PYST 2: IB Security Assistant & MTS Official Paper - English Language (Held On: 23 March, 2023 Shift 2) (Previous Year Paper)

The correct answer is "why are they".

Key Points

• To determine which segment contains a grammatical error, let's analyze each one:
• "First, tell me" - This segment is grammatically correct.
• It is common to use this phrase to ask someone to explain something first before discussing anything else.
• "every other day" - This is also grammatically correct.
• It is a common phrase used to denote a recurring event that takes place every second day.
• "late to work" - This segment is grammatically correct.
• It describes the condition of being tardy to one's job.
• "why are they" - This is where the error lies.
• When a question is embedded within a larger sentence, it is generally supposed to be structured in statement syntax, not question syntax.
• So instead of "why are they," it should be "why they are."
• The corrected sentence would then read: "First, tell me why they are late to work every other day."
• Therefore, segment 4 "why are they" contains the grammatical error.

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 4".

The correct answer is "slowly". 

Key Points

• In this sentence, we need an adverb to modify the verb "driving" and describe "how" the driving should be done to accommodate the speaker's motion sickness.
• "Slowly" is an adverb that modifies the verb to suggest that the action should be done at a slow pace.
• It implies that the speaker wants the driving to be done at a speed that isn't fast.
• Given the context and the rules of English grammar, "slowly" is the most appropriate adverb to fill in the blank.
• Thus, the sentence should read: "Would you mind driving slowly as I have motion sickness?"

​Hence, the correct answer is "Option 4". 

Additional Information 

• Let's consider the options:
• "Slowing" is the present participle form of the verb "slow" and isn't an adverb, so it's not the correct option.
• "Slowingly" is not a recognized word in standard English, so it also can't be the correct option.
• "Slowest" is the superlative form of "slow," used to compare more than two things.
• It doesn't fit in this context because we're not comparing the speeds at which multiple people or things are driving.

The correct answer is "in the year of 1945, / United Nations Organisation/ came into being as / the successor of the League of Nations".

Key Points

• Let's break down the sentence formed by option 4: "In the year of 1945, United Nations Organisation came into being as the successor of the League of Nations."
• This sentence is composed of a few key elements:
• "In the year of 1945," - This is a prepositional phrase that establishes the time when the event being described took place. It provides a temporal context to the main action in the sentence.
• "United Nations Organisation" - This is the subject of the sentence, the entity that performed the main action (coming into being).
• "came into being as" - This is the predicate or verb phrase of the sentence.
• "Came into being" indicates the start or creation of something.
• Followed by "as," it sets up a comparison or explanation of the subject's role or nature at the time of its inception.
• "the successor of the League of Nations" - This phrase clarifies the capacity in which the United Nations Organisation was created.
• It's an appositive phrase giving additional information about the subject, expressing that it was formed to take over the purpose or role previously fulfilled by the League of Nations.
• The phrase order in "In the year of 1945, United Nations Organisation came into being as the successor of the League of Nations" is logical and clear, starting with a time marker, then identifying the subject, followed by a description of the action and role the subject undertook.
• Each phrase sequentially adds more detail, creating a complete and contextual picture.

Thus, the correct answer is "Option 4".

The correct answer is "uninterested". 

Key Points

• The word "complacent" in the sentence refers to showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements.
• It describes a state of self-contentment that can become a barrier to improvement or progress.
• "Uninterested" means showing a lack of interest.
• While it could suggest a lack of motivation or stimulation—the circumstances that often attend complacency.
• From the above explanation it is clear that the correct answer is "Option 2".

Additional Information

• Now let's explore the other alternatives:
• "Involved" means being engaged or having a role in something.
• It doesn't carry the implication of self-satisfaction that "complacent" does, so it doesn't work as a substitute in this context.
• "Stubborn" is characterized by obstinacy or tenacity, an unwillingness to change one's mind or course of action.
• It doesn't capture the meaning of "complacent," which is more about self-satisfaction and less a deliberate resistance to change.
• "Passionate" means showing or caused by strong feelings or a strong belief.
• This is generally the opposite of "complacent," as passion usually motivates action and improvement rather than encouraging satisfaction with the status quo.

