PYST 9: IB Security Assistant (Executive) Official Paper - English Language (Held On: 29 Sept, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points

• The sentence requires proper punctuation to make it clear and grammatically correct.
• The correct punctuation involves separating the two independent clauses with a semicolon (";").
• In this case, the correct sentence is: "He is not only intelligent; he is also hardworking."
• The semicolon is used to link two closely related independent clauses that are not joined by a conjunction.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

Correct Sentence: "He is not only intelligent; he is also hardworking."

Additional Information

• Option 2: "He is not only, intelligent he is also hardworking." – This option incorrectly places a comma after "not only," which disrupts the sentence flow.
• Option 3: "He is not only intelligent: he is also hardworking." – A colon (":") is not appropriate here, as it is not introducing a list, explanation, or elaboration.
• Option 4: "He is not only intelligent, he is also hardworking." – A comma is incorrect here as it creates a comma splice (two independent clauses joined by a comma without a conjunction).

The correct answer is: Option 4 (explicit).

Key Points

• The word "lucid" means clear, easy to understand, or expressed in a way that is unambiguous. (स्पष्ट)
• Example: The teacher gave a lucid explanation of the complex topic, making it easy for the students to grasp.
• "Explicit" refers to something that is clearly expressed or readily understandable without any ambiguity. (सुस्पष्ट)
• Example: The terms and conditions of the agreement were explicit, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
• Hence, we can infer that the synonym of "lucid" is "explicit".

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 4 (explicit).

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Rapid (तेज़): Happening quickly or in a short period of time.
• Example: The patient's condition showed rapid improvement after the treatment.
• Noble (उदार): Showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles.
• Example: His noble intentions were evident in his charitable work.
• Vague (अस्पष्ट): Not clearly expressed, defined, or understood.
• Example: His instructions were so vague that nobody knew what to do.

The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

The misspelled word is 'harrassment'.

• The correct spelling would be 'harassment'.
• The word 'harassment' is a noun which means 'aggressive pressure or intimidation'. (उत्पीड़न)
• For Example - The employee reported multiple incidents of workplace harassment.

Therefore, the correct answer would be 'harrassment'.

Additional Information

Let's understand the meanings of the other marked words - 

• Autocracy - a system of government by one person with absolute power (तानाशाही)
• Dissidents - (विरोधी)

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

• The paragraph begins with Oksana grabbing a branch, which sets the tone for a tense and suspenseful situation.
• Sentence C is the first sentence as it introduces Oksana creeping towards the door, building suspense:
• "She crept towards the door."
• Sentence A follows as it describes the eerie atmosphere created by the howling wind:
• "The wind howled eerily down the chimney."
• Sentence B is next as it describes Oksana summoning her courage to open the door:
• "Oksana swallowed and swung the door open."
• Sentence D concludes the middle section, revealing there was nothing outside, maintaining the suspense:
• "There was nothing there."
• The correct sequence is CABD.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"Oksana rose grabbing a branch. She crept towards the door. The wind howled eerily down the chimney. Oksana swallowed and swung the door open. There was nothing there. Her heart pound fiercely as she stared out at the snow whipping about in the light of her small fire."

The correct answer is 'beside'.

Key Points

• The word "beside" means "next to" or "at the side of," which fits the context of the sentence perfectly.
• The sentence describes Shayla sitting next to Komal during the performance, making "beside" the most appropriate choice.
• Options 1, 2, and 4 are incorrect as they do not convey the intended meaning in the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Complete Sentence: "Shayla sat beside Komal during the performance, and they talked inaudibly throughout."

Additional Information

• Option 1: "between" is incorrect because it implies Shayla was sitting in the middle of two people or things, which is not indicated in the sentence.
• Option 2: "around" is incorrect because it means "surrounding" or "in the vicinity of," which does not fit the context.
• Option 4: "among" is incorrect because it implies being part of a group, which does not align with the sentence.

The correct answer is option 4.

