Sunday, October 18, 2015

SSC Stenographer Question Paper 2014 Solved Paper (Exam Held On: 14-09-2014)

English Language and Comprehension 
Directions (1-10) : In these questions, some parts of the sentences have errors and some are correct. Find out which part of a sentence has an error corresponding to the appropriate letter (a), (b), (c). If a sentence is free from error to corresponding (d) in the Answer Sheet. 
1. I am/(a) fond off/(b) sweets. /(c) No error(d) (Ans : b)

2. Most of the patients/(a) who were diagnosed before 1996/(b) as having AIDS has already died. /(c) No error(d) (Ans : c)

3. Except for your help/(a) I would have failed/(b) to complete this project. /(c) No error(d) (Ans : a)

4. The clerks/(a) in this office/(b) work, hardly. /(c) No error(d) (Ans : c)

5. Mrs. Rao and her family/(a) left/(b) this place a month ago. /(c) No error(d) (Ans : d)

6. The advertisement/(a) attracted all the/(b) passer-bys. /(c) No error(d) (Ans : c)

7. If the bus hadn't/(a) broken down /(b) we will be at home now. /(c) No error(d) (Ans : c)

8. According to my opinion/(a) she is the best/(b) candidate for job. /(c) No error(d) (Ans : c)

9. By and large/(a) people are judged by/(b) how much they earn. /(c) No error(d) (Ans : d)

10. He is working/(a) on his project/(b) when his computer crashed. /(c) No error(d) (Ans : a)

Directions (11-15) : In these questions, sentences are given with blanks to be filled in with an appropriate word(s). Four alternatives are suggested for each question. Choose the correct alternative out of the four. 
11. Throughout the years, Rita has………. a style of her own. 
(a) evolved (b) dissolve (c) devolve (d) resolve (Ans : a)

12. His act was not………. by anyone. 
(a) approval (b) approving (c) approve (d) approved (Ans : d)

13. Smoking in public has been………. by law. 
(a) prohibited (b) prevented (c) disallowed (d) forbidden (Ans : a)

14. Do not be………. of other's progress. 
(a) proud (b) possess (c) fascinate (d) jealous (Ans : d)

15. You will have to account for all the………. incurred during your tenure. 
(a) losses (b) lose (c) looses (d) lost (Ans : a)

Directions (16-20) : In these questions, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the given word and mark it in the answer-sheet. 
16. SEGREGATE 
(a) Disconnect (b) Seclude (c) Disunite (d) Separate (Ans : d)

17. SEDENTARY 
(a) Inactive (b) Unmoving (c) Fixed (d) Still (Ans : a)

18. TRANSIENT 
(a) Ephemeral (b) Unstable (c) Irregular (d) Temporary (Ans : a)

19. BAFFLE 
(a) Confuse (b) Deceive (c) Sorry (d) Reveal (Ans : a)

20. BANISH 
(a) Force (b) Trick (c) Expel (d) Polish (Ans : c)

Directions (21-25) : In these questions, choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word and mark it in the Answer Sheet. 
21. PREDOMINANT 
(a) Ordinary (b) Insignificant (c) Superior (d) Extreme (Ans : b)

22. DISTINCTIVE 
(a) Similar (b) Unique (c) Recognizable (d) Vague (Ans : d)

23. DESECRATED 
(a) Respect (b) Impious (c) Defile (d) Pollute (Ans : a)

24. FIT 
(a) Delicate (b) Undesirable (c) Unhealthy (d) Harmful (Ans : c)

25. REJOICE 
(a) Deceive (b) Lament (c) Dislike (d) Refuse (Ans : b)

Directions (26-30) : In these questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase which is bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase and mark it in the Answer Sheet. 
26. To smell a rat. 
(a) Smell of a rat (b) To hope even when there is no reason for it 
(c) To discover a new trend (d) To suspect something wrong (Ans : d)

27. He charged into the class. 
(a) took charge of the class (b) charged the class 
(c) came slowly (d) came rushing in (Ans : d)

28. If you want to join army, you need to be as fit as a fiddle. 
(a) skillful (b) healthy (c) brave (d) lean (Ans : b)

29. John gets the right answer before anyone else. He's really quick on the trigger. 
(a) good at handling guns (b) a fast runner 
(c) quick to respond (d) making mistakes (Ans : c)

