General English
(Exam Held on 12-2-2012)
Directions—Q. (1-10) : In the following passage there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage, against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.
Once, a teacher was travelling (1) with a few of his followers. While they were travelling, they happened to pass by a lake. They stopped there and the teacher told one of his disciples, ‘‘I am thirsty. Please get me some water from that lake there.’’
The obedient disciple walked up to the lake. When he reached there, he (2) that some people were washing clothes in the lake water and, right at that moment, a bullock cart was crossing through the lake. As a (3), the water had become very muddy and turbid. The disciple though, ‘‘How can I give this muddy water to my teacher!’’ So he came back and told the teacher, ‘‘The water in there is very muddy. I don't think it is fit to drink. So I did not bring it to you. Should I ask those people to (4) their activities so that I can bring clean water for you?’’ The teacher did not reply. He simply smiled and said that he would like to rest for a little while before (5) the journey.
After about half an hour, the teacher asked the same disciple to go back to the lake and get him some water to drink. The disciple obediently went back to the lake. This time he (6) that the lake had absolutely clear water in it. The mud had settled down and the water above it looked fit to be had. So he collected some water in a pot and (7) it to the teacher.
The teacher looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said, ‘‘See what you have done to make the water clean. You let it be for a little while and the mud (8) down on its own and you got clear water. Human mind is also like that. When it is disturbed, one must just let it be. Give it a little (9). It will settle down on its own. You don't have to put in any effort to calm it down. It will (10) on its own. It is effortless.’’
1. (A) together
(B) besides
(C) also
(D) to
(E) along
Ans : (E)
2. (A) noticed
(B) caught
(C) finding
(D) seen
(E) seeing
Ans : (A)
3. (A) result
(B) problem
(C) cause
(D) effects
(E) answer
Ans : (A)
4. (A) lose
(B) continued
(C) stop
(D) forgot
(E) close
Ans : (C)
5. (A) end
(B) thinking
(C) reporting
(D) continuing
(E) start
Ans : (D)
6. (A) got
(B) see
(C) notice
(D) seen
(E) found
Ans : (E)
7. (A) hand
(B) bring
(C) brought
(D) present
(D) get
Ans : (C)
8. (A) ran
(B) settled
(C) threw
(D) scattered
(E) fell
Ans : (B)
9. (A) push
(B) happy
(C) minute
(D) time
(E) money
Ans : (D)
10. (A) settled
(B) happen
(C) settled
(D) clean
(E) occurred
Ans : (D)
Directions—Q. (11-15) : Each sentence below has a blank, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Choose the word that best fits the meaning of the sentence as whole.
11. ............. of being told to leave early, she late very late.
(A) inspite
(B) despite
(C) though
(D) even
(E) still
Ans : (A)
12. All the houses in that area .......... similar.
(A) find
(B) look
(C) same
(D) not
(E) was
Ans : (B)
13. She ........... the book store last week.
(A) went
(B) visited
(C) seen
(D) go
(E) gone
Ans : (B)
14. Anju was feeling homesick so she .......... to her hometown last month.
(A) left
(B) visit
(C) returned
(D) run
(E) gone
Ans : (C)
15. Rachna's wedding dress was ........ by her sister.
(A) make
(B) stitch
(C) create
(D) designed
(E) tear
Ans : (D)
Directions—Q. (16-25) : Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error the answer is ‘5’. (Ignore errors of punctuation if any.)
16. The teacher scolded and (A) / punished all those (B) / students who had (C) / neglected their homework. (D) No Error
Ans : (E)
17. The actor has declined (A) / to performance the stunts in (B) / his next movies because (C) / of his back injury. (D) No Error (E)
Ans : (B)
18. Out of all the (A) / candidates who appeared (B) / for the interview only (C) / three was selected. (D) No error. (E)
Ans : (A)
19. Of later they (A) / have started using paper (B) / and cloth carry-bags instead (C) / of plastic ones. (D) No Error. (E)
Ans : (A)
20. Today morning she said (A) / that she would buy (B) / the groceries on her (C) / way home by work. (D) No Error. (E)
Ans : (D)
21. Suraj had not lose (A) / confidence even after (B) / losing the singing (C) / competition last year. (D) No Error (E)
Ans : (A)
22. She could not (A) / attend the function (B) / as her flight to (C) / Pune was delayed. (D) No Error (E)
Ans : (E)
23. Many students have (A) / volunteered to help (B) / the NGO in keeping (C) / the city clean. (D) No Error (E)
Ans : (E)
24. The kids were (A) / delighted when they (B) / saw a elephant at (C) / the zoo yesterday. (D) No Error. (E)
Ans : (*)The preposition ‘in’ in place of it should be used.
