2021,2020,20219

PAPER II
Part A
(English Language)
Directions (Q. Nos. 1-10) Each item in this section
consists of a sentence with an underlined word
followed by four words (a), (b), (c) and (d). Select the
option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined
word.
 He is essentially a lowbrow person.
(a) coarse
(b) proud
1 (c) passionate
(d) pathetic
 His nostalgia is deep.
(a)excitement
(b) longing
2 (c) happiness
(d) ability
 His truancy is detrimental.
(a)loyalty
(b) integrity
3 (c) honesty
(d) absenteeism
 He is a maleficent person.
(a)generous
(b) cunning
4 (c) criminal
(d) friendly
 His solemnity is celebrated.
(a)greed
(b) desire
5 (c) trust
(d) dignity
 His bounty is limitless.
(a)benevolence
(b) gallantry
6 (c) nepotism
(d) chivalry
 The Holocaust was experienced by millions.
(a)celebration
(b) destruction
7 (c) construction
(d) beautiful
 His aversion is known to all.
(a)hospitality
(b) hostility
8 (c) humility
(d) humbleness
 To be able to decipher something is wonderful.
(a)decode
(b) encode
9 (c) simulate
(d) animate
 It is the opportune time to think about investment in the real estate
sector.
(a)honorary
10 (b) appropriate
(c) difficult
(d) unsuitable
Directions (Q. Nos. 1-10) Each question in this section consists of
a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words. Select
the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word and
mark your answer.

2 paper 2021
 Her smile was contagious.

(a)arrogant
(b) disrespectful
11 (c) sarcastic
(d) catching
 Her dynamic nature impressed everyone.

(a)enduring
(b) attentive
12 (c) evolutionary
(d) jealous
 She was lamenting her destiny.
(a)celebrating
(b) bemoaning
13 (c) blaming
(d) making
 Under his leadership the company grew in an organic manner.
(a)natural
(b) speedy
14 (c) unusual
(d) disciplined
 His charm lies in his oratory.
(a) deceit
(b) eloquence
15 (c) looks
(d) nobility
 She is a patron of art and culture.
(a) entrepreneur
(b) admirer
16 (c) critique
(d) backer
 Arrogance is a hallmark of his nature.
(a) concern
(b) unpretentiousness
17 (c) conceit
(d) simplicity
 She undertook a reconnaissance of the entire issue.
(a)revaluation
(b) ratification
18 (c) investigation
(d) regularisation
 My daughter is my replica.
(a)pride
(b) clone
19 (c) love
(d) original
 The sardonic nature of her stories made her stand out among the
contemporary writers.
(a)compassionate
20 (b) insightful
(c) mocking
(d) comic
Directions (Q.Nos.21-30 ) Each item in this section consists
of a sentence with an underlined word/words followed by
your words. Select the option that is nearest in meaning to
the underlined word and mark your response accordingly.

2020 Paper
 She got the divorce within no time.

(a)detachment
21 (b) breaking down
(c) annulment
(d) punishment
 He was known for his gentle disposition.

(a) harmful
22 (b) amiablo
(c) cunning
(d) adjusting
 The harder we kick, the better the ball bounces back.

(a) recoils
23 (b) deflates
(c) inflates
(d) ascends
 I plan and execute.

(a) desire
24 (b) debate
(c) accomplish
(d) discard
 He listened to me with equanimity.

(a) carelessly
25 (b) excitedly
(c) patiently
(d) half-heartedly
 The whole thing was a futile exercise.

(a) costly
26 (b) pointless
(c) indecisive
(d) successful
 He was too cunning for her.

(a) capable
27 (b) fit
(c) intelligent
(d) dodgy
 This decision is crucial for me.

(a) momentous
28 (b) natural
(c) primitive
(d) inept
 The media went into a frenzy about the case.

(a) silent
29 (b) creative
(c) berserk
(d) wrong
 He has been yearning to go home.

(a) declining
30 (b) demanding
(c) begging
(d) hankering
Directions (Q. Nos. 1-10) Each item in this section consists of a
sentence with an underlined word followed by four words (a), (b), (c)
and (d). Select the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined
word.

2019 Paper-1
 Some people complain when they encounter a small misfortune in the
course of their thoroughly happy life.

31 (a)run into
(b) run away
(c) run down
(d) run with
 This world is full of miseries.

