Staff Selection Commission Stenographers (Grade 'C' and 'D') Examination 2014
English Language and Comprehension Solved Paper
Directions (Qs. 1 to 10): Some parts of the sentences have errors and some are correct. Find out which part of a sentence (A), (B), or (C) has an error and mark that part as your answer. If a sentence is free from error, then mark (D) as your answer.
1. In the modern age (A)/ twenty miles are (B) / not a long distance to be covered. (C)/ No error (D) (Ans : B)
2. Did he came (A)/ to see you (B)/ yesterday evening? (C)/ No error (D) (Ans : A)
Also See : General Awareness and Reasoning Solved Paper
3. No one know (A)/ who solved (B)/ these sums. (C)/ No error (D) (Ans : A)
4. A parent has (A)/ much duties (B)/ towards his child (C)/ No error (D) (Ans : B)
5. Rosy hadn't been (A)/ to Shimla for ten years (B)/ and was really looking forward to see it again. (C)/ No error (D) (Ans : C)
6. It's very important (A)/ to attend (B)/ to all the classes. (C)/ No error (D) (Ans : C)
7. The security guard kept awake (A)/ lest no stranger should (B)/ not enter the house unnoticed. (C)/ No error (D) (Ans : C)
8. A dodo was (A) / the large flightless bird (B)/ found in Mauritius. (C)/ No error (D) (Ans : B)
9. Once (A)/ you learnt to swim, (B)/ you will never forget it. (C)/ No error (D) (Ans : C)
10. What surprises me (A)/ is his absolute indifference (B) / for the entire tragedy. (C)/ No error (D) (Ans : C)
Directions (Qs. 11 to 15) : Sentences are given with blanks to be filled in with an appropriate word(s). Four alternatives are suggested for each question. Choose the correct alternative out of the four.
11. Hamlet wanted to………. the death of his father who was treacherously killed by his mother's lover.
(A) vindicate (B) forgive (C) avenge (D) revenge (Ans : C)
12. I was taken………. by the shocking news of his demise.
(A) after (B) aback (C) ahead (D) away (Ans : B)
13. The disease spread throughout the village because it was highly.
(A) courageous (B) nauseous (C) outrageous (D) contagious (Ans : D)
14. The present………. is not as powerful as the previous one.
(A) school (B) block (C) wing (D) board (Ans : D)
15. Our flight was………. from Jaipur to Agra airport.
(A) diverted (B) reverted (C) deflected (D) shifted (Ans : A)
Directions (Qs. 16 to 20) : Out of the four alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the given word.
16. Tenacity
(A) ability (B) despair (C) stubbornness (D) roughness (Ans : C)
17. Vacant
(A) rare (B) vacuum (C) occupied (D) full (Ans : B)
18. Peaceful
(A) danger (B) release (C) fury (D) tranquil (Ans : D)
19. Furore
(A) attraction (B) enjoyment (C) celebration (D) excitement (Ans : D)
20. Bedlam
(A) lover (B) clamour (C) roar (D) lout (Ans : B)
Directions (Qs. 21 to 25) : Choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
21. Sprightly
(A) dull (B) lose (C) mild (D) fast (Ans : A)
22. Industrious
(A) undesirable (B) irritable (C) sluggish (D) annoyed (Ans : C)
23. Wreck
(A) salvage (B) construct (C) free (D) loosen (Ans : B)
24. Vigorous
(A) feeble (B) smart (C) brave (D) eager (Ans : A)
25. Confess
(A) discourage (B) decrease (C) deny (D) dissent (Ans : C)
Directions (Qs. 26 to 30) : In these questions, the sentence/ passage is split into four parts and named P, Q, Rand 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. Then find the correct answer.