The correct answer is ",".

Key Points

• The sentence given is "By the time we got inside ________ the two men had vanished."
• There is an obvious requirement for a pause or some kind of break in the sentence.
• After considering each option:
• "," (comma): A comma does provide a pause in a sentence and is often used to separate distinct but related thoughts or ideas.
• So, based on the sentence and the available options, the most appropriate answer is the comma.
• It adequately signifies a pause between the two related clauses and keeps the sentence's continuity, making the sentence: "By the time we got inside, the two men had vanished."

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 1". 

Additional Information

• """ (quotation mark): The quotation mark is used to denote spoken words, quotations, or to indicate a phrase or word that has a special meaning. It doesn't fit in this context.
• "." (period): A period denotes the end of a sentence. In this context, though, we're not at the end of the sentence—there's additional related information to come.
• "?" (question mark): A question mark is used to denote a question, and this sentence is clearly not a question.

The correct answer is "No article needed". 

Key Points

• The blank in the sentence needs an article that can correctly modify the noun 'Class Twelve.'
• The context here is referring to a specific class level, not any unspecified one.
• No article is suitable here because 'Class Twelve' is a proper noun.
• Proper nouns like names, titles such as doctor or professor, and similar unique identifiers generally don't require an article.
• Therefore, the sentence should be: "Did you know Dutta flunked half of Class Twelve during the practice board tests?" This means there isn't a need to use any article in this case.

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 3". 

Additional Information

• Let's look at other options:
• "The" is a definite article used before a noun when it refers to something specific that is known to both the speaker and the listener, but here 'Class Twelve' is a proper noun and doesn't need 'the' before it.
• "A" is an indefinite article used before singular nouns that are unspecified or not known to the listener.
• It doesn't fit here because 'Class Twelve' is specific.
• "An" is an indefinite article used before singular nouns that begin with vowel sounds.
• It is not appropriate here because 'Class Twelve' is a specific class level.

The correct answer is "fall on deaf ears".

Key Points

• We need to choose an idiom that fits the context of the sentence:
• "Mona’s appeal always seems to ________ of the authority so she finally left the job."
• "Fall on deaf ears" - This idiom is used when suggestions, pleas, or advice are ignored by the people they were intended for.
• In the context of the sentence, this idiom makes sense, suggesting Mona's appeals to the authority were ignored.
• So, based on the context of the sentence and the typical usage of these idioms, the most appropriate idiom for the sentence is "fall on deaf ears."
• The sentence should read: "Mona’s appeal always seems to fall on deaf ears of the authority so she finally left the job."

Additional Information

• Let's review other idioms:
• "Cut corners" - This idiom means to do something in the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way, often damaging the quality of the work.
• This doesn't fit the context here, as it's not mentioning any action taken for efficiency or simplicity at the expense of quality.
• "Boil the ocean" - This idiom is used to describe a task that is considered excessively ambitious or impossible to achieve.
• In this context, it doesn't make sense as we don't have any indication of an overly ambitious task.
• "Cool the heals" - There seems to be a typographical error here as the correct idiom is "cool one's heels," which means to wait or be kept waiting.
• This doesn't fit the context, as the situation doesn't convey waiting.

The correct answer is "DBAC".

