English Exam for Staff Selection Free Solved Paper

English Exam for Staff Selection  Free Solved Paper

Directions—(Q. 1–10) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Once upon a time, there was a royal elephant which used to reside in the premises of the king’s palace. The elephant was very dear to the king, so he was well-fed and well-treated. There was also a Dog who lived near the Elephant’s shed. He was very weak and skinny. He was always fascinated by the smell of rich sweet rice being fed to the royal elephant.
One day, the Dog could no longer resist the aroma of the rice and somehow managed to sneak into the Elephant’s shed. He ate the grains of sweet rice that fell from the Elephant’s mouth. He liked the rice so much, that he started going there daily to eat the rice. For days, the huge Elephant didn’t notice the small dog as he was busy enjoying the delicious food. Gradually, the Dog grew bigger and stronger eating such rich food. Finally, the Elephant noticed him and allowed him access to the food.
The Elephant enjoyed the company of the Dog and started sharing his food with him. They also started spending time with each other and soon became good friends. They ate together, slept together and played together. While playing, the Elephant would hold the Dog in his trunk and swing him back and forth. Soon neither of them was happy without the other. They became great friends and didn’t want to be separated from each other.
Then one day, a man saw the Dog and asked the Elephant-keeper, “I want to buy this Dog. What price do you want for it ?” The Elephant-keeper didn’t own the Dog but sold it and extracted a sum of money from this deal. The man took the Dog to his home village, which was quite far away. The King’s Elephant became very sad after this incident. He missed his friend a lot and started neglecting everything. He didn’t want to do anything without his dear friend, so he stopped eating, drinking and even bathing.
Finally, the Elephant-keeper reported this to the King; however he didn’t mention anything about the Dog. The King had a wise minister, who was known for his keen understanding of animals. The King ordered the minister, “Go to the Elephant shed and find out the reason for the Elephant’s condition”. The intelligent minister went to the Elephant shed and found the Elephant very sad. He examined the Elephant and asked the Elephant-keeper. “There is nothing wrong with this Elephant’s body, then why does he look so sad ? I think this Elephant is grief stricken, possibly due to the loss of a dear friend. Do you know if this Elephant shared a close friendship with anyone ?”
The Elephant-keeper said, “There was a Dog who used to eat, sleep and play with the Elephant. He was taken by a stranger three days ago”. The minister went back to the King and said, “Your majesty, in my opinion, the royal Elephant is not sick, but he is lonesome without his dear friend, the Dog”. The King said, “You’re right, friendship is one of the most wonderful things of life. Do you know where that Dog is ?’
The Minister replied, “Elephantkeeper has informed me that a stranger took him away and he doesn’t know his whereabouts”. The King asked, “How can we bring back my Elephant’s friend and make him happy again ?” The Minister suggested, “Your Majesty, make a declaration, that whoever has the dog that used to live at the royal Elephant’s shed will be penalized”. The King did the same and the man who had taken the dog, instantly turned him loose when he heard the proclamation.
As soon as he was freed, the Dog ran back as fast as he could to the Elephant’s shed. The Elephant was so delighted to see the Dog that he picked his friend up with his trunk and swung him back and forth. The Dog wagged his tail, while the Elephant’s eyes sparkled with happiness. The King was content to see the Elephant happy once again and rewarded the minister for his wise judgement.
1. What was the Minister’s diagnosis of the Elephant’s condition ?
(A) The Elephant hated his keeper
(B) The Elephant was lonely
(C) The Elephant was starving
(D) The Elephant had hurt his leg and was in pain
(E) None of these
Ans : (B)
2. What method did the Minister suggest to the King to get back the Dog ?
(A) To declare that whoever had that particular Dog would be punished
(B) To keep a bowl of rice for the Dog in the Elephant’s shed so that he could be lured back to the palace
(C) To command the Elephant keeper to look for the Dog in the village
(D) To persuade the Elephant to call out to the Dog
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)
3. Why had the Elephant become very sad ?
(A) He no longer got his daily bowl of rice
(B) He was unhappy with the King for having sold the Dog
(C) He missed his friend the Dog
(D) He was sold to an unknown man by his keeper
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)
4. What did the Elephant-keeper do to the Dog ?
(A) He sold the Dog to an unknown man for a price
(B) He hit the Dog as the Dog was eating the Elephant’s food
(C) He killed the Dog
(D) He complained to the King about the Dog
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)
5. Which of the following would be the most appropriate title for the passage ?
(A) Friends and Enemies
(B) The Playful Dog
(C) The King and the Minister
(D) The Elephant-keeper
(E) The Bond of Friendship
Ans : (E)
