The CSS (Central Superior Services) Exam MCQs
Topic Notes: The CSS (Central Superior Services) Exam
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
91
The boys were digging a hole in the ground.
Answer:
A hole was being dug in the ground by the boys.
**Rule**: To convert a Past Continuous Tense sentence to passive voice, the structure is **Object + was/were + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'a hole' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'was' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'dug'. The prepositional phrase 'in the ground' is correctly placed.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: While grammatically possible, starting with the prepositional phrase makes the sentence less natural than option (a).
92
The committee is looking into the matter.
Answer:
The matter is being looked into by the committee.
**Rule**: For sentences in the Present Continuous Tense with a phrasal verb (like 'look into'), the passive structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 (of main verb) + preposition + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'the matter' becomes the subject. The verb form 'is being looked into' correctly reflects the passive voice of the Present Continuous Tense, keeping the preposition 'into' with the verb.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
93
Do not insult the poor.
Answer:
Let the poor not be insulted.
**Rule**: For negative imperative sentences (commands or advice), the passive voice can be formed using the structure **Let + object + not + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: This option correctly follows the 'Let' structure for a negative command. 'the poor' is the object, followed by 'not be' and the past participle 'insulted'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: While 'You are warned' can be used for some commands, the 'Let' structure is a more direct and common passive form for this type of imperative.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'Should' introduces a sense of moral obligation or advice, which changes the tone from a direct command.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This structure ('are not to be') is grammatically awkward and not the standard passive form for this imperative.
94
People believe that he is a great scholar.
Answer:
It is believed that he is a great scholar.
**Rule**: For sentences with a reporting verb (like believe, say, think) and a 'that'-clause, one common passive form starts with **'It'**. The structure is **It + is/was + V3 (of reporting verb) + that-clause**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The sentence is correctly transformed by starting with 'It', followed by the passive form of 'believe' ('is believed'), and then the original 'that'-clause remains unchanged.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This changes the tense of the reporting verb to past ('was believed') and alters the structure, which is a different type of passive transformation that is less direct here.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: The word order is awkward and unnatural.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This structure is grammatically incorrect and confusing.
95
The teacher punished the entire class.
Answer:
The entire class was punished by the teacher.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Simple Past Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the entire class' becomes the subject. 'Class' is a collective noun treated as a single unit here, so the singular verb 'was' is used, followed by the past participle 'punished'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
96
He is known to me.
Answer:
I know him.
**Rule**: This question asks to convert a passive sentence to an active one. The passive sentence is in the Simple Present Tense. The structure is **Subject + is/am/are + V3 + to + object**. The corresponding active structure is **New Subject (object from passive) + V1 + New Object (subject from passive)**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object of the preposition 'to', which is 'me', becomes the subject 'I'. The verb 'is known' becomes the simple present verb 'know'. The subject of the passive sentence, 'He', becomes the object 'him'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This is another passive sentence.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This reverses the subject and object, changing the meaning.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
97
Our team has won the match.
Answer:
The match has been won by our team.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Present Perfect Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + has/have + been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'The match' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'has' is used, followed by 'been' and the past participle 'won'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Perfect.
98
The children were making a lot of noise.
Answer:
A lot of noise was being made by the children.
**Rule**: To convert a Past Continuous Tense sentence to passive voice, the structure is **Object + was/were + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'a lot of noise' becomes the subject. Since 'noise' is singular, 'was' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle of 'make' which is 'made'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This option incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This option incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This option incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
99
Why did you waste such a good opportunity?
Answer:
Why was such a good opportunity wasted by you?
**Rule**: For interrogative sentences starting with a 'Wh-' word (like Why, What, When) in the Simple Past Tense, the passive structure is **Wh- word + was/were + object + V3 + by + subject?**
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The 'Wh-' word 'Why' remains at the beginning. The object 'such a good opportunity' is singular, so 'was' is used. The past participle of 'waste' is 'wasted'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This option incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This option incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This option incorrectly changes the tense to Past Perfect.
100
The storm had damaged many houses.
Answer:
Many houses had been damaged by the storm.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Past Perfect Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + had + been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'many houses' becomes the subject. The verb form 'had been damaged' is the correct passive construction for the Past Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.