Key Points

• Let's examine the sentences and formulate logical connections between them:
• A) "As there were very few people around, we had to hang pretty far back so that Robin would not spot us." - This sentence indicates the characters are in a place with few people and are trying not to be seen by Robin.
• B) "After the noise and bustle of the main road it was suddenly very quiet." - This sentence suggests a change in location, from a busy main road to a quiet area.
• C) "Then the lane took a curve to the right and when we turned in, he had vanished." - This sentence implies that they are following someone (probably Robin as mentioned earlier) who disappears after taking a right turn.
• D) "The sun had vanished behind clouds and the lane was rather dark." - This sentence sets the scene, detailing the lighting and weather conditions in the lane.
• By examining the scenarios and the context, a logical order can be that the characters may first observe their environment (D), then notice the change in the location's noise level when moving from the main road to a lane (B), try to not be spotted due to the scarcity of people around (A), and finally make a turn where the person they were following disappeared (C).
• So, the correct order should be DBAC.
• Therefore, the correct sequence is: "The sun had vanished behind clouds and the lane was rather dark. After the noise and bustle of the main road it was suddenly very quiet. As there were very few people around, we had to hang pretty far back so that Robin would not spot us. Then the lane took a curve to the right and when we turned in, he had vanished."

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 3".

The correct answer is "fugitives."

Key Points

• The underlined group of words in this sentence, "people who ran away from justice," represents individuals who are trying to evade legal consequences.
• They are escaping the enforcement of laws, often by leaving the jurisdiction or going into hiding.
• Let's evaluate the options available:
• "Hermits" are individuals who have chosen to live in seclusion from society, usually for religious reasons.
• It does not necessarily involve escaping from the law.
• "Vagabonds" are people who wander without a home or regular work, moving from place to place.
• Although they might not have a set location, being a vagabond doesn't automatically imply evasion of legal consequences.
• "Castaways" are people who are left stranded, usually in a remote location.
• This term is generally used for victims of shipwreck or similar accidents, and not specifically for law evaders.
• "Fugitives" refers to people fleeing from law enforcement agencies due to being suspected or convicted of a crime.
• This term is the most appropriate to substitute for "people who ran away from justice," as it directly implies avoiding legal or justice enforcement.
• Based on the context, the term "fugitives" is the most appropriate one-word substitute for the underlined phrase.
• Therefore, the complete sentence should read: "Numerous laws were passed during his term for recovering slaves who had turned into fugitives."

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 4".

The correct answer is "stared". 

Key Points

• To fill in the blank, we need to identify the correct tense of the verb "stare."
• The tense of the verb in the sentence can provide us key clues.
• Notice that the verbs used in this sentence ("got up" and "wandered out") are both in the simple past tense.
• Looking at the options:
• "staring" is in the present participle form, which is commonly used in present, past, and future continuous tenses.
• "stared" is in the simple past tense, often used to describe an action that was completed at a certain point in the past.
• "was stared" is in the passive voice form of past progressive tense. It would be used if the action was done to the subject, not performed by the subject.
• "had stared" is past perfect, which refers to an action in the past that occurred before another past action.
• Given the context and the tense form of the other verbs in the sentence, the most appropriate form of the verb "stare" to fill in the blank is "stared," which is consistent with the simple past tense.
• Hence, the sentence should read: "I got up and wandered out to the balcony and stared at the river."

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 2".

The correct answer is "Liaison".

Key Points

• Let's examine all the options: 
• "Gaurded" is not correctly spelled. The right spelling is "Guarded."
• "Decieving" is also not correctly spelled. In this case, the correct spelling is "Deceiving" following the 'i' before 'e' except after 'c' rule.
• "Embarras" is not correct. The right spelling is "Embarrass."
• "Liaison" is the correct spelling of a word that describes a communication or cooperation which facilitates a close working relationship between people or organizations.
• Therefore, out of the given options, the correctly spelled word is "Liaison."

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 4".

The correct answer is "leened". 

Key Points

• The sentence is: "We were now in the city, going slower in the traffic when Jahan suddenly leened forward and asked the driver to stop."
• The objective is to identify the word that is incorrectly spelled.
• "traffic" - This word is spelled correctly.
• "suddenly" - This word is also spelled correctly.
• "leened" - This word is spelled incorrectly. The correct spelling should be "leaned."
• "forward" - This word is spelled correctly.
• Therefore, the word "leened" is the one that has been spelled incorrectly in the given sentence.
• The correct sentence should be: "We were now in the city, going slower in the traffic when Jahan suddenly leaned forward and asked the driver to stop."

