CDS 2012 English Question Paper -2

ORDERING OF SENTENCES

COMPREHENSION

Directions (for the following 17 items) :

In this section there are five short passages. Each passage is followed by questions based on the passage. Read each passage and answer the questions that follow :

PASSAGE 1

“Sit down”, the Principal said, but Mr. Tagde continued to stand, gaining courage from his own straight-backed stance, because he was beginning to feel a little afraid now. The Principal looked unhappy. He disliked being forced to perform this sort of an unpleasant task.

“I wish you would consider withdrawing this report”, he said.

“I am sorry, Sir, I cannot do that” Mr. Tagde said. He was pleased with his unwavering voice and uncompromising words.

“It will be a very damaging report if put on record”.

“It is a factual report on very damaging conduct”.

“You are asking for the boy’s expulsion from school. Don’t you think the punishment is too harsh for a few boyish pranks” ?

Tagde did not sit down because
- he was angry with the Principal
- he was in a defiant mood
- he did not like the student
- he was in a hurry

He would not withdraw the report because
- he was arrogant and bitter
- it was an accurate report
- he wanted to create problems for the Principal
- he wanted to show his authority
Principal was unhappy because he

did not like to deal with an arrogant person
was angry with Mr. Tagde
could not enforce discipline in school
did not want to expel the boy

PASSAGE 2

It was a bitterly cold night, and even at the far end of the bus the east wind that raved along the street cut like a knife. The bus stopped, the two women and a man got in together and filled the vacant places. The younger woman was dressed in sealskin and carried one of those Pekinese dogs that women in sealskin like to carry in their laps. The conductor came in and took the fares. Then his eye rested with cold malice on the beady-eyed toy dog. I saw trouble brewing. This was the opportunity for which he had been waiting, and he intended to make the most of it.

The wind that blew on the night was
- mild
- pleasant
- bitter
- sharp
The younger woman was carrying the dog as
- a necessity
- a fashion
- an expression of provocation
- an escort
Which of the following statements best describes the nature of the conductor ?
- He was dutiful
- He was a law-abiding person
- He liked dogs
- He was unfriendly and malicious
“It was a bitterly cold night, and even at the far end of the bus the east wind that raved along the street cut like a knife”.

This sentence gives us an idea of

a lonely night-bus journey
an unbearable cold night
the wind at the time that was still and cold
the hardship of author’s journey

PASSAGE 3

Before an armed robber locked Mary Graves in the sweltering trunk of her car, she dialled an emergency number on her portable telephone and slipped it to her three-year-old daughter. Though confused, the little girl saved the day. She told emergency operators that her mother was locked in the trunk. Although she didn’t know where she was, she provided some important clues: she could see airplanes and the sky, according to the transcript of the emergency phone call. The operator called Tampa international airport police, who searched the top floor of the airport parking garage where the car was parked. The operator told the girl to honk, enabling the police to locate the car and free Mrs. Graves.

The clues provided by the little girl suggest that the car was parked

outside but adjacent to the airport
by the main street of the city
at the airport
in a parking garage in the side-lane

The passage indicates that the girl was

clever and brave
had the maturity of an adult
coy and shy
worried and excited

The girl helped the police trace the car by
- shouting loudly
- making too much din
- shrieking frightfully
- sounding the horn
Through the passage, the writer suggests the importance and utility of
- education of little children
- parking garages
- portable telephones
- airports

PASSAGE 4

For days I trudged from one property-dealer to another, from one “to-let” notice to another, with the estimated advance money tucked safely in the inner lining of my handbag, but in vain. At one place they needed a couple, at another a young man, and at another they wished to know my employment status. And I realized that I was a freak called the single woman and the job status being nothing more than a freelance writer with hardly any assignments in hand, only dreams of making it someday. So the dream-house remained far away, gradually turning into a fantasy.

The author “trudged from one property- dealer to another” means that the author
- had to walk a lot of distance
- had to do a brisk walk to save the time
- visited several property-dealers without any success
- acquired a good knowledge about the property-dealers of that area
According to the passage, the author was
- a novelist
- an independent writer
- a publisher of journals
- an unemployed person
Which of the following statements best reflects the underlying tone of the passage ?

People always let out their houses to well employed persons only
People always let out their houses only to couples
Single jobless women find it difficult to rent a house
Women always dream of a house

PASSAGE 5

Martin had many little tricks highly entertaining to his son. On an evening, returning from the market, he would buy a paper mask, the head of a hissing dragon. He would put it on and knock at the door. On opening the door, the boy would be terrified for a moment, but only for a moment, for he would soon remove it and the two would roll with laughter. Tom would, then, go out with the mask and knock at the door for his father to open. Martin had to act as if he was paralysed with fear.

