Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Stenographers (Grade ‘C’ and ‘D’) Examination Held on 2016
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPREHENSION
Directions (Qs. 1 to 10) : In these questions, some parts of the sentences have errors and some are correct. Find out which part of a sentence has an error and choose that part (A), (B) or (C) as your answer. IF a sentence is free from error, choose the ‘No error’ option as your answer.
1. Had Mukesh work hard (A) / he would have got a (B) / distinction in the exam. (C) / No error. (D)
2. The beggar thanks (A) /him a lot (B) / for the help. (C) / No error. (D)
3. The little girl was playing (A) /with her brother (B) /over the lawn. (C) / No error. (D)
4. North-East India (A) /has a beautiful places (B) / to visit. (C) / No error. (D)
5. There were no furniture (A) / in the flat (B) / except for a couple of beds. (C) / No error. (D)
6. Maintaining a healthy body and engaging (A) / in activities according to a time-tables will give you (B) / the feeling that you have enough time to do everything. (C) / No error. (D)
7. In the valley of Kadisha (A) / where the mighty river flow, (B) / two little streams met. (C) / No error. (D)
8. The aeroplane (A) / not only crashes (B) / but also caught fire. (C) / No error. (D)
9. They not only came (A) /late but also (B) / go away early. (C) / No error. (D)
10. All query will (A) / be answered (B) / by the chief instructor. (C) / No error. (D)
Directions (Qs. 11 to 15) : In these questions, sentences are given with blanks to be filled in with an appropriate word(s). Four alternatives are suggested for each question. Choose the most appropriate alternative out of the four.
11. I ________ you to be home by 8 o’clock.
(A) expect
(B) accept
(C) aspect
(D) except
12. Admission was _______ ladies.
(A) limited of
(B) restricted to
(C) restricted by
(D) limited by
13. The palace gardens ________ to the public on Saturdays and Sundays.
(A) is opened
(B) is open
(C) are open
(D) is opening
14. Two boys ________ the prize for General Proficiency.
(A) decided
(B) deputed
(C) shared
(D) give
15. You will come, _______?
(A) won’t you
(B) will you
(C) shouldn’t you
(D) aren’t you
Directions (Qs. 16 to 20) : In these questions, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the given word.
16. Supple
(A) Hard
(B) Round
(C) Rigid
(D) Flexible
17. Robust
(A) Weak
(B) Sturdy
(C) Heavy
(D) Thin
18. Submissive
(A) Obstinate
(B) Unyielding
(C) Stubborn
(D) Docile
19. Affluent
(A) Wealthy
(B) Precious
(C) Benevolent
(D) Friendly
20. Bargain
(A) Surplus
(B) Bonus
(C) Negotiate
(D) Dispute
Directions (Qs. 21 to 25) : In these questions, choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
21. Juxtaposition
(A) Remoteness
(B) Separation
(C) Termination
(D) Proximity
22. Authentic
(A) Fictitious
(B) Daring
(C) Enticing
(D) Legitimate
23. Choose
(A) Reject
(B) Want
(C) Dislike
(D) Desire
24. Hasten
(A) Lack
(B) Obstruct
(C) Instruct
(D) Slow
25. Bold
(A) Wealthy
(B) Timid
(C) Brave
(D) Beautiful
Directions (Qs. 26 to 30): In these questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase underlined. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase.
26. After much contemplation the two rivals decided to bury the hatchet and work in unison.
(A) defeat their enemies
(B) get reconciled
(C) go their own way
(D) hide their secrets
27. An axe to grind
(A) Personal end to serve
(B) No sense
(C) No work to do
(D) No property
28. My colleague made his mark as a lawyer at an early age.
(A) secured good marks
(B) distinguished himself
(C) created a vacancy
(D) desired to be
29. I am all ears to listen to your stories of chivalry.
(A) curious
(B) suspicious
(C) worried
(D) eager
30. A burning problem
(A) A problem that is obvious
(B) An urgent, important problem
(C) A dangerous problem
(D) A problem on fire
Directions (Qs. 31 to 35) : In these questions, the first and the last p arts of the sentence/passage are numbered 1 and 6. The rest of the sentence/passage is split into four parts and named P, Q, R and S. These four parts are not given in their proper order. Read the sentence/passage and find out which of the four combinations is correct.
