General English (DSSSB Grade - 1)
English Language Proficiency Test covering grammar, vocabulary, spelling, reading comprehension, and sentence structure for DSSSB Grade - 1
Questions
Directions: In the following sentence, there are two blank spaces. Below the sentence there are four pairs of words given in the options (1), (2), (3) and (4). Find out which pair of words can be used to fill in the blanks in the sentence in the same sequence to make the sentence meaningful and complete.
As the train reached full speed, the _______ of speeding wheels _______ Peter’s ears.
- cacophony, filled
- music, satiated
- disharmony, satisfied
- consonance, spread
- noise, dumbfounded
What does the word ’slavers’ in the passage mean?
Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question on the basis of the content of the passage:
Many Europeans thought that Africa's history was insignificant. They argued that Africans were inferior to Europeans and they used this to justify slavery. However, the reality was very contrasting. A study of African history shows that Africa was by no means inferior to Europe. The people who suffered the most from the Transatlantic Slave Trade were civilised, organised and technologically advanced people, long before the arrival of European slavers, trying to suggest they were backward people. Egypt was the first of many great African civilisations. It lasted thousands of years and achieved many magnificent and incredible things in the fields of science, mathematics, medicine, technology and arts. Egyptian civilisation was already over 2000 years old by the time the city of Rome was built.
- A ship used in slave trade
- Dealer in slaves
- European slaves
- African slaves
What in the passage reflects that ‘Africa was by no means inferior to Europe’?
Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question on the basis of the content of the passage:
Many Europeans thought that Africa's history was insignificant. They argued that Africans were inferior to Europeans and they used this to justify slavery. However, the reality was very contrasting. A study of African history shows that Africa was by no means inferior to Europe. The people who suffered the most from the Transatlantic Slave Trade were civilised, organised and technologically advanced people, long before the arrival of European slavers, trying to suggest they were backward people. Egypt was the first of many great African civilisations. It lasted thousands of years and achieved many magnificent and incredible things in the fields of science, mathematics, medicine, technology and arts. Egyptian civilisation was already over 2000 years old by the time the city of Rome was built.
- The slaves were civilised, organised and technologically advanced.
- The Europeans suggested that they were backward people.
- It was already over thousands of years old when Rome was built.
- Europeans used it only to justify slavery.
According to the passage, in which field did Egypt NOT make any achievements?
Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question on the basis of the content of the passage:
Many Europeans thought that Africa's history was insignificant. They argued that Africans were inferior to Europeans and they used this to justify slavery. However, the reality was very contrasting. A study of African history shows that Africa was by no means inferior to Europe. The people who suffered the most from the Transatlantic Slave Trade were civilised, organised and technologically advanced people, long before the arrival of European slavers, trying to suggest they were backward people. Egypt was the first of many great African civilisations. It lasted thousands of years and achieved many magnificent and incredible things in the fields of science, mathematics, medicine, technology and arts. Egyptian civilisation was already over 2000 years old by the time the city of Rome was built.
- Natural science
- Literature
- Arts and craft
- Algebra
Directions: Choose the misspelt word.
- Definitive
- Separate
- Definate
- Embarrass
Directions: Choose the best option to complete the given sentence.
The year 1903 proved most _______ and in a few years, all traces of the _______ drought of 1902 passed away.
- ample, unsuccessful
- free, injurious
- bountiful, disastrous
- generous, untoward
Directions: Choose the best option to complete the given sentence.
Mary as well as her sisters ________ intelligent.
- were
- are
- have been
- is
Directions: Choose the best option to complete the given sentence.
He has been travelling ______ five years.
- from
- since
- for
- during
Directions: Choose the best option to complete the given sentence.
The passengers aboard the ship ________.
- sank
- drowned
- sank down
- have sank
Directions: Read the sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (d). (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any)
We have hundred (a) of pages (b) of reading to do. (c) No error (d)
- (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
Directions: Read the sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (d). (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any)
They abandoned their rifles (a) and fled as Hitler’s troops (b) came shrieking out of the bush. (c) No error (d)
- (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
Directions: In the following sentence, there are two blank spaces. Below the sentence there are four pairs of words given in the options (1), (2), (3) and (4). Find out which pair of words can be used to fill in the blanks in the sentence in the same sequence to make the sentence meaningful and complete.
The orchestra conductor obviously has an _______ knowledge of Beethoven's greatest _______.
- inside, essays
- initial, combinations
- enjoyable, arrangements
- intimate, compositions
The plural of ‘syllabus’ is
- syllaby
- syllabu
- syllabi
- syllabuss
The word ‘teacher’ belongs to
- masculine gender
- feminine gender
- neuter gender
- common gender
Directions: In the given question, four words are given, of which two words are most nearly the same or opposite in meaning. Find the two words which are most nearly the same or opposite in meaning and choose the number of the correct letter combination in your answer.
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(P) specialised
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(Q) glossary
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(R) chronology
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(S) terminology
- P-Q
- Q-S
- P-R
- P-S
Directions: In the given question, four words are given, of which two words are most nearly the same or opposite in meaning. Find the two words which are most nearly the same or opposite in meaning and choose the number of the correct letter combination in your answer.
