This post provides the complete answer key and detailed explanations for the 50 MCQs exercise on Articles, designed specifically for MDCAT and NUMS students. Each explanation is based on the grammar rules commonly tested in MDCAT and NUMS Past Papers, covering the correct use of definite and indefinite articles in real exam contexts. These explanations help students understand the logic behind the correct options, eliminate confusion, and build strong conceptual clarity. Whether you’re revising or learning from your mistakes, this guide is an essential tool for mastering articles and scoring higher in the English section.
Q.1
Correct option: A (a)
Explanation: The word “useful” starts with a consonant sound (/j/), so the indefinite article “a” is used. “Copper is a useful metal” implies that copper is one of many useful metals.
Q.2
Correct option: B (an)
Explanation: The word “honorable” starts with a silent “h,” making the first sound a vowel (/ɒ/). Therefore, the indefinite article “an” is used.
Q.3
Correct option: B (an)
Explanation: “Able” starts with a vowel sound (/eɪ/), so the indefinite article “an” is correct. The sentence means that not every capable man has a distinguished appearance.
Q.4
Correct option: C (the)
Explanation: “The” is used because “reindeer” refers to the entire species, which is a unique category. “The reindeer is a native of Norway” generalizes the animal.
Q.5
Correct option: C (the)
Explanation: “Truth” is an abstract noun used in a definite sense here, referring to the universal concept of truth. “The truth” is a fixed phrase.
Q.6
Correct option: C (the)
Explanation: “Sky” is a unique entity, so the definite article “the” is used. “The blue sky” refers to the specific sky visible at that moment.
Q.7
Correct option: A (a)
Explanation: “Holy city” is a singular countable noun used in a general sense. “A” is used because Makkah is one of several holy cities.
Q.8
Correct option: A (a)
Explanation: “Wonderful lamp” is singular and indefinite, so “a” is used. The sentence refers to one unspecified lamp.
Q.9
Correct option: A (a)
Explanation: “Happy place” is a general description, and “a” is used to indicate one of many possible happy places.
Q.10
Correct option: B (an)
Explanation: “Hour” starts with a silent “h,” making the first sound a vowel (/aʊ/). Thus, “an” is correct.
Q.11
Correct option: D (no article)
Explanation: “School” is used in a general sense here, referring to the institution as a whole, so no article is needed.
Q.12
Correct option: C (the)
Explanation: “Sun” is a unique celestial body, so the definite article “the” is used.
Q.13
Correct option: A (a)
Explanation: “Year” starts with a consonant sound (/j/), so “a” is used. The phrase “a year ago” refers to an unspecified past time.
Q.14
Correct option: A (a)
Explanation: “European” starts with a consonant sound (/j/), so “a” is correct. The sentence refers to an unspecified European person.
Q.15
Correct option: A (a)
Explanation: “Difficult language” is a general description, and “a” is used because Sanskrit is one of many difficult languages.
Q.16
Correct option: C (the, a)
Explanation: “The Ganga” refers to the specific river, and “a sacred river” is a general classification.
Q.17
Correct option: C (the, the)
Explanation: “The lion” refers to the species as a whole, and “the king of beasts” is a unique title.
Q.18
Correct option: A (a)
Explanation: “Fool” is a singular countable noun used in a general sense, so “a” is correct.
Q.19
Correct option: B (an)
Explanation: “Easy” starts with a vowel sound (/iː/), so “an” is used.
Q.20
Correct option: C (the)
Explanation: “The girl” refers to a specific girl sitting there, so the definite article is used.
Q.21
Correct option: C (the)
Explanation: “Longest river” is a superlative, requiring the definite article “the.”
Q.22
Correct option: D (no article)
Explanation: “Umbrella” is used in a general sense here, so no article is needed.
Q.23
Correct option: A (a)
Explanation: “Very dear place” is a general description, so “a” is used.
Q.24
Correct option: B (an)
Explanation: “Untidy” starts with a vowel sound (/ʌ/), so “an” is correct.
Q.25
Correct option: B (an)
Explanation: “Egg” starts with a vowel sound (/e/), so “an” is used.
Q.26
Correct option: D (a, an, a)
Explanation: “Horse” and “buffalo” start with consonant sounds, so “a” is used. “Ox” starts with a vowel sound (/ɒ/), so “an” is correct.
Q.27
Correct option: A (a)
Explanation: “Message” is singular and indefinite, so “a” is used.
Q.28
Correct option: C (the)
Explanation: “The people of England” refers to a specific group, so the definite article is used.
Q.29
Correct option: C (the)
Explanation: “Way” is specific here, as the guide knows a particular path.
Q.30
Correct option: B (an)
Explanation: “Island” starts with a vowel sound (/aɪ/), so “an” is correct.
Q.31
Correct option: C (the)
Explanation: “Matter” is specific in this context, so “the” is used.
Q.32
Correct option: C (the)
Explanation: “Best present” is a superlative, requiring the definite article.
Q.33
Correct option: C (the)
Explanation: “Most industrial countries” is a superlative phrase, so “the” is used.
Q.34
Correct option: A (a)
Explanation: “Owl” is singular and indefinite, so “a” is correct.
Q.35
Correct option: B (an)
Explanation: “Honour” starts with a silent “h,” so “an” is used.
Q.36
Correct option: A (a)
Explanation: “Bicycle” is singular and indefinite, so “a” is correct.
Q.37
Correct option: B (no article, the, the)
Explanation: “School” is used generally, so no article is needed. “Care” and “doorsteps” are specific, so “the” is used.
Q.38
Correct option: C (the)
Explanation: “People” refers to a specific group here, so “the” is correct.
Q.39
Correct option: D (no article, no article)
Explanation: “School” and “college” are used in a general sense, so no articles are needed.
Q.40
Correct option: C (no article, the)
Explanation: “Permission” is uncountable and general, so no article is used. “School” is specific here, so “the” is correct.
Q.41
Correct option: D (no article, the, the)
Explanation: “Diseases” is plural and general, so no article is needed. “Care” and “government” are specific, so “the” is used.
Q.42
Correct option: C (the, the)
Explanation: “Houses” and “poor” are specific categories, so “the” is used for both.
Q.43
Correct option: A (a, no article)
Explanation: “Tree” is singular and indefinite, so “a” is used. “Water” is uncountable and general, so no article is needed.
Q.44
Correct option: B (no article, no article)
Explanation: “Boiling water” and “steam” are general terms, so no articles are needed.
Q.45
Correct option: D (no article)
Explanation: “Dog” is used generically to refer to the species, so no article is needed.
Q.46
Correct option: B (an)
Explanation: “Unreliable” starts with a vowel sound (/ʌ/), so “an” is correct.
Q.47
Correct option: C (the)
Explanation: “News” is specific here, so “the” is used.
Q.48
Correct option: B (a, an)
Explanation: “European” starts with a consonant sound (/j/), so “a” is used. “Indian” starts with a vowel sound (/ɪ/), so “an” is correct.
Q.49
Correct option: B (an)
Explanation: “Island” starts with a vowel sound (/aɪ/), so “an” is used.
Q.50
Correct option: B (the … the)
Explanation: “Newspaper” is specific here, so “the” is used. “Article” is also specific, referring to a particular one about the kidnapping, so “the” is correct again.
