CDS 2008 English Question Paper -2

ORDERING OF SENTENCES

Directions (For the 19 items which follow): Each of the following 19 items consists of a word in capital letters, followed by four words or group of words. Select the word or group of words that is furthest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

INSUPERABLE
- Predictable
- Surmountable
- Countable
- Unendurable
EXONERATED
- Implicated
- Criticised
- Condemned
- Convicted
NADIR
- Zenith
- Climax
- Peak
- The lowest point
EVASIVE
- Unreliable
- Tricky
- Straightforward
- Elusive
SCRUPULOUS
- Lax
- Shameful
- Awful
- Pitiful
AMENABLE
- Obedient
- Diplomatic
- Stubborn
- Answerable
ENIGMATIC
- Lethargic
- Unambiguous
- Wrangling
- Obscure
ABHORRENCE
- Admiration
- Abomination
- Repulsion
- Acceptance
DILAPIDATED
- Costly
- Well-furnished
- Broken-down
- Renovated
LOQUACIOUS
- Flamboyant
- Silent
- Dispirited
- Dumb
LOFTY
- Mean
- Glorious
- Envious
- Devilish
OSTENTATION
- Miserliness
- Simplicity
- Purity
- Innocence
TEMPORAL
- Serious
- Political
- Eternal
- Divine
VERDANT
- Dry
- Green
- Beautiful
- Water-logged
INFERNAL
- Paradisiac
- Majestic
- Peaceful
- Graceful
IMPUDENT
- Brave
- Gentle
- Polite
- Boisterous
HERETICAL
- Pious
- Orthodox
- Superstitious
- Outdated
OBSCURE
- Filthy
- Unknown
- Untidy
- Well known
PLIABLE
- Wilful
- Stubborn
- Firm
- Opinionated

COMPREHENSION

Directions (For the 25 items which follow): In this Section you have FIVE short passages. After each passage, you will find several questions based on the passage. First, read a passage, and then answer the questions based on it. You are required to select your answers based on the contents of the passage and opinion of the author only.

Passage – I

The New Year is a time for resolutions. Mentally at least, most of us could compile formidable lists of do’s and don’ts. The same old favourites recur year in and year out with monotonous regularity. Past experience has taught us that certain accomplishments are beyond attainment. If we remain inveterate smokers, it is only because we have so often experienced the frustration that results from failure. Most of us fail in our efforts at self improvement because our schemes are too ambitious and we never have time to carry them out. We also make the fundamental error of announcing our resolutions to everybody so that we look even more foolish when we slip back into our old bad ways.

The author seems to think that others
- feel happy when we slip back to our old ways
- do not really want us to improve ourselves
- are ready to tease and laugh at our attempts
- might embarrass us by praising our attempts
The author says that most of us fail in our attempts at self-improvement because
- we set too high goals for ourselves
- we do not have the persistence of mind
- our nature is such that we cannot become perfect
- certain imperfections have become a part and parcel of our lives
The author seems to imply that many are inveterate smokers because
- they have not really tried to give up smoking
- they know from past experience that they can never succeed in their attempt to give up
- they want to forget the frustration of not smoking
- they do not have the will power to stop smoking
The same old favourites recur … with monotonous regularity’ implies that
- We want to be so perfect that we include some items regularly
- we have been so regularly doing certain things that they have become monotonous
- in spite of repeated failures ,we still would like to try one more time
- some favourite actions if repeated often could become monotonous
The phrase ‘formidable lists of do’s and don’ts’ means that
- the bad points of our character are formidable
- the list is so long that it is frightening
- the things that need to be included is frightening
- the realisation that we are so imperfect is frightening

Passage – II

Deriving your authority from the government, your position would secure the respect and consideration of everyone, especially in a service where official rank carries so much weight. This would secure to you every attention and comfort on your way and there, together with a complete submission to your orders. I know these things are a matter of indifference to you except so far as they may further the great objects you have in view, but they are of importance in themselves, and of every importance to those who have a right to take an interest in your personal position and comfort.

