PYQ Vault

CDS (II) 2018, English question paper

120 questions · 100 marks · 120 minutes · +0.83 per correct answer, -0.28 per wrong one

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Sit it as a timed mock
  1. Directions: fill the blank with the appropriate word/words
    1
    My teacher was _______ us for being late.

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  2. 2
    Sandhya _______ me from the top of the house.

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  3. 3
    Ravi has the habit of _______ a headache.

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  4. 4
    I always want to go alone for a ride, but my mother _______ going with my brother.

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  5. 5
    The new student found it difficult to _______ with his classmates.

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  6. 6
    The visiting Diplomat _______ the Prime Minister.

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  7. 7
    _______ sincere he would have got the prize.

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  8. 8
    Ten years _______ for me to live in a foreign country.

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  9. 9
    If I _______ you I _______ love to accept the offer.

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  10. 10
    My sister asked me _______ willing to go abroad for my studies.

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  11. Directions: nearest in meaning to the underlined word
    11
    Rahul is always thrifty.

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  12. 12
    His salubrious words calmed the students.

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  13. 13
    He felt desolated after he lost his business.

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  14. 14
    Don't condone such acts which lead to unrest in the country.

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  15. 15
    A good work place shall not encourage ineptitude even in a hidden manner.

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  16. 16
    Learning of foreign language should not impede one's mother tongue learning.

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  17. 17
    Extradition of the leader of the group was debated for hours in the meeting.

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  18. 18
    It was felt that the decision to remove the group from the exercise would be detrimental to the organization.

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  19. 19
    His derisive behaviour has led to the situation we now face.

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  20. 20
    Any classroom should provide an engaging environment for learners.

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  21. Directions: In this section you have few short passages. After each passage, you will find some items based on the passage. First, read a passage and answer the items based on it. You are required to select your answer based on the contents of the passage and opinion of the author only. Passage 1 Daily consumption of a certain form of curcumin improved memory and mood in people with mild, age-related memory loss. The research examined the effects of an easily absorbed curcumin supplement on memory performance in people without dementia, as well as curcumin’s potential impact on the microscopic plaques and tangled in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Found in turmeric, curcumin has previously been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in laboratory studies. It has also been suggested as a possible reason that senior citizens in India, where curcumin is a dietary staple, have a lower prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and better cognitive performance.
    21
    Which of the following statements are true? 1. Senior citizens in India have high level of Alzheimer's disease because of consumption of turmeric. 2. Senior citizens in India do not have high prevalence of Alzheimer's disease because of consumption of turmeric. 3. Consumption of turmeric enhances cognitive performance. 4. Curcumin is an antioxidant.

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  22. 22
    Curcumin has positive effect on people

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  23. 23
    Which word in the passage means 'earlier'?

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  24. 24
    Eating turmeric

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  25. 25
    ______ of a disease in a region depends on the food habits too.

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  26. Directions: In this section you have few short passages. After each passage, you will find some items based on the passage. First, read a passage and answer the items based on it. You are required to select your answer based on the contents of the passage and opinion of the author only. Passage 2 Mr. Rowland Hill, when a young man, was walking through the Lake district, when he one day saw the postman deliver a letter to a woman at a cottage door. The woman turned it over and examined it, and then returned it, saying she could not pay the postage, which was a shilling. Hearing that the letter was from her brother, Mr. Hill paid the postage, in spite of the manifest unwillingness of the woman. As soon as the postman was out of sight, she showed Mr. Hill how his money had been wasted, as far as she was concerned. The sheet was blank. There was an agreement between her brother and herself that as long as all went well with him, he should send a blank sheet in this way once a quarter, and she thus had tidings of him without expense of postage.
    26
    The story uses irony as a technique because

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  27. 27
    The woman returned the letter to the postman because

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  28. 28
    Mr. Hill paid the postage because

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  29. 29
    The envelope contained

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  30. 30
    The woman and her brother had agreed that

