CDS exam I 2013 English question paper with answer key

About to appear in Combined Defence Services Examination and looking for previous question papers with answer key? CDS exam I 2013 was held on 10th February 2013. Check out CDS Exam I 2013 question paper and answer key of English paper here.

Paper I English of CDS Exam I 2013

       Fill in the blank space by selecting a word.

Each of the items in this section has a sentence with a blank space and four words given after the sentence. Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your choice on the Answer Sheet.

1. An accomplice is a partner in________ (a) business                    (b) crime (c) construction              (d) gambling

2. A peason who pretends to be what he is not is Galled an           . (a) imbiber                    (6) impresario (c) imitator                    id) imposter

3. His________ nature would not let him leave his office before 5 p.m. (a) honest                       (b) selfish (c) unscrupulous            (d) conscientious

4. The Committee's appeal to the people for money_________little response. (a) evoked                      (6) provided (c) provoked                  (d) prevented

5. Too many skyscrapers______ the view along the beach. (a) reveal                       (b) obstruct (c) make                        (d) clear

6. Though he has several interim plans, his aim is to become a billionaire. (a) absolute                   (b)determined (c)      only                       (d) ultimate

RECONSTRUCTING PASSAGE Directions (for the following 9 items): In the following items, each passage consists of six sentences. The first and sixth sentence are given in the beginning as SI and S6. The middle four sentences in each have been jumbled up. These are labelled P, Q, R and S. Find out the proper sequence of the four sentences and mark your answer accordingly on the Answer Sheet.

7. SI: Ronald Ross was born in Almora, in the Himalayas in 1857. S6: Manson directed him to an effective study of the disease and with his help, Ross solved the mystery in three years.

P: He began to feel that he ought to try to do something about it. Q: He was educated in England and returned to India as an officer in the Indian Medical Service. R: He started to study malaria and during a vacation to England, met Patrick Manson and studied tropical diseases under him. S: His medical conscience was stirred by the appalling disease and misery with which he was surrounded in the course of his work.
The proper sequence should be
(a)SRPQ (b) QSPR (c)PQRS (d)RPSQ

8. SI: Science has turned the world into one unit.
S6: Practically every part of the world has friendly or hostile relationship with every other part.

P: Nowadays such pleasing illusions are impossible to have. Q: Since that time they have been coming closer to each other. R: Before the 16* century, America and the Far East were almost unrelated to Europe. S: Augustus in Rome and Han Emperor in China simultaneously imagined themselves masters of the world

The proper sequence should be
(a)PQRS (b) RSQP (c)SRPQ (d) RQSP

9. SI: Plants need carbon for building the tissue of their bodies. S6: Thus through a complex process called photosynthesis, plants receive their requirements from the soil and Sun,

P: The breaking up of carbon dioxide into its components requires energy, which they derive from the Sun. Q: Plants other needs of nutrients are derived from the soil and water through their roots. R: They derive this carbon from the carbon dioxide in the air. S: They break up the carbon dioxide, absorb the carbon and discharge oxygen into the air for animals to breathe.

The proper sequence should be  (a) QSPR (b) RSPQ (c)SQRP (d)PRQS

10.SI: I searched for my friend all day. S6 :When I woke up the Sun was already above the horizon.

P: Although I was weary and hungry, I was not discouraged. Q: I crept in and lay on the ground with my bag for a pillow. R: When midnight came I felt that I CQuld not walk much further. S: At last I came to a place where the pavement was raised and had a hollow underneath.   The proper sequence should be (a)PRSQ (b) PSQR (c)RPSQ (d)SRQP   11. SI: While on a fishing trip last summer, I watched an elderly man fishing off the edge of a dock.
S6: Cheerfully, the old man replied, “Small frying pan”.

P: “Why didn't you keep the other big ones ?” I asked.
Q: He caught an enormous trout, but apparently rot satisfied with its size, he threw it back into the water.
R: He finally caught a small pike, threw it into his pail, and smiling happily prepared to leave.
S: Amazed, I watched him repeat this performance.