26. P. In an age
Q. you are living
R. when there are
S. great opportunities for women
(A) P Q R S. (B) Q P R S (C) S R P Q (D) R S P Q (Ans : B)
27. P. That we are more civilised than our ancestors
Q. is the prevailing belief
R. one of the
S. great delusions of modern times
(A) Q R S P (B) R S Q P (C) R P Q S (D) S Q R P (Ans : B)
28. P. Seems like a perfect holiday
Q. watching the sun sink
R. sitting on the beach and
S. into the blue sea
(A) Q R P S (B) Q S P R (C) R Q S P (D) R P Q S (Ans : C)
29. P. Country in the world
Q. celebrated with as
R. Here, festivals are
S. much passion as in any
(A) S P R Q (B) R Q S P (C) P Q R S (D) Q P S R (Ans : B)
30. P. The Olympics start
Q. in the stadium of a torch
R. lighted on Mount Olympus by the sun's rays
S. with the arrival
(A) R P Q S (B) Q P S R (C) P S Q R (D) S P R Q (Ans : C)
Directions (Qs. 31 to 35) : Four alternatives are given for the Idiom/ Phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/ Phrase.
31. The road roller proved to be a white elephant for Mr. Raman.
(A) an albino pachyderm (B) a burdensome possession (C) a symbol of royalty (D) an exotic beast of burden (Ans : B)
32. Before going to the party, the children were told to mind their p's and q’s.
(A) to complete their homework (B) to dress up properly (C) to take care of their behaviour (D) to learn the alphabet (Ans : C)
33. I cannot allow you to take liberties with me.
(A) do whatever you want (B) share my liberty (C) treat me disrespectfully (D) fool around (Ans : A)
34. I will be back in two shakes.
(A) with two milkshakes (B) very soon (C) in two minutes (D) with a bang (Ans : B)
35. The king of metals is becoming dearer by the day.
(A) gold (B) diamonds (C) platinum (D) iron (Ans : A)
Directions (Qs. 36 to 45) : A sentence has been given in Active/ Passive Voice. Out of die four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Passive/Active Voice and mark your answer accordingly.
36. The room has been cleaned by Jill.
(A) Jill is cleaning her room. (B) Jill will clean her room. (C) Jill cleans her room. (D) Jill has cleaned her room.(Ans : D)
37. The bench has dismissed the petition.
(A) The petition is being dismissed by the bench. (B) The petition was dismissed by the bench.
(C) The petition has been dismissed by the bench. (D) The petition has dismissed by the bench. (Ans : C)
38. The manager has not signed the cheques carefully.
(A) The cheques were not signed carefully by the manager. (B) The cheques have not been signed carefully by the manager.
(C) The cheques has been not signed carefully by the manager. (D) The cheques have been not signed carefully by the manager. (Ans : B)
39. The dogs were chasing the girl.
(A) The girl were chased by the dogs. (B) The girl had been chased by the dogs.
(C) The girl was being chased by the dogs. (D) The girl was chased by the dogs. (Ans : C)
40. He had completed the work.
(A) The work has been completed by him. (B) The work was completed by him.
(C) The work had been completed by him. (D) The work is completed by him. (Ans : C)
41. Computers can perform complicated calculations.
(A) Complicated calculations would be performed by computers. (B) Complicated calculations will be performed by computers.
(C) Complicated calculations could be performed by computers. (D) Complicated calculations can be performed by computers. (Ans : D)
42. A poem was being written by me.
(A) I had been writing a poem. (B) I am writing a poem. (C) I was writing a poem. (D) I have been writing a poem. (Ans : C)
43. We expect that they will elect him.
(A) It is expected that he will have been elected. (B) It is expected that they would elect him.
(C) It was expected that they will elect him.(D) It is expected that he will be elected. (Ans : D)
44. We sent a message of congratulations to her.
(A) A message of congratulations are sent to her. (B) A message of congratulations is sent to hen
(C) A message of congratulations will be sent to her. (D) A message-of congratulations was sent to her (by us). (Ans : D)
45. We will finish the lessons before this month.
(A) The lessons are being finished before this month. (B) The lessons will be finished before this months (by us).
