ROY’S INSTITUTE OF COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION

WB PSC CLERKSHIP PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

ENGLISH
HANDOUT 3
Directions (Q. 1-10) : Spot the errors.
1. It is time you (a)/ decide on your next (b)/ course of action. (c)/ No error (d)
2. It had laid (a)/ in the closet (b)/ for a week before we found it. (c)/ No error (d)
3. I went there (a)/ with a view to survey (b)/ the entire procedure.(c)/ No error (d)
4. No sooner did I finish (a)/ my speech, I was subjected (b) / to a barrage of questions.(c) / No error (d)
5. Shakespeare has written (a) /many plays (b)/ as well as some poetries. (c) /No error(d)
6. The severe cyclonic storm (a)/ has left behind (b)/ a trial of misery (c)/ No error (d)
7. Our efforts are (a)/ aimed to bring about (b)/ a reconciliation. (c)/ No error (d)
8. The vaccine (a)/ when hit the Indian market (b) / is dogged by controversy. (c) / No error (d)
9. If I was he (a)/ I wouldn't accept (b)/ this project. (c)/ No error (d)
10. We have been knowing (a)/ each other (b)/ since we were children. (c)/ No error (d)
Directions (Q.11 - 13) : Choose the words nearest in meanings to the given words.
11. BLEAK
a) Grudge b) Sham c) Teem d) Dismal
12. SCORN
a) Detest b) Abet c) Niggardly d) Drunk
13. VERACITY
a) Truth b) Lucidity c) Placid d) Wordy
Directions (Q. 14-17) : Choose the meanings of the following idioms.
14. Pass the buck
a) Get sensible b) Die c) Become popular d) Blame each other
15. Down in the mouth
a) Shy b) Brazen c) Cut up d) Pull up
16. Off the wall
a) Freakish b) Die c) Become curious d) Alert
17. Over the moon
a) Get annoyed b) Bargain c) False d) Elated

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 WB PSC CLEARKSHIP PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION ENGLISH 8 HANDOUT - 3
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Directions (Q.18-20) : Choose the words opposite in meanings to the given words.
18. PLETHORA
a) Sluggish b) Odd c) Dearth d) Mean
19. WHISK
a) Eulogize b) Tarry c) Grim d) Avoid
20. AUGMENT
a) Dire b) Diminish c) Grumble d) Brisk
Directions (Q. 21 - 23) : Change the voice.
21. Do be there.
a) You are ordered to be there. b) Let you be there.
c) You are requested to be there. d) Let him be there.
22. We decided to help him.
a) He was decided to help by us. b) He was decided to be helped.
c) He was to be helped by us. d) It was decided by us to help him.
23. It is time to do the work.
a) It is time for the work to be done. b) It is to do the work.
c) The work is to be done on time. d) None of these
Directions (Q. 24-26) : Change the speech.
24. Ram said, "Rahim is a good boy, isn't he"?
a) Ram explained that Rahim was a good boy. b) Ram said that he thought Rahim was a good boy.
c) Ram wanted to know if Rahim was a good boy. d) Ram said that Rahim was a good boy.
25. I said to my friend. "Can you pick me up after work?"
a) I asked my friend if he can pick me up after work. b) I asked my friend if he could pick me up after work.
c) I told my friend to pick me up after work. d) I told my friend if I could pick him up after work.
26. "What a wonderful time we had there!" she exclaimed.
a) She exclaimed that she had quite a wonderful time there.
b) She exclaimed that she had quite a wonderful time here.
c) She exclaimed that they had quite a wonderful time there.
d) She exclaimed that they have quite a wonderful time there.
Directions (Q. 27-32) : Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words or group of words from the options given below.
27. Although I was _______ of his plans, I encouraged him, because there was no one else who was willing to help.
a) sceptical b) remorseful c) fearful d) excited
28. One who tries may fail but one who does not try never __________.
a) prosper b) tries c) succeeds d) fail
29. They have not had much time for social activities and I have not __________ .
a) done so b) either c) also d) gone