6. Why was the Elephant taken care of ?
(A) He was a very special Elephant as he could talk to Dogs
(B) He was a very loyal Elephant
(C) He was the strongest Elephant in the Kingdom
(D) He was weak and the King had a lot of sympathy for him
(E) None of these
Ans : (E)
7. Why did the Dog start going to the Elephant’s shed everyday ?
(A) He liked the Elephant a lot and wanted to become friends with him
(B) He was being fed by the King everyday
(C) He was fond of the Elephant’s shed
(D) He liked the taste of the rice being fed to the Elephant
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)
8. What did the Dog do once he was set free ?
(A) He ate rice to his heart’s content
(B) He thanked the King for his kindness
(C) He ran away from the Kingdom to a place far away
(D) He ran back to his friend the Elephant
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)
9. What of the following can definitely be said about the Elephantkeeper ?
(1) He was greedy
(2) He was insensitive
(3) He was brave
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 1 and 2
(D) Only 2 and 3
(E) All 1, 2 and 3
Ans : (A)
10. Which of the following can definitely be said about the King ?
(1) He was compassionate.
(2) He was deceitful.
(3) He loved animals.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 1 and 3
(C) Only 1 and 2
(D) Only 2
(E) All the three 1, 2, and 3
Ans : (C)
Directions—(Q. 11–13) Choose the word/group of words which is most similar in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.
11. EXTRACTED
(A) pulled
(B) inserted
(C) wring
(D) dug out
(E) received
Ans : (E)
12. DECLARATION
(A) pact
(B) praise
(C) announcement
(D) writ
(E) resolve
Ans : (C)
13. KEEN
(A) shallow
(B) urgent
(C) concentrated
(D) deep
(E) eager
Ans : (D)
Directions—(Q. 14–15) Choose the word/group of words which is most opposite in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.
14. RESIST
(A) give in
(B) please
(C) struggle
(D) try out
(E) defy
Ans : (A)
15. SEPARATED
(A) stuck
(B) united
(C) estranged
(D) bound
(E) joined
Ans : (B)
Directions—(Q. 16–20) Which of the phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold in the sentence to make it grammatically correct ? If the sentence is correct as it is given and ‘No correction is required’, mark (E) as the answer.
16. Trisha could not solve the problem at all and was at her wit’s ending.
(A) her wit’s end
(B) the wit ends
(C) her witty end
(D) the wit end
(E) No correction required
Ans : (A)
17. It’s a small theatre and the seats are uncomfortable, but the saving grace is that the air conditioning is good.
(A) grace to save
(B) gracing save
(C) saver grace
(D) save to grace
(E) No correction required
Ans : (E)
18. Tarun had to prepare the document for his meeting urgently but he was hardly pressed for time.(A) hard pressed for timely
(B) hard pressed for time
(C) hardly press to time
(D) hard pressing to timely
(E) No correction required
Ans : (B)
19. Suraj lied from his teeth to get out of the tense situation with his boss.
(A) lies for his teeth
(B) lie to his teeth
(C) lied through his teeth
(D) lied from his tooth
(E) No correction required
Ans : (C)
20. Satish lay in bed wide awaken as he was worried about his exams starting the next day.
(A) widen awakening
(B) widely awake
(C) wide and awake
(D) wide awake
(E) No correction required
Ans : (D)
Directions—(Q. 21–25) In each question below, a sentence with four words printed in bold type is given. These are numbered as (A), (B), (C) and (D). One of these four words printed in bold may be either wrongly spelt or inappropriate in the context of the sentence. Find out the word which is wrongly spelt or inappropriate, if any. The number of that word is your answer. If all the words printed in bold are correctly spelt and also appropriate in the context of the sentence, mark (E) i.e., ‘All correct’ as your answer.
21. People went crazy (A) when the musician along with his friend, (B) took to the staging (C) and belted out popular (D) tracks. All correct (E)
Ans : (C)
22. For a growing number of coupals, (A) adoption is not a helpless compulsion (B) but a deliberate, (C) vand often noble, (D) choice. All correct (E)
Ans : (A)
23. On two consecutive (A) nights the two greatest icones (B) of show-business were honoured with unprecedented (C) affection. (D) All correct (E)
Ans : (B)
24. We are so busy looking at mediocrity (A) that when a truly outstanding achievement (B) stares us in the face we resort (C) to the same terms of praise. (D) All correct (E)
Ans : (E)
25. The unlikely migration (A) was officially (B) explained as a move to meet expanding (C) business oportunities. (D) All correct (E)
Ans : (D)
Directions—(Q. 26–30) Rearrange the following six sentences (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph, then answer the questions given below them.
