OSSSC JUNIOR CLERK PREVIOUS YEAR SOLVED QUESTION WITH ANSWER - SUB : ENGLISH

Board Name: Odisha Sub Ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC)

Post Name: Junior Clerk
Subject : English
Full Marks : 50

Exam Year: 2017

OSSSC Junior Clerk Previous Question Paper

ENGLISH LANGUAGE 

SECTION - A : 20 Marks

Instructions: Each question under this section carries two marks. Please read the instructions in italic given against each question carefully and answer the questions by selecting the right one out of the multiple answers given below each as 1, 2, 3 and 4.

1. It is _______ (cold) today than it was yesterday. We must not venture ______ (early) as usual. (Change the words in brackets into appropriate degree of comparison)

1. colder, earlier
2. colder, early
3. coldest, earliest
4. more cold, earlier than
Ans: (2)



2. Keeping in mind the ______ to develop the sector, the government have ______ solicited foreign investment. (Choose the most appropriate pairs of words to complete the sentence) 

1. importance, never
2. need, actively
3. objective, wanted
4. view, discretely
Ans: (2)



3. In his speech he vowed to _______ the four billion unbanked individuals across the world into the _______ of financial inclusion. (Choose the most appropriate pairs of words to complete the sentence)

1. bring, realm
2. target, area
3. represent, sphere
4. engage, achievement
Ans: (1)



4. I was greatly impressed _______ her perseverance in studies, but was very much disappointed _______ the result of her final examination. (Choose the most appropriate pairs of prepositions to complete the sentence) 

1. at, with
2. with, at
3. on, about
4. upon, with
Ans: (2)



5. She was delighted_______ the present he had sent her and complimented him _______ his deep concern for her. (Choose the most appropriate pairs of prepositions to complete the sentence) 
   

1. on, with
2. with, about
3. at, on
4. in, for
Ans: (3)



6. Neither Rosalin nor her sister ______ present, but their father along with their two younger brothers ______ available for discussion in the meeting yesterday. (Choose the most appropriate pairs of  auxiliaries to complete the sentence)

1. is, are
2. are, were
3. was,were
4. was, was
Ans: (4)



7. A committee has been ______ to ______ the city into an international trade center. (Choose the most appropriate pairs of verbs to complete the sentence).

1. converged, evaluate
2. appointed, oversee
3. constituted, transform
4. inducted, change
Ans: (3)



8. They have been ______ on incentives to ______ these practices are implemented at grass root level. (Choose the most appropriate pairs of words to complete the sentence) 

1. relying, ensure
2. improving, secure
3. advocating, confirm
4. dabating, necessitate
Ans: (1)



9. Usually Nirmala ______ white shirts, but today she ______ a green one. (Choose the most appropriate pairs of verbs to complete the sentence) 

1. wear, is wearing
2. wears, is wearing
3. wore, has worn
4. is wearing, wears
Ans: (2)



10. Her purse was ______ at the bus stop, so she ______ a complaint at the nearest police station. (Choose the most appropriate pairs of verbs to complete the sentence)

1. pilfered, filed
2. tacken, filed
3. stolen, gave
4. robbed, registered
Ans: (1)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE 

SECTION - B : 10 Marks

Instruction: Each question under this section carried one mark. Please read the instructions in italic given against each question carefully and answer the questions by selecting the right one out of the multiple answers given below each as 1, 2, 3 and 4.

1. No other story-book is as popular as The Arabian Nights. (Pick out its most appropriate alternative that best expresses it in a positive form)

1. The Arabian Nights is the most popular story book.
2. The Arabian Nights are more popular than some other story books.
3. The Arabian Nights is one of the most popular story books.
4. The Arabian Nights are the most popular story books.
Ans: (1)



2. Girl with tall dark grey hair the yesterday spoke at the meeting very well. (Re-organized the jumbled sentence into right order)

1. The tall dark haired girl spoke at the meeting very well yesterday.
2. The tall girl with dark grey hair spoke very well at the meeting yesterday.
3. The dark tall girl spoke yesterday very well at the meeting.
4. The girl with tall dark grey hair very well spoke at the meeting yesterday.
Ans: (2)