(a) indifferent love

32 (b) perfect happiness
(c) great suffering
(d) moderate sympathies
 A glance at a beautiful object gives us delight.

(a)wisdom
33 (b) happiness
(c) purity
(d) peace
 It is terrible for people to die of starvation.

(a)starch
34 (b) staple
(c) plenty
(d) hunger
 The university has constituted a grievance redressal committee to
look into the matter.\

35 (a)depression
(b) complaint
(c) abrasion
(d) gratefulness
 Rakesh delivered a slanderous speech.

(a)abusive
36 (b) praiseworthy
(c) moderate
(d) inspiring
 Suddenly, the sky was darkened by a gigantic bird.

(a)winged
37 (b) small
(c) tiny
(d) enormous
 To abolish poverty would be to destroy the soil upon which mankind
produces the virtues conducive to higher civilisation.

38 (a)detest
(b) eradicate
(c) nurture
(d) assimilate
 The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert throughout the
year, shifting from one oasis to another.

39 (a)sandbank
(b) mound
(c) dune
(d) spring
 The various facets of life can be found reflected in large city.

(a)several
40 (b) similar
(c) valuable
(d) singular
Directions (Q. Nos. 11-20) Each question in this section has a sentence
with three parts labelled (a), (b) and (c).
Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error in any part.
If you find no error, your responses should be indicated as (d)

2021 paper 1
 Nursery classes (a)/ for the children (b) / starts on April every year. (c) /
No error (d)
41 A
B
C
D
 The pollution level is very (a) / high in our city, and (b) /
becomes a health hazard. (c) / No error (d)
A
42 B
C
D
 Indian is a country of linguistic (a) /and cultural diversity with
(b) /multiple ethnic and social groups.(c) / No error (d)
43 A
B
C
D
 Why does the lapse rate (a) / effect the tendency (b) / of air to
rise ? (c) / No error (d)
A
44 B
C
D
 The thorax is the upper part (a) /of your body from the neck down (b) / to
the bottom of the ribs and diaphragm. (c) / No error (d)
A
45 B
C
D
 The practical uses of astrology (a) / have seldom been
seriously (b) / studied outside India. (c) / No error (d)
66 A
B
C
D
 She collected (a) / some armful of medicines and (b) / poured them
down a drain. (c) / No error (d)
A
47 B
C
D
 In many countries, the United Nations (a) / or other
internationally organised (b) / peacekeeping forces are trying to
keep the peace. (c) / No error (d)
A
48 B
C
D
 Early cities rely on food and water (a) / from the surrounding
countryside, (b) / but today cities often depend on distant sources.
(c) / No error (d)
A
49 B
C
D
 Climate change, whether it is (a) / natural or human-induced, (b) / is
stressful for the people. (c) / No error (d)
A
B
50 C
D
Directions (Q. Nos. 31-40) Each question in this section has a
sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c). Read
each sentence to find out whether there is any error in any underlined
part. If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).

2021 paper 2
 You don’t have (a) a monopoly on suffering; (b) other people don’t have
problems too.(c)No error(d)

51 A
B
C
D
 If you say that someone (a) you admire has feet of clay, (b) you mean
that they have hidden faults. (c)No error

52 A
B
C
D
 He refused to change (a) his decision; (b) he refused it point out.
(c) No error (d)

53 A
B
C
D
 The importance of trade in Mughal times reinforced (a) the cultural
definition of wealth as something (b) comprising of movable property
(c) No error (d)
54
A
B
C
D
 In the nineteenth century, (a) most traditional scholars(b)tried to stay
clear from the imperial Government. (c) No error (d)

55 A
B
C
D
 He began his discussion by pointing over (a) that men and women
(b) had different biological functions. (c) No error (d)

56 A
B
C
D
 Though he is poor, (a) but he is (b) honest (c). No error (d)

A
57 B
C
D
 My mother has (a) been doing(b) everything for the family. (c)
No error (d)

