FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION – 2010 FOR RECRUITMENT TO POSTS IN BS-17 UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENGLISH (PRECIS & COMPOSITION)

TIME ALLOWED: THREE HOURS
PART-I(MCQS): MAXIMUM 30 MINUTES
PART-I (MCQS) MAXIMUM MARKS = 20
PART-II MAXIMUM MARKS = 80

PART – I (MCQs)

NOTE: (i) First attempt PART-I (MCQ) on separate Answer Sheet which shall be taken back after 10 minutes.
(ii) Overwriting/cutting of the options/answers will not be given credit.

Q.1. (a) Pick the word that is nearly similar in meaning to the capitalized word. (5) (Do any FIVE). Extra attempt of any Part of the question will not be considered.
(i) ACRIMONIOUS (a) Bitter (b) Provocative (c ) Cheap (d) Volatile
(ii) CALLIGRAPHY (a) Computers (b) Handwriting (c ) Blood pressure (d) Brain waves
(iii) UNEQUIVOCAL (a) Variable (b) Plain (c ) Unmistakable (d) Negligent
(iv) DEMISE (a) Conclude (b) End (c ) Affection (d) Death
(v) INCENDIARY (a) Happy (b) Sneer (c ) Causing fire (d) Jolly
(vi) TOUCHSTONE (a) Remind (b) A hall (c ) At rest (d) Criterion
(vii) VOID (a) Emptiness (b) Lea (c ) Anger (d) Trick
(viii) ESSAY (a) Direct (b) Compose (c ) Attempt (d) Suppose

(b) Indicate the most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters: (5) (Do only FIVE). Extra attempt of any Part of the question will not be considered.
(i) IGNOBLE (a) Lowly (b) Vile (c ) Good (d) Noble
(ii) MELANCHOLY (a) Sorrowful (b) Happy (c ) Forbidden (d) Brisk
(iii) OBLITERATE (a) Preserve (b) Destroy (c ) Ravage (d) Design
(iv) ALLY (a) Alloy (b) Foe (c ) Partner (d) Accessory
(v) VULGAR (a) Coarse (b) Gross (c ) Exquisite (d) Obscene
(vi) PRETEND (a) Sham (b) Substantiate (c ) Feign (d) Fabricate
(vii) LIBERTY (a) Permission (b) Licence (c ) Serfdom (d) Bound
(viii) CONSCIENTIOUS (a) Uncorrupt (b) Honourable (c ) Principled (d) Profligate

PART – II

NOTE: (i) PART-II is to be attempted on the separate Answer Book.
(ii) Attempt ALL questions from PART-II.

Q.2 Write a precis of the following passage in about 100 words and suggest a suitable title. (20+5)
Of all the characteristics of ordinary human nature envy is the most unfortunate; not only does the envious person wish to inflict misfortune and do so whenever he can with impunity, but he is also himself rendered unhappy by envy. Instead of deriving pleasure from what he has, he derives pain from what others have. If he can, he deprives others of their advantages, which to him is as desirable as it would be to secure the same advantages himself. If this passion is allowed to run riot it becomes fatal to all excellence, and even to the most useful exercise of exceptional skill. Why should a medical man go to see his patients in a car when the labourer has to walk to his work? Why should the scientific investigator be allowed to spend his time in a warm room when others have to face the inclemency of the elements? Why should a man who possesses some rare talent of great importance to the world be saved from the drudgery of his own housework? To such questions envy finds no answer. Fortunately, however, there is in human nature a compensating passion, namely that of admiration. Whoever wishes to increase human happiness must wish to increase admiration and to diminish envy. What cure is there for envy? For the saint there is the cure of selflessness, though even in the case of saints envy of other saints is by no means impossible. But, leaving saints out of account, the only cure for envy in the case of ordinary men and women is happiness, and the difficulty is that envy is itself a terrible obstacle to happiness. But the envious man may say: ‘What is the good of telling me that the cure for envy is happiness? I cannot find happiness while I continue to feel envy, and you tell me that I cannot cease to be envious until I find happiness.’ But real life is never so logical as this. Merely to realize the causes of one’s own envious feeling is to take a long step towards curing them.

Q.3. Read the following passage and answers the questions that follow. (20)
And still it moves. The words of Galileo, murmured when the tortures of the Inquisition had driven him to recant the Truth he knew, apply in a new way to our world today. Sometimes, in the knowledge of all that has been discovered, all that has been done to make life on the planet happier and more worthy, we may be tempted to settle down to enjoy our heritage. That would, indeed, be the betrayal of our trust. These men and women of the past have given everything — comfort, time, treasure, peace of mind and body, life itself — that we might live as we do. The challenge to each one of us is to carry on their work for the sake of future generations. The adventurous human mind must not falter. Still must we question the old truths and work for the new ones. Still must we risk scorn, cynicism, neglect, loneliness, poverty, persecution, if need be. We must shut our ears to the easy voice which tells us that ‘human nature will never alter’ as an excuse for doing nothing to make life more worthy. Thus will the course of the history of mankind go onward, and the world we know move into a new splendour for those who are yet to be.

Questions:
(i) What made Galileo recant the Truth he knew?
(ii) What is the heritage being alluded to in the first paragraph?
(iii) What does the ‘betrayal of our trust’ imply?
(iv) Why do we need to question the old truths and work for the new ones?
(v) Explain the words or expressions as highlighted/underlined in the passage.

Q.4. Write a comprehensive note (250 – 300 words) on any ONE of the following: (20)
(i) When flatterers get together, the devil goes to dinner.
(ii) The impossible is often the untried.
(iii) A civil servant is a public servant.
(iv) Internet — a blessing or a bane.
(v) Hope is the buoy of life.

Q.5. (a) Use ONLY FIVE of the following in sentences which illustrate their meaning: (5) Extra attempt of any Part of the question will not be considered.
(i) Make for. (ii) Yeoman’s service. (iii) Discretion is the better part of valour. (iv) A casting vote. (v) Look down upon. (vi) Iconoclast. (vii) Out of the wood. (viii) A swan song

Q.5. (b) Use ONLY FIVE of the following pairs of words in sentences which illustrate their meaning: (10) Extra attempt of any Part of the question will not be considered.
(i) Adverse, Averse (ii) Maize, Maze (iii) Medal, Meddle (iv) Imperious, Imperial (v) Veracity, Voracity (vi) Allusion, Illusion (vii) Ordnance, Ordinance (viii) Willing, Wilful

Q.6. (a) Correct ONLY FIVE of the following: (5) Extra attempt of any Part of the question will not be considered.
(i) This house is built of bricks and stones.
(ii) The climate of Pakistan is better than England?
(iii) He swore by God.
(iv) You ought to have regarded him your benefactor.
(v) My friend is very ill, I hope he will soon die.
(vi) He is waiting for better and promising opportunity.
(vii) When I shall see her I will deliver her your gift.
(viii) Many a sleepless nights she spent.

Q.6. (b) Change the narration from direct to indirect or indirect to direct speech. (Do only FIVE) Extra attempt of any Part of the question will not be considered. (5)
(i) On Monday he said, “My son is coming today.”
(ii) They wanted to know where he was going the following week.
(iii) He said, “Did she go yesterday?”
(iv) ‘By God’, he said, “I do not know her nickname.”
(v) He says that we are to meet him at the station.
(vi) He said, “I don’t know the way. Ask the old man sitting on the gate.”
(vii) My father prayed that I would recover from my illness.
(viii) He said, “How will you manage it?”