Key Points

The misspelled word is 'injenuity'.

• The correct spelling would be 'ingenuity'.
• The word 'ingenuity' is a noun which means 'the quality of being clever, original, and inventive'. (कौशल)
• For Example -
• The boy showed great ingenuity in solving the puzzle.

Therefore, the correct answer would be 'injenuity'.

Additional Information

Let's understand the meanings of the other marked words - 

• Labelled - to assign a label to something or classify it. (लेबल लगाया)
• Impractical - not adapted for use or action; not sensible or realistic (अव्यावहारिक)
• Design - a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is made (रचना)

The correct answer is 'elucidated'.

Key Points

• The word "elucidated" means to explain or make (something) clear. (स्पष्टीकरण देना)
• The professor clarified the complex theory by providing a simple analogy, which fits the context of the sentence perfectly.
• The other options: "convoluted" means complex or difficult to follow, "negated" means nullify or deny, and "perplexed" means to confuse, do not appropriately fit the blank.

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

Complete Sentence: The professor elucidated the complex theory using a simple analogy that all students could grasp.

Additional Information

• Convoluted (जटिल): means extremely complex and difficult to follow.
• Negated (अस्वीकृत): means nullify or make ineffective.
• Perplexed (विचलित): means completely baffled or confused.

The correct answer is: Option 3 i.e. 'Slightly ill or unwell'.

Key Points

• The idiom "Off colour" means feeling slightly ill or unwell; it refers to not being in one's usual state of health or vitality. (थोड़ा बीमार या अस्वस्थ)
• Example: John was feeling off colour, so he decided to rest and skip work for the day.
• "Slightly ill or unwell" refers to a state of mild discomfort, sickness, or not feeling one's best. (थोड़ा बीमार)
• Example: After eating too much at the party, Sarah felt slightly unwell and went home early.
• Hence, the idiom "Off colour" aligns with the meaning of "Slightly ill or unwell".

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 3.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Option 1: Wearing mismatched clothes (असंगत कपड़े पहनना): Refers to dressing in clothes that do not match or coordinate properly.
• Example: He accidentally wore mismatched socks to the meeting.
• Option 2: Bright and energetic (चमकीला और ऊर्जावान): Refers to being lively, enthusiastic, and full of energy.
• Example: She looked bright and energetic after her morning workout.
• Option 4: Running late for a meeting (बैठक के लिए देर हो रही है): Refers to being behind schedule or delayed for an appointment or meeting.
• Example: I rushed through traffic as I was running late for a meeting.

The correct answer is: Polygamy.

Key Points

• The word "Polygamy" refers to the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time. (बहुविवाह)
• Example: In some cultures, polygamy is a traditionally accepted practice.
• In the given question, the definition matches the term "polygamy," which specifically refers to the practice of multiple marriages.
• Hence, we can confirm that "Polygamy" is the correct answer.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Polygamy.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Dotage (वृद्धावस्था): The period of life when a person is old and often mentally less sharp.
• Example: In his dotage, he began to forget even the simplest things.
• Bigamy (द्विविवाह): The act of marrying someone while already being legally married to another person.
• Example: Bigamy is considered a punishable offense in many countries.
• Monogamy (एकपत्नीवाद): The practice of being married to only one person at a time.
• Example: Most modern societies encourage monogamy as the standard relationship structure.

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

• The paragraph's sentences must be arranged logically to form a coherent flow.
• Sentence B is the first sentence as it introduces the workshop and sets the scene:
• "His workshop smelled of varnish, salt, and memory."
• Sentence A follows as it describes the activity taking place in the workshop:
• "He built models of ships he never sailed, names he only read in dusty tomes."
• Sentence D is the third sentence as it explains the emotional and symbolic significance of the models:
• "Each vessel carried a secret longing, a piece of freedom in miniature."
• Sentence C is the last as it concludes by connecting the models to the maker’s unfulfilled aspirations:
• "It was his way of charting waters he never dared to cross."
• The correct sequence is BADC.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"His workshop smelled of varnish, salt, and memory. He built models of ships he never sailed, names he only read in dusty tomes. Each vessel carried a secret longing, a piece of freedom in miniature. It was his way of charting waters he never dared to cross."

