PYST 5: IB Security Assistant & MTS Official Paper - English Language (Held On: 24 March, 2023 Shift 2) (Previous Year Paper)

The correct answer is "spots."

Key Points

• The phrase "A leopard does not change its coat" is a variant of the commonly used idiom "A leopard cannot change its spots".
• The idiom is used to express that it's impossible for one to change their character, even if they will try very hard.
• The 'spots' represent the deep-seated traits or characteristics that determine a person’s innate nature or identity.
• The 'leopard' symbolizes any individual with set traits.
• The use of 'coat' in the original phrase may cause confusion as large cats' coats can change with the seasons, whereas their spots (color and pattern) do not.
• Given the context, substituting 'coat' with 'spots' would make the idiom more recognizable and accurate.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 4."

The correct answer is "to check."

Key Points

• The correct sentence: "The town's people used the bank clock to check the time."
• In this sentence, "to check" is an infinitive verb phrase serving as an adverb, modifying the verb "used".
• Infinitive phrases can serve various grammatical functions, including acting as a subject, direct object, subject complement, adjective, or adverb.
• In this case, "to check" is used to express the purpose or reason why the townspeople used the bank clock.
• The preposition "to" in "to check" signals that what follows is explaining why a particular action (in this case, the townspeople using the bank clock) is being performed.
• Hence, it correctly maintains the required syntactical and semantical flow of the sentence.

Therefore, the correctly answer is "Option 1."

The correct answer is "on."

Key Points

• The sentence is talking about trains on a specific route.
• The most suitable word to fill in the blank should indicate that the trains are operating or traveling on this route.
• In this context, 'on' is the most suitable option as it's often used to refer to being in a position or state of being over a surface or within a system of transportation.
• When talking about public transportation, we say a vehicle is 'on' a route.
• So, the complete sentence should be: "The trains on this route run very fast."
• ​This sentence asserts that the trains that operate on this specific route are known for their high speed.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 3."

Additional Information

• 'in': Typically, 'in' is used to show that something is enclosed or surrounded.
• 'over': 'Over' could potentially be used in the context of a train crossing a bridge or going over a certain distance, but it's less commonly used to refer to a specific route a train travels.
• 'for': 'For' could refer to a purpose or destination but doesn't correctly depict the operation of trains on a route.

The correct answer is "No substitution required."

Key Points

• The sentence "All of a sudden, we began to feel slightly uncomfortable" is grammatically correct and logically coherent.
• In the sentence, 'slightly' is an adverb used to modify the adjective 'uncomfortable'.
• It describes to what degree the subjects felt uncomfortable.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 4."

Additional Information

• Let's examine the suggested substitutions:
• 'finely' is typically used to describe doing something in a very intricate, detailed, or precise manner, which does not accordingly describe a level of discomfort.
• 'rarely' refers to something that seldom occurs, and it is not appropriate to use to modify 'uncomfortable' in the given context.
• 'thinly' usually means in a slight or sparse way.
• It can sometimes be used metaphorically to mean 'barely' or 'scarcely', but it tends to have a more physical connotation and is not commonly used to describe feelings or states of being.

The correct answer is "found, while."

Key Points

• This phrase is speaking about the various species you might find around Darjeeling, and how Darjeeling fits into these creatures' migration patterns.
• 'found, while': The usage of 'found' is correct in this context: it's passive voice, meaning that these animals were observed or noted in the vicinity of Darjeeling.
• 'While' provides the appropriate context for the second blank as it shows passage of time and overlaps of events – in other words, these species are seen in Darjeeling during their migration to and from Tibet.
• So, the complete sentence should be: "The fauna found around Darjeeling includes several species of ducks, teals, plovers and gulls that pass Darjeeling while migrating to and from Tibet."

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 4."

Additional Information

• 'finds, as long as beyond': This doesn't fit the sentence because 'finds' would imply that the fauna is doing the searching, which is not supported by the context here.
• Additionally, 'as long as beyond' does not properly express the timing or purpose of the migration through Darjeeling.
• 'find, when': The 'find' would be grammatically incorrect here, since 'fauna' is treated as a singular noun in this context.
• 'When' could work for the second blank, but it would be better combined with a more matched option for the first one.
• 'finding, as soon as upon': 'Finding' would again seem to suggest that the fauna themselves are doing the finding, which is not appropriate.
• Additionally, the phrase 'as soon as upon' is not idiomatic English and doesn't convey an appropriate sense of timing or purpose.

The correct answer is "Distant."

