civils mains 2011
ENGLISH
(Compulsory)


Time Allowed Three Hours Maximum Marks 300

INSTRUCTIONS

Candidates should attempt ALL questions.
The number of marks carried by each question
is indicated at the end of the question.

Answers must be written in ENGLISH.
Question No. 3 must be attempted only on the
precis sheet(s) provided in this question paper.
The precis sheet(s) must then be attached
securely to the answer book by the candidate.

1. Write an essay in about 300 words on any one of the
following: 100

The predicaments of Democracy.

Write short notes about this topic in 200 words

In India when inflation rises governance stalls.

Modern world's fears about nuclear energy.

Information Technology transforming the
Indian society.

Inventors generate necessity.

2. Read carefully the passage below and write your
answers to the qtestions that follow in clear, correct
and concise language 5x15=75
'Water is the basis of all life. Every animal and
every plant contains a substantial proportion of free
or combined water in its body, and no kind of
physiological activity is possible in which the fluid
does not play an essential part. Water is, of course,
necessary for animal life, while moisture in the soil
is eqµally--imperative for the life and growth of
plants and trees, though the quantity necessary
varies enormously with the species. The
conservation and utilisation of water is thus
fundamental for human welfare. Apart from
artesian water the ultimate source in all cases is rain
or snowfall.Muchof Indian agriculture depends on
seasonal rainfall and is therefore very sensitive to
any failure or irregularity of the same.It is clear
that the adoption of techniques preventing soil
erosion would also help to conserve and keep the
water where it is wanted. In other words, on and in
the soil, and such techniques therefore serve a
double purpose. It is evident, however, that in a
country having only a seasonal rainfall an immense
quantity of rain-water must necessarily run off the
ground. The collection and utilization of water is
therefore of vital importance. Much of it flows
down into the streams and rivers and ultimately
finds its way to the sea. The harnessing of our
rivers, the waters of which now mostly run to
waste is a great national problem which must be
considered and dealt with on national lines. Close1y
connected with the conservation of water supplies
is the problem of afforestation. The systematic
planting of suitable trees in every possible or even
in impossible areas and the development of what
one can call civilized forests as distinguished from
wi1d and untamed Jungle is one of the most urgent
needs of India. such plantation would directly and
indirectly prove a source of untold wealth to the
country.They would check soil erosion and
conserve the rainfall of the country from flowing
away to waste and would provide the necessary
supplies of cheap fuel and thus stop unnecessary
waste of farmyard manure.

Questions

1. Where does the world get water from
2. What is the national problem reIating to our rivers
3. What are the benefits of afforestation
4. What is fundamental for human welfare
5. What are the advantages of preventing soil erosion

