KPPSC Test English Syllabus

In passive voice, how is the Simple Past tense formed?

Object + was/were + past participle (V3), e.g. 'The thief was caught.'

In reported (indirect) speech, how does 'present simple' typically change?

It backshifts to past simple, e.g. He said, 'I work hard' becomes 'He said that he worked hard.'

Convert to indirect speech: He said, 'I will come tomorrow.'

'He said that he would come the next day.'

How are imperative sentences reported in indirect speech?

Using a reporting verb like told/ordered/requested + object + to-infinitive, e.g. He said, 'Close the door' becomes 'He told me to close the door.'

In reported speech, what do 'this', 'here', 'now', and 'today' change to?

'This' to that, 'here' to there, 'now' to then, and 'today' to that day.

What is the function of a semicolon (;)?

It joins two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction and separates items in a complex list, e.g. 'It was late; we went home.'

When is a colon (:) used?

To introduce a list, an explanation, or a quotation after a complete clause, e.g. 'She bought three things: bread, milk, and eggs.'

What is the difference between a restrictive and a non-restrictive clause in terms of commas?

A non-restrictive (non-essential) clause is set off by commas; a restrictive (essential) clause is not, e.g. 'My brother, who lives in London, is a doctor.'

Give a synonym for the word 'abundant'.

Plentiful (also: ample, copious).

Give a synonym for the word 'candid'.

Frank (also: honest, straightforward).

Give an antonym for the word 'benevolent'.

Malevolent (also: cruel, unkind).

Give an antonym for the word 'transparent'.

Opaque.

What does the idiom 'to bite the bullet' mean?

To endure a painful or difficult situation bravely and decisively.

What does the idiom 'a blessing in disguise' mean?

Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good or beneficial.

What does the phrase 'to let the cat out of the bag' mean?

To reveal a secret, often unintentionally.

What is the one-word substitution for 'a person who knows many languages'?

A polyglot.

What is the one-word substitution for 'a government run by religious leaders / in the name of God'?

A theocracy.

What is the one-word substitution for 'a place where birds are kept'?

An aviary.

What is the one-word substitution for 'a person who cannot read or write'?

An illiterate.

In analogies, complete: 'Hot is to Cold as Up is to ___'.

Down (an antonym/opposite relationship).

What relationship does the analogy 'Author : Book :: Composer : Symphony' express?

Creator to creation (the maker and the thing produced).

What is the difference between 'affect' and 'effect'?

'Affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence; 'effect' is usually a noun meaning the result, e.g. 'Rain affects crops; the effect was visible.'

What is the difference between 'stationary' and 'stationery'?

'Stationary' (with an 'a') means not moving; 'stationery' (with an 'e') means writing materials like paper and pens.

What is the difference between 'principal' and 'principle'?

'Principal' means the head of a school or a main/chief thing; 'principle' means a rule, law, or fundamental truth.

What is the main purpose of reading comprehension in an exam, and a key strategy?

To test understanding of a passage; a key strategy is to skim for the main idea first, then scan for specific details to answer questions.

What is precis writing and what is the standard length rule?

A precis is a concise summary of a passage in your own words, conveying the gist; it should generally be about one-third the length of the original.

In which tense and person should a precis usually be written?

In the third person and normally in the past tense, with indirect (reported) speech.

What are the three essential structural parts of an essay?

Introduction (with thesis statement), Body (paragraphs developing the main points), and Conclusion.

What is a thesis statement in an essay?

A single sentence, usually at the end of the introduction, that states the main idea or central argument of the essay.

Give the English meaning of the paired words 'Sea' and 'See' and identify their relationship.

'Sea' is a large body of saltwater; 'See' means to perceive with the eyes. They are homophones (same sound, different meaning and spelling).