OPSC ASO PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION PAPER WITH ANSWERS : ENGLISH

Board Name: Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC)

Post Name: Asst. Section Officer - 2012 - 13 
Time: 1 Hours

Total Questions: 100

Full Marks: 100

Each Question Carries: 1 Mark

Exam Year: 2015

OPSC ASO Exam Syllabus:-

SL. No.	Subject	Marks
1.	English	100
2.	Mathematics	100
3	Essay
	1. English within 350 words	025
	2. Odia within 350 words	025
4.	General Awareness	100
5.	Test of Reasoning/ Mental Ability	100
6.	Computer Application
	1. Theory	100
	2. Skill Test in Computer (practical)	50
	Total	600

OPSC Asst. Section Officer Previous Year Question Paper:

1. The train from New Delhi is late by 2 hours. What question would you make in order to get this answer?

1. Is the train from New Delhi late ?
2. How late is the train from New Delhi ?
3. When will the train from New Delhi arrive ?
4. Where will the late train arrive from ?
Ans: (2)



2. Sam hasn't won this election, _________ ? (Fill in the blank choosing the correct words)

1. has he
2. hasn't he
3. was he
4. can he
Ans: (1)



3. Choose the correct antonym of 'optimist' ?:

1. Cynical
2. Pessimist
3. Realist
4. Pragmatist
Ans: (2)



4. Raju is quite smart and intelligent. His brother, however, is rather __________ and ___________. (Fill in the blanks choosing the correct words)

1. short, unintelligent
2. unsmart, stupid
3. slow and dull
4. brisk and witty
Ans: (2)



5. Fill in the blank with the appropriate preposition : The document has to be certified by an officer not __________ the rank of a Tehsildar.

1. under
2. above
3. below
4. over
Ans: (3)



6. "Will you attend the meeting ?" he said. In reported speech this will be : 

1. He asked us whether we would attend the meeting.
2. We asked us whether he would attend the meeting.
3. He asked that if we will attend the meeting.
4. We asked if he will attend the meeting.
Ans: (1)



7. The following word refers to a country seeking public vote in respect of a matter of national policy or political significance : 

1. Referendum
2. Referral
3. Reference
4. Referenda
Ans: (1)



8. All members of the staff leave office at 6 P.M. In the past tense this will read:

1. All members of staff left the office at 6 P.M.
2. All members of the staff left office at 6 P.M.
3. All the members of the staff left office at 6 P.M.
4. All members of the staff were leaving office at 6 P.M.
Ans: (2)





9. "Have you seen Soumya of late ?" "No, I'm afraid. I have not __________ her for nearly a week." (Fill in the blank with right word)

1. saw
2. met
3. meet
4. seen
Ans: (4)



10. I finished typing the pages. I left office. (Rewrite using the phrase 'as soon as')

1. I finished typing the pages as soon as I left office.
2. I finished as soon as I typed the pages to leave office.
3. As soon as I finished typing the pages I left office.
4. As soon as I finished the typing of pages I left the office.
Ans: (3)



11. Identify the wrongly spelt word in following : 

1. Symbolic
2. Synergy
3. Systematic
4. Synthasis
Ans: (4)



12. Identify the word with correct spelling : 

1. Liquidate
2. Leagality
3. Lisentious
4. Liesure
Ans: (1)



13. No pain, __________ is an old proverb. (Choose the right phrase below and complete the proverb) 

1. no slain
2. no plain
3. no grain
4. no gain
Ans: (4)



14. In the old saying, Honesty is the best policy, 'Policy' means :

1. Insurance
2. Bet
3. Principle
4. Contact
Ans: (3)



15. __________ you run, you will not catch up with your sister who left some time ago. (Fill in the blank with right word / words)

1. If not
2. If
3. Until
4. Unless
Ans: (4)



16. What would be the correct response to the following ? Have you finished correcting this draft?

1. I have been correcting this draft since morning.
2. No, I haven't.
3. No, I won't.
4. I will finish correcting this draft soon.
Ans: (2)



17. It was quite _________ of you to have ________ the letter wrongly delivered to you. (Choose the right words to fill in the blanks)

1. thinking, returned
2. thoughtful, returning
3. thoughtful, returned
4. thinking, return
Ans: (3)