The correct answer is "beside".

Key Points

• We're looking for a preposition that correctly indicates that the name-plate is positioned with respect to his front door.
• Let's examine each of the options:
• "Ahead" refers to being in front or at the front.
• If something is ahead of you, it's in front of you, usually implying movement or journey.
• It's not usually used to describe the static location of an object in relation to another.
• "Beyond" indicates something further away or 'on the other side of' an area of reference.
• In this context, it would suggest the name-plate is beyond the reach of the front door, which isn't usual for a name-plate.
• "Through" refers to moving in one side and out of the other side of an opening, hole, or passage.
• It doesn't provide a sense of the name-plate's positioning in relation to the front door.
• "Beside" means at the side of or next to.
• It's used to indicate the relative position of one object to another.
• According to the context of this sentence, and considering the common position of a name-plate by a door, "beside" is the most suitable preposition to use.
• Thus, the sentence should read: "The big name-plate beside his front door was in Hindi and English."

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 4".

The correct answer is "an authorisation". 

Key Points

• The underlined phrase in the sentence is "a warrant," that in this context typically means an official document issued by a legal or government official authorizing law enforcement to make an arrest, search premises, or carry out some other action related to the administration of justice.
• "An authorization" can be a suitable substitute as it also indicates an official permission or power granted to perform an action.
• In legal terms, a warrant can be described as an "authorization."
• Hence, out of the provided options, "an authorization" is the most suitable substitute for "a warrant" in this sentence context, as it provides the same notion of an official permission being granted.
• The revised sentence would be: "It is their evidence that allowed me to get an authorization to search his house and we found stores full of stolen antiques."
• Now let's review the other options provided:
• "A need" doesn't adequately replace "a warrant" because it refers to a desire or a requirement for something, rather than an official piece of documentation allowing an action to be performed.
• "An injunction" is a judicial order that restrains a person from performing a particular act, which differs from "a warrant," a legal document that permits a specific action.
• "A denial" refers to the refusal of something, which is the opposite of granting permission, so it doesn't work as a substitute in this context.

The correct answer is "yelling".

Key Points

• The word in the brackets is "whispering."
• In this case, "whispering" refers to speaking in a very low or hushed voice.
• Its antonyms would typically include words that mean to speak loudly or, in general, produce a lot of sound.
• "yelling" means shouting or speaking in a high, loud voice, which is the opposite of "whispering."
• In this context and with the choices provided, the most accurate antonym for "whispering" is "yelling."
• So the sentence should be:
• "The constables came running out, waving their big sticks, with the museum guards following close behind, yelling away."

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 1". 

Additional Information

• "beating" doesn't relate to a volume or method of speaking—it describes a physical action. So, it isn't an antonym of "whispering."
• "crying" often refers to expressing distress or pain, and though it may sometimes imply a louder volume than whispering, it's not necessarily its direct opposite.
• "murmuring" means speaking softly or indistinctly, which is similar to whispering, not the opposite.

The correct answer is "Glorious". 

Key Points

• The word "heinous" refers to an act that is wicked or shockingly evil.
• "Glorious" is associated with high praise, deserving honor, or splendid.
• This term reflects the positive morality and so can be considered the opposite of "heinous," which refers to an evil act.
• Therefore, the most appropriate antonym of "heinous" from the given options is "glorious" as it carries the opposite positive morality compared to the negative meaning of "heinous."

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 3". 

Additional Information

• "Revolting" means highly distasteful, which carries a negative connotation, similar (rather than opposite) to "heinous."
• "Ritualistic" means characterized by or adhering to ritual, which is neutral and not directly related to the morality implied by "heinous."
• "Harmless" indicates the absence of harm or danger, which refers to the potential impact of actions but not their moral content.