31.
1. Mr. Hawking
P. can writ
Q. at the University of Cambridge
R. on his computer
S. who teaches
6. using a cheek sensor.
(A) RSQP
(B) SPQR
(C) SQPR
(D) PRSQ
32.
1. I would urge you
P. and take no further action
Q. sympathetic view
R. to take a very
S. of the matter
6. against her.
(A) RPSQ
(B) RSQP
(C) SPRQ
(D) RQSP
33.
1. Accumulation
P. aim of
Q. is not
R. the sole
S. of wealth
6. human life.
(A) RSPQ
(B) SQRP
(C) PRQS
(D) QRSP
34.
1. A large
P. been felled by
Q. number of sandalwood
R. a notorious
S. trees have
6. gangster.
(A) QSPR
(B) SPQR
(C) RPSQ
(D) RQPS
35.
1. Housing facilities
P. to keep up
Q. with the increasing
R. influx of
S. are struggling
6. population.
(A) QSPR
(B) SPQR
(C) RPSQ
(D) RQPS
Directions (Qs. 36 to 45) : In these questions, a sentence has been given in Active/Passive Voice. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Passive/Active Voice and mark your answer accordingly.
36. The invigilator was reading out the instructions.
(A) The instructions were being read out by invigilator.
(B) The instructions had been read out by the invigilator.
(C) The instructions had been read by the invigilator.
(D) The instructions were read by the invigilator.
37. You need to clean your shoes properly.
(A) You are needed to clean your shoes properly.
(B) Your shoes are needed by you to clean properly.
(C) Your shoes need to be cleaned properly.
(D) Your shoes are needed to clean properly.
38. He teaches us English.
(A) We are taught English by him.
(B) English will be taught to us by him.
(C) We were taught English by him.
(D) English is taught to us by him.
39. Four languages were studied by him at school.
(A) He had studied four languages at school.
(B) Four languages he studied at school.
(C) He studied for languages at school.
(D) At school, he studied four languages
40. We do not advise him these days.
(A) He was not advised these days by us.
(B) He will not be advised these days by us.
(C) He has not been advised these days by us.
(D) He is not advised these days by us.
41. The crowd gave a standing ovation to Maradona.
(A) Maradona is being given a standing ovation by the crowd.
(B) Maradona had been given a standing ovation by the crowd.
(C) Maradona gave a standing ovation to the crowd.
(D) Maradona was given a standing ovation by the crowd.
42. People avoid crowded buses.
(A) Crowded buses are avoided by people.
(B) People avoid the buses that are crowded.
(C) Crowded buses have been avoided by people.
(D) People are avoided by crowded buses.
43. We must reduce pollution in big cities.
(A) Pollution would be reduced by us in big cities.
(B) Pollution will be reduced by us in big cities.
(C) Pollution must be reduced by us in big cities.
(D) Pollution should be reduced by us in big cities.
44. My mother has cooked dinner for me.
(A) Dinner has been cooked for me by my mother.
(B) My dinner was cooked by my mother.
(C) Mother cooked my dinner for me.
(D) Dinner was cooked by my mother.
45. Body language is used by all good communicators.
(A) All good communicators are using body language.
(B) Good communicators use the body languages.
(C) Good communicators were using body language.
(D) All good communicators use body language.
Directions (Qs. 46 to 55) : In these questions, a part of the sentence is underlined. Below are given alternatives to the underlined part which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case no improvement is required, choose “No Improvement” option. Choose your answer accordingly.
46. Her work a great improvement showed last year.
(A) a great showed improvement
(B) improvement a great showed
(C) showed a great improvement
(D) No improvement
47. Will you me visit and come in the hospital?
(A) come and me visit
(B) visit me and come
(C) come and visit me
(D) No improvement
48. Your hair needs cutting badly.
(A) Your hair badly needs cutting.
