options:

1. The brain releases pleasure chemicals that transpire usually when you kiss and hug—or tweet.

2. It builds a strong yet unique bond between mothers and their babies.

3. It produces the desire in people to “want” by drawing out the need to seek and search.

4. 1 and 2

5. 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: 1
   Explanation: The passage defines oxytocin as the “cuddle chemical” due to its release during kissing, hugging, or tweeting. While option 2 is valid, the term “cuddle chemical” relates explicitly to option 1.

Ques. 4: Which word is most opposite in meaning to ‘confiscated’ as given in the passage?

Options:

1. Cognizant

2. Covet

3. Expiate

4. Pithy

5. Relinquish
   Correct Answer: 5. Relinquish
   Explanation: “Confiscated” means taking something away by authority. “Relinquish” (giving up or returning) is its opposite. “Cognizant” (aware), “Covet” (desire), “Expiate” (atone), and “Pithy” (concise) are unrelated.

Ques. 5: What actions are taken by schools regarding mobile phone devices, as mentioned in the passage?

Options:

1. Punish students who bring mobile phones to school.

2. Use it for educational purposes and as a reward system for their pupils.

3. Banning smartphones, iPads, and most portable devices from school premises.

4. 1 and 2

5. 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: 5. 2 and 3
   Explanation: The passage notes that some schools ban smartphones due to distractions, while others use them educationally or as rewards. Option 1 (punishment) is not mentioned, so 2 and 3 are correct.

Ques. 6: What stands true about Dopamine in the present scenario?

Options:

1. It creates the ultimate drive to find what we truly want.

2. It’s stimulated by unpredictability and small bits of information as well as reward cues.

3. Dopamine was simply a pleasure chemical in the brain.

4. 1 and 2

5. 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: 4. 1 and 2
   Explanation: The passage explains Dopamine, the desire to seek (option 1), and is triggered by unpredictability and rewards (option 2). Option 3 is outdated, as Dopamine has evolved beyond a pleasure chemical.

Ques. 7: Why is there no real medical term for social networking addiction?

Options:

1. Research is not yet done on the subject.

2. It cannot be deemed a disease or disorder, as cases are not severe.

3. The habit can easily be maintained or prevented.

4. 1 and 2

5. 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: 5. 2 and 3
   Explanation: The passage states social networking addiction isn’t a disease due to non-severe cases (option 2) and its controllability (option 3). Research has been conducted, so option 1 is incorrect.

Ques. 8: Which is the most common activity that university students switch to when studying?

Options:

1. Youtube

2. Facebook

3. Twitter

4. Whatsapp

5. All of the above
   Correct Answer: 2. Facebook
   Explanation: The passage specifies that Facebook is the most common activity students turn to during studying, making option two correct.

Ques. 9: Which sentence summarizes the key idea of the passage?

Options:

1. The Psychology of Social Addiction

2. The Addiction in Students

3. The Science behind Addiction

4. Beliefs of Scientists for Social Life

5. None of the above
   Correct Answer: 1
   Explanation: The passage focuses on the psychological mechanisms (Dopamine Behind social media addiction, making “The Psychology of Social Addiction” the best summary.

Ques. 10: What does the phrase ‘Social Networking Addiction’ mean?

Options:

1. Stalking People Socially

2. Creating Fake profiles for fun

3. Finding your Friend Circle Online

4. Someone who spends too much time on social websites

5. Someone who is an introvert socially
   Correct Answer: 4
   Explanation: The passage defines social networking addiction as excessive time spent on platforms like Facebook, aligning with option 4.

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions (11–18)

These questions involve selecting the correct word to fill in blanks in a passage about EU legislation. Options are listed one per line for clarity.

Ques. 11: Which word fits blank (3) – last ____ session?

Options:

1. Contrived

2. Plenary

3. Conclusive

4. Punitive

5. Approbate
   Correct Answer: 2. Plenary
   Explanation: “Plenary” means a full attendance session, fitting the European Parliament’s last meeting. Other options (contrived: artificial, conclusive: final, punitive: punishing, approbate: approve) are incorrect.

Ques. 12: Which word fits blank (5) – a ____ to clean up oceans?

Options:

1. Bud

2. Strive

3. Bid

4. Aim

5. Venture
   Correct Answer: 3. Bid
   Explanation: “Bid” means an attempt, suitable for the EU’s effort to reduce marine pollution. “Aim” is close but less specific, while others are unfit.

Ques. 13: Which word fits blank (7) – a ____ of new safety features?

Options:

1. Rack

2. Rent

3. Plan

4. Group

5. Roof
   Correct Answer: 4. Group
   Explanation: “Group” refers to a collection of safety features, fitting the context. Other options (rack, rent, plan, roof) are irrelevant.

Ques. 14: Which word fits blank (6) – agree to ____ such throwaway items?

Options:

1. Prohibit

2. Protest

3. Proclaim

4. Promote

5. Abstain
   Correct Answer: 1. Prohibit
   Explanation: “Prohibit” (to ban) fits the context of banning plastic items. Other options (protest, proclaim, promote, abstain) do not suit a ban.

Ques. 15: Which word fits blank (2) – a term that ____ several initiatives?

Options:

1. Featured

2. Have

3. Comprise

4. Cropped

5. Features
   Correct Answer: 5. Features
   Explanation: “Features” means including, fitting the legislative term’s initiatives. “Comprise” is similar but less natural, and others are incorrect.