The above passage most probably is a part of a
- speech
- official communication
- written report
- personal letter
The writer’s attitude towards the person addressed is characterised by
- Officiousness
- flattery
- humility
- arrogance
The person addressed is most likely a
- Social worker
- government servant
- commercial agent
- foreign dignitary
The writer is asking his reader to accept
- great objects
- a respected position
- an official rank
- a significant assignment
‘The great objects’ in the passage means
- Significant items
- Noble goals
- Precious merchandise
- Objects of praise

Passage – III

While I stood drinking in he beauty of this placid scene I became conscious of an alteration. In a moment the sole porter emerged from his midday nap, operated a signal that clanked noisily into position, and then ambled slowly towards me for my return-half-ticket, whilst I remarked that his red amiable face and easygoing gait were in perfect harmony with the tranquil surroundings. A wisp of smoke on the horizon with a dark snake crawling beneath it announced the approach of the train. As it drew nearer, the deep silence of the place was gradually displaced by a creaking of brakes and a hissing of steam. Save for myself, no one entered the train and no one alighted. The porter with leisurely expertness, trundled a couple of milk churns on board, the door was slammed, the guard signalled to the driver, and we moved off, leaving the small station once more to its drowsy silence.

The meaning of drowsy is
- Untidy
- Sleepy
- Freezing
- Drugged
The central idea of the passage is
- Leisure and Peace
- Hurry and Noise
- Activity
- The Porter
Who had amid day nap ?
- The author
- The passenger
- The Station-master
- The porter
Who/what does first break the silence of the station ?
- The train
- The porter
- The passenger
- Milk churns
What does the author suggest by the word ‘placid’ ?
- The scene was filled with noise of the train
- The place was filled with lively humanity
- The place was quite and lonely
- The horizon looked smoke laden

Passage – IV

It happened one day, about noon, going towards my boat, I was exceedingly surprised with the print of a man’s naked Font the chore. which was veto. plain to be seen in the sand. I stood like one thunder-struck, or as if I had seen an apparition. I listened, I looked round me, I could hear nothing, nor see anything. I went up the shore, and down the shore, but it was all one; I could see no other impression but that one. I went to it again to see if there were anymore, and to observe if it might not be my fancy; but there was no room for that, for there was exactly the very print of a foot toes, heel and every part of a foot.

The passage is full of short simple sentences.

Their purpose is to

facilitate easy understanding
give a plain narration
convey breathless excitement
imply the inability of the author tow rite in a better way

Which one of these expressions best brings out the effect of the foot-print on the author?
- Seen an apparition
- Stood like one thunder-struck
- Went up the shore
- Looked round himself
How does the author convince himself that the foot-print is a real one ?
- By finding the person who made it
- By being told about it by a witness
- By thinking about it for sometime
- By examining it carefully and noticing its details
Which one of the following words best describes the emotion evoked by the footprint in the author?
- Curiosity
- Indifference
- Fear
- Surprise
On finding the foot-print on the shore, what did the author do?
- Did not pay much attention to it
- Observed it with curiosity
- Began to investigate its origin
- Ran away in fear

Passage – V

He dropped off to sleep. The cigarette slipped out of his mouth and burnt a great black hole in his only shirt. The smart of the burn awoke him, and he got up, cursing under his breath, and fumbled in the dark for a needle in order to sew up the hole. Otherwise his wife would see it in the morning and would hag away at him for a couple of hours. But he could not find a needle. He fell asleep again.