The proper sequence should be
(a) PSQR (6) QSPR (c)PQSR (d) QPSR ( No correct answer)

12. SI: Mr. Johnson looked at his watch.
S6: He always says to his friends at the office : 'It is nice to have breakfast in the morning, but it is nicer to lie in bed.'

P: He was late as usual, so he did not have time for breakfast,
Q: Then he washed and dressed.
R: He ran all the way to the station and he arrived there just in time for the train.
S: It was half past seven and he got out of bed quickly.

The proper sequence should be
(a) PSQR (b) SQPR (c)SRQP (cl) RSQP

13. SI: The essence of democracy is the active participation of the people in government affairs.
S6: By and large it is the actual practice of our way of life.

P: When the people are active watchmen and participants, we have that fertile soil in which democracy flourishes.
Q: Our democracy is founded upon a faith in the overall judgement of the people as a whole.
R: When the people do not participate, the spirit of democracy dies.
S: When the people are honestly and clearly informed, their commonserise can be relied upon to carry the nation safely through any crisis. 

The proper sequence should be 
(a)RPSQ (b) PRSQ (c)SPQR (d) PSRQ

14. SI: Always remember that regular and frequent practice is essential if you Eire to learn to write well.
S6: If you keep your eyes and ears open, you will find plenty of things to write about.

P: Even with the most famous writers, inspiration is rare.
Q: Writing is ninety nine per cent hard work and one per cent inspiration, so the sooner you get into the habit of writing, the better.
R: It is no good waiting until you have an inspiration before you write.
S: You learn to write by writing.

The proper sequence should be
(a) SRPQ (b) RPSQ (c)SPRQ (cl) QPSR

15. SI: Human ways of life have steadily changed. 
S6: During the last few years change has been even more rapid than usual.

P: From that time to this, civilization has always been changing.
Q: About ten thousand years ago, man lived entirely by hunting.
R: Ancient Egypt - Greece - The Roman Empire - the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages - The Renaissance - the age of modern science and of modern nations - one has succeeded the other; and history has never stood still.
S: A settled civilized life began only when agriculture was discovered.

The proper sequence should be
(a)QSRP (6) QSPR (c)RSQP (cl) SPRQ

16. He disdained to notice the insult.
(a) was very proud (b) refused
(c) was unhappy (d) was too reluctant

17. He gave an evocative rendering of his recent poems, 
(a) thrilling (b) enchanting
(c) emotional (d) incantatory

18. Expeditious steps should be taken to complete the work in two weeks.
(a) unmerciful and punitive      (b) strict and forceful
(c) disciplinary                       (d) prompt and efficient 

19. Why did you make that flippant remark ?
(a) highly critical           (b) not showing deserved respect
(c) casual                     (d) indifferent

20. That is riot an occasion to make an impromptu speech.
(a) without preparation (6) thoughtless (c) improper (d) long and boring

21. The weavers have to do monotonous work.
(a) autonomous (6) irksome
(c) exhausting (d) repetitive

22. There is not a single word that is redundant in the report.
(a) unimportant (6) not needed
(c) bombastic (d) flowery

23. The country's economy is beginning to look up now.
(a) look clear (b) go down
(c) remain static (d) improve

24. The old man shows no signs of infirmity even though he is eighty,years old.
(a) lack of firmness (b) feebleness
(c) fickleness id) indolence

25. It needs an expert to decipher the secret message sent to the Army Officers during war time.
(a) swindle (b) decode
(c) make up (d) defy

26. Bana in Sanskrit, Lyly in English and Prasad in Hindi are celebrated for their florid style.
(a) ornate (b) rich
(c) refined  (d) rambling

27. My brother's zest for the new project was infectious.
(a) greed (b) enthusiasm
(c) attraction (d) fascination

28. The eyewitness testimony was incontrovertible.
(a) disputable (b) debatable
(c) unacceptable (d) unquestionable

29. His forthright behaviour shows that he is honest but he seems rude to some people.
(a) courteous (b) straightforward
(c) tactful (d) correct

30. The minister's speech was comprehensive and was greatly appreciated.
(a) praiseworthy (b) full of fine words
(c) covering all aspects (d) understandable
SPOTTING ERRORS
Directions (for the following 15 items):
Each question in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (6) and (c). Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your answer in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). 
If you find no error, your answer should be indicated as (d).

