UGC NET December 2026 | English Paper-II | Mock Test–98 | PYQs MCQs
UGC NET December 2026 – English Paper II
Mock Test 8: Unit X – Research Methods and Materials in English
Practice Examination
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
The test contains 20 multiple-choice questions.
Each question has four options: A, B, C and D.
Choose the single best answer for each question.
Each correct answer carries 2 marks.
There is no negative marking in this practice test.
Attempt all questions before checking the answer key.
The questions are original practice material, not actual or guaranteed questions from the UGC NET examination.
Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions
Question 1. Research Design
A researcher investigates how representations of childhood change in English novels published between 1850 and 1950. The researcher selects novels from different decades and compares their portrayals of family, education and social class.
Which research design is most appropriate?
A. Comparative historical research B. Laboratory experiment C. Randomised clinical trial D. Purely statistical sampling without textual analysis
Question 2. Validity of Evidence
A researcher claims that a novel represents an entire historical period but bases the argument on only one isolated sentence.
What is the principal methodological weakness?
A. The sentence must be a secondary source. B. The claim may exceed what the limited evidence can support. C. Literary research cannot use quotations. D. The research automatically becomes quantitative.
Question 3. Statement-Based Question
Consider the following statements about archival research.
Archival documents may include letters, diaries, manuscripts and institutional records.
The provenance and historical context of documents can affect their interpretation.
Every document found in an archive is necessarily authentic and unbiased.
Researchers should consider the purpose and circumstances in which a document was created.
Choose the correct answer.
A. 1 and 2 only B. 1, 2 and 4 only C. 2 and 3 only D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Question 4. Assertion–Reason: Research Objectives
Assertion (A): Research objectives should be specific enough to guide the investigation.
Reason (R): Clear objectives help researchers determine the scope, evidence and methods required for the 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 In-Text Citation
A researcher refers to a book by James Miller. The author is already named in the sentence, and the quotation comes from page 91.
Which citation is most appropriate in MLA author-page style?
A. (Miller, 2020, page 91) B. (James Miller: 91) C. (91, Miller) D. (91)
Question 6. Match the Following
Match each research concept in List I with the correct description in List II.
List I | List II |
|---|---|
1. Deconstruction | a. Examines the relationships between literary works and social or environmental environments |
2. Ecocriticism | b. Questions binary oppositions and the stability of textual meaning |
3. Reception studies | c. Investigates readers’ responses and the historical reception of texts |
4. Digital humanities | d. Uses digital methods and computational tools to investigate humanities questions |
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 7. Avoiding Plagiarism
A researcher wants to include a paragraph from another scholar’s article. The paragraph contains an important argument.
Which approach is academically appropriate?
A. Copy the paragraph without citation because the argument is important. B. Change a few words and present the paragraph as original. C. Either quote it accurately with appropriate attribution or paraphrase it genuinely and cite the source. D. Cite the article only if the original author asks for acknowledgement.
Question 8. Research Gap
A review of scholarship reveals extensive research on colonial representations of India in British fiction, but comparatively little on how Indian English-language fiction challenges those representations in a particular period.
Which is the strongest next step?
A. Claim that colonialism has never been studied before. B. Formulate a focused research question and verify the apparent gap through further relevant scholarship. C. Avoid consulting additional research because the gap is already obvious. D. Include every novel published in India without defining a corpus.
Question 9. Qualitative Research
A researcher conducts semi-structured interviews with teachers about their experiences of teaching Shakespeare. The interviews are transcribed and analysed to identify recurring themes.
Which statement best describes this research?
A. It is qualitative research using interviews and thematic analysis. B. It is necessarily an experiment because teachers are interviewed. C. It is exclusively quantitative because the transcripts contain words. D. It is bibliometric research because Shakespeare is a published author.
Question 10. Match the Following
Match each concept in List I with the correct description in List II.
