FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR RECRUITMENT TO POSTS IN BPS-17, UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, 2019
ENGLISH (PRÉCIS &ComPosmoN),
- Choose the word that is nearly most similar in meaning.
| (d) Pleasant (d) Prevent (d) Aggressive(d) Sordid (d) Foetal (d) Rudimentary (d) Surprise (d) Quiet (d) Solution (d) Hostile |
- SLEAZY (a) Fine (b) Respectable (c) Corrupt
- OXIDIZED (a) Cool down (b) Abrade (c) Aid
- BELLICOSE (a) Calm (b) Pacific (c) Passive
- CHARLATAN (a) Honest (b) Decent (c) Fraud
- EMBRYONIC (a) Adult (b) Hostile (c) Immoral
- FLABBERGASTED (a) Astonish (b) Bore (c) Clear up
- VACILLATE (a) Remnant (b) Persistence (c) Tentative
- TUMULT (a) Agreement (b) Harmony (c) Turmoil
- SABBATICAL (a) Break (b) Aggression (c) Agreement
- PUSILLANIMOUS (a) Quack (b) Sordid (c) Timorous
- Choose the world that is nearly most opposite in meaning
| (d) Meaningless (d) Deviation (d) Mirthless (d) Eradicate |
| 1. | INANE | ||
| (a) Absurd | (b) Bright | (c) Laughable | |
| 2. | ANOMALY | ||
| (a) Abnormality | (b) Inconsistency | (c) Regularity | |
| 3. | MELANCHOLY | ||
| (a) Gloomy | (b) Pensive | (c) Cheerful | |
| 4. | OBLITERATE | ||
| (a) Obscure | (b) Construct | (c) Eliminate |
- STRIDENT
(a) Loud (b) Quist (c) Blatant (d) Hoarse
- CONVOLUTED
(a) Puzzled (b) Intricate (c) Straightforward (d) Tangled
- ENFRANCHISE
(a) Empower (b) Restrain (c) Liberate (d) Naturalize
- DENIGRATE
(a) Compliment (b) Defame (c) Slander (d) Impugn
- SALUTARY
(a) Beneficial (b) Sound (c) Unhealthy (d) Wholesome
- SCURRILOUS
(a) Insulting (b) Moral (c) Lewd (d) Offending
0 Correct the following sentences:
- He enjoyed during the holidays.
- None of the boys had learnt their lesson.
- He is abusing the money of his father.
- I regret at the delay.
- I could not help but laugh.
- I always have and always shall be your friend.
- I was out walking when I saw the new moon in the garden.
- He cried as if he was mad.
Solution:
- He enjoyed himself during the holidays.
- None of the boys had learnt his lesson.
- He is misusing the money of his father.
- I regret for the delay.
- I could not help laughing.
(I) I always have been and always shall be your friend.
- I was out walking when I saw the crescent in the garden.
- He cried as if he were mad.
CI Use the following idioms in sentences to make their meaning clear:
| 1. | To cast pearls before swine | 2. | To step into one’s shoes |
| 3. | Stuff and nonsense | 4. | A wild goose chase |
| 5. | To be ill at ease | 6. | Sit on the fence |
| 7. | In a jiffy | 8. | To preen oneself |
- To cast pearls before swine
Meaning: To present something valuable to one who does not recognize its worth.
Use in sentence: He explained the beauty of the music to her but it was just casting pearls before swine.
- To step into one’s shoes
Meaning: To take over a job or some role from someone
Use in sentence: There was no one who could step into Maryam’s shoes when she left, so everything came to a stop.
- Stuff and nonsense —
Meaning: Rubbish, nonsense.
Use in sentence: We have a meeting each week meant to motivate staff, but it’s just stuff and nonsense from management.
- A wild goose chase
Meaning: The fruitless pursuit of something unattainable.
Use in sentence: They sent me on a wild goose chase to find a copy of a book that hasn’t been released yet.
- To be ill at ease —
Meaning: Nervous or anxious.
Use in sentence: My sister loves performing, but I’m ill at easy on stage.
- Sit on the fence
Meaning: To not make a decision or take a side when presented with two or more options or possibilities
Use in sentence: You can’t sit on the fence any longer—you need to choose who of these two we need to fire.
- In a jiffy —
Meaning: In an instant
Use in sentence: Just wait a minute. I’ll be there in a jiffy.
- To preen oneself
Meaning: To pride (oneself) on an achievement, personal quality
Use in sentence: He preened himself on having been graduated with honors.