PYST 4: IB Security Assistant & MTS Official Paper - English Language (Held On: 24 March, 2023 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)

The correct answer is "losing."

Key Points

• In English grammar, after verbs of perception (feel, find, hear, notice, observe, perceive, see, and watch), infinitives (to be lost, to lose) or simple forms (lose, lost) are not used.
• Instead, gerunds (-ing form of a verb, like losing) are used to refer to an ongoing process or action that follows the main verb.
• In this context, the verb 'has begun' indicates that the action of the watch losing time started in the past and continues into the present, with the possibility of continuing into the future.
• So, in this case, we need to use a gerund to match the continuous tense and refer to the ongoing process of the watch losing time.
• So the complete sentence is: My watch has begun losing a few minutes every day.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 3".

The correct answer is "Apostrofe."

Key Points

• Options 1), 2), and 3) are all correctly spelled.
• "Apathy" is correct. It refers to a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
• "Apology" is also correct and denotes a regretful acknowledgement of an offence or failure.
• "Apiary" too is correctly spelled and refers to a place where bees are kept, often in beehives.
• However, option 4) "Apostrofe" is a misspelling.
• The correct spelling of the word is "Apostrophe".
• An apostrophe is a punctuation mark used in English writing to show possession (for example, "Emma's book") or omitted letters (for example, "can't" for "cannot").
• So, the correct answer is "Option 4."

The correct answer is "Her mother scolded her for watching YouTube all the time."

Key Points

Let's break down the sentence:

• This sentence can be divided into three parts:
• a) The subject - "Her mother"
• b) The action (verb) - "scolded her"
• c) The reason for the action - "for watching YouTube all the time"
• To join these three parts correctly to form a clear, structured sentence without any interruption, no extra punctuation marks are required.
• That's why it doesn't need any additional commas or other punctuation marks.
• Now let's look at the capitalisation:
• "Her" and "YouTube" are correctly capitalised in this sentence.
• The pronoun "Her" is capitalised because it is the first word of the sentence, and the first word in any English sentence should always be capitalised.
• "YouTube" is capitalised because it's a proper noun.
• Proper nouns refer to specific people, places, or things.
• They always need to begin with a capital letter.
• As "YouTube" is the name of a specific online video sharing platform, it should be capitalised.
• Therefore, the sentence "Her mother scolded her for watching YouTube all the time." is grammatically correct, and it adheres to punctuation and capitalisation rules.

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 1".

The correct answer is "Complete". 

Key Points

• The idiom "out and out" is used in English to express something or someone being completely or thoroughly a particular kind, quality, or condition, with no possibility of doubt or dispute.
• This idiom is used to emphasize the definitive and extreme nature of a person or thing.
• When you describe something as an "out and out success", for example, you mean that it is entirely successful without any qualms.
• So, based on these interpretations, the correct answer is "Option 1".

The correct answer is "Towal". 

Key Points

• The correct spelling for the word trying to be represented here is "Towel."
• "Sandal" is correct.
• A sandal is a type of open shoe.
• "Equal" is also correct.
• Equal indicates having the same quantity, measure, or value as another.
• "Loyal" is correctly spelled too.
• Being loyal means showing strong fidelity and commitment to a person, country, group, etc.
• However, "Towal" is not a recognized word in the English language.
• It seems to be a misspelling of the word "Towel," which is a piece of cloth or paper used for drying or wiping.
• So, the word "Towal" is misspelled.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 3".

The correct answer is "heavily."

Key Points

• The most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined word "strongly" in the given sentence "It rained strongly during the weekend." is heavily.
• In English, the word 'strongly' is not typically used to describe rainfall.
• The term 'heavily' is the more appropriate adverb to depict a large amount or great intensity of rain.
• So, if we update the sentence with the correct word, it would be: "It rained heavily during the weekend."
• This sentence conveys the right message: that there was a lot of rain over the weekend.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 3". 

Additional Information

• Option 2, 'greatly', is not incorrect, but 'heavily' is a more common choice of word to describe intense rain.
• ‘Greatly’ usually talks about extent or degree in a more general sense, and is not specific to describing incidence of weather.
• Option 4, 'thickly', while not completely incorrect, is less commonly used.
• It is often associated with other types of precipitation, such as snow.

The correct answer is "Expect."

Key Points

• The word "anticipate" comes from the Latin word "anticipatus," which means "to take before, to foresee."
• In English, "anticipate" commonly means to look forward to something, to expect it to happen, or to prepare for it before it happens.
• In conclusion, the best match for the word "anticipate" is the choice "Expect."
• This reflects the aspect of looking forward to or preparing for something potentially happening in the future.