List I | List II |
|---|---|
1. Inter-rater reliability | a. The extent to which an instrument measures the intended concept |
2. Construct validity | b. The degree of agreement between different evaluators |
3. Sampling bias | c. A systematic distortion caused by how a sample is selected |
4. Informed consent | d. Voluntary agreement based on adequate information about participation |
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 11. Research Sampling
A researcher wants to study the experiences of first-generation university students reading English literature. The researcher deliberately recruits students who meet that specific criterion.
Which sampling technique is being used?
A. Simple random sampling B. Systematic sampling C. Purposive sampling D. Unrestricted convenience sampling of any available student
Question 12. Assertion–Reason: Research Findings
Assertion (A): A researcher should report findings that contradict the original hypothesis when those findings are supported by the evidence.
Reason (R): Selectively suppressing contradictory findings can distort the research record and weaken the credibility of the 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 13. Bibliometrics
A researcher examines the number of citations received by articles in a literary journal over ten years to investigate patterns of scholarly influence.
Which approach is most directly involved?
A. Ethnography B. Bibliometrics C. Psychoanalytic criticism D. Oral history
Question 14. Evaluating Online Sources
A researcher finds a digitised manuscript on an unfamiliar website. The website does not identify the manuscript’s holding institution or provide information about its origin.
What should the researcher do before relying on the document?
A. Accept it as authentic because it is digitised. B. Cite the website without checking any details. C. Assume that every digital copy reproduces the original accurately. D. Investigate provenance, compare it with authoritative catalogues or institutional records, and assess the reliability of the digitisation.
Question 15. Research Proposal
Which component of a research proposal explains how the proposed project will be carried out?
A. The methodology or research design section B. The title alone C. The acknowledgements section D. The author’s biography alone
Question 16. Citation and Bibliography
Which statement best describes the difference between a Works Cited list and a broader bibliography in common academic usage?
A. A Works Cited list contains only websites, while a bibliography contains only books. B. They always contain exactly the same sources in every referencing style. C. A Works Cited list generally identifies works cited in the text, while a broader bibliography may also include works consulted but not directly cited, depending on the style. D. Neither section is necessary when a paper contains quotations.
Question 17. Digital Text Analysis
A researcher uses software to identify recurring phrases in a large collection of political speeches. The researcher then reads selected passages closely to understand how the phrases function rhetorically.
This approach combines:
A. Archival research and random sampling only B. Computational text analysis and close reading C. Experimental psychology and laboratory testing D. Bibliography compilation and peer review only
Question 18. Researcher Bias
A researcher expects a particular novel to support a feminist interpretation and notices that most of the selected passages support this view.
Which practice would best strengthen the study?
A. Exclude every passage that complicates the interpretation. B. Avoid explaining how passages were selected. C. Claim that the preferred interpretation is objectively beyond question. D. Explain the selection process, examine counterexamples and consider alternative interpretations.
Question 19. Open Science and Transparency
Which practice most directly improves the transparency of a research project, when ethically and legally appropriate?
A. Clearly documenting methods, selection criteria and analytical decisions B. Withholding the methods so that nobody can evaluate the study C. Reporting only the findings that support the researcher’s expectations D. Removing all information about how conclusions were reached
Question 20. Application-Based Research Design
A researcher compares the treatment of memory and trauma in selected novels by two contemporary authors. The researcher wants to analyse narrative techniques and also consider the historical context in which the novels were written.
Which design is most suitable?
A. Count the number of chapters and use that as the sole evidence. B. Analyse only the authors’ biographies without reading the novels. C. Combine comparative close reading with contextual historical research and a clearly defined theoretical framework. D. Select only the passages that produce identical interpretations of both authors.
Section B: Answer Key
Question | Correct Answer | Question | Correct Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | A | 11 | C |
2 | B | 12 | A |
3 | B | 13 | B |
4 | A | 14 | D |
5 | D | 15 | A |
6 | A | 16 | C |
7 | C | 17 | B |
8 | B | 18 | D |
9 | A | 19 | A |
10 | A | 20 | C |
Section C: Detailed Answers and Explanations
1. A — Comparative historical research
The researcher compares novels from different decades to identify changes over time. The historical dimension helps situate literary representations within their social and cultural contexts.