30. The two brothers are at daggers drawn. 
(a) indifferent to each other (b) deal in daggers 
(c) on good terms (d) hostile to each other (Ans : d)

Directions (31-35) : In these questions, the first and the last sentences of the passage are numbered 1 and 6. The rest of the passage is split into four parts and named P, Q, R and S. These four parts are not given in their proper order. Read the sentence and find out which of the four combinations is correct. Then find the correct answer and indicate it in the Answer Sheet. 
31. 1. The minister advanced towards the podium. 
P. Two armed youths had entered the hall through a side door. 
Q. People began running for cover. 
R. Suddenly, a loud cry was heard. 
S. They began firing randomly at the crowd. 
6. One of the guards who had been shot at, slumped to the ground. 
(a) R P S Q (b) S R P Q 
(c) Q S P R (d) P R Q S (Ans : a)

32. 1. Lying in bed would be 
P. an altogether perfect 
Q. if only one had a co loured pencil 
R. and supreme experience 
S. long enough 
6. to draw on the ceiling 
(a) P R S Q (b) P R Q S 
(c) S P R Q (d) S P Q R (Ans : b)

33. 1. People 
P. do not think 
Q. who live in cities and towns 
R. any connection 
S. that they have 
6. with the forest 
(a) P S R Q (b) Q P R S 
(c) Q P S R (d) P Q S R (Ans : c)

34. 1. India is a land of villages. 
P. The poor are extremely poor, living in wretched conditions. 
Q. In fact, about three-fourth of our people live in rural areas. 
R. Unfortunately, the state of things there is as bad as possible. 
S. So there can be no improvement of the country unless the villages are improved first. 
6. So they drag on a miserable existence, more dead than alive. 
(a) S P Q R (b) R S P Q 
(c) P R S Q (d) Q S P R (Ans : d)

35. 1. 'Flash mob' is originally a disparaging term for especially incorrigible Australian female convicts. 
P. For years these were mostly sweet, goofy events 
Q. A New York journalist came up with a cross between performing art and satire 
R. This phrase got another, unrelated life in 2003 
S. In which 100 or more people would suddenly converge in a public place 
6. The "mobs" would briefly sing on dance, then disperse 
(a) Q R S P (b) P R Q S 
(c) R Q S P (d) P Q R S (Ans : c)

Directions (36-45) : In these questions, a sentence has been given in Active/Passive Voice. Out of the four which one expresses the same sentence in Passive/Active Voice and mark your answer in the answer-sheet. 
36. It is time to close down the business. 
(a) It is time for closing the business down. 
(b) It is time to be closed down the business. 
(c) It is time that the business closes down. 
(d) It is time for the business to be closed down. (Ans : d)

37. Several trees were uprooted by the tornado. 
(a) The tornado had uprooted several trees. 
(b) The tornado will uproot several trees. 
(c) The tornado uprooted several trees. 
(d) The tornado uproots several trees. (Ans : c)

38. Our army had been defeated. 
(a) The enemy have been defeated by our army. 
(b) The enemy have defeated our army. 
(c) The enemy has been defeated by our army. 
(d) The enemy has defeated our army. (Ans : d)

39. The girl was singing a song. 
(a) A song was sung by the girl. 
(b) A song was being sung by the girl. 
(c) A song had been sung by the girl. 
(d) A song has been sung by the girl. (Ans : b)

40. Why were you punished by him? 
(a) Why have you been punished you? 
(b) What is the cause he punished you? 
(c) Why did he punish you? 
(d) For what purpose did he punish you? (Ans : c)

41. We are living a hard life. 
(a) A hard life is being lived by us. 
(b) The hard life was lived by us. 
(c) We are lived by a hard life. 
(d) A hard life was being lived by us. (Ans : a)

42. The family chose a kitten as a pet. 
(a) A kitten is chosen to have as a pet by the family. 
(b) A kitten was chosen by the family as a pet. 
(c) A kitten was chosen by the family to have as a pet. 
(d) A kitten will be chosen as a pet by the family. (Ans : b)

43 Maharashtrians speak Marathi. 
(a) Marathi is spoken by Maharashtrians. 
(b) Marathi was spoken by Maharashtrians. 
(c) Marathi has been spoken by Maharashtrians. 
(d) Marathi have been spoken by Maharashtrians. (Ans : a)

