UPSC Grammar - Cloze Test Question Paper 1
Exam Duration: 45 Mins Total Questions : 30
In the passage, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand what it is about. Then fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given.
Just sixty-five million years ago our ancestors were the most unprepossessing of mammals-creatures with the size and intelligence of moles or tree shrews. The earth then.... full of awesome, nightmarish lizards which filled virtually every ecological niche. Some of them had very large brains, an upright posture, and two little front legs very much like hands, which they used dexterously to catch small animals for dinner. But then dinosaurs did not survive. Sadly, in one catastrophic event, every one of them was destroyed. And no one knows what wiped out the dinosaurs.
- (a)
was
- (b)
is
- (c)
being
- (d)
been
Read the passage carefully and fill in the blanks with suitable words out of the four alternatives given
Auctions are public sale of goods. conducted by an approved auctioneer. He encourages buyers to ...... higher prices and finally names the highest bidder as the buyer of the goods. This is called 'knocking down' the goods, for when the bidding ends the auctioneer bangs. a small hammer on a table in front of him.
- (a)
bid
- (b)
buy
- (c)
get
- (d)
bargain
In the passage, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand and what it is about. Then fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given.
There are certainly some things in common between science and religion.Both want the welfare of mankind.Only their ways and methods are different. Then, both of them ..... to have truth as their basis. Religion wants that the truth it proclaims should be believed in with a blind faith Science says that it should be studied, probed tested and only then relied upon. If during research some new truth or new aspect of the truth comes science is ready to accept it But religion is not ready for research, experiment, and change in whatever h s already been accepted or revealed.
- (a)
say
- (b)
claim
- (c)
assure
- (d)
promise
In the passage, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand what it is about. Then fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given.what it is about. Then fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given
The last decade has been paradoxical for management education and development. When the economies of most Western countries were ........ in the early 1980's there were severe cuts both in corporate training and in higher education.During the boom years of the mid-1980's, there was some reaction in both areas. In the early 1990's industrialized countries were in the grip of another severe recession and a critical retrenchment was to be reasonably expected throughout the training world.Bul this has not been the case so far. Many leading companies are asserting their belief in training as the key to future competitiveness and governments are an era of rapid expansion in higher education.
- (a)
galvanized
- (b)
developing
- (c)
faltering
- (d)
privatised
In the passage, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand and what it is about. Then fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given.
There are certainly some things in common between science and religion.Both want the welfare of mankind.Only their ways and methods are different. Then, both of them claim to have truth as their basis. Religion wants that the truth it proclaims should be believed in with a blind faith Science says that it should be studied, probed tested and only then relied upon. If during research some new truth or new aspect of the truth..... science is ready to accept it But religion is not ready for research, experiment, and change in whatever h s already been accepted or revealed.
- (a)
emerges
- (b)
comes
- (c)
presents
- (d)
revealed
In the 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 alternative and fill in the blanks
Since the U.S led alliance toppled the Taliban in November 2001, forces women and girls in Afghanistan have gained greater freedom to participate in public life and access to education, health care, and employment. This is the case particularly in the capital, Kabul, where the deployment of foreign military forces under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has helped bring much-needed security. Even in still face constant lashes to their personal security from other civilians or armed men belonging to various political factions. Outside Kabul, the situation is one of the acute general lawlessness and insecurity, as there is no lSAF presence and rival warlords control security conditions. In these areas, more than in Kabul, Afghan women continue to face serious threats to their physical safety, which ..........them the opportunity to exercise their basic human rights and to participate fully in the rebuilding of their country.
- (a)
approves
- (b)
allows
- (c)
provides
- (d)
denies
In the 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 alternative and fill in the blanks
One day when king Rama was sitting on his throne his ring fell off. When it touched the earth, it made a hole in the ground and disappeared into it. It was gone. His trusty henchman, Hanuman, was ..........his feet. Rama said to Hanuman, "Look, my ring is lost. Find it for me."
Now Hanuman can enter any hole. no matter how tiny. He had the power to become the smallest of the small and larger than the largest thing. So he took on a substantial form and went down the hole.
He went and went and went and suddenly fell into the netherworld. There were women down there. "Look, a tiny monkey I It's fallen from above? Then they caught him and placed him on a platter (thali).The King of Spirits (bhut), who lives in the netherworld, likes to eat animals. So Hanuman was sent to him as part of his dinner, along with his vegetables. Hanuman sat on the platter, wondering what to do.
