English MCQs – Page 21 (Q201-210)

The correct answer is 'of' because 'afraid' is conventionally followed by the preposition 'of' to introduce the source of fear, as in 'afraid of dogs', 'afraid of the dark', or 'afraid of failure'. Many English adjectives pair with one specific, fixed preposition, and these adjective-preposition collocations cannot be derived from logic alone; they must be memorized individually. Similar fear-related expressions include 'frightened of' and 'scared of', all following the same pattern, making prepositional collocations with common adjectives a heavily tested area in competitive English exams.

The correct answer is 'at' because 'good' pairs with the preposition 'at' when describing skill or proficiency in a particular activity or subject, as in 'good at mathematics', 'good at cooking', or 'good at sports'. This is a fixed adjective-preposition collocation that must be memorized rather than derived from general rules. Related expressions following the same pattern include 'bad at', 'skilled at', and 'excellent at', all describing ability, and confusing this with 'good in' or 'good for', which carry different meanings, is a common exam error.

The correct answer is 'to' because 'married' is followed by the preposition 'to' when specifying the person one is married to, as in 'married to a doctor' or 'married to his childhood sweetheart'. This is one of the most commonly confused prepositional collocations, as many learners mistakenly use 'married with', influenced by their native language patterns. Note the distinction from 'married with children', where 'with' introduces something possessed alongside the marriage rather than the spouse, a subtlety occasionally tested in advanced exam questions.

The correct answer is 'at' because 'at' is used before specific points or locations, such as buildings, addresses, or named venues, and 'airport' here functions as one such specific point of arrival, as in 'arrived at the airport' or 'arrived at the station'. This contrasts with 'in', which is used for arriving within larger enclosed areas like countries or cities, as in 'arrived in Pakistan'. This at-versus-in distinction based on the size or specificity of the location is a classic and frequently tested preposition rule in competitive exams.

The correct answer is 'in' because 'in' is used with 'arrive' before large areas such as countries, cities, or continents, as in 'arrived in Pakistan' or 'arrived in Lahore'. This contrasts with 'at', which is reserved for smaller, specific points such as airports, stations, or particular addresses, as in 'arrived at the airport'. This distinction, in for broad geographic areas and at for precise points, is one of the most reliably tested preposition pairs in competitive English exams, often appearing alongside its counterpart in the same test.

The correct answer is 'on' because 'on' is the standard preposition of position for something resting on a surface with direct contact, as in 'on the table', 'on the wall', or 'on the floor'. This differs from 'in', used for enclosed spaces like 'in the drawer', and 'at', used for specific points like 'at the corner'. This on-in-at distinction for describing physical position is a foundational preposition rule, and questions testing surface contact with 'on' are among the most basic and frequently seen in exam papers.

The correct answer is 'in' because 'interested' pairs with the fixed preposition 'in' to introduce the subject or activity that holds someone's attention, as in 'interested in music', 'interested in history', or 'interested in learning'. This adjective-preposition collocation must be memorized, as its logic is not always predictable from the adjective's meaning alone. Related expressions following similar patterns include 'involved in' and 'engaged in', both also describing active engagement with a subject, and are frequently grouped together in preposition-based exam questions.

The correct answer is 'with' because 'angry' typically pairs with 'with' when the object of anger is a person, as in 'angry with her brother', while 'angry at' is more commonly used when the object of anger is a situation, action, or thing, as in 'angry at the delay'. This person-versus-thing distinction is a nuanced but frequently tested collocation rule in competitive English exams. Related expressions following the same person-based pattern include 'annoyed with' and 'furious with', both also typically directed at people rather than situations.

The correct answer is 'for' because 'apologize' pairs with the preposition 'for' when introducing the reason, action, or mistake being apologized for, as in 'apologized for his mistake' or 'apologized for being late'. This differs from 'apologize to', which introduces the person receiving the apology, as in 'apologized to his teacher for the mistake', allowing both prepositions to appear together in a single sentence. Confusing 'for' with 'about' or 'of' in this context is a common error tested in competitive English preposition questions.

The correct answer is 'of' because 'proud' is conventionally followed by the preposition 'of' to introduce the source of pride, as in 'proud of my achievements', 'proud of his son', or 'proud of the team's performance'. This fixed adjective-preposition collocation cannot be substituted with 'on' or 'for' without sounding incorrect, despite those prepositions working in superficially similar contexts. Related expressions following the same 'of' pattern include 'ashamed of' and 'jealous of', both also introducing the source of an emotion, and are commonly grouped in preposition exam questions.