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Idioms and Phrases MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers

Solve 10 Idioms and Phrases questions for RAS/RPSC preparation.

Practice questions

Q1A Class 5 child translates the idiom 'don't put all your eggs in one basket' to mean 'do not pack many eggs in a single basket while shopping'. Which is the best teacher response according to primary English pedagogy?

A Mark the answer wrong, scold the child for not knowing English idioms and move on to the next question quickly.
B Accept the literal answer fully and write it as the model meaning of the idiom for the whole class.
C Tell the child to silently copy the dictionary meaning ten times as homework before tomorrow's class.
D Praise the child for thinking, share the literal meaning, then guide the child to the figurative meaning of not depending on a single plan with a simple classroom example.
Explanation

Primary English pedagogy expects the teacher to value the child's thinking, acknowledge the literal sense, and then guide the child toward the figurative meaning through a familiar example. The idiom warns against depending on a single plan or option. A short example such as preparing more than one plan for a school trip or for a homework slot helps the child compare literal and figurative meaning safely and confidently.

Q2What does the common idiom 'break the ice' mean in everyday English conversation?

A To literally crack a piece of ice into smaller pieces with a hammer.
B To make a place very cold by pouring ice on the floor.
C To carry ice for a long distance without dropping it.
D To start a friendly conversation in a new or awkward situation.
Explanation

The idiom 'break the ice' is figurative. It means to start a friendly conversation in a new or awkward situation so that people feel comfortable. A primary teacher uses examples like 'On the first day of school, the teacher told a small story to break the ice with the new class' to help children grasp the figurative sense.

Q3Consider these two statements about figurative meaning at the primary stage. (I) The literal meaning of an idiom is found by adding the meanings of each word. (II) The figurative meaning of an idiom is the agreed cultural meaning that the whole phrase carries, even when the words taken alone do not say so. Which is correct?

A Only statement (I) is correct.
B Only statement (II) is correct.
C Neither statement is correct.
D Both statements are correct, and a primary teacher should help children compare the two meanings.
Explanation

The literal meaning of a phrase is indeed obtained by combining the meanings of the individual words, while the figurative meaning is the agreed cultural meaning that the whole expression carries. Both statements are correct. A primary teacher uses simple comparisons such as the literal sense of 'piece of cake' versus its figurative idiomatic sense to make figurative language clear to Class 1 to 5 children.

Q4Read the statements about teaching idioms in a Class 4 English period. (1) The teacher should give simple, real-life examples that the child has already heard at home or in school. (2) The teacher should ask the children to memorise long lists of idioms with one-line dictionary meanings before any classroom use. Which combination is best for primary teaching?

A Only (2), because rote memorisation builds strong English vocabulary in primary classes.
B Both (1) and (2) together, with rote memorisation taking the main weight of the period.
C Neither (1) nor (2); the teacher should just ignore idioms at the primary stage.
D Only (1), because primary children grasp idioms through familiar examples, conversation and short stories.
Explanation

Primary children acquire idiom sense through real-life examples, short stories and conversation, not through rote lists. NCERT primary English textbooks like the Marigold series build figurative meaning through context and pictures, never through memorisation of long lists. So statement (1) is right and statement (2) is wrong.

Q5What does the common expression 'good luck' usually mean when a teacher says it to children before a small classroom test?

A I wish you success and hope the test goes well for you.
B Please leave the classroom and do not return today.
C I will give you the answers before the test starts.
D You must keep silent for the rest of the school day.
Explanation

The expression 'good luck' is a kind, encouraging way to wish someone success before a task. When a teacher says it before a small classroom test, the meaning is exactly the wish for success. It is a friendly, supportive phrase used widely in everyday English at primary stage, school assemblies, and home conversations.

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More questions

6Read the assertion and reason. Assertion (A): A primary teacher should not teach the idiom 'raining cats and dogs' only by drawing literal cats and dogs falling from the sky. Reason (R): An idiom carries a figurative meaning that the literal sense of its individual words does not give, so a literal picture must be connected clearly to the figurative meaning. Choose the correct option.

ABoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
BBoth A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
CA is true but R is false.
DA is false but R is true.

7Read these statements about the idiom 'a piece of cake' for primary classroom teaching. (1) The idiom means something is very easy to do. (2) The idiom should be taught only by giving its dictionary meaning without any example. Which of the statements is correct?

AOnly statement (1) is correct, but it should be taught without examples.
BOnly statement (2) is correct.
CBoth statements (1) and (2) are correct.
DOnly statement (1) is correct; idioms must be taught with familiar examples.

8Which of the following idiom-meaning pairs is INCORRECT for primary English teaching?

A'Take a seat' means to sit down on a chair or bench.
B'In hot water' means to be feeling very warm in summer afternoon.
C'Pull yourself together' means to calm down and behave normally.
D'Keep an eye on' means to watch carefully or look after someone.

9Match the idioms in List I with their meanings in List II. List I: (a) 'lend a hand' (b) 'feel under the weather' (c) 'once in a blue moon' (d) 'hit the books'. List II: (1) very rarely (2) help someone (3) start studying seriously (4) feel slightly unwell. Choose the correct match.

A(a)-(1), (b)-(2), (c)-(3), (d)-(4)
B(a)-(3), (b)-(1), (c)-(2), (d)-(4)
C(a)-(2), (b)-(4), (c)-(1), (d)-(3)
D(a)-(4), (b)-(3), (c)-(2), (d)-(1)

10Which sentence uses the idiom 'cat got your tongue' in its correct everyday meaning?

AThe little cat ran across the playground holding a long red tongue in its mouth.
BAfter the loud bell, the children rushed out so the cat got their tongue near the gate.
CThe teacher asked the shy boy a simple question and he stayed silent, so she gently said, has the cat got your tongue?
DMother said the cat got her tongue when she tasted the spicy curry in the kitchen.

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