While this was going on in the netherworld, Rama sat on his throne on the earth above. The sage Vasistha and the God Brahma came to see him. They said to Rama, "We want to talk privately with you. We don't want anyone to hear what we say or interrupt it. Do we agree?" "All right." said Rama, "We 'll talk."
- (a)
on
- (b)
in
- (c)
at
- (d)
under
In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand what it is about. Then fillin the blanks with the help of the alternatives given.
The educational institutions established by the British and the Christian missionaries were primarily designed to propagate and promote the English language and the Western culture Their aim was also to produce such Indians who could man the lower levels of the British administrative hierarchy and remain ever loyal to the British rulers. The British educational policy ____ with eminent success in the matter of achieving its objectives. The majority of people from middle classes who went to these educational institutions, did acquire some knowledge and skill which were sufficient enough to work as babus in these government offices.
- (a)
served
- (b)
met
- (c)
planned
- (d)
started
In the passage some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer to each question out of the four alternatives and fill in the blanks.
Although we can observe the heavenly bodies of our solar system through a telescope, it is only astronomers who can views the depths of outer space. It is reported that they have seen ......galaxies, stars taking birth and dying, and 'black holes'. They say that the deeper they look into the universe, the more they know how the universe originated.
- (a)
stunned
- (b)
stunning
- (c)
shine
- (d)
stun
In the passage some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer to each question out of the four alternatives and fill in the blanks.
Although we can observe the heavenly bodies of our solar system through a telescope, it is only astronomers who can views the depths of outer space. It is reported that they have seen stun galaxies, stars taking birth and dying, and 'black holes'. They say that the deeper they look into the universe, the more they know ......the universe originated.
- (a)
why
- (b)
how
- (c)
where
- (d)
what
In the following question, you have several passages where 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.
It is difficult to believe that any man can be so spiritually dead as to have no love for his native country after travelling in foreign lands. But if such an ________ person does exist, take careful note of his career; and you will find that he will never inspire poets to celebrate him in deathless song. He may be a man of high rank, of noble family and of riches beyond the dream of avarice; but these great advantages will not save him from being forgotten.In spite of them all, he will win no fame during his life time.
- (a)
unmerciful
- (b)
unsympathetic
- (c)
unnatural
- (d)
unpatriotic
In the 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 alternative and fill in the blanks
The Red Indians were waiting for the arrival of the bison. The beasts, which come only once a year, are a good source of meat and hide. The Red Indians needed these to survive the cold, bitter winter.
TIkki, the young boy, was chosen to look out for herd's arrival. Every day, he would run to the top of the hill to see if he could spot them on the vast horizon.
One night, while he was sleeping the ground shook violently and his bag of arrows fell off from its hook on the wall. Tikki rushed out of his wigwam and felt a strong gust of wind and dust gush past him. Shouting excitedly, he ran to the other wigwams and woke everyone up. A big fire was immediately built and the Red Indians danced around it, giving praises to their God who had, at last, sent them their food and clothing of animal hide. The next morning, all the warriors were assigned to hunt down the beasts which were grazing near the river.
- (a)
is sleep
- (b)
was sleeping
- (c)
was sleep
- (d)
were slept
Read the passages carefully and choose the correct answer to each question out of the four alternatives and fill in the blanks.
Whenever I gaze at the moon, my heart fills with pleasure. I wish I had wings to fly up to the moon. I know if I could .......... to become an astronaut. I would be able to go to the moon. Special equipment and a special training are required to go to the moon. I would have to wear a space-suit along with a gas-mask for breathing.My space shuttle would be equipped with sensitive cameras and other scientific gadgets.
- (a)
grow-up
- (b)
mow
- (c)
blow
- (d)
show
In the passage, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand and what it is about. Then fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given.
There is nothing which a man of strong will cannot achieve. Will-power is the sure hypnotism that overcome mom all obstacles that hinder our progress. A man of strong will is always successful, while one who is weak in will has to face many failures. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained may be an excellent rule of conduct. but no strong will, no.......is the greatest principal of life. All difficulties melt away before a heroic mind. Very often we attribute our failure to chance, fate or stars. We blame our luck. but rarely do we examine our minds. the weakness of which is really responsible for our failures.
- (a)
profit
- (b)
success
- (c)
loss
- (d)
result
In the following passage, there are blanks' each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each four words are suggested, one of which fits the blanks appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.