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  31. Directions: In this section you have few short passages. After each passage, you will find some items based on the passage. First, read a passage and answer the items based on it. You are required to select your answer based on the contents of the passage and opinion of the author only. Passage 3 In good many cases unnecessary timidity makes the trouble worse than it needs to be. Public opinion is always more tyrannical towards those who obviously fear it than towards those who feel indifferent to it. A dog will bark more loudly and bite more easily when people are afraid of it than when they treat him with contempt, and the human herd has something of this same characteristic. If you show that you are afraid of them, you give promise of good hunting, whereas if you show indifference, they begin to doubt their own power and, therefore, tend to let you alone.
    31
    If we are afraid of public opinion, the attitude of the people towards us is

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  32. 32
    The statement, 'A dog will bark more loudly and bite more easily when people are afraid of him, than when they treat him with contempt...' implies that

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  33. 33
    The author compares men with dogs in respect of

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  34. 34
    '...you give promise of good hunting' means

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  35. Directions: In this section you have few short passages. After each passage, you will find some items based on the passage. First, read a passage and answer the items based on it. You are required to select your answer based on the contents of the passage and opinion of the author only. Passage 4 We live in a curious age. We are offered glimpses of a world civilization slowly emerging, for example, the U.N. special agencies dedicated to health and education. But along with these are sights and sounds that suggest that the whole civilization is rapidly being destroyed. Two official policies clash, and instantly embassies are attacked by howling mobs of students, at once defying law, custom and usage. And that this may not be merely so many hot-headed lads escaping all control, and may itself be part of the policy of the political parties, that is, mob antics as additional propaganda to deceive world opinion, makes the situation even worse. Parties have always been dishonest, but now it seems as if power-mania is ready to destroy those civilities that make international relations possible. There is something even worse. What inspires these students to burn cars and books is not their political enthusiasm but a frenzied delight in destruction, an urge towards violent demolition.
    35
    The author calls our age curious because

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  36. 36
    It is deplorable to witness mob attacks on embassies following a clash of policies of two official policy makers because

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  37. 37
    One aspect of the mob indulging in violence and arson is that they

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  38. 38
    In the passage the word 'demolition' has the meaning as the word

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  39. Directions: find the part with an error or no error
    39
    The letter has been written; I insist on it being sent at once.

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  40. 40
    "I'm tired of my boys," Said the mother, "Both of them keep quarrelling all the time. Right now also they are quarrelling with one another.".

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  41. 41
    Sherly wants to know whether you are going to Delhi today night.

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  42. 42
    The visitor's to the zoo are requested, in the interest of all concerned, not to carry sticks, stones or food inside and not to tease animals.

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  43. 43
    The legendary hero laid down his precious life for our country.

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  44. 44
    Our gardener, which is very lazy, says that there will be no apples this year.

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  45. 45
    When I asked the guest what she would like to drink she replied that she preferred coffee much more than tea.

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  46. 46
    No sooner did I reached there the children left the place with their parents.

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  47. 47
    I did not want to listen to him, but he was adamant and discussed about the matter.

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  48. 48
    Please note that the interview for the post shall be held on June 15, 2019 between 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.

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  49. Directions: Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space with four words or group of words given. Select whichever word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. Passage CLOZE COMPREHENSION 1 This cultural form ___(49)___ from Japan has a name which means ‘whimsical or impromptu pictures’. It ___(50)___ in existence since the 12th century when the first ___(51)___ for this art form was seen. Since the language itself is read from right to left, the books with ___(52)___ art form follow the same pattern. ___(53)___ when English translations were made, they flipped the pictures and published it. This ___(54)___ the purists as it showed left-handed samurai, who did not exist in the original book. Hence, nowadays even English translations follow ___(55)___ right to left format. The name of this art form is Manga.
    49
    Blank (49): "This cultural form ___ from Japan has a name which means ..."

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  50. 50
    Blank (50): "It ___ in existence since the 12th century ..."

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  51. 51
    Blank (51): "... when the first ___ for this art form was seen."

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  52. 52
    Blank (52): "... the books with ___ art form follow the same pattern."

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  53. 53
    Blank (53): "___ when English translations were made, they flipped the pictures and published it."

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  54. 54
    Blank (54): "This ___ the purists as it showed left-handed samurai ..."

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  55. 55
    Blank (55): "... nowadays even English translations follow ___ right to left format."

