UGC NET December 2026 | English Paper-II | Mock Test–93 | PYQs MCQs
UGC NET December 2026 – English Paper II
Mock Test 3: Unit X – Research Methods and Materials in English
Research Methods Practice Paper
Total Questions
20
Maximum Marks
40
Suggested Time
25 Minutes
Marks per Question
2 marks
Examination: UGC NET December 2026
Subject: English – Paper II
Unit X: Research Methods and Materials in English
Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced
General Instructions
This paper contains 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
Each question carries 2 marks, giving a maximum score of 40.
Each question has four options: (A), (B), (C) and (D). Select the single most appropriate answer.
There is no negative marking in this practice test, consistent with the standard UGC NET marking scheme.
Attempt all questions before consulting the answer key.
The test includes conceptual, assertion–reason, statement-based, matching, case-study and application-based questions.
The questions are original practice material based on important research concepts and potential examination themes. They are not actual or guaranteed questions from the December 2026 examination.
Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions
Question 1. Research Methods — Conceptual
Which of the following best describes hermeneutics as a research approach in literary studies?
(A) The statistical measurement of literary preferences among readers.
(B) The interpretation of texts by examining meaning, context and the relationship between parts and the whole.
(C) The classification of literary works exclusively according to their publication dates.
(D) The experimental testing of scientific hypotheses through laboratory procedures.
Question 2. Bibliographic Research — Application-Based
A researcher wants to trace the publication history of a novel, identify its different editions and investigate how editorial changes have affected its interpretation. Which material would be most useful?
(A) A collection of unrelated contemporary book reviews.
(B) A general introduction to literary theory without bibliographic references.
(C) Different editions of the novel, publication records, manuscripts where available and relevant editorial documentation.
(D) A reader-preference survey conducted without reference to the novel's publication history.
Question 3. Statement-Based Question: Research Objectives
Consider the following statements about research objectives:
Research objectives should be consistent with the research problem.
Research objectives help determine the scope and direction of a study.
Research objectives should always be framed as conclusions already established before the investigation.
Research objectives may be revised when justified by the development of the research.
Choose the correct answer.
(A) Statements 1 and 2 only.
(B) Statements 1, 2 and 4 only.
(C) Statements 2 and 3 only.
(D) Statements 1, 3 and 4 only.
Question 4. Assertion–Reason: Literature Review
Assertion (A): A literature review should critically examine relevant previous scholarship rather than merely list publications.
Reason (R): Critical synthesis helps identify relationships, disagreements, limitations and unresolved questions within existing research.
Choose the correct answer.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true, but R is false.
(D) A is false, but R is true.
Question 5. Citation Styles — MLA
A researcher cites two different works by the same author in an MLA-style paper. How should the in-text citations generally distinguish between the works when the author is already named in the sentence?
(A) By using only the author's surname for both works, regardless of ambiguity.
(B) By including the author's surname, publication year and page number in every citation.
(C) By including a shortened title and the relevant page number where necessary to distinguish the works.
(D) By replacing both citations with footnotes containing no bibliographic details.
Question 6. Match the Following: Research Concepts
Match List I with List II.
List I: Concept | List II: Description |
|---|---|
A. Intertextuality | 1. Study of how readers receive and interpret texts |
B. Reception theory | 2. Relationships and references among texts |
C. Historiography | 3. Study of the writing and interpretation of history |
D. Ethnography | 4. Study of cultural practices through contextual engagement |
Choose the correct code.
(A) A–2, B–1, C–3, D–4
(B) A–1, B–2, C–4, D–3
(C) A–3, B–4, C–1, D–2
(D) A–4, B–3, C–2, D–1
Question 7. Research Ethics — Plagiarism
A researcher reads an original theoretical argument in a published article. The researcher then paraphrases the argument in their own words but does not cite the article.
Which statement is most accurate?
(A) The paraphrase is automatically acceptable because the wording is original.
(B) The researcher must acknowledge the source because the underlying idea belongs to another scholar.
(C) Citation is necessary only when the original wording is reproduced exactly.
(D) The omission is acceptable if the article is available through an open-access database.
Question 8. Research Design — Conceptual
Which of the following best describes a mixed-methods research design?
(A) A design that combines two literary genres in a single text.
(B) A design that uses qualitative and quantitative approaches within one study in a planned and integrated way.
(C) A design that uses only interviews and excludes all numerical information.
(D) A design that collects data from several sources but uses no systematic analytical procedure.
Question 9. Research Materials — Digital Archives
A scholar investigating the intellectual history of a literary movement wants to examine correspondence between two writers. Which approach is most appropriate?
(A) Use any unattributed quotation circulating on social media as definitive evidence.
(B) Rely entirely on a modern textbook without checking its references.
(C) Locate authenticated letters in relevant archives or reliable digital collections and examine their provenance and context.
(D) Treat every digitised document as unquestionably complete and historically accurate.
Question 10. Match the Following: Theoretical Approaches
Match List I with List II.