Which one of the following statements best sums up the man’s reaction to his problem?
- The man is extremely upset to find the shirt burnt and frantically tries to repair the damage
- The hole in the shirt and the wife’s anticipated nagging are minor problems, the greater one is that the man cannot find a needle
- Neither the shirt hole nor the nagging nor the lack of a needle is of great consequence
- The man is terrified of his wife and dreads her discovering the burnt shirt
The man wanted to sew the hole because
- He wanted to avoid being scolded by his wife
- he had nothing else to do
- he had no other shirt
- he wanted to sleep again
The man got up to search for a needle because
- His wife would be very upset
- the cigarette had damaged his only shirt
- he wanted to mend the shirt
- the burn-hole was huge and black
The man woke up in the dark because
- the cigarette had burnt his favourite shirt
- the cigarette had burnt his only shirt
- the cigarette had to be lit again
- the cigarette had burnt him
The cigarette fell out of the man’s mouth because
- he fell off his stool
- he was surprised to see that it had made a hole in his shirt
- he fell a sleep while smoking
- he fumbled in the dark for a needle

SPOTTING ERRORS

Directions (For the 18 items which follow):

In this Section a number of sentences are given. The sentences are underlined in three separate parts and each one is labelled (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence to find out whether there is an error in any underlined part. No sentence has more than one error. When you find an error in any one of the underlined parts (a), (b) or (c), indicate your response on the separate Answer Sheet at the appropriate space. You may feel that there is no error in a sentence. In that case letter (d) will signify a ‘No error’ response.
You are to indicate only one response for each item in your Answer Sheet. (If you indicate more than one response, your answer will be considered wrong : Errors may be in grammar word usage or idioms. They may be a word missing or there may be a word which should be removed.

You are not required to correct the error. You are required only to indicate your response on the Answer Sheet.

The watch is a value be present my uncle and and it costed him more than two
(a) (b)
thousand rupees. No error.

The question is often raised that whether it is desirable to send Indian students abroad
(a) (b)
since they rately return. No error.

The work of and uneducated farmer is far important than that of a professor,
(a) (b) (c)

No error.

(d)

Every man is conditioned by the age in which he lives, and if he were ot return ot
(a) (b)
another age he would not be happy. No error.

Language is a skill activity by which fine distinctions on meaning can be made for a
(a) (b)
better understanding of behaviour. No error.

If you don’t start behaving properly, I will be forced to tell to your supervisor. No
(a) (b) (c)

(d)

The reason why the plane crashed as soon as it took off is the failure of one of the
(a) (b) (c)
engines. No error.

(d)

He went in the room opened a box and took out a gun. No error.
(a) (b) (c) (d)

Thousands of people far and near started gathering outside the auditorium from early
(a) (b)
morning to pay their tributes to the departed leader No error.

Nobody in their senes would have acted so. No error.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
I was baffled with the instructions he gave me. No error.

I always like to have about four toasts for breakfast. No error.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
She could not believe that it had all happened to her. No error.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
People shouldn’t drop litter on pavements, should they? No error.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
He had no objection to forward my application to the higher authority. No error
(a) (b) (c) (d)
When the plane landed he found that one of the wings is damaged by a shell. No
(a) (b) (c)

(d)

My friend has got an appointment in a television company some three months ago No error.

During the earthquake people listened a strange noise and rushed out of homes. No
(a) (b) (c)

(d)

Directions (For the 5 items which follow): You are given four alternative meanings to each idiom/ phrase. Choose the most appropriate one.

CAUGHTUPWITH
- Conversed
- Tackled
- Arrested
- Overlook
INTHE GUISE OF
- In the cloak of
- In the colour of
- In the semblance of
- In the pretence of
THREWDOWNTHEGAUNTLET
- Challenged
- Protested
- Defeated
- Surpassed
UNDERDURESS
- With superstition
- According to merit
- Under compulsion
- In good faith
BANKUPON
- Accumulate
- Consequent upon
- Guess
- Depend upon

ORDERINGOF SENTENCES

Directions(For the 15 items which follow): In the following items, each passage consists of six sentences. The first sentence (S₁) and the final sentence (S₆) are given in the beginning. The middle four sentences in each have been removed and jumbled up. These are labelled P, Q R and S. You are required to find out the proper sequence of the four sentences and mark accordingly on the Answer Sheet.

