UGC NET December 2026 | English Paper-II | Mock Test–97 | PYQs MCQs

UGC NET December 2026 – English Paper II

Mock Test 7: Unit X – Research Methods and Materials in English

Practice Examination

Mock Test 7

Total Questions

20

Maximum Marks

40

Suggested Time

25 minutes

Marks per Question

2 marks

Subject: English Paper II | Unit X: Research Methods and Materials in English

General Instructions

1. The test contains 20 multiple-choice questions.

2. Each question has four options: A, B, C and D.

3. Select the single best answer unless the question specifies otherwise.

4. Each correct answer carries 2 marks.

5. There is no negative marking in this practice test.

6. Attempt all questions before consulting the answer key.

7. These are original practice questions for preparation, not actual or guaranteed questions from the UGC NET examination.

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

Question 1. Operationalisation

A researcher wants to investigate “reader engagement” with contemporary poetry. The researcher decides to examine reading frequency, time spent reading and participation in poetry discussions.

This process is best described as:

A. Operationalisation of a research concept B. Fabrication of research data C. Random assignment D. Historiographical analysis

Question 2. Research Paradigms

Which statement best describes a positivist approach to research?

A. All interpretations are equally valid and cannot be evaluated. B. Research should avoid systematic observation and evidence. C. Research can investigate observable phenomena systematically and use evidence to evaluate claims. D. Literary texts cannot be examined through any systematic method.

Question 3. Statement-Based Question

Consider the following statements about a research hypothesis.

1. A hypothesis proposes a claim that can be examined using evidence.

2. Every literary research project must include a formal hypothesis.

3. A hypothesis may be revised when justified by the research process.

4. Evidence should be interpreted honestly, even when it does not support the hypothesis.

Choose the correct answer.

A. 1 and 2 only B. 1, 3 and 4 only C. 2 and 3 only D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 4. Assertion–Reason: Literature Review

Assertion (A): A literature review should identify relevant disagreements among scholars.

Reason (R): Comparing competing interpretations can clarify unresolved questions and help establish the rationale for a new study.

Choose the correct answer.

A. Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A. B. Both A and R are true, but R does not correctly explain A. C. A is true, but R is false. D. A is false, but R is true.

Question 5. MLA Works Cited

In MLA style, which information is generally essential when documenting a book by a single author?

A. Author, title, publisher and publication date B. Author’s home address and personal telephone number C. The reviewer’s opinion of the book D. The researcher’s reasons for selecting the book

Question 6. Match the Following

Match each concept in List I with the correct description in List II.

List I	List II
1. Hermeneutics	a. The study of language features and their effects
2. Stylistics	b. The interpretation of texts and meaning
3. Marxist criticism	c. The analysis of class, ideology and material conditions
4. Feminist criticism	d. The examination of gender, power and representation

Choose the correct code.

A. 1–b, 2–a, 3–c, 4–d B. 1–a, 2–c, 3–d, 4–b C. 1–d, 2–b, 3–a, 4–c D. 1–c, 2–d, 3–b, 4–a

Question 7. Plagiarism and Paraphrasing

A researcher rewrites a scholar’s argument in different words but retains the original idea without acknowledging the source.

Which statement is most accurate?

A. It is always acceptable because the wording has changed. B. It may still constitute plagiarism because the borrowed idea has not been acknowledged. C. It is acceptable if the source is difficult to locate. D. It is acceptable whenever the text is used in an academic paper.

Question 8. Research Questions

Which research question is the most suitable for a focused study in English literary research?

A. Is literature important to everyone? B. What is the complete history of all novels in the world? C. How do selected novels by Toni Morrison represent the relationship between memory and identity? D. Why do all readers interpret every novel in the same way?

Question 9. Primary and Secondary Sources

A researcher is studying the historical development of a poet’s views on political freedom.

Which combination would provide the most direct documentary evidence of the poet’s changing views?

A. A general dictionary and a modern literary textbook B. A contemporary film adaptation and an unsourced blog post C. The researcher’s personal notes and an unrelated novel D. Dated letters, notebooks and published essays by the poet, interpreted in their historical context

Question 10. Match the Following

Match each research term in List I with the correct description in List II.

List I	List II
1. Triangulation	a. A detailed investigation of a bounded case
2. Case study	b. Examining a question through multiple sources, methods or perspectives
3. Peer review	c. Critical evaluation of scholarly work by other experts
4. Replicability	d. The possibility of repeating a procedure to assess whether results can be reproduced

Choose the correct code.