58 A
B
C
D
 When learning to dive (a) it is important (b) to relax in between and
take breaks. (c) No error (d)

59 A
B
C
D
 I have the opportunity (a) to study (b) in American next year. (c)
No error (d)

60 A
B
C
D
Directions (Q.Nos. 41-50) Each item in this section has a sentence with
three underlined parts labelled as (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence
to find out whether there is any error in any underlined part and
indicate your response against the corresponding letter i.e., (a) or (b)
or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
 This building (a) comprises of six houses, (b) three parking lots and
one basement.(c)No error (d)

61 A
B
C
D
 I look forward (a) to meet (b) you (c) No error (d)

A
62 B
C
D
 I cannot (a) cope up (b) with this pressure (c) No error (d)

A
63 B
C
D
 I came (a) to this place (b) by walk (c) No error (d)

A
64 B
C
D
 What is (a) the time (b) in you watch? (c) No error (d)

A
65 B
C
D
 The price of my dress (a) is higher than that of (b) yours (c) No error (d)

A
66 B
C
D
 My friend’s (a) daughter-in-laws (b) have come. (c) No error (d)

A
67 B
C
D
 I prefer (a) seafood (b) than Mediterranean food. (c) No error (d)

A
68 B
C
D
 We were (a) discussing about (b) the issue. (c) No error (d)

A
69 B
C
D
 Dispose off (a) the garbage (b) from the shelves. (c) No error (d)

A
70 B
C
D
Errors 2019 paper 1
 Opening his letters, (a)/ reading them carefully and sending for his
clerk, (b)/ he dictated answers with them. (c)/ No error (d)

A
71 B
C
D
 He was my school-friend, (a)/ but becoming a great man, (b)/ he has
grown proud enough to forget his old friends. (c)/ No error (d)

A
72 B
C
D
 Rabindranath Tagore, (a)/ a Nobel laureate and the author of the
National Anthem, (b)/ found Shantiniketan. (c)/ No error (d)

A
73 B
C
D
 The art of printing was introduced into England (a)/ during the reign of
Edward IV (b)/ by William Caxton, a native of Kent. (c)/ No error (d)

A
74 B
C
D
 From thirty years (a)/ he devoted himself to public affairs (b)/without
taking a holiday. (c)/ No error (d)

A
75 B
C
D
 If Ramesh will be promoted (a)/ he will get (b)/ a higher salary. (c) No
error (d)

A
76 B
C
D
 My brother goes (a)/ to the office (b)/ five day week. (c) No error (d)

A
B
77 C
D
 If you lend Mohan a pen (a)/ he will lend it to someone else (b)/ and
never you will get it back. (c)/ No error (d)

A
78 B
C
D
 One of most widely spread (a)/ bad habits (b)/ is the use of tobacco. (c)
No error (d)

A
79 B
C
D
 A great part (a)/ of Arabia (b)/ is desert. (c) No error (d)

A
B
80 C
D
Directions (Q. Nos. 21-30) Each question in this section
consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by
four words (a), (b), (c) and (d).
Select the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined
word.

2021 paper 1
 His opinion is lopsided.
(a)partial
(b) crooked
(c) unequal
81 (d) balanced
 His work is praiseworthy.
(a)admirable
(b) condemnable
(c) commendable
82 (d) creditable
 His deeds had retrograde results .
(a)progressive
(b) negative
(c) retreating
83 (d) reverse
 He always offers palatable solutions.
(a)acceptable
(b) agreeable
(c) unacceptable
84 (d) pleasant
 His views on the subject are microscopic.
(a)broad-based
(b) minute
(c) precise
85 (d) fine
 He is always obdurate in his behaviour towards other people.
(a)flexible
(b) callous
86 (c) insensible
(d) obnoxious
 Mohan always had profound respect for Sohan.
(a)deep
(b) extreme
(c) sincere
87 (d) superficia
 We were living in turbulent times.
(a)destructive
(b) unstable
(c) calm
88 (d) stormy
 Amit is a dogmatic person.
(a)assertive
(b) amenable
(c) bold
89 (d) rigid
 Sachin is very fickle in his behaviour.
(a)stable
(b) capricious
(c) mercurial
90 (d) vacillating
Directions (Q. Nos. 11-20) Each question in this section consists of a
sentence with an underlined word followed by four words. Select the
option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word and mark
your answer

2021 Paper 2
 He found her extremely attractive and charming.

(a) unnatural
91 (b) modern
(c) repulsive
(d) disapproving
 The sky is boundless.
(a)high
(b) vast
92 (c) expansive
(d) finite
 The sky is clear today.

