Exam Details
| Subject | english | |
| Paper | ||
| Exam / Course | mains | |
| Department | ||
| Organization | maharashtra public service commission | |
| Position | ||
| Exam Date | 2007 | |
| City, State | maharashtra, |
Question Paper
1. Write an essay in about 300 words on any one of the following topics:
Trees -Our Best Friends
Water is Precious, Save Water
Dignity of Labour
The importance of English
Television -The 'Idiot Box' in the House
2. Write a letter to your friend who has failed in HSC -Examination and wishes to discontinue his studies. Persuade him to continue his studies in about 100 words.
OR
Write a letter to your father requesting to increase your monthly allowance in about 100 words. Give reasons to Justify your demands.
Write a letter to the principdl of Lal Bahadur Shastri College, Andheri Mumbai, suggesting some improvements in the college library on behalf of the students council of the college. (100 words).
OR
Write a letter on behalf of Bandhu Sweets, Pune, to the Paper Box Manufacturing Co., Mumbili -400 001, asking them to quote for fancy boxes in assorted sizes. Mention the fact that you would require 20,000 boxes urgently, and on a satisfactory quotation, would be willing to give a year's contract. (100 words)
OR
Write a letter to the editor of The Times of India, commenting on the increasing display of violence and sex in Indian films. (100 words).
3. Your college has celebrated a Golden Jubilee function. Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India was invited as the Chief Guest. Write a report in about 150 words about the celebration.
OR
You have been a Sarpanch of your village for two years. You have tried to provide basic amenities and better facilities in your village. Write a report in about 150 words about it.
You are a member of Healthy India Club of Pune. You have arranged a rally for Blind Relief Fund. Prepare a handout in about 100 words appealing to the public for generous donations.
OR
With the help of following points prepare a leaflet in about 100 words for making the public aware of 'Saving Our Environment'.
Prepare an attractive slogan -make persuasive appeal -inform about the different programmes to undertake -ask for the contribution -tell about the need to save environment.
4. You are the sales-representative of mobile-phone. You want to attract new customers to promote its sale. You have just dialled one customer -Mr. Subhash Wagh at Kolsewadi, Kalyan. Write out a conversation between the two in about 100 words.
OR
You have invited Mahendra Singh Dhoni to inaugurate a Sport Complex in your town. You are asked to introduce the Chief Guest. Write an mtroductory speech you .will deliver on the occasion,in about 100 words.
A panel of five directors is appointed to select a competent manager for their Limited Company. Write a conversation that would take place between a candidate and the directors at the time of interview, in about 100 words.
OR
Imagine that Govt. of India has signed an with Govt. of America. The Minister of External Affairs, Govt. of India declares it at the Press Conference in Delhi.Write a conversation between the minister and the reporters of various channels and newspapers.
Sunita Williams, the first astronaut of Indian origin, who safely returned,to the earth,after completion of her record-break stay in space-craft, recently visited India. Citizens of India from various places wanted to ask her their curious questions. Imagine that she conducted a Teleconference from Mumbai and answered various queries. Write a conversation between her and Indian Citizens, in about 100 words.
OR
The factory workers of Gopal and Gopal Steel Works Limited, Bangalore, are on indefinite strike. Most of their demands are unreasonable and incapable of being implemented. The office staff has also given notice of joining the strike. A political party is behind the strike. The Trade Union Leaders belong to the party. The management has asked four students of M.B.A. to discuss the issue and suggest how best the situation should be handled. Write their conversation in about 100 words.
5. Make precis of the following passage in your own words in about one third of its original lenglh and suggest a suitable title:
(N.B Marks will be deducted if your precis is longer or shorter than the prescribed length.)
A great part of Arabia is desert. Here there is nothing but sand and rock. The sand is so hot that you cannot walk over it with your bare feet in the day time. Here and there in the desert are springs of water that come from deep down under the ground -so deep that the sun cannot dry them up. These springs are few and far apart, but wherever there is one, green grass very soon covers the ground all around it. Soon fig trees and palm trees grow tall and graceful, making a cool, green, shady place around the spring. Such a place is called an oasis
The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert all the year round. They live in tents that can be put up and taken down very easily and quickly so that they can move from one oasis to another, seeking grass and water for their sheep, goats, camels and horses. These desert Arabs eat ripe, sweet figs, and also the dates that grow upon the palm trees: they dry them too, and use them as food all the year round.
These Arabs have the finest horses in the world. An Arab is very proud of his riding horse, and loves him almost as much as he loves his wife and children. He never puts heavy loads upon his horse and often lets him stay in the tent with his family.
The camel is much more useful to the Arab than his beautiful horse, however, for he is much larger and stronger. One camel can carry as much as or more than two horses. The Arab loads the camel with goods and rides him-too, for miles and miles across the desert -just as if he were really the "Ship of the desert", which he is often called. (319 words).