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 3". 

Additional Information

• Doubt suggests uncertainty or a lack of conviction, which isn't what "anticipate" implies.
• Hesitate means to pause before doing something, often because of nervousness, fear, or uncertainty, which also doesn't align with "anticipate."
• Question means to ask for information or for greater clarity about something.

The correct answer is "are looking". 

Key Points

• The phrase "These days" indicates a present ongoing action.
• It refers to actions that are happening currently and are likely to continue for some time.
• Option 2 "are looking" is in the present continuous tense, which is used to describe actions that are currently ongoing.
• Therefore, it fits best with "these days."
• So the complete sentence is: These days, we are looking for a new house.

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 2". 

Additional Information

• "will look" is in the future tense and doesn't align with "these days," which indicates something currently happening.
• "look" is in the present simple tense, which usually represents a general truth or a habitual action, not a currently ongoing action.
• "had looked" is in the past perfect tense, and it indicates an action that was completed before another action or time in the past, which is not in line with "these days".

The correct answer is "unknowingly."

Key Points

• The word "deliberately" means consciously and intentionally; on purpose.
• So, to find an antonym, we need a word that means the opposite - that is, something done unintentionally or without awareness.
• The word "unknowingly" fits this description perfectly as it means without awareness or intention.
• So the complete sentence is: He unknowingly broke the rules of the Ashram.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Additional Information

• "Possibly" is not an antonym of "deliberately."
• It implies uncertainty, but it doesn't imply a lack of awareness or intent.
• "Intentionally" is actually a synonym for "deliberately", not an antonym, as they both mean doing something on purpose or with clear intent.
• "Freely" does not fit as an antonym either, as it denotes doing something willingly or without hindrance but doesn't convey a lack of intention or awareness.

The correct answer is "ACBD."

Key Points

Let's elaborate this arrangement that makes the most sense:

• A. My grandfather was a retired school teacher and an avid reader.
• (This sentence introduces the character – the grandfather – and gives us an understanding of his background.
• It naturally serves as a good opening sentence.)
• C. He knew a vast number of Sanskrit texts by heart.
• (This sentence adds on to the description of the grandfather from the first sentence.
• It continues the background information, explaining his knowledge of Sanskrit texts, which links smoothly with the fact that he was an avid reader.)
• B. Every night, under the dark sky with the twinkling stars, he would tell me many stories.
• (Now, the background information has been established, this sentence moves from the general picture to a specific, daily activity.
• Note that this sentence introduces that the grandfather tells a variety of stories without specifying the context.)
• D. These were stories from the history of India, the epics and whatever interesting things he had read that day in the papers and magazines.
• (Lastly, this sentence provides the specific content of 'many stories' mentioned in B.)
• The other options don't follow as logically.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 1".

The correct answer is 'feeling; some'.

 

Key Points

• The word "feeling" appropriately follows "was" since it describes Davis's state. (महसूस कर रहा था)
• The phrase "catch some sleep" is a common expression meaning to get some rest. (कुछ नींद लेना)
• The other options: "felt; much," "feels; many," and "feel; any" do not fit the context or are grammatically incorrect.

​Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Complete Sentence: When Davis reached his aunt’s place, he was feeling tired and weak. His aunt told him to catch some sleep.

Additional Information

• Felt; much (महसूस किया; बहुत): Although "felt" is past tense, "much sleep" is not a correct phrase in this context.
• Feels; many (महसूस करता है; कई): "Feels" is present tense and "many sleep" is grammatically incorrect.
• Feel; any (महसूस करें; कोई भी): "Feel" is incorrect tense and "any sleep" is less common and awkward in this context.

The correct answer is "Jack."

Key Points

• The traditional form of this phrase is "Jack of all trades, master of none," where 'Jack' refers to a generic man, much like 'John Doe.'
• This idiom is used to describe a person who can do many different types of work but perhaps is not particularly adept at any of them.
• So the correct version of the idiom should be: "A jack of all trades is a master of none."

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 1."

Additional Information

• 'Knave,' although technically meaning a man or a male servant in old use, is not typically used in this idiom.
• 'Knight' is historically a title given to a man by a monarch or church official for service to the sovereign or the Church, especially in a military capacity. This doesn't fit in the idiom.

The correct answer is "by."