(a)bright
93 (b) opaque
(c) cloudless
(d) blue
 I have a fascination for deep waters.

(a)dark
94 (b) light
(c) dangerous
(d) shallow
 My boss has been too generous.

(a)stingy
95 (b) rough
(c) evil
(d) hostile
 Spring is a time of plenty.

(a)ugliness
96 (b) scarcity
(c) roughness
(d) dryness
 He is an industrious workman.
(a)active
(b) productive
97 (c) lazy
(d) disloyal
 Plants grow in abundance here.

(a)shrivel
98 (b) stretch
(c) spread
(d) enlarge
 She rarely comes here.

(a)seldom
99 (b) never
(c) always
(d) frequently
 She is a rather crooked woman.

(a) polite
100 (b) generous
(c) straightforward
(d) happy
Directions (Q.Nos. 1-10) Each item in this section consists
of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four
words. Select the option that is opposite in meaning to the
underlined word and your response accordingly.
 He nodded absently throughout the meeting.
(a) capably
(b) alertly
(c) agitatedly
101 (d) dreamily
 I fully believe that the cornerstone of good policy is an electorate that
is educated on the national issues.
(a) cerebral
(b) enlightened
102 (c) ignorant
(d) Erudite
 For important medical decisions, even finding a doctor you trust is not
enough.
(a) significant
103 (b) trivial
(c) basic
(d) probable
 Planets move in their orbits.
(a) push
(b) rotate
104 (c) stall
(d) flow
 Temperature is a measure of internal energy of an object and is
frequently expressed by physicists in units of Kelvin.
(a) found
105 (b) told
(c) distributed
(d) concealed
 People argue about why Venus is so much warmer than the Earth.
(a) friendlier
(b) colder
106 (c) wilder
(d) heavier
 Scientists are concerned whether the oceans and land biosphere will
take up as much carbon in the future as they presently do.
(a) worried
107 (b) indifferent
(c) curious
(d) puzzled
 The biggest debate among scientists today is about cloud feedback.
(a) contend
(b) moot
108 (c) wrangle
(d) agreement
 The Earth's climate sensitivity is conventionally defined as the
equilibrium temperature increase caused by a doubling of carbon
dioxide.
109 (a) imperviousness
(b) willingness
(c) responsiveness
(d) closeness
 The oceans carry a huge amount of heat from the tropics
to the high latitudes.
(a)significant
110 (b) major
(c) tiny
(d) dormant
Directions (Q.Nos.21-30 ) Each item in this section consists
of a sentence with an underlined word/words followed by
your words. Select the option that is opposite in meaning to
the underlined word and mark your response accordingly.

2019 paper 1
 Ramesh is a very dubious character.

(a)shady
111 (b) suspicious
(c) trustworthy
(d) doubtful
 Do not indulge in unmindful activities, please.

(a)vigilant
112 (b) careless
(c) stupid
(d) fatuous
 He is suffering from a curable disease.

(a)remediable
113 (b) treatable
(c) terminal
(d) operable
 He was born on a very auspicious day.

(a)propitious
114 (b) fortunate
(c) ominous
(d) opportune
 He had deeper hostility towards Mohan.

(a)animosity
115 (b) belligerence
(c) malice
(d) friendship
 His life is rather monotonous.

(a)exciting
116 (b) dreary
(c) tedious
d) uneventful
 Macbeth is a morally repulsive character.

(a)abominable
117 (b) attractive
(c) obnoxious
(d) ugly
 The serene beauty of Kashmir had a soothing effect on his mind.

(a)placid
118 (b) pleasing
(c) tranquil
(d) turbulent
 Life is transient in nature.

(a)brief
119 (b) momentary
(c) eternal
(d) short-lived
 Sohan is a vain person.