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  56. Directions: Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space with four words or group of words given. Select whichever word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. Passage CLOZE COMPREHENSION 2 So the ___(56)___ is that in the present social structure, discipline has become an important factor because we want large numbers of children ___(57)___ together and ___(58)___ Educated to be what ? To be bank clerks or super salesmen, capitalists or commissars. When you are a superman ___(59)___ as/or a super governor or a subtle parliamentary debater, what have you done ? You are probably very clever, full of facts. Anybody can pick up facts; but we are human beings, not factual machines, not ___(60)___ routine automatons. But again, sirs, you are not interested. You are listening to me and ___(61)___ each other, you are not going to do a thing about radically changing the education system; so it will drag on ___(62)___ a monstrous revolution, which will merely be another substitution – there will be much more control because the totalitarian government knows how to shape the minds and hearts of the people, they ___(63)___ the trick.
    56
    Blank (56): "So the ___ is that in the present social structure, discipline ..."

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  57. 57
    Blank (57): "... has become an important factor because we want large numbers of children ___ together ..."

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  58. 58
    Blank (58): "... we want large numbers of children ___(57)___ together and ___"

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  59. 59
    Blank (59): "... you are a superman ___ as / or a super governor or a subtle ..."

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  60. 60
    Blank (60): "... we are human beings, not factual machines, not ___ routine automatons."

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  61. 61
    Blank (61): "You are listening to me and ___ each other, you are not ..."

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  62. 62
    Blank (62): "... going to do a thing about radically changing the education system; so it will drag on ___ a monstrous revolution, which will merely be another ..."

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  63. 63
    Blank (63): "... the totalitarian government knows how to shape the minds and hearts of the people, they ___ the trick."

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  64. Directions: choose the most appropriate meaning of the idiom
    64
    He makes decision on the fly.

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  65. 65
    Follow suit

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  66. 66
    Close shave

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  67. 67
    At the crossroads

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  68. 68
    A pearl of wisdom

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  69. Directions: rearrange jumbled parts P,Q,R,S into a sentence
    69
    P: have become integral to most people's lives Q: debate for years as the devices R: have drawn intense interest and S: safety questions about cell phones

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  70. 70
    P: by means of education, Q: civilization to bring about, R: it is difficult in modern S: an integrated individual

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  71. 71
    P: is that it is not professional enough Q: have not done their home work R: a valid criticism of the profession of politics in India S: as the majority of its practitioners

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  72. 72
    P: that suit partisan political objectives Q: when great historical figures are appropriated, R: we are living at a time S: and reduced into stereotypes

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  73. 73
    P: it is in this context that Q: and prosperity must be viewed R: the role of agriculture S: as a provider of jobs

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  74. 74
    P: and they largely relied on agriculture, fishing and hunting Q: the people had a subsistence economy R: from excavation sites indicate that S: rich materials found

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  75. 75
    P: and that is 'To learn to say I am sorry' Q: something important enough that R: but surely there must be S: everyone should learn it

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  76. 76
    P: or an independent judiciary Q: a free press is R: as essential a limb of democracy as a parliament S: freely elected by the people

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  77. 77
    P: the opinion that a human life Q: and that he would quite like to live that long R: could span 125 years S: there was a time when Gandhi expressed

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  78. 78
    P: I must say what I feel Q: I am a votary of truth and R: to what I may have said before S: and think at a given moment without regards

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  79. 79
    The man P: in the competition Q: has been elected R: as the chairperson of the sports committee S: in red who stood first

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  80. 80
    One of the difficulties P: the whole of mankind Q: or affect the masses R: the day after tomorrow S: is that we want to transform

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  81. 81
    The speaker P: of their inaction Q: has identified R: charging the opponents S: many issues besides

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  82. 82
    The government P: and job markets Q: must offer convincing solutions R: to the crises in the rural economy S: that are causing social ferment

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  83. 83
    The best part of P: literary flourishes Q: and locates the story with the larger framework of our world R: long-formed journalism is that S: it brings back the importance of writing skills,