The correct answer is: Option 1.

Key Points

• The proverb "There but for the grace of God go I" means that someone's fortunate circumstances or avoidance of misfortune are attributed more to divine providence or external factors than personal merit or effort. (भगवान की कृपा से मैं बचा हुआ हूं।)
• Example: When seeing someone struggling with poverty, one might say, "There but for the grace of God go I," acknowledging that they could have been in the same position if not for their own fortunate circumstances.
• Option 1: Fortunate circumstances often result more from providence than personal merit. (भाग्यशाली परिस्थितियाँ अक्सर ईश्वरीय कृपा से होती हैं, न कि व्यक्तिगत योग्यता से।)
• Example: The billionaire philanthropist humbly acknowledged, "There but for the grace of God go I," crediting his wealth to luck and opportunity rather than personal achievement.
• Hence, the correct interpretation of the proverb is reflected in Option 1.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 1.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Option 2: One's immunity to hardship is earned through righteous conduct and faith. (कठिनाइयों से बचने की क्षमता धर्म और विश्वास के माध्यम से अर्जित की जाती है।)
• Example: The spiritual leader insisted that faith and good deeds shield people from suffering.
• Option 3: Adversity strikes impartially, but enduring it reveals inner virtue. (कठिनाइयाँ सभी पर आती हैं, लेकिन उन्हें सहन करना आंतरिक गुण को प्रकट करता है।)
• Example: Those who survive hardships with dignity often gain deeper wisdom and resilience.
• Option 4: Moral judgment should be tempered by the belief in retributive justice. (नैतिक निर्णय को प्रतिशोधात्मक न्याय के विश्वास से संयमित किया जाना चाहिए।)
• Example: The judge reminded the jury to consider the principle of retributive justice while delivering the verdict.

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points

• The sentence requires quotation marks to correctly attribute the saying to the teacher.
• Option 1 is punctuated correctly, as it includes quotation marks around the statement "Honesty is the best policy" and a comma after "said."
• Option 2 uses an exclamation mark, which is inappropriate in this context.
• Option 3 includes an unnecessary comma, making the sentence grammatically incorrect.
• Option 4 lacks the required punctuation marks, making it incorrect.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

Correct Sentence: "The teacher said, "Honesty is the best policy.""

The correct answer is: Tumultuous.

Key Points

• The word "halcyon" refers to a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful. (शांतिपूर्ण और सुखमय)
• Example: She often reminisced about the halcyon days of her childhood, when life was simple and carefree.
• "Tumultuous" refers to something that is full of tumult or disorder; chaotic and noisy. (अशांत और उथल-पुथल भरा)
• Example: The 1960s were a tumultuous decade, marked by significant cultural and political change.
• Hence, we can infer that the opposite of 'halcyon' is 'tumultuous'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Tumultuous.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Agrarian (कृषि संबंधी): Relating to cultivated land or agriculture.
• Example: The government introduced agrarian reforms to improve the lives of farmers.
• Utopian (आदर्शवादी): Referring to an idealistic and perfect state or society.
• Example: His plans for a utopian society were ambitious but unrealistic.
• Dystopian (अंधकारमय और विकृत समाज): Referring to a society characterized by human misery, oppression, or societal decay.
• Example: The novel painted a dystopian future where freedom no longer existed.

The correct answer is 'the'.

Key Points

• The definite article "the" is used to specify something particular or well-known to the speaker and listener.
• In the given sentence, "fall of the Roman Empire" refers to a specific historical event, which requires the definite article "the" for clarity and specificity.
• Option 1 (a), Option 3 (No article required), and Option 4 (an) are grammatically incorrect in this context.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

Complete Sentence: "Historians have long debated the significance of the fall of the Roman Empire and its impact on the medieval world."