3. Identify the incorrect one of the following possessive cases.

1. The King of Bhutan's visit
2. In a year's time
3. Karim and Salim's bakery
4. The Table's top
Ans: (4)



4. Her mother is a woman of wonderful patience. (Identify the underlined part) 

1. Noun Phrase
2. Adverb Phrase
3. Adjective Phrase
4. None of these
Ans: (3)



5. Sick as he was he did not go to school yesterday. (Identify the underlined part)

1. Adjective Clause
2. Noun Clause
3. Independent Clause
4. Adverb Clause
Ans: (4)



6. It is unlikely that you will (A) / find a more qualified and experience (B) / candidate than Mr. Prasad (C) / for the post of President (D). (Find out the part of the sentence having grammatical error)

1. (A)
2. (B)
3. (C)
4. (D)
Ans: (2)



7. Afraid of missing her train and was late for the meeting, Sunita arrived an hour early at the station. (Which of the following shall replace the part of the sentence Underlined?) 

1. but later for
2. and been late to
3. after being late
4. and being late for
Ans: (4)



8. I remember my sister taking me to the museum when I was a child. (Pick out its correct alternative in changed voice)

1. I remember I was taken to the museum by my sister when i was a child.
2. I remembered being taken to the museum by my sister when she was a child.
3. I remember myself being taken to the museum by my sister when I was a child.
4. I remember taken to the museum by my sister during my childhood.
Ans: (3)



9. 'That is my horse,' said he, 'and if I do not prove it in a few minutes, I will give up my claim.' (Find out its appropriate alternative in changed speech)

1. He said that it is his horse and if he do not prove it in a few minutes, he will give up his claim.
2. He claimed that that was his horse and if he did not prove it in a few minutes, he would give up his claim.
3. He says that that is his horse and if he does not prove it in a few minutes, he will give up his claim.
4. He asserted that it had been his horse and if he could not prove it in a few minutes, he will give his claim.
Ans: (2)



10. It is the common doom of man. He must eat his bread by the sweat of his brow. (Pick out the appropriate connector to join the two sentences) 

1. who
2. when
3. what
4. that
Ans: (4)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE 

SECTION - C : 20 Marks

Instructions: Each question under this section carries two marks. Please read the following piece of news carefully and answer the questions out of the multiple answers given below each as 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Abe in Ahmedbad

              The symbolism of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe holding parleys with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad from today cannot be missed. The last Asian leader who was similary hosted in Ahmedabad was Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014. Back then Modi had gone out of his way to fete Xi, but considerable water has flown down the Yangtze Kiang since then. India-China ties haven't proceeded along the expected trajectory, as exemplified by the recent Dhoklam standoff.

              Japanese exports to India rose form Rs.22,900 crore in 2005 to Rs.57,800 crore in 2015 and as of today about 1305 Japanese companies have branches in India. Japanese investments-both made and proposed - in projects such as the Delhi Metro and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor have been or can be transformational. Abe along with Modi will lay the foundation stone for the marquee Rs.1.1 lakh crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project which Japan is financing. Understandably, an Indian bullet train has raised eyebrows given the shabby state and unsatisfactory safety record of Indian railways in general. However, it needs to be noted that the bullet train project will have a separate financing stream. Plus, the project can be used as a model to upgrade technology, standards and protocols across the railways.

            Additionally, India and Japan will sign 10 MoUs - including those for Japanese industrial parks - during Abe's trip. But what is really grabbing eyeballs is the expected launch of the Asia Africa Growth Corridor. The corridor is meant to build capacity and boost human resource development in Africa, create quality infrastructure, and facilitate people-to-people partnerships. Juxtaposed to China's top-down investments comprising its 'One Belt One Road' initiative, India-Japan's outreach to the continent seeks to connect different growth poles through local ownership of projects, skill development and transfer of technology.