18. Corruption cannot be called a pan-Indian phenomenon. What does 'Pan' mean?

1. Only
2. Within
3. Across
4. All of the above
Ans: (4)





19. If you think you have offended someone unawares, you must show the courtesy to _________. (Choose the right words to complete the sentence)

1. explain the offence
2. take back the offence
3. say 'thank you'
4. say 'sorry'
Ans: (4)



20. Rabibabu has been living in Balasore for the last twenty years. What this means is that __________. (Fill in the blank with right words) 

1. Rabibabu has left Balasore for good
2. Rabibabu's leaving Balasore was not good
3. Rabibabu is still living in Balasore
4. Rabibabu will live in Balasore forever
Ans: (3)



21. Which of the following is a correct sentence?

1. I had checked my pockets and discovered that I forgotten the keys elsewhere.
2. I checked my pockets and discovered that I had forgotten the keys elsewhere.
3. I checked my pockets and discovered that I forgot the keys elsewhere.
4. I check my pockets and discover that I had forgotten the keys elsewhere.
Ans: (2)



22. Find out the incorrect sentence below :  

1. Both sisters are telling lies ; neither is to be believed.
2. Both sisters tell lies; neither is believed.
3. Both sisters are telling lies; neither are to be believed.
4. Both sisters are neither telling lies; nor they are believed.
Ans: (1)



23. Bring __________ axe; I shall cut down _________ tree. (Supply the correct articles) 

1. my, that
2. that, this
3. the, a
4. an, the
Ans: (4)



24. Identify the sentence that uses articles correctly :  

1. Office of the Collector is located at a distance of 2 kilometers.
2. The Office of Collector is located at the distance of 2 kilometers.
3. The Office of the Collector is located at a distance of 2 kilometers.
4. An Office of the Collector is located at the distance of 2 kilometers
Ans: (3)



25. The Prime Minster together with his personal staff ________ coming. (Fill in the blank) 

1. are
2. is
3. can
4. have
Ans: (2)



26. This is my book. Where is _______ ? (Fill in the blank)

1. mine
2. yours
3. other
4. that
Ans: (2)



27. I am angry _________ the boys ________ disturbed my sleep. (Fill in the blanks)

1. at, that
2. with, who
3. for, who
4. with, they
Ans: (2)



28. I haven't brought the receipt. I shall give it to you tomorrow. (Begin with "Would you mind" .............. and rewrite the sentence) 

1. Would you mind my bringing the receipt tomorrow ?
2. Would you mind it giving you the receipt tomorrow ?
3. Would you mind if given the receipt to you tomorrow ?
4. Would you mind if I give you the receipt tomorrow ? 
Ans: (4)



29. If you are asking for information, you use very polite language. Which of the following is the most appropriate question in this context ? 

1. Is there a train to Katihar from here ?
2. May I know the train to Katihar from here ?
3. Could you tell me whether there is a train to Katihar from here ?
4. Can you tell me the train from here to Katihar ?
Ans: (3)



30. "May I use your telephone ?" is more _______ than I want to use your telephone. (Fill in the blank) 

1. suggestive
2. authoritarian
3. polite
4. discourteous
Ans: (3)



31. It does not seem to suggest that the offenders who barged into the ATM counter were young people. Which phrase here tells you that the speaker is not quite sure about the offenders? 

1. Seem to suggest
2. Barged into
3. It does not
4. That the offender
Ans: (1)



32. Immediate steps are being taken to return all unused funds to the Establishment Section (Change the voice) 

1. The establishment section takes immediate steps to return.
2. The establishment section is taking immediate steps to return
3. The establishment section are taking immediate steps to return.
4. The establishment section will take immediate steps to return.
Ans: ()



33. Choose the past tense of the verb 'bend'

1. bent
2. bended
3. binded
4. bond
Ans: (1)



34. For your information I would inform you that it is necessary to submit the status report to this office by 31st May, 2013. (Correct the sentence by picking the right suggestion given below)

1. Begin the sentence with "by 31st May, 2013
2. No change required
3. Omit the phrase "I would inform you that"
4. Omit the phrase "For your information"
Ans: (3)



35. Match the fragments correctly :
    (1) The longer you wait                        (a) is to withdraw your nomination
    (2) The more you investigate               (b) I shall give you more
    (3) Once you finish this job                 (c) the better your chances will be
    (4) The least you could do                   (d) the more appalling facts will surface