2. B — The claim exceeds the available evidence
A broad historical claim requires adequate and representative evidence. One isolated sentence may support a limited observation, but it cannot automatically establish a claim about an entire period.
3. B — Statements 1, 2 and 4 only
Archival materials can include letters, diaries, manuscripts and institutional records. Researchers must assess their provenance, context, purpose and reliability because archival documents are not automatically authentic or unbiased.
4. A — Both statements are true, and the reason explains the assertion
Specific objectives help researchers define the boundaries of a project and identify appropriate evidence and methods. Vague objectives make it harder to evaluate whether the study has achieved its aims.
5. D — (91)
In MLA author-page style, when the author's name is already incorporated into the sentence, the parenthetical citation generally contains only the page number. For example: Miller argues that “...” (91).
6. A — 1–b, 2–a, 3–c, 4–d
Deconstruction: Questions assumptions and binary oppositions in texts.
Ecocriticism: Examines literature in relation to environmental concerns.
Reception studies: Investigates readers’ responses and historical reception.
Digital humanities: Applies digital and computational approaches to humanities research.
7. C — Quote accurately or paraphrase genuinely, with attribution
Direct quotations require appropriate quotation formatting and citation. Paraphrased arguments also require acknowledgement because changing the wording does not make another scholar’s ideas original.
8. B — Formulate a focused question and verify the gap
A research gap must be established through a careful review of relevant scholarship. The researcher should identify a manageable corpus, formulate a specific question and avoid exaggerated claims about the absence of earlier research.
9. A — Qualitative interviews and thematic analysis
Semi-structured interviews collect detailed accounts of participants’ experiences. Thematic analysis helps identify and interpret recurring patterns of meaning in the transcripts.
10. A — 1–b, 2–a, 3–c, 4–d
Inter-rater reliability: Agreement between evaluators.
Construct validity: Whether a measure adequately represents the concept it intends to measure.
Sampling bias: Systematic distortion introduced through sample selection.
Informed consent: Voluntary participation based on adequate information.
11. C — Purposive sampling
The researcher deliberately selects participants who meet a specific criterion relevant to the study. Here, the participants are first-generation university students.
12. A — Both statements are true, and the reason explains the assertion
Research findings must be reported honestly, even when they contradict expectations. Suppressing contradictory evidence creates a misleading account of the research.
13. B — Bibliometrics
Bibliometrics uses quantitative analysis of publications, citations and related scholarly records to investigate patterns of research and scholarly communication.
14. D — Verify provenance and reliability
Digitisation does not automatically establish authenticity. Researchers should investigate the source institution, catalogue information, provenance and the accuracy of the digital representation.
15. A — Methodology or research design
This section explains how the project will be conducted, including the methods, materials, selection criteria and analytical procedures.
16. C — Works Cited versus a broader bibliography
A Works Cited list generally records works cited in the text. A bibliography may also include sources consulted but not directly cited, depending on the referencing style and assignment requirements.
17. B — Computational text analysis and close reading
Software can identify patterns across large collections, while close reading helps explain the significance of selected examples. Combining the two allows researchers to connect broad patterns with contextual interpretation.
18. D — Explain selection, examine counterexamples and consider alternatives
Researchers should acknowledge the possibility of bias and test interpretations against the evidence. Considering contradictory passages and alternative explanations makes an argument more rigorous.
19. A — Document methods and analytical decisions
Transparent reporting allows readers to understand how the research was conducted and assess the reasoning behind its conclusions. Ethical, legal and confidentiality requirements still apply when sharing research materials.
20. C — Comparative close reading and contextual historical research
Close reading supports detailed analysis of narrative techniques, while historical research situates the novels within their contexts. A clearly defined theoretical framework connects these elements to the research question.
Section D: Calculate Your Score
Each correct answer earns 2 marks. No negative marking in this practice test.
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Exam preparation tip: Practise explaining why the correct option is methodologically sound and why the distractors are weaker. This approach builds understanding rather than relying on memorised answer patterns.
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