25. People do not have (A) / access to basically necessities (B) / like potable water in (C) / many parts of the country. (D) No Error (E)
Ans : (B)
Directions—Q. (25-30) : In each question below, four words printed in bold type are given. There are numbered (1), (2), (3) and (4). One of these words printed in bold may either be wrongly spelt or inappropriate in the context of the sentence. Find out the word that is inappropriate or wrongly spelt, if any. The number of the word is your answer. If all the words printed bold are correctly spelt and appropriate in the context of the sentence then mark (5) i.e., ‘All Correct’ as your answer.
26. They wish (A) to donate (B) some clothes (C) to the orphannage. (D) All correct (E)
Ans : (E)
27. Shweta surprised (A) everyone by (B) coming earlier (C) than expected. (D) All correct (E)
Ans : (E)
28. I think (A) we should (B) take a write (C) turn from this junction. (D) All correct. (E)
Ans : (C)
29. He bought (A) a mobile (B) phone from a shope (C) near this his house. (D) All correct. (E)
Ans : (C)
30. She conted (A) the money (B) before putting (C) it in her bag. (D) All correct (E)
Ans : (A)
Directions—Q. (81-45) : Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words/phrase have been printed in bold to help your locate them while answering some of the questions.
A princess who was not only known for her beauty but also for her intelligence and quick wit, wanted to marry a man who was more intelligent and learned as compared to her. She was not too concerned about his looks or wealth. One day she told her father, ‘‘I have decided. Let any man ask me eight questions. If I am unable to answer even one of them, I will marry him.’’ The king was well aware of his daughter's intelligence. He asked her, He asked her, ‘‘And what if you answer all the questions?’’ he asked. ‘‘Then that man will be rejected and will not be given a second chance,’’ she answered. The king agreed reluctantly as he had no choice left.
The next day an announcement was made in the kingdom, about the princess' challenge. Many suitors came to the place to try their luck but the princess was too clever for them. She answered all their questions in no time.
The king was now worried about his daughter's marriage. Thus he decided to take the help of its trusted friend who was a great teacher. The teacher heard the king's story and after giving it some thought, said that he had a solution. He reassured the king that he would send his brightest student to question the princess. The next day a very handsome your man arrived at the palace. He was dressed in simple clothes. He announced that he had eight questions for the princess. The king summoned the princess. The young man's first question was, ‘‘How many stars are there in the sky?’’ The princess replied, ‘‘The number of stars in the sky is equal to the amount of hair on a goat.’’ His next question was, ‘‘Who has the most beautiful child in the world?’’ To this she answered, ‘‘Every child is the beautiful one for its mother.’’ Thus, every mother possesses the most beautiful child in the world. His third question was, ‘‘Who has hands and is yet consider handless?’’ The princess replied, ‘‘A rich man who does not share his wealth.’’ The young man's next question was, ‘‘Who has eyes but is still blind?’’ The princess replied, ‘‘A man without compassion who does not see the suffering the exists in the world.’’. The young man then showed a picture of a dilapidated palace to the princess and asked her what it meant. By now the princess was sure that the young man was as intelligent as her. Her reply was, ‘‘The picture shows that a house with a weak foundation is bound to collapse’’ be it a palace or a hut.’’ The young man then showed another picture to the princess. This one was of an old lady collecting firewood, while carrying a heavy load on the back. The princess smiled and replied, ‘‘This picture depicts human greed’’ The woman has already collected more firewood than what she can carry. Yet she does not want to give up and go home.’’ Now, the princess had answered six questions accurately. There were only two questions left. The young man's seventh question was, ‘‘Princess, which is the question that can't answer?’’ The princess was stumped at this question. If she told him the answer, the young man would ask that question as the last one, and if she did not answer it, she would lose anyway. She accepted defeat and told the king that she would like to marry this intelligent man.
31. What did the king do in order to find a suitable husband for husband for his daughter.
(A) He asked his trusted minister to go and find a suitable husband for his daughter?