(B) Your hairs needs cutting real bad.
(C) Badly your hair needs cutting.
(D) No improvement
49. They spent many ideally hours just sitting in the Sun.
(A) idly hours
(B) idle hours
(C) ideally hour
(D) No improvement
50. There are many communicable diseases and almost all communicable diseases could be prevented.
(A) communicable diseases can
(B) communicable diseases should
(C) communicable disease can
(D) No improvement
51. Please examine my homework.
(A) investigate
(B) check
(C) see
(D) No improvement
52. The sheriff arrested the hoodlums for playing with the law.
(A) breaking
(B) cracking
(C) tossing
(D) No improvement
53. To tell you the truth, I am not there last night.
(A) were
(B) was
(C) is
(D) No improvement
54. If only he can swim!
(A) will
(B) could
(C) would
(D) No improvement
55. Strict laws were passed so that this cruel custom was no more.
(A) done away with
(B) wiped off
(C) eradicated
(D) No improvement
Directions (Qs. 56 to 65) : In these questions, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect/Direct and choose your answer accordingly.
56. I said to him, “Where have you lost the new pen?”
(A) I asked him where did he lose the new pen.
(B) I asked him where he has lost the new pen.
(C) I asked him where he had lost the new pen.
(D) I ask him where had he lost the new pen.
57. His uncle said, “I am always punctual.”
(A) His uncle said that I am always punctual.
(B) His uncle said that he was always punctual.
(C) His uncle said that I was always punctual.
(D) His uncle said that he is always punctual.
58. “Wait outside,” the receptionist told me.
(A) The receptionist told me wait outside.
(B) The receptionist asked me to wait outside.
(C) The receptionist told to me wait outside.
(D) The receptionist asked me wait outside.
59. The examiner said, “Candidates at the exam hall were nervous.”
(A) The examiner said that candidates at the exam hall was nervous.
(B) The examiner said that candidates at the exam hall had been nervous.
(C) The examiner said that candidates at the exam hall have been nervous.
(D) The examiner said that candidates were nervous at the exam hall.
60. The teacher said, “The Earth goes round the Sun.”
(A) The teacher said that the Earth went round the Sun.
(B) The teacher said the Earth went round the Sun.
(C) The teacher said the Earth goes round the Sun.
(D) The teacher said that the Earth goes round the Sun.
61. Raghu said, “I am not coming tomorrow.”
(A) Raghu said that he is coming the next day.
(B) Raghu said that he was coming the next day.
(C) Raghu said that he was not coming the next day.
(D) Raghu said that he was coming tomorrow.
62. He said, “All the players must report in time.”
(A) He said that all the players must be reported in time.
(B) He said that all the players must report in time.
(C) He said that all the players had to report in time.
(D) He said that all the players had reported in time.
63. My daughters said to me, “I am thinking of getting married.”
(A) My daughter told me that she is thinking of getting married.
(B) My daughter told me that she was thinking of getting married.
(C) My daughter told me that she will be thinking of getting married.
(D) My daughter thinks of getting married.
64. Rama said to the passer-by, “Where is the ticket counter?”
(A) Rama asked the passer-by where the ticket counter is.
(B) Rama asked the passer-by if there was a ticket counter.
(C) Rama asked the passer-by where was the ticket counter.
(D) Rama asked the passer-by where the ticket counter was.
65. Ragini said to the shopkeeper, “How much do you want me to pay for this dress?”
(A) Ragini asked the shopkeeper how much he wanted her to pay for that dress.
(B) Ragini asked the shopkeeper how he wanted her to pay for that dress.
(C) Ragini asked the shopkeeper if he wanted her to pay for that dress.
(D) Raginig asked the shopkeeper how much he wants her to pay for that dress.
Directions (Qs. 66 to 75) : In these questions, in the following two passages some of the words have been left out. Read the passages carefully and choose the correct answer to each question out of the four alternatives and fill in the blanks.