Ques. 16: Which word fits blank (8) – part of an ____ to cut road fatalities?

Options:

1. Toil

2. Endeavour

3. Vantage

4. Foil

5. Travail
   Correct Answer: 2. Endeavour
   Explanation: “Endeavour” (effort) fits the EU’s goal to reduce fatalities. Other options (toil: hard work, vantage: advantage, foil: prevent, travail: painful effort) are less suitable.

Ques. 17: Which word fits blank (1) – behind the ____ of Brexit?

Options:

1. Rackets

2. Gaggle

3. Noise

4. Chortle

5. Hurtle
   Correct Answer: 3. Noise
   Explanation: “Noise” captures the commotion of Brexit. Other options (rackets: schemes, gaggle: group, chortle: laugh, hurtle: rush) are less fitting.

Ques. 18: Which word fits blank (4) – actions ____ to be felt beyond Brussels?

Options:

1. Reproached

2. Opportune

3. Apportioned

4. Slated

5. Fated
   Correct Answer: 4. Slated
   Explanation: “Slated” means planned, fitting actions intended to have a lasting impact. Other options (reproached: criticized, opportune: timely, apportioned: divided, fated: destined) are incorrect.

Sentence Error Detection Questions (19–24)

These questions test grammar and sentence structure, with options listed clearly.

Ques. 19: Error in “The mathematically symbols used in the manuscript…”?

Options:

1. A

2. B

3. C

4. D

5. No error
   Correct Answer: 1. A
   Explanation: “Mathematically symbols” should be “mathematical symbols” (correct adjective form). Other parts are accurate.

Ques. 20: Error in “The students were underprepared, poorly behaved, and disrupting”?

Options:

1. The teacher had planned to conduct

2. Disappointed by the lack of enthusiasm

3. The students were underprepared

4. Disrupting

5. No error
   Correct Answer: 4. Disrupting
   Explanation: “Disrupting” should be “disruptive” for parallel structure with adjectives “underprepared” and “poorly behaved.”

Ques. 21: Error in “Mr. Subramanian complaint about the noise pollution…”?

Options:

1. Only A

2. A and C

3. B and D

4. A and D

5. No error
   Correct Answer: 4. A and D
   Explanation: In A, “complaint” should be “complained” (verb). In D, “concern authority” should be “concerned authority” (adjective).

Ques. 22: Error in “he would had been stable for life”?

Options:

1. A

2. B

3. C

4. D

5. E
   Correct Answer: 2. B
   Explanation: “Would had been” is incorrect; it should be “would have been” (conditional perfect tense).

Ques. 23: Error in “At the conference, the participant who is known…”?

Options:

1. A

2. B

3. C

4. D

5. E
   Correct Answer: 5. E (No error)
   Explanation: The sentence is grammatically correct with proper tense and structure.

Ques. 24: Error in “and this ability come naturally to native English speakers”?

Options:

1. A

2. B

3. C

4. D

5. No error
   Correct Answer: 3. C
   Explanation: “Come” should be “comes” to agree with the singular subject “this ability.”

Sentence Improvement Questions (25–30)

These questions involve replacing underlined phrases with options listed one per line.

Ques. 25: Replace “On account of your instructions”?

Options:

1. A, B, and C

2. B, C, and D

3. A, B, and D

4. Only C

5. No improvement
   Correct Answer: 4. Only C
   Explanation: “In accordance with” (option C) is the most precise replacement for “on account of.” Others are less suitable.

Ques. 26: Replace “set on the ears”?

Options:

1. Set by the eyes

2. Set by the ears

3. Set at the ears

4. Set on the eyes

5. No improvement
   Correct Answer: 2. Set by the ears
   Explanation: The correct idiom is “set by the ears” (cause commotion), fitting the context.

Ques. 27: Replace underlined phrases (e.g., “lights are worked up”)?

Options:

1. Turned off

2. Thought out

3. Run over

4. Wired

5. No improvement required
   Correct Answer: 1. Turned off
   Explanation: “Turned off” corrects all phrases: lights, car, and papers (contextually meaning put away).

Ques. 28: Replace “rich should help poor”?

Options:

1. The rich should help the poor

2. The rich should help the poor

3. The rich should help the poor

4. The rich people should help the poor

5. No correction required
   Correct Answer: 2. The rich should help the poor
   Explanation: Articles “the” are needed before “rich” and “poor” for correctness.

Ques. 29: Replace “the scissor was kept on the table”?

Options:

1. A pair of scissors was

2. Scissors were

3. A pair of scissors was

4. Scissors is

5. Both 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: 5. Both 2 and 3
   Explanation: “Scissors were” (plural noun) and “pair of scissors was” (singular pair) are both correct.

Ques. 30: Replace “died down with time”?

Options:

1. Died out in time

2. Died down on time

3. Died off with time

4. Died down off time

5. No correction required
   Correct Answer: 5. No correction required
   Explanation: “Died down with time” is correct, meaning gradually reduced.

Conclusion

The NICL AO exam tests critical skills like comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar. By practicing these questions and understanding the explanations, aspirants can strengthen their preparation for competitive exams. Focus on context clues for vocabulary and grammatical accuracy for sentence corrections. For more practice, explore past papers and stay updated on exam patterns.