List I: Approach | List II: Main Concern |
|---|---|
A. Structuralism | 1. Gender relations, patriarchy and women's representation |
B. Feminist criticism | 2. Social class, ideology and material conditions |
C. Marxist criticism | 3. Systems of signs and underlying structures |
D. Postcolonial criticism | 4. Colonial power, identity and cultural representation |
Choose the correct code.
(A) A–3, B–1, C–2, D–4
(B) A–1, B–3, C–4, D–2
(C) A–2, B–4, C–1, D–3
(D) A–4, B–2, C–3, D–1
Question 11. Research Sampling — Application-Based
A researcher studying the experiences of first-generation university students in English literature programmes recruits initial participants and asks them to recommend other eligible participants.
Which sampling method is being used?
(A) Simple random sampling.
(B) Stratified random sampling.
(C) Snowball sampling.
(D) Systematic sampling.
Question 12. Assertion–Reason: Research Transparency
Assertion (A): Researchers should explain the procedures through which they selected and analysed their research materials.
Reason (R): Transparent procedures allow readers to assess the credibility, limitations and appropriateness of the research.
Choose the correct answer.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true, but R is false.
(D) A is false, but R is true.
Question 13. Corpus Linguistics — Application-Based
A researcher creates a corpus of speeches by selected fictional characters and investigates the frequency, collocations and contextual uses of words associated with authority.
Which statement best describes the research process?
(A) Frequency counts alone establish the complete meaning of every character's language.
(B) Corpus methods can identify linguistic patterns, which should then be interpreted in context and in relation to the research question.
(C) Corpus research is invalid whenever the material comes from literary texts.
(D) Collocation analysis eliminates the need to examine the passages in which words occur.
Question 14. Research Hypothesis — Conceptual
Which statement best describes the role of a hypothesis in research?
(A) It is a final conclusion that must never be questioned.
(B) It is a personal opinion that does not require evidence.
(C) It is a tentative proposition that can be examined against appropriate evidence, where a hypothesis is suitable for the research design.
(D) It is compulsory in every interpretive literary study, regardless of its research questions.
Question 15. Statement-Based Question: Academic Writing
Consider the following statements about scholarly writing:
Direct quotations should be reproduced accurately and appropriately acknowledged.
A research paper should distinguish its evidence from the researcher's interpretation.
A bibliography automatically corrects all citation errors in the body of a paper.
Claims should be supported by relevant evidence and appropriate scholarly sources.
Choose the correct answer.
(A) Statements 1 and 3 only.
(B) Statements 2 and 3 only.
(C) Statements 1, 2 and 4 only.
(D) All four statements.
Question 16. Case Study: Research Gap
A researcher studies representations of urban alienation in selected contemporary novels. A preliminary literature review reveals substantial research on class and migration but limited attention to the relationship between urban soundscapes and narrative perspective.
What is the most defensible next step?
(A) Declare that no previous research on urban alienation exists.
(B) Formulate a focused research question and systematically verify the proposed gap against the relevant scholarship.
(C) Exclude all earlier studies because they address related themes.
(D) Select the conclusion first and gather only evidence that supports it.
Question 17. Research Validity — Conceptual
A researcher uses a questionnaire to measure students' attitudes towards Shakespearean drama. However, most questions measure how frequently students attend theatre performances rather than their attitudes towards the plays.
Which concern is most directly raised?
(A) Construct validity, because the questionnaire may not adequately measure the intended concept.
(B) Citation validity, because every questionnaire must use MLA citations.
(C) Textual authenticity, because questionnaires are not literary manuscripts.
(D) Sampling interval, because all research must select every fifth participant.
Question 18. Research Reporting — Application-Based
A researcher finds that a proposed interpretation of a poem is supported by several passages but challenged by another important passage. What should the researcher do in a well-argued paper?
(A) Omit the challenging passage to make the argument appear conclusive.
(B) Present only the passages that confirm the initial interpretation.
(C) Acknowledge and analyse the challenging passage, refining or qualifying the argument where necessary.
(D) Replace textual analysis with an unsupported statement of personal belief.
Question 19. Open Access and Scholarly Publishing — Conceptual
Which statement about open-access research publishing is correct?
(A) Every open-access journal is automatically peer-reviewed and academically reliable.
(B) Open access generally allows readers to access scholarly material without a subscription barrier, but journal quality and editorial practices still require evaluation.
(C) Open-access publications cannot be cited in scholarly research.
(D) Open access means that authors never retain any rights over their work.
Question 20. Integrated Case Study: Research Methodology
A researcher compares the representation of ecological crisis in selected works by two contemporary English-language novelists. The study includes close reading, a review of ecocritical scholarship and a digital analysis of recurring environmental vocabulary.
Which approach offers the strongest methodological foundation?
(A) Treat vocabulary frequency as the only valid form of interpretation and ignore narrative context.
(B) Use ecocritical theory as a substitute for examining the primary texts.