(a)modest
120 (b) arrogant
(c) conceited
(d) proud
Directions (Q. Nos. 31-40) Each of the following items in this section
consists of a sentence, the parts of which have been jumbled. These
parts have been labelled P, Q, R and S. Given below each
sentence are four sequences namely (a), (b), (c) and (d), You are
required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and mark
your answer carefully
 symbolic of peace, and prosperity (P)/the Gupta Empire in India is
(Q)/represented through numismatic archaeological (R) /and literary
evidences of multiple kinds (S)

121 The correct sequence should be

(a)QPRS
(b) QSRP
(c) PSQR
(d) RSQP
 the transportation system so that it (P) / and not just the affluent
section of society (Q) / provides mobility to everyone (R) / there are
many ways to restructure (S)

122 The correct sequence should be :

(a)PQRS
(b)RQPS
(c) SPRQ
(d) QRPS
 and accurately displays spatial (P) / relationships between landforms
and water bodies (Q) / the globe shows Earth’s spherical shape (R) /
and comparative distance between locations (S)

123 The correct sequence should be :

(a)PQRS
(b) RPQS
(c) SPQR
(d) QRPS
 the function of the capillaries (P) / and other material to all the cells in
(Q) / is to take nutrients, oxygen (R)/ the body and to take away their
waste material (S)

124 The correct sequence should be :

(a)PRQS
(b) RPQS
(c) SPQR
(d) QRPS
 like mine (P) / even to someone with (Q) / a tin ear (R) / her singing
sounded pretty melodious (S)

The correct sequence should be

125 (a)PRQS
(b) RPQS
(c) SPQR
(d) QRPS
 The sorry state of affairs in the modern factories (P) / the
Government of India (Q) / under the British was pro-capitalist (R) /
though it took some half-hearted steps to mitigate (S)

126 The correct sequence should be :

(a)PRQS
(b) QRSP
(c) SPQR
(d) QPSR
 of extreme poverty among its people (P) / economic policies was the
prevalence (Q)/a major characteristic of British rule in India (R) / and
the net result of British (S)

127 The correct sequence should be :

(a)PRQS
(b) QRSP
(c) RSQP
(d) QPSR
 you can’t judge (P) / very intelligent, but (Q) / a book by its
cover (R) / he doesn’t look (S)

The correct sequence should be :

128 (a)SQPR
(b) QRSP
(c) RSQP
(d) QPSR
 membership and partisanship as well as (P) / can be found in the
decline in party (Q) / evidence of a crisis in party politics (R) / in the
rise of antiparty groups and movements (S)

129 The correct sequence should be :

(a)RQPS
(b) QRSP
(c) RSQP
(d) QPSR
 government, market and voluntary organisations (P) / mixture of
contributions from (Q) / the provision of public goods (R) / and services
can be regarded as a complex (S)

130 The correct sequence should be

(a)RQPS
(b) QRSP
(c) RSQP
(d) QPSR
Directions (Q.Nos. 11-20) Each of the following items in
this section consists of a sentence(s), the parts of which have
been jumbled. These parts have been labelled as P, Q, R and
S. Given below each sentence are four sequences namely (a),
(b), (c) and (d). You are required to rearrange the jumbled
part of the sentence and mark your response accordingly.
 P: several years ago,
Q: course on climate change at Texas
R: A & M University Professor Andrew Dessler created an introductory
131 S: for freshman and sophomores

(a)P R Q S
(b) Q R P S
(c) S Q R P
(d) P Q R S
 P: I realize that solving the climate change problem
Q: Than solving
R: will be much harder
132 S: the ozone depletion problem

(a)P R Q S
(b) Q R P S
(c) S Q R P
(d) P Q R S
 P: although the temperature of this layer of the
Q: when directly comparing the satellite
R: measurements of temperature
133 S: atmosphere should generally track the surface temperature, we
must be careful

(a)P R Q S
(b) P S Q R
(c) S Q R P
(d) P Q R S
 P: the element heats up,
Q: eventually reaching high temperatures
R: glowing like a dark orange that radiates
134 S: the visible range

(a)P Q S R
(b) Q P S R
(c) S Q R P
(d) P R S Q
 P: two people argue about why Venus is so much warmer
Q: to the Sun, so it absorbs more solar energy.
R: The second argues that it’s because Venus has a thick,
135 S: greenhouse-gas rich atmosphere than the Earth. The first argues
that it’s because Venus is closer

(a)P S Q R
(b) Q R P S
(c) S Q R P
(d) P Q R S
 P: are now used by more than a thousand firms
Q: and are growing in popularity
R : in the United States and Europe
136 S: gain sharing-plans