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(P) edacious
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(Q) insatiable
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(R) edible
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(S) incapable
- P-Q
- Q-S
- P-R
- P-S
Directions: In the given question, four words are given, of which two words are most nearly the same or opposite in meaning. Find the two words which are most nearly the same or opposite in meaning and choose the number of the correct letter combination in your answer.
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(P) afflict
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(Q) affect
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(R) solace
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(S) solitude
- P-Q
- Q-S
- P-R
- P-S
Directions: In the given question, four words are given, of which two words are most nearly the same or opposite in meaning. Find the two words which are most nearly the same or opposite in meaning and choose the number of the correct letter combination in your answer.
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(P) enkindle
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(Q) exterminate
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(R) kinder
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">(S) extinguish
- P-Q
- Q-S
- P-R
- P-S
Directions: In the sentence below, a word/group of words has been underlined. Below four choices (1), (2), (3), (4) are given. Pick out one which can substitute the underlined word/group of words correctly without changing the meaning of the sentence.
Patricia has less friends now and I am really worried about that.
- few friends
- lesser friends
- fewer friends
- least friends
Directions: In the sentence below, a word/group of words has been underlined. Below four choices (1), (2), (3), (4) are given. Pick out one which can substitute the underlined word/group of words correctly without changing the meaning of the sentence.
I am very much pleased at you.
- of
- with
- by
- from
Directions: In the sentence below, a word/group of words has been underlined. Below four choices (1), (2), (3), (4) are given. Pick out one which can substitute the underlined word/group of words correctly without changing the meaning of the sentence.
She is so poor to pay her bills.
- too poor
- very poor
- extremely poor
- much poor
Without changing the meaning of the below given sentence, transform the degree of comparison from positive to comparative.
Very few boys in the class are as courageous as Peter.
- Peter is more courageous than other boys in the class except few.
- Few other boys are not more courageous than Peter.
- Peter is not less courageous than any other boy in the class.
- Peter is more courageous than most other boys in the class.
Without changing the meaning of the below given sentence, transform the degree of comparison from superlative to positive.
This is the biggest building in this city.
- No other building in this city is as big as this one.
- Most other buildings in this city are not as big as this one.
- Very few buildings in this city are as big as this one.
- Few buildings in this city are not as big as this one.
Directions: Rewrite the sentence given in the question as directed in the bracket.
Hari did not attend the class. (Into question)
- Why Hari did not attend the class?
- Did Hari not attended the class?
- Did Hari not attend the class?
- Has Hari not attended the class?
Directions: Rewrite the sentence given in the question as directed in the bracket.
The children laughed at the beggar. (Change the voice)
- The beggar has been laughed at by the children.
- The beggar was laughed by the children.
- The beggar laughed at the children.
- The beggar was laughed at by the children.
Directions: Rewrite the sentence given in the question as directed in the bracket.
Hearing the noise, the child woke up. (Change into a complex sentence)
- While hearing the noise, the child woke up.
- The child woke up when he heard the noise.
- The child woke up as soon he heard the noise.
- Having heard the noise, the child woke up.
Directions: In the given question, a sentence is given with a blank to be filled in with appropriate word(s). Four alternatives are suggested for each question. Choose the correct alternative out of the four.
The professor spoke so quietly I _________ hear him.
- was able to
- scarcely
- could hardly
- would hardly
Directions: In the given question, a sentence is given with a blank to be filled in with appropriate word(s). Four alternatives are suggested for each question. Choose the correct alternative out of the four.
I am so weak that I ________ work long hours.
- cannot
- may not
- could not
- might not
Directions: Choose the best option to complete the given sentence.
Mary as well as her sisters ________ intelligent.
- were
- are
- have been
- is
Directions: Choose the best option to complete the given sentence.
He has been travelling ______ five years.
- from
- since
- for
- during
Directions: Choose the best option to complete the given sentence.
The passengers aboard the ship ________.
- sank
- drowned
- sank down
- have sank
Directions: In the given question, a sentence is given with a blank to be filled in with an appropriate word. Four alternatives are suggested for each question. Choose the correct alternative out of the four.
He ran ______ down the road.
- far
- further
- greater
- farther
Directions: In the given question, a sentence is given with a blank to be filled in with appropriate word(s). Four alternatives are suggested for each question. Choose the correct alternative out of the four.
I _______ waiting since morning.
- have been
- am
- was
- has been
Directions: Choose the word opposite in meaning to the word ’GLORIFY’.
- Honour
- Augment
- Ennoble
- Condemn
Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of ‘PRESUMPTUOUS’.
- Assuming
- Modest
- Frightened
- Weak
Directions: Choose the misspelt word.
- Definitive
- Separate
- Definate
- Embarrass
Directions: Choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase in capitals.
HATS OFF to Ellen! She's set a new record.
- Disrespect
- Praise
- Veto
- Discourage
Choose the one which can be substituted for ‘who can be easily deceived’.
- Prudent
- Discreet
- Notorious
- Gullible