(C) The lessons will have finished before this month. (D) The lessons will finish before this month. (Ans : B)
Directions (Qs. 46 to 55) : A sentence/ a part of the sentence is underlined. Below are given alternatives to the underlined part at (A), (B), (C) which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case no improvement is needed your answer is (D).
46. He is senior than me.
(A) to (B) by (C) over (D) No improvement (Ans : A)
47. The conduct of many students are not what they should be.
(A) The conduct of many students is not what they should be. (B) The conducts of many students are not what they should be.
(C) The conduct of many students is not what it should be. (D) No improvement (Ans : C)
48. That is it's name.
(A) That is its name. (B) That name is its. (C) That name is it's. (D) No improvement. (Ans : A)
49. Jameel was instructed to complete the task by Monday.
(A) Monday (B) Until Monday (C) Upto Monday (D) No improvement (Ans : D)
50. It seemed he was possessed with a demon.
(A) It seemed he was possessed by a demon. (B) It seemed he was possessed of a demon.
(C) It possessed he seemed of a demon. (D) No improvement (Ans : A)
51. Two hundred people have been employed by the company.
(A) Two hundred people are employed by the company. (B) The company employed two hundred people.
(C) The company has employed two hundred people. (D) No improvement (Ans : D)
52. You should carry an umbrella as because it is raining.
(A) You should carry an umbrella because it is raining. (B) Because it is raining, you should carry an umbrella.
(C) The rain is the because as you should carry an umbrella. (D) No improvement (Ans : A)
53. Her parents always impressed her in her studies.
(A) trained (B) taught (C) encouraged (D) No improvement (Ans : C)
54. He gave me a ten-rupees note.
(A) ten-rupee (B) tens-rupees (C) tens-rupee (D) No improvement (Ans : A)
55. The ship sank and all his passengers were drowned.
(A) all her passengers (B) all its passengers (C) all their passengers (D) No improvement (Ans : B)
Directions (Qs. 56 to 65) : 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.
56. She said to me, "Why have you failed" ?
(A) She asked me why do I fail. (B) She asked me why had I failed.
(C) She asked me why did I fail. (D) She asked me why I had failed. (Ans : D)
57. "Bless his kind heart" ! they cried.
(A) They cried that his kind heart needs blessing. (B) They bless him that he has a kind heart.
(C) They said that he had a blessed and kind heart. (D) They blessed him for his kind heart. (Ans : D)
58. I said, "Who knew that this would happen" !
(A) I said that none knew that, that would happen. (B) I said that none knew that this should happen.
(C) I asked who knew what should happen. (D) I asked who knew that this should happen. (Ans : A)
59. The customer asked the salesman whether he knew where the manager was.
(A) The customer asked the salesman, "Do you know where the manager is" ? (B) The customer said to the salesman, "Can I meet the manager" ?
(C) The customer wanted to know, "Where is the manager" ? (D) The customer demanded of the salesman, "Where is the manager" ? (Ans : A)
60. He said, “What a nice thing it is" !
(A) He asked what a nice thing it is. (B) He exclaimed that it was a nice thing.
(C) He enquired what a nice thing it was. (D) He said that it is a very nice thing. (Ans : B)
61. "Do you know the person we are talking about" ? Karim said to his friend.
(A) His friend was asked by Karim if he knew the person they are talking about.
(B) Karim asked his friend if he knew the person they were talking about.
(C) His friend asked Karim if he knew the person they were talking about.
(D) Karim asked his friend if he knows the person they were talking about. (Ans : B)
62. "Please lend me your pen for some time", Seema said to Jyoti.
(A) Seema said to Jyoti that she should lend her, her pen. (B) Jyoti asked Seema to lend her, her pen.
(C) Please lend me your pen for some time Seema said to Jyoti. (D) Seema requested Jyoti to lend her, her pen. (Ans : D)
63. He said to me, "Let us go home".
(A) He asked me to let us go home. (B) He proposed that we should go home.