Key Points

• The word "Remote" is an adjective that typically denotes a significant distance or isolation from something else.
• 'Distant' is a suitable synonym for 'remote'.
• Both terms suggest a significant separation in terms of space or relationship.
• 'Distant' effectively captures the primary meaning of 'remote'.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 4."

Additional Information

• 'Relevant': This is not an accurate meaning of 'remote'.
• The term 'relevant' generally pertains to the subject at hand or something directly related to the topic, which doesn't overlap with the concept of distance or isolation associated with 'remote'.
• 'Public': This also doesn't convey the meaning of 'remote'.
• The term 'public' usually refers to common access or visibility among the general population, which does not inherently imply any notion of distance or separation.
• 'Approachable': This term is almost the opposite of 'remote'.
• If something is described as 'approachable', it typically means it's easily accessible or reachable, either physically or emotionally.
• This concept contrasts with the notion of distance or isolation in 'remote'.

The correct answer is "comma (,)."

Key Points

• The correct punctuation mark for this sentence is the comma (,).
• In the sentence, "Yes, you can have this chocolate", the word "Yes" is an interjection, an abrupt remark usually made as a response or an expression of emotion.
• Comma (,) is used here because it signifies a small pause after the interjection, forming a more natural-sounding sentence.
• In common English usage, the comma is used after interjections or before continuing the rest of the sentence.
• This comma gives the sentence a conversational tone, resembling how we would typically pause momentarily after saying "Yes" before continuing with the rest of the response.
• The brief pause created by the comma allows the affirmation "Yes" to stand on its own for a moment, emphasizing the agreement before moving on to the additional information "you can have this chocolate".
• So the correctly punctuated sentence is: "Yes, you can have this chocolate."

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 1."

Additional Information

• Colon (:): Typically, colons are used to introduce a list or to connect closely related ideas.
• Using a colon in this sentence would be inappropriate and not in line with standard usage.
• Dash (-): Dashes are typically used to create a strong break in the structure of a sentence.
• They can be used in pairs like parentheses, or alone as a substitute for a comma, colon, or semicolon.
• In this specific sentence, a dash would create an unnecessarily strong interruption, making the sentence seem disjointed.
• Semicolon (;): Semicolons are typically used to connect closely related ideas or two independent clauses that are not joined by a coordinating conjunction.
• In this case, the given sentence does not fit these conditions, making the semicolon incorrect.

The correct answer is "the."

Key Points

• The sentence is referring to a specific title, 'Missile Man of India,' which is associated with Dr. Abdul Kalam.
• When we refer to one-of-a-kind objects or unique individuals/titles, the definite article is used.
• The definite article 'the' is the appropriate choice.
• It indicates that the speaker believes the listener/reader knows the identity of the noun's referent (because it is obvious, because it is common knowledge, or because it was mentioned in the same sentence or an earlier sentence).
• In this case, 'the' conveys that there is one distinct identity known as the 'Missile Man of India,' which is Dr. Abdul Kalam.
• So, the complete sentence should be: "Dr. Abdul Kalam is known as the 'Missile Man of India'."

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 3."

Additional Information

• 'an': The indefinite article 'an' is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.
• However, it does not correctly represent the unique title 'Missile Man of India', and hence, is not the right choice.
• 'a': The indefinite article 'a' is used when the noun it refers to represents any instance of a class.
• In contrast, the title 'Missile Man of India' is specific and unique to Dr. Abdul Kalam, so 'a' isn't the correct choice.

The correct answer is "Prank."

Key Points

• The correct substitution for the underlined segment "played a jinx" in the sentence is "prank".
• In the context of the sentence, the boys are performing an action intended to trick or joke around with the old shopkeeper.
• This is precisely what the term "prank" denotes.
• A "prank" is understood to be a practical joke or a mischievous act played on someone, primarily for amusement of the person(s) executing the prank.
• Using "prank" helps set the appropriate tone and conveys the intended sense of playfulness or mischief in the boys' actions.
• Therefore, the revised sentence becomes: "The boys played a prank on the old shopkeeper by dropping a dead mouse in a jar of candy."

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 4."

The correct answer is "A tendency to steal".

Key Points

• The idiom "sticky fingers" has a figurative meaning, which is "a tendency to steal."
• Idioms are phrases that aren't meant to be understood by their literal interpretation, but rather by how the phrase is commonly understood within the language's cultural context.
• In the case of "sticky fingers", imagine that if something "sticks" to your fingers, it remains with you even if it doesn't belong to you.
• This idiomatic phrase is, thus, used to symbolise a person's inclination to steal or take things that don't belong to them.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 1".

