Distance Traps Quiz | Beginner Level | 10 Questions & Answers with Explanations
10 questions
This beginner-level quiz focuses on Distance Traps — the examiner's favourite trick of placing a phrase between the subject and the verb, hoping you'll agree with the nearest noun instead of the true subject. This topic is tested constantly in SSC CGL, IBPS PO, Railways, Bank Clerk, and State PSC exams. At this level, the key concepts tested are: ignoring prepositional phrases (of/in/with/on/at/by) that sit between the subject and the verb, ignoring relative clauses (who/which/that + extra information) that do the same thing, and applying the "each/every" always-singular rule even when it connects two nouns with "and." Before you attempt this quiz, read through the Subject-Verb Agreement — it'll make these questions much easier to crack. The single best habit you can build for this topic is mentally crossing out everything between the subject and the verb before deciding on your answer.
The quality of the mangoes ___ poor this season.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer is
The subject is "quality" (singular); "of the mangoes" is a prepositional phrase, a distractor.
Correct sentence: "The quality of the mangoes is poor this season."
Memory hook: cross out "of the mangoes" mentally — "the quality is poor" reads correctly on its own.
One of the students ___ absent today.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer was
The subject is "one" (singular); "of the students" is a prepositional phrase, a distractor.
Correct sentence: "One of the students was absent today."
Memory hook: "one of the [plural noun]" always takes a singular verb — "one" is the actual subject.
The boy who won three gold medals ___ my cousin.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer is
The subject is "boy" (singular); "who won three gold medals" is a relative clause, a distractor.
Correct sentence: "The boy who won three gold medals is my cousin."
Memory hook: cross out the relative clause — "the boy is my cousin" reads correctly on its own.
The books on the top shelf ___ covered in dust.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer are
The subject is "books" (plural); "on the top shelf" is a prepositional phrase, a distractor.
Correct sentence: "The books on the top shelf are covered in dust."
Memory hook: this time the true subject itself is plural — cross out the phrase and check "books are covered," which is correct.
Each boy and girl ___ expected to participate in the sports day.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer is
"Each," even when connecting two nouns with "and," always takes a singular verb.
Correct sentence: "Each boy and girl is expected to participate in the sports day."
Memory hook: "each" and "every" are always singular, no matter how many nouns they're connected to with "and."
Every student and teacher ___ informed about the schedule change
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer was
"Every," even when connecting two nouns with "and," always takes a singular verb.
Correct sentence: "Every student and teacher was informed about the schedule change."
Memory hook: this reinforces the "each/every" rule once more — always singular, regardless of "and."
The girl with beautiful eyes ___ my neighbour's daughter.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer is
The subject is "girl" (singular); "with beautiful eyes" is a prepositional phrase, a distractor.
Correct sentence: "The girl with beautiful eyes is my neighbour's daughter."
Memory hook: this reinforces the basic "cross out the phrase" method with a different preposition ("with").
The price of these vegetables ___ increased sharply this month.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer has
The subject is "price" (singular); "of these vegetables" is a prepositional phrase, a distractor.
Correct sentence: "The price of these vegetables has increased sharply this month."
Memory hook: "vegetables" (plural) sitting right before the verb is the classic bait — the real subject is "price," singular.
The keys to the car ___ missing since yesterday.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer are
The subject is "keys" (plural); "to the car" is a prepositional phrase, a distractor.
Correct sentence: "The keys to the car are missing since yesterday."
Memory hook: this reinforces that the "cross out the phrase" method works both ways — sometimes the true subject is plural, sometimes singular; always check its actual number.
The man who lives next door ___ a retired army officer.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer is
The subject is "man" (singular); "who lives next door" is a relative clause, a distractor.
Correct sentence: "The man who lives next door is a retired army officer."
Memory hook: this rounds out the beginner level — whether it's a prepositional phrase or a relative clause sitting in the middle, the method is identical: cross it out and check the true subject.