The correct answer is The Baha’i Temple is known for its lotus-shaped structure and quiet ambience.

Key Points

• “Baha’i” is the correct spelling of the faith and the temple name, using an apostrophe to reflect proper transliteration.
• “its” is the correct possessive pronoun, whereas “it’s” means it is or it has.
• “lotus-shaped” is a compound adjective and must be hyphenated when it comes before the noun.
• The sentence ends with a full stop, making it grammatically complete.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect due to the use of “it’s” instead of “its” and missing hyphenation.
• Option 2 is grammatically correct but misses the correct spelling “Baha’i”.
• Option 4 has incorrect apostrophe placement and misuse of “it’s”.
• Punctuation-based MCQs often test apostrophes, hyphenation, and proper nouns together.

The correct answer is "beat around the bush".

Key Points

• The given idiom you're looking for is one that means to talk evasively or avoid giving a straight answer, i.e., to 'avoid talking' directly about something.
• Considering the options, we have:
• "beat out the bush" - This is not a recognized idiom in the English language.
• "beat in the bush" - This is not a recognized idiom in the English language.
• "beat behind the bush" - This is also not recognized as a standard idiom in English.
• "beat around the bush" - This is the correct idiom.
• The expression "beat around the bush" is used when someone is talking around the point, avoiding speaking directly or explicitly about the matter at hand.
• So, according to the given context and the options provided, the sentence should be:
• "When asked why he had lied, the student beat around the bush, narrating the events of the day."
• This means the student avoided talking directly about why he had lied, and instead just discussed the events of the day, perhaps in an attempt to distract from or avoid the question.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 4".

The correct answer is "snatched, sleuthing". 

Key Points

• The passage gives the context of transaction or interaction involving money, and there are hints of discomfort, like the man leaving quickly before an argument could occur.
• "snatched" refers to quickly or abruptly taking something away, which fits the given interaction: the man taking money speedily.
• "Sleuthing" refers to carrying out a search or investigation in the manner of a detective, and in this context it could metaphorically imply that the cost of investigating or proving something is becoming expensive.
• Therefore, based on the context and the given options, the most appropriate completed sentence should be: 
• “As I handed over the fifty rupee notes, the man snatched the note from my hand with a grin and cycled off quickly before we could argue: this sleuthing was getting expensive.”

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 4". 

Additional Information

• Looking at the other options:
• "liberated" means freed, which does not accurately reflect the action of taking money in this context. "Negotiating" refers to mutually discussing and agreeing on something, which also does not seem to fit the context as the man left quickly.
• "deliberated" means thought carefully or considered for a long time, and does not seem likely in this fast-paced, potentially negative interaction. "Sabotaging" refers to deliberately destroying, damaging, or obstructing something, but there's no indication of such harmful effects from the context provided.
• "mutilated" refers to inflicting severe damage, destruction or change, typically in a violent or harsh way. This also doesn't fit the context of taking money. "Holidaying" could refer to being on a holiday or vacation, but the context doesn't seem to indicate this specifically.

The correct answer is "the". 

Key Points

• The blank in this sentence requires an article that can correctly modify the noun 'place.'
• The noun is used here in a specific and universally understood context.
• "The" is a definite article, used before a noun when it refers to something specific that is known to both the speaker and the listener.
• In this case, the usage of 'place' is a set phrase ('all over the place') referring to an idea that is universally understood.
• So, the most appropriate article to fill in this blank is 'the.'
• Therefore, the sentence should read: "I have been looking for this file all over the place and you had it hidden away in your cupboard all the time!"

Thus, the correct answer is "Option 3". 

Additional Information

• Let's consider other options:
• "An" is an indefinite article used before words that start with a vowel sound, and it doesn't fit in the context here.
• "A" is also an indefinite article, used before words that begin with a consonant sound, but it doesn't work here because we are talking about a specific 'place' that is universally understood, not just any place.
• No article is not appropriate here because 'place' generally requires an article in this construction.