(Held on 8-3-2009)
English Language : Solved Paper
Directions—(Q. 1–15) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Bhaskar was a wealthy, wordly wise merchant. On his deathbed, he called his only son, Nakul, and gave him some advice. “When you do business and travel to an unknown land, make sure you know the local culture well. Try to gain as much information as you can. This and presence of mind will come to your rescue.” Bhaskar died a few days later and Nakul began looking after the business. Once, he travelled by ship to a distant country where he stayed at an inn. He began talking to the owner and ended up telling him all about his life and the business had come to conduct.
The following day, Nakul was heading to the bustling market when a one armed man rushed up to him and said, “Your father took one of my arms as a loan. You must return it to me.” Not knowing what to do, Nakul asked the man to meet him the next day. A little later, a woman came upto Nakul and said, “Your father married me and would send me money every month. This responsibility is now yours.” Again Nakul asked for a day’s respite and walked on. On the way he stopped at a tavern and ate breakfast. While paying for his meal the owner said, “The only payment I want is for you to make me happy.” Though he had to pay only two coins, Nakul gave the man five, but the man still maintained that he was unhappy. That evening Nakul met a man who invited him to a game of dice. Unaware they were playing with a trick dice, he lost every game. The winner set him an unusual condition, “Drink all the water in the sea or give me all the goods on your ship.” Nakul said he would give him his decision the next day. That night as Nakul lay on his bed, he remembered his father’s words, “In a foreign land only your wits will come to your aid.”
The next morning, as soon as he reached the marketplace, the one armed man appeared. Nakul smiled when he saw him and said, “My father took many such loans and our house is full of hands. I shall take your other arm, find the matching one and repay you.” The man ran away petrified. He then approached the woman who claimed to have been married to his father. “My father was wrong not to tell us about you. Come home with me and help my mother in the fields.” The woman left without a word. Next, Nakul went to the tavern and standing outside shouted, “Hail the King ! Your king is great !” “I am happy to hear you say that”, was the only response the tavern owner could give.“ If you are happy,” continued Nakul, “I have paid for my meal.” Nakul then sought out the man who had won at dice the previous night. “I shall gladly drink all the water in the sea provided you bring me the water in jugs.” The man made a quick getaway when he heard this. Nakul returned home after conducting much business. He was far richer in wisdom too.
1. Which of the following is TRUE in the context of the passage ?
(1) Nakul preferred sailing to working in the fields with his mother.
(2) Bhaskar’s second wife was a greedy woman.
(3) Bhaskar did not have faith in Nakul’s ability to successfully run the business.
(A) None
(B) Only (1)
(C) Both (1) & (3)
(D) Both (2) & (3)
(E) Only (2)
2. Why did Nakul visit a far-away country ?
(A) It was his father’s final request
(B) To acquire knowledge about a different culture
(C) To mee some of his father’s acquaintances
(D) To trade and do business
(E) None of these
3. How did Nakul manage to deal with the people who tried to swindle him ?
(1) His father provided him with the solution in a dream.
(2) He threatened them with dire punishment.
(3) He gave into their demands and paid them off.
(A) None
(B) Only (2)
(C) Only (3)
(D) Both (1) & (2)
(E) None of these
4. Why wasn’t Nakul able to win any of the games while gambling ?
(A) He was not a skilful player
(B) He was distracted while playing
(C) The other players were cheating with a trick dice
(D) He was not well versed with local rules
(E) None of these
5. Which of the following best describes the one armed man’s reaction when he met Nakul for the second time ?
(A) He was upset because Nakul refused to honour the debt his father owed him
(B) He was angry at Nakul for laughing at his plight
(C) He was frightened since Nakul had threatened to cut-off his remaining arm
(D) He was worried about what action Nakul would take against him for trying to cheat him
(E) He admired Nakul for outwitting him.
6. Why did Nakul confide in the innkeeper ?
(A) The innkeeper was an old friend of his father
(B) He was drunk and unaware he was confiding in a stranger
(C) He was still upset by his father’s death and wanted to talk to someone
(D) By confiding in the innkeeper he hoped to get information about the local customs
(E) None of these
7. Why did Nakul pay the tavern owner five coins instead of two ?
(A) Not being familiar with the foreign currency he made a mistake
(B) Nakul did not have the exact change
(C) He left a tip to show his appreciation for a good meal
(D) He thought the extra money would make the innkeeper happy
(E) He wanted to create a favourable impression
8. Which of the following can be said about Nakul’s father ?
(A) He was adventurous and had travelled all over the world
(B) He was rich and experienced in the ways of the world
(C) He was prosperous because he had duped a lot of people
(D) He favoured Nakul among all his children
(E) He was poor and knew about various cultures
9. Why did Nakul have a good opinion of the King of the faraway country ?
(1) He encouraged trade and his subjects were prosperous.
