MIZORAM PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

GENERAL COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS FOR RECRUITMENT TO THE POST OF

UPPER DIVISION CLERK (U.D.C) UNDER MIZORAM PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION,
APRIL, 2019

PAPER - I
Time Allowed : 3 hours Full Marks : 125

Attempt all questions.

SECTION - A
(50 Marks)

This Section should be answered only on the Answer Sheet provided.

1. Write an essay in about 500 words on the tourism potential of Mizoram. (25)

2. Write a précis of the following passage: (25)

Education is not an end, but a means to an end. In other words, we do not educate children
only for the purpose of educating them; our purpose is to fit them for life. As soon as we realize this
fact, we will understand that it is very important to a system of education which will really prepare
children for life. It is not enough just to choose a first system of education one finds, or to continue
with one’s old system of education without examining it to see whether it is in fact suitable or not.
In many modern countries it has for some time been fashionable to think that by free education
for all - whether rich or poor, clever or stupid - one can solve all the problems of society and build a
perfect nation. But we can already see that free education for all is not enough, we find in such
countries a far larger number of people with university degrees than there are jobs for them to fill.
Because of their degree they refuse to do what they think is “low work” and in fact, work with the
hands is thought to be dirty and shameful in such countries.
But we have only to think a moment to understand that the work of a completely uneducated
farmer is far more important than that of a professor. We can live without education, but we die if we
have no food. If no one cleaned our streets and took the rubbish away from our houses, we should
get terrible diseases in our towns. In countries where there are no servants because everyone is
ashamed to do such work, the professors have to waste much of their time doing housework.
In fact, when we say that all of us must be educated to fit us for life, it means that we must be
educated in such a way that, firstly, each of us can do whatever job is suited to his brain and ability,
and secondly that we can realize that all jobs are necessary to society, and that it is very bad to be
ashamed of one’s work or to scorn someone else’s. Only such a type of education can be called
valuable to society.
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SECTION - B
(75 Marks)

All questions carry equal marks of 1 each. Attempt all questions.

This Section should be answered only on the OMR Response Sheet provided.

Directions (Questions 1 - 10) : Choose the correct option to fill in the blanks.
1. Most shops usually _________ at 8:30 a.m.
(a) open (b) opened
(c) opens (d) will open
2. Ben’s sister doesn’t speak French but Ben _________.
(a) do (b) did
(c) does (d) done
3. Not many people _________ cars in the 1920’s.
(a) have (b) had
(c) has (d) will have
4. When I was younger, a teacher at my school _________ me.
(a) hit (b) hitted
(c) was hit (d) was hitting
5. Before you go to see him he _________ the house.
(a) will leave (b) had left
(c) will have left (d) will be leaving
6. We went to school after the rain _________.
(a) was stopping (b) was stopped
(c) has stopped (d) had stopped
7. His shoes were dirty because he _________ in the rain.
(a) was walking (b) had been walking
(c) would be walking (d) shall be walking
8. I _________ a number of stories when I was a child.
(a) read (b) was reading
(c) has read (d) have read
9. We hurried in when it _________ raining.
(a) starts (b) was starting
(c) has started (d) started
10. He _________ after a few minutes from now.
(a) will leave (b) has been leaving
(c) was leaving (d) shall leave

Directions (Questions 11 - 21): Fill in the blanks with the appropriate prepositions.
11. Mary is expecting a baby _________ six weeks.
(a) at (b) on
(c) until (d) in
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12. Last night I went to bed _________ midnight.

(a) at (b) in
(c) on (d) from
13. Alan has been feeling sick _________ he ate some fish last night.
(a) for (b) until
(c) since (d) while
14. Kate went to London _________ four days last spring.
(a) during (b) from
(c) since (d) for
15. Are you going to stay _________ the end of the film?
(a) for (b) until
(c) from (d) since
16. I have been working hard _________ arithmetic.
(a) at (b) in
(c) on (d) with
17. _________ time he saw his mistake.
(a) by way of (b) in spite of
(c) in course of (d) in the event of
18. They live _________ the same roof.
(a) by (b) under
(c) beneath (d) on
19. We suffered _________ your neglect.
(a) from (b) by
(c) of (d) during
20. I shall do it _________ pleasure.
(a) for (b) from
(c) in (d) with
21. He persevered _________ difficulties.
(a) in front of (b) in spite of
(c) by means of (d) along with

Directions (Questions 22 - 32): Fill in the blanks with suitable comparisons.

22. The nephew is _________ than his uncle.
(a) elder (b) eldest
(c) older (d) oldest
23. Is there no _________ news than last week’s?
(a) latest (b) last
(c) latter (d) later
24. He walked off without _________ ceremony.
(a) farther (b) further
(c) later (d) latest
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25. The burglar was taken to the _________ police station.

