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
141
The company has to follow the new regulations.
Answer:
The new regulations have to be followed by the company.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'has to' or 'have to', the passive form is **Object + has/have to + be + V3**. The choice between 'has' and 'have' depends on the new subject.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the new regulations' becomes the subject. Since 'regulations' is plural, it takes 'have to be', followed by the past participle 'followed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'had to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the past.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'have been followed' is the passive of the Present Perfect Tense ('have followed'), not 'have to follow'.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'are to be' implies a plan, which is a different meaning from the obligation of 'have to'.
142
The chef had prepared a special dish for the guests.
Answer:
A special dish had been prepared for the guests by the chef.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Past Perfect Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + had + been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'a special dish' becomes the subject. The verb form 'had been prepared' is the correct passive construction for the Past Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This structure, making the indirect object the subject, is grammatically awkward and incorrect. 'The guests' were not prepared.
143
The manager is signing the letters.
Answer:
The letters are being signed by the manager.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Present Continuous Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the letters' becomes the subject. Since 'letters' is plural, 'are' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'signed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
144
The cat was not drinking the milk.
Answer:
The milk was not being drunk by the cat.
**Rule**: For a negative sentence in the Past Continuous Tense, the passive structure is **Object + was/were + not + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'the milk' becomes the subject. The passive verb form 'was not being drunk' correctly reflects the negative Past Continuous tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
145
The committee had to select a new chairman.
Answer:
A new chairman had to be selected by the committee.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'had to' to show past necessity, the passive form is **Object + had to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'a new chairman' becomes the subject. The structure 'had to be selected' is the correct passive form for the past necessity.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'had been selected' is the passive of the Past Perfect Tense ('had selected'), not 'had to select'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'was to be' implies a past plan, which is a different meaning.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'has to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the present.
146
She has written a letter to her friend.
Answer:
A letter has been written to her friend by her.
**Rule**: For a Present Perfect Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + has/have + been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The direct object 'a letter' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'has' is used, followed by 'been' and the past participle 'written'. The prepositional phrase 'to her friend' follows.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This structure, making the indirect object the subject, is less common when the indirect object is part of a prepositional phrase ('to her friend').
147
The board had to reject the proposal.
Answer:
The proposal had to be rejected by the board.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'had to' to show past necessity, the passive form is **Object + had to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'the proposal' becomes the subject. The structure 'had to be rejected' is the correct passive form for the past necessity.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'had been rejected' is the passive of the Past Perfect Tense ('had rejected'), not 'had to reject'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'was to be' implies a past plan, which is a different meaning.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'must be' incorrectly changes the tense and meaning to present obligation.
148
The company has to recruit new staff.
Answer:
New staff have to be recruited by the company.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'has to'/'have to', the passive form is **Object + has/have to + be + V3**. The choice between 'has' and 'have' depends on the new subject.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'new staff' becomes the subject. 'Staff' is a collective noun that can be treated as plural, so it takes 'have to be', followed by the past participle 'recruited'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'has' is incorrect because 'staff' is treated as plural here.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'have been recruited' is the passive of the Present Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'are to be' implies a plan, which is a different meaning.
149
Who will have finished the work by then?
Answer:
By whom will the work have been finished by then?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence in the Future Perfect Tense starting with 'Who', the passive structure is **By whom + will/shall + have been + V3?**
- **Correct Answer (b)**: 'Who' changes to 'By whom'. The Future Perfect passive verb 'will have been finished' is used correctly with the object 'the work'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly uses the Future Simple passive form ('will be finished').
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This word order is not standard for formal interrogative sentences.
150
The company has to hire a new manager.
Answer:
A new manager has to be hired by the company.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'has to' to show necessity, the passive form is **Object + has/have to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'a new manager' becomes the subject. Since 'manager' is singular, it takes 'has to be', followed by the past participle 'hired'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'has been hired' is the passive of the Present Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'is to be' implies a plan, not the necessity of 'has to'.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'had to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the past.