Additional Information

• In English, when we say something or someone is "bound by" something, we mean that they are restricted or confined by it.
• It's a fixed phrase and we usually preserve the preposition "by" in this case for it to make sense.
• Therefore, "bound by time" means that our actions and activities are limited or constrained by time.
• So, the correct filling is: In today’s world, we are always bound by time.

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 1."

The correct answer is "exclamation mark (!)."

Key Points

• In this sentence, "Oh" is an interjection, a word or phrase that expresses strong emotion or surprise.
• Interjections are often followed by an exclamation mark (!) in English grammar to indicate the emphasis or strong emotion.
• So, the most fitting punctuation mark to express surprise or strong emotions after an interjection like "Oh" is the exclamation mark.
• Therefore, the sentence should read "Oh! I didn’t realise that."

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 1."

Additional Information

• Full stop (.) is typically used to indicate the end of a sentence, not after interjections for emphasis.
• Semicolons (;) are used to link closely related ideas or separate items in a complex list. They are not generally used with interjections.
• Colons (:) are typically used to introduce a list, a quote, or a further explanation, so it would not fit after an interjection.

The correct answer is "declared."

Key Points

• In the context of countries entering into conflict with each other, the most conventionally appropriate verb to use is 'declared'.
• When a country initiates a war, it is said to 'declare war' on another country.
• So the sentence should read: "In February this year, Russia declared war on Ukraine."

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 4".

Additional Information

• 'charged' is often used in context of accusations or financial cost, not initiating wars.
• 'assigned' might be used when tasks or roles are given to someone, but it isn't appropriate in the context of initiating wars.

The correct answer is "will return". 

Key Points

• Given the context, we can see that this is a future action: returning the book by Saturday.
• Therefore, we need to use the future simple tense, which is constructed with "will + base verb."
• So the correct filling is: I will return your book by Saturday.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 3". 

Additional Information

• 'am returning' is present continuous tense.
• It doesn't fit because the sentence is talking about a future action, not a current one.
• 'have returned' is present perfect tense.
• It's used to talk about events which happened at an unknown time in the past, or are still having an effect now.
• It's not suitable to talk about a future action.
• 'return' is present simple tense, usually used for habitual actions or general truths, not future plans.

The correct answer is "the". 

Key Points

• Definite article 'the' implies we are talking about a specific artist that is already known to the reader or listener.
• The use of 'the' tells us that this is not just any artist, but an artist that has presumably been discussed or is understood in the context.
• If there is no prior mention or understanding, 'an' would be used to represent a non-specific artist.
• So the complete sentence reads: Soon after the visitor left, the artist came to his studio.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 4."

The correct answer is 'winding'.

Key Points

• The term 'winding' is a common way to describe a road with a series of bends and curves.
• It implies that the road does not proceed directly or simply, but meanders or curves back and forth.
• So the sentence should read: "Then the doctor took the driver's seat and they moved off along the white, winding road."

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 3". 

Additional Information

• 'Crooked' technically could work, but it has negative connotations and is often used to describe something as being deformed, distorted, or corrupt, rather than merely curved or winding.
• 'Twisting' could also work, but 'winding' more naturally conjures up the idea of a winding country road, for example.

The correct answer is "a."

Key Points

• In English grammar, before a singular countable noun when it is mentioned for the first time and represents no particular individual or group, we use the indefinite article 'a' or 'an'.
• The term 'a great scientist' follows this principle, as it doesn't represent a particular scientist, but rather a general description of being 'a (any) great scientist'.
• So the complete sentence is: Dr. Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, was also a great scientist.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 4."

Additional Information

• Option 2 'the' is the definite article and is not suitable as there is no specific scientist the sentence is referring to.
• Option 3 'an' is used before words that start with a vowel sound, but 'great' starts with a consonant, therefore 'a' is the correct choice.

The correct answer is "CDAB."

Key Points

• C. Triveni was a very popular writer in the Kannada language.
• (This sentence provides a good introduction, allowing the readers to understand who Triveni is.)
• D. She was a wonderful writer.
• (This sentence builds upon the introduction, explaining the quality of Triveni's writing.)
• A. Her style was easy to read and very convincing.
• (This sentence provides additional information about Triveni's writing style, thus logically following after Sentence D.)
• B. Her stories usually dealt with complex psychological problems in the lives of ordinary people and were always very interesting.
• (This sentence completes the description of Triveni's work, making it the perfect summary.)
• The other options don't follow as logically. When constructing a paragraph, it's crucial to start with the broadest information, which in this case is introducing the writer (Triveni) and then gradually move to the specifics.
• Hence, the correct arrangement is "Option 1".