(a) nearest (b) next
(c) latest (d) further
26. The _________ news from China is very disquieting.
(a) next (b) latest
(c) last (d) late
27. Tom is my _________ son.
(a) last (b) oldest
(c) eldest (d) next
28. The _________ chapters are lacking in interest.
(a) last (b) later
(c) latest (d) latter
29. My uncle lives in the _________ house.
(a) next (b) latter
(c) nearest (d) farther
30. Ours is the _________ house in the street.
(a) older (b) latest
(c) next (d) last
31. This man is an _________ fool.
(a) outer (b) utter
(c) elder (d) inner
32. She is the _________ of the two sisters.
(a) elder (b) oldest
(c) older (d) eldest

Directions (Questions 33 - 43): Point out the part of speech of the underlined words.
33. This wood will make a good hiding place.
(a) Adverb (b) Noun
(c) Verb (d) Adjective
34. I couldn’t think clearly, and I felt hot.
(a) Noun (b) Conjunction
(c) Verb (d) Adverb
35. I have been married to you for twenty years.
(a) Adverb (b) Adjective
(c) Verb (d) Noun
36. After three very unhappy years, they divorced.
(a) Conjunction (b) Verb
(c) Preposition (d) Adjective
37. Ann and John got married last week.
(a) Adjective (b) Preposition
(c) Adverb (d) Conjunction
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38. Can you make me a birthday cake by Monday?

(a) Noun (b) Preposition
(c) Pronoun (d) Adverb
39. In the two weeks in the job he made himself thoroughly disliked.
(a) Adjective (b) Verb
(c) Adverb (d) Conjunction
40. The government seems to change its mind a great deal.
(a) Verb (b) Noun
(c) Adverb (d) Conjunction
41. They lived many miles from the town.
(a) Verb (b) Preposition
(c) Adverb (d) Conjunction
42. She was made to repeat the whole story.
(a) Verb (b) Noun
(c) Pronoun (d) Adjective
43. The rain made the grass wet.
(a) Verb (b) Noun
(c) Adverb (d) Adjective

Directions (Questions 44 - 54): Identify the kind of the underlined nouns.

44. The earth moves round the sun.
(a) Common noun (b) Proper noun
(c) Abstract noun (d) Collective noun
45. Rice is the staple food of South Indians.
(a) Common noun (b) Abstract noun
(c) Material noun (d) Proper noun
46. Gold is a precious metal.
(a) Proper noun (b) Material noun
(c) Abstract noun (d) Common noun
47. All the girls were singing.
(a) Common noun (b) Abstract noun
(c) Proper noun (d) Collective noun
48. Smoking is a bad habit.
(a) Common noun (b) Abstract noun
(c) Proper noun (d) Material noun
49. The Hindus regard Krishna as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
(a) Collective noun (b) Abstract noun
(c) Common noun (d) Proper noun
50. The jury has given its verdict.
(a) Abstract noun (b) Collective noun
(c) Material noun (d) Common noun
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51. We cannot live without water.

(a) Common noun (b) Abstract noun
(c) Material noun (d) Collective noun
52. Love begets love.
(a) Material noun (b) Abstract noun
(c) Common noun (d) Collective noun
53. A committee was appointed to study the situation.
(a) Common noun (b) Abstract noun
(c) Collective noun (d) Proper noun
54. Honesty is the best policy.
(a) Material noun (b) Collective noun
(c) Common noun (d) Abstract noun

Directions (Questions 55 - 64): Choose the correct alternative which is closest in meaning to the
given phrases/sentences.
55. A person who carries luggage.
(a) pedlar (b) porter
(c) hawker (d) chauffer
56. A medicine that kills germs.
(a) germicide (b) grassevore
(c) insecticide (d) insectivore
57. Having no life
(a) inanimate (b) incurable
(c) impatient (d) immovable
58. Having two feet.
(a) quadruped (b) biennial
(c) tripod (d) biped
59. One who is not guilty.
(a) invisible (b) innocent
(c) insoluble (d) innovate
60. One who thinks only of oneself.
(a) bigot (b) optimist
(c) atheist (d) egoist
61. That which cannot be avoided.
(a) inevitable (b) indelible
(c) inexcusable (d) inaccessible
62. A medicine that induces sleep.
(a) neurotic (b) narcotic
(c) panacea (d) recluse
63. All of the same opinion.
(a) efficacious (b) relevant
(c) anonymous (d) unanimous
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64. Fluent and clear in speech.

(a) emotional (b) enthusiastic
(c) articulate (d) confident

Directions (Questions 65 - 75): Choose the correct meaning of the following idioms/phrases:
65. Sitting on the fence
(a) unbalanced (b) coward
(c) uncomfortable (d) between two opinions
66. A white elephant
(a) an elephant with white skin (b) a costly thing
(c) a costly and useful thing (d) a costly but useless thing
67. To cut one short
(a) to insult one (b) to criticize one
(c) to interrupt one (d) to love one
68. Between the devil and the deep sea
(a) a deep sea diver (b) to be evil tempered
(c) in a dilemma (d) a man who is drowning
69. From hand to mouth
(a) to survive without saving (b) something repeated often
(c) consuming food (d) hitting someone by hand on the mouth
70. To rise like a phoenix
(a) to rise with a new life (b) to rise with anger
(c) to resemble a Phoenician (d) to get up with a start
71. Show one’s white feather
(a) to show arrogance (b) to show signs of cowardice
(c) to seek peace (d) to become polite
72. Merry as a cricket
(a) to enjoy a game of cricket (b) to dance and sing
(c) to be extremely cheerful (d) to be good at sports
73. To blaze a trail.
(a) to set on fire (b) to blow the trumpet
(c) to be annoyingly noisy (d) to initiate work
74. A far cry
(a) a disadvantageous thing (b) an unfounded claim
(c) a long way off (d) a thing which is neglected by all
75. To leave no stone unturned
(a) to try utmost (b) to keep clean and tidy
(c) to work enthusiastically (d) to change the things

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