CDS General English Solved Paper (II) : 2006
(SPOTTING ERRORS)

Directions: (For the 17 items which follow):
(i) In this section a number of sentences are given. The sentences are underlined in three separate parts and each one is labelled (a), (b) and (c) . Read each sentence to find out whether there is an error in any underlined part. No sentence has more than one error. When you find an error in any one of the underlined parts (a), (b) or (c) indicate your response on the separate Answer Sheet atthe appropriate space. You may feel that there is no error in a sentence. In that case letter (d) will signify a ‘No error ’ response.
(ii) You are to indicate only one response for  each item in your Answer Sheet. (If you indicate more than one response, your answer will be considered wrong). Errors may be in grammer word usage or idioms. There may be a word missing or there may be a word which should be removed.
(iii) You are not required to correct the error. You are required only to indicate your response on the Answer Sheet.

Examples ‘P’ and ‘Q’ have been solved for you.

 P. The young child singed
            (a)                 (b)
a very  sweet song. No error
            (c)                 (d)
Q.We worked very hard
        (a)                 (b)
throughtout the season. No error
                (c)                     (d)

Explanation
In item P, the word ‘signed’ is wrong. The letter under this part is (b); so (b) is the  correct answer. Similarly, for item Q, (d) is the correct answer, as the sentence does not contain any error.

1. A careful driver watches the road
                        (a)
and goes slowly or quickly,
                (b)
depending upon the condition of the road, the visibility and the traffic
                                                (c)
No error
    (d)

2. Despite some past experiences
                        (a)
with averse publicity
            (b)
she is usually gracious reporters. No error
            (c)                                      (d)

3. A ccording to a spokesman for the government,
                                        (a)
the charge of corruption is a contemptuouslie
                            (b)
inspired by political motives. No error
                        (c)                     (d)

4. If I would have arrived sooner, I would
                                (a)                     (b)
not have missed the fun. No error
                    (c)                 (d)

5. Unless two or more members object
                                (a)
to him joining the club, we shall have to
                            (b)
accept his application for membership.
                        (c)
No error
    (d)

6. The prospective buyer of the house
                            (a)
left the premises because he was asked to pay a
                                (b)
considerable higher price than he could afford.
                                (c)
No error
    (d)

7. You are being quite cynical
                    (a)
when you say that the reason why we have
                        (b)
such a large turnout is because we are serving refreshments.
                                        (c)
No error
    (d)

8.We can’t hardly believe
                    (a)
that the situation is so serious as to
                        (b)
justify such precautions as you have taken.
                                (c)
No error
    (d)

9. Although I am playing cricket
                        (a)
for more than three years
                (b)
I have not been able score a century. No error
                    (c)                                    (d)

10. If I have make a choice between Aryan, Amit and Abhi
                                        (a)
I think I’ll select Aryan
            (b)
because of his commanding personality.
                            (c)
No error
   (d)

11.Man’s happiness or misery
                    (a)
are in a great measure
                (b)
in his own hands. No error
        (c)                   (d)

12. I feel bad about the present conflict
                        (a)
because I do not know how to resolve it
                            (b)
without hurting either you or him. No error
                    (c)                             (d)

13. Cows are amongst the gentlest of breating creatures
                            (a)
more shows more passionate
                    (b)
tenderness their young. No error
            (c)                       (d)

14. He is not the kind of a person
                            (a)
who accepts such treatments passively
                        (b)
he is certain to seek revenge. No error
                    (c)                         (d)

15. The rise and fall of the tide are due
                    (a)                 (b)
to lunar influence. No error
            (c)                 (d)

16. I was surprised and pleased
                        (a)
when I was informed of me
                    (b)
winning the contest. No error
                (c)               (d)
17.Many a man has succumbed
                (a)                 (b)
to this temptation. No error
                (c)             (d)

Directions (For the 10 items which follow): In this section, you are given four alternative meanings to each idiom/phrase. Choose the most appropriate one.

1. IN TATTERS
(a) In prison
(b) Under mortgage
(c) Ruined
(d) Under confusion

2. COME A CROPPER
(a) To come as a surprise
(b) To fail
(c) To get injured
(d) To get unexpected success

3. IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME
(a) By sheer hardwork
(b) At leisure
(c) Night of full Moon
(d) At the appropriate time

4. THE LIE OF THE LAND
(a) Protection of environment
(b) Spirit of adventure
(c) Assessment of a situation
(d) Mountaineering

5. AN EAGER BEAVER
(a) An enthusiastic person
(b) Fond of travelling(c) A rich person
(d) A successful politician

6. RAISE SOMEBODY’S HACKLES
(a) To praise somebody
(b) To deceive somebody
(c) To flatter somebody
(d) To make somebody angry

7. BENEATH CONTEMPT
(a) Guilt
(b) Completely unworthy of respect
(c) Animosity
(d) Under wraps

8. AT A RATE OF KNOTS
(a) Very rapidly
(b) Sluggishly
(c) Technology-savvy
(d) Highly self-opinionated

9. CLAM UP
(a) To depart
(b) To remain silent
(c) To preapre meticulously
(d) To feel sad

10. PLAIN AS A PIKESTAFF
(a) Polished surface
(b) Extremely honest
(c) Extremely poor
(d) Very obvious

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