Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent and our language-so the argument runs-must inevitably share in the general collapse. It follows that any struggle against the abuse of language is a sentimental archaism, like preferring candles to electric light or hansom cabs to aeroplanes. Underneath this lies the half-conscious belief that language is natural growth and not an instrument which we shape for our own purposes. 
Now it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have political and economic causes it is not due simply to the bad influence of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form, and so on indefinitely. A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts. The point is that the process is reversible. Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these habits, one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary first step towards political regeneration: so that the fight against bad English is not frivolous and is not the exclusive concern of professional writers.. 

The author believes that –

Change into Indirect speech. 

Nitish said to me, " When did you buy this pen?
 "Nitish asked me. 

Directions : In the following questions, some of the sentences have errors and some have none. Find out which part of a sentence has an error and mark your answer corresponding to the appropriate letter (A, B, C). If there is no error, mark your answer corresponding to (D) in the Answer Sheet. 

Selling match boxes on the road (A)/ is the only means of earning (B)/ in respect of most of the people (C)/ No error. (D) 

Directions: In the passage given below there are blanks, each followed by a word given in the brackets. Every blank has five alternative words given in options. Find the word which best suits the respective blank. If the given word suits the blank, mark 'no correction required' as the answer.

The widespread consternation over the rupee hitting a 27-month low against the dollar is unwarranted, for the Indian currency has been among the better (Q11) [hiking] currencies over the last couple of years. While other (Q12) [trickling] market currencies.  such as the Russian rouble and the Brazilian real are down more than 20 per cent this year, the rupee is lower by just 6 per cent. This follows a strong performance in 2014, when the Indian currency lost just 1.2 per cent against the greenback. It is obvious that the rupee is in a sweet spot (Q13) [peculiar] to its emerging market peers, which have been hit hard by the (Q14) [ascent] in commodity prices. India, on the other hand, has benefited from this fall. The crash in crude prices combined with the checks on gold imports have helped (Q15) [recede] the current account deficit to just 1.27 per cent of GDP. Strong foreign inflows — from both portfolio and direct investments — have pushed India’s forex reserves to $351 billion; we are among the few countries that have (Q16) [considered] to increase forex reserves since the middle of last year. These reserves provide the Indian central bank with (Q17) [ammunition] to protect the rupee from short-term volatility that may arise once the Federal Reserve goes through with its long-anticipated rate hike. Since the Fed has given financial markets sufficient time to (Q18) [discern] the move, a 25 basis points move is not likely to cause too much turbulence. True, some short-term money will flow out of the equity markets; foreign portfolio investors have (Q19) [turned] net sellers since November. But long-term investors are likely to stay put due to the better growth (Q20) [contrariety] of Indian companies. The superior real yield, falling inflation and a stable rupee also make a strong case for staying invested in Indian debt instruments.   

Choose the correct answer from the given options to fill the blanks which are numbered.

In these questions read each sentence to find out whether there is any error in it. If there is no error, the answer is (D).

The government is (A)/ expected to issue a statement (B) /regarding the investigation (C)/ to the press (D).

Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (e), No error.
Radhika was very upset (a) / because she had to goes (b) / to a boarding school (c) / so she cried the entire night (d)/  No error (e)

Direction: In the question a sentence has been given in Active/Passive Voice. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expressed the same sentence in Passive/Active Voice and mark your answer in the Answer Sheet.

He made the children work hard.

In the following question, some part of the sentence may have errors. Find out which part of the sentence has an error and select the appropriate option. If a sentence is free from error, select 'No Error'

He was not (a)/ so well versed in (b)/ English that we (c)/ had expected. (d)/ No error (e)