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
441
My neighbour said to me, "Hello! How are you?"
Answer:
My neighbour said hello and asked how were I.
** Greeting + **reported WH-question**: **How are you? → how I was** (backshift and statement order). (a)(d) wrong inversion; (b) keeps **are you**. ---
442
The supervisor said to the worker, "How long have you been working for this company?"
Answer:
… asked … that how long you had been …
** **WH-question reporting**: **present perfect continuous → past perfect continuous**; **this → that**. (a) "that how" is wrong + pronoun **you**. (b) inversion after "asked" is wrong in reported clause. (c) **being** error. ---
443
He asked me if I would like to learn French.
Answer:
He said to me, "Do you like to learn French?"
** **Indirect (polite offer) → Direct**: **would you like…?** Options (a)(c)(d) alter meaning/person or use wrong structure. ---
444
The librarian said to her, "You can borrow only two books at a time."
Answer:
… told her that they could borrow …
** **Said to → told**; **can → could** (backshift); **you → she**. (a) wrong **they**; (b)(d) wrong pronouns/tense. ---
445
She asked her mother where her gold bracelet was.
Answer:
She asked to her mother, "Where my gold bracelet is?"
** **Indirect → Direct (WH-question)**: restore question order and pronouns: **her → my**, **was → is** (reverse backshift). (a) wrong order and **asked to**. (c) uses **was** needlessly. (d) wrong pronoun **her** in direct speech. ---
446
He said to Manoj, "I celebrated my birthday two days ago."
Answer:
He told Manoj that he celebrated my birthday two days before.
** **Past simple → past perfect**; **two days ago → two days before**; **I → he**; **my → his**. (a)(b)(c) keep wrong time word/pronouns/tense. ---
447
Neha exclaimed that it was a very pleasant surprise.
Answer:
Neha said, "It is a very pleasant surprise."
** **Exclamatory (indirect) → exclamatory (direct)**: pattern **What + (a/an) + adj + noun!** (b) is plain statement; (c) question; (d) wrong structure (**How a…**). ---
448
The young man prayed to God to help him clear that interview.
Answer:
The young man said to God, "Will you help me clear that interview?"
** **Indirect request/prayer → Direct optative**: "prayed to God to help him" corresponds to **"O God! Help me…"** Also **that interview → this interview** (deixis). (a) is a question, not a prayer. (b) imperative tone but **that** doesn't revert to **this**; also "have to" changes intent. (d) wrong pronoun **him**. ---
449
He said to me, "Your father is waiting for you at the reception."
Answer:
He told me that his father was waiting for you at the reception.
** **Said to → told + object + that-clause**; pronouns shift **your→my, you→me**; **is → was** (backshift). (a) wrong **his/you**. (c) wrong persons. (d) ungrammatical **told to me** and pronoun mix. ---
450
I told him that if he went around the park he would see some rare flowers.
Answer:
I said to him, "If you went around the park you would see some rare flowers."
** **Indirect → Direct (conditional)**: backshift reversal: **went → go**, **would see → will see**, and pronouns **he → you**. (a) wrongly keeps **went/would** in direct. (b) ungrammatical **would saw**. (d) mismatches **he…will** and keeps third person. ---