Passage-I
The every foreign ………(66)………. India has something to ….(67) …. Those fascinated with our past can feast their eyes on the …(68)… of formerly princely states –the carefully restored palaces, forts and antique collections. Those taken in by our ….(69)… will find in a number of …(70)… waiting to have fresh recruits, preferably from the …(71)… west. Here one can buy …(72)… that the best traditional craftsmanship can produce. …(73)… too can take their pick for India has warm water …(74)…, vast open spaces, snowy mountain peaks and luxurious tropical …(75)… .
66.
(A) tourist
(B) person
(C) man
(D) human
67.
(A) see
(B) offer
(C) take
(D) give
68.
(A) leftovers
(B) ruins
(C) monuments
(D) remains
69.
(A) traditions
(B) culture
(C) religions
(D) spirituality
70.
(A) gurus
(B) godmen
(C) leaders
(D) teachers
71.
(A) lenient
(B) affluent
(C) intelligent
(D) prominent
72.
(A) gifts
(B) articles
(C) things
(D) handicrafts
73.
(A) Divers
(B) Nature lovers
(C) Wildlife enthusiasts
(D) Mountaineers
74.
(A) rivers
(B) seas
(C) beaches
(D) sands
75.
(A) trees
(B) forests
(C) shrubs
(D) bushes
Passage-II
There ….(76)… a large colony of monkeys in Bareilly jail. One day a baby monkey …(77)… to come down near our rooms and he …(78)… not get up on the wall again. Some prisoners and warders …(79)… hold of him and tied a bit of string …(80)… his neck. The parents of the little one saw all this ….(81)… the top of the high wall, and their anger …(82)… . Suddenly the father, a huge monkey, jumped down, and charged almost right ….(83)… the crowd which was around the baby monkey. It was a brave thing to do, for the men …(84)… many in number. But the monkey’s courage won and the crowd of men fled, terrified, leaving their sticks behind them. The little monkey was taken back to its …(85)… .
76.
(A) is
(B) are
(C) happens
(D) was
77.
(A) happened
(B) happening
(C) happen
(D) happens
78.
(A) will
(B) could
(C) would
(D) can
79.
(A) catching
(B) catch
(C) caught
(D) was caught
80.
(A) on
(B) at
(C) over
(D) around
81.
(A) above
(B) form
(C) from
(D) over
82.
(A) boil
(B) grew
(C) growing
(D) brew
83.
(A) in
(B) upon
(C) under
(D) into
84.
(A) is
(B) were
(C) be
(D) was
85.
(A) brother
(B) tree
(C) cave
(D) mother
Directions (Qs. 86 to 100) : In these questions, you have three brief passages with 5 questions following each passage. Read the passages carefully and choose the best answer to ach question out of the four alternatives.
Passage-I
Clouds are an essential part of the weather conditions which exist around us. Warm air rises upwards in the atmosphere carrying with it dust and moisture from evaporated surface water. At higher altitudes the air is cooler and the vapor in the warm air reaches its ‘dew point’ where it changes either to small particles of ice or into water, thus forming clouds. Since cloud formation takes place a different heights and temperatures, clouds are of different types.
There are basically three main types of clouds. UP to about 1.5 k from the ground we generally see the first type called the ‘stratus’ cloud; on occasions it is the grey stratus clouds which bear light rain. In colder areas the water in these clouds, freezes, thus resulting in snowfall. Slowly rising warm air produces these clouds. Above these and up to about 4.5 km lie the ‘cumulus’ clouds; the fluffy shapes are a result of quickly rising warm air. Above the cumulus clouds, at an altitude of about 14 km, float the ‘cirrus’ types of clouds. Cirrus clouds are wispy clouds formed at such a high altitude that they contain only ice crystals.
Lying between these three main types of clouds are other types like the ‘stratocumulus’, ‘altocumulus’, ‘cirrocumulus’, ‘altostratus’ and ‘cumulonimbus’ clouds.
86. “What does quickly rising warm air produce ?