44. A new hospital has been built near the airport. 
(a) They are building- a new hospital near the airport. 
(b) They built a new hospital near the airport. 
(c) They build a new hospital near the airport. 
(d) They have built a new hospital near the airport. (Ans : d)

45. Boys play football. 
(a) Football played by boys. 
(b) Football was played by boys. 
(c) Football is being played by boys. 
(d) Football is played by boys. (Ans : d)

Directions (46-55) : In these questions, a part of the sentence is bold. Below are given alternatives to the bold part at (a), (b), (c) which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case 'No improvement' is needed. your answer is (d). Mark your answer in the Answer Sheet. 
46. He had rashes on his skin, so he went to the dermatologist. 
(a) to the specialist (b) to the opthalmologist 
(c) to the paediatrics (d) No improvement (Ans : d)

47. Despite being tried her best to persuade her husband to give up smoking, she could not attain success. 
(a) Despite trying her best (b) Despite of her best 
(c) Inspite of being tried her best (d) No improvement (Ans : a)

48. The prince has been slayed his rival. 
(a) has slew (b) will slew (c) has slain (d) No improvement (Ans : c)

49. He has infested a good deal of money in bank stock. 
(a) invested (b) fested (c) debted (d) No improvement (Ans : a)

50. Such discrepancies can be founded in the work culture of other countries. 
(a) could have been founded (b) can be found 
(c) could be founded (d) No improvement (Ans : b)

51. The powerful desire brought downfall to many rulers. 
(a) intense desire (b) desire for power 
(c) fatal desire (d) No improvement (Ans : b)

52. I am not knowing the answer, so I omitted the question. 
(a) had not knowing (b) am not known 
(c) did not know (d) No improvement (Ans : c)

53. India's outlook on the world is composing of these various elements. 
(a) is composed of (b) is composed by 
(c) is composing with (d) No improvement (Ans : a)

54. Jack Nolan, whose novel the films are based, will appear in the second part. 
(a) Jack Nolan, on whose novel the films are based, will appear in the second part. 
(b) Jack Nolan, on whose novel the films are based on, will appear in the second part. 
(c) Jack Nolan, whose novel the films based, will appear In the second part. 
(d) No improvement (Ans : a)

55. There was no point crying over spilled milk. 
(a) hot milk (b) cold milk (c) skimmed milk (d) No improvement (Ans : d)

Directions (56-65) : In these questions, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect form. Out of the four alternatives suggested. select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect/Direct form and mark your answer in the Answer Sheet. 
56. She refused to clean her room. 
(a) "I will never be cleaning my room", she said. 
(b) "I will not clean my room today", she exclaimed. 
(c) "I am not going to clean my room", she said. 
(d) "She will not clean her room", she said. (Ans : c)

57. Father said to Anil, "Avoid bad company". 
(a) Father advised Anil to avoid bad company. 
(b) Father advised Anil that it is bad company which had to be avoided. 
(c) Father asked Anil that bad company should be avoided. 
(d) Father suggested to Anil if he could avoid bad company. (Ans : a)

58. Frank said, "Will you have lunch with Mark" ? 
(a) Frank said whether I have taken lunch with Mark. 
(b) Frank said I could have had lunch with Mark. 
(c) Frank asked me if I would have lunch with Mark. 
(d) Frank asked if I shall lunch with Mark. (Ans : c)

59. She told me, "Please send my bills". 
(a) She requested me that send her bills. 
(b) She requested to send my bills. 
(c) She requested me, please send her bills. 
(d) She requested me to send her bills. (Ans : d)

60. He said to me, "Will you mind lending me your book today?" 
(a) He asked me whether I would mind lending him my book that day. 
(b) He said me whether I would mind to lend me his book yesterday. 
(c) He told me whether he would mind to lend him his book that day. 
(d) He asked me whether I will mind to lend him my book today. (Ans : a)

61. Ashok said, "Subhash had already gone to the bank". 
(a) Ashok said that Subhash has already went to the bank. 
(b) Ashok said that Subhash had already gone to the bank. 
(c) Ashok said that Subhash went already to the bank. 
(d) Ashok said that Subhash had been going already to the bank. (Ans : b)