6. Read the following passage and answer in your own words, the questions given below:
The great advantage of early rising is the good start it gives us in our day's work. The early riser has done a large amount of hard work before other men have got out of bed. In the early morning his mind is fresh, and there are few sounds or other distractions,so the work done at the time is generally well done. In many cases the eorly riser also finds time to take some exercise in the fresh morning air, and this exercise supplies him with a fund of energy that wi11 last until the evening. By beginning so early, he knows that he has plenty of time to do thoroughly all the work he can be expected to do, and is not tempted to hurry over any port of it. All his work being finished in good time, he has a long interval of rest in the evening before the timely hour when he goes to bed. He gets to sleep several hours before midnight, at the time when sleep is most refreshing and after d sound night's rest rises early next morning in good health and spirits for the bbours of a new day.
It is very plain that such life as this is far more conducive to health than that of the man who shortens his waking hours by rising late and so can afford in the course of the day little leisure for necessarv rest. Anyone who lies in bed late, must if he wished to do a full day's work, go on working to a correspondingly late hour, and deny himself the hour or two of evening exercise that he ought to ti1ke for the benefit of his health. But in spite of all his efforts, he will probil bly not produce as good results as the early riser, because he misses the best working hours of the day.
What are the advantages of rising early? (Mention only two).
Why is the early riser not tempted to hurry over his day's work
Why is the late riser unable to do his work properly
Why is the work done in the early morning well done
Find words from the passage Which mean
something that diverts
having power to promote
Paraphrase the following prose passage in your own words expressing the ideas in the passage clearly in simple and direct language (not more than 100 words)
Education is not an end, but a means to an end. In other words, we do not educate children only for the purpose of educating them; our purpose is to fit them for life. AS soon as we realise this fact, we will understand that it is very important to choose a system of education which will really prepare children for life. It is not enough just to choose the first system of education one finds; or to continue 'with one's old systerrl of edncation without examining it to see whether it is in fact suitable or not.
In many modern countries it has for sonte time has been fashionable to think that by free education for all -whether rich or poor, clever or stupid -one can solve all the problems of society and build a perfect nation. But we can already see that free education for all is not enough; we find in such countries a far larger number of people with university degrees than there are jobs for them to fill. Because of their degrees, they refuse to do what they think 'low and in fact, work with the hands is thought to be dirty and shalTleful in such countries.
But we have only to think a moment to understand that the work of a completely uneducated farmer is far more important than that of a professor; we can live without education, but we die if we have no food. If no one cleaned our streets and took the rubbish away from our houses, we should get terrible diseases in our towns. In countries where there are no servants because everyone is ashamed to do such work; the professors have to waste nluch of their time doing housework.
In fact, when we say that all of us must be educated, we mean that all of us must be educated in such a way that, first, each of us can do whatever Job is suited to his brain and ubilily, and secondly, that we can realise that all jobs are necessary to society, and that it is very bad to be ashamed of one's world or to scorn someone else's. Only such a type of education can be called valuable to society.
7. Rewrite any three of the fullowing sentences using the correct forms of the verbs given in the brackets.
Usually, he (drinks is drinking) coffee.
Mount Everest (is has been) higher than any other peak.
He (has has been) living in Mumbai for 20 years.
She (prepared had prepared) the dinner before the guest arrived.
One of the boys (is are) standing in the corner.
Do as directed. (AnY two)
The Sarpanch told TOI, "The remaining houses will be covered in two months." (Change into Indirect Speech)
Every house owns two to six caitions on average. (Change the Voice)
It is an amalgamation of fresh and dry masalas(Use not only but also and rewrite)
Transform any five of the following sentences as direckd.
The New Palace is a magnificent structure, built in 1818 for the Maharaja. (Make it exclamatory)
The first gravy is mild, flavourful and white. The second gravy is a deep red redolent of Sankeshwari chillies. (Combine the sentences to frame a compound sentence)
We wake up with a solution we are overwhelmed with joy. (Make it simple)
One more flight and I shall be in Europe
(Make it assertive)
The microlight has a small 582-cc two stroke engine. [Frame a 'wh'-question to get the underlined answer)
We had to land on a beach, due to very strong wind. (Make it complex sentence)
Is our goal limited to getting where others are already? (Make it a statement)
8. Punctuate the following paragraph
sometime back ganukaka had taken up the cudgels against modern innovations progress indeed he said in the good old days people were happy. There was no noise no hurry you speak of cars and planes but these pleasures have multiplied accidents and a thousand other risks havent they
Correct any three of the following sentences:
This is the best of the two books on this subject.
It is bitter cold today.
He will not listen what you say.
I hope you are keeping good health.
The river has overflown its banks.