(B) He helped the suitors by providing questions to be asked
(C) He consulted his trusted friend who was the great teacher
(D) He asked his daughter to marry a man who was not as intelligent as her
(E) He found a wealthy and handsome prince for her
Ans : (C)
32. According to the princess, who has the most beautiful child in the world?
(A) The princess' mother
(B) Every mother
(C) The young man's mother
(D) The king's mother
(E) The king's friend
Ans : (B)
33. Why was the king worried?
(A) None of the suitors could outsmart the princess and thus lost the challenge
(B) The princess wanted to marry a pauper
(C) The suitors were too smart as compared to the princess
(D) The princess could not answer the eight question asked by the suitors
(E) No one showed up to face the princess' challenge
Ans : (A)
34. What kind of a man did the princess want to marry?
(A) Someone who was good looking
(B) Someone who was more clever than the king
(C) Someone who was Wealthier than her
(D) Someone who was brave
(E) Someone who was cleverer than her
Ans : (E)
35. Which of the following is true according to the given passage?
(A) The princess could not answer a single question
(B) The young man was not as intelligent as the princess
(C) The king was reluctant to let the princess marry the young man
(D) The princess answered all the questions asked by the young man
(E) None is true
Ans : (E)
36. What was the young man's eighth question?
(A) He showed a picture of a dilapidated palace, to the princess and asked her to interpret it
(B) He did not ask the eighth question at all
(C) He showed a picture of an old woman collecting firewood with a load on her back, to the princess and asked her to interpret it
(D) He asked the princess, how many stars were there in the sky
(E) He asked the princess, which was the question that the princess would not know the answer to
Ans : (E)
37. What did the princess decided in the end?
(A) That she would never get married
(B) That she wanted to ask the young man eight questions
(C) That she wanted to marry a man of her father's choice
(D) That she wanted to marry another suitor
(E) that she wanted to marry the young man
Ans : (E)
38. Arrange the following incidents in a chronological order as they occurred in the passage.
(1) The princess accepted defeat
(2) The young man showed a picture to the princess
(3) The princess decided to marry an intelligent man
(4) The teacher sent his student to ask questions
(A) 1 2 3 4
(B) 2 4 1 2
(C) 4 3 2 1
(D) 3 4 2 1
(E) 2 1 4 3
Ans : (D)
39. What was the young man's sixth question?
(A) He showed a picture of an old woman collecting firewood with a load on her back, to the princess asked her to interpret it
(B) He showed a picture of a dilapidated palace, to the princess and asked her to interpret it
(C) He asked the princess, which was the question that the princess would not know the answer to
(E) He did not ask the sixth question at all
Ans : (B)
40. Which of the following may be an appropriate title for the given passage?
(A) The foolish princess
(B) The helpless king
(C) The brightest student
(D) Eight questions for the princess
(E) The questions
Ans : (C)
Directions—Q. (41-43) : Choose the word / group of words which is most similar in the meaning to the word / group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.
41. Summoned :
(A) Sent
(B) Asked
(C) Forgot
(D) Called
(E) Convened
Ans : (D)
42. Depicts :
(A) Draws
(B) Calculates
(C) Shows
(D) Completes
(E) Increases
Ans : (A)
43. In no time :
(A) Very quickly
(B) Very slowly
(C) Very late
(D) At the last moment
(E) Very angrily
Ans : (A)
Directions—Q. (44-45) : Choose the word / group of words which is most opposite in meaning the word / group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.
44. Defeat :
(A) Loss
(B) Conquest
(C) Victory
(D) Challenge
(E) Power
Ans : (C)
45. Heavy :
(A) Pale
(B) Weak
(C) Weight
(D) Strong
(E) Light
Ans : (E)
Directions—Q. (46-50) : Rearrange the following six sentence (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) in proper sequence for form a meaning paragraph the answer the questions given below them.
(1) What he woke up, the poet asked; ‘‘Sir, shall I read the poem again?’’
(2) A poet visited a king hoping to impress him with some poems he had written; the king asked him to leave the poems with him and promised the read them later.
(3) The poet was confused at the king's response and said, ‘‘No, Sir, you fell asleep.’’
(4) The poet, however, insisted on reading out the poems to him and as the poet droned on the king fell asleep.
(5) The king replied, ‘‘Why? I've already given you my opinion, haven't I?’’
(6) ‘‘That's right,’’ the king replied, ‘‘When I fell asleep I gave my opinion about your poems.’’
46. Which of the following should be the second sentence in the rearrangement?
(A) 2
(B) 5
(C) 6
(D) 4
(E) 1
Ans : (D)
47. Which of the following should be the first sentence in the rearrangement?
(A) 2
(B) 1
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 6
Ans : (A)
48. Which of the following should be the fifth sentence in the arrangement?
(A) 6
(B) 3
(C) 4
(D) 1
(E) 5
Ans : (B)
49. Which of the following should be the last (sixth) sentence in the rearrangement?
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 6
(D) 1
(E) 4
Ans : (C)
50. Which of the following should be the fourth sentence in the rearrangement?
(A) 6
(B) 5
(C) 2
(D) 3
(E) 1
Ans : (B)
