FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION-2026 FOR RECRUITMENT
TO POSTS IN BS-17 UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
ENGLISH (PRECIS & COMPOSITION)
Roll Number
TIME ALLOWED: THREE HOURS
(PART-I MCQs) : MAXIMUM 30 MINUTES
(PART-I MCQs) MAXIMUM MARKS: 20
(PART-II) MAXIMUM MARKS: 80
NOTE: (i) First attempt PART-I (MCQs) on separate OMR Answer Sheet which shall be taken back after 30 minutes.
(ii) Overwriting/cutting of the options/answers will not be given credit.
(iii) There is no negative marking. All MCQs must be attempted.
PART-I (MCQs)(COMPULSORY)
Q1 (i) Select the best option/answer and fill in the appropriate Box on the OMR Answer Sheet. (20×1=20)
(ii) Answers given anywhere else, other than OMR Answer Sheet, will not be considered.
(a) Choose the word that is nearly most similar in meaning to the capitalized words.
1 ENIGMA
(A) Stature (B) Axiom (C) Adage (D) Conundrum
2 HACKNEYED
(A) Unplanned (B) Intriguing (C) Stubborn (D) Cliched
3 PANACEA
(A) Elixir (B) Destitution (C) Deprivation (D) Predicament
4 CAJOLE
(A) Lure (B) Intimidate (C) Harass (D) Tease
5 INSCRUTABLE
(A) Unattainable (B) Mysterious (C) Obstinate (D) Vigilant
6 REVERIE
(A) Palimpsest (B) Phantom (C) Daydream (D) Cameo
7 SUMPTUOUS
(A) Delirious (B) Gorgeous (C) Perilous (D) Luxurious
8 APPALL
(A) Delirious (B) Covered (C) Dismay (D) Confuse
9 ABJECT
(A) Indigent (B) Desire (C) Despondent (D) Extreme
10 BESPOKE
(A) Tailored (B) Quiet (C) Gentle (D) Handsome
(b) Choose the word that is nearly most opposite in meaning to the capitalized words.
11 CANDOUR
(A) Rebuttal (B) Evasiveness (C) Restraint (D) Candidness
12 COLLOQUIAL
(A) Vernacular (B) Informal (C) Literary (D) Quarrelsome
13 EUPHORIA
(A) Ecstasy (B) Obnoxious (C) Nostalgic (D) Melancholy
14 SURROGATE
(A) Proxy (B) Soothing (C) Forbidden (D) Real
15 OBLIVIOUS
(A) Ignorant (B) Conscious (C) Sober (D) Flamboyant
16 AMELIORATE
(A) Impair (B) Rectify (C) Precipitate (D) Renew
17 BENIGN
(A) Amiable (B) Effective (C) Bossy (D) Malicious
18 CACOPHONY
(A) Noise (B) Disaster (C) Stillness (D) Rattle
19 DOLEFUL
(A) Witty (B) Rich (C) Empty (D) Vivacious
20 ELAN
(A) Inelegance (B) Stupidity (C) Obscure (D) Despair
ENGLISH (PRECIS & COMPOSITION) 2026
PART-II
NOTE: (i) Part-II is to be attempted on the separate Answer Book.
(ii) Attempt ALL questions from PART-II.
(iii) All the parts (if any) of each Question must be attempted at one place instead of at different places.
(iv) Write Q. No. in the Answer Book in accordance with Q. No. in the Q.Paper.
(v) No Page/Space be left blank between the answers. All the blank pages of Answer Book must be crossed.
(vi) Extra attempt of any question or any part of the question will not be considered.
Q 2 Write a précis (100 words) of the following passage and suggest a suitable title. (20)
One of the outstanding features of the century has been the improvement of living of working man, greater political power, more wealth and leisure, and better facilities for health, security and education. In early civilizations, most communities were sharply divided into two classes, those who labored and those who did not. The small number of rulers – kings, priests, military leaders – lived in great comfort, and did very little work. The vast majority of the population enjoyed very few comforts, did lot of work, and had scarcely any political power. In some societies, there was an even more wretched class, the slaves, who had no rights at all. The Industrial Revolution of Europe led to the production of vast quantities of goods, and workers began to be dissatisfied with their poverty. The factory owners needed skilled workers, and gradually they realized that they must show goodwill to their workforce, in order to stay in business. As in many other reforms, some enlightenment slowly spread that workers were entitled to some consideration. Since men were free to work for any master they chose, good master soon had the pick of the workers and old-fashioned employers found themselves with a factory full of lower-grade workforce. Such a situation soon led to an all-round improvement in standards, and good employers tried to raise working conditions still higher. These improvements were speeded up by the increased organization of workers in Trade Union movements, particularly in low-standard factories, where the owner often had to deal with strike action by dissatisfied workers. Now that the working classes are getting better and better working conditions, the need to strike has lessened considerably; and employers and workers alike have come to realize that they depend on each other for their livelihood.
Q 3 Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end. (20)
The provided passage introduces a charming yet dissatisfied woman born into a modest clerical family without wealth or a dowry, who married a minor civil servant. Though she possessed natural elegance and wit, she deeply resented her humble living conditions, such as her shabby apartment and simple meals, constantly tormented by daydreams of lavish drawing rooms, exquisite meals, elegant company, and fine jewels. For the complete and unabridged text of the passage, please consult the examination paper or reference materials.
Q 4 Re-write any FIVE sentences after correcting them. (10)
1 It is a fact that I almost drowned makes me very careful about water safety whenever I go swimming.
2 The amount they receive in wages is greater than twenty years ago.
3 Playing a game regularly is better than to read books always.
4 It is one of the best speeches that ever been made in the General Assembly.
5 Ever since they had heard about the burglaries in neighbourhood they kept on the light all the time and close all the doors and the windows very carefully.
6 When Susan realised that all of her bottles of the mail polish dries out she decides to keep them for decoration.
7 It was late in night and a boy rode his bike along the path when suddenly he stopped in shock as his head lamp was not working anymore.
8 The girl told the conductor that she lost her train ticket and knew not how she would get home.
Q 5 Punctuate the following paragraph. (05)
(a) The provided paragraph regarding scientific language and methodology can be found in full in the referenced source material. In summary, it discusses how scientific language shares ordinary language’s susceptibility to ambiguity and imprecision, and notes that scientific theories are rarely built or tested through strictly rigid logical steps alone, often incorporating intuition, aesthetics, and philosophical commitments alongside standard methodology.
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