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
191
The bank is processing your loan application.
Answer:
Your loan application is being processed by the bank.
**Rule**: For a Present Continuous Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'your loan application' becomes the subject. Since it is singular, 'is' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'processed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
192
Who is going to write the report?
Answer:
By whom is the report going to be written?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence with the 'be going to' future form starting with 'Who', the passive structure is **By whom + is/am/are + object + going to be + V3?**
- **Correct Answer (d)**: 'Who' changes to 'By whom'. The object 'the report' is singular, so 'is' is used, followed by the object and the correct passive structure 'going to be written'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This changes the structure to the 'will' future.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This word order is not standard for formal interrogative sentences.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'who' is the incorrect case; 'whom' is required after the preposition 'By'.
193
The company had to recall the faulty products.
Answer:
The faulty products had to be recalled by the company.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'had to' to show past necessity, the passive form is **Object + had to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the faulty products' becomes the subject. The structure 'had to be recalled' is the correct passive form for the past necessity.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'were to be' implies a past plan, which is a different meaning.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'have to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the present.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'had been recalled' is the passive of the Past Perfect Tense ('had recalled'), not 'had to recall'.
194
The gardener has planted new flowers.
Answer:
New flowers have been planted by the gardener.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Present Perfect Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + has/have + been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'new flowers' becomes the subject. Since 'flowers' is plural, 'have' is used, followed by 'been' and the past participle 'planted'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Perfect.
195
Someone stole the jewels from the museum.
Answer:
The jewels were stolen from the museum.
**Rule**: For a Simple Past Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + was/were + V3**. The indefinite subject 'someone' is omitted.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'the jewels' becomes the subject. Since 'jewels' is plural, 'were' is used, followed by the past participle 'stolen'. The agent 'by someone' is correctly omitted.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous and unnecessarily includes the vague agent 'by someone'.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
196
Let us discuss the matter.
Answer:
Both b and c are correct.
**Rule**: Imperative sentences starting with 'Let us' (Let's) suggest a proposal. They can be converted to passive voice in two main ways: using **'It is suggested that...'** or **'Let + object + be + V3'**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: Both (b) and (c) are valid passive forms.
- (b) treats the sentence as a suggestion, which is a common interpretation of 'Let us'.
- (c) follows the standard 'Let' structure for imperatives, keeping the agent 'by us'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: While grammatically similar, 'should' is a direct statement of advice, whereas the original is a proposal.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This is a correct form, but (c) is also correct.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This is a correct form, but (b) is also correct.
197
What did she write?
Answer:
What was written by her?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence in the Simple Past Tense starting with 'What', the passive structure is **What + was/were + V3 + by + subject?**
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The 'Wh-' word 'What' remains at the beginning and acts as the subject. The passive verb form 'was written' is correct for the Simple Past Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
198
You ought to respect your promises.
Answer:
Your promises ought to be respected.
**Rule**: For sentences with modal verbs (like ought to), the passive structure is **Object + modal verb + be + V3**. The agent 'by you' is omitted.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'Your promises' becomes the subject. The modal 'ought to' is followed by 'be' and the past participle 'respected'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'must' is a different modal, implying a stronger obligation.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This changes the modal structure entirely, altering the meaning to past necessity.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'ought to have been' is the passive form for a past modal, which changes the tense.
199
The team was not following the instructions.
Answer:
The instructions were not being followed by the team.
**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 instructions' becomes the subject. The passive verb form 'were not being followed' correctly reflects the negative Past Continuous tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 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 Present Continuous.
200
The company is considering all applications.
Answer:
All applications are being considered by the company.
**Rule**: For a Present Continuous Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'all applications' becomes the subject. Since 'applications' is plural, 'are' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'considered'.
- **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.