1. 1 - (d), 2 - (b), 3 - (a), 4 - (c)
2. 1 - (c), 2 - (d), 3 - (b), 4 - (a)
3. 1 - (a), 2 - (c), 3 - (d), 4 - (b)
4. 1 - (d), 2 - (b), 3 - (a), 4 - (c)
Ans: (2)



36. The chair's leg is broken can be better written as : 

1. The chairs leg is broken
2. The leg of the chair is broken
3. The leg of chairs is broken
4. The chair's leg is broken
Ans: (2)



37. The police station is only a stone's throw from the site of burglary. What does "a stone's throw" indicate?

1. A heap of stone
2. Circumstances of burglary
3. Visibility
4. Distance
Ans: (4)



38. Since I had _________ things to buy I had withdrawn _________ money from the ATM. (Fill in blanks with right words)  

1. a few, a little
2. a few, some
3. some, a few
4. few, some
Ans: (2)



39. In order to indicate a sequence, we use such words as :

1. Moreover, further, again
2. First, second, third
3. Next, after, ultimately
4. And, but, yet
Ans: (2)



40. Drunken driving, smoking pot, shoplifting and kidnapping are _________. (Fill in the blank)

1. offending
2. criminals
3. offence
4. crimes
Ans: (4)



41. Walking along the road a car hit me. (Correct the sentence)

1. No correction required
2. As the car hit me, I was walking along the road.
3. When I was walking along the road, a car hit me.
4. Walking along the road, I was hit by car.
Ans: (3)



42. Complete the series : kind - kinder - kindest ; fat - fatter - fattest ; heavy - _________ - __________

1. haevier - heaviest
2. heavier - heaviest
3. havier - haviest
4. heavyer - heavyest
Ans: (2)



43. One who smuggles is a smuggler, one who blackmails is a blackmailer; one who murders is a murderer; one who commits burglary is a : 

1. Burglar
2. Burgler
3. Barglar
4. Burgle
Ans: (1)





44. His brother ________ cancer.  (Fill in the blank)

1. cured of
2. healed of
3. died of
4. succumbed of
Ans: (3)



45. John's mother died last night. Another way of saying this would be :

1. John's mother has gone last night
2. John's mother passed by last night.
3. John's mother passed away last night.
4. John's mother ended her life last night.
Ans: (3)



46. How long has she been waiting for the bus ? I am not sure. (Combine this pair into one sentence)

1. I am not sure how long she has been waiting for the bus.
2. I am not sure how long has she been waiting for the bus?
3. I am not sure that how long she has been waiting for the bus.
4. I am not sure for how long she has been waiting for the bus.
Ans: (1)



47. The whole area is awfully polluted. __________ is a major environmental hazard. (Fill in the blank)

1. Pollution
2. Polluting
3. Pollutant
4. Pollutedness
Ans: (1)



48. Put the following words in an order to make a meaningful sentence : from / with / has not / he / an accident / last February / which / recovered / met / Amulya.

1. Last February Amulya met with an accident from which he has not recovered.
2. Amulya met with an accident last February from which he was not recovered.
3. Amulya met with an accident from which he has not recovered last February.
4. Amulya has not recovered from last February an accident which he met with.
Ans: (2)



49. Make a complete sentence from the following phrases : In a bad temper - we must - in the morning - Mr. Mishra - usually - bear in mind.

1. Usually we must bear in mind that Mr. Mishra in the morning is in a bad temper.
2. Mr. Mishra bear in mind that we usually in a bad temper in the morning.
3. We must bear in mind that Mr. Mishra is usually in a bad temper in the morning.
4. Usually we must bear in mind that Mr. Mishra is in a bad temper in the morning.
Ans: (3)



50. What do these expressions suggest to you ? May I know who's calling ? Who's calling, please ? Who's on the line ?

1. Response to an outgoing phone-call
2. Queries regarding a former telephonic conversation
3. Queries regarding a current telephonic conversation
4. Response to an incoming phone-call
Ans: (4)



51. Many young people lost their jobs __________ the great meltdown of American economy. (Fill in the blank) 

1. from
2. since
3. with
4. during
Ans: (4)



52. Which of the following modified 'observe' most suitably ? 

1. Carefully
2. Remotely
3. Simply
4. Silly
Ans: (1)



53. It takes exactly one hour and twenty minutes to reach the railway station by car. Which of the following questions elicits the answer ?