(a)P R Q S
(b) Q R P S
(c) P R S Q
(d) S P R Q
 P: adversity without succumbing
Q: to the clouds of doubt and jealousy
R: between friends which is subjected
137 S: to both prosperity and the essay ’Of Friendship’ by Francis
Bacon celebrated the intimacy

(a)P R Q S
(b) Q R P S
(c) S R P Q
(d) P Q R S
 P: friends without which the world is
Q:make friends and a person wills to want true
R:it is miserable solitude that compels a person to
138 S:nothing other than a place of wilderness

(a)P R Q S
(b) Q R P S
(c) R Q P S
(d) P Q R S
 P: takes the longest
Q:that never started
R: the job
139 S: to finish

(a)P R Q S
(b) R Q P S
(c) S Q R P
(d) P Q R S
 P:to what you can create control, shift
Q:your energy
R:instead of worrying about
140 S:what you cannot

(a)P R S Q
(b) Q R S P
(c) S Q R P
(d) R S Q P
PQRS 2019 PAPER 1
 S1 : We do not know what to do with our knowledge.
S6 : In the course of time they may rule over us altogether.
P : For example, we are unable to manage our machines.
Q : We already find it difficult to do without machines.
R : Machines should be fed properly and waited upon attentively;
141 otherwise they refuse to work or cause destruction.
S : Science has given us superhuman powers, which we do not use
properly.
The proper sequence should be

(a)S P R Q
(b) P S Q R
(c) Q R P S
(d) S R P Q
 S1 : The British rule in India has brought about moral, material,
cultural and spiritual ruination of this great country.
S6 : We are not to kill anybody but it is our dharma to see that the curse
of this government is blotted out.
142 P : I regard this rule as a curse.
Q : Sedition has become my religion.
R : Ours is a non-violent battle.
S : I am out to destroy this system of government.

The proper sequence should be

(a) S P R Q
(b) P S Q R
(c) Q R P S
(d) S R P Q
 the urban local body elections (P)/unidentified gunmen (Q)/and
injured another during (R)/ shot dead two workers (S)

143 (a)Q S R P
(b) P Q S R
(c) S P R Q
(d) R P S Q
 both intense political and (P)/ this state has a history of (Q)/of
syncretic accomplishments (R)/ religious contestation and (S)

144 (a)S Q P R
(b) P Q S R
(c) S Q R P
(d) Q P S R
 the father also (P)/in his quest for justice (Q)/ by the system (R)/ feels
let down (S)

145 (a)S Q P R
(b) P S R Q
(c) S Q R P
(d) P Q R S
Directions (Q. Nos. 41-50) Given below are some idioms/phrases
followed by four alternative meanings for each.
Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b),
(c) or (d).

2021 PAPER 1
 Once-over
(a) To do something quickly
(b) To do something elaborately
(c) To do something perforce
146 (d) To do something for others
 A bag of bones
(a) An extremely fat person
(b) An extremely thin person
(c) A wealthy person
147 (d) A healthy person
 Muddy the waters
(a) To spread dirt around
(b) To make a situation easy
(c) To make one’s life happy
148 (d) To make the situation complicated
 To level with
(a) To be honest
(b) To be on a plain
(c) To cheat someone
149 (d) To take revenge
 Show your hand
(a) To tell people about the past
(b) To tell people about the future
(c) To tell people about them
150 (d) To tell people about your plans
 To pull up
(a) To lift heavy weights
(b) To check oneself
(c) To shorten the distance
151 (d) Too short of destination
 Be out of action
(a) To get punishment
(b) To get reward
(c) To become dysfunctional
152 (d) To become superlative
 Learning from the school of hard knocks

(a) Learning things from experience

(b) Learning things from others
153 (c) Learning things from environment
(d) Learning things through difficult experiences
 Raise some hackles
(a) To annoy
(b) To make someone happy
(c) To do a great task
154 (d) To sit idle
 A man of letters
(a) An excellent artist
(b) A scholar in literature
(c) An outstanding sportsman
155 (d) A known novelist
Directions (Q. Nos. 21-30) Given below are some idioms/phrases
followed by four alternative meanings to each. Choose the response
(a), (b), (c) or (d), whichever is the most appropriate meaning and mark
your answer
 Overstep the mark