31. (a) I should do (b) the same (c) if I were in your place, (d) No error.

32. (a) He has been suffering  (b) with fever   (c) for the last six weeks    (d) No error.

33. (a) The examination begins
(b) from Monday
(c) next week (D) No error.

34. (a) My father says
(b) that one should always be sincere
(c) to his duties.
(d)No error.

35. (a) There has been
(b) a number of railway accidents (c) during the last month (d)No error.

36. (a) In spite of all efforts to eradicate malaria
(b) it still prevalent
(c) in many parts of India (d)No error

37. (a) It is only three days ago (b) that
(c) he has arrived (d)No error.

38. (a) He has lost (b) all what (c) I gave him (d) No error

39. (a) I have (b) no news from him (c) for a long time (d) No error

40. (a) Mahatma Gandhi's entire life
(b) was one unrelenting experiment
(c) on truth
(d) No error

41. (a) As the thieves ran out of the bank
(b) they got into the getaway car
(c) which was waiting with its engine running.
(d) No error. 

42. (a) He denied that he had not stolen my purse
(b) though I was quite sure
(c) that he had (d) No error

43. (a) The media of films has been accepted by ail (ib) as the most powerful force
(c) that influences the younger generation (d)No error

44. (a) The French Embassy employs him regularly
(b) as he knows to speak French
(c) No error

45. (a) How is it that neither your friend Mahesh
(b) nor his brother Ramesh
(c) have protested against this injustice
(d) No error.

ORDERING OF WORDS IN A SENTENCE
Directions (for the following 13 items):
Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the parts of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled P, Q, R and S. Given below each sentence are four sequences namely (a), (b) , (c) and (cl). You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and select the proper sequence and mark in your Answer Sheet accordingly.

46. P. It was true that the pet dog Q. would never sleep anywhere R. we once had
S. except on sofa

The proper sequence should be
(a)PQRS (b) SPQR (c)RPQS (d) PRQS

47. P. Recently, containing memorable letters of
Churchill
Q. a book
R. has been published S. by a reputed publisher 

The proper sequence should be 
(a)QRPS (b) QPRS (c)PQRS (d) RPQS

48. P. As the situation has changed, since we last
discussed this matter
Q. it was best to contact you
R. it appeared to me
S. without losing time

The proper sequence should be
(a)PQRS (b) PRSQ (c)PRQS (d) SPRQ

49. After the awarding speeches P. the prizes given
Q. and
R. had been delivered S. I got up to address the gathering 

The proper sequence should be 
(a)SRQP (6) SPQR (c)RSQP (d) RQPS

50. P. The management having agreed Q. the workers called off the strike R. to increase their wages
S. and returned to work

The proper sequence should be
(a)PQRS (b) PSRQ (c)PRQS (d) SPQR

51. All religions are
P. to advance the cause of peace
Q. in a holy partnership
R. justice and freedom
S. bound together

The proper sequence should be
(a)PQRS (6) PRQS (c)SPQR (d) SQPR

52. The natives of Caribbean P. regarded the papaya Q. because of its ability R. as a magic tree
S. to keep them healthy

The proper sequence should be
(a) PRSQ (b) PRQS (c)RPQS (d) RPSQ

53. The Indian woman wants
P. in a male dominated society
Q. as an equal partner
R. and it is not too much to demand
S. her rightful place