1. Can I reach the railway station by hiring a car ?
2. How far is the railway station from here ?
3. How long does it take to reach the railway station by car ?
4. Would you suggest that I hire a car to the railway station ? 
Ans: (3)



54. After an official meeting we usually take a vote, reach an agreement, make a recommendation, agree on a course of action, or __________ (Fill in the blank) 

1. get started
2. disperse
3. get going
4. adopt resolution
Ans: (4)



55. During Ann Hazar's agitation, "corruption" became a _________ in the country. (Fill in the blank)

1. watchword
2. keyword
3. cussword
4. buzzword
Ans: (4)



56. I'm not a very domestic sort of person. What this means is that the speaker ?

1. prefers to have a domestic help.
2. does not like home lifer very much.
3. is a stay-at-home sort of person.
4. does not like to leave home for work. 
Ans: (2)



57. The poor man has to look after a large family of his own and his brother's, not to mention his old parents who live in the village. The phrase not to mention is used _________.

1. to introduce extra information
2. to mention something unpleasant
3. to introduce an irrelevant fact
4. not to mention but to inform
Ans: (1)



58. Conjugal rights apply to _________

1. rights that affect a person's life
2. a judicial activist's rights
3. marital relations
4. official information
Ans: (3)



59. Identify the question below that does not require yes / no answer : 

1. Are you going home tonight ?
2. How dare you ask me such a silly question ?
3. Could you show me the way to your gymnasium ?
4. Is there room for one more person in your office ?
Ans: (2)



60. You'd better take your final test sooner than _________ (Fill in the blank)

1. better
2. later
3. latter
4. earlier
Ans: (2)



61. While the immediate dispute appears to have been resolved, many issues remain. It is yet unknown what motivated one party to back off.

1. The two statements are unrelated.
2. They are related in the sense that the second statement is one of the issues that remains.
3. They are not related; the second statement is not an issue that remains.
4. None of the above.
Ans: (2)



62. No one can hope to get away with such a big crime, "Get away with" means :

1. Proceed with
2. Go along with
3. Tolerate
4. Escape punishment
Ans: (4)



63. The officer told me in no uncertain terms that she cannot put up with such nonsense. "Put up with" means :

1. Tolerate
2. Suffer
3. Encourage
4. Oppose
Ans: (1)



64. The carpenter made this box and delivered it to the suppliers. Rewrite the sentence beginning with : This box _________.

1. This box was made and delivered it to the suppliers by the carpenter.
2. This box was made by the carpenter and delivered it to the suppliers.
3. This box was made by the carpenter and delivered to the suppliers.
4. This box was made by carpenter, it was delivered to the suppliers.
Ans: (3)



65. I love my children. I cannot give them all the comforts they want. (Combine into one sentence) 

1. Although I cannot give all comforts they want I love my children.
2. I love my children eventhough I cannot give all they want.
3. I love my children although I cannot give them all the comforts they want.
4. I love my children though I cannot give them all comforts they want.
Ans: (3)



66. Had I known that the officer would be displeased _________ (Complete the sentence choosing the right words)

1. I wouldn't do such a thing
2. would I not do such thing
3. I cannot do such a thing
4. I had not done such a thing
Ans: (1)



67. "I shall never forget the help I got from my parents. They have been so generous all through my days in school and college." Report this as told by a male person. 

1. He said that he shall never forget the help he got from his parents. He has been so generous all through their days in school and college.
2. He said that he would never forget the help he had got from his parents. He added that they had been so generous all through his days in school and college.
3. They said that he would never forget the help he had got from his parents. They added that he had been so generous all through their days in school and college.
4. She said that she would never forget the help she had got from her parents. She added that they had been so generous all through her days in school and college.
Ans: (2)



68. When a letter begins with "Dear Sir / Madam" we call it a) _________ letter. (Fill in the blank)

1. formal
2. official
3. informal
4. unofficial
Ans: (1)



69. The notice or announcement of a person's death in a newspaper or periodical is __________.

1. an advertisement
2. a column
3. a feature
4. an obituary
Ans: (4)



70. In the expression He laughed loudly, "loudly" _________. 

1. denotes duration
2. indicates volume
3. describe manner
4. criticizes action
Ans: (3)

Direction (Q. Nos. 71 to 77) : These questions are based on the following passage. Read it carefully. Pick the most appropriate answer from the options given after each question.