Give meanings of any five of the following phrases and use them in your own sentences
to sit on the fence
to read between the lines
to pick quarrel with
to play a double game
to make a clean sweep
to make fun of
to hand over
Trees -Our Best Friends
Water is Precious, Save Water
Dignity of Labour
The importance of English
Television -The 'Idiot Box' in the House
2. Write a letter to your friend who has failed in HSC -Examination and wishes to discontinue his studies. Persuade him to continue his studies in about 100 words.
OR
Write a letter to your father requesting to increase your monthly allowance in about 100 words. Give reasons to Justify your demands.
Write a letter to the principdl of Lal Bahadur Shastri College, Andheri Mumbai, suggesting some improvements in the college library on behalf of the students council of the college. (100 words).
OR
Write a letter on behalf of Bandhu Sweets, Pune, to the Paper Box Manufacturing Co., Mumbili -400 001, asking them to quote for fancy boxes in assorted sizes. Mention the fact that you would require 20,000 boxes urgently, and on a satisfactory quotation, would be willing to give a year's contract. (100 words)
OR
Write a letter to the editor of The Times of India, commenting on the increasing display of violence and sex in Indian films. (100 words).
3. Your college has celebrated a Golden Jubilee function. Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India was invited as the Chief Guest. Write a report in about 150 words about the celebration.
OR
You have been a Sarpanch of your village for two years. You have tried to provide basic amenities and better facilities in your village. Write a report in about 150 words about it.
You are a member of Healthy India Club of Pune. You have arranged a rally for Blind Relief Fund. Prepare a handout in about 100 words appealing to the public for generous donations.
OR
With the help of following points prepare a leaflet in about 100 words for making the public aware of 'Saving Our Environment'.
Prepare an attractive slogan -make persuasive appeal -inform about the different programmes to undertake -ask for the contribution -tell about the need to save environment.
4. You are the sales-representative of mobile-phone. You want to attract new customers to promote its sale. You have just dialled one customer -Mr. Subhash Wagh at Kolsewadi, Kalyan. Write out a conversation between the two in about 100 words.
OR
You have invited Mahendra Singh Dhoni to inaugurate a Sport Complex in your town. You are asked to introduce the Chief Guest. Write an mtroductory speech you .will deliver on the occasion,in about 100 words.
A panel of five directors is appointed to select a competent manager for their Limited Company. Write a conversation that would take place between a candidate and the directors at the time of interview, in about 100 words.
OR
Imagine that Govt. of India has signed an with Govt. of America. The Minister of External Affairs, Govt. of India declares it at the Press Conference in Delhi.Write a conversation between the minister and the reporters of various channels and newspapers.
Sunita Williams, the first astronaut of Indian origin, who safely returned,to the earth,after completion of her record-break stay in space-craft, recently visited India. Citizens of India from various places wanted to ask her their curious questions. Imagine that she conducted a Teleconference from Mumbai and answered various queries. Write a conversation between her and Indian Citizens, in about 100 words.
OR
The factory workers of Gopal and Gopal Steel Works Limited, Bangalore, are on indefinite strike. Most of their demands are unreasonable and incapable of being implemented. The office staff has also given notice of joining the strike. A political party is behind the strike. The Trade Union Leaders belong to the party. The management has asked four students of M.B.A. to discuss the issue and suggest how best the situation should be handled. Write their conversation in about 100 words.
5. Make precis of the following passage in your own words in about one third of its original lenglh and suggest a suitable title:
(N.B Marks will be deducted if your precis is longer or shorter than the prescribed length.)
A great part of Arabia is desert. Here there is nothing but sand and rock. The sand is so hot that you cannot walk over it with your bare feet in the day time. Here and there in the desert are springs of water that come from deep down under the ground -so deep that the sun cannot dry them up. These springs are few and far apart, but wherever there is one, green grass very soon covers the ground all around it. Soon fig trees and palm trees grow tall and graceful, making a cool, green, shady place around the spring. Such a place is called an oasis
The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert all the year round. They live in tents that can be put up and taken down very easily and quickly so that they can move from one oasis to another, seeking grass and water for their sheep, goats, camels and horses. These desert Arabs eat ripe, sweet figs, and also the dates that grow upon the palm trees: they dry them too, and use them as food all the year round.
These Arabs have the finest horses in the world. An Arab is very proud of his riding horse, and loves him almost as much as he loves his wife and children. He never puts heavy loads upon his horse and often lets him stay in the tent with his family.
The camel is much more useful to the Arab than his beautiful horse, however, for he is much larger and stronger. One camel can carry as much as or more than two horses. The Arab loads the camel with goods and rides him-too, for miles and miles across the desert -just as if he were really the "Ship of the desert", which he is often called. (319 words).
