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
221
The commander ordered his battalion to march on.
Answer:
“March on!” the commander said to his battalion.
Ordered + object + to + V → direct imperative**. (a)(c) wrong reporting tense; (d) awkward/ungrammatical phrasing.
222
Rehan smiled and said that he thought Junaid liked him.
Answer:
Rehan smiled and said, “I think Junaid likes me!”
Indirect past (“he thought … liked him”) → Direct present (“I think … likes me”). Person/pronoun reversal he/him → I/me**. (a) punctuation odd; (c) wrong subject; (d) changes to a question.
223
“You speak such good English!” said Mariam.
Answer:
Mariam exclaimed that I spoke very good English.
Exclamation on ability → exclaimed that + clause; present simple → past simple; idiomatic collocation very good English** (not “much good”). Others are unidiomatic or wrong aspect.
224
He asked me if I would like to take that apartment on rent from the next day.
Answer:
“Would you like to take this apartment on rent from tomorrow?” he said to me.
Indirect (would like…) → Direct polite question with would you like…?; that → this, the next day → tomorrow** (deictic reversal). (a)(b) wrong perfect forms; (d) unidiomatic “be liking.”
225
Rida said, “I’m not feeling well.”
Answer:
Rida said that she was not feeling well.
Present continuous → past continuous; I → she**. (b) wrong future; (c) no backshift; (d) wrong person.
226
The airline official said, “We are extremely sorry that the flight has been delayed due to heavy floods.”
Answer:
The airline official announced that they were extremely sorry that the flight had been delayed due to heavy floods.
are → were and has been delayed → had been delayed under backshift; we → they** to match third-person reporting. Others mismatch tenses/pronouns.
227
Khadija said, “I will reach Patna tomorrow morning.”
Answer:
Khadija said that she would reach Patna the next morning.
Will → would; tomorrow morning → the next morning; pronoun I → she**. (a) lacks backshift; (b) different reporting tense; (c) wrong pronoun.
228
My uncle said, “Just my luck! I’ve missed the bus again.”
Answer:
My uncle exclaimed that he was unlucky as he had missed the bus again.
Exclamation → exclaimed that + clause; present perfect → past perfect**; add the sense “unlucky” to retain interjection meaning. Others flip meaning (“lucky”) or keep present.
229
Her mother said, “We must have a party to celebrate your promotion.”
Answer:
Her mother said that they must have a party to celebrate her promotion.
Must (necessity) often remains must under backshift when the meaning is still valid. Pronouns shift we → they, your → her**. (b)(d) change meaning/aspect; (c) changes reporting tense and modal.
230
The imam said to me, “You have committed a cardinal sin.”
Answer:
The imam told me that I had committed a cardinal sin.
Reporting verb in past → present perfect → past perfect (_have committed → had committed_). Also, said to → told + object, and keep the content clause with that**. Options (b)(c)(d) mishandle tense and/or structure.