UPSC CDS (II) 2017 — English (Full Question Paper)

Questions 1–10

S1: Egypt lies in the north-east corner of Africa. S6: The whole country depends on the water of the Nile. P: Most of it is desert or semi-desert. Q: It has very little rainfall. R: It is four times as big as Great Britain in size. S: Only a twenty-fifth of the total area is cultivable.

(a)P Q R S
(b)S R P Q
(c)R P S Q
(d)Q P R S

S1: In mechanical efforts, you improve by perpetual practice. S6: There is neither excuse nor temptation for the latter. P: He cannot go on shooting wide or falling short, and still fancy that he is making progress. Q: This is so because the object to be attained is a matter of actual experiment in which you either succeed or fail. R: He must either correct his aim, or persevere in his error with his eyes open. S: If a man aims at a mark with bow and arrow, he must either hit it or aim it.

(a)P S Q R
(b)R P S Q
(c)S Q R P
(d)Q S P R

S1: Isaac's mother married again. S6: He had a set of little tools and saw of various sizes made by himself. P: But he was known to be very clever at making things. Q: She sent him to school. R: Isaac was left to the care of his good old grandmother. S: In his early years Isaac did not appear to be a very bright student.

(a)R Q S P
(b)Q R S P
(c)S Q R P
(d)R P Q S

S1: The examination system must be regarded as the chief wrecker of young nerves. S6: If I become a Vice-Chancellor, my first act would be to abolish all examinations in my university. P: It makes me jump out of the bed, all in a sweat. Q: It does this by building up a tension, for a part of the year, all through one's youth. R: And after four decades, the same nervousness sometimes recurs to me in nightmares. S: I remember the desperate nervousness that used to grip me from January to April every year.

(a)R P Q S
(b)R S P Q
(c)R Q P S
(d)Q S R P

S1: History is a subject that is so little valued today that it is almost impossible to win world fame as a historian; yet that is exactly what Toynbee was able to. S6: Among the civilizations that he studied was that of India. P: We usually think of history as a chronological account of the development of various states and empires under ruler. Q: Toynbee's view of history was different. R: He tries to find the pattern behind the birth, growth and decay of civilization. S: Though he used the recorded history of mankind, but he was interested not merely in the chronology of single states or group but in the rise and fall of whole civilizations.

(a)P S Q R
(b)Q S P R
(c)S Q R P
(d)P Q S R

S1: Science first began to become important after A.D. 1500. S6: Men read them, became inquisitive again, and began to want to find things out. P: As a result of this, books came to be circulated. Q: During the Middle Ages the coming of Science was hindered by the Church. R: In the middle of the fifteenth century, however, the Turks captured the city of Constantinople and the Greek books were scattered far and wide. S: It considered free inquiry into the nature of things to be wicked.

(a)P Q S R
(b)Q S R P
(c)S R P Q
(d)R P Q S

S1: Phatik was a mischievous boy of fourteen. S6: Ultimately he distinguished himself as a scholar. P: It was then that Phatik's uncle offered to take the boy to Kolkata. Q: She was much worried about his education. R: His mother found it difficult to bring him up. S: Away from his home Phatik became sober and industrious.

(a)P Q R S
(b)S R Q P
(c)R S P Q
(d)R Q P S

S1: Whenever I met Baba Amte I was reminded of an anecdote my grandmother used to tell me. S6: He forgot that he had made it. P: He once made an idol of God. Q: As the idol was nearing completion, the sculptor was becoming more and more withdrawn into himself. R: And the moment it was complete, he threw away his chisel and hammer and bowed to the idol of God he had just created. S: There was a great sculptor.

(a)R S P Q
(b)P S R Q
(c)Q P S R
(d)S P Q R

S1: Ross sent an account of his work, together with slide and specimens to Manson. S6: Ross was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1901. P: They produced a profound sensation. Q: In July 1898, Manson described Ross's results to the British Medical Association. R: The President of the Royal Society came to Manson's house and inspected Ross's materials and said that 'it was of remarkable interest and value'. S: When Manson had finished, the whole audience rose and cheered.

(a)R S P Q
(b)P S R Q
(c)Q P S R
(d)S P Q R

10.

S1: Civilization dawned when early man learnt how to produce heat and energy by burning wood. S6: When they have been used, they cannot be replaced. P: Then steam was used to produce electricity. Q: In this century great use has been made of oil and natural gas and the use of atomic reactors also has provided another source of energy. R: Much later, the first industrial revolution was based on the production of steam by burning coal. S: But none of these fuels is renewable.