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 WB PSC CLEARKSHIP PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION ENGLISH 8 HANDOUT - 3
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30. She was so _______ that she was _______ by all.
a) proud, respected b) excellent, warned c) talented, praised d) stupid, admired
31. The police fired on the mob when they ________ .
a) turned noisy b) turned violent c) became abusive d) fizzled out
32. The little boy ran _______ fast that he was _______ for breath.
a) so, gasping b) too, fighting c) so, inhaling d) very, struggling
Directions (Q. 33-34) : The questions below consist of a set of labelled sentences. These sentences, when properly
sequenced form a coherent paragraph. Select the most logical order of sentences from the given options.
33. P: If we manage our time effectively, we can accomplish all the activities and tasks we wish to.
Q: It is important that we draw up a timetable that we can adopt practically.
R: If we can stick to the timetable we can then succeed in achieving our goals whether they are in the short term or
long term.
S: This requires drawing up a practicable time table.
a) QPRS b) PSQR c) SPQR d) SQPR
34. P: Any leader asked to address the plenary session of the World Economic Forum at Davos has an opportunity to do
two things.
Q: The first is to pitch his (or her) country strongly to foreign companies and investors.
R: The second is to build the brand of both the individual and the country by looking at issues and concerns beyond
those that just concern his or her country.
S: The world, after all, is sorely lacking in statesmen (and stateswomen) of global stature.
a) QPRS b) RPQS c) RQPS d) PQRS
Directions (Q. 35-40) : Read the given passage and then answer the questions based on it.
We should preserve nature to preserve life and beauty. A beautiful landscape, full of green vegetation, will not just attract our
attention but will fill us with infinite satisfaction. Unfortunately, because of modernization, much of nature is now yielding
to towns, roads and industrial areas. In a few places some natural reserves are now being carved out to avert the danger of
destroying nature completely. Man will perish without nature, so modern man should continue this struggle to save plants,
which give us oxygen. Moreover, nature is essential to man’s health.
35. What does ‘Nature’ in the passage mean?
a) Countryside covered with plants and trees b) Physical power that created the world
c) Inherent things that determine character d) Practical study of plants and animals
36. Which one of the following is the correct statement?
According to the passage-
a) beauty is only skin-deep b) everything is beautiful in its natural state
c) there is beauty in nature d) nature is a moray teacher
37. What does the writer suggest ?
a) We should not modernize, so that nature can be preserved
b) While modernizing we should be careful not to destroy nature completely
c) All nature has been destroyed by modern living
d) Carving out natural reserves will hamper the growth of industries

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 WB PSC CLEARKSHIP PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION ENGLISH 8 HANDOUT - 3
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38. What does ‘struggle’ in the passage mean ?
a) Man’s struggle to exist in the world b) Man’s struggle to save nature
c) Man’s struggle to catch up with modern trends d) Man’s struggle to conserve oxygen
39. Why a beautiful landscape ‘will fill us with infinite satisfaction’ ?
a) We love beauty b) It is full of green vegetation
c) It will ensure our future existence d) It will show our command over nature
40. The meaning of ‘yielding’ in the passage is –
a) producing b) sharing c) surrendering d) supporting
Directions (Q. 41-45) : In the following passage some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and
choose the correct answer to each question out of the four alternatives and fill in the blanks.
One fine morning a (41) man knocked at the doors of the home for the aged run by nuns. He told the nun in charge that as he
was (42) to Delhi, he wanted to leave his servant-maid to the (43) of the nuns. He assured the nun of sending some money
every month (44) she was an orphan. The nun (45) her saying that she had got an excellent master.
41. a) gentle b) bad c) nice d) good
42. a) moved b) shifted c) changed d) transferred
43. a) care b) home c) custody d) protection
44. a) because b) and c) though d) if
45. a) loved b) praised c) consoled d) condoled
Directions (Q. 46-48) : In the following questions, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted
for the given words/ sentence.
46. One who hides away on a ship to obtain a free passage
a) Compositor b) Stoker c) Stowaway d) Shipwright
47. Clues available at a scene
a) Circumstantial b) Derivative c) Inferential d) Suggestive
48. Words inscribed on a tomb
a) Epilogue b) Epitaph c) Epitome d) Epistle
Directions (Q. 49-50) : In the following questions, groups of four words are given. In each group, one word is correctly
spelt. Find out the correctly spelt word.
49. a) Collaborate b) Committ c) Colate d) Choclate
50. a) Circuiteous b) Clairvoyant c) Chivelery d) Cavelcade

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