SSB Question-Paper

                                    SSB Question Paper - English Language

COMPREHENSION 
Directions (For the following 21 items) : In this section there are six short passages. Each passage is followed by items'based-on the'passage. Read each passage and answer the items that follow. 

Passage I 
Our voyage was very prosperous, but I shall not trouble the reader with a journal of it. The captain called in at one or two ports and sent in his long-boat for provisions, and fresh water,but I never went out of the ship till we came into the Downs, which was on the 3`d day of June, 1706, about nine months after my escape. I offered to leave my goods in security for payment of my freight, but the captain protested he would not receive one farthing. We took kind leave of each other, and I made him promise that he would come to see meat my house in Redriff. I hired a house and a guide for five shillings which I borrowed from the captain. 

1.When the writer uses the word "prosperous" to describe the voyage, he means that captain
(a) it made him rich.
(b) it made him healthy.
(c) it was very pleasant.
(d) it was uneventful.

2.On the voyage, the author
(a) left the ship at intervals.
(b) was not able to leave the ship because it did not stop.
(c) never left the ship at all. 
(d) never left the ship till they came into the Downs.

3. In the context of the passage, the word "provisions" means
(a) mainly food.
(b) mainly security.
(c) money.
(d) mainly ammunition.

4.For the payment of the author's freight, the captain
(a)kept his goods as security.
(b) refused to accept any money.
(c) 'protested against being paid only a farthing.
(d) accepted a sum of money.

5. From the passage, it is clear that the captain's attitude to the author was
(a) one of hostility.
(b) one of indifference.
(c) one of extreme friendliness and kindness.
(d) one of disgust and irritation. 

Passage II 
What were the early ideas of men about the,sky and the earth. ?` They naturally believed that the earth was motionless, and they also supposed that it was flat. These` two ideas • do not surprise us. Children now-a-days think the same until. they are taught differently. How were men .to know that the earth was a ball circling round the' sun ? They had no telescope for accurate observation. They had not travelled round- the world. In' fact, many parts of the world in those .days were unexplored and.unknown. They thought they,lived on a kind.of flat plate, and' that the ,sky with the sun 'and the moon and the stars, was a kind of -inverted bowl turning round ;above them. The. sun, the moon, and the stars were their. lamps :for: -day and night.

6.` Unless children are taught differently they think that
(a) the earth is found and moving.
(b) the sun and the moon are motionless.
(c) the sun, and the moon are moving.
(d) the sun and the moon are moving round the earth;

7. The early ideas of man were wrong because
(a) man did not use the telescope.
(b) man did not like to travel.
(c) man never had the scientific. knowledge.
(d) man was foolish and lazy.

8. What was true for the early man ?.
(a) The earth was round and moving.
(b) The telescope 'was accurate.
(c) Travelling and. exploring were the methods to gain knowledge.
(d) The sun. was motionless.

9. What was the -main cause of -the early man's wrong ideas ?
(a) Lack' of'scientific knowledge
(b) Seeing and believing
(c) 'Lack of desire to know
(d) Lack. of desire to observe and explore

Passage III 
The man sat up in the snow for a moment and struggled for calmness. Then he pulled on his gloves by means of his teeth, and got upon his feet. He glanced down at first in order to assure  himself that he was really standing up, for the absence of sensation in his feet left him unrelated to the earth. His erect position in itself started to drive the webs of suspicion from the dog's mind; and when he spoke peremptorily, with the sound of whip-lashes in his voice, the dog rendered its  customary allegiance and came to him. As it came within reaching distance, the man lost his control. His arms flashed out to the dog and he experienced genuine surprise when he discovered that his hands could not clutch, that there was neither. bend nor feeling in the fingers. He had forgotten for the moment that they were frozen and that they were freezing more- and more. All this happened quickly and before the animal could get away, he encircled its body with his arms. He sat down in the snow and in this fashion held the dog, while it snarled and whined and struggled.

10. From the passage, which group of words expresses the effect of snow upon the man's feet ?
(a) With the sound of whip-lashes in his voice.
(b) His arms,flashed out to the dog..
(c) The absence of sensation in his feet left him unrelated to the earth.
(d) The man sat up in the snow for a moment and struggled for calmness.