(a)P R Q S
(b)R Q S P
(c)R P Q S
(d)R P S Q

Questions 11–20

11.

S1: Ghost is a subject which baffles everyone everywhere throughout the world. S6: Yet it is a subject which has held people spellbound and the belief in them continues to flourish. P: But human beings have always been curious to know more about them. Q: Needless to say, such attempts have proved to be useless. R: There have been attempts even to photograph these creatures of darkness. S: Even after the advancement of science, the reality of ghosts remains a mystery till this day.

(a)Q R P S
(b)S Q P R
(c)S P R Q
(d)S Q R P

12.

S1: There have been two schools of thought which deal with the errors of learners. S6: Both views are popular today but the second is gaining ground fast. P: The philosophy of the second school is that errors are natural and they will occur in any learning. Q: So errors, they say, is a sign of faulty teaching methods. R: The first school maintains that if teaching methods are perfect, errors will never occur. S: They argue that we should concentrate on how to deal with errors, instead of on method of teaching.

(a)Q S R P
(b)P S Q R
(c)Q P S R
(d)R Q P S

13.

S1: Down the stairway of the Holiday Inn hotel, I enter the conference hall. S6: Some are leaning against the sidewall. P: I take a seat in the back row as more chairs are quietly slipped in for late comers. Q: The hall is already packed with delegates. R: Still quite a few people are left standing. S: Most of the delegates are executives of Indian or Indo-US companies.

(a)S Q R P
(b)P R Q S
(c)S R Q P
(d)Q S P R

14.

S1: A sportsman is noted for his sense of discipline. S6: Once discipline is accrued in the play field, it can be applied and practised in other spheres of life. P: The first lesson in discipline is to win without pride and to lose without bitterness. Q: One is no longer swayed by the sudden gusts of passion. R: Then, one must learn that error or selfishness will disgrace and endanger the rest. S: A sense of equanimity brings order and method into the life of the people.

(a)Q P R S
(b)R Q S P
(c)P Q S R
(d)P R S Q

15.

S1: Mr. and Mrs. Robert went home late last night. S6: Mr. Robert rushed to the police station immediately. P: Somebody had broken open the lock. Q: To their dismay they found all their things missing. R: They got into the house with a lot of fear. S: When they reached home they found the front door open.

(a)R S P Q
(b)S P R Q
(c)Q S R P
(d)R Q P S

16.

S1: The miseries of the world cannot be cured by physical help only. S6: Then alone will misery ease in the world. P: Let men have light, let them be strong and educated. Q: No amount of physical help will remove them completely. R: Until man's nature changes, his physical needs will always rise, and miseries will always be felt. S: The only solution is to make mankind enlightened.

(a)Q P R S
(b)R Q S P
(c)S P Q R
(d)P Q R S

17.

S1: Aristotle worked under limitations. S6: The age was not a period of experiment. P: Physical events were mostly attributed to the intervention of God. Q: There had been little industrial invention in Greece, perhaps because slave labour was cheap and plentiful. R: The only equipment he had for his study was a ruler and compass and some crude instruments. S: The facts on which modern theories of science have been based had not been discovered.

(a)R P Q S
(b)R S P Q
(c)Q S R P
(d)S Q R P

18.

S1: The bus sped along the road. S6: The dog wailed for a long time. P: But the bus could stop only after covering a few yards. Q: It injured the dog in the leg. R: The driver applied the brake. S: Suddenly a stray dog ran on to the middle of the road.

(a)S P R Q
(b)S R P Q
(c)R P Q S
(d)P R S Q

19.

S1: The status of women in our country is, on the whole, far from high. S6: Education can lift women out of the depths of misery and ignorance into which they have sunk. P: But the plight of women in villages is still miserable. Q: The educated women in cities enjoy equality with the men folk. R: The movement for the freedom and right of women has certainly been steadily gaining momentum. S: Their education has been thoroughly neglected.

(a)P Q S R
(b)R S P Q
(c)Q S R P
(d)R Q S P

20.

S1: Hiuen-tsang became a Buddhist monk at the age of twelve and soon discovered that the Buddhist texts available in China were insufficient. S6: But he was on a quest and returned after a while to his motherland with a rich collection of texts, documents and relics. P: Wherever he went, he was asked by the local rulers and monks to stay in the place. Q: He entered India through Kashmir, where he spent some time in Srinagar. R: He therefore decided to go on a pilgrimage to India to collect further material. S: From India, he attempted to go to Ceylon, but gave up the attempt.

(a)P Q S R
(b)R S P Q
(c)Q S R P
(d)R Q S P

Questions 21–30

21.