Gandhiji once said, "I would say that if the village perishes, India will perish too. India will be no more India. Her own mission in the world will get lost The lost of the village is possible only when it is no more exploited Industrialization on a mass scale will necessarily lead to passive or active exploitation of the villagers as the problems of competition and marketing come in. Therefore, we have to concentrate on the village being self-contained, manufacturing mainly for use. Provided this character of the village industry is maintained there would be no objection to villagers using even the modem machines and tools that they can make and ____ to use. Only, they should not be used as a means of exploitation of others".
- (a)
prepare
- (b)
afford
- (c)
hesitate
- (d)
propose
In the passage some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand what it is about. Then fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given and indicate the correct alternative.
It is summed up in a single word - Man. Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove man from the scene and the root cause of hunger and work is abolished forever.
Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot ..... fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare Minimum that will prevent them from Striving and the rest he keeps for himself.
- (a)
slow
- (b)
fast
- (c)
idle
- (d)
dull
The two questions, you have following two brief passages with 10 questions in passage - I and 5 questions in passage - II. Read the passages carefully and fill in the blanks with suitable words out of the four alternatives given.
There is an enemy beneath our feet. He recognises no national boundaries. no political parties. Everyone in the world is threatened by him. The enemy is the Earth itself. The strength of a quake is greater than ......... man himself can produce. But. Today scientists are directing more of their efforts into finding some way of combating earthquakes and it is possible that at some time in the near future. scientists will have discovered a means of protecting itself from it.
- (a)
everything
- (b)
nothing
- (c)
something
- (d)
anything
In the passage some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand what it is about. Then fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given and indicate the correct alternative.
Pythons are huge non-venomous snakes found mostly in damp places or rocky ledges near marshes or in dense jungles. They are considered to be the most primitive among the living snakes, because they retain the traces of hind limbs of a ..... era in the form of horny claw-like spurs, which are present on either side of the anus. These hind limbs are functionless in female pythons.
- (a)
by gone
- (b)
latest
- (c)
present
- (d)
recent
In the questions. in the following passage some ofthe words have been leftout. Readthe passage carefullyand choose the correct answer to each question out of the four alternatives and fillin the blanks.
Superstition is a ......in something. which cannot be explained by the laws of nature and also not by religion. For instance a superstitious person believes that a black cat crossing his path will bring him misfortune. In Brazil. for instance. many people believe that a person can be harmed or even killed by sticking needles in a puppet which points the person to be harmed. This is called 'voodoo-magic'. People who do not believe in such things consider them superstition.
- (a)
belief
- (b)
believe
- (c)
believer
- (d)
belives
In the passage, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand and what it is about. Then fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given.
Petroleum is the name of the mineral oil that comes from under the ground and from the oil wells. From this crude oil, we get the various fuels that drive ships, aircraft and many other forms of land transport. The quantities needed are immense, So countries that have their own oil fields are fortunte. The discovery of oil in many parts of the Middle East has brought great wealth to countries that were, fifty years ago, very poor Now-a days without petroleum, commerce and industry are not ...... .
- (a)
possible
- (b)
fortunate
- (c)
successful
- (d)
reliable
The two questions, you have following two brief passages with 10 questions in passage - I and 5 questions in passage - II. Read the passages carefully and fill in the blanks with suitable words out of the four alternatives given.
As well as I could make out. she had come for good. and had no intention of ever going again. She began to help my mother next morning. and was in and out of the store closet all .......... putting things to right, and making havoc in the old arrangement.
- (a)
days
- (b)
day
- (c)
thing
- (d)
things
In the questions the following passage some ofthe words have been leftout. Readthe passage carefullyand choose the correct answer to each question out of the four alternatives and fill in the blanks.
Ateam of Indian engineers has shown that digital photographs ofthe hand may Reveal cholesterol levels in the body and serve as an early warning signal of poor lipid health without a standard blood test.
Researchers believe the programme may be resolved in the future and ........into mobile phones to enable it to analyse digital images ofthe hand captured in the camera on a mobilephone.
- (a)
Fixed
- (b)
Formulated
- (c)
Featured
- (d)
Loaded
The two questions, you have following two brief passages with 10 questions in passage - I and 5 questions in passage - II. Read the passages carefully and fill in the blanks with suitable words out of the four alternatives given.
Any regular viewer of programmes on the television will certainly have some reservations about commercials. When television shows are ....... good.the commercials that accompany them are a disgrace. One of the many bad features of commercials is their loudness. They seem to be twice as loud as the program and the viewer is almost deafened when they come on. Any attempt at conversation during commercials is futile. Commercials also take up too much time and are repeated too often. The impression one usually gets is that the shows are sandwiched in between long periods of advertising. all of it the same. Often commercials interrupt a show at a particularly inappropriate time.