The proper sequence should be
(a)SRPQ (b) RSQP (c)SQPR (d) QPSR

54. This is a letter
P. by a young lady
Q. who was lately wounded in a duel
R. written passionately
S. wherein she laments the misfortune of a gentleman 

The proper sequence should be 
(a)SRPQ (b) RSQP (c)RPSQ (d) QPSR

55. It is
P. for a man
Q. when he accompanies a lady
R. an accepted custom
S. to open the door

The proper sequence should be
(a)PSQR (b) RPSQ (c)PSRQ (d) RPQS 

56. We
P. agreed with
Q. the manner in which you said it
R. but we objected to
S. what you said

The proper sequence should be
(a) PSQR (b) SPQR (c)SPRQ (d) PSRQ

57. P. It is a wonder that migratory birds Q. without ever getting lost
R. always manage to find their home S. flying thousands of kilometres 

The proper sequence should be 
(a)PQRS (b) SPQR (c)SQRP (d) PSQR

58. He asked me
P. would telephone him Q. as soon as I R. if I
S. reach home

The proper sequence should be
(a) PSQR (b) QPRS (c)RPQS (d) SRQP

ANTONYMS
Directions (for the following 12 items)
In each of these items a word has been underlined followed by words listed (a), (6), (c) and (d), Choose the appropriate word most opposite in meaning to the underlined word and mark your Answer Sheet accordingly.

59. His partners felt that it was a viable business proposition.
(a) enviable (b) unenviable
(c) inviolable (d) impracticable

60. The usual adulation of officers must end.
(a) back-biting (b) condemnation
(c) flattery (d) praise

61. There is an obscure cave on the other side of the hill.
(a) well-known (b) infamous
(c) notorious (d) admired

62. Her impetuous behaviour was attributed to her upbringing.
(a) rash (b) poised
(c) sluggish (d) aggressive

63. All these measures will augment employment, 
(a) diminish (b) circumscribe
(c) restrain (d) constrain

64. The two friends were distinct in everything; dress, manners, hair-style and food-habits.
(a) opposite (6) different
(c) uniform (d) similar

65. The man at the gate had a forbidding appearance, (a) handsome (b) lenient
(c) filthy (d) mild

66. This is a trivial matter.
(a) important (b) small
(c) easy (d) difficult

67. Everybody called it a lavish party (a) big (b) wasteful (c) frugal (d) expensive

68. Popular fiction in a sense has enriched world literature.
(a) devalued (6) undervalued
(c) depreciated (d) impoverished

69. Her manner has always been hostile to him.
(a) sincere (b) friendly
(c) fair (d) good

70. The speaker was irritated with his puerile questions.
(a) impertinent (b) serious
(c) inane (d) irrelevant

COMPREHENSIONS
Directions (for the following 18 items):
In this section there are six short passages. Each passage is followed by questions based on the passage. Read each passage and answer the questions that follow.

Passage 1
Galileo desired to use his telescope to make more discoveries in the heavens, but his instrument was too small. He made another and larger telescope which magnified eight times, and then another which magnified thirty times, and pointed it at the moon. His heart leaped with joy, for he saw what no human eye had ever before seen — ranges of mountains, deep hollows, and broad plains ! He turned his telescope on the planets, and found they appeared with disks like the moon at a quarter full. He turned it on the Milky Way, and beheld innumerable tiny stars.

71. Galileo made several telescopes because
(a) he needed all of them to explore the heavens
(b) he wanted to compare the findings obtained from different telescopes
(c) the earlier ones he made were not powerful enough
(d) only some of them could magnify the stars

72. When Galileo saw what no human eye had ever before seen he
(a) was overjoyed (b) was shocked 
(c)   felt humble         (d) was very proud

Passage 2
My father was passionate about two things : education and socialism. He was himself a born teacher. Indeed, he could never restrain himself from teaching, and as a small boy I was frequently embarrassed by his desire to instruct everybody - people in railway carriages, for instance - though I realized even then that it was an innocent desire, quite free from vanity. He was equally ready to receive instruction. Education, to men of his generation and temperament, was something it has largely ceased to be nowadays. It was the great golden gateway to the enchanted realms of the mind.