(1) He immediately acknowledged Mohan’s good work and invited him to his home for dinner.
(2) One day a wealthy merchant sent his son’s bicycle to the shop for repair.
(3) The next day the merchant came to claim the bicycle and noticed that it was shiny.
(4) After repairing the bicycle, Mohan cleaned it up and made it look new.
(5) Once upon a time, there was a boy named Mohan who worked as an apprentice in a bicycle shop.
(6) Other apprentices in the shop laughed at Mohan for doing unnecessary work.
26. Which of the following should be the second sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 6
Ans : (B)
27. Which of the following should be the third sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5
Ans : (D)
28. Which of the following should be the first sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5
Ans : (E)
29. Which of the following should be the last (sixth) sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 4
(D) 5
(E) 6
Ans : (A)
30. Which of the following should be the fourth sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 4
(D) 5
(E) 6
Ans : (E)
Directions—(Q. 31–40) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is ‘No error’, the answer is (E). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.)
31. In about five minutes, they would (A) / cover the distance from the road to the point (B) / where the waves would v/ begin lick their feet. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)
32. The devastating experiences (A) / of many wars taught some countries (B) / the necessary of pursuing peace (C) / at the expense of nationalist egos. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)
33. The former superstar recently (A) / visit an orphanage (B) / fuelling speculation that (C) / she is planning to adopt a child. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)
34. Accordance to a new study (A) / taking steps to remain healthy any young (B) / may help delay (C) / the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)
35. A day after he was diagnosed with (A) / swine flu, preventive measures were put in place (B) / to ensure that others were not v/ affected by the dreaded virus. vNo error (E)
Ans : (A)
36. The administration has conclusive (A) / that it is retailers who are (B) / responsible for upsetting (C) / the city’s household budget. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)
37. The assurances, unfortunately, (A) / remained on paper, as (B) / neither the Centre or the state initiated steps (C) / for the development of the backward region. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)
38. Sediment deposit along the coast (A) / may be the primary reason for (B) / the change in conditions, (C) / but a lot more remains to be understand. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)
39. A committee will be set-up (A) / to explore pros and cons by (B) / a common fee structure, and will (C) / take a final decision on it within a week. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)
40. The infection which causes (A) / gums to bleed and teeth to fall out v/ results from the build-up of (C) / a particular bacteria that is common to most mouths. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)
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.
Once upon a time there was a prince who wanted to marry a princess; but she would have to be a real princess. He …(41)… all over the world to find one, but nowhere could he get what he wanted. One evening during a terrible storm; there was thunder and lightning and the rain poured down in torrents. Suddenly a knocking was …(42)… at the palace door and the old king went to open it. It was a princess standing out there. But, good gracious ! What a sight the rain and the wind had made her look. The water ran down her hair and clothes; into the toes of her shoes and out again at the heels. And yet she insisted that she was a real princess. Well, we’ll soon …(43)… out, thought the old queen. But she said nothing, went into the bedroom, took all the bedding off the bedstead and …(44)… a pea on the bottom, then she took twenty mattresses and laid them on the pea, and then twenty quilts on …(45)… of the mattresses. On this the princess had to lie all night. In the …(46)… she was asked how she had slept. “Oh, very badly !” said she. “I scarcely closed my eyes all night. Heaven only knows what was in the bed, but I was lying on something hard, as a …(47)… I am black and blue all over my body. It’s horrible !” Now they knew that she was a real princess because she had …(48)… the pea right through the twenty mattresses and the twenty quilts. Nobody but a real princess could be as …(49)… as that. So, the prince took her for his wife, for now he …(50)… that he had a real princess.
41. (A) called
(B) tour
(C) sent
(D) saw
(E) travelled
Ans : (E)
42. (A) made
(B) felt
(C) heard
(D) seen
(E) sounded
Ans : (C)
43. (A) assure
(B) find
(C) judge
(D) mark
(E) try
Ans : (B)
44. (A) drew
(B) flung
(C) placed
(D) cooked
(E) stitch
Ans : (B)
45. (A) top
(B) head
(C) bottom
(D) between
(E) middle
Ans : (A)
46. (A) morning
(B) dinner
(C) room
(D) fields
(E) dark
Ans : (A)
47. (A) vengeance
(B) price
(C) cause
(D) result
(E) time
Ans : (D)
48. (A) slept
(B) felt
(C) located
(D) carried
(E) found
Ans : (B)
49. (A) worried
(B) rough
(C) irritable
(D) sensitive
(E) pretty
Ans : (D)
50. (A) trust
(B) assured
(C) wanted
(D) think
(E) knew
Ans : (E)


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