(C) Integrate contextual close reading, relevant scholarship and carefully explained corpus procedures, acknowledging the strengths and limitations of each method.
(D) Select only the passages that confirm the researcher's preferred conclusion and disregard contradictory evidence.
Section B: Answer Key
Question | Correct Answer | Question | Correct Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | B | 11 | C |
2 | C | 12 | A |
3 | B | 13 | B |
4 | A | 14 | C |
5 | C | 15 | C |
6 | A | 16 | B |
7 | B | 17 | A |
8 | B | 18 | C |
9 | C | 19 | B |
10 | A | 20 | C |
Section C: Detailed Answers and Explanations
1
Answer: (B) Interpretation of texts through meaning and context
Hermeneutics examines how texts are interpreted. The relationship between individual passages and the text as a whole is often called the hermeneutic circle.
2
Answer: (C) Editions, publication records and manuscripts
Bibliographic and textual research investigates publication history, textual transmission, editions and editorial changes. These materials help establish the basis for textual interpretation.
3
Answer: (B) Statements 1, 2 and 4 only
Objectives guide the scope and direction of a study. They may be refined when justified by new findings or practical constraints, but they should not simply state predetermined conclusions.
4
Answer: (A) Both statements are true, and R explains A
Critical synthesis identifies debates, patterns, limitations and unanswered questions. It helps establish how a proposed study relates to existing scholarship.
5
Answer: (C) Shortened title and page number
MLA citations distinguish multiple works by the same author through a shortened title when needed. The Works Cited entries provide the complete publication details.
6
Answer: (A) A–2, B–1, C–3, D–4
Intertextuality concerns relationships among texts; reception theory examines readers' responses; historiography studies the writing of history; ethnography investigates cultural practices in context.
7
Answer: (B) Acknowledge the original scholar
Paraphrasing changes the wording, not the intellectual ownership of an idea. Appropriate citation is still required.
8
Answer: (B) Integrated qualitative and quantitative approaches
Mixed-methods research combines qualitative and quantitative evidence in a planned way to address a research problem more comprehensively.
9
Answer: (C) Authenticated archival letters
Primary documents can provide direct historical evidence. Their provenance, authenticity, completeness and context must be examined before drawing conclusions.
10
Answer: (A) A–3, B–1, C–2, D–4
Structuralism studies underlying systems and signs; feminist criticism examines gender and patriarchy; Marxist criticism focuses on class and ideology; postcolonial criticism examines colonial power and cultural identity.
11
Answer: (C) Snowball sampling
In snowball sampling, existing participants help researchers identify further eligible participants. It is often useful for reaching groups that are difficult to recruit through conventional methods.
12
Answer: (A) Both statements are true, and R explains A
Explaining selection and analytical procedures allows readers to assess the credibility, scope and limitations of the research.
13
Answer: (B) Identify patterns and interpret them in context
Corpus linguistics can reveal frequency patterns and collocations. Interpretation still requires attention to context, speaker, narrative and research objectives.
14
Answer: (C) A tentative proposition tested against evidence
A hypothesis is a provisional proposition that can be investigated where appropriate. Exploratory and interpretive literary research may instead be guided by research questions without a formal hypothesis.
15
Answer: (C) Statements 1, 2 and 4 only
Accurate quotations, a clear distinction between evidence and interpretation, and properly supported claims are essential to scholarly writing. A bibliography does not automatically correct missing or inaccurate in-text citations.
16
Answer: (B) Formulate and verify a focused research question
A defensible research gap emerges from systematic engagement with relevant scholarship. Related existing research must be acknowledged rather than dismissed.
17
Answer: (A) Construct validity
Construct validity concerns whether an instrument adequately represents the concept it is intended to measure. Theatre attendance alone does not necessarily measure attitudes towards Shakespeare's plays.
18
Answer: (C) Analyse the challenging evidence
A strong argument considers counterevidence and alternative interpretations. A researcher may refine or qualify the thesis rather than conceal material that complicates it.
19
Answer: (B) Access without a subscription barrier, subject to quality evaluation
Open access improves access to research, but it does not automatically establish peer-review quality, editorial credibility or methodological soundness.
20
Answer: (C) Integrate contextual reading and corpus procedures
Combining computational patterns, close reading and ecocritical scholarship can produce a stronger interpretation when the researcher explains the procedures and acknowledges each method's limitations.
Section D: Score Calculator
Check Your Performance
Enter the number of correct answers to calculate your score out of 40.
Calculate ScoreHigh-Priority Revision Topics for December 2026
Hermeneutics and the interpretation of literary texts.
Textual criticism, textual bibliography and archival research.
Literature reviews, research gaps and formulation of research questions.
MLA citation practices, plagiarism and academic integrity.
Qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research.
Structuralism, feminist criticism, Marxist criticism and postcolonial criticism.
Sampling methods, research validity and transparency.
Corpus linguistics, digital humanities and scholarly publishing.
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