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  84. 84
    Children P: that grow into beautiful trees Q: of a warm home and supportive surroundings R: are like the tender samplings S: with the sunshine and rain

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  85. 85
    We P: with real life experiences Q: tend to learn with interest R: when we see beauty in our work S: and connect learning

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  86. 86
    Elementary education P: ensuring the growth of a nation Q: is inevitable R: in developing the children S: to further education, thereby

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  87. 87
    National Building Organisation P: besides conducting surveys on housing Q: and disseminates the statistical information R: collects, tabulates S: on housing and building construction activities

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  88. 88
    The Himalayan range P: sacred to the Gaddi people Q: is home R: to a chain of high altitude lakes S: that towers over the Kangra valley

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  89. Directions: order middle sentences P,Q,R,S between S1 and S6
    89
    S1: The giant wall of the Dhauladhar range in Himachal Pradesh is one of the most stunning sights in the Himalayas. S6: Looming over the hill stations of Dharmsala and McLeodganj, the Dhauladhar is a popular trekking destination. P: As the life line of the region it acts as a watershed ridge between Chamba's Ravi river system and Kangra's Beas river system. Q: Although of modest altitude compared to other Himalayan ranges — the highest Dhauladhar peak is less than 5,000 m. R: Thus, the Dhauladhar could be stated as the life line of the region. S: Despite of that, the range sweeps up an astounding 12,000 ft. from the valley floor, creating a barrier wall in that is striking to look at.

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  90. 90
    S1: Truth is far more important than the teacher. S6: So a teacher must obviously be one who is not within the clutches of society, who does not play power politics or seeks position or authority. P: Without self-knowledge, the airplane becomes the most destructive instrument in life; but with self-knowledge, it is a means of human help. Q: Wisdom begins with self-knowledge; and without self-knowledge, mere information leads to destruction. R: In other words, you have to be the perfect teacher to create a new society; and to bring the perfect teacher into being, you have to understand yourself. S: Therefore you, who are the seeker of truth, have to be both the pupil and the teacher.

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  91. 91
    S1: Though most of us talk of discipline, what do we mean by that word? S6: And most of us are interested in mass movements, large schools with a great many boys and girls; we are not interested in creative intelligence, therefore we put up huge schools with enormous attendances. P: The teacher would understand each child and help him in the way required. Q: But if you have five or six in a class, and an intelligent understanding teacher with a warm heart, I am sure there would be no need for discipline. R: When you have a hundred boys in a class, you will have to have discipline; otherwise there will be complete chaos. S: Discipline in schools becomes necessary when there is one teacher to a hundred boys and girls.

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  92. 92
    S1: Tolstoy Farm was founded in 1910 by which time Gandhi had already conceptualized ideas that he would develop in India. S6: Both he and Gandhi often referred to the time that they spent in Tolstoy Farm as among the happiest in their lives. P: He was rich and used his money to buy the land and help set up the farm. Q: A Jewish architect, Kallenbach was by his side through this period. R: Tolstoy Farm became the subject of research for different kinds of cooperative communities across the world. S: He first put in the social, moral, religious components of his doctrine.

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  93. 93
    S1: Decentralized planning is a process of planning that begins from the grassroots level taking into confidence all the beneficiaries. S6: But it cannot be described as undemocratic for most national states adopt such a planning now. P: Under decentralized planning, the operation is from bottom to top. Q: It can be said that it is more connected with the capitalistic economies. R: It empowers the individuals and small groups to carry out their plans for their achievement of a common goal. S: The decentralized planning is implemented through market mechanism.

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  94. 94
    S1: It is doubtful if mankind, throughout his long history, has ever lived at all 'sustainably'. S6: The concept of 'sustainable' is so far from reality that it is almost laughable. P: But in general mankind has regarded the environment as an endless 'resource' to be exploited and plundered. Q: May be a few isolated tribal groups found the necessary balance with nature lived without the desire for endless 'more'. R: Now we have reached a point where we are on the verge of destroying ourselves and most of the life on earth. S: This process has accelerated greatly since the industrial revolution.