Martin played his little tricks because

he was very much interested in them
he wanted to terrify his son
his son got pleasure from them
it was his habit to make tricks

Which of the following statements is the most appropriate description of the mask ?

It is a mask looking like a dragon with long tail and covering the whole body of Martin
It is a mask looking like the head of a dragon with its tongue hanging out
It is a mask looking like an animal with horns, wings and a pair of ferocious eyes emitting fire
It is a mask looking like the head of a king cobra

The father and son rolled with laughter after the
- father put on the mask
- opening of the door
- son saw the mask
- father removed the mask

SPOTTING ERRORS

Directions (for the following 18 items) :

Each question in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your answer in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your answer should be indicated as (d).

The scientist was seemed to be excited over the result of his experiment. No error.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
The student could not answer the teacher when he was asked to explain why he was
(a) (b) (c)
so late that day. No error.

(d)

John could not come to school as he was ill from cold. No error.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
Though she has aptitude in Mathematics I won’t allow her to take it up as a subject of
(a) (b)
study for the Master’s degree because I know the labour involved will tell upon her
(c)
No error.

(d)

I am not familiar with all the important places in this town, although I have been living
(a) (b) (c)
here since two years. No error.

(d)

If I would be a millionaire, I would not be wasting my time waiting for a bus. No error. (a) (b) (c) (d)
Until you begin to make a better use of your time, I shall not stop finding fault in you.
(a) (b) (c)
No error.
(d)
Neither of the two boys is sensible enough to do this job. No error.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
They left their luggages at the railway station. No error.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
You will get all the information’s if you read this booklet carefully. No error.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
She sang very well, isn’t it ? No error.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
He is working in a bank in New Delhi for the past several months. No error.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
There is no question of my failing in the examination. No error.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
He is going everyday for a morning walk with his friends and neighbours. No error.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
Her relatives could not explain to us why did not she come for the wedding as she
(a) (b)
was expected. No error.

He was prevented to accept the assignment because he was a government employee
(a) (b)

and as such barred from accepting such assignments. No error.

If you repeat this mistake, I will inform to your father and do not blame me then
(a) (b) (c)

No error.

(d)

Lieutenant Anand was short and muscular with shoulders that bulged impressively
(a) (b)
against his smart uniform. No error.
(c) (d)

SENTENCE IMPROVEMENT

Directions (for the following 14 items) :

Look at the underlined part of each sentence. Below each sentence, three possible situations for the underlined part are given. If one of them (a), (b) or (c) is better than the underlined part, indicate your response on the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter (a), (b) or (c). If none of these substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (d) as your response on the Answer Sheet. Thus a “No Improvement” response will be signified by the letter (d).

More than one person was killed in the accident.

were killed
are killed
have been killed
No improvement

Not a word they spoke to the unfortunate wife about it.

did they speak
they will speak
they had spoken
No improvement

The poor villagers have waited in bitter cold for more than four hours now.

have been waiting
had waited
has been waiting
No improvement

If he had time he will call you.

would have
would have had
has
No improvement

All, but her, had made an attempt.

All, but she,
All but her
All, but her
No improvement

I am used to hard work.

work hard .
work hardly
hard working
No improvement

Twenty kilometres are not a great distance in these days of fast moving vehicles.
- is not a great distance
- is no distance
- aren’t a great distance
- No improvement
They were working as usually.
- usual
- as usual
- usually
- No improvement
He is unlikely to come to the party. But if he comes I would talk to him.
- if he would come
- if he is to come
- if he will come
- No improvement
The passengers have formed queue at the booking-counter much before a train arrives.
- formed
- have been forming
- form
- No improvement
You must complete this work up to Sunday.
- within Sunday
- by Sunday
- until Sunday
- No improvement
If it will rain, the match will be abandoned.
- If it rains
- If it would rain
- If it rained
- No improvement
How long do you think Mr. Kamal knew John ?
- will know
- knows
- has known
- No improvement
I have still to meet a person who is perfectly satisfied with his job.
- am still to meet
- am yet to meet
- might still meet
- No improvement

ORDERING OF WORDS IN A SENTENCE

Directions (for the following 11 items) :

Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the parts of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled P, Q, R and S. Given below each sentence are four sequences namely (a), (b), (c) and (d). You are required to rearrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and select the correct sequence.

Most of Hitchcock’s films were critically acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic

earning him both fame and fortune and made good money at the box office,

Q R

in no small measure