BPSC Test English (Precis and Composition) Syllabus

English (Precis and Composition) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for English (Precis and Composition) in BPSC Test, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Precis Writing

   4 topics

   • Comprehending the Passage
   • Condensing and Summarizing
   • Suggesting a Suitable Title
   • Reported Speech in Precis
2. 2

   Comprehension

   4 topics

   • Reading Unseen Passages
   • Answering Inference-Based Questions
   • Vocabulary in Context
   • Explaining Phrases and Sentences
3. 3

   Grammar and Usage

   5 topics

   • Parts of Speech
   • Tenses and Verb Forms
   • Articles, Prepositions and Conjunctions
   • Correction of Sentences
   • Active and Passive Voice
4. 4

   Vocabulary

   4 topics

   • Synonyms and Antonyms
   • One-Word Substitutions
   • Idioms and Phrases
   • Pairs of Words
5. 5

   Sentence Structure and Translation

   3 topics

   • Sentence Construction
   • Punctuation
   • Urdu to English Translation

English (Precis and Composition) flashcards for BPSC Test

25 of 50 cards from the English (Precis and Composition) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is a precis?

   A precis is a clear, concise summary of a passage in the writer's own words, conveying the main idea and essential points while omitting examples, repetitions, and unnecessary details. It is usually about one-third the length of the original.

2. What is the standard length of a precis relative to the original passage?

   Roughly one-third (about 33%) of the original passage's word count.

3. In which person and tense is a precis normally written?

   In the third person and, generally, in the past tense (reported/indirect form), using reported speech for any dialogue.

4. List the key steps in the precis-writing process.

   1) Read the passage carefully (2-3 times) to grasp the main idea. 2) Identify the central theme and supporting points. 3) Note keywords and omit examples/repetition. 4) Write a rough draft in your own words. 5) Count words and condense to about one-third. 6) Give a suitable title. 7) Revise for grammar, coherence, and word count.

5. Why must direct speech be converted to indirect (reported) speech in a precis?

   Because a precis is written in the third person and past tense as a report; quoting directly breaks this objective, reported style, so all dialogue must be summarized in reported speech.

6. Convert to reported speech for a precis: He said, "I am working hard."

   He said that he was working hard.

7. In reported speech, how do the pronouns and tense change in: She said, "I will help you tomorrow"?

   She said that she would help him/her the next day. ('will' becomes 'would', 'I' becomes 'she', 'you' shifts to the referent, 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day').

8. What should a good title for a precis or passage reflect?

   It should be short, relevant, and capture the central idea or theme of the passage — usually a word or short phrase, not a full sentence.

9. When comprehending a passage, what is the difference between the 'main idea' and a 'supporting detail'?

   The main idea is the central point the whole passage is about; a supporting detail is a fact, example, or explanation that develops or backs up that main idea.

10. What is an inference-based question in reading comprehension?

    A question whose answer is not stated directly in the passage; the reader must deduce it from clues, tone, and implied meaning rather than copy explicit text.

11. What does 'vocabulary in context' mean when answering comprehension questions?

    Determining a word's meaning based on how it is used in the surrounding sentence/passage rather than its isolated dictionary definition, using context clues.

12. What should you avoid including in a precis?

    Examples, illustrations, quotations, repetitions, the writer's personal comments/opinions, rhetorical questions, and minor details — only essential ideas remain.

13. How many parts of speech are there in English, and name them.

    Eight: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.

14. Define a noun and give its main types.

    A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. Types: common, proper, collective, abstract, concrete, countable, and uncountable.

15. What is the difference between an adjective and an adverb?

    An adjective modifies/describes a noun or pronoun (e.g., a quick runner); an adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb (e.g., runs quickly).

16. What is a conjunction and name its three types?

    A conjunction joins words, phrases, or clauses. Types: coordinating (and, but, or), subordinating (because, although, if), and correlative (either...or, neither...nor).

17. List the four aspects of each tense in English.

    Simple, Continuous (Progressive), Perfect, and Perfect Continuous.

18. State the structure of the Present Perfect tense and its use.

    Structure: has/have + past participle (e.g., She has finished). Use: for actions completed at an unspecified time or with present relevance, or actions continuing up to now.

19. State the structure of the Past Continuous tense.

    was/were + present participle (verb + -ing), e.g., They were playing.

20. State the structure of the Future Perfect tense.

    will have + past participle, e.g., By 2027 he will have completed the course.

21. What are the three forms (principal parts) of a verb? Give an example.

    Base (V1), past simple (V2), and past participle (V3). Example: go - went - gone.

22. What are the three articles in English and their classification?

    'A' and 'an' are indefinite articles; 'the' is the definite article.

23. When is the article 'an' used instead of 'a'?

    'An' is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound (an apple, an hour, an MP), while 'a' is used before a consonant sound (a university, a one-rupee coin).

24. What is a preposition? Give examples.

    A preposition shows the relationship of a noun/pronoun to another word, usually indicating place, time, direction, or manner — e.g., in, on, at, by, with, under, between.

25. What is the general rule for the basic structure of converting active to passive voice?

    The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive; use the appropriate form of 'be' + past participle of the main verb; the original subject becomes the agent introduced by 'by' (often optional).

See more English (Precis and Composition) flashcards →

Planning English (Precis and Composition) for BPSC Test

English (Precis and Composition) (BPSC Test) FAQ