S₁ : The life of early men had advantages and disadvantages.

S₆ : On the whole, there was friendship and amity within the tribes.

P : Then, they had enough physical exercise which made them healthy and active.

Q : They could roam for months without fear of meeting a stranger.

R : One of the advantages was that they were not overcrowded.

S: They lived in small tribes where everybody knew everybody else.

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

Q S R P
R QP S
S P R Q
P RQ S

S₁ : My journey was to last for thirty-six hours.

S₆ : In the steel trunk under the seat there was a bag containing two hundred rupees that did not belong to me.

P : Every mile of the country through which the train was running, was interesting.

Q : Yet I was not happy.

R : I had the carriage for myself.

S : The train would stop for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

R S P Q
S QP R
P QS R
R PQ S

S₁ : There was a check-post for passing vehicles at a village called Gobindapur, a short distance from where the road to Dhanbad branched off from the Grand Trunk Road.

S₆ : He asked me more than once if I was sure that the man had noted the number down.

P : When I came sufficiently near, he moved back and the barrier was lifted.

Q : I slowed down and found a man coming forward with pencil and book in hand.

R : I told uncle that the man had taken down the number of the car, adding that it was a routine practice.

S : As I approached it, I saw the barrier coming down slowly.

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

R QP S
Q R P S
S QP R
R S P Q

S₁ : The ancestors of whales, it is said, lived on land, for they still have slight traces of hind-legs.

S₆ : He has flippers on his sides to keep him balanced and layers of fat or oil under the skin which furnish heat and make the huge body light and buoyant.

P : But ages ago, whales changed their home moving from the land to the sea.

Q : He is shaped like a submarine boat, with a tail turned into a power paddle.

R : The whale is suited to live in water.

S : They are warm-blooded animals, and feed their babies as land mammals do.

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

P R S Q
S P R Q
R QP S
Q P R S

S₁: Gopal worked as a labourer at the building site.

S₆ : He anscrewed the lid and found a valuable collection of old silver in it.

P : But Gopal made a bid and he got the box.

Q : There was no key to it and it seemed useless but Gopal took it home.

R : Once while returning from his work Gopal stopped at an auction sale.

S : No one seemed to want a rough old box when it was put up for sale.

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

S P R Q
S R P Q
R S P Q
R PQ S

S₁ : I had not seen my father for several years.

S₆ : His words sank deep into my heart.

P : I met him late one evening in his flat.

Q : I wrote him a note suggesting a very early meeting.

R : He listened to my story in silence.

S : When he spoke, his voice was soft but without warmth.
Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

Q S R P
P QR S
Q P R S
Q P S R

S₁ : There is no reason for the terror which the sight of a snake causes in most people.

S₆ : Being aggressive by nature, they can attack human beings for no reason at all, taking a fisherman or swimmer by surprise in the water, where the man is somewhat helpless.

P : Of the poisonous snakes, only those found in the sea are always dangerous.

Q : They are only too anxious to avoid human beings.

R : Many more people are killed, much more frequently by motor-cycles and cigarettes than by snakes.

S : The majority of snakes are harmless.

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

S QR P
R SQ P
R PQ S
P QR S

S₁ : One day I went into the water off the coast of Africa.

S₆ : I hurled at him the rubber fins.

P : I sighted a shark at short distance from me.

Q : He launched towards me as hard and swift as a missile.

R : I was floating at a shallow depth, without making a movement.

S : Every muscle of my body tensed.

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

P SQ R
S QR P
R P S Q
P QS R

S₁ : The clerk read the statement loudly and clearly.

S₆ : They returned in five minutes.

P : The judge brought down the gavel sharply and roared.

Q : He told the jury to return a lawful verdict.

R: We, the jury. Find the defendant not guilty, provided he returns the mule.

S : There is not such verdict in the law; the defendant is either guilty or not guilty.

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

R P S Q
R S P Q
Q R P S
P S R Q

S₁ : Some people prefer country life to city life.

