CSS Compulsory Papers 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 CSS Compulsory Papers, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Precis Writing

   4 topics

   • Reading and Comprehending the Passage
   • Identifying Central Theme and Key Points
   • Condensing and Paraphrasing
   • Suggesting an Appropriate Title
2. 2

   Reading Comprehension

   3 topics

   • Skimming and Scanning Techniques
   • Answering in Your Own Words
   • Inference and Contextual Meaning
3. 3

   Grammar and Usage

   5 topics

   • Tenses
   • Articles and Prepositions
   • Conjunctions and Punctuation
   • Subject-Verb Agreement and Modifiers
   • Correction of Sentences
4. 4

   Vocabulary

   4 topics

   • Synonyms and Antonyms
   • Pair of Words
   • Phrasal Verbs
   • Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
5. 5

   Sentence Structure and Composition

   4 topics

   • Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences
   • Active and Passive Voice
   • Direct and Indirect Speech
   • Sentence Transformation
6. 6

   Translation

   3 topics

   • Urdu to English Translation
   • Handling Idiomatic and Figurative Expressions
   • Preserving Structural and Contextual Meaning

English (Precis and Composition) flashcards for CSS Compulsory Papers

25 of 51 cards from the English (Precis and Composition) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is a precis?

   A precis is a concise, clear summary of a longer passage that restates its central idea and essential points in the writer's own words, usually about one-third the length of the original.

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

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

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

   In the third person and normally in the past tense (reported speech), avoiding 'I', 'we', or 'you' from the original.

4. Should a precis include your own opinions, examples, or new ideas?

   No. A precis must remain faithful to the original; it excludes personal opinions, added examples, illustrations, and any new material.

5. What three core qualities must a good precis possess?

   Brevity (concise), clarity (easily understood), and completeness/accuracy (covers all essential points without distortion).

6. What is the first essential step before writing a precis of a passage?

   Reading and comprehending the passage thoroughly—often two or three times—to grasp its overall meaning before condensing it.

7. What is the 'central theme' of a passage?

   The main idea, message, or controlling thought that the whole passage develops and around which all details revolve.

8. How does the central theme differ from the key points (supporting points)?

   The central theme is the single dominant idea of the passage; key points are the major supporting ideas and arguments that explain or develop that theme.

9. What is a topic sentence and how does it help identify the main idea?

   A topic sentence states the main idea of a paragraph; locating it (often the first or last sentence) helps a reader quickly identify each paragraph's central point.

10. What does 'condensing' a passage mean?

    Reducing the passage to its essentials by removing repetition, examples, and elaboration while retaining all the core ideas.

11. What does 'paraphrasing' mean?

    Restating the meaning of a text in your own words and sentence structure while keeping the original meaning, usually at similar length.

12. State the key difference between a summary/precis and a paraphrase.

    A precis shortens the text (about one-third), whereas a paraphrase restates the meaning in different words at roughly the same length.

13. What are three techniques used to condense a passage?

    Omitting examples and illustrations, replacing phrases with single precise words, and combining related sentences.

14. What makes an appropriate title for a passage?

    A title that is short, relevant, and reflects the central theme of the passage—usually a word or brief phrase, not a full sentence.

15. Should the title of a precis or passage be a complete sentence?

    No. A good title is normally a brief phrase or a few words capturing the main idea, not a full sentence.

16. What is 'skimming'?

    Reading quickly over a text to get the general idea or gist, without reading every word.

17. What is 'scanning'?

    Reading quickly to locate specific information (a name, date, number, or keyword) without reading the whole text.

18. State the main difference between skimming and scanning.

    Skimming is for the overall gist of a text; scanning is for finding specific pieces of information.

19. When answering comprehension questions 'in your own words', what must you avoid?

    Copying sentences directly from the passage; you must reword the idea using your own vocabulary and structure while keeping the meaning accurate.

20. What is an 'inference' in reading comprehension?

    A conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning in the text rather than from an explicitly stated fact—reading 'between the lines'.

21. What is meant by 'contextual meaning' of a word?

    The meaning a word takes from its surrounding text, which may differ from its dictionary definition; context clues reveal the intended sense.

22. What are the four main verb tense aspects in English?

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

23. Which tense is used for habitual or general truths, and give its form?

    The Simple Present tense (subject + base verb, adding -s/-es for third person singular), e.g., 'The sun rises in the east.'

24. What is the structure of the Present Perfect tense and when is it used?

    Subject + has/have + past participle; used for actions completed at an unspecified time or with present relevance, e.g., 'She has finished her work.'

25. What is the structure of the Past Continuous tense and its typical use?

    Subject + was/were + verb-ing; used for an ongoing action in the past, often interrupted by another, e.g., 'I was reading when he called.'

See more English (Precis and Composition) flashcards →

Planning English (Precis and Composition) for CSS Compulsory Papers

English (Precis and Composition) (CSS Compulsory Papers) FAQ