(2) He ensured that visitors were treated with hospitality.
(3) There were many facilities for entertainment there.
(A) Only (1)
(B) Only (2)
(C) Both (1) & (3)
(D) Only (3)
(E) None of these
10. What was Nakul’s overall experience in the far-away country ?
(A) It was an unpleasant one and he decided it would be his last trip
(B) It was a profitable one and he learnt a lot
(C) It was stressful and he was glad to return home
(D) It was sad since people kept recounting memories of his father
(E) None of these
Directions—(Q. 11–13) Choose the word which is MOST SIMILAR in EANING to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
11. conduct
(A) behaviour
(B) handle
(C) action
(D) habits
(E) guide
12. respite
(A) stop
(B) part
(C) delay
(D) rest
(E) relax
13. unknown
(A) undecided
(B) anonymous
(C) renowned
(D) unidentified
(E) unfamiliar
Directions—(Q. 14–15) Choose the word which is MOST OPPOSITE in MEANING to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
14. appeared
(A) evaporated
(B) died
(C) invisible
(D) vanished
(E) faded
15. matching
(A) duplicate
(B) dissimilar
(C) original
(D) identical
(E) single
Directions—(Q. 16–20) In each sentence below four words have been printed in bold which are lettered (A), (B), (C) and (D). One of these words may be wrongly spelt or inappropriate in the context of the sentence. Find out the wrongly spelt or inappropriate word. The letter of that word is the answer. If all the words are correctly spelt and are appropriate the answer is (E), i.e., ‘All Correct.’
16. To find a solution (A) to the problem, we met (B) daily after work and contributed (C) our ideals. (D) All Correct (E)
17. After the presentation (A) it was clearly (B) that they were not interested (C) in financing (D) the project. All Correct (E)
18. In my opinion it will be difficult (A) to persuade (B) the employees to accept (C) these changes (D) in the rules. All Correct (E)
19. This is the first time that he has been selected (A) to give a speech (B) at the anual (C) conference. (D) All Correct (E)
20. Inspite of my attempts (A) to encourage (B) him to continue (C) studying (D) he decided to take up a job All Correct (E)
Directions—(Q. 21–25) Rearrange the following Six sentences (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below them.
(1) At seventy-eight her fingers became too stiff to hold a needle so she began painting.
(2) I decided to tell this boy the story of Ann Moses.
(3) “She began a career at eighty, so if you believe in yourself anything is possible.” I ended.
(4) At the age of twenty-seven, a boy was discouraged about his career.
(5) She struggled hard to raise five children by doing embroidery and working on a farm.
(6) She went on to paint over 2,000 pictures which became famous.
21. Which of the following will be the FIFTH sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (2)
(B) (3)
(C) (4)
(D) (5)
(E) (6)
22. Which of the following will be the FIRST sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (1)
(B) (2)
(C) (3)
(D) (4)
(E) (5)
23. Which of the following will be the LAST (SIXTH) sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (1)
(B) (2)
(C) (3)
(D) (4)
(E) (5)
24. Which of the following will be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (2)
(B) (3)
(C) (4)
(D) (5)
(E) (6)
25. Which of the following will be the THIRD sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (1)
(B) (2)
(C) (3)
(D) (5)
(E) (6)
Directions—(Q. 26–30) Which of the phrases (A), (B) (C) and (D) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct. If the sentence is correct as it is and No Correction is Required, mark (E) as the answer.
26. During the meeting he discussed each of the suggestions and how they are could be implemented.
(A) that they are
(B) why they could
(C) how it could
(D) when there can
(E) No Correction Required
27. When he finished his studies, there was a lot of pressure by him joining our family business.
(A) on him joining
(B) in his joining
(C) on him to join
(D) joining
(E) No Correction Required
28. It is disappointment that the majority of farmers who took loans last year have failed to repay them.
(A) is disappointment in
(B) is disappointing that
(C) is to disappoint
(D) has disappointed to
(E) No Correction Required
29. When I studied engineering thirty years ago, there was less as ten female students in my class.
(A) were smaller than
(B) was little as
(C) was lower than
(D) were less than
(E) No Correction Required
30. Once the manager approves the plans, it was easy convinced the rest of the team.
(A) was easily convinced
(B) will be easy to convince
(C) has easily convinced
(D) being easy to convince
(E) No Correction Required
Directions—(Q. 31–40) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (E) i.e. ‘No Error’. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any.)