62. "Are these books for sale" ? said the children to the bookseller. 
(a) The children asked the bookseller whether those books were for sale. 
(b) The children asked to the bookseller whether those books were for sale. 
(c) The children asked to the bookseller if those books are for sale. 
(d) The children asked the books sellers if these books were for sale. (Ans : a)

63. She said to her daughter, "Let us go out for a walk". 
(a) She said to her daughter that they go out for a walk. 
(b) She suggested to her daughter that they go out for a walk. 
(c) She proposed to her daughter that they should go out for a walk. 
(d) She said to her daughter let us go out for a walk. (Ans : b)

64. "Will you carry my briefcase for me please, James" ? said Richard. 
(a) Richard proposed to James to carry your briefcase. 
(b) Richard requested James to carry his briefcase. 
(c) Richard ordered James to carry my briefcase. 
(d) Richard told James please carry his briefcase. (Ans : b)

65. I said "Go home". 
(a) I told her to went home. (b) I said her to go home. 
(c) I told her to go home. (d) I told to her to go home. (Ans : c)

Directions (66-75) : In these questions in the following two passages- some of the words have been left out. Read the passages carefully and choose the correct answer to each question out of the four alternatives and fill in the blanks. 
PASSAGE-I One day at school, Newton was …(56)… by a …(57)… boy who was higher up in class than he was himself. The kicking …(58)… Newton very …(59)…, and he turned on the big boy and gave him a good …(70)… He also decided to beat him at …(71)… and this made him start to work …(72)… After that he …(73)… at his studies, and so …(74)… the big boy who kicked Newton did a …(75)… to the world. 

76. (a) kicked (b) stolen (c) played (d) laughed (Ans : a)

77. (a) friendly (b) slow (c) bigger (d) higher (Ans : c)

78. (a) happened (b) made (c) caused (d) felt (Ans : b)

79. (a) pleased (b) hungry (c) happy (d) sad (Ans : d)

80. (a) pat (b) smile (c) handshake (d) beating (Ans : d)

81. (a) needle work (b) lessons (c) cooking (d) sitting (Ans : b)

82. (a) badly (b) quick (c) harder (d) slowly (Ans : c)

83. (a) fell (b) climbed (c) failed (d) improved (Ans : d)

84. (a) sometimes (b) perhaps (c) until (d) could (Ans : b)

85. (a) job (b) good (c) service  (d) repair (Ans : c)

PASSAGE -II People tend to …(86)… possessions, sometimes without being aware of doing so. Indeed they get a …(87)… surprise when they find something useful. Those who never have to change house become …(88)… collectors of clutter. They leave …(89)… objects in drawers, cupboards and attics for years. They …(90)… believe that they may need. those very things one day. But, collecting as a …(91)… hobby is quite different as well as advantageous. It …(92)… relaxation for leisure hours. One does not need to go out …(93)… search of entertainment. Moreover, one gets to meet …(94)… collectors. So, ones …(95)… of friends grows. 

96. (a) mass (b) lose (c) discard (d) amass (Ans : d)

97. (a) pleasant (b) stunning (c) frustrating (d) disgusting (Ans : a)

98. (a) indiscriminate (b) useless (c) happy (d) organised (Ans : a)

99. (a) undeserving (b) unwanted (c) useful (d) unholy (Ans : b)

10. (a) silently (b) vaguely (c) earnestly (d) quietly (Ans : c)

101. (a) frivolous (b) solemn (c) grave (d) serious (Ans : d)

102. (a) provides (b) promotes (c) helps (d) gives (Ans : a)

103. (a) on (b) in (c) for (d) to (Ans : b)

104. (a) big (b) nice (c) numerous (d) various (Ans : c)

105. (a) influence (b) circle (c) quantity (d) area (Ans : b)

Directions (106-120) : In these questions, you have three brief passages with five questions following each passage. Read the passages carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives and mark it in the Answer Sheet. 
PASSAGE-I Jagu was the proprietor of a restaurant, and had plenty of customers, yet his house was in a slum, one of those colonies of shacks made out of rags and flattened tin cans that are called zopadpattis in Bombay. There were not enough houses or flats, the rents of even the smallest flats were too high for people like Jagu. These shacks clung to the side of a hill by the sea, to which Mr. Panwallah had taken Hari to see the advancing monsoon. On the boulevard side of the hill, the houses had been large and tall with names like 'Sunshine' and 'Seagull' in which rich people lived. 