Additional Information

• Option 1: "a" is incorrect because "a" is used for non-specific singular nouns, whereas the sentence refers to a specific event.
• Option 3: "No article required" is incorrect because the fall of the Roman Empire is a specific historical event that requires a definite article.
• Option 4: "an" is incorrect because "an" is used before singular nouns starting with vowel sounds, which does not apply here.

The correct answer is: Ubiquitous.

Key Points

• The word "ubiquitous" means existing or being everywhere at the same time, especially something that seems to be present in all places at once. (हर जगह मौजूद)
• Example: Smartphones have become so ubiquitous that you rarely see anyone without one.
• "Ubiquitous" is the correct word to describe the presence of something everywhere simultaneously. (हर जगह मौजूद)
• Example: Social media platforms are ubiquitous in today’s digital world.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Ubiquitous.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

• Evanescent (क्षणभंगुर): Something that is fleeting or quickly fading away.
• Example: The evanescent beauty of a sunset is a reminder of nature's transient wonders.
• Fugacious (क्षणिक): Something that is lasting for a very short time.
• Example: The fugacious nature of youth is often celebrated in poetry.
• Recondite (गूढ़): Something that is not easily understood; obscure.
• Example: The professor's lecture on quantum mechanics was so recondite that only a few students could follow it.

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

• The sentence contrasts Turner’s humble background with his early success, indicating achievement despite difficulties.
• The verb “managed” appropriately conveys success achieved through effort or determination.
• Options like “faltered,” “wavered,” and “neglected” suggest failure or hesitation, which do not fit the positive context.
• Therefore, “managed” best completes the sentence meaningfully.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points

• The blank refers to the Royal Academy of Arts, an institution known for its high reputation and status.
• The adjective “prestigious” correctly describes an institution that is highly respected and admired.
• Options like “tarnished”, “pretentious”, and “notorious” carry negative or inappropriate connotations and do not suit the context.
• Therefore, “prestigious Royal Academy of Arts” fits both grammatically and contextually.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

Additional Information

• Tarnished: Means damaged reputation; unsuitable for describing a respected academy.
• Pretentious: Suggests false importance; does not fit the neutral-biographical tone.
• Notorious: Means famous for bad reasons; clearly incorrect in this context.

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

• The blank describes the age at which J. M. W. Turner became an Academician.
• Turner achieved professional success at a very young age, becoming an Academician at just 24.
• The word “precocious” means showing early development or maturity, especially at a young age.
• Other options do not fit the context of early achievement.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

Complete Sentence: “He became an Academician at the precocious age of 24.”

Additional Information

• Belated: Means delayed; opposite of what the sentence implies.
• Proficient: Means skilled or competent, not related to age.
• Prodigal: Means wasteful or extravagant; contextually incorrect.

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key Points

• The correct idiomatic expression is “rubbed shoulders with”, which means to mix socially with important or famous people.
• In the passage, the sentence refers to Turner associating with influential personalities, which fits the meaning of the idiom.
• Options like scraped, wiped, and brushed do not form a correct or commonly accepted idiom in this context.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

• Scraped shoulders: Not an idiomatic expression.
• Wiped shoulders: Grammatically incorrect in this context.
• Brushed shoulders: Rarely used and does not convey social association clearly.

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points

• The sentence states that although Turner mixed with influential people (“rubbed shoulders with the great”), he did not change his behaviour.
• The verb “refine” means to improve or polish manners, which fits naturally with the phrase “refine his manners.”
• The context suggests that Turner remained unchanged and did not become more polished or sophisticated despite his success.
• The other options do not collocate correctly with “manners” in this context.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

Additional Information

• Option 2: reduce – Incorrect, as manners are not “reduced” in this context.
• Option 3: impair – Incorrect, as it means to damage, which does not fit the idea expressed.
• Option 4: mystify – Incorrect, as it means to confuse and does not collocate with “manners.”