31. It is sad that in (A) / our country education is (B) / available only to those (C) / whom can afford it. (D) No Error (E)
32. I was determined (A) / to learn everything (B) / I could from the people (C) / off the village. (D) No Error (E)
33. During the holidays (A) / I am often worked (B) / in my uncle’s shop to (C) / earn some pocket money. (D) No Error (E)
34. Most banks did not taken (A) / her plan to set up (B) / a factory in (C) / the area seriously. (D) No Error (E)
35. Every year we have (A) / a function where (B) / the children of our staff (C) / is awarded scholarships. (D) No Error (E)
36. Many of the funds (A) / I needed to buy (B) / my own house were (C) / given by my father. (D) No Error (E)
37. Since he was from (A) / the district and able to (B) / speak the language locally, (C) / they trusted him. (D) No Error (E)
38. Every month he would (A) / meet the employees to (B) / discuss their problems (C) / and answer their questions. (D) No Error (E)
39. I had to work full time (A) / so I could not devote (B) / as much time as (C) / I wanted to playing cricket. (D) No Error (E)
40. He did not even (A) / have no property (B) / to sell to (C) / cover his losses. (D) No Error (E)
Directions—(Q. 41–50) In the following passage there are blanks each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each five words are suggested one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.
I was born and …(41)… up in a village by my grandparents. We had two granaries to …(42)… the rice that
we grew. …(43)… the better quality ‘white’ rice was kept in the granary in the front of the house, the …(44)… quality ‘red’ rice was kept in the granary at the back. We never had …(45)… money in the house, so those who came to ask for alms were given rice. My grandmother would send me to the front granary to bring rice for them, but when she cooked for …(46)… of us she would use the red rice. I was …(47)… by her behaviour.
One day, I asked her why she did this ? She …(48)… and said something I will never forget. “…(49)… whenever you give something to somebody, give the best in you, never the second best.” …(50)… director of a foundation, if I help people today, it is because of this lesson she taught me.
41. (A) raised
(B) adopted
(C) grown
(D) brought
(E) grew
42. (A) pick
(B) save
(C) supply
(D) cultivate
(E) store
43. (A) Instead
(B) While
(C) Yet
(D) Therefore
(E) For
44. (A) less
(B) worse
(C) defective
(D) inferior
(E) best
45. (A) plenty
(B) vast
(C) lots
(D) sufficiently
(E) much
46. (A) all
(B) remaining
(C) gathering
(D) none
(E) those
47. (A) puzzled
(B) confusing
(C) worrying
(D) frightened
(E) angry
48. (A) pleased
(B) shouted
(C) smiled
(D) advised
(E) hugged
49. (A) remember
(B) pray
(C) memorise
(D) think
(E) appeal
50. (A) when
(B) since
(C) only
(D) perhaps
(E) as
Answers with Explanations
1. (E) 2. (D) 3. (E) 4. (C) 5. (C) 6. (D) 7. (D) 8. (B) 9. (B) 10. (B)
11. (B) 12. (E) 13. (E) 14. (D) 15. (B) 16. (D) Change ‘ideals’ to ‘ideas’.
17. (B) Change ‘clearly’ to ‘clear’.
18. (E)
19. (C) Change ‘anual’ to ‘annual’.
20. (D) Change ‘studying’ to ‘study’.
21. (E) 22. (D) 23. (C) 24. (A) 25. (D)
26. (C) Change ‘how they are could ‘to’ how it ‘could’.
27. (C) Change ‘by him joining’ to ‘on him to join’.
28. (B) Change ‘is disappointment that’ to ‘is disappointing that’.
29. (D) Change ‘was less as’ to ‘were less then’
30. (B) Change ‘was easy convinced’ to ‘will be easy to convince’.
31. (D) Change ‘whom’ to ‘who’
32. (D) Change ‘off’ to ‘of’.
33. (B) Change ‘am often worked’ to ‘often work’.
34. (A) Change ‘did not taken’ to ‘did not take’.
35. (D) Change ‘is’ to ‘are’.
36. (A) Change ‘Many’ to ‘Most’.
37. (C) Change ‘the language locally’ to ‘the local language’.
38. (E)
39. (D) Change ‘playing’ to ‘to play’.
40. (A) Delete ‘did not’ It is redundant.
41. (D) 42. (E) 43. (B) 44. (D) 45. (E) 46. (A) 47. (A) 48. (C) 49. (A) 50. (E)