With the less rapid expansion of the economy, we should make ___ progress toward stable price levels.

(a)detailed
(b)substantial
(c)definite
(d)infinite

22.

At times he gets very angry, and then no one can ___ him.

(a)prevent
(b)humour
(c)mollify
(d)satisfy

23.

Many people today have fallen into utter confusion of values with the result that they cannot ___ the good from the bad.

(a)divide
(b)differentiate
(c)see
(d)alter

24.

If Mohan ___ at 5 a.m., he would not have missed the train.

(a)started
(b)had started
(c)would start
(d)has started

25.

His property was divided ___ his daughters and sons.

(a)between
(b)among
(c)from
(d)with

26.

His persistence in his misdemeanours has lowered him in the ___ of everyone who knows him.

(a)eyes
(b)estimation
(c)estimate
(d)esteem

27.

The clouds of suspicion will clear ___ soon.

(a)up
(b)away
(c)off
(d)by

28.

The teachers said that they were no longer prepared to ___ the ways of the new Headmaster.

(a)put over with
(b)put on with
(c)put up with
(d)put up to

29.

___ the construction of new housing units at the rate of one every month, there is still a shortage of accommodation.

(a)Through
(b)Despite
(c)By
(d)For

30.

Democracy requires the equal right of all to the development of such capacity for good as nature has ___ them with.

(a)presented
(b)endowed
(c)fortified
(d)replenished

Questions 31–40

31.

My unmarried aunt (P: is creating a lot of problems for us) (Q: who stays with us) (R: because of her interfering nature in our personal lives) (S: and there is a misunderstanding among family members)

(a)Q S R P
(b)Q P S R
(c)P Q S R
(d)S P Q R

32.

No criminal proceeding (P: in any Court during his term of office) (Q: whatsoever shall be initiated) (R: or continued against the President) (S: or a Governor)

(a)Q R S P
(b)P Q R S
(c)Q P S R
(d)S Q P R

33.

The dentist (P: with a severe tooth-ache) (Q: when he was brought to hospital) (R: extracted Manish's tooth) (S: and relieved his pain)

(a)P Q R S
(b)Q P R S
(c)R S P Q
(d)R Q P S

34.

The actress (P: has been selected) (Q: as the best heroine) (R: who is the daughter of a famous male singer) (S: of the year)

(a)R P Q S
(b)Q P S R
(c)R S P Q
(d)Q S R P

35.

Last summer (P: everyday) (Q: kept pestering a pretty girl) (R: one persistent admirer) (S: with phone calls)

(a)Q R S P
(b)R S Q P
(c)R Q S P
(d)P Q R S

36.

In many cultures (P: to make wishes come true) (Q: that blue has the power) (R: people believe) (S: and be successful in life)

(a)P S R Q
(b)R S P Q
(c)R Q P S
(d)S Q P R

37.

From a picnic table (P: through the playground) (Q: while we unpacked a basket) (R: we watched them laugh and leap) (S: bulging with sandwiches and cookies)

(a)R S Q P
(b)Q P R S
(c)R P Q S
(d)Q S R P

38.

My father retired at the age of 68, (P: where he had served,) (Q: in South Carolina) (R: as Pastor for 12 years,) (S: from a Baptist Church)

(a)P R S Q
(b)S Q P R
(c)S P Q R
(d)Q P R S

39.

The completion (P: it enables employees to feel a sense of accomplishment) (Q: and makes them take pride in their work; ) (R: of high quality products) (S: also enhances employee satisfaction, because)

(a)P Q R S
(b)R Q P S
(c)P S R Q
(d)R S P Q

40.

But, Kuala Lumpur (P: where modern Malay executives) (Q: but will never miss Friday prayers) (R: might have a cellular phone in hand,) (S: is a city firmly rooted in tradition)

(a)R Q S P
(b)S P R Q
(c)R P S Q
(d)S Q R P

Questions 41–50

41.

Perhaps the most significant factor (P: is a failure of planning and) (Q: in the growth of all metropolitan crimes,) (R: governance in the urban sprawl) (S: including crimes against the elderly,)

(a)Q S P R
(b)P R Q S
(c)Q R P S
(d)P S Q R

42.

He said that (P: a small college) (Q: he'd rather go to) (R: not studying at all) (S: instead of)

(a)Q S P R
(b)P R Q S
(c)Q P R S
(d)Q P S R

43.

Teaching a child (P: since there are few) (Q: is becoming difficult and expensive) (R: open ponds around) (S: how to swim)

(a)S Q P R
(b)Q R S P
(c)S R Q P
(d)P R Q S

44.