The correct answer is "is having".

Key Points

• The question asks about what Rachit is doing right now, that is, it requires the present continuous tense which is used to talk about actions happening at the moment of speaking.
• 'is having': This is in the present continuous tense, which indicates an action currently in progress, and this fits the context perfectly.
• So, the complete sentence reads: "What is Rachit doing? He is having his bath."

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 3."

Additional Information

• 'had': This is the past simple tense, which doesn't fit this context as the sentence is asking about a current action.
• 'will have': This refers to future tense and, again, doesn't fit in the context of the current ongoing action.
• 'has': This is present tense, and although it might work for some verbs (like 'has breakfast'), 'bath' is not typically used this way.

The correct answer is "will remain."

Key Points

• In this sentence, we need a verb that indicates future prediction or arrangement regarding the school's state.
• 'will remain': This is simple future tense, which is used to express actions that haven't happened yet but are expected or planned to happen in the future.
• It is suitable for future predictions.
• The finished sentence reads: "The school will remain closed tomorrow."
• ​This sentence uses the correct tense to indicate a future arrangement or state.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 3."

Additional Information

• 'closes': Ordinarily, 'closes' is used in simple present tense for habitual actions, not for a specific future event, hence it's not the best fit here.
• 'has remained': This is the present perfect tense, primarily used to talk about things that have happened in the past up to now.
• It's not suitable for a future prediction or arrangement.
• 'is remaining': This is the present continuous tense, generally used to talk about ongoing actions at the present moment.
• However, sometimes it can be used for future arrangements, but it's less commonly used in that way than 'will remain'.

The correct answer is "Quarral."

Key Points

• Let's look at each word to spot the incorrectly spelled one:
• 'Quarral': The correct spelling of this word is 'Quarrel'.
• Hence, 'Quarral' is spelled incorrectly.
• 'Several': This is the correct spelling for this word.
• 'Mineral': This is the correct spelling for this word.
• 'General': This is the correct spelling for this word.
• Thus, the incorrectly spelled word is: Quarral

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 1."

The correct answer is “Is Sumeet on a day’s leave today?”

Key Points

• The sentence begins with a quotation mark (open quotes “) and ends with the correct punctuation, a question mark (?), and quotation mark (close quotes ”).
• This is the proper way to encase direct speech or quoted text.
• The first word "Is" is correctly capitalized, as every sentence should start with a capital letter.
• The name "Sumeet" is capitalized correctly because it's a proper noun.
• The word "day's" has the correct apostrophe placement.
• In this context, the apostrophe indicates a singular possessive, meaning the leave belongs to the day.
• The sentence ends with a question mark inside the quotation marks, indicating it is a question.
• This is the correct punctuation for inquiries.
• So the sentence maintains the right structure, punctuation, and capitalization.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 4".

The correct answer is "Approche."

Key Points

• The incorrectly spelled word from the list can be identified by comparing each word to its correct spelling: 'Approche':
• The correct spelling of this word is 'Approach'.
• Thus, 'Approche' is incorrectly spelled.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 1."

Additional Information

• 'Approve': This word is spelled correctly.
• 'Appear': This word is spelled correctly.
• 'Appoint': This word is spelled correctly.

The correct answer is "restricted". 

Key Points

• The word 'Accessible' means that something is easy to approach or reach, or can be easily used or entered.
• 'Restricted' suggests that access is limited or controlled, which is effectively the opposite of the term 'accessible'.
• If an area is described as restricted, it means that it is not easily or freely accessible, particularly to certain groups of people.
• The complete sentence reads: "This area is restricted for civilians."
• This indicates that civilians are not allowed free or easy access to the area.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 2."

Additional Information

• 'Possible': This does not convey the opposite of accessibility. Something being possible doesn't necessarily indicate that it isn't accessible.
• 'Reachable': This means the same as 'Accessible', so it can't be an antonym.
• 'Open': Again, this is a synonym of 'Accessible' rather than an antonym.

The correct answer is "construction."

Key Points

• The underlined word in the sentence is "manufacturing."
• In the context of building a bridge, another term may fit better.
• 'Construction' specifically refers to the process of building or constructing something, especially large structures like bridges and buildings.
• It's a commonly used term in the context of infrastructure and is the most accurate and suitable replacement for the underlined word in the sentence.
• The complete sentence would then read: "The construction of the bridge started in 1932 and it was completed in 1937."

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 4."

