Question

Which two sentences in the following convey the same idea?

1. Wasn't there any checking at the airport?
2. I want to know if there was any checking at the airport.
3. I wonder if there should have been any checking at the airport.
4. There should have been checking at the airport.

• A. 2, 3
• B. 1, 2
• C. 3, 4
• D. 2, 4

Hint:

Check which sentences ask about the same plain fact, comparing a direct question with its indirect version.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

This question tests reading for meaning rather than reading for exact wording. Each option pairs two of the four sentences, and we need the pair that says the same thing using different grammar.

1. 2, 3: Sentence 2 asks about a plain past fact ("was there checking"), while sentence 3 asks about an expectation ("should there have been checking"). These are different ideas, so this pairing is wrong.
2. 1, 2: Sentence 1 is a direct question, "Wasn't there any checking at the airport?", and sentence 2 restates the same question indirectly, "I want to know if there was any checking at the airport." Both simply ask whether checking happened, so this pair matches.
3. 3, 4: Sentence 3 questions whether checking should have happened, and sentence 4 states that it should have happened. Both share the idea of expectation, not the plain-fact question shared by 1 and 2, so this pairing is wrong.
4. 2, 4: Sentence 2 is about a plain fact, while sentence 4 is about an expectation. These are different ideas, so this pairing is wrong.

The correct pair is sentences 1 and 2, since both simply ask whether the checking took place, just phrased as a direct question and an indirect question.

Let's summarize:

• Sentences 1 and 2 both ask about a plain past fact, using a direct question and an indirect question.
• Sentences 3 and 4 both talk about expectation or obligation using "should have been", a different idea from 1 and 2.

So the two sentences that convey the same idea are 1 and 2, option (B).