(A) Altostratus clouds
(B) Cumulus clouds
(C) Altocumulus clouds
(D) Stratus clouds
87. What do cirrus clouds contain?
(A) Ice crystals
(B) Water
(C) Particles of ice
(D) Light rain
88. What are the three main types of clouds?
(A) Status, cumulus, cirrus
(B) Cirrus, altostratus, cirrocumulus
(C) Cumulus, cirrus, altocumulus
(D) Stratocumulus, stratus, cumulonimbus
89. Why are there different types of clouds?
(A) Because warm air rises upwards in the atmosphere.
(B) Because the atmosphere carries with it dust and moisture from evaporated surface water.
(C) Because cloud formation takes p lace in different heights and temperatures.
(D) Because they are the essential part of the weather conditions.
90. How are stratus clouds produced?
(A) By quickly rising warm air
(B) By quickly rising cold air
(C) By slowly rising cold air
(D) By slowly rising warm air
Passage-II
Sariska National Park is a wildlife sanctuary, located at a distance of 107 km from Jaipur. The park possesses historical monuments and temples, which depict the legacy of the Maharajas of Alwar. The park is bigger than Ranthambore but has a similar topography. Though this sanctuary doesn’t have many tigers yet, many wild animals dwell on the grounds of this park. Apart from other carnivores and herbivores, you can also trace Rhesus Monkeys, which can usually be seen playing tricks upon each other around the Tad Vriksh (palm tree). The park also shelters many different species of birds including Bush Quails, Sand Grouses, Tree Pies, Golden Backed Woodpeckers, crested Serpent Eagles and Great Indian Horned Owls. Animals lovers would definitely love this place, as it will offer them some of the best scenes to remember. The best place to spot wildlife is at the waterholes where animals come to satisfy their thirst. You can trace hundreds of birds at the Kalighati Waterhole and Nilgai can be spotted at Salupka Waterhole.
91. The park possesses
(A) monuments and temples
(B) monuments and ramparts
(C) monuments and forts
(D) temples and ramparts
92. In the Sariska National Park, there are
(A) only herbivores
(B) both carnivores and herbivores
(C) no carnivores or herbivores
(D) only carnivores
93. The Sand Grouse is a species of
(A) birds
(B) plants
(C) trees
(D) animals
94. Animals come to satisfy their thirst at a
(A) borehole
(B) deep well
(C) bore-well
(D) waterhole
95. Sariska National Park is not far from
(A) Jodhpur
(B) Raipur
(C) Mewar
(D) Jaipur
Passage-III
Using modern computer technology scientists have restored part of a fossil of a rare dinosaur that lived more than 90 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period in what is now Mongolia. The focus of the study was the skull of Erlikosaurus andrewsi, a 10-13 foot herbivorous dinosaur called Therizinosaur. Using a digital model of the fossil, the team virtually disassembled the skull of Erlikosaurus into its individual elements. They, then digitally filled in any breaks and cracks in the bones, duplicated missing elements and removed deformation by applying retro-deformation techniques, digitally reversing the steps of deformation. In the final step, the reconstructed elements were re-assembled. This approach not only allowed the restoration of the complete skull of Erlikosaurus but also the study of its individual elements. “With modern computer technology such as CT scanning and digital visualization, we now have powerful tools at our disposal with which we can get a step closer to restore fossil animals to their life-like condition” said author Stephan Lautenschlager from the University of Bristol in Britain.
96. Therizinosaur ate only
(A) plants
(B) both meat and plants
(C) fruits
(D) meat
97. The team applied
(A) retro-deformation techniques
(B) deformation techniques
(C) retro-formation techniques
(D) formation techniques
98. The main intention of Stephan Lautenschalger was
(A) the projection of computer technology
(B) restoration of fossilized animals to life
(C) to study dinosaurs
(D) the development of powerful tools
99. The restoration of a part of the fossil of the dinosaur was possible by a process of
(A) destruction
(B) disassembling
(C) formation
(D) assembling
100. The scientists focused on the study of
(A) the bones of the dinosaur
(B) the tail of the dinosaur
(C) the skull of the dinosaur
(D) the leg of the dinosaur
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