73. The author wants us to know that his father
(а) was a school teacher
(б) was an educationist and socialist
(c) used to travel a lot
(d) loved teaching

74. The author often felt embarrassed by the behaviour of his father because
(a) he taught badly
(b) he taught even at odd places
(c) he wanted to show off his learning {d) he lost self-control while teaching

75. To the generation of the writer's father, education was
(а) an old fashioned enterprise
(b) the result of good teaching
(c) an exploration of the world of imagination
(d) one aspect of socialism

76. From the passage it is clear that the author
(а) loved and admired his father
(b) disapproved his father's love of teaching
(c) thought of him as vain
(d) considered his father's education inadequate

Passage 3
We started looking on the ground for blood, hair, or a drag mark that would lead us to the deer killed by the tiger. We had proceeded a hundred yards, examining every foot of the ground, and going dead slow, when Mothi, just as I turned my head to look at him, started backwards, screaming as he did so. Then he whipped round and ran for dear life, beating the air with his hands as if warding off a swarm of bees and continuing to scream as he ran. The sudden and piercing scream of a human being in a jungle where a moment before all has been silent is terrifying to hear. Instinctively I knew what had happened. With Ms eyes fixed on the ground, looking for the blood or hair of the kill, Mothi had failed to see where he was going, and had walked towards the tiger.

77. Mothi and the narrator were scanning the ground because
(a) they were looking for the tiger
(b) the forest was full of unpleasant surprises
(c) they were trying to discover the tiger's footprints
(d) they were looking for marks left by the tiger's prey

78. Mothi began to scream when he
(а) was attacked by a swarm of bees
(b) was frightened by the sight of blood
(c) came face to face with the tiger
(d) stumbled on the tiger

79. In the context of the passage 'kill' means
(а) the act of killing
(б) an animal killed by the tiger
(c) a human being killed by the tiger 
(d) a wounded tiger

80. Before Mothi screamed, the jungle was
(a) quiet (b) dark
(c) noisy (d) terrifying

Passage 4
When Ibbotson returned from Pauri, I told him of the leopard's habit of going down the road between Rudraprayag and Golabrai on an average once in every five days, I convinced him that the only hope I now had of shooting the man-eater was by sitting over the road for ten nights; for, the leopard would be almost certain to use the road at least once during the period. Ibbotson agreed to my plan reluctantly, for I had already sat up many nights, and he was afraid that another ten nights on end would be too much for me.

81. Ibbotson was reluctant to agree to the narrator's plan because he was -afraid that
(a) the leopard would kill him
(b) the narrator would become very tired
(c) the narrator would kill the leopard
(d) the leopard might not come

82. The narrator wanted to
(a) shoot the leopard (b) see the leopard
(c) capture the leopard (d) frighten the leopard 

Passage 5
Many poor farmers had been compelled to take up indigo cultivation when the British settlers were given the right to purchase and cultivate land in India. Many whites, therefore, either acquired land or advanced loans to poor farmers and pressurised them to forsake the farming of food-grains and other cash crops for indigo cultivation. Indigo export to Europe was lucrative for the British settlers who held a monopoly of this business. Within a few years, most of the fertile lands had undergone forcible indigo cultivation, resulting in a famine situation in Bengal. When the farmers declined to cultivate indigo, they were tortured, jailed and even killed.

83. The poor fanners in Bengal took up indigo cultivation because
(а) the government encouraged them to do so
(b) it was a money earning crop
(c) they were forced to do so
(d) this was the only crop that would grow in that region

84. British settlers bought land in Bengal in order to
(а) introduce cultivation of cash crops in India
(b) cultivate indigo
(c) settle down in India
{d) promote export business in Bengal

85. Indigo export was profitable for the British settlers because
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