The doctor (P: able to find out) (Q: what had caused) (R: the food poisoning) (S: had not been)

(a)S P R Q
(b)P R Q S
(c)P R S Q
(d)S P Q R

45.

The officer (P: was suspended) (Q: being corrupt) (R: from service) (S: before his dismissal)

(a)Q P S R
(b)Q P R S
(c)R S Q P
(d)R S P Q

46.

She gave (P: her old coat) (Q: to a beggar) (R: the one with the brown fur on it) (S: shivering with cold)

(a)P R Q S
(b)S Q P R
(c)P Q R S
(d)R P Q S

47.

The medical teams (P: at the ground said that the injured) (Q: by the surging crowds,) (R: included women and children) (S: who were trampled)

(a)P R Q S
(b)P Q R S
(c)Q P R S
(d)P S Q R

48.

He (P: at the hurdles on his way) (Q: who has his eyes) (R: does not look) (S: fixed on the goal)

(a)P Q R S
(b)S R P Q
(c)Q S R P
(d)R Q P S

49.

We do not know when (P: but we know) (Q: the exact date of his death) (R: for certain) (S: Shakespeare was born)

(a)S P R Q
(b)P Q R S
(c)P S Q R
(d)S R Q P

50.

(P: The purpose is to advance knowledge) (Q: the two have to work together) (R: and disseminate it) (S: a university is essentially a community of students and teachers)

(a)S R Q P
(b)S P Q R
(c)P Q R S
(d)S Q P R

Questions 51–60

Passage 1

For many years, ship captains navigating the waters of Antarctica have been intrigued by sightings of emerald icebergs. Scientists have now explained their mystery. These icebergs are turned upside down. Icebergs are blocks of ice that have broken off huge slabs of frozen snow called ice shelves. Their green appearance results from sea water that has frozen at the bottom over hundreds of years. The frozen sea water has dissolved organic matter which gives it a yellow tone and the fresh water 'ice shelf' above has a blue tinge. When the iceberg turns upside down, it appears green through the visual mix of yellow with the blue from below.

51.

What is the meaning of 'intrigued'?

(a)Surprised
(b)Fascinated
(c)Muffled
(d)Repulsed

52.

What are ice shelves?

(a)They are huge pieces of chunks of ice
(b)They are frozen sea water
(c)They are pieces of ice which look like shelves
(d)They are huge pieces of ice which are very old

53.

What are icebergs?

(a)Huge chunks of ice floating on water
(b)Frozen sea water
(c)Green ice
(d)Green yellow water below and blue above

54.

When the iceberg turns upside down, it appears

(a)green
(b)yellow
(c)blue
(d)white

Passage 2

In its simple form, science has helped man to protect himself from Nature and to overcome natural obstacles to movement. But with the advance of science, a situation has arisen in which Nature need to be protected from man. He has used Nature's own gifts, not only of metal but even the human brain, to attack Nature. Forests are being destroyed not only to satisfy need but to provide luxuries. The evil effects of deforestation are already making themselves clearly felt in climatic changes and soil erosion. Man has at last begun to learn that he has to protect if he wants Nature to protect him.

55.

The use of science in its simple form has helped man to

(a)do such things as building shelter and make carts, boats, etc
(b)make bombs and missiles
(c)build factories using machinery
(d)make planes

56.

Nature now needs to be protected from man because

(a)nature has become weak
(b)man is rapidly destroying Nature
(c)man is cruel to animals
(d)man has become irrational

57.

Forests are being destroyed in order to

(a)provide land for agriculture
(b)provide wood for fuel
(c)kill dangerous animals
(d)provide necessities as well as needless comforts and pleasures

58.

The evil effect of destroying Nature instead of using it is seen in

(a)the fall in production of our factories
(b)the fall in our standard of living
(c)the unfavourable changes in climate
(d)frequent occurrence of epidemics

59.

Climatic changes and soil erosion are results of

(a)scientific developments
(b)nuclear explosion
(c)natural calamity
(d)deforestation

Passage 3

According to the civil laws of most countries obedience is no longer the duty of a wife; every woman has the political right to vote; but these liberties remain theoretical as long as she does not have economic freedom. A woman supported by a man is not liberated from the male. It is through gainful employment that woman has travelled most of the distance that separated her from the male; and nothing else can guarantee her liberty in practice. [Para 2] I once heard a maidservant declare, while cleaning the stone floor of a hotel lobby, 'I never asked anybody for anything; I succeeded all by myself.' She was as proud of her self-sufficiency as a Rockefeller, Ford or Birla. [Para 3] However, the mere combination of the right to vote and a job does not mean complete liberation: working, today, is not a liberty. [Para 4] A recent study of women workers in a car factory shows that they would prefer to stay in the home rather than work in the factory. The majority of women do not escape from the traditional feminine world. Their jobs at the factory do not relieve them of housekeeping burdens; they get from neither society nor their husbands, the assistance they need to become in concrete fact the equals of men.

