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
561
Rehana said to me, "I was watching TV."
Answer:
Rehana told me that she was watching TV.
** Past continuous in direct speech ("was watching") becomes **past perfect continuous** ("had been watching") in reported speech. Option (a) wrongly keeps past continuous. Options (b) and (d) wrongly change subject to "I," making it sound like the narrator was watching TV. Hence, (c) is correct. ---
562
"I will work hard to get the first rank in class," said Arshad.
Answer:
rshad said that he should work hard to get the first rank in class.
** In **reported speech**, "will" becomes "would." None of the modal verbs "should," "could," or "ought to" express the same definite intention as "will." Option (a) implies obligation, option (b) implies possibility, option (c) implies moral duty. Only (d) preserves Rohan's commitment. ---
563
"I'll see you later," she said.
Answer:
She said that she will be able to see you later.
** In **reported speech**, "will" changes to "would." Also, "you" becomes "me" when addressed directly. Option (a) incorrectly adds "be able to," which changes the meaning. Option (b) keeps "will" in future tense — incorrect with past reporting verb. Option (c) uses "would be seeing," which suggests a continuous sense not in the original. Hence, (d) is the correct transformation. ---
564
"How beautiful she is!" said Saira.
Answer:
Saira exclaimed with joy how beautiful she is.
** This is an **exclamatory sentence** converted into indirect speech. "Exclaimed with joy" is correct for positive emotion. Present tense "is" shifts to past "was." Option (a) keeps "is" without tense change. Option (b) changes structure and drops "how," which alters emphasis. Option (d) is grammatically correct but not faithful to the exact exclamation style. Hence, (c) is the most accurate. ---
565
"Is the door closed?" Jamila asked Aamir.
Answer:
Jamila asked Aamir is the door close.
** This is a **yes/no question in reported speech**. Such questions require "if" or "whether," and the verb tense shifts back. Present tense "is" changes to past tense "was." Option (a) is ungrammatical ("is the door close" is wrong). Option (b) fails because "is" stays in present tense. Option (c) wrongly shifts pronoun and sense — it implies Aamir closed the door, which alters meaning. Hence, option (d) is correct. ---
566
The teacher said, "Man is mortal."
Answer:
The teacher said that men were mortal.
** This is a **universal truth/general fact**. In reported speech, universal truths remain in the **present tense**. "Man is mortal" is a universal fact, so it stays as "is mortal." Option (a) changes singular "man" to plural "men," altering meaning. Option (b) wrongly uses "instructed," which is not suitable here. Option (c) changes tense to past ("was mortal"), which is incorrect because universal truths do not shift tense. Thus, option (d) is correct. ---
567
"Whom did you see at the shopping mall today?" I asked my daughter.
Answer:
I asked my daughter who she has seen at the shopping mall today.
** In **reported WH-questions**, "did you see" changes into past perfect "she had seen." The adverb "today" changes into "that day." Option (a) keeps "has seen," which is present perfect, breaking tense sequence. Option (b) is grammatically wrong: "whom did she saw" has a double past form. Option (c) wrongly uses "that" before "whom" and keeps past simple ("saw") instead of past perfect. Hence, option (d) is correct. ---
568
"Read the instructions before you start making the dish," Sara's mother said to her.
Answer:
Sara's mother told to her to read the instructions before you start making the dish.
** In **imperative sentences (commands/requests)** converted to indirect speech, "said to" changes into "told + object + infinitive." Thus, "Read" becomes "told her to read." The pronoun "you" changes to "she." Present tense "start" shifts to past "started." Option (a) is wrong because "told to her" is grammatically incorrect. Option (b) wrongly uses past perfect ("had made"), changing meaning. Option (d) keeps "start" instead of "started." Hence, (c) is correct. ---
569
"Is he alright now?" I asked my neighbour's wife about her husband, Mr. Sharif.
Answer:
I asked Mrs. Sharif, my neighbour's wife, if her husband is alright now.
** In **yes/no questions in reported speech**, we use "if" or "whether" and apply the **sequence of tenses**. Present "is" becomes past "was." The adverb "now" changes into "then." Option (b) fails because it keeps present tense. Option (c) wrongly uses "your husband" (instead of her husband) and future tense "will." Option (d) changes the tense to "had become," which suggests completion, not the original sense. Therefore, option (a) is correct. ---
570
"Everything is going to be alright," said the doctor.
Answer:
The doctor said that everything are going to be alright.
** According to the **Rule of Reported Speech (Sequence of Tenses)**, when the reporting verb ("said") is in past tense, the verb inside the reported clause must shift one step back in tense. "Is going to" changes into "was going to." Option (a) is wrong because "everything are" is a subject–verb agreement error (everything is singular). Option (b) keeps "is" without changing tense, which breaks the rule. Option (c) incorrectly changes "going to" into "will," which alters the meaning. Hence, option (d) is correct. ---