(a) To tell people how successful you are

156 (b) To step into someone else’s areas of expertise
(c) To upset someone by doing/saying more than you should
(d) To do something in an excited way
 Palsy-walsy friends

(a) Good friends

157 (b) Friends who help each other in difficult situations
(c) Friends by choice and not by chance
(d) Unfriendly
 Open a Pandora’s box

(a) To do something that causes a lot of new problems that you did not
158 expect
(b) To do something out of compulsion
(c) To do something beyond expectation
(d) To do something out of the box, that brings award and ceremonies
for you
 Pull your socks up

(a) To get well-dressed for the occasion

159 (b) Improve your work or behaviour
(c) To speak in an honest way without hesitation
(d) To be in control of an organisation, often secretly
 To get under somebody’s skin

(a) To deceive someone

160 (b) To admire someone
(c) To annoy someone
(d) To support someone
 Turn topsy-turvy
(a) To completely change something
(b) To completely evaluate something
161 (c) To enjoy yourself greatly
(d) To exhaust yourself completely
 A clarion call

(a) A trumpet call

162 (b) An intimidating voice
(c) A strong request
(d) An urgent order
 Fire in the belly

(a) Fear and hatred

163 (b) Powerful ambition
(c) Love and dedication
(d) Lethargy and indifference
 A hunky-dory situation

(a) There are serious issues among people

164 (b) There are no problems and people are happy
(c) There is war and bloodshed all over
(d) There is no work, only enjoyment
 Give somebody a leg up

(a) To pull someone down

165 (b) To deceive and betray someone
(c) To help someone for their livelihood
(d) To help someone to be successful
Directions (Q.Nos. 31-35) Given below are some idioms/phrases
followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most
appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) or (d).

2019 PAPER 1
 A dark horse

(a) A black coloured horse

166 (b) A person who wins a race or competition although no one expected
him to
(c) A person who keeps secrets
(d) An ignorant person
 A show-stopper

(a) Someone who stops the show

167 (b) Someone who organises the show
(c) A performance that is extremely good
(d) A fashionable person
 A jack of all trades

(a) Someone who has many skills

168 (b) A confident and not very serious young man
(c) Someone who has hit the jackpot
(d) a great businessman
 Fight tooth and nail

(a) To quarrel with someone

169 (b) To attack someone with a lot of force
(c) To try hard to prevent something from happening
(d) To try very hard to achieve something
 Fair and square

(a) in an honest way

170 (b) in a critical way
(c) neither very good nor very bad
(d) in a foolish way
Directions (Q. Nos. 41-50) Each of the following sentences in this
section has a blank space and four words or group of words given
after the sentence. Select the word or group of words you consider
most appropriate for the blank space mark your answer.

2021 PAPER 2
 There was a time when West Germany was a distinct ……… .

(a)policy
171 (b) polity
(c) abstract
(d) hierarchy
 I was ……… with the film; I had expected it to be better.

(a)disappointed
172 (b) disappointing
(c) annoying
(d) prejudiced
 It was a ……… experience. Everybody was shocked.

(a)terrified
173 (b) horrified
(c) terrifying
(d) denouncing
 Elephants ……… when they perceive danger.

(a)trumpet
174 (b) frolic
(c) whine
(d) sing
 The first film on Tagore was such a success that now they are going to
make a ……… .

175 (a) serial

(b) sequence
(c) sequel
(d) sequential
 The United Nations had ……… 2020 as the International Year of Plant
Health.

176 (a) ruled

(b) ordered
(c) foretold
(d) declared
 My brother is ……… punctual, but he is late today.

(a)normatively
177 (b) primarily
(c) normally
(d) basically
 My son is very ………; he trusts everyone.

(a)fallible
178 (b) gullible
(c) sensible
(d) credible
 Mahatma Gandhi was a lover of humanity and a ……… believer in
the goodness of human nature.

179 (a)staunch
(b) powerful
(c) cheerful
(d) hopeful
 I wish I ……… her before we met.

(a) know
180 (b) have known
(c) knew
(d) known
Directions (Q.Nos. 31-40) Each item in this section has a
sentence with a missing preposition. Select the correct
preposition from the given option and mark your response
accordingly.