- (a)
reasonably
- (b)
rationally
- (c)
unreasonably
- (d)
irrationally
Read the passages carefully and choose the correct answer to each question out of the four alternatives and fill in the blanks.
No child is a spoilt child by birth. It is the family conditions and circumstances ............... which a child grows up that spoil him. It is common experience that a much.wanted child or the only child of his parents is more prone to become spoilt.Such a child becomes arrogant and insolent because of the overindulgence and overprotection of the parents. Sometimes it is seen that a neglected child also tends to become a nuisance.
- (a)
at
- (b)
on
- (c)
over
- (d)
under
In the following passage. some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand what it is about. Then fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given.
The language problem is not solved by deciding the medium of instruction in the educational institutions. The problem of communication between State Governments still remains. At present. each State Government is ____ the process of adopting the regional language as the medium for administrative purposes. Then the need for a stable language for inter-state communication comes up. Moreover. the Central Government shall have to adopt a particular language for its own official work.
- (a)
into
- (b)
through
- (c)
with
- (d)
in
In the passage some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand what it is about. Then fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given and indicate the correct alternative.
Happy is the man who acquires the habit of reading when he is young. He has secured a life-long source of pleasure instruction and inspiration. So long as he has his beloved books he need never feel lonely. He always has a pleasant source of leisure moments. He is the possessor of wealth more precious than gold. Poor indeed is the man who does not read and .... is his life. Reading gives the highest kind of pleasure. When we are sick it is a healthy recreation to lose ourselves in the company of books.
- (a)
full
- (b)
vacuum
- (c)
empty
- (d)
deep
In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. First read the passageover and try to understand what it is about. Then fillin the blanks with the help of the alternatives given.
The word 'ticket' is common to every language in India. So those who are actively leading in the political process look a ticket as permission to vote an election as candidate of a political party. The canditate, if elected, sits in the ................. assembly, or any other party for which he/she contests, as representative of that party.
- (a)
legislative
- (b)
legal
- (c)
political
- (d)
electroal
In the passage some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer to each question out of the four alternatives and fill in the blanks.
Squirrels are the most resourceful animals In the world. They have the knack of saving up for rainy days. Autumn can be very entertaining for them. That is the time when they begin the great harvest collection for their Winter store. You can see them scampering here and there, collecting nuts of all sorts. Walnuts, beechnuts. chestnuts, dried berries.
They are not fussy. Relentlessly, they run from their storage point. usually a tree hollow. to the vast amount of wild nuts to be found In the forest.
These beautiful animals are house-proud. They take great pains to ensure that their nest is secure and warm enough to tide them over the harsh winter. You will see them busily collecting soft pieces of bark, wood and leaves to line their nests.
After all their scavenged was done, and when the first, cold hard frost arrives. they will seal themselves inside their nests for the duration/ rest of the cold spell. There. they will hibernate till it is warm enough to bring out their stored food. Ah but then again, they are the most forgetful little animals. and it is not unusual to see squirrels ......... their hoards.
- (a)
search desperate at
- (b)
searching desperates for
- (c)
searching desperately for
- (d)
searched desperately for
In the following passage. some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand what it is about. Then fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given.
A man can be physically _____ within stone walls and iron bars. His freedom of movement and action may thus be restricted. But his mind and spirit will still remain free. His hopes and attributes. ideals and ambitions will still remain with him. no tyranny or oppression can intimidate the lover of liberty. The cruelty of the British, only. increased the zeal and determination of the freedom fighters. No prison. no oppression can ever lower the invincible spirit of man.
- (a)
prevailed
- (b)
prevented
- (c)
confined
- (d)
limited
In the questions the passage some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer to each question out of the four alternatives and fill in the blanks.
Saina Nehwal's bronze medal win on Saturday, at the London Olympics, may be seen as a lucky .......after her Chinese opponent retired hurt. But according to Sain's father, Dr.Harvir Singh, "it's god's gift", "She was disappointed on Friday after losing the semifinal. It was god's wish that she won a medal. This is very satisfying for everyone. I was very optimistic about Saina winning a bronze." Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated the Indian shuttler for winning the medal. "The country is proud of your achievement". Singh said in his congratulatory message. Andhra Pradesh governor ESL Narasimhan and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy too congratulated Saina. "After Gagan Narang, Saina is the second sportsperson from AP to win a medal at the Olympics." the chief minister said.
- (a)
succeed
- (b)
win of
- (c)
winning
- (d)
victory
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