106. Why did Jagu live in a slum ? 
(a) he was a miser (b) he was poor 
(c) the rent of flats were very high (d) he liked living among the poor Ans : (c)

107. Where did Hari go along with Mr. Panwallah? 
(a) to watch the advancing of the monsoon (b) to watch the places where rich people lived 
(c) to watch the wide boulevard (d) to watch the huge buildings (Ans : a)

108. What do Sunshine and Seagull signify ? 
(a) names of roads (b) names of houses 
(c) names of rich peoples (d) names of locality (Ans : b)

109. Who was Jagu ? 
(a) the customer of a restaurant (b) the cook of a restaurant 
(c) the waiter of a restaurant (d) the owner of a restaurant (Ans : d)

110. What are zopadpattis ? 
(a) sea side (b) colonies of shacks of rags and tin cans 
(c) houses and flats (d) slum areas (Ans : b)

PASSAGE - II No matter how hard we try, how carefully we word what we say or write, things get misunderstood. Our motives may be the best, but motives, can't be seen or touched. Only the word is there to be taken and, sometimes, misinterpreted. And if there's one thing we humans are good at, it's misunderstanding. There's a deep insecurity in each of us that makes us so sensitive to attack that we see danger where it doesn't exist. Then, in response to the mirage, we defend ourselves, attack without reason, saddle someone with motives he'd never thought of and hurt him unjustly. 

111. 'Mirage' means: 
(a) a reflection (b) a deflection 
(c) an optical illusion (d) None of the above (Ans : c)

112. In response to the mirage, we often: 
(a) hurt people unjustly (b) saddle someone with unrealistic motives 
(c) attack without reason (d) All of the above (Ans : d)

113. The author thinks that human beings are very good at: 
(a) trying to help one another (b) misunderstanding one another 
(c) talking with each other (d) writing to each other (Ans : b)

114. Motives may be the best but they cannot: 
(a) be understood. (b) be seen or touched 
(c) be Rut to a test (d) All of the above (Ans : b)

115. The author thinks that the harder we try: 
(a) we see danger that does not really exist (b) things get misunderstood 
(c) we become more insecure (d) we misinterpret things (Ans : b)

PASSAGE-IIIThere were of course utilitarian goods at the fair, but even as such they were not goods of work-a-day-use. If there were clothes they were mostly of silk. If there were caps, they were of embroidered velvet or fine muslin. There were chairs, tables and cupboards. The fair was the purveyor of luxuries for us, luxuries of two kinds-first, to which I have said, were luxurious by virtue of being superfluous to the living of the daily life, and, next things which were luxuries only because they were unobtainable throughout the rest of the year. We literally craved for both, and fortunately got them cheap at the fair. We made no distinction, till the nationalist movement came, between the goods made in the factories of Great Britain and those made by our handicraftsmen. We still judge goods neither by their provenance nor their method of production, but their usefulness to us-the buyers. We paid equal attention to hand made and machine made goods but personally speaking, I rather neglected one row of handicrafts which I would like to see again. It was the row of our native cabinet makers who made the chests of which I have spoken in the rich golden timber of the jack fruit tree. 

116. The word 'Provenance' means: 
(a) target market areas (b) proof of quality 
(c) place of manufacture (d) place of origin (Ans : d)

117. The author regrets neglecting………. . 
(a) the golden timber of the jackfruit tree (b) goods made in British factories 
(c) hand made goods (d) chests made by native artisans (Ans : d)

118. As the national movement began, people started distinguishing between………. .
(a) goods made in British factories and domestic craftsmen (b) obtainable items and rare items 
(c) utilitarian and luxury items (d) hand made and machine made goods (Ans : a)

119. The buyer judged things by………. .
(a) their usefulness to the buyer (b) their cost 
(c) their place of origin (d) their method of production (Ans : a)

120. The types of goods available at the fair were………. . 
(a) only utilitarian goods (b) utilitarian and luxury items 
(c) goods of work-a-day-use (d) obtainable throughout the year (Ans : b)