(C) He suggested to me about going home. (D) He said to me that we should let us go home. (Ans : C)
64. She said to me, "Have you seen the man who came to me the other day"?
(A) She asked me whether I had seen the man who came to her the other day.
(B) She said to me have I seen the man who came to her the other day.
(C) She asked me if I had seen the man who came to me the other day.
(D) She asked me if I have seen the man who came to her the other day. (Ans : A)
65. The mother told her son that if he lied, he would be punished.
(A) The mother said, "Son, if you lie, you will be punished".
(B) The mother said to his son, "Do not lie otherwise you will be punished" .
(C) The mother said, "Son, if you lied, you would be punished".
(D) "Son", said the mother, "you told a lie so you will be punished". (Ans : A)
Directions (Qs. 66 to 85) : In the following 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
When you are driving abroad you should make Sure that you have all your documents with you. These ...(66)... your passport, your driving licence and insurance papers. It ...(67)... be very inconvenient if you ...(68)... any of these or if you cannot find ...(69)... quickly. You must also make sure that your car has a nationality plate which shows the country where the car is registered; for ...(70)... GB for Great Britain, F for France, N for Norway and so on. In some ...(71)... you have to pay if you don't ...(72)... motoring laws and this can sometimes cost you a lot of money. For instance, you may have to pay immediately if you are stopped by a police officer 'for taking no notice of traffic lights, speed ...(73)... or if you allow children ...(74)... the age of twelve to ...(75)... in the front seat of the vehicle.
66. (A) include (B) made (C) contain (D) mean (Ans : A)
67. (A) is (B) has (C) can (D) should (Ans : C)
68. (A) pass (B) miss (C) hide (D) lose (Ans : B)
69. (A) them (B) their (C) those (D) that (Ans : D)
70. (A) example (B) genetal (C) once (D) fact (Ans : A)
71. (A) routes (B) countries (C) positions (D) ways (Ans : B)
72. (A) obey (B) allow (C) do (D) continue (Ans : A)
73. (A) numbers (B) marks (C) limits (D) spots (Ans : C)
74. (A) lower (B) over (C) behind (D) under (Ans : D)
75. (A) follow (B) travel (C) wait (D) pass (Ans : B)
Passage - II
Yoga was a ...(76)... of self-realisation in the Upanishads. The system of Yoga was ...(77)... on the ...(78)... of self-control. A ...(79)... course of self-discipline was ...(80)... through hatha yoga, raja yoga and jnana yoga and ...(81)... man from physical to mental, from ...(82)... to spiritual discipline, stage by ...(83)... Without physical cleansing no mental discipline was ...(84)... and without mental discipline no spiritual discipline was ...(85)...
76. (A) path (B) route (C) way (D) means (Ans : D)
77. (A) based (B) realised (C) developed (D) controlled (Ans : A)
78. (A) principle (B) principal (C) thought (D) idea (Ans : A)
79. (A) thorough (B) full (C) complete (D) serious (Ans : C)
80. (A) attainable (B) got (C) achieved (D) fulfilled (Ans : A)
81. (A) prepared (B) trained (C) equipped (D) moulded (Ans : B)
82. (A) mental (B) mentality (C) psychological (D) physiological (Ans : A)
83. (A) practice (B) practising (C) stages (D) stage (Ans : D)
84. (A) impossible (B) achieved (C) possible (D) attainable (Ans : C)
85. (A) impossible (B) achieved (C) attainable (D) probable (Ans : C)
Directions (Qs. 86 to 100) : You have three brief passage with 5 questions following each passage. Read the passages carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.