6. Read the following passage and answer in your own words, the questions given below:
The great advantage of early rising is the good start it gives us in our day's work. The early riser has done a large amount of hard work before other men have got out of bed. In the early morning his mind is fresh, and there are few sounds or other distractions,so the work done at the time is generally well done. In many cases the eorly riser also finds time to take some exercise in the fresh morning air, and this exercise supplies him with a fund of energy that wi11 last until the evening. By beginning so early, he knows that he has plenty of time to do thoroughly all the work he can be expected to do, and is not tempted to hurry over any port of it. All his work being finished in good time, he has a long interval of rest in the evening before the timely hour when he goes to bed. He gets to sleep several hours before midnight, at the time when sleep is most refreshing and after d sound night's rest rises early next morning in good health and spirits for the bbours of a new day.
It is very plain that such life as this is far more conducive to health than that of the man who shortens his waking hours by rising late and so can afford in the course of the day little leisure for necessarv rest. Anyone who lies in bed late, must if he wished to do a full day's work, go on working to a correspondingly late hour, and deny himself the hour or two of evening exercise that he ought to ti1ke for the benefit of his health. But in spite of all his efforts, he will probil bly not produce as good results as the early riser, because he misses the best working hours of the day.
What are the advantages of rising early? (Mention only two).
Why is the early riser not tempted to hurry over his day's work
Why is the late riser unable to do his work properly
Why is the work done in the early morning well done
Find words from the passage Which mean
something that diverts
having power to promote
Paraphrase the following prose passage in your own words expressing the ideas in the passage clearly in simple and direct language (not more than 100 words)
Education is not an end, but a means to an end. In other words, we do not educate children only for the purpose of educating them; our purpose is to fit them for life. AS soon as we realise this fact, we will understand that it is very important to choose a system of education which will really prepare children for life. It is not enough just to choose the first system of education one finds; or to continue 'with one's old systerrl of edncation without examining it to see whether it is in fact suitable or not.
In many modern countries it has for sonte time has been fashionable to think that by free education for all -whether rich or poor, clever or stupid -one can solve all the problems of society and build a perfect nation. But we can already see that free education for all is not enough; we find in such countries a far larger number of people with university degrees than there are jobs for them to fill. Because of their degrees, they refuse to do what they think 'low and in fact, work with the hands is thought to be dirty and shalTleful in such countries.
But we have only to think a moment to understand that the work of a completely uneducated farmer is far more important than that of a professor; we can live without education, but we die if we have no food. If no one cleaned our streets and took the rubbish away from our houses, we should get terrible diseases in our towns. In countries where there are no servants because everyone is ashamed to do such work; the professors have to waste nluch of their time doing housework.
In fact, when we say that all of us must be educated, we mean that all of us must be educated in such a way that, first, each of us can do whatever Job is suited to his brain and ubilily, and secondly, that we can realise that all jobs are necessary to society, and that it is very bad to be ashamed of one's world or to scorn someone else's. Only such a type of education can be called valuable to society.
7. Rewrite any three of the fullowing sentences using the correct forms of the verbs given in the brackets.
Usually, he (drinks is drinking) coffee.
Mount Everest (is has been) higher than any other peak.
He (has has been) living in Mumbai for 20 years.
She (prepared had prepared) the dinner before the guest arrived.
One of the boys (is are) standing in the corner.
Do as directed. (AnY two)
The Sarpanch told TOI, "The remaining houses will be covered in two months." (Change into Indirect Speech)
Every house owns two to six caitions on average. (Change the Voice)
It is an amalgamation of fresh and dry masalas(Use not only but also and rewrite)
Transform any five of the following sentences as direckd.
The New Palace is a magnificent structure, built in 1818 for the Maharaja. (Make it exclamatory)
The first gravy is mild, flavourful and white. The second gravy is a deep red redolent of Sankeshwari chillies. (Combine the sentences to frame a compound sentence)
We wake up with a solution we are overwhelmed with joy. (Make it simple)
One more flight and I shall be in Europe
(Make it assertive)
The microlight has a small 582-cc two stroke engine. [Frame a 'wh'-question to get the underlined answer)
We had to land on a beach, due to very strong wind. (Make it complex sentence)
Is our goal limited to getting where others are already? (Make it a statement)
8. Punctuate the following paragraph
sometime back ganukaka had taken up the cudgels against modern innovations progress indeed he said in the good old days people were happy. There was no noise no hurry you speak of cars and planes but these pleasures have multiplied accidents and a thousand other risks havent they
Correct any three of the following sentences:
This is the best of the two books on this subject.
It is bitter cold today.
He will not listen what you say.
I hope you are keeping good health.
The river has overflown its banks.
Give meanings of any five of the following phrases and use them in your own sentences
to sit on the fence
to read between the lines
to pick quarrel with
to play a double game
to make a clean sweep
to make fun of
to hand over