            Across the world, there are barriers to higher education. In developed countries, they may be economic or geographical. In developing countries like India, the obstacles are not only economic or geographical in nature but also bureaucratic - the biggest obstacle of all is simply a lack of supply. That is why, far from the popular impression of online education being viable only in the developed world, it is actually in countries like India where it can fulfil its potential. Internet penetration is growing at a steady pace in India - and unlike conventional education where physical infrastructure is a huge limiting factor, internet connectivity alone can enable millions of youth to access quality higher education online. And we have concrete proof that Indians are hungry for such opportunities. They form the second largest group of people, by nationality, accessing two of the largest online education efforts - Coursera and edX. It is not surprising after all that an Indian would be interested in the quality courses these initiatives offer, or access Ivy League lectures online, or download podcasts by professors from the top global universities, all of which are freely available. With the abysmal situation of India's higher education, online education will free our youth to search for knowledge and power elsewhere.

71. The focus of this passage is on _________.

1. higher education in India
2. online education for Indian students
3. coursera and edX
4. poor accessibility of higher education
Ans: (2)





72. The author of this passage is _________ Indian higher education. (Fill in the blank)

1. critical of
2. appreciative of
3. indifferent towards
4. ignorant of
Ans: (1)



73. Which of the statement below is true, according to the author ? 

1. There are barriers to higher education everywhere in the world.
2. There are barriers to higher education only in India.
3. There are barriers to higher education only among the Indian youth.
4. India offer better opportunities to our youth among the developing nations.
Ans: (1)



74. What, according to the author, is the popular impression ?

1. That online education is inaccessible to all
2. That online education is inaccessible to some
3. That online education works only in the developed world
4. That online education works only in the developing world
Ans: (3)



75. What is a limiting factor in higher education in India ?

1. Good teachers
2. Physical infrastructure
3. Distance between places
4. Huge population
Ans: (2)



76. What lectures are freely available online ? 

1. Coursera and edX
2. University courses
3. Ivy League
4. Podcasts by professors
Ans: (3)



77. How does the author describe India's higher education ?

1. As depressing
2. As below-par
3. As abysmal
4. As unimpressive
Ans: (3)



78. You take a lot of time to read books. It would be advisable to begin planning your essay early. Begin with "Considering," and combine the two sentences :

1. Considering the planning of your essay early you take a lot of time to read books.
2. Considering that you take a lot of time to read books, it would be advisable to plan your essay early.
3. Considering that it would be advisable to plan your essay early, you take a lot of time to read books.
4. Considering that you take a lot of time to read books early, it would be advisable to plan your essay.
Ans: (2)



79. "I have finished this task. No, I am going home." What would be the appropriate questions for the responses here ?

1. Are you going home after finishing the task ?
2. Are you finishing the task ? Or going home ?
3. Are you done ? Are you staying ?
4. When will you finish and go home ?
Ans: (3)



80. The car sped away. It hit only me. In other words, _________.

1. the car is still speeding. It hit only me.
2. the car sped away after hitting me and no one else.
3. the car sped away only after hitting me.
4. the car only sped away while hitting me.
Ans: (2)



81. When your office requires the services of a person who can fit and repair water pipes, you contact a __________.

1. plumber
2. plover
3. carpenter
4. turner
Ans: (1)



82. Which of the following is the correct word-formation ?

1. Detest + ible = detestible
2. Ditest + able = ditestable
3. Ditest + eable = ditesteable
4. Detest + able = detestable
Ans: (4)



83. Choose the correct word having the same, or nearly the same meaning of the world 'Splendid':

1. Beautiful
2. Glamorous
3. Ordinary
4. Magnificent
Ans: (4)



84. Raju is brave, but his brother Ramu is _________.

1. shy
2. timid
3. bored
4. tiny
Ans: (2)



85. The report implies that there is severe scarcity of water and food. Pick out the word that suggest that the news is not quite explicit or direct : 

1. Implies
2. Severe
3. Scarcity
4. Report
Ans: (1)



86. It's pretty cold today. "It's here __________.

1. is a mistake. The correct word is "Its."
2. is a mistake. The correct words are "It is."
3. stands for "It is."
4. stands for "It was."
Ans: (3)



87. 'I've been running. What would be the next logical and correct sentence ?