3. Make a precis of the following passage in about
204 words. It is not necessary to suggest a title.
Failure to write within the word limit may result in
deduction of marks. The precis must be written on
the separate precis sheets provided, which must
then be fastened securely inside the answer-book.
75
'While a reIigious teachers tell us that
compassion gives us a motive for existence, a guide
for action and a reason for courage and helps us to
diminish the sum of human suffering, in the very
name of God, who is all, compassion, abominable
crimes have been committed in the world. It is not
enough to believe in a God of love but we must
love. The rains that make the lower plains fertile
are formed in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
The saints are the masters who are not stained-glass
figures, remote and ethereal in their sanctity. There
is nothing in them, which we would like to spread
everywhere in the world. It is there but what it is,
we cannot say. It is there in their blood and bones,
in the breath of their speech, in the lights and
shades of their personalities, a mystery that can be
lived but not spoken in words.
On the rock of moral law and not on the
shifting sands of political or economic expediency
can be built a civilized society with individual
freedom, social justice and political equality. Truth,
freedom and righteousness are essential to peace.
The Evangelist tells us how 'the devil taketh him up
into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him
all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of
them . And saith unto him, 'All these things will I
give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship
Then saith Jesus unto him, 'Get thee hence, Satan;
for it is written, 'Thou shalt worship thy Lord, thy
God and Him alone shal t thou serve'.
In the new society we need a new universal
religion. By it we mean not a uniform religion but
a religion of awareness and love of wisdom and
compassion, prajna and karuna, of truth and love.
Religions must be cured of their provincialism and
made to reveal their universality. This does not
mean spiritual vagueness or ambiguity.
Tolerance implies an elementary right belong-
ing to the dignity of every man. The right to believe
like the right to live a free, unfettered life is
fundamental to the concept of brotherly love.
We have had in our country peaceful coexistence
of different religions.It is not mere passive
co-existence but an active fellowship, a close
inter-relation of the best of different relegions.
Co-existence is the first step and fraternity is the
goal. We have not adhered steadfastly; to these
ideals and have suffered often. Yet the ideal has
been kept in view and supported by great leaders
like Ram Mohan Roy, Ramakrishna, Tagore and
Gandhiji.
The view of. tolerance is based on the
conviction that all transcendental use of the logical
categories, all attempts to submit the transcendent
to the finite, are wrong. Nature and history
announce God presence but do not disclose his
whole nature. Religions are cut off from one
another by mutua1 incomprehensiveness. We are
born or trained in certain traditions of religion.
Loyalty to tradition does not mean imprisonment
within it. We adopt different symbolic representations
of the supreme determined by our age,
circumstances, upbringing and by narrower
byalities of caste, class, race or nation. Watever
progress we make at the expense of those values is
moral ly wrong.
The seers of all religions affirm that the
various peoples of the world form a community
with a common purpose and a common destiny. It
is said that the whole world is the fatherland of a
noble soul. The application of this universality of
spirit requires us to look upon our common enemies
not as monsters of evil but as misled by their
obsessions and as capable of change. (611 words)

4. Rewrite the following sentence after making
necessary corrections 10

1. Saints desire nothing society.
2. I regret at the delay in doing this.
3. I congratulate you for your success.
4. Ram as well as Mohan have gone.
5. He has passed order on my application.
6. He is more intelligent than any boy
7. What will be ensued on this?
8. This is high time that should change the bike.
9. I did nothing but laughed.
10. I informed him, "Leave the room.

4 Supply the missing words: 5

1. The wages of sin death.
2. I trust
3. I have no fondness music.
4. I have no your honesty.
5. I am conscious my duties.

Use the correct forms of the verbs in brackets
5

1. I remember when she was a
little girl.
2. You Will twenty-four hours to
consider your decision. (GIVE)
3. Can you hear what he

Write the opposite of the following 5

1. Notorious
2. Legitimate
3. Responsible
4. Satisfaction
5. Promotion

5. Answer as directed

Rewrite the following sentence removing 'too .....to': 5
1. He is too honest to steal.
2. He is too weak to run.
3. She is too shy to sing.
4. He was too shocked to speak.
5. The matter will be too complicated to resolve.

Rewrite the folowing sentence using in the beginning as a subject. 5
1. To scold the boys would be foolish.
2 . Smoking is bad for him.
3. To call after ten was unusual for him.
4. Keeping the windows open on the roadside does not look decent.
5. To play games on Sundays is not allowed.

(c)combine each pair of sentences using oneof the words or
Use each word only once : 5
1. He turned _pale. He saw me.
2. They are poor. You consider their bank balance.
3. she wanted to make a speech. She did not know how to begin.
4. He took a pen. He started writing.
5. she doesn't like Rakesh. She doesn't like Mohini.
Change the narration of the following sentence

5 .
1. The teacher said to me, Why are you late?"
2. He said that his mother was just then absent from home.
3. A wrote to "Your letter reached me here this morning."
4. Ramesh requested his sister, "Please keep
my things ready when I return from my trip tomorrow."
5. He said, "What a strange man you are

Rewrite the folowing sentence using the passive voice structure : 5
1. He gave her a book to read.
2. Even a child can handle this machine.
3. Who has put the book on the shelf?
4. Everyone rejected the bold idea.
5. Ramesh is driving Sunita's car.