11. The statement that- the man experienced genuine surprise when he discovered that his hands could not clutch means that
(a) the man did not see anything to clutch.
(b) the man had nothing to clutch.
(c) the man was afraid of the dog.
(d) there was neither bend nor feeling in the fingers.

12. Which word or group of words shows the exact condition of being `frozen' ?
(a) Whip-lashes in his voice
(b) He pulled on his gloves
(c) His hands could not clutch
(d) Lost his control 

Passage IV 
George was a young man who had gone to the big city from a small rural community and, in a relatively short time, attained prominence in the business world. His sudden rise had gone into his head, however, and he became unbearably conceited. Eventually, George returned home after a visit, halfway expecting everyone in town to be at the railway station to welcome him. Much to his surprise, George saw that no one, not even his family, was around to meet him when he descended from the train. He looked very.neat in a new suit and carried a bulky suitcase full of fashionable clothes.. After, a little while, the station master came from his office and went over to the young fellow. "Well, hello there, George," he called out cheerily, "Are you going away ?" 

13. The station master's question implied that 
(a) he offered help to George in climbing the train. 
(b) he is known to George very intimately. 
(c) he is making fun of George. 
(d) George's absence from the town was not noticed by him.

14. George hoped for a big welcome because 
(a) of his achievement and success. 
(b) he is returning home after a very long time.
(c) people loved him.
(d) the manner in which he was received by
(d) his community wanted dynamic leaders, the village.

15. George's great expectations are an indication of his
(a) humility.
(b) optimism.
(c) pride.
(d) love of his community.

16. George's success was most clearly visible in
(a) the station master's words.
(b) his clothes.
(c) his being unbearably conceited.
(d) the manner in which he was received by

Passage V 
The assault on the purity of the environment is the price that we pay for many of the benefits of modern technology. For the advantages of automotive transportation we pay a price in smog-induced diseases; for the powerful effects of new insecticides, we pay a price in dwindling wildlife and disturbances in the relation of living things and their surroundings; for nuclear power, we risk the biological hazards of radiation. By increasing agricultural production with fertilizers, we increase water pollution. The highly developed nations of the world are not only the immediate beneficiaries of the good that technology can do, they are also the first victims of the environmental diseases that technology breeds. In the past, the environmental effects which accompanied technological progress were restricted to a small place and relatively a short time. The new hazards are neither local nor brief. Modern air pollution covers vast areas of continents. Radioactive fallout from nuclear explosions is. worldwide. Radioactive pollutants now on the Earth's surface will be found there for generations, and in the case of Carbon-14, for thousands of years.

17.The passage emphasizes that modern technology
(a) is totally avoidable.
(b) has caused serious hazards to life.
(c) has greatereffectondeveloped countries.
(d) is the sourceofthemiseries of mankind.

18. The harmful effects of modern technology are 
(a) widespread but short lived.
(b) widespread and long lasting. 
(c) local and long lasting.
(d) severe but short lived.

19. With reference to the passage, the following assumptions have been made :
1. The widespread use of insecticides has caused ecological imbalance.
2. Conservation of natural flora and fauna is impossible in this age of modern technology.

Which of the assumptions is/are valid ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1. and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 

Passage VI 
To what extent, though,. are modern farming methods sustainable ? There is abundant evidence that a high price has to be paid to sustain the high rates of food production achieved by farmed monocultures. For example, they offer ideal conditions, for the epidemic spread: of diseases such as mastitis, brucellosis and swine fever among livestock and. coccidiosis among poultry. Farmed animals are normally kept at densities far higher than their species would, meet in nature with the result that disease transmission rates are magnified. In addition,- high rates of transmission between herds occur as animals are sold from one farming enterprise to another, and it is easy for the farmers themselves, with mud on their boots and their vehicles, to act as vectors of pests and disease.

20. With reference to the passage, consider the following statements :
1. The modern practices of farming are undesirable for developing countries.
2. Monoculture practices should be given up to eliminate disease transmission in animals.

Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2-only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

21. What is the essence of this passage ?
(a) Farming is. a very costly affair.
(b) Farmed animals are kept at, higher densities in monocultures.
(c) There is.. a widespread transmission of animal diseases now-a-days.
(d) Human dependence on monoculture is fragile.

SYNONYMS 
Directions (For the following 17 items) : In this section, select the word or group of words that is most similar in meaning to the underlined word or group of words in the given sentence.

22. I never believed that it was the authentic signature of the Prime Minister.
(a) hand-written
(b) genuine
(c) proper
(d) authoritative

23. Valiant Vicky used to boast of his bravery to his beloved wife.
(a) cry
(b) abuse
(c) hate
(d) brag

24. I can no longer be satisfied with fictitious good conduct.
(a) based on facts
(b) based on imagination
(c) based on works of fiction
(d) based on feudal ties

25. Mass murder is very often a result of communal frenzy.
(a) patricide
(b) fratricide
(c) regicide
(d) genocide

26. The two executioners approached the tree with a red-mark on its side.
(a) executive engineers
(b) explorers
(c) experimenters
(d) those who inflict capital punishment

27. The maiden speech of the young member of the Lok Sabha was very much appreciated by the people. 
(a) farewell speech
(b) short speech
(c) first" speech
(d) speech about women

28. Please do not interfere with my work.
(a) meddle
(b) help
(c) object
(d) copy

29. This job is very tedious.
(a) tiresome
(b) dull
(c) interesting
(d) exciting

30. She takes after her mother.
(a) follows
(b) comes after
(c) resembles
(d) imitates

31. He is very intelligent, but ill-favoured by nature.
(a) unlucky
(b) weak in health
(c) short-tempered
(d) ugly

32. People thronged to pay homage to the departed leader.
(a) humility
(b) tribute
(c) obedience
(d) allegiance

33. He kept his eyes peeled and his ears pricked for some important clue.
(a) hint
(b) inkling
(c) intimation
(d) signal

34. The spectators looked at the batsman in amazement when he hit sixer after sixer.
(a) shock
(b) wonder
(c) surprise
(d) suspicion

35. Very few of our batsmen have any real consistency.
(a) constancy
(b) competence
(c) permanence
(d) uniformity

36. He has an electrifying presence.
(a) attractive
(b) fearsome
(c) exciting
(d) disturbing

37. For better health we must refrain from smoking.
(a) dissuade
(b) desist
(c) prevent
(d) curb

38. The article was so well-written that it merited careful study.
(a) deserved
(b) encouraged
(c) prompted
(d) supported

ANTONYMS 
Directions (For the following 10 items) : In this section, select the word or group of words that is most opposite in meaning to the underlined word or group of words in the given sentence.

39. Poisonous gases emitted from factories contaminate the air we breathe in.
(a) sanctify
(b) invigorate
(c) taint
(d) purify

40. Reckless driving causes accidents.
(a) careful
(b) slow
(c) good
(d) correct

41. He often went to the theatre.
(a) seldom
(b) rarely
(c) sometimes
(d) occasionally

42. He is frugal in his spending.
(a) economical
(b) extravagant
(c) miserly
(d) greedy

43. The students expected an eminent scientist to inaugurate the programme.
(a) illustrious
(b) notorious
(c) intelligent
(d) unknown

44. Some of their customs are barbarous.
(a) civilized
(b) modern
(c) polite
(d) praiseworthy

45. They are going to embark upon a mountaineering expedition.
(a) launch
(b) analyse
(c) break off
(d) conclude

46. There has been a gradual falling off in the quality of articles manufactured locally.
(a) shrinkage
(b) erosion
(c) improvement
(d) descent

47. He was deeply depressed over the news.
(a) satisfied
(b) elated
(c) impressed
(d) affected

48. Though he had lost the battle, he decided not to yield to the enemy.
(a) submit to
(b) persuade
(c) resist
(d) seek terms with

49." Because of the failure of the monsoon, there was paucity of foodgrains.
(a)overflow
(b) inflow
(c) plenty
(d) glut

50. The evidence 'against the accused is conclusive.
(a) powerful
(b) indecisive
(c) exclusive
(d) partial