S₆ : For these reasons more and more people are leaving the country to live in the city.

P : Life in the country is quieter, cleaner and less hectic.

Q : The city also offers more privacy since neighbours are too busy to be interfering in the affairs of others.

R : However, the city offers more excitement, a wide variety of activities and a chance to meet more people.

S : Country people five longer and generally seem to be healthier and happier.

Which one of the following is the correct sequence

P S R Q
S RQ P
R QP S
Q P S R

S_l : When my car broke down, I took it to the only mechanic available in our town.

S₆ : They pushed the car down one street and up another and soon we had gone through most of the, streets in the town but the car wouldn’t start.

P : But it just refused to start.

Q : I went there at the appointed time to collect it.

R : So I sat at the wheel and the mechanic and his helper started to push it.

S : He said it required some minor repairs and asked me to collect it in the evening.

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

S QP R
Q S R P
R PQ S
P QR S

S₁ : Dinner had been served-his daughter laid out the plates.

S₆ : Then, silently she left the table to retire for the night-it was as if she had never been there.

P : She was just a child, only 14-too young, too simple to know to understand.

Q : He sat down groundly, not saying a word to her.

R : She had already had her meal and was standing by his side, not quite knowing what to do.

S : Bread and cheese-a simple subsistence at the end of a not-so-simple life.

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

Q P S R
R P S Q
Q R P S
S QP R

S₁ : It was a bitterly cold night and even at the far end of the bus the wind cut like a knife.

S₆ : I saw trouble brewing.

P : The conductor came in and took the fares.

Q : The younger of the two women was dressed in sealskin and carried one of those little Pekinese dogs that women like to carry in their laps.

R : The bus stopped, and two women and a man got in together and filled the vacant places.

S : Then his eyes tested with cold malice on the beady-eyed little dog.

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

R QP S
R SQ P
R PQ S
P S R Q

S₁ : The officer rose to his feet, trembling.

S₆ : A half-hour later he returned to camp.

P : He failed to find him there.

Q : Pulling himself together, he ran rapidly away from the cliff to a point a half-mile from its foot.

R : He was disappointed.

S : He expected to find the horseman somewhere there.
Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

R PQ S
Q P S R
Q S P R
S QP R

S₁ : It was Saturday.

S₆ : The children had already bought roasted gram and peanuts to get into a picnic mood.

P : A taxi carried us all to the zoo.

Q : They wanted to be taken out and we decided to take them to the local zoo.

R : My sister’s two young children were at our house.

S : We bought the tickets and entered the zoo.
Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

R QS P
R PQ S
R QP S
P RQ S

ORDERING OFWORDS IN A SENTENCE

Directions (For the 20 items which follow): In the following items, some parts of the sentence have been jumbled up. You are required to re-arrange these parts which are labelled P, Q R and S to produce the correct sentence. Choose the proper sequence and mark in your Answer Sheet accordingly.

Please equally share the prize money that all are satisfied among your friends to make
(P) (Q) (R) (S)
sure

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

Q R S P
P QS R
Q P R S
Q P S R

You can learn and can be quite difficult as well as the difficult ones the easy things
(P) (Q) (R)

although the easy ones are not so easy

(S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

S P R Q
P QR S
Q S P R
R QS P

We met this evening on our way home Mr and Mrs Gupta and asked them if they
(P) (Q) (R)
would be free