A. 1–b, 2–a, 3–c, 4–d B. 1–a, 2–b, 3–d, 4–c C. 1–c, 2–d, 3–a, 4–b D. 1–d, 2–c, 3–b, 4–a

Question 11. Sampling Strategy

A researcher studies a small group of translators selected specifically because they have translated the same regional-language poet into English.

Which sampling strategy is most appropriate?

A. Simple random sampling from the general population B. Purposive sampling C. Systematic sampling of every tenth household D. Cluster sampling of unrelated school students

Question 12. Assertion–Reason: Research Transparency

Assertion (A): A researcher should explain the criteria used to select literary texts for a study.

Reason (R): Transparent selection criteria help readers assess the scope, rationale and limitations of the research.

Choose the correct answer.

A. Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A. B. Both A and R are true, but R does not correctly explain A. C. A is true, but R is false. D. A is false, but R is true.

Question 13. Digital Corpus Research

A researcher builds a digital corpus of speeches and examines how frequently a particular term appears across different decades.

Which additional step would strengthen the study?

A. Remove all speeches in which the term is absent. B. Assume that a higher frequency automatically proves a change in public opinion. C. Document corpus composition, consider normalised frequencies and examine the term in context. D. Report only results that confirm the original hypothesis.

Question 14. Research Ethics and Interviews

A participant agrees to be interviewed but later asks the researcher not to use a particular sensitive quotation.

What should the researcher do first?

A. Publish the quotation because the interview has already taken place. B. Ignore the participant because research data belong exclusively to the researcher. C. Publish the quotation without identifying the participant, regardless of the consent agreement. D. Review the consent agreement and applicable ethical commitments, then respect the participant’s rights under those arrangements.

Question 15. DOI and Scholarly Publishing

What is the principal purpose of a Digital Object Identifier (DOI)?

A. To provide a persistent identifier for a digital object, such as a scholarly article B. To prove that an article is correct and free from bias C. To guarantee that every reader can access an article without payment D. To replace the need for bibliographic information

Question 16. Theoretical Framework in Practice

A researcher examines how class relations and economic power shape characters’ choices in selected Victorian novels, using Marxist literary criticism.

In this study, Marxist criticism primarily functions as:

A. A sampling frame B. A theoretical framework C. A data-storage method D. A citation-management system

Question 17. Qualitative Research

Which feature is most commonly associated with qualitative research?

A. It must use randomised controlled trials. B. It can investigate only numerical data. C. It explores meanings, experiences and interpretations using evidence such as interviews or textual analysis. D. It requires every finding to be expressed as a percentage.

Question 18. Counterevidence

A researcher argues that a novel consistently portrays technology as harmful but discovers several passages in which technology improves characters’ lives.

Which response demonstrates sound scholarly practice?

A. Ignore the passages because they complicate the argument. B. Remove them from the notes before writing the paper. C. Cite only secondary sources that support the original claim. D. Reassess the claim and develop a more nuanced interpretation that accounts for the contradictory passages.

Question 19. Open-Access Publishing

Which statement best describes open-access scholarly publishing?

A. Every open-access journal necessarily guarantees publication to all submitted papers. B. Open access generally allows readers to access scholarly work online without a subscription barrier, subject to the work’s licence and terms. C. Open access means that peer review is never required. D. Open access means that authorship and copyright cease to matter.

Question 20. Application-Based Research Design

A researcher wants to compare how two English translations of the same Hindi novel represent caste and social inequality.

Which approach is most appropriate?

A. Compare the translations systematically, analyse selected passages, explain the selection criteria and situate the analysis in relevant translation and social theory. B. Read only the introductions and assume that the translations are identical. C. Count the total number of pages and treat that as sufficient evidence of ideological difference. D. Select passages only from the translation that supports the researcher’s preferred conclusion.

Section B: Answer Key

Question	Answer	Question	Answer
1	A	11	B
2	C	12	A
3	B	13	C
4	A	14	D
5	A	15	A
6	A	16	B
7	B	17	C
8	C	18	D
9	D	19	B
10	A	20	A

Section C: Detailed Answers and Explanations

1. A — Operationalisation

Operationalisation involves translating an abstract concept into observable indicators. Here, the researcher measures reader engagement through reading frequency, time spent reading and participation in discussions.

2. C — Systematic investigation of observable phenomena

Positivism generally emphasises systematic observation, evidence and the evaluation of claims. Its principles are often associated with empirical approaches to research.