Passage - I
What makes good conversation ? In the first place, it is essentially a mutual search for the essence of things. It is a zestful transaction, not a briefing or a lecture. Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin correctly identified the willingness to listen as one of the vital ingredients of any exchange. When two people are talking at the same time, it is not conversation; it is collision– nothingis more destructive of good talk than an over-zealous football dribbler playing to the crowd. Pity the husband or wife with a garrulous mate who insists on talking long past the point where he or she has anything to say. To be meaningful, a conversation should head in a general direction. It has been said that if speech is silver, silence is gold. Certainly silence is preferable, under most circumstances, to inconsequential chit-chat.
86. The word garrulous means_____
(A) annoying (B) talkative (C) noisy (D) disturbing (Ans : B)
87. A vital ingredient of conversation is_____
(A) being like an over-zealous footballer. (B) being able to speak without stopping.
(C) the ability to talk. (D) the willingness to listen. (Ans : D)
88. A good conversation should not be–
(A) a lecture (B) a dialogue (C) a discourse (D) a monologue (Ans : A)
89. If speech is silver, silence is gold-indicates that...
(A) silence is valuable (B) silence is more precious than speech (C) speech is less important (D) Both are valuable (Ans : B)
90. According to the Author, "in Collision" occurs when_____
(A) two people listen at the same time. (B) two people collide against each other
(C) a single person talks too long. (D) two people talk at the same time. (Ans : D)
Passage - II
There is a need to preserve our natural resources. The growth of population leads to an increase in the demand for food which means more space is required for cultivation. Trees in the forests are cut down to make way for more land for farms and buildings. Animals are decreasing in number due to widespread poaching and the depletion of their natural habitat. Many species are getting extinct or are on the verge of extinction. There is a need to conserve forests and the wildlife within them. Trees are the lifeline of society. Excessive felling of trees can lead to various problems like floods, droughts, climate change and lack of resources. Therefore, for sustainable development that is development that fulfils the need of future generations, it is important to save forest and wildlife.
91. What is the life line of society ?
(A) mountains (B) rivers (C) trees (D) humans (Ans : C)
92. Why is it important to save forests and wildlife ?
(A) to improve tourism (B) to save the animals (C) for maintaining nature's beauty (D) for sustainable development (Ans : D)
93. Why is more space needed for cultivation ?
(A) decrease in population (B) development (C) decrease in food supply (D) growth of population (Ans : D)
94. What has led to animal extinction?
(A) trade and commerce (B) poaching (C) lack of awareness (D) industrial development (Ans : B)
95. What has led to the change in climate?
(A) the drilling of wells (B) the deforestation (C) the killing of animals (D) the construction of dams (Ans : B)
Passage - III
The high speed winds have a lot of energy in them as kinetic energy, due to their motion. The driving force of the winds is the sun. The wind energy is harnessed by making use of wind mills. The blades of the wind mill keep on rotating continuously due to the force of the striking wind. A large number of wind mills are installed in clusters called wind farms. These farms are ideally located in coastal regions, open grasslands or hilly regions, particularly mountain passes and ridges where the winds are strong and steady. Wind energy is very useful as it does not cause any air pollution. After the initial installation cost, the wind energy is very cheap. It is believed that by the middle of the century wind power would supply more than 10% of world's electricity.
96. What are wind farms ?
(A) the force of the striking wind (B) high speed winds having a lot of energy in them
(C) large number of wind mills installed in clusters (D) working of a wind generator (Ans : C)
97. Where are the farms located ?
(A) in places where there are lots of houses (B) in industrial areas
(C) In areas where there are water pumps and flour mills (D) in areas where the winds are strong and steady. (Ans : D)
98. What is the driving force of the winds?
(A) the electric generators (B) the sun (C) the atmosphere (D) the continuous rotation (Ans : B)
99. How is wind energy harnessed?
(A) by constructing a barrage (B) by providing commercial energy (C) by using steam turbine (D) by making use of wind mills (Ans : D)
100. Why is wind energy useful?
(A) It can generate a lot of electricity (B) It does not cause any air pollution (C) It is easily affordable (D) It can be utilized on a wide range (Ans : B)