(S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

Q R P S
P QR S
R QS P
R QP S

after his arrival immediately he began to quarrel with his wife

(P) (Q) (R) (S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

Q R S P
P QR S
Q P R S
R QS P

in the middle of he stopped his speech to take a glass of water

(P) (Q) (R) (S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

Q R S P
Q R P S
Q P R S
P QR S

The man made a complaint at the police station whose cycle was stolen

(P) (Q) (R) (S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

P QR S
P R S Q
P SQ R
R PQ S

the clerk was not present in the office whom I wanted to meet

(P) (Q) (R) (S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

P SQ R
P QR S
P R S Q
R PQ S

Nobody in the house was kept where the key seemed to know to the main door

(P) (Q) (R) (S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

R QP S
Q P R S
S QP R
R QS P

A tortoise fly in the air two geese everyday watched

(P) (Q) (R) (S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

S QP R
R SQ P
P SQ R
R P S Q

If in their daily lives the people of our country and never deceive one another

(P) (Q)

always speak the truth then out prestige will be great

(R) (S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

P QR S
RQPS
S PQ R
P RQ S

The clothes were sent by mistake to my father who was very much surprised that I
(P) (Q) (R)
ordered

(S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

S QP R
P QS R
P QR S
S PQ R

The President a brief vacation at Shimla is returning from in order to attend a press
(P) (Q) (R)
conference with his wife and children

(S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

Q S R P
Q P R S
S QP R
R SQ P

This letter is addressed to Mr. Shah which is written in Gujarati who is my father’s
(P) (Q) (R)
best friend

(S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

P QR S
Q P R S
Q R S P
R S P Q

Whether the plan depends on how it suggested will succeed or fail interested in its
(P) (Q) (R)
progress will be received by those

(S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

S R P Q
Q P S R
P QR S
R SQ P

the nun who was the Principal called an assembly of my grand – daughter’s school

(P) (Q) (R)

to announce the result of a fund – raising drive

(S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

P QR S
P RQ S
P QS R
P S R Q

Self-taught experts expected to go through which the escapers prepared maps of the
(P) (Q) (R)
country

(S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

P QR S
S QR P
S RQ P
P RQ S

Some men were rarely successful but they tried bribing their guards

(P) (Q) (R) (S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

P QR S
R QP S
R SQ P
P QS R

She introduced me at the party I had met to a man the previous night

(P) (Q) (R) (S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

R PQ S
R QP S
S P R Q
P QR S

Of all things that distinguish man is his brain the most important of the animal kingdom
(P) (Q) (R)
from-the rest

(S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

S RQ P
Q P S R
S R P Q
R SQ P

they forget between defeat and victory, that the conditions of welfare have so altered
(P) (Q) (R)
that there is not much difference today

(S)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence ?

S R P Q
P QS R
R SQ P
P R S Q

SYNONYMS

Directions (For the 18 items which follow): Each of the following 18 items consists of a word in capital letters, followed by four words of group or words. Select the word or group of words that is most similar in meaning to the word in capital letters.

INNOCUOUS
- Harmless
- Benevolent
- Gentle
- Non-infectious
HANDY
- Intact
- Accessible
- Supportive
- Handful
LEGACY
- Point
- Principle
- Inheritance
- Teaching
DISSEMINATE
- Develop
- Popular
- Impart
- Spread
EXHORTED
- Urged
- Forced
- Persuaded
- Demanded
AFFLICTION
- Problem
- Hardship
- Plight
- Distress
PANDEMONIUM
- Violence
- Quarrel
- Wild and noisy disorder
- Verbal exchange
DISPARATE
- Different
- Contrary
- Incongruous
- Unequal
DECADENT
- Deceased
- Disingenuous
- Deteriorating
- Belonging to the last decade
FACTITIOUS
- Amorous
- Causing dissension
- Controversial
- Artificial
STARTLED
- Jumped
- Shocked
- Surprised
- Offended
INDIGENOUS
- State-of-the-art
- Indigent
- Native
- Foreign
GUSTO
- Guts
- Enthusiasm
- Enjoyment
- Hope
VERACITY
- Forcefulness
- Simplicity
- Truthfulness
- Humour

SUSTENANCE
- Courage
- Nourishment
- Health
- Wisdom
RAPPORT
- Love and affection
- Full support
- Harmonious accord
- Sportsmanship

INTRUDE
- Fault
- Disagree
- Interrupt
- Leave

IMPERATIVE
- Negligible
- Indifferent
- Significant
- Urgent