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  95. 95
    S1: Measurement is an important concept in performance management. S6: It is more difficult in the case of knowledge workers for example scientists and teachers. P: It also indicates where things are not going so well, so that corrective action can be taken. Q: It identifies where things are going well to provide the foundations for building further success. R: It is the basis for providing and generating feedback. S: Measuring performance is relatively easy for those who are responsible for achieving quantified targets for example sales.

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  96. 96
    S1: Equity theory is concerned with the perception people have about how they are being treated compared with others. S6: This explains only one aspect of the process of motivation and job satisfaction, although it may be significant in terms of morale. P: To be dealt with equitably is to be treated fairly in comparison with another group of people or a relevant other person. Q: Equity involves feelings and perceptions and is always a comparative process. R: Equity theory states, in effect, that people will be better motivated if they are treated equitably and demotivated if they are treated inequitably. S: It is not synonymous with equality, which means treating everyone the same, since this would be inequitable if they deserve to be treated differently.

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  97. 97
    S1: We cannot understand the power of rumours and prophecies in history by checking whether they are factually correct or not. S6: With the cooperation of sections of Indian society they set up English-medium schools, colleges and universities which taught Western sciences and liberal arts. P: The rumours in 1857 began to make sense when seen in the context of the policies the British pursued from the late 1820s. Q: Rumours circulate only when they resonate with the deeper fears and suspicions of people. R: Under the leadership of Governor General Lord William Bentinck, the British adopted policies aimed at 'reforming' Indian society by introducing Western education, Western ideas and Western Institutions. S: We need to see what they reflect about the minds of people who believed them — their fears and apprehensions, their faiths and convictions.

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  98. 98
    S1: The Constitution of India thus emerged through a process of intense debate and discussion. S6: In countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, only men with education were allowed into the charmed circle. P: This was an unprecedented act of faith, for in other democracies the vote had been granted slowly, and in stages. Q: However, on one central feature of the Constitution there was substantial agreement. R: Many of the provisions were arrived at through a process of give-and-take, by forging a middle ground between two opposed positions. S: This was on the granting of the vote to every adult Indian.

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  99. Directions: opposite in meaning to the underlined word
    99
    His ideas are obscure.

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  100. 100
    Ravi is jovial and he makes the environment sanguine.

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  101. 101
    There prevailed a woebegone feeling in the room.

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  102. 102
    It appears that the whole group is mutinous.

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  103. 103
    They consider themselves as foes from birth.

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  104. 104
    This painting has a distinctive element which can be noticed well.

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  105. 105
    The entry was carried out inadvertently.

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  106. 106
    The whole audience showed a disdainful attitude during the match.

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  107. 107
    Efficacy of the project needs an examination.

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  108. 108
    Her rebuttal that she was not involved in the case was considered by the court.

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  109. 109
    The baby could not move as the place was soggy.

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  110. Directions: choose the correct indirect-speech form
    110
    The captain said to his soldiers, "Move forward and face the target now." Select the correct statement in indirect speech.

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  111. 111
    Vivek said to his friend, "Could you please turn off the switch?" Select the correct statement in indirect speech.

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  112. 112
    The manager said to his colleagues, "We have received a serious threat to our business now and we need to act to face it." Select the correct statement in indirect speech.

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  113. 113
    Romila said to Rahim, "Where were your ideas when we faced the troubles last week?" Select the correct statement in indirect speech.

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  114. 114
    The actor said to his co-star, Sarita, "Will you go with me for a cup of tea in the evening today?" Select the correct statement in indirect speech.

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  115. 115
    The preacher said to the crowd, "The Sun rises everyday for all of us without any expectations in return." Select the correct statement in indirect speech.

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  116. Directions: choose the correct passive-voice statement
    116
    The members of the parliament elect their group leader either by consensus or by voice vote. Select the correct passive voice statement.

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  117. 117
    All the examinees have answered one particular question in the long answer writing section. Select the correct passive voice statement.

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  118. 118
    The writer who passed away recently has authored a dozen novels and a number of poetry collections. Select the correct passive voice statement.

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  119. 119
    Shut the door. Select the correct passive voice statement.

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  120. 120
    India won freedom with the blood and sweat of hundreds and thousands of Indians. Select the correct passive voice statement.

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