60.

Which of the following helps women most to achieve equality with men?

(a)The right to vote
(b)Civil liberties
(c)A job
(d)Wealthy husbands

Questions 61–70

61.

Why does the writer talk about the maidservant in the hotel lobby?

(a)The servants of today will one day be freed from their rich masters
(b)A servant can become as rich as Rockefeller or Birla
(c)Even with a low paid job women can achieve equality
(d)Economic independence is necessary for women's liberation

62.

In which paragraph does the writer say that it is revealed that some women would not like to work in the factory?

(a)In paragraph four
(b)In paragraph three
(c)In paragraph two
(d)In paragraph one

63.

"These liberties" in the first paragraph refer to

(a)The right to vote, not to obey and right to a job
(b)The right to vote and not to obey
(c)The rights of servants to disobey their master and the right of the master to punish them
(d)Women's right to vote and earn money

Passage 4

During the past three generations the diseases affecting western societies have undergone dramatic changes. Polio, diphtheria, tuberculosis, commonly known as TB, are vanishing; one injection of an antibiotic often cures deadly diseases such as pneumonia or syphilis; and so many mass killers have come under control that two-thirds of all deaths are now associated with the diseases of old age. Those who die young are more often than not victims of accidents, violence, or suicide. [Para 2] These changes in health status are generally equated with the decrease in suffering and attributed to more or better medical care. Almost everyone believes that at least one of his friends would not be alive and well except for the skill of a doctor. But there is in fact no evidence of any direct relationship between this change in the pattern or nature of sicknesses on the one hand and the so-called progress of medicine on the other hand. These changes are the results of political technological changes. They are not related to the activities that require the preparation and status of doctors or the costly equipment in which doctors take pride. In addition, an increase in the number of new diseases in the last fifteen years are themselves the result for medical intervention. They are doctor-made or iatrogenic.

64.

In the western societies, the occurrence of polio, diphtheria and tuberculosis has

(a)increased
(b)completely stopped
(c)decreased
(d)continued without changes

65.

More deaths are now associated with old age than in the past because

(a)iatrogenic diseases are spreading faster now
(b)deadly diseases affecting the young have been well controlled
(c)accidents, violence and suicide that killed many youths in the past are now under control
(d)political and technological changes now take better care of the young than the old

66.

The writer probably is arguing for

(a)stopping the practice of western medicines completely
(b)stopping the use of costly equipment and medicines
(c)rethinking about the successes and failures of the western medicines
(d)giving greater attention to new, iatrogenic diseases than to the old diseases such as polio, diphtheria and pneumonia

Passage 5

Poverty is a complex problem. It is far more than an economical condition. We measure it usually in terms of income but forget that poverty embraces a whole range of circumstances, including lack of access to information and to basic services like nutritional diet, health care and education. It results into a loss of cultural identity and destroys traditional knowledge. Poor people become marginalised and suffer from exploitation and loss of human dignity.

67.

Which of the following sentences comes close to the meaning of the sentence, "Poverty embraces a whole range of circumstances."

(a)There are lot of angles to poverty
(b)There are several section in the society which are poor
(c)There are several types of poverty
(d)Poverty is solely an economic issue

68.

What way do you think 'lack of access to information' affects poor people?

(a)They don't get information about how to improve their conditions
(b)They didn't get newspapers to read at all
(c)They can't go to school and read books
(d)They don't get information about schemes of getting rich

69.

Why do you think 'cultural identity' is important?

(a)A sense of cultural identity gives people self-respect and confidence
(b)Cultural identity defines the character of poor people
(c)It is important to have cultural identity to get jobs
(d)It is useful to have cultural identity because it brings your success

70.

Which of the following sentences comes closest to the sentence 'Poor people become marginalised'?

(a)They are not given any benefit of any government schemes
(b)They are ignored by the rich people
(c)They are the most ignored elements of the society
(d)They are the most disposed elements of the society

Questions 71–80

71.

What do you think is the tone of the passage?

(a)Objective but querulous
(b)Descriptive and impassioned
(c)Argumentative and critical
(d)Objective and critical

72.