3. B — Statements 1, 3 and 4 only

A hypothesis is a claim that can be examined using evidence. Researchers may revise a hypothesis when justified, and they must report findings honestly. Not every literary study requires a formal hypothesis; exploratory and interpretive studies may instead use research questions.

4. A — Both statements are true, and the reason explains the assertion

A critical literature review compares scholarly positions rather than simply listing them. Examining disagreements can reveal unresolved issues and establish the rationale for further research.

5. A — Author, title, publisher and publication date

These are core elements of a standard MLA book citation. The precise format may vary according to the edition and the publication details available.

6. A — 1–b, 2–a, 3–c, 4–d

• Hermeneutics: Interpretation and understanding of texts.

• Stylistics: Linguistic features and their effects.

• Marxist criticism: Class, ideology and material conditions.

• Feminist criticism: Gender, representation and power relations.

7. B — Paraphrased ideas still require acknowledgement

Changing the wording does not make another scholar’s ideas original to the researcher. Proper paraphrasing requires accurate expression in one's own words and appropriate citation.

8. C — A focused question about memory and identity

This question identifies a specific corpus and analytical focus. A focused question is easier to investigate systematically than a question covering all literature or making sweeping assumptions about readers.

9. D — Letters, notebooks and published essays by the poet

These materials can provide direct evidence of the poet’s views at different points in time. Their dates, provenance and historical context should be examined before drawing conclusions.

10. A — 1–b, 2–a, 3–c, 4–d

• Triangulation: Uses multiple sources, methods or perspectives.

• Case study: Investigates a bounded case in depth.

• Peer review: Experts critically evaluate scholarly work.

• Replicability: Concerns whether procedures can be repeated to assess reproducibility.

11. B — Purposive sampling

Purposive sampling selects participants because they possess characteristics relevant to the research question. The translators are selected for their specific experience with the same poet.

12. A — Both statements are true, and the reason explains the assertion

Explaining selection criteria makes the research process more transparent. Readers can better judge why particular texts were included and what the study can reasonably conclude.

13. C — Document the corpus and analyse normalised frequencies in context

Corpus composition affects results. Normalised frequencies help compare texts or periods of different lengths, while contextual analysis helps prevent numerical patterns from being misinterpreted.

14. D — Review the consent agreement and ethical commitments

Researchers should follow the consent arrangements and applicable ethical requirements. They should not assume that participation automatically grants unrestricted permission to publish every statement.

15. A — A persistent identifier

A DOI helps identify and locate a digital object over time. A DOI alone does not guarantee an article’s accuracy, quality, open accessibility or freedom from bias.

16. B — A theoretical framework

Marxist criticism provides the concepts used to interpret class relations and economic power in the selected novels. It shapes the analytical perspective rather than serving as a sampling or storage tool.

17. C — Investigation of meanings and experiences

Qualitative research explores how people understand experiences or how meaning is constructed in texts and social contexts. It may use interviews, observations, textual analysis and other non-numerical evidence.

18. D — Reassess and refine the interpretation

Counterevidence should be examined rather than suppressed. A revised argument that explains both harmful and beneficial representations may be more convincing than an absolute claim.

19. B — Online access without a subscription barrier

Open access generally makes scholarly work freely available to readers online, subject to the relevant licence and terms. It does not automatically eliminate peer review, copyright or publication standards.

20. A — Systematic comparative textual analysis

A sound comparison requires clear selection criteria, close examination of relevant passages and an appropriate theoretical framework. The researcher should consider translation choices and their implications without selecting evidence merely to confirm a preferred conclusion.

Section D: Calculate Your Score

Each correct answer = 2 marks. No negative marking in this practice test.

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Section E: Important Revision Topics

Use this checklist to track your preparation for Unit X.

Revision checklist

0/12 completed

Operationalisation, variables and hypotheses

Positivism and interpretive approaches

Critical literature reviews and research gaps

MLA citation and Works Cited

Hermeneutics, stylistics, Marxism and feminism

Plagiarism and responsible paraphrasing

Primary sources and archival research

Sampling methods and research transparency

Triangulation, peer review and replicability

Corpus research and digital humanities

Research ethics and informed consent

Open access and digital identifiers

Exam tip: In Assertion–Reason questions, assess the truth of both statements independently before deciding whether the reason correctly explains the assertion. In matching questions, learn the defining purpose of each research method rather than memorising the answer codes. 

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