2020 PAPER 1
 Simulations of the 20th century by climate models tha exclude the
observed increase ……… greenhouse gases fail to simulate the
increase in temperature over the second half of the 20th century.
181
(a)of
(b) in
(c) by
(d) to
 In extremely poor societies, children can be put to work
……… a young age and are therefore a source of income.

182 (a)in
(b) on
(c) by
(d) at
 People who are averse ......... hard work, generally do not succeed in
life.

183 (a) to
(b) about
(c) at
(d) on
 I have known her ........ a long time.

(a) since
184 (b) for
(c) at
(d) before
 I accepted the offer……. certain conditions.

(a) on
185 (b) in
(c) by
(d) within
 She is a woman ......... humble origin.

(a)Off
186 (b)Of
(c)From
(d) within
 There is no cure ......... the common cold.
(a) for
(b) of
187 (c) to
(d) on
 I ran ......... John yesterday, and it was a pleasant surprise.

(a) by
188 (b) off
(c) beside
(d) into
 My grandmother enjoyed boating ....... the lovely lake.

(a) in
189 (b) on
(c) beside
(d) within
 He visits the needy to relieve them ……… their sufferings and poverty.

(a) from
190 (b) off
(c) of
(d) on
2019 PAPER 1
Directions (Q.Nos. 41-50) Answer the following passage
I do not wish to suggest that because we were one nation, we had no
differences, but it is submitted that our leading men travelled
throughout India either on foot or in bullockcarts. They learned one
another languages and there was no aloofness amongst them. What
do you think could have been the intention of those farseeing
ancestors of ours who established Setubandha (Rameshwar) in the
South, Jagannath in the East and Haridwar in the North as places of
pilgrimage? You will admit they were no fools. They knew that
worship of God could have been performed just as well at home.
They taught us that those whose hearts were aglow with
righteousness had the Ganges in their own homes. But they saw that
India was one undivided land so made by nature. They, therefore,
argued that it must be one nation.
Arguing thus, they established holy places in various parts of India
and fired the people with an idea of nationality in a manner unknown
in other parts of the world. And we Indians are one as no two
Englishmen are. Only you and I and others who consider ourselves
civilised and superior persons imagine that we are many nations. It
was after the advent of railways that we began to believe in
distinctions and you are at liberty now to say that it is through the
railways that we are beginning to abolish those distinctions.

An opium-eater may argue the advantage of opium-eating from the

fact that he began to understand the evil of the opium habit after
having eaten it. I would ask you to consider well what I had said on
the railways.
 According to the author, India

(a) has never been one nation

191 (b) has been an aggregate of several nations
(c) has always been one nation along with differences
(d) became a nation after the British came
 Why did the great sages of India establish pilgrimages in the
different corners of the country?

192 (a) Because they wanted to push people to travel to different places.
(b) Because they could observe the underlying unity of the country as
made by nature.
(c) Because they themselves had travelled to these places.
(d) Because they wanted people to be religious everywhere.
 In the passage, the author’s attitude towards the railways is

(a)critical
193 (b) sympathetic
(c) indifferent
(d) apathetic
 What does the author mean when he says that ‘‘Whose hearts were
aglow with righteousness had the Ganges in their own homes’’?

194 (a) One need not visit the Ganges to take holy bath
(b) The Ganges had been polluted, so one should bath at home
(c) One should take a holy dip in the Ganges to purify one’s heart
(d) The purity of heart is superior to observance of any ritual
 The passage is written in a

(a)dialogic style
195 (b) prescriptive style
(c) descriptive style
(d) analytical style
 ......... forest prevent erosion.

(a)Lean
196 (b) Dense
(c) Sparse
(d) Tidy
 Three people were arrested and an illegal arms unit was ........ by the
police in a raid.

197 (a)revealed
(b) searched
(c) discovered
(d) busted
 A woman got into the car and ... .

(a)drove off
198 (b) broke down
(c) rode in
(d) drove in
 The lecture was not very interesting. Infact I ....... in the middle of it.

(a)showed off
199 (b) put off
(c) dozed off
(d) plugged off
 The cops ......... murder by kin.

(a)suspect
200 (b) afford
(c) manage
(d) administer