                The strategic dimension of the corridor is clear. With China using its huge foreign exchange reserve to acquire economic depth overseas while trying to muscle aside other Asian powers, India and Japan can work together to buttress a multipolar Asia, as well as to provide an alternative model of development for Asia and Africa that respects sovereignty and democratic principles. In that sense, the India-Japan partnership can be a force that transforms the development paradigm in this part of the world. And Modi and Abe have the personal connect to actualise this.

1. Match the vocabularies under List-1 with their meanings under List-2 as used in the passage using the codes given below.
   List-1                             List-2
   A. To fete                       1. Disapprove
   B. Marquee                    2. Draw close attention
   C. Raise eyebrows         3. To welcome somebody publicly
   D. Grab eye-ball            4. Most important

1. A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
2. A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
3. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
4. A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
Ans: (1)



2. How many Complex sentences have been used in the second Paragraph of the passage?

1. one
2. two
3. three
4. four
Ans: (2)



3. Name the type of Clause used in the underlined part of the following sentence.
   However, it needs to be noted that the bullet train project will have a separate financing stream.

1. Independent Clause
2. Adjective Clause
3. Adverb Clause
4. Noun Clause
Ans: (4)



4. Which of the following verbs has not been used in the passage as Infinite Verb?

1. holding
2. to connect
3. transforms
4. juxtaposed
Ans: (3)



5. One of the following words does not match with the others in terms of their usage in the passage. Find out the word that mismatches with the others.

1. expected
2. shabby
3. outreach
4. multipolar
Ans: (3)



6. Why does the writer suggest that India and Japan can work together to buttress a multi-polar Asia?

1. China is investing huge capital overseas to boost the Asian economy and help grow the other Asian countries.
2. During Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's current trip, India and Japan are expected to launch the Asia Africa Growth Corridor.
3. Japan is investing huge capital overseas to dominate the Asian economy and dwarf the other Asian countries.
4. While China is trying to dominate the Asia, India and Japan can offer alternative model for mutual development of Asia and Africa respecting sovereignty and democratic principles.
Ans: (4)



7. What theoretical differences between the Japanese and Chinese models of continental development have been postulated by the author of the passage?

1. China adopts an inclusive investment policy, whereas Japan seeks to launch a monopolistic investment policy to secure its economic depth.
2. Japan follows an exclusive investment policy ignoring the other stake-holders, but the Chinese venture aims at mutual development with transfer of skill and technology.
3. China adopts a monopolistic investment policy side-lining the others, whereas the Japanese venture seeks to develop the other players by encouraging local ownership of projects, skill development and transfer of technology.
4. Japan launches a restrictive investment policy, whereas China attempts to develop the other players by skill development and transfer of technology.
Ans: (3)



8. Why are the Indian people critical of the multi-crore Mumbai-Ahmadabad bullet train project being financed by Japan?

1. The Indian Railway has been functioning most effectively as the World's fourth largest railway network
2. The functioning of the Indian railway has been far from satisfactory due to serious unpunctuality in running of trains.
3. The Indian people are discontented with the disorderliness and lack of safety in the running of Indian trains.
4. The Indian railway has been highly acclaimed for keeping time and looking after security and comforts of passengers despite the vastness of its network.
Ans: (3)





9. How does the writer defend the Rs.1.1 lakh crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project?

1. The project will be very expensive, uneconomical and increase the loan burden of Indian Government.
2. The project though expensive will be financed on soft terms by Japan and act as a model for upgradation of technology, standards and functioning of the Indian railways.
3. If this project becomes successful, the project can be replicated in connecting the other metropolitan cities.
4. The Indian people dislike the project as the Indian railways have not been able to run the existing trains punctually and safely.
Ans: (2)



10. How is Narendr Modi, the Prime Minister of India's meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, in Ahmedabad symbolic?

1. The MoU for the first ever Indian Bullet Train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai will be signed on this day of historic meeting.
2. Delhi Metro Train has achieved spectacular success with collaboration of the same Japanese Government.
3. Japanese investments-both made and proposed-in projects such as the Delhi Metro and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor have been or can be highly transformational.
4. The last bilateral summit between the then Chinese President, Xi Jinping, and the Indian Prime Minister was held in Ahmedabad in 2014.
Ans: (4)