Additional Information

• 'creation': The term 'creation' can refer to the act of making or producing something, but it's often used in contexts where the result is a unique or original product, work of art, or idea. Its use might not be as precise for describing the building of a bridge.
• 'development': The word 'development' often refers to the process of growing, improving, or elaborating on something over time.
• In the context of a physical structure like a bridge, it might not be the best fit.

The correct answer is "a".

Key Points

• The statement is talking about a nonspecific middle-class Tamil family.
• In such scenarios, the correct article to use depends on the context and the grammatical rules of English.
• 'A': This indefinite article is used before words that start with a consonant sound.
• It's used, as in this case, when the specific identity of the noun is not known to the reader, that is, it refers to any member of a group.
• Therefore, the correct sentence reads: "He was born into a middle-class Tamil family."

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 3."

Additional Information

• 'an': This indefinite article is used before words that start with a vowel sound.
• It isn't suitable here because the word 'middle' starts with a consonant sound
• 'the': This definite article is used to refer to something that has already been mentioned, is easily identified, or is unique.
• The context of this sentence doesn't call for a definite reference, making this option unsuitable.

The correct answer is "C, D, A, B".

Key Points

• To form a coherent paragraph, the sentences need to be arranged in a logical sequence that supports clear communication of an idea.
• Here's how the sentences fit together:
• C) "When I was a child, a novel called ‘Kashi Yatre’, was appearing as a serial in the Kannada weekly ‘Karmaveera’."
• This sentence serves as a good introduction, as it describes discovering a novel that will become relevant in the following sentences.
• D) "It was the story of an old lady and her ardent desire to go to Kashi or Varanasi."
• Following the introduction of the novel in sentence C, it's logical to give a brief summary of the story next.
• In this sentence we learn that the novel was about an old lady who strongly desired to go to Kashi.
• A) "Most Hindus believe that going to Kashi and worshipping Lord Vishweshvara is the ultimate punya."
• After being introduced to the old lady's desire to go to Kashi in sentence D, sentence A provides more context to further explain her desire.
• B) "This old lady also believed in this, and her struggle to go there was described in that novel."
• Finally, sentence B refers back to both the specific novel and the general belief about Kashi.
• It clarifies that the old lady from the novel shared the belief introduced in sentence A, and that her struggle to reach Kashi was a central part of the novel's plot.
• So, the correctly arranged paragraph reads:
• "When I was a child, a novel called ‘Kashi Yatre’, was appearing as a serial in the Kannada weekly ‘Karmaveera’. It was the story of an old lady and her ardent desire to go to Kashi or Varanasi. Most Hindus believe that going to Kashi and worshipping Lord Vishweshvara is the ultimate punya. This old lady also believed in this, and her struggle to go there was described in that novel."

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

The correct answer is "A, C, B, D."

Key Points

• The correct arrangement of sentences is A, C, B, D.
• A) "Storytelling is not easy." -
• This sentence works well as an opening statement as it clearly introduces the subject of the paragraph - storytelling, indicating that it is a complex task.
• C) "It requires the proper modulation of voice, in order to create an atmosphere of horror, surprise, humour or peace." -
• Following the introductory sentence, it is logical to immediately delve into what makes storytelling challenging.
• This sentence provides details on the skills needed for effective storytelling, specifically the proper modulation of voice to create certain atmospheres, thus it builds directly upon sentence A.
• B) "During my childhood, my grandfather would tell me stories lying under the dark starry nights."
• After discussing the complexities and requirements of storytelling, the paragraph now moves into a concrete example to illustrate the concept, making the shift from the abstract (the concept and skills of storytelling) to the specific (the narrator's personal experience with storytelling as a child).
• D) "During those storytelling nights, I have travelled with my grandfather to the battlefield of Haldighati in Rajasthan and cried for the dead horse, Chetak." 
• To continue the personal narrative introduced in sentence B, sentence D brings in details from one specific story that the grandfather told.
• It smoothly follows sentence B and provides an emotional insight into the impact of his grandfather's storytelling.
• So, the sequence A, C, B, D creates a logical and coherent paragraph that moves from a general concept to specific information, covering the complexity of storytelling, its requirements, and the narrator's personal experience.
• The ordered paragraph reads:
• "Storytelling is not easy. It requires the proper modulation of voice, in order to create an atmosphere of horror, surprise, humour or peace. During my childhood, my grandfather would tell me stories lying under the dark starry nights. During those storytelling nights, I have travelled with my grandfather to the battlefield of Haldighati in Rajasthan and cried for the dead horse, Chetak."

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 2."