1. That's why I am gasping
2. That's way I am late.
3. That's why I am not gasping.
4. That's why I was late.
Ans: (1)



88. I wish I __________ the answer to this question. (Fill in the blank) 

1. have known
2. know
3. can know
4. knew
Ans: (4)



89. I am very tired. I'd rather _________. (Fill in the blank)

1. work more
2. not to work more
3. work anymore
4. not work anymore
Ans: (4)



90. I think I'II wait __________ Saturday before I decided what to do. (Fill in the blank)

1. till
2. before
3. unto
4. until
Ans: (4)



91. The rights of women can be rewritten as:

1. Women's rights
2. The women's rights
3. The woman's rights
4. Womans' rights
Ans: (1)



92. Silver Jubilee is the _________

1. special celebration of an event on its twenty-first anniversary
2. special celebration of an event on its twenty-fifth anniversary
3. special celebration of an event on its fiftieth anniversary.
4. special celebration of an event on its fifty-first anniversary.
Ans: (2)



93. Amit wasn't there. Amish wasn't there. When you combine these sentences as one, which of the following words would you use ?

1. But
2. If
3. Either
4. Neither
Ans: (4)



94. __________ enquiry the official main-tained that  nothing illegal had been done. (Fill in the blank)

1. In
2. Upon
3. At
4. Since
Ans: (2)



95. Has anyone told you what to do this week ?If you begin the sentence with 'Have you', how will you complete the question ?

1. Told what to do this week by someone ?
2. Been told by someone what to do this week ?
3. Told someone what has been done this week ?
4. Been told someone what to do this week ?
Ans: (2)

Direction (Q. Nos. 96 to 100) : These questions are based on the following passage. Read it carefully. Pick the most appropriate and contextually apt answer from the options given after each question.

                Rather than saying that little boys and little girls, from the very start, learn two different ways of speaking, I think that the process is more complicated. Since the mother and other women are dominant influences in the lives of most children under the age of 5, probably both boys and girls first learn 'women's language' as their first language. As they grow older, boys especially go through a stage of rough talk; this is probably discouraged in little girls more strongly than in little boys, in whom parents may often find it more amusing than shocking. By the time children are 10 or so, and split up into same-sex peer groups, the two languages are already present, according to my recollections and observations. But it seems that what has happened is that the boys have unlearned their original form of expression and adopted new forms of expression, while the girls retain their old ways of speech. The ultimate result is the same, of course, whatever the interpretation.

               So a girl is damned if she does, damned if she doesn't. If she refuses to talk like a lady, she is ridiculed and subjected to criticism as unfeminine; if she does learn, she is ridiculed as unable to think clearly, unable to take part in a serious discussion : in some sense, as less than fully human. These two choices which a woman has - to be less than a woman or less than a person - are highly painful.

96. "By the time children are 10 or .........." What does this phrase suggest ?

1. Approximately
2. Appropriately
3. Or above
4. Or below
Ans: (1)



97. "________ in whom parents may often find it more amusing than shocking". Who does the author mean here? 

1. Little boys
2. Little girls
3. Their parents
4. Older girls
Ans: (1)



98. "[A] girl is damned if she does, damned if she doesn't." How do we understand what the author means by this statement ?

1. By reading the whole paragraph
2. By reading the previous paragraph
3. By reading the line following this statement
4. By reading between the lines
Ans: (3)



99. Are the "two choices" mentioned in the last line real choices for women ? Explian

1. Yes. They have the freedom to exercise the less painful choice.
2. Yes. They have the freedom to exercise the more beneficial choice.
3. No. They have no real choice either way.
4. No. They must feel painful always.
Ans: (3)



100. What we learn from this passage, is that _________

1. Boys and girls learn to speak different languages because of norms widely accepted by a society.
2. Boys and girls learn to speak different languages because they are so conditioned biologically.
3. Boys and girls are not able to understand one another because they speak different languages.